Upper Mustang

How Difficult is the Upper Mustang Trek?

This trek is a hard trek, with some very strenuous days, made more so by the dry, high altitude. The highest altitude you will reach is at Lo Manthang (3,810 m / 12,500 ft), which, while not excessively high for a trek in the Nepal Himalaya, is high enough for some people to feel the effects, such as headache and tiredness. Please see the section on Signs of Altitude Sickness.

We recommend you have some previous trekking experience and, of course, be fit and determined. It is also good if you are a person unfazed by sudden changes or hardships which may result out of our control. Such as flight delays due to weather, route changes due to the increasing incursion of vehicles in the remote areas, etc.

Physical Preparation before Arrival

Increase your cardio and strength training weeks in advance of your arrival. See our section on Health and Safety. If necessary, you should also buy the correct trekking gear, such as walking poles and good trekking boots (but wear these in before you come!) You should also leave details of your trek – location, the name of our company, etc, with someone at home in case of emergencies.

What is the Best Time to do the Upper Mustang Trek?

The best time to visit Upper Mustang is in the spring, March to June, when the weather is particularly nice at the lower altitudes. Temperatures can range from 20 degrees C (68 degrees F) to 0 degrees C (32 Degrees F).

With similar temperature, es autumn ranges from the end of September to mid-November.

As this area is in the rain shadow, it is possible to trek here in the monsoon also. But keep in mind that at the lower altitudes, it will be raining. Flights out of Jomsom may be affected by the weather, and there could be landslides on some of the roads.

Winter is not recommended due to the heavy snow and seriously low temperatures. If we tell you that the majority of the inhabitants of the Upper Mustang area migrate to Pokhara or Kathmandu from the end of November till the beginning of March, you will understand why we do not recommend this time.

Please remember, Nepal, like many other areas of the world, is subject to climate change. We have seen in 2025 that the monsoon started later, while the winter started earlier (November). This is one of the reasons we say you must be flexible and not on a strict timeline.

What Should I Pack for this Trek?

Please see our guide to your packing list. In addition, do not forget a simple first aid kit along with extras of any medicines you take on a regular basis. Bring extras in case of delays. And don’t forget some of your favourite snacks. Although there are small shops in some of the villages you will pass through, bringing some comfort food is always a good idea!

AAll-SeasonKit

• Trekking boots. If you need to buy new ones, wear them very well before coming.
• Trekking trousers x 2. Lightweight and easy to dry.
• Trekking shirts and/ or tee-shirts x 3. Lightweight and easy to dry.
• Heavy sweaters x 2. Wool or similar warm material.
• Thermal underwear. That means long pants and tops.
• Woollen socks x 2 or 3.
• Cotton socks x 2 or 3. To go inside your woollen socks.
• Underwear x the number of days on the trail.
• Woollen hat. For the cold.
• Sun hat. For the sun.
• Scarf/buff
• Gloves. Woollen ones with waterproof / thicker ones for higher altitudes.
• Sandals. For inside the teahouse.
• Down jacket. For cold mornings and evenings.
• Fleece jacket. For lower altitudes / warmer days, and which can fit under the down jacket when cold.
• Sleeping bag.
• Cotton sleeping bag lining. Fits into your sleeping bag. Particularly handy if you are hiring a sleeping bag.
• Small towel.
• Water bottle. Two is better.
• Trekking poles. Even if you have never used them, you will be surprised by what a difference they make!
• Headlight. Even in these days of mobile phones with torches, a headlight is extremely handy. Or should we say, it's ‘hands-free’? And extra batteries.
• Some snacks. Power bars, dried nuts and fruit, etc. You can buy some items at Namche Bazaar, but less expensive if you buy in Kathmandu or bring g from home.
• Phone charger and power pack. Most teahouses have charging facilities

Medical Kit and Toiletries

• Sunblock.
• Lipsalve
• Purifying water tablets/drops
• Medicines you regularly take. Plus, extras in case of the unforeseen.
• Diarrhoea medicine
• Throat lozenges
• Cough drops
• Eye drops
• Blister pads
• Headache tablets
• Antiseptic cream or liquid
• Bandages. In case of sprains.
• Elastoplast. In case of small cuts or to secure blister pads.
• Safety pins.
• Body/hair soap
• Body/face lotion
• Sanitary items.
• Toilet paper. Teahouses will not supply this.
• Plastic bags. For keeping wet/dirty clothes separate.

Extra Items for the Monsoon and Winter Seasons

• Long raincoat or poncho
• Rain hat
• Waterproof trousers
• Waterproof gloves
• Crampons. While you may never need them, it’s better to bring them if you can.

Day Pack Items

• Sun block
• Lip salve
• Water bottle and purifying liquid/drops
• Camera
• Phone
• Swiss army knife
• Whistle
• Sun / warm hat
• Medicines you need daily.
• Headache tablets.
• Sanitary wear (if necessary)
• Snacks

Pack Light

While the list seems long, these are the basics you will need for this length of trek. But please try to keep the weight down. If you are planning to carry your own pack, you should practice hiking up and down hills in your hometown. If you are planning to hire a porter (recommended for the majority of us), please remember that porters cannot carry more than 20 kg / 44 lbs.

Also note, airlines allow only 10 – 15 kg / 22 – 33 lbs per person. So, aim for that. For the return helicopter flight, it is advisable to keep your main pack down to 10kg / 22 lbs, as this, plus your day pack, will then reach the 15kg / 33 lb limit.

You will be carrying your own day pack. Keep that as light as possible also.

What is Special About the Culture of This Area?

Upper Mustang is a unique destination in Nepal. Cut off from the rest of the country until the 20th century, the culture of the Kingdom of Lo, as it was called then, remained very much as it had been for centuries. During the 8th century, legend has it, Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) came to Mustang and introduced Buddhism to the area. Throughout many parts of Nepal, you can find caves and relics relating to Guru Rinpoche, but one of the most famous is his footprints found in this area. Some time later, around 1380, a warrior called Ame Pal founded Lo Manthang and became its first king.

With its location, Mustang had control of the trade between the Himalayas and India and was closely tied to Tibet and the Qing Dynasty of China during the Sino-Nepalese War of 1788 to 1792. In 1795, the independent Kingdom of Mustang was annexed by Nepal.

The last reigning monarch, Jigme Dorje Palbar Bista, was a descendant of Ame Pal and ruled until 2008, when Nepal did away with all monarchs. Still considered king by the people of the area, Jigme Dorje died in 2016, and today his son, Jigme Sinki Palbar Bista, is still held in high regard.

Please do respect the culture by removing shoes before entering a monastery or home and asking for permission before taking close-up photographs of anyone or a religious object.

Traditionally, the people of Upper Mustang were involved in agriculture, animal husbandry, and trade. Today, this is still true, but some are also involved in tourism. Lo Manthang itself is particularly known for its conservation of culture and religion, mostly thanks to the last king. Jigme Dorje opened up the royal palace to visitors and protected some of the Buddhist monasteries in the area. Thanks to his continued support, the annual Tiji Festival is still thriving and attracts visitors and tourists from all over.

Tiji Festival

The Tiji Festival is the biggest in Upper Mustang, held in May. As it is based on the lunar calendar, the dates will be different every time, every year.

It is a three-day festival to celebrate good triumphing over evil. Although a very local festival, people from all over Mustang come to attend. It has also become of interest to foreign visitors due to its colourful nature and cultural experiences.

The festival started around 500 years ago, so it has a very long history! It originally celebrated the reincarnation of Buddha as Dorjee Sonom. Dorje Sonom fought and won over the demons who were terrorizing the people of Mustang.

Spread over three days, each day is different. Monks perform the ‘Tso Chham’ dance on day one. This tells the story of the demons and Dorjee Sonam. On the second day, Dorjee Sonam tries to chase the demons from Mustang through the waving of swords and dance. Finally, on the third day, Dorjee Sonam is successful. The ‘Rha Chham’ masked dance and a procession of locals go with Dorjee Sonam to the edge of the town to throw out the demons. This final day is the most spectacular for visitors.

Although the festival has much cultural and historical significance, it is also great fun for everyone!

If you are interested in seeing this festival, which takes place in Lo Manthang, please contact us, as we do have a trek specifically timed to take in this wonderful festival.

The People

The main ethnic group in Upper Mustang is the Lopa people, who have strong ties with Tibetan culture, following the Tibetan lifestyle of agriculture and husbandry. Other groups include Thakali and Gurung.

Although Buddhism is practised throughout this area, Bon can also be found. Bon is similar to Buddhism in many ways, being a practice from Tibet, but it is often seen in a negative light by Buddhists. There are very few remaining Bon practitioners in Nepal, some being in Upper Mustang and some being in Upper Dolpo.

The Landscape

Driving from Kathmandu to Pokhara gives you an overview of the lowlands and farmlands, then suddenly the high Himalayas are in front of you! As you make your way on your trek, you pass through river valleys, terraced fields and forests until you reach the point where the tree line stops and dry, desert-like features take over. Similar to what you find in Tibet. High cliffs surround you. With their strange red colour, they add to this surreal landscape. Of course, you are in the Himalayas, so there are towering snow mountains also.

What is the Accommodation Like on the Upper Mustang Trek?

Accommodation in this area is very basic. Sleeping rooms will consist of two beds. Single rooms are not often available. Toilets and showers are shared with other guests and are also very basic. It may be that the toilets and showers are outside the main building. There is no heating in the sleeping rooms. There is a communal dining room which will be heated, and a great place to meet other trekkers.

This is not an area to expect luxury accommodation, but an area to learn how the locals live and learn something about their culture.

What is the Food Like on the Trek?

Although this area is quite remote, in recent years it has begun to see more visitors, so the food in the teahouses (guest houses) has begun to be more appealing to visitors’ tastes.

Breakfast: porridge / Tsampa / Tibetan bread / pancakes / eggs in different formats / tea and coffee. And don’t forget to try salted Tibetan tea!

Dinner: basic soups / vegetables / fried rice / momos / Thukpa (a Tibetan noodle dish), tea / coffee / hot lemon.

Lunch: perhaps in a small place on the trail. Tibetantea/momoss / noodles. Or perhaps a packed lunch from the morning, such as Tibetan bread and honey.

What Does an Average Day on the Trek Look Like?

You will be sleeping in a teahouse, as is normal on the majority of treks in Nepal. A teahouse is a simple guest house, with twin rooms and shared toilets/ showers in the majority of cases. Your day begins with breakfast in the communal dining room before you set off on that day’s trek through this surprising landscape.

The majority of this area is desert-like; the atmosphere is dry as it hardly rains here. Please do wear sunscreen, as although it may not feel hot, the sun at altitude is strong. Your guide will point out various landmarks along the way, and you will see many mani walls (walls with Buddhist prayers carved into them), prayer flags and chortens (Buddhist shrines) of different sizes. You may visit a monastery or watch local people harvesting their crops, depending on the day.

Lunch is taken on the trail in a small teahouse. If not available, your guide will have arranged a packed lunch for you in the morning. When you arrive at the next night's teahouse, you can relax a bit before dinner. Over dinner, you can interact with other visitors and ask questions of your guide regarding the next day’s trek. Then it’s early to bed for another early start in the morning.

Eco-Friendly Responsible Trekking

We at Swotah Travels do our best to preserve the culture and environment of the areas we trek through. We request our clients to do the same.

Upper Mustang was only opened up to visitors in the 1990s. As it is a remote and restricted area, it saw very few tourists until recently. The high cost of entry for foreign tourists made the majority of trekkers think twice about visiting this wonderful area.

Today, with road transport is now possible to reach much of the area, tourists from other parts of Nepal (who do not need to pay any fee) have been exploring this area. This has had both good and bad impacts.

On the positive side, some local inhabitants of the area have seen their income increase as they set up homestays and teahouses or become local guides.

On the negative side, the trekking trails are shrinking as the Nepali tourists make their way by motorbikes and cars/ jeeps, etc.

With the reduction in November 2025 of the cost of a permit for foreign visitors to enter this area, it is likely to encourage foreign tourists to do a shorter trek or a trek plus drive tour.

What this means for the environment remains to be seen. But already we can see the impact of local tourism.

To help us and the people of Mustang keep their culture and environment as it have been for centuries, please do the following:

• Even if available, do not buy water in plastic bottles. Bring your own water bottle and purify tap/stream water (only where the guide tells you it is okay to do so) or buy boiled water from the teahouses.
• Do not litter. Take all your garbage with you to the next teahouse.
• Do not throw your rubbish into the kitchen fire. This is culturally inappropriate in Nepal. Put it in the assigned garbage can.
• Do not throw anything into the rivers or streams.
• Do not draw on or disfigure mani walls or any other buildings / chortens / shrines, etc.
• Do not pull down or take away prayer flags. Prayer flags are available for sale in various places for you to take home.
• Do be respectful in monasteries.
• If in doubt, ask your guide.

Supporting Local Communities

There is little option but to stay in teahouses and/ or home stays in this area. By doing so, you are directly contributing to the income of the community. In addition:

The souvenirs made locally that you buy go to help local community women.

The porter that you hire brings your money home to feed and clothe his family.

In any monastery you visit, it is normal and expected to give a donation, which goes towards the upkeep of the monastery and the monks. Locals also donate each visit.

Transport Logistics

You will drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara on a tourist bus. This takes approximately 8 hours. It does make a stop for lunch and toilet breaks. Carrying snacks and your own water is a good idea in case of delays.

The flight from Pokhara to Jomsom and the return journey take place in the early morning. As Jomsom is situated on the Kali Gandaki Gorge, high winds make it impossible to fly safely after noon. Flying on this route gives you great views of the mountains and the hills below. Should there be any delays or cancellations – due to weather or other things out of our control – we will reschedule the flights. If this is not possible, it is a 5 to 66-hour drive by local bus to/ from Pokhara to/from Jomsom.

Flying from Pokhara to Kathmandu, again, you will get great views of the mountains and then the foothills and valleys until you reach the Kathmandu Valley itself. All the flights are around 25 minutes long. Your guide will assist you in checking in, etc.

Permits

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) – Nrs 3,000 (approx. USD 22)

Required for everyone who enters the Mustang area. For those entering Upper Mustang, there is another permit required:

Restricted Area Permit – USD 50 per day

Previously, this permit was USD 500 for 10 days, regardless of whether you stayed for less than 10 days. This new cost of USD 50 per day will make it cheaper if your trek in Upper Mustang is under 10 days. This new cost, announced in November 2025, is in view of the road access now available, whereby some tourists are doing a combination of drive and trek, making their stay shorter.