Phew, what a week! An adventurous trip to Mustang – what a great way to welcome the winter, right? Last week, I went on a 5-day trip to Mustang with Theme Palace team. A place where I think everyone must visit at least once in their lifetime. Actually, it was a ride to Mustang; we all rode to Mustang from Kathmandu (771 km) on our motorbikes. So, guys brace yourself, ’cause I’m about to tell you how exciting and venturous journey it was.
Let me start my trip-story from the very beginning. So, as you all know, I’ve been a part of the Bfit Exclusive family for quite some time now, which is run by my friend and brother-in-law Sunil Karmacharya. And Bfit is also the place where we all (me and the Theme Palace team) do our little chit-chat sometimes. We decided it was time to organize an Annual Retreat. Everyone from Theme Palace were also willing to do something audacious and lively for the annual retreat. The plan about Mustang first began as a joke; then, we started talking about it more often and that is how, the ride to Mustang officially was marked on the calendar. But, just a day before our trip, there were news (probably a hoax) that there had been snowfall and rain in Mustang. I think the weather update was quite beneficial for me, because it made me aware of the necessary things I should carry along with me. Keeping that in mind, I went shopping and bought myself a pair of trousers, waterproof boots, knee and hand guards, and of course, jackets. So, you can say I was all prepared for whatever the weather had in store for us.
Day 1 – Kathmandu to Tatopani
Day 2 – Tatopani to Jomsom
The next morning, the second day of our journey began. We had to travel from Tatopani to Jomsom that day. We all had our breakfast and left for Jomsom at around 9 A.M. Yet again, the off-roads and streams continued. However, the good thing about this journey was that we could observe the beautiful scenery everywhere. Mountains, Waterfalls, the surrounding, everything was just so great and beautiful, except for the roads, obviously. But we all had extreme fun on our way to Jomsom. We stopped at every place possible, including Marpha, and Tukuche.
Observing the view, waterfalls, and suspension bridges, we all got to Jomsom in the evening. We stayed at Hotel Mountain Breeze in Jomsom. Since we reached there a little earlier, the fun began early too. We played guitar, danced and had our dinner. (I want to suggest everyone travelling to Mustang or just traveling in general, to check the menu and prices before ordering your food. Because, staying in Jomsom, I realized that the food pricing in Mustang was far more expensive than here in Kathmandu.) So, that’s how that day passed and the next station for us was the sacred place of Mustang – the Muktinath Temple, which was around 25 km from Jomsom. So, we all ate our dinner and headed off to sleep.
Day 3 – Jomsom to Muktinath Temple
Day 4 and Day 5 – Mustang to Kathmandu
So, that was it, time to go back home. Honestly, leaving Mustang in such a short period of time was a little desolated for me. I wish I had more time to visit there. But still, I had a very great time and I was leaving with so many beautiful memories of Mustang. We left the hotel in the morning right after having a cup of black tea. Returning back from Mustang, I recaptured the surroundings, beauty of nature and possibly everything I could fit in my mind. We travelled directly from Jomsom to Pokhara without stopping for anything other than lunch and few tea-breaks. The fun never left, it was always there. While coming back home, we went to Busy Bee in Pokhara and had a very refreshing time there too. After going back to our hotel, we had a small team meeting, one of the most important part of the annual retreat. During the team meeting, we discussed about our business, how it’s going, the future goals and further planning to grow our business. The meeting lasted for around an hour or two. After that, we left for Kathmandu the next morning and we were back in Kathmandu on November 5.
The trip was also a great way to make the bond stronger with the Theme Palace team and that too in a very fun way. We all got to know each other better and I think that is great for both me and the team. It was more like a combination of everything; the adventure, the fun, the team work, everything went perfectly on this trip (other than the off-roads of course.)
It was one hell of a hair-raising experience I had while riding to Mustang. The 5-day holiday trip was full of excitement, adventures and just FUN (although if we could’ve spend a little longer there, it would have been awesome-er.) I strongly recommend all of you to visit Mustang at least once, or those who love biking, this is one of the best route for biking; it’s really worth it. Adventure, excitement, beautiful scenery, sacred places, delicious foods, a lot of fun, you name it, Mustang has it all.
So, if you guys are also thinking about going on a long journey on your motorbike, clothing preparation should be the first thing to prioritize. It’s because biking is all about the wind and dust. So, one should be well prepared. Don’t worry, I’ve got a short list including some tips on what to fill in your backpack before leaving for a long tour on your motorbike.
- Waterproof Boots (if not waterproof then carry an extra pair of shoes with you)
- Biking Jackets or Waterproof and Windproof Jackets
- Knee and Hand Guards
- Backpack or Duffel Bag (remember to tie it to your motorbike)
- Windproof Gloves
- Shades
- Change your motorcycle’s tires with Offroad tires (the one with grips)
- Carry a GoPro (so you can relive every moment again)
Here are some of the snaps and videos from my adventurous ride to Mustang with Theme Palace team.