Does anyone have any hints/tips for places to ride to in Nepal?

I spoke to the guys at Eagle Exports (and if you're reading this, I'll drop in again, I just got sick!) and they said heading east wasn't worth it, not much to see in the plains, and the whole everest region is foot traffic only. And again in the north west, not much there either.

I have a three month visa, so time isn't an issue. My current list of places in rough route order are:
- Baktapur
- The friendship bridge to china and the valleys along the way
- Dunche/Langtang?
- Daman
- Chitwan
- Pokhara
- Jomsom, maybe further into Mustang if I can, the fee seems high though
- Bardia

From the above I'm still not sure where I can actually ride, the maps here mostly show trekking routes and that may cover up the road underneath.

So far I've ruled out heading too far east from Kathmandu, from what I hear and read there's not too much of interest out that way that I can get to, but am I missing anything by doing that? And when heading west from Pokhara I'll probably stick to the main highway and enter into India somewhere near Bardia or the western border.

Because I've been sick all I've seen is Thamel and the Airport so I've no idea what to expect outside of Kathmandu. I'm waiting for my Indian visa so I don't have to come back to this horrible city again

Also, Insurance? Anything I can get here that will cover India too? Can't find much info regarding this. I was going to go to Royal International Motorcycle and ask around there too but haven't felt well enough to stray too far from the facilities.

Also also, anyone else in Nepal?

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http://ryanbeales.blogspot.com/

Hi,
I have read this webpage from a bike hire place in Kathmandu that gives some ideas about riding around Nepal.
Bike Rental Services in Kathmandu Nepal | Rent a Bike Motorcycle in Kathmandu Nepal Pokhara Chitwan Nagarkot Dhulikhel
You could drop in on them I guess to talk about their ideas.

I've also been reading about the country and it seems to be all about a pretty crowded place with a lot of the population hemmed into a valley type topography and the usual features associated with that i.e. roads that follow the lines of least resistance.

So, what is horrible about their capital, apart from being sick? Get well soon by the way

ps This thread might be useful to you http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-bangkok-61750

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Dave

Thanks! I'd seen that other thread but only skimmed over it before, a bit of detail for the Pokhara region but still nothing about the south east or west.

A lot of what I read seems to focus on the central part of the country from the Kathmandu Valley to Pokhara and Chitwan. The site you linked all seems to cover just that part of Nepal too. I just wondered if it was worth heading out to the east or west because I can't find anything about the areas. It all reads like I should just focus on exploring as much of the central part as possible.

I think my problem with Kathmandu is the noise and number of people! You can't walk down the road without almost being run over, and there's a CONSTANT use of horns for no payoff that I can see because everyone just starts ignoring them. It's very much like Hanoi where if you venture outside it just wears you down quickly. I never felt like that in any other SEA cities I've been to. And also the general dickishness about how they rip you off here, giving one tourist-inflated price first and then tripling it later when it's time to pay, like it's a fun game to treat you like you're that dumb. It just leaves a horrible impression of the place. Outside Thamel that tapers off of course.

I need to get out of Kathmandu

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http://ryanbeales.blogspot.com/

Yea, my reading, so far, has been much the same - mainly it has been Nepal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and the links in there.

Kathmandu does appear to be as bad as many other capital cities; no consolation at all, but London is shaping up the same way for the Olympics, with a doubling (so far) of room rates at the hotels.

I can see why you need to get out of K! Just move on and see where it takes you can be the best plan sometimes, and Pokhara can't be worse?

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Dave

I have just left Nepal, after riding an Enfield around for a month, went up to Muktinath, great ride, but I have a friend in Kathmandu that owns a company called Wild Tracks Nepal, Sherap Sherpa +9779851054001 he runs tours all over Nepal on Enfields, give him a ring & tell him Paul & Jan said to tell you the best places to go & even where to stay, he will love to hear from you. (And he will not try and sell you anything either !!!!) he just loves biking & is making a film about riding Enfields. My wife and I are riding to Ladakh in July.
Cheers
Paul

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www.globetrekkers.net.au

PaulD - so glad you posted up that info - my wife and I will be in KTM in October and I would love to rent a bike and do some touring without having to rely on buses or taxis to get me around. Does your friend have a website or anything? the only other place I have seen renting Enfields in KTM was Hearts and Tears and their prices seemd a bit high quite frankly.

How much does your friend charge and is there any way I can contact him by e-mail??

BTW - a friend and I are heading up to Ladakh in September!!

Sherap Sherpa is his name (Wild Tracks Nepal) he will be the one to give you advice but rent the bike from Bikemandu.com he is such a nice bloke as well, and prices are good. Sherap will be very happy if you contact him.
Cheers
Paul

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....rather Die Living.....than Live Dying !
www.globetrekkers.net.au

Cool - thanks Paul... Soooo rent the bike from BikeMandu and then contact your pal Sherap Sherpa to arrange tours or get recommendations on places to visit etc??

Hi mate
i have been on a couple of climbing expeditions in Nepal. Apart from motorcycling you could consider a trek. A trek in the Khumbu valley to Namche Bazaar is awesome with spectacular views brilliant people and the bonus of clocking Mt everest. For the excitement dept the landing a Lukla airport takes some beating. have fun.

I got in a short "backpacking" trip to Nepal and I found Kathmandu to be OK for me. Sure, it is dusty, crowded, full of people, traffic, rickshaws, bicycles, motorbikes and sacred cows, but it is lively and the capital has vitality + the locals, throughout the country are very friendly.
I didn't feel ripped off, but I have worked and lived in countries where there are at least two economies - that for the local people and another, more expensive one, for the expats/visitors. I am happy with this when the circumstances warrant it; in the case of Nepal, they have come through significant political turmoil and civil war so they are only now dealing with the associated problems. Most of the population are still, literally, dirt poor.
I did do some haggling over prices, but not too strongly on my part.

As for the driving, those vehicles are talking to each other by using their vehicle horns; it seemed to me that the use of a horn by a vehicle was well recognised by those it was aimed at and those hearing it reacted correctly - here in the UK, the use of the horn is usually an act of beligerance, to be ignored, or worse, by those it is aimed at!


Just to confirm, Hearts and Tears is based in Pokhara, about 200 Km west of KTM ( i.e. it is not in the capital) and it is closed; in fact, around the time I visited Pokhara H & T was advertised as up for sale; I spoke with some folks there who explained that the owner had contracted cancer and had returned to the UK for treatment.

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Dave

Dave,
The bloke from H&Ts (I can't think of his name) did get cancer & went to Singapore for treatment. He has now returned to the UK with the intention of going back to Nepal (however I don't think this will happen) apparently he is OK but I do think unfortunately H&Ts is now a thing of the past.


Paul

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....rather Die Living.....than Live Dying !
www.globetrekkers.net.au