Upper Mustang Trek

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Upgrade your Hotel in Kathmandu

During our 17 days Upper Mustang trek, we will be offering you three nights at the standard double room of a three-star hotel such as Hotel Thamel Park, Hotel Manang, or similar types. Here, you can enjoy the complimentary amenities such as WiFi, en suite bathroom, and hot water available 24/7.

However, if you want to experience the lavishness of the high-end hotels in the capital, then we encourage you to use our accommodation upgrade option so you can spend your nights in the noteworthy four-star hotels such as Hotel Ramada, Hotel Shankar, and Hotel Yatri Suites. Staying at these hotels, you will have the choices and services of suites, lounges, private gyms, air-conditioned rooms, swimming pools, spa services, and in-house dining.

Just for USD 95 for every night, you can significantly enhance your stay in Kathmandu. We encourage you to share your accommodation preferences with us in advance, and we will look after the arrangements before your Upper Mustang trek takes on.

Essential trip information

Right Season for the Upper Mustang Trek

In terms of weather, the Upper Mustang climate is comparable to Tibet so it is the few area in Nepal that is good to visit even during the monsoon period of June, July, and August.Here, the monsoon rain does not reach because they are located on the backside of the Himalayas on the Tibetan Plateau. You may find clouds in the Himalayas but no or very little rain; however, we cannot completely rule out the possibility because of climate change.

In recent years, once the dry area of Upper Mustang has now been drowning in floods in the monsoon. So the best vantage season for this trek to avoid all the possibility of climate risk is the spring (March, April, and May) and autumn (September, October, and November) shoulder seasons. These are the colorful festive seasons in Upper Mustang when in May, you can celebrate with locals the lively atmosphere of the Tiji Festival. In, September, you can soak in the celebratory and exciting aura of the Yartung Festival.

Both seasons in the region also present a very nice daytime heat of between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius. The landscape also transitions into a spectacular playground of nature when the flowers bloom turning the red barren land into something very enchanting. Upper Mustang is one of the areas in Nepal that is very hard to roam around in the winter period from December, to January, and February. The temperature drops to solid minus degrees accompanied by the strong cold winds. The land is also extremely dry forcing the locals to close their tea houses and descend to lower grounds with their livestock. There can be ice and snow over the high passes that often block and make the passage almost impossible.

17 days Upper Mustang Trek: Difficulty Level and  Challenges

The 17 days Upper Mustang trek journey is certainly an exhilarating yet moderately tough adventure that will guide you to a stunning alpine high-altitude desert of Nepal. You will encounter landscapes that are painted with vibrant mineral hues. You will walk between the majestic higher frames of massive Dhaulagiri and Annapurna.

Our Upper Mustang trek itinerary involves ten successive days of continuous hiking between the altitudes of 3600 m to 4200 m. There will also be several enormous mountain passes in between the hikes with some segments even stretching to 20 km a day.

So there will be significant and sudden elevation changes along with long days of traveling constituting steeper climbs and descents along with the crossing of several hanging yet solid bridges over the wide rivers. However, our Upper Mustang trek itinerary has been composed with the total safety of each hiker in mind. We will always remain below 4500 m in height which makes it easy, simple, and accessible to anyone with a passion for hiking. Those who are sensitive to altitude will also find our journey very comfortable. The trail leading to Upper Mustang is also broad and manageable, with only one or two sections that need to be vigilant when crossing.

Who can walk to the Upper Mustang?

The Upper Mustang trek is appropriate for individuals who have moderate training, good health, and a willingness to adapt. The trails that you will traverse are well-established and do not pose any technical challenges. Generally, you will walk for 5 to 7 hours each day over varied landscapes sometimes cliffs, sometimes forests, with breaks for sightseeing and meals. There can also be snow sometimes on the passes however, the use of crampons is generally unnecessary.

The 17 days Upper Mustang trek reaches its highest elevation at Marang La Pass at 4,230 meters, but the Upper Mustang trek itinerary has been designed to facilitate proper acclimatization of each group member.

Additionally, this is a lodge-based trek, which means that camping is not necessary on any part of the journey. Also, when compared to other famous and most-visited routes in Nepal, the Upper Mustang trek takes place at a relatively low altitude making it ideal for newcomers and beginners. It also enables families, seniors, children, varied age and fitness groups to join. However, you must recognize that a significant amount of time will be spent above 4000 m height which means increased effort from your side will be needed.

We like to point out that individuals with respiratory, musculoskeletal, or cardiovascular issues should only take part in this trek after their doctor’s approval as the dry high-altitude air of Upper Mustang may intensify these health issues.

Altitude Sickness Concern and Acclimatization in Upper Mustang Trek

If you are looking for a high mountain trek in Nepal that is easier on altitude, then our Upper Mustang trek will be a great choice for you. The entire trekking destination will stay below 4500 m so most people will avoid the occurrence of altitude sickness which some also identify as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). To combat and minimize the occurrence of AMS, we have included a very gradual climb so it will be easier for each one of our participants to adjust to the changing height. The first two days involve short flights, giving you time to acclimatize.

And, to help with the physical and mental strain, we have also included a rest day in Kathmandu with some light walking, plus another rest and exploration day in Lo Manthang. We also have very shorter walking days as compared to other Upper Mustang trek itineraries where you will also get the chance to explore the caves, chortens, monasteries, and Mani Walls.

However, we cannot promise that you won’t feel a single sign of AMS at all. Some of you may feel the altitude and may have vertigo, headaches, nausea, fatigue, and insomnia. If it happens, Diamox, adequate rest, and drinking lots of fluids will help remove the symptoms and adapt to the Mustang’s warm and dry conditions.

Training and Preparation for the 17 days Upper Mustang trek

For your Upper Mustang trek to go successfully, it is important that you build up and improve your fitness before the trip. You should undertake fitness routines that can help you improve your cardio, stamina, endurance, and strength. Activities like cycling, hiking, weight lifting, running, push-ups, squats, and swimming can be included in your everyday routine to build your endurance. A brief hiking trip to a nearby mountain can also be advantageous.

Additionally, you should also maintain a very positive outlook towards any misfortune that may happen on the trek due to weather, or health. For this purpose, watch the informational documentaries about Upper Mustang, and there is even a live feed from Jomsom on YouTube so look at the terrain and weather.

As you then prepare for the 17 days Upper Mustang trek, we do suggest you invest in high-quality gear: ensure you have sturdy, waterproof hiking boots, warm layered clothing, a waterproof and windproof jacket, gloves, and other essential items for high-altitude trekking.

When packing, give it a thought and take only the essentials to keep your load light while ensuring you have everything necessary for a comfortable trek.

Alternate Paths to Upper Mustang Trek

Various routes are available for those wishing to take on our Upper Mustang Trek. If you have some reservations regarding our health and your potential for prolonged days of hiking, then a jeep journey to Upper Mustang will be an excellent alternative for you. The journey will initiate with a flight to Jomsom, followed by a drive to Kagbeni, Chele, Syangboche, and Dhakmar, before making the return trip to Jomsom.

However, if you also want to experience some excitement of walking up, then you can also combine the jeep tour with some trekking trips. This option will also fly to Jomsom and will allow you to walk past Kagbeni, Chele, Syangboche, and Dhakmar to Lo Manthnag. Then, you will travel on a jeep up to Jomsom.If you are crazy about motorbike tours and wish to experience some off-the-beaten riding journey, then why not take on the Upper Mustang Motorbike Tour which offers you an exciting chance to traverse the rugged terrain on reliable motorcycles like Royal Enfield?

Additionally, you can also divert your route towards Muktinath Temple from Tangbe and Tetang and then journey back to Jomsom.

Accommodation and Meals

During our Upper Mustang trek, your hotel accommodations in Kathmandu and Pokhara will be in double rooms of a three-star quality hotel in the central location of the city with breakfast offered every morning in the hotel. As our Upper Mustang trek itinerary progresses to villages, your accommodations will be in tea houses which are simple family-run houses similar to modest alpine refuges.

There will be a large dining room. Kitchen, bedrooms, and bathroom. The cleanliness will be of good level, with rooms furnished with simple beds with a mattress, a pillow, and a blanket. Toilet facilities are usually shared, sometimes located outside the lodge, with hot showers (for a fee). In lower altitude towns like Kagbeni and Jomsom, you can even have a bathroom in the room.Breakfasts, dinners, and lunches will be offered during the trek with the common choice of pasta, rice, potatoes, eggs, chapati, soups, and cooked vegetables.

Transportation

During our 17 days Upper Mustang trek, we will facilitate private transportation for your airport-to-hotel transfers and trekking pick-up and drop-offs. Depending on how many people are in your group, we can provide a car, van, Hiace, or tourist bus.

Then, we will oversee all your flight travels between Kathmandu to Pokhara via Jomsom (all round). Please note that if you decide to go to Chhoser Cave in Lo Manthang by jeep or horseback, extra costs will need to be paid on-site and they are not part of our Upper Mustang trek package overall cost.

Rules to be Followed and Mandatory Permits for the Upper Mustang Trek

Please kindly note that the Upper Mustang is a restricted area which means treks in this area can only be facilitated by registered tour operators like Everest Summit Treks. In addition, such government regulations stipulate that a certified guide must accompany all trekking activities in the Upper Mustang, which we will provide for the entire time of your Upper Mustang trek itinerary.

As for the compulsory permits for the Upper Mustang trek, a special access permit is needed which requires the payment of USD 500 for the first 10 days, then USD 50 per person per day. The other two additional permits for the trek are a USD 30 per hiker ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) Permit and a USD 20 per hiker TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) Card. Please note that we will facilitate all the procedures of permit acquisition as your correspondent in Nepal.

Travel Insurance

Please remember that travel insurance is an indispensable element for our Upper Mustang trek. It is one of the formal documents that we must present when applying for the special access permit for the Upper Mustang region. Besides, travel insurance is one such component that is a must-have when traveling anywhere around the world. Particularly in the Upper Mustang, you will be traveling to some of the most distant and secluded regions of the world. And, we cannot overlook the challenging nature of the atmosphere and the terrain here which can cause any kind of accidents, illness, or injuries at any time of the journey. Such as slip, sprain, or AMS which may need immediate medical attention or helicopter transportation to the medical facility. Covering these expenses on your own can be very pricey for you so we advise you to purchase travel insurance that will support your trekking at altitudes of up to 5000 m with the inclusion of Helicopter search, rescue, and transportation.

Please also ensure that your policy will cover your financial losses during the medical stay or hospitalizations, extra days, flight and trip extension or cancellation along with the protection against stolen or damaged luggage.