ModerateMustang
Upper Mustang Trek
Lo Manthang (3,840 m): medieval walled capital of the Mustang Kingdom, with 15th-century monastery murals
14 days
3,840m
Max 10
From
$1,890 /person
Nepal Trekking
Mustang Region Trekking
The last preserved medieval Tibetan kingdom. Ancient cave monasteries, walled cities, and a landscape that looks like Mars.
Mustang Region Treks
ModerateView Upper Mustang Trek
Upper Mustang is a restricted trans-Himalayan region on Nepal's border with Tibet — a high-altitude desert that sits in the rain shadow of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs. That rain shadow is what makes it unusual: because monsoon clouds rarely cross into Mustang, it's one of the few Himalayan treks that stays walkable through the June–August wet season, when most of Nepal is under cloud.
The trek follows the Kali Gandaki valley north from Jomsom to Lo Manthang, the walled former capital of an independent Buddhist kingdom that only opened to outside visitors in 1992. Along the way, centuries-old cave monasteries are cut directly into cliff faces, and the eroded red-and-ochre badlands look more like the American Southwest than the Himalaya most people picture.
Because Upper Mustang is a government-restricted area, it requires a special permit issued only to registered trekking agencies for groups of two or more, in addition to the standard ACAP permit — your guide handles both. A typical Upper Mustang trek runs 10–14 days, usually flying between Pokhara and Jomsom to bookend the walking.
Mustang Trekking — Frequently Asked Questions
Can you trek Upper Mustang alone?
No — Upper Mustang is a restricted area, so trekkers must travel in a group of at least two people with a licensed guide from a registered agency, which arranges the special restricted-area permit.
Is Upper Mustang trekkable during the monsoon?
Yes. Mustang sits in the rain shadow of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, so it stays largely dry through June–August when most other Nepal treks are affected by monsoon rain.
How do you get to the start of the Upper Mustang trek?
Most itineraries fly from Pokhara to Jomsom, then trek north through Kagbeni into the restricted zone toward Lo Manthang.
