The Upper Mustang Trek is in an ancient Buddhist kingdom in Nepal. It is a forbidden region behind the high Annapurna mountains. This high-mountain desert region is similar to Tibetan land, so you might get a Tibetan feel while visiting the upper Mustang.
Mustang had a separate king when Nepal was a kingdom but belonged to Nepal. There is still a palace in Lomanthang. The Trek goes through a historical village, Kagbeni, a gateway to the Upper Mustang. Distinct types of landscapes and colorful hills dot the region.
Historical caves, wall paintings, and Buddhist monuments show some of Mustang's ancient lifestyles and cultures. The Mustang Trek also offers attractions such as religion, culture, outstanding landscapes, and panoramic views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Tilicho Peak, Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, and other high mountains.
Upper Mustang is a restricted region, so you must have a special Trekking Permit to enter. Lomantang is the last destination of Mustang Trekking. You walk through Chele, Syangbochen, Ghami, and Tsarang before reaching Lomantang. When you get there, you can visit three old monasteries that have existed since the 13th or 14th century in Lo Manthang in the afternoon. A four-story Jong cave in Chhoser village provides the Mustang people’s ancient history and lifestyle on the day of exploration from Lo Manthang.
On your return, visit Ghar Gompa on the way to Dhakmar. It was constructed in the 12th century and dedicated to Guru Rinpoche, who visited the region. The strong belief is that it will come true if you wish anything from this Gompa. You can only see Annapurna I from this upper trail to Dhakmar during this Mustang Trek.
Upper Mustang Jeep Tour
There is road access to Lomangtang and even further to the Tibetan border. If you do not have enough time, can’t walk at a high altitude, or don’t want to trek through dusty trails, you can book a jeep tour to the Upper Mustang.
The Jeep Tour to the Upper Mustang is a luxury mountain trip, so you can explore everything that the trekkers do during the trip. The 14-day Mustang trek itinerary can be completed in 5 days on a Jeep Tour. So, it may save you time, stamina, and money.
The Upper Mustang Jeep Tour begins in Pokhara and goes to Kagbeni on the first day. After spending a night in Kagbeni, you drive to Lomanthang on the second day. Then, you visit Chhoser on the exploration day from Lo village and return to Dhakmar via Ghar Gompa. You can visit caves on the cliffside of colorful hills in Dhakmar. The fourth-day drive is back to Tatopani from Dhakmar, and the fifth day is to Pokhara.
Upper Mustang Jeep Tour Itinerary
- Day 01: Drive from Pokhara to Kagbeni (2,800m) 7-8 hrs
- Day 02: Drive from Kagbeni to Lomanthang (3,840m) 5 hrs
- Day 03: Drive to Chhoser (4,784m) for 30 minutes and drive back to Dhakmar (3,820m) for 4 hours.
- Day 04: Drive from Dhakmar to Tatopani (1,190m) 6 hrs
- Day 05: Drive from Tatopani to Pokhara (8,20m) 5 hrs
The Best Time to Trek to Upper Mustang
September to December and March to May are the Best times for the Mustang Trek. These months usually have clear views of the mountains. Winter is cold, but you can do this with warm equipment. The Mustang is a rain-shadow region, which is doable even during the monsoon season. But it may affect the Jomsom flight of summer rain and clouds. Trekking to the Upper Mustang in the summer takes around 3 weeks.
Trek Cost for Upper Mustang
The Upper Mustang is more expensive than the other Regular treks in Nepal. A restricted area permit makes the trip costly. At least two trekkers must be in a group for the Upper Mustang.
We also organize the Mustang trek for a single person, but the cost is high because of permit sharing. 2–4 people cost 2,400 USD per person for the Mustang Trek. If you have a bigger group with more than five trekkers, the cost is reduced from the main Package Cost.
We usually arrange trekking to the Upper Mustang, including all-inclusive mountain trips. The package also covers a full-day city tour of Kathmandu and accommodation in the city. You hire a guide and porter on the Mustang Trek and pay for the cheaper food.
Trekking Itinerary to Upper Mustang
The Mustang Trekking Itinerary depends on the route and direction that you are following. Start walking from Nayapul and Beni and fly out from Jomsom after Lomanthang. This is a long Itinerary. A two-way flight to or from Jomsom is a short Mustang Trekking Itinerary.
Alternatively, you can walk from Kagbeni to Lomanthang and Trek back to Kagbeni again. You can drive back from Kagbeni to Pokhara in one day. It is a 12-day upper Mustang itinerary if you drive to or from Kagbeni. The road is bumpy with lots of landslides after rainfall, so taking the driving route during the monsoon to Mustang is no good.
Our regular Mustang Trek Itinerary is for 14 days, but you find it for 19 days from your home to your home. The Mustang journey begins with a flight to Jomsom from Pokhara and trekking to the Kagbeni on the first day. Then it goes to Lomanthang via Chele, Syangbochen, Ghami, and Tsusang. You have an exploration day in Lo village, where you can visit the Jhong cave and monasteries. On your return, you take the upper route via Ghar Gompa to Dhakmar. You can fly out from Jomsom after your Trek if you have a short holiday in Mustang. Otherwise, you can walk down to Beni or Nayapul for a few more days.
Upper Mustang for Nepali
Most Nepali travelers to the Upper Mustang take a jeep tour. It is very cheap to travel to Mustang for Nepalis. The internal visitors do not need a special permit for the Mustang. Rather than doing a Trek, all Nepalese visitors drive in a jeep or take a bike tour to the Upper Mustang.
All Nepalese travelers to Lomanthang cannot ride motorbikes, and some might not be interested in driving off-road in the Himalayas. We offer all transportation from Kathmandu to Lomantang and the Tibetan border to Nepal. We arrange a tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara and a 4-wheel-drive Jeep to the Mustang. It is a group tour, so we collect people to operate the trips to the Mustang.
Permit Cost for Upper Mustang
Trekkers need to get two different Permits for the Mustang Trek. Annapurna conservation area entry tickets and restricted area entry tickets are essential entry documents for the Upper Mustang. The limited license can be issued from the Nepal immigration offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara. One can obtain Annapurna conservation from the National Trust for Nature Conservation offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Nepalese visitors do not need a Special Permit, but other travelers must have one. All foreigners must pay 500 USD per person for the first ten days. After the tenth day, an additional 50 USD per day will be added. The fare is the same for all national visitors except Nepalis. However, the Annapurna Conservation Entry Permit has a price variation. It costs 3,000 NPR for all trekkers except South Asian travelers, while visitors from India pay just 1,500 NPR.
Mustang Trek Attraction
Kaligandaki Valley and Gorge
The Kali Gandaki Valley is a Himalayan valley between two massive mountain ranges, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. It is a windy valley, so a big wind blows in the afternoon every day. But if the day is cloudy, there won’t be a strong wind. Walking through the Kaligandaki river bank in this valley, you can collect some Saligrama (fossils).
The Kali Gandaki river gorge (Andha Galchi) is the world’s deepest gorge between Ghasa and Dana villages. This deep Galchi divides Dhaulagiri (8,167m) between the west and the Annapurna I (8,091m) in the east. Because of the measurement of these two giant peaks from the bottom, it is the world’s deepest canyon.
Kagbeni Village
Kagbeni is an ancient and beautiful village in the Mustang district. Located at 2,800m, it is the gateway to the Upper Mustang. Kag Chode Thupten Samphel Ling Monastery in the place is a highlight to visit.
It is a holy place for Hindus. There are many Hindus from different regions of Nepal attending a ritual ceremony for their lost parents. Kagbeni divides the trail to Muktinath and Lomantang.
Off-Genre Landscapes and Colorful Hills
Nepal mostly has green lands, but you can see different landscapes on the Mustang Trek. Except for some barley and oat farms, it is hard to find green grassland. So, The Mustang is composed of the high Himalayan desert lands.
The Colorful Hills give you a feeling of being in another universe from the Mustang region. There are hundreds of caves on the sides of these Hills. The locals entered the caves for religious and safety purposes.
Experiencing the Religion and Culture of Mustang
Visiting ancient, historic Monasteries in the Upper Mustang may offer peace and prosperity. You will have a fateful time learning about Religion and Culture at these religious sites. You can also learn about the second mini-kingdom of Nepal by visiting the palace in Lomantang. The polyandry marriage system and sky burial death ritual are strange experiences for Mustang visitors. The Tiji is a fateful festival celebrated yearly in Lo Manthang in May.
Jhong Cave
The Jong (Zhong cave) is a sky cave in Chhoser village. This 5-story cavern has more than 40 different rooms. You can visit this during the exploration day from Lomanthang. The man made it, but there is no proof of who had it.
According to the legend, the villagers hid in this cave to protect themselves from the enemy. From its windows, you can see a beautiful glimpse of Chhoser village, monasteries, and mountains.
Accommodation, Food, and Drinks in Upper Mustang
The Trekking trail to the Upper Mustang is well organized, so getting accommodations during the Trek is not tricky. Most of the lodges have attached bathrooms in the camps. Because there are few trekkers, you can easily find Accommodation during the tour.
You can order food from a menu in the guesthouses where you stay. So, you don’t have to take the local dishes on the trek. You can buy bottled mineral water everywhere along the way. Also, you can drink tap water using the purification methods if you would like to.
Internet, Phone, and Battery Charging
There have been no Wi-Fi services for Internet users until now, but they will soon be available. You can take a SIM card with Internet data for the Upper Mustang Region. There is just a signal for the NTC mobile in the Upper Mustang Region, so be sure if you are buying the NTC or NCELL card. You can also call your family and relatives through this SIM from the Upper Mustang.
You can charge your phone, camera, and other gadgets during the trek, and it’s mostly free. Most of the places on the Upper Mustang Route have proper electricity.
Trekking Equipment for the Upper Mustang
Trekking Equipment plays a vital role in successful Himalayan travel. The Mustang is a cold and windy region, so having the essential gear to stay protected from these things is good. You might not need to pack rain gear for the Mustang. As you hear, it is a rain-shadow region. Of course, It doesn’t rain in the higher territory, but it does in the lower areas. So, check out some essential gear for the Mustang that you should not forget to pack here:
- Sun hat
- Warm hat
- Sunglasses
- Thermal layers
- A few long and short trekking shirts
- Long and short hiking trousers
- Buff
- Fleece jacket
- Wind stopper
- Down jacket
- A few pairs of trekking socks
- Rain gear
- Daypack
- Rukshak or duffel bag
- Head torch
- Sun lotion
- Lip balm
- Good-quality hiking boots
- Sport shoes
- Water sandals
- Warm gloves
- Windproof trouser
Collaborate with Frolic Adventure for the Upper Mustang Journey.
Frolic Adventure operates this Trek from Kathmandu. We are an authorized local trekking organizer in Nepal. Remember us for your amazing Mustang trip, so we manage the Mustang Tour at a reliable cost and securely. To travel to Mustang, at least two must be in a group. We make bookings for individuals and manage group permits for the Upper Mustang. You can directly book the trip using our departure dates or offer your own by contacting us.
