The Upper Mustang Trek - 10 Days

In short: Upper Mustang suits walkers who want a culture trek through a high Tibetan-style desert and not a mountain pass. It runs 10 days from Kathmandu, sleeps no higher than Lo Manthang at 3,840 m (the Choku La, at about 4,290 m, is the highest point you walk over) and is graded moderate. Prices start from USD 1,290 per person on Budget, USD 1,930 on Standard and USD 3,500 on Luxury, with the restricted-area permit included.

Road note: as of 14 October 2026 the Beni–Jomsom road is repaired and open to vehicles again. We check 48 hours before departure; if it is not open we move your dates free.

Trek Highlights

• 10-day private trek through Nepal’s restricted Mustang region, including 2 nights at Lo Manthang, the walled medieval capital of the former Kingdom of Mustang.
• Restricted area permit included in your tier price (USD 50 per day, paid to the Nepal government for the days you are inside Upper Mustang: 8 days, so USD 400, on this itinerary). The fee also keeps visitor numbers low.
• Dry rain-shadow landscape that feels physically and culturally like the Tibetan plateau. Closed to outsiders until 1992.
• A private trek with your own licensed guide. Porters by tier: none on Budget, one for every two trekkers on Standard, one each on Luxury.
• 10% deposit to lock dates, balance paid in person in Kathmandu.
• Every booking helps fund our Nagarjun Learning Center work at Saldum, where 70 children are taught by one dedicated teacher.

Why I built this trek the way I did

I am Shreejan, the founder of The Everest Holiday. Upper Mustang has one of the highest permit fees of any region we work in. The Nepal government charges USD 50 per person per day for the restricted area permit, billed only for the days you are inside Upper Mustang. We pay this permit cost upfront for you and include it in the tier price. It is one of the reasons the trek looks more expensive than a standard Annapurna trek of similar length.

The cost is real, but so is what you get for it. Upper Mustang is the part of Nepal open to trekkers that feels most like the Tibetan plateau. The walled city of Lo Manthang, the chortens and cave monasteries, the dry red-rock landscape, the language people still speak in their kitchens. The region was completely closed to outsiders until 1992. The permit fee also helps keep visitor numbers low.

I run this as 10 days because the road to Jomsom has shortened the access window without changing the cultural depth of what is north of Kagbeni. Days 1 to 3 get you in. Days 4 to 7 are the real trek through Mustang’s villages. Days 8 to 10 bring you back out. The 10-day shape respects both your time budget and the time you actually need at Lo Manthang to absorb where you are.

If you are still weighing this against the cheaper, easier country south of Kagbeni, I have written that comparison honestly: Upper Mustang or Lower Mustang, which trek should you choose. Lower Mustang needs no restricted-area permit and costs a good deal less, and for some people it is genuinely the better trip.

We run this as a private trek by default, and we never add strangers to your booking. If you would rather have company on the trail, you can choose to join one of our fixed departures instead. Either way the price per person is the same. Your pace, your rest days, your conversations at dinner. Your guide is with you whether you are one person or twenty. Porters depend on the tier: none on Budget, one for every two trekkers on Standard, one each on Luxury.

Every booking on this trip helps us pay the teacher’s salary at our Nagarjun Learning Center in Saldum, where 70 children get free education. The salary is currently funded out of my own pocket. Your trek is what makes that sustainable.

“And we did upper mustang trip also last year with Shreejan which was amazing trip of my life. I will recommend this company and Shreejan for any trip in Nepal.”

— Angelica R · TripAdvisor, August 2024 · ★★★★★

The Upper Mustang Trek takes you on an extraordinary trek through the old Kingdom of Lo, which is one of Nepal's most remote and culturally rich areas. This desert terrain is very different from the lush foliage that is common in Nepal. It is located in the rain shadow  of the Himalayas. Upper Mustang was closed to outsiders until 1992 and is still a restricted area, which has helped keep  its distinctive Tibetan Buddhist culture, old monasteries, and ancient caverns on the cliffs. Today, it is a top teahouse excursion for people who want to explore culture and history up close and personal, away from the masses.

What Makes This Trek Special

• Old monasteries at Kagbeni, Tsarang and Lo Manthang, and Ghar Gompa, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Nepal.
• A drive that climbs from the green middle hills into the high desert of the Kali Gandaki.
• Going to the old walled city of Lo Manthang.
• Seeing the one-of-a-kind high desert terrain.
• Finding old cave homes.
• Seeing the Tiji Festival (if you get the timing right).
• Crossing the Nyi La (4,010m) on the way up, the Choku La (about 4,290m) past Ghar Gompa into Lo Manthang, and the Lo La (3,950m) on the way back.
• Walking along the Kali Gandaki valley, the deepest gorge in the world, with Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Annapurna I (8,091m) on either side.
• Seeing wide vistas of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains.
• Experiencing Tibetan Buddhist culture that has been maintained.
• An authentic Himalayan experience away from the crowded teahouse routes of the Annapurna and Everest regions.

10-Day Upper Mustang Trek Overview

Explore Upper Mustang, a region of Nepal that remained isolated from the rest of the world until 1992. This secluded area is sometimes nicknamed the "Last Forbidden Kingdom." It keeps Tibetan Buddhist culture alive in its purest form through old monasteries, medieval palaces, and traditional villages that have remained unchanged over time. The terrain is very different from what you would expect to see in the Himalayas. It's a beautiful high-altitude desert with eroded cliffs, deep valleys, and huge, dry plateaus. This is a culture trek, and you see how the Loba people live, speak, and practice their religion, which are all part of a deep Tibetan legacy.

The hike brings you into the Himalayas' rain shadow, where the rocks change into a beautiful mix of red, brown, and ochre. After the Kali Gandaki valley, which is the deepest valley in the world, you'll walk over pathways that are blown by the wind and have amazing views of big mountains like Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Nilgiri. This area has a unique trans-Himalayan ecology, showcasing uncommon plants, historic cave homes, and rocks adorned with prayer flags. The architecture of Mustang,  with its whitewashed buildings, beautifully carved entrances, and mountain fortifications, is a mix of Nepalese and Tibetan styles. Such diversity makes it a wonderful place for photographers and culture lovers to visit. 

Our journey starts with a long drive from Kathmandu to Kagbeni. The entrance to Upper Mustang and Chele is where the desert environment truly comes to life. The best part of the trip is Lo Manthang, the walled capital of the old kingdom. You will see historic monuments like the Royal Palace, Thubchen Gompa,  and  the  Chhoser  Cave  Complex,  which  is  a  maze  of  tunnels  constructed  by  people thousands of years ago. The way back crosses the Lo La to Tsarang and Ghami, then follows the high trail through Samar and Chele down to Kagbeni.

The Upper Mustang Trek offers a rare experience that combines raw scenery with living history.  It's great for experienced  trekkers  and  people  who  want  to  learn  about  different cultures. The days are full of living history, from the lively Tiji Festival (if you schedule it properly) to the kind welcome of the Loba people.

Before You Arrive

For a smooth and easy start, we highly recommend arriving in Kathmandu by 4 PM the day before we leave. This gives you enough time for a final gear check, a trip briefing with your guide, and to make sure you have everything you need before heading to the trek. 

Online Briefing

This is like our first coffee before the trip, but online!  This online meeting is our chance to show you everything that will happen on the trip. We will discuss everything from what gear to bring to what each day on the route will be like and how it will feel. We will answer any questions you have.  After you book, we'll send you an email with a couple of times when we can talk. We'll set up the meeting after the booking process is completed. Also, our trek itinerary does not include your hotel stay in Kathmandu. During the online meeting, please share your preferences, budget, and the standard of the hotel you would like to stay at in Kathmandu. We will arrange it for you accordingly. 

Your Trek, Your Way

Experience the Himalayas on your terms. We create personal, intimate treks for any group size, from one person up. Whether you select our Budget, Standard, or Luxury package, your adventure will be tailored exclusively for you and your companions, for a comfortable and personalised journey from start to finish.

Kathmandu Accommodation

Your hotel in Kathmandu is not included in the trek package. During the online briefing before your trek, we will ask about your preferences and budget — whether you want a simple guesthouse or a five-star hotel — and help you arrange it. Your trek package begins when you leave Kathmandu for the mountains.

Upper Mustang at a glance

Scheduled Pokhara–Jomsom flights stopped on 19–21 October 2026 for about five months (charter flights still run), so for now we go by road. The Beni–Jomsom road is open again after the September floods but slow in places (checked 26 October 2026).

Best time to trek Upper Mustang

Month by month: when to go

Upper Mustang gets very little rain, because it sits behind the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, so it works in the months when the rest of Nepal is wet. The wind is the constant: it blows through the Kali Gandaki gorge most afternoons, at 40 to 60 km an hour by 1 or 2 pm, so we start at about 7 am. The Tiji festival follows the Tibetan lunar calendar and its dates move each year, so ask us before you plan around it. More in Upper Mustang in the monsoon and the Tiji festival guide.

Permits

Upper Mustang is a restricted area, so it needs the special permit and a licensed guide from a registered agency. We arrange every permit below and include them in your trek price.

What the price covers, and what it does not

Upper Mustang is a restricted area. The Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit costs USD 50 per person per day for the days you spend inside the area, which is 8 days (day 2 to day 9) on our itinerary, so USD 400. There has been no 10-day minimum since December 2025. You also need the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (NPR 3,000) and a TIMS card (NPR 2,000). The restricted-area permit does not replace TIMS. We arrange all three and include them in your price, and the permit application needs 48 hours in government working days. See Upper Mustang trek cost and the new permit rates.

Not in the price: your international flights, your Nepal visa (USD 50 for 30 days on arrival), travel insurance bought at home with helicopter cover, your Kathmandu hotel, tips for your team, and on Budget your meals (about USD 20 to 30 a day here, because almost everything is carried in).

A 10% deposit (about USD 129 on Budget) confirms your dates. You pay it by card through Himalayan Bank's secure gateway, and you pay the balance when you arrive in Kathmandu, in US dollars or euros, in cash or by card (card payments carry a 3.5% bank charge). If your plans change we move your trip to any date within a year, free, with 7 days' notice. The deposit itself is not refunded if you cancel. If we cannot run the trip ourselves, we refund what you have paid, less taxes, bank and card charges and any money already spent for you on permits and flights.

Getting there

Our itinerary drives you from Kathmandu to Kagbeni (2,804 m) in one long day, about 350 km through Pokhara and up the Kali Gandaki, and you drive back on day 10. If you would rather fly, we can arrange the Pokhara to Jomsom flight on request, but it runs only in the morning and winds usually stop flights after midday. As of 14 October 2026 the Beni–Jomsom road is repaired and open to vehicles again. We check 48 hours before departure; if it is not open we move your dates free. See how to reach Mustang by road or by air.

Safety and altitude

Altitude is a moderate risk. You start at Kagbeni (2,804 m) and Chele (3,055 m), then jump to Syangboche (3,800 m) on day 3, and you sleep at Lo Manthang (3,840 m) for two nights, with a full day there. The Choku La is about 4,290 m. Dry air makes dehydration easy, so drink plenty. Your guide carries a pulse oximeter and checks you daily. You cannot walk apart from your guide, because the guide is named on the restricted-area permit and checked at the army and police posts. Your insurance must cover trekking to 4,500 m and helicopter evacuation. See Upper Mustang distance and difficulty.

Packing basics

Sun and dust matter more than rain. Bring a wide-brimmed hat, SPF 50, lip balm, good sunglasses, a buff for the dust, moisturiser, a head torch and a light waterproof jacket for the odd shower, plus warm layers for cold evenings and a down jacket in spring and autumn. Boots you have already walked in. If you do not own a sleeping bag or down jacket, tell us at your online briefing and we will lend you ones. We send the full list when you book.

Budget, Standard or Luxury: what actually changes

If you are going alone, Luxury still gives you your own dedicated porter. On Standard there is no porter, because porters are shared one between two trekkers, so your guide carries up to 10 kg of your bag instead. Budget never has a porter. You can add a porter of your own on any tier for USD 25 per day, plus 13% VAT and the 3.5% bank charge on top. Since 22 March 2026 a single trekker can hold the restricted-area permit, as long as a licensed guide walks with you.

Kathmandu hotel nights are not included in any trek tier, so tell us your budget at the online briefing and we will book them for you. We name your guide once you have booked.

Trekking as a group?

Bring your own group — friends, family, a club, a university society, your workplace, or a cause you are raising money for — and any of the three comfort levels can run as a private group on your own dates. Private or group, the price per person is the same; we never put strangers in your group. The more of you there are, the less each person pays:

The organiser treks free. Get fourteen or more paying trekkers together and whoever organised the group joins the trek free. The one thing the organiser still pays is their own flights and permits, since those are fixed costs we pay out for every person and cannot absorb, and we cover the rest. Your departure is guaranteed on your own dates — from a solo traveller up to a group of twenty, and we never merge you into another trip.

Planning a group? Message me on WhatsApp with the trek, roughly when, and how many of you, and I will send you a price and a plan.

Compare Our Three Packages

Himalayas for Every Budget — same guides, same safety, three comfort levels.

Difficulty: Moderate

Trek through the restricted Upper Mustang region — the former Kingdom of Lo behind the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs. You will walk 5 to 8 hours per day across high desert terrain reaching a maximum altitude of about 4,290m at the Choku La.

Where your permit money cannot follow

The Upper Mustang restricted-area permit alone is $50 a person for every day you spend inside the restricted area: 8 days on this itinerary, day 2 to day 9, so $400 a person. The Nepalese government keeps that. But everything else inside our trek price has room for the things we care about — fair pay for our crew, and a fixed share for the Nagarjun Learning Center, the village school my mother runs in Saldum. Seventy children study there for free and eat two daily meals on us. We are a registered Nepalese charity, verified and listed on the UN Partner Portal, and we have been running the school since 2019.

More to read before you book

• Upper Mustang or Lower Mustang: which trek to choose
• Chele village guide
• Permit rules changed in 2026: solo trekking and the Upper Mustang fee