On the border between Nepal and Tibet, the Forbidden Kingdom of Mustang, is one of the most imaginative regions of Nepal. Only since the early nineties, travellers are allowed to enter this remote high altitude desert in the Himalayas. And even now only a small number of people make the journey to the mythical capital of Lo Manthang.

Road building made it possible to travel by car to Mustang, though most travellers still prefer the classic trek to Lo Manthang.

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General information on Mustang

The main season for  travelling in  Mustang is different from other parts of Nepal. Due to its location behind the main Annapurna Ranges, there is less rainfall. This makes Mustang a perfect summer destination from June till September.  As winters are harsh in Mustang other good periods are May and October. From November onwards it gets very cold, with almost no travellers around anymore.

Most travellers to Mustang fly from Pokhara to Jomsom with a small aircraft or chartered helicopter. From Jomsom a trekking trail and a jeeptrack starts to the Lo Manthang, the capital of Mustang.

It is also possible to drive from Pokhara to Jomsom by jeep, though this takes about 2 days with bad road conditions.

A couple of years back a 'road' was built from Jomsom to Lo Manthang. Before that time Mustang was only accessible for adventurous hikers. Nowadays, a growing number of people travel through Mustang by jeep or even by bicycle / motorbike. However, the trekking trail still is the best way to experience the nature and culture of Mustang.

Accommodation in Mustang is basic. Only in Lo Manthang and in some villages along the way, there are some hotels/guesthouses with ensuite facilities. In other places, small lodges run by local people are available.

Mustang is a restricted area which means you need a special permit to enter. This permit costs about 500 USD for 10 days and will be arranged upon arrival by our Kathmandu office. 

Trekking in Mustang

The 'classic' trek from Jomsom to Lo Manthang (and back) takes about 10 days. It can be done in less days by taking a local jeep for some stretches. On this trek you will walk about 6-7 hours a day on altitudes between 3000 and 4000m, mostly on good trails. Several small passes need to be crossed. As the ascent goes very slowly, most people don't have altitude problems in Mustang.

The trek goes through the valley of the Kali Gandaki (the deepest gorge in the world)

Mustang by jeep

It is perfectly possible to travel to Lo Manthang by jeep along a rough dirtroad. We will provide you with a good private 4x4 and driver, so you can make short stops whereever you want. Most travellers on a jeepsafari in Mustang make short hikes everyday to fully experience the natural marvels. The jeep is mostly used to cover some longer distances.

Mustang Tiji Festival

Each year in April - May, the famous Tiji Festival takes place in Lo Manthang. This is one of the most important Buddhist Festivals in Mustang. From all over the region people come together in Lo Manthang to celebrate, witness colourfull mask dances and buddhist ceremonies and attend spectacular horse-races. The dates depend on the buddhist lunar calender.

As we work completely tailormade. feel free to contact us for a detailed itinerary for your Mustang Trek or Mustang Jeepsafari according to your wishes.

Prices depend on the hotelselection, travelperiod, number of persons, exchange rates,... Please ask for a quotation through our quotation form.