The Upper Mustang Trek is a 10 to 14-day journey into the former Kingdom of Lo, a high desert plateau behind the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges that was closed to outsiders until 1992. The route leads to the walled city of Lo Manthang at 3,840m, past wind-carved canyons, cave monasteries, and ochre cliffs that feel more Tibetan than Nepali.
Upper Mustang is a restricted-area cultural trek, moderate in difficulty but rich in history, and one of the few places to see preserved Tibetan Buddhist life.
Lo Manthang and the walled kingdom
Lo Manthang at 3,840m is a medieval walled town of whitewashed houses, monasteries, and the former King's palace, still the cultural heart of Mustang. Trekkers spend two nights here to explore the surrounding cave gompas and the cliffs of Chhoser.
The restricted-area permit
Upper Mustang requires a special restricted-area permit of USD 500 for 10 days, plus the ACAP permit, and you must travel with a registered agency. Our Nepal trekking permits guide explains the rules; a guided booking arranges everything.
Difficulty and best time
Upper Mustang stays between 2,800m and 3,900m, so altitude is rarely the problem; wind and sun are. Because it sits in the rain shadow, Mustang is one of the few treks that works in the monsoon months of June to August, as well as spring and autumn, unlike the Annapurna Circuit seasons.
