Upper Mustang Trek, one of the most picturesque and exciting walks in the Nepalese Himalaya. The Mustang Trek takes you through dry, arid landscapes in high, eroded, and broken canyons and high, colorful cliffs.

Furthermore, due to Upper Mustang’s location bordering Tibet, Tibet’s culture and tradition are heavily influenced. It has long been a protected region secluded from the rest of the world, which is why heading to Upper Mustang takes you back in time. The ancient monasteries, traditional houses, medieval caves, unique dresses seem to be tucked away in the past. Upper Mustang height ranges from 3,050m/10,004ft near Chele to as high as 6,700m/22,000ft at Khamjung Himal. The trek will take you to the maximum altitude overnight stay of 3,730m/12,235ft at Lo Manthang.

Hence, trekking to Upper Mustang is a unique, eye-opening, and awe-striking experience. It is an easy to moderate trek best for the novice as well as regular trekkers. Even if you have been to Annapurna Base Camp, Everest Base Camp, Langtang Valley, or other treks in Nepal, it is worth revisiting Nepal just for the Upper Mustang Trek.

Major Attractions of Upper Mustang Trek

Some of the major highlights of Upper Mustang Trek are as follows

Views of the highest 7,000m and above mountains like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri along the trail
Explore the lifestyle of the ethnic Thakali and Tibetan Buddhists living in the villages of Mustang and Upper Mustang
Visit the 15th-century monasteries in Lo Manthang, including Jampa Lhakhang, Tubchen, Chode, and Choprang Goempa.
Cross the high Pa Pass at the maximum elevation of 4,210m/13,517ft
Witness the medieval caves made by the early settlers of the Kali Gandaki Valley in the high cliffs along the way
Walkthrough the forests of rhododendrons, oaks, and pines with the opportunity to see exotic animals

Upper Mustang Trek

Best Season for Upper Mustang Trek

The best time for Upper Mustang Trekking is during May when locals celebrate their biggest festival called Tiji. The festival lasts for three days and offers an intimate glimpse at the culture, practices, and beliefs of the locals. The temperature ranges between 16°C to 22°C.

Likewise, you can also trek in the monsoon season (June to September). Upper Mustang falls under the rain shadow area, which means no rainfall whatsoever. You might face a slippery trail and rain at the lower altitude, but once you enter Upper Mustang, it is a whole different world. The temperature ranges between 16°C to 20°C.

Autumn (October to November) and spring (March to April) is the universal time to trek in the Himalayas, including the Upper Mustang. Everything is perfect for trekking in these two seasons, either we talk about sable weather, climate, or views.

Food and Accommodation

Upper Mustang is a Tea House Accommodation Trek. And the houses are traditionally made of brick and mud, mostly painted white.

These Tea Houses offer minimalist food like soup, pasta, potatoes, noodles, fried rice, vegetables, Dal-Bhat, eggs, etc.

As the Mustang region is known predominantly for apple farming, you will find many drinks and snacks made out of apples. You can try their famous apple juice and local wine. Soft drinks generally cost double that found in the city area, because of the transportation cost.

They are all comfortable and at least equipped with bathrooms, dining rooms, beds, and often showers and even Wi-Fi.

The shelters can sometimes fill up quickly in high season, so large one’s groups often bring camping supplies just in case. However, as the area gains popularity, the new teahouse lodge is under construction.

Only a few tea houses have attached bathrooms, and the rest use the communal toilets/bathrooms. Most of them have squat seats. Carry your toilet paper and pocket soap because not every tea house facilitates it.

Showers are also not attached in the tea house and are communal as well. For a hot shower, you will have to pay USD 2 approximately in the mustang region. Most tea houses rely on solar heating, and some have gas showers as well.

The dining room is also communal, with large tables accommodating many tourists. The walls are colorfully painted, and tables have butter lamps and incense. Some tea houses have gas heaters in the room to keep warm.

Required Documents for Upper Mustang Trek

All non nepalis require permit.

ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit)

Everyone entering the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) area requires an entry permit which costs $20 per person for a single entry into the area but is valid for as long as the trek takes.

There is no restriction on the length of time a person can stay in the ACAP area.

RAP (Restricted Area Permit)

In addition, if someone is going into Upper Mustang (from Kagbeni onwards) they require a RAP (Restricted Area Permit).

This costs $500 per person for 10 days. If longer is required, an additional $50 per day is charged.

No TIMS or Trekkers Information Management System card is required for Upper Mustang as the Restricted Area Permit(RAP) is sufficient as it provides details of the trekker and his/her destination in case of an emergency or problem.

For those trekking in Lower Mustang, TIMs and ACAP permits can be obtained by the trekker themselves at the Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu and the Tourist Office in Pokhara.

Individual trekkers cannot obtain the RAP permit for Upper Mustang themselves. In fact, no one can trek in Upper Mustang alone. Please also note that an individual guide cannot obtain the permit for a trekker. RAP permits must be obtained through a trekking company registered in Nepal.