The remote district in Gandaki province is located in the north-central part of Nepal. Mustang was an independent kingdom before merging with Nepal. It was a kingdom under the Nepal government administration until Nepal is declared a republic in 2008 A.D. Mustang is recognized with the title” Forbidden Kingdom” and it was restricted to foreigners until 1992 A.D. Mustang is classified into two parts: Lower Mustang and Upper Mustang.
Mustang is opened to tourists since 1992 A.D. Even to maintain the ecosystem of the area, a limited number of tourists are allowed to visit Upper Mustang. There are two permits must have with you to enter Upper Mustang. RAP (Restricted Area Permit), ACAP (Annapurna conservation area project), and TIMS (Trekker’s information management system) to tour Upper Mustang.
Upper Mustang is in a rain shadow area hence travel can possible during the rainy season too. The best time to tour Upper Mustang is during the spring and Autumn seasons.
During spring and Autumn, the permit fee is USD 500 for the first ten days and USD 50 for each additional day. During the off-season, the permit fee is USD 250 for the first ten days and USD 25 for each additional day.
Area covered by Upper Mustang
Mustang Trek is converted to a tour since the construction of the road connects the Carola border of Tibet. Mustang is considered a moderately difficult tour since we will tour around 4200m above sea level. The terrain is rough, and the altitude can cause altitude sickness in some trekkers. However, most people can complete the trek with proper preparation and acclimatization. The difficulty to trek around Upper Mustang may cause due to high altitude and cold.
The maximum altitude reached during the trek is around 4,200 meters (13,780 feet) at Lo Manthang, the capital of Mustang.
These days several lodges and hotels are available in Upper Mustang, we must take warm clothing, sports shoes, a hiking book, a waterproof jacket, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion, and a cap, Hot water bottle.
From a security perspective, Mustang is a safer zone. Tourists must follow rules and regulations set by authorities. You must respect the local culture and traditions. Do not forget to have travel insurance before proceeding tour.
Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be greeted by our representative who will transfer you to your hotel. You can relax and spend the rest of the day exploring the city on your own.
This day is reserved for team interaction and permit management. You will meet your trekking team and discuss the itinerary, routes, and other details of the trek. The permits required for the trek will also be arranged. Later in the day, you will be taken on a half-day city tour of Kathmandu, which includes visits to famous landmarks such as Pashupatinath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa, and Swoyambhunath Stupa.
You will leave early in the morning for a scenic drive to Pokhara, which takes around 6-7 hours. The drive takes you through beautiful landscapes, hills, and valleys, with stunning views of the Himalayan range. We stroll around Phewa Lake in the evening. Overnight at hotel.
Early morning, you will have your breakfast, and then we will drive to Jomsom via Beni. On the way, we visit Galeswor Mahadev temple which is located at the bank of Kali Gandaki in Beni. After Galeswor Mahadev temple, the road is bumpy and narrow up to Lete Danda. You will capture beautiful landscapes and stunning waterfalls such as the Rupse waterfall including the Kali Gandaki River valley. It takes around 8-9 hours’ drive to reach Jomsom. Overnight stay at a lodge.
In the morning, we drive to a sacred place Muktinath temple which is a popular pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. After exploring the temple and surrounding areas, you will continue your drive to Lo-manthang. It takes around 9-10 hours drive to reach Lo-Manthang. Overnight stay at hotel.
You will spend the day exploring Lo-manthang, the Mustang region's capital. You will visit the famous Lo-manthang Palace, monasteries, and the surrounding caves. You will also have the option to visit the nearby Corolla border. If you are lucky, you can experience wonderful festivals in the Upper Mustang region.
We will drive back to Jomsom from Lo-Manthang to Jomsom, enjoying the scenic landscapes of the Mustang region once again. Overnight stay at a lodge.
You will drive from Jomsom to Pokhara, taking around 8-9 hours. Upon reaching Pokhara, you can relax and spend the evening exploring the city.
Pokhara City has several interesting points to explore such as Phewa Lake, World Peace Stupa, Davis Falls, and Gupteswor Cave. Even you can experience adventure activities such as paragliding, zip-lining, and boating.
You will drive back to Kathmandu from Pokhara, which takes around 6-7 hours. Upon reaching Kathmandu, you can relax and spend the evening around Thamel.
Kathmandu Valley comprises unique traditions and culture with beautiful world heritage sites. Within the valley, there are seven world heritage sites: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swoyambhunath, Bouddhanath, Pashupatinath, Changunarayan, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, and Patan Durbar Square. You have choices among these heritage sites to visit in a day tour. Patan Durbar Square, Swoyambhunath, and Bouddhanath can be visited or you can think of the organic town Bhaktapur and Pashupatinath one of the greatest temples of Hindu. Even Kathmandu Durbar Square can be visited during the evening time or in the morning time. It is near- Thamel.
The Durbar Square of Kathmandu holds many old medieval palaces, buildings, temples, and icons. Overnight stay in hotel.
You will be assisted to reach the airport three hours before your flight.