Safety Measures for Lower Mustang Motorbike Trip
1. Well-Maintained Motorbikes
At Scenic Nepal Treks, we provide high-quality, well-maintained Royal Enfield motorbikes (350cc or 500cc). These bikes are regularly serviced to ensure optimal performance during the trip. Before every journey, our team performs detailed checks on:
- Brakes: To ensure they are responsive for off-road and high-altitude riding.
- Tires: For traction on rugged and uneven terrains.
- Suspension: To handle the rough roads and occasional river crossings.
- Engine: To avoid breakdowns in remote areas.
We provide a thorough orientation on bike handling before you start the trip, ensuring that all riders are comfortable and confident.
2. Experienced Guides
Our team consists of experienced motorbike guides who are familiar with the roads, terrain, and weather conditions of Lower Mustang. They will lead you safely through the route, providing insights and advice on handling challenging sections.
- Communication Devices: Guides carry radios or mobile phones for quick communication with support teams if the group is big.
- Local Knowledge: The guides are well-versed in the routes, potential hazards, and emergency protocols.
3. Support Vehicles
A dedicated support vehicle follows the motorbike convoy throughout the trip. This vehicle carries essential tools, spare parts, and luggage, reducing the load on your motorbike and making the ride more comfortable. Additionally, the support vehicle is equipped with:
- First Aid Kit: A comprehensive first aid kit is on board to handle minor injuries or altitude-related issues. However medication are recommended to have your own.
- Oxygen Supply: In case of high-altitude sickness, oxygen tanks are available for emergency use.
- Tools and Spare Parts: Necessary for any mechanical breakdowns or tire punctures.
4. Acclimatization and Altitude Safety
The journey to Muktinath takes you to an elevation of 3,800 meters, where there is a risk of altitude sickness. Our itinerary is carefully designed to ensure proper acclimatization. We gradually ascend, allowing time for your body to adjust to the altitude, minimizing the chances of acute mountain sickness (AMS).
- Daily Altitude Monitoring: Our guides monitor your condition daily, checking for symptoms of AMS such as headaches, nausea, or dizziness.
- Hydration: Riders are encouraged to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, which helps prevent altitude sickness.
- Acclimatization Stops: We include rest days and stops at lower altitudes like Tatopani and Kagbeni, giving you time to acclimatize before heading higher.
5. Personal Safety Gear
We provide the necessary safety gear for your ride, ensuring your protection during the journey. This includes:
- Full-Face Helmets: For head protection. We recommend to have your own Helmets.
- Protective Riding Jacket: With armor for your back, shoulders, and elbows.
- Riding Gloves: To protect your hands during the ride.
- Knee and Elbow Guards: For extra protection on rough terrain.
- Sturdy Boots: Strong, durable boots for ankle support and protection.
If you prefer, you can bring your own gear to ensure a comfortable fit. We recommend high-quality, weather-resistant clothing to protect you from the dust, wind, and varying temperatures.
6. High-Altitude Safety – Preventing Altitude Sickness
- As you approach higher altitudes, it’s important to take precautionary steps to prevent altitude sickness. Our guides have years of experience managing high-altitude conditions and are prepared to assist:
- Acclimatization Process: Our itinerary is specifically designed with acclimatization days to help your body adjust to the thinner air.
- Hydration: Staying hydrated is essential to help with altitude acclimatization. We ensure you have regular access to clean drinking water.
- If anyone shows signs of severe AMS (such as confusion or difficulty breathing), our team is equipped to administer oxygen and organize emergency evacuation if needed.
7. Weather Awareness – Adapting to Lower Mustang’s Unpredictable Climate
- Lower Mustang's weather can vary from dry desert-like conditions to windy mountain passes. It’s essential to be prepared for rapid weather changes:
- Layered Clothing: Dress in layers, as temperatures can range from warm in the daytime to freezing at night. We recommend thermal undergarments for early mornings and late evenings.
- Rain Gear: Sudden rains can occur even in Mustang's rain shadow, so always carry a waterproof jacket and pants.
- Wind Protection: The strong afternoon winds in Jomsom and Kagbeni can affect visibility and balance, so it’s crucial to wear protective gear, such as windproof jackets and riding gloves.
8. Motorcycle Riding Training and Briefing
Whether you’re a seasoned rider or new to off-road biking, we offer a motorcycle safety training session in Kathmandu. During this session, you’ll learn:
- Off-Road Riding Techniques: Handling rough terrain, gravel, and river crossings.
- Motorbike Controls: How to effectively use engine braking, manage fuel consumption, and ride safely in adverse weather conditions.
- Riding in a Group: Communication, maintaining formation, and riding at a pace comfortable for the group as a whole.
Terms & Condition
To Ride:
Rider must have a motorcycle license from your country to hire a bike.
Insurance:
Personal travel insurance is not included in the prices quoted to indicate Biking Ride. While every effort is made to ensure the safety of all participants, it is a condition of booking that you take out a personal travel insurance policy. To protect against unfavorable circumstances, it is advisable to take a "Trip cancellations and medical insurance policy" before your arrival into Kathmandu. Such medical policy should cover transportation costs in the event of helicopter or surface evacuation being required. This is especially mandatory for those taking treks in high altitude.
Cancellation:
Cancellation of a confirmed booking must be made by the client in written form; either by fax or email at least 1 week before to the departure date of any trip booked for. 20% of deposit which is paid in advance for confirmation will apply as cancellation fee.
Importance of Travel Insurance
We require all riders to have comprehensive travel insurance that covers:
- Motorbiking Adventures: Ensure your insurance includes coverage for riding motorbikes in remote and high-altitude regions.
- Emergency Evacuation: Helicopter evacuations can be costly, so verify that your policy covers emergency evacuations and hospital treatments in case of an accident or severe altitude sickness.
- Medical Expenses: Check that your insurance covers altitude sickness and accidents related to adventure travel.
Checklist for your Ride:
CLOTHING
- Biking Boots and Spare Laces
- Hat (Warm), Scarf, and Gloves
- Waterproof Jacket
- Warm Trousers
- Running shoes, Sandals or Flip shoes
- Wool Bled Shocks, liner shocks
- Thermal Underwear
- Sun Hat
- Fleece Jacket T-Shirts (Quick Dry)
- Down Jacket (Min -10C) ( You can buy in Kathmandu )
EQUIPMENT
- Sleeping Bag and Silk Liner (Scenic Nepal Treks Provide you)
- Torch (Flash Lights) and Water Bottle
- Duffel Bag (Scenic Nepal Trek Provide you)
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
- Toiletries
- Quick drying Camp Towel
- Laundry Soup Powder or bar
- Toilet Paper and Cigarette Lighter ( If you Smoke)
- Sunblock Cream and Lip warm
- Polarizing Sunglasses
- Water Purification Tablets
BIKING CLOTHS
- Crash helmet – used every day, even when the law didn’t require it
- Leather motorcycle jacket – used often, but some days it was too hot, so was bungeed to the rear seat a lot
- Dehydration vest – purchased during the trip, but rarely used. I would have used it more if purchased earlier
- Lightweight gloves – used almost every day
- Black winter bike gloves – rarely used
- Motorcycle boots – used every day
- Waterproof bike gear – used just twice!
- Bluffs x 4 – rarely used due to great weather, but helpful to wrap things in Motorcycle
- Sunglasses x 2 – used every day Night-riding glasses – used a few times
- Sunglasses cases / cloth bags – used every day
