Overland Mustang Tour

(5.0)3 reviews
Know before you go
  • Duration 13 Days
  • Difficulty Level Moderate
  • Trip Start and End Kathmandu - Kathmandu
  • Best Season March - November
  • Trip Area Pokhara - Jomsom - Mustang - Kathmandu
  • Maximum Altitude 4660m.|15284ft.

Highlights

  • Explore famous tourist destinations like Jomsom, Kagbeni, Lo Manthang to Muktinath.
  • View the glorious view of the deepest gorge in the world, Kaligandaki.
  • Stay at the beautiful, ancient designed, culturally rich villages and guest houses.
  • Explore the restricted and isolated area of Lo Manthang and Annapurna Conservation Area with a special permit. 
  • Opportunity to see exotic landscaped beauty.
  • Pay homage to the famous religious pilgrimage, Muktinath.
  • Learn about the local Tibetan tribe and ethnic people known as La Pa
  • Visit the historical kingdom of Lo Manthang and visit various ancient monuments. 
  • Breathtaking views of the Himalayas, hills, rivers, and streams throughout the journey
  • Get a chance to be a part of most auspicious festival of Upper Mustang, Tiji Festival.

The overland Mustang tour is one of the emerging tours in Nepal. Mustang overland tour includes the most isolated hills and mountains of Mustang district between Dhaulagiri (8167m) and Annapurna (8091m), Tilicho Peak, Thorung Peak, Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, Annapurna I, Damodar Kunda preserved by natural difficulty. It is considered the barred kingdom behind the shadow of the Himalayas by locals and trekking experts. 

The journey begins with a jeep ride to Pokhara from Kathmandu. Then, from Pokhara, we will head to Jomsom. Jomsom is the headquarters of Mustang, the face of the Mustang region and its tourism. You are seated in an overland jeep safari which will navigate you to the different cultural and historical villages of Mustang before reaching the Kingdom of Upper Mustang," Lo Manthang ''. The jeep safari will introduce the cultural and natural richness of Mustang with a full-day experience of the culture, traditions, and lifestyle of the ancient city. The drive will continue towards the Muktinath, which is another highlight of the trip. 

The upper Mustang follows the way of the Kaligandaki gorge, the deepest gorge in the world, to Kagbeni by jeep. On the way, we pass different natural attractions like Tatopani-Natural hot spring, Beautiful Marpha Village which is famously known as “The Apple Garden”, and Kagbeni the famous religious site, and pilgrimage before entering the gateway of Lo Manthang. Lo Manthang is the windy valley that blows upside down from the hill i.e. South to North towards the Tibetan border. The local people in the majority follow the belief of Buddhism and speak the semi-Tibetan language themselves. The beautiful landscape of this area is widely occupied by the restricted area of the Annapurna conservation area and the Upper Mustang District. 

This tour is not only a recreational tour but a very efficient way of understanding the lifestyle of the people residing in the area. The local culture of Thakalis, Gurung, and Tibetians is multidimensional and it is the art of living in itself. We get to know about the artistic view of the Upper Mustang region and the multidimensional cultural diversity of local people in one trip to the site. 

In hindsight, the insightful and artistic view of the tour is filled with the scintillating view of rivers, mountains, streams, forests, old stone monuments, and houses, full of marvelous landscapes which represent the beauty of Northern Nepal. 

The Mustang Overland Tour will take you to the highest altitude of 4660 meters, you should not be worried about altitude sickness but you have to be mentally prepared for the difficulties of the tour. However, there will be a medical team to assist you in need. This tour is a low-risk adventure that can be done all year round by tourists of all ages.

The major attractions of the Overland Mustang Tour:

Jomsom

Jomsom is the tourism hub of Mustang which is rich in its tradition, culture, and food. It is also the gateway of the Mustang region. It is captivated by the mystic views of the Himalayas and the splendid natural diversity of the Mustang. The landscape is decorated by woods of pine with the decoration of insightful views of hills and mountains. The majority of the population is influenced by Buddhism and follows Buddhist rituals. There are many stone temples and goombas around this place. Jomsom is a combination of natural and cultural diversity.

Kaligandaki River and Shaligram

Kaligandaki River, which is famous for its uniqueness and beauty has the most distinct feature of having Shaligram(a golden black stone, which is only found here). Shaligram is considered to the part of Lord Bishnu according to Hindu Mythology and is very important in Hindu culture. Shaligram is one of the most holy stones in Hindu mythology and is worshipped as Lord Vishnu. It is believed that worshipping Shaligram gives you the power to fight the evil inside you and give immense peace within you.

Lo Manthang

Lo Manthang is an ancient kingdom of Mustang, and very much isolated from the outside world It was also the ancient capital of Mustang. This mysterious place is unrecognized and still far away from reaching modern tourism. Because of its mystery, very few people come here to visit. It wasn't opened for foreigners till very late but it has emerged as a top destination for tourists in the last few years.  

A visit to the royal palace of Lo Manthang provides you with a guide of wisdom about the culture and tradition followed by the ancient tribes who lived at Lo. Besides, the archaeologists have found partially mummified bodies from several hundred years and also discovered ancient paintings, monuments, stone arts, and manuscripts from the ancient kingdom which is a pinnacle move to attract modern tourists who want to see and study the ancient history and culture. 

Tiji Festival

The Tiji festival is the most auspicious festival in the Upper Mustang and is rated very highly among the local tribes. Tiji is celebrated to mark the success of good over evil. It is believed that the Mustang region was in trouble and was being destroyed by the demon who was spreading disease which was taking the lives of innocent and taking away the water. Dorje Jono fought with this demon and defeated him to take all the water back and save Mustang from being lifeless. To remember and celebrate that historic day, Tiji is celebrated with prayer chants and colorful dances. Since Tiji is a lunar festival dates of the festival are variable in different years. 

Muktinath Temple 

Muktinath, the god for both Hindus and Buddhists is visited throughout the year. It is one of the four most powerful religious sites in the country. It is one of the most important religious places in the country and is visited by hundreds of thousands of domestic and international tourists throughout the year. In the Buddhist temple, there is an everlightening candle (akhanda diyo) which is believed to be a sign of peace and harmony. It is believed that visiting this place at least once in a lifetime can give you liberation from worldly pain and suffering. It is one of the eight holy religious places of Nepal. 

Astonishing views of Himalayas and Landscapes

From the beginning of the tour from Pokhara, you will be sighted the most fascinating and mystic views of several mountains of the Himalayas. You would see Annapurna, Fishtail, Tukuche Peak, Thorung Peak, Annapurna I, Nilgiri, and Dhaulagiri mountains along with the scenic landscape view of the Chure range and Kaligandaki flowing in between. Meanwhile, in the backdrop, you will have an incredible view of high cliffs, and rock formations surrounding the valley. Annapurna conservation area will offer the opportunity to enjoy the mystic geographical mysticism of the Mustang region which will be a lifetime opportunity for tourists.  

Road to Upper Mustang 

Overland Mustang tour allows you to cover the distance in hours which would take days if you are trekking without missing the handful of natural beauty and diversity of the region. You can experience the dramatic beauty of lush hills, Himalayas, valleys, gorges, cliffs, rivers, and streams. You will even get the chance to travel between the gorges of Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri and discover the lost Tibetian Kingdom of Mustang. However, the roads there are mostly unpaved with potholes in between although most sections are graveled and consistently maintained, driving a tour of Upper Mustang is risk-free, adventurous, and yet worth visiting. It will give you the unleashed vibe of cheerfulness and euphoria during the visit.

People and Culture

People residing in the Mustang region have their distinct living ideologies and standards from the modern world. Their living is mainly based on tourism, animal rearing, and trade. Most people believe in Buddhism and speak the Tibetan language. The ethnic group of people is known as Thakalis and is widely famous for its unique culture, tradition, and food. Thakali food is talked about within the tourism fraternity and is liked by most of the tourists visiting that region.  

It is believed that Upper Mustang’s residents have not modernized their culture after being familiar with the modern world apart from a few communication modes and the development of physical infrastructures. This place is gradually getting opportunities for exposure and becoming a favorite tourist destination among foreigners. 

What Makes Nepal Nirvana Trails Unique?

Any type of tourist plan includes unseen risks unforeseen. Nepal Nirvana Trails has experienced and well-trained personnel to help you out throughout the trip. They will carry out all the responsibilities from the start to the end of the journey that you may need. You will be experiencing the beauty of traveling to tribal Nepal in a new and innovative way. 

You will be taking the trip with a team of veteran professionals who have excelled in taking tourists to that particular region so you will get as much information about the place as you want. Our more than two-decade veterans in the Himalayas make us a reliable and trustworthy tour partner. 

We invite all the visitors to visit the magical place of Upper Mustang and booking is open throughout the year. You can choose your preferred time of the year to visit the place. 

You can also check more information about other similar tour and trekking packages and directly contact us for inquiries or bookings.

Itinerary

Day to Day Details

Expand AllCollapse All

  • 4-star hotel
  • 1400m.|4593ft.

  • 4-star hotel
  • Breakfast and Welcome Dinner
  • 1400m.|4593ft.

Distances: 200km
Duration: 6 -7 hrs

  • 3-star hotel
  • Breakfast
  • 822m.|2696ft.

Distance: 65km
Duration: 5 - 6 hrs

  • Guest House
  • Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
  • 1190m.|3903ft.

  • Guest House
  • Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
  • 2810m.|9216ft.

Distance: 61km
Duration: 6 - 7hrs

  • Guest House
  • Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
  • 3570m.|11712ft.

Distance: 24 km
Duration: 3 hrs

  • Guest House
  • Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
  • 3560m.|11676ft.

  • Guest House
  • Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
  • 3810m.|12496ft.

Duration: 20 km

  • Guest House
  • Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
  • 4660m.|15284ft.

Distance: 103km
Duration: 7 - 8 hrs

  • Guest House
  • Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
  • 2650m.|8693ft.

Duration: 130km

  • Guest House
  • Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
  • 1593m.|5226ft.

Distance: 209 km
Duration: 7 hrs

  • 4-star Hotel
  • Breakfast and Farewell Dinner
  • 1400m.|4593ft.

  • Breakfast

Want to customize your trip? Share your holiday plans. Our travel experts create an awesome trip for a lifetime experience holiday.

Route Map

Overland Mustang Tour map

What's Included

  • Airport transfer service arrival and departure flight schedules
  • 3-star hotel Kathmandu and Pokhara on B/B plan
  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Three temple tours)
  • Accommodations during tour
  • Meals (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) and tea/coffee
  • English speaking, government licensed, trekking-tour guide
  • Guide salaries, food, equipment, and insurance
  • All applicable Upper Mustang Special Permit, ACAP, and TIMS
  • 4x4 Jeep During the tour
  • Nepal Nirvana Trails T-shirt, Upper Mustang map, and Water purifications tablets
  • Farewell dinner in a fine restaurant.
  • Official expenses and government taxes and VAT

What's Excluded

  • International flight tickets
  • Nepal entry visa
  • Travel and health insurance to cover emergency rescues and evacuations.
  • Extra tour, hotel, and local flight tickets
  • All Monuments and Monastries Entrance Fees.
  • Additional snacks, drinks, bottled water, Wi-Fi, etc., during the trek.
  • Meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara
  • Tips for guides and drivers (it is expected)

Useful Info

The fun-filled adventure is full of fun, recreation, and knowledge about the tribes of the upper Mustang. The overland Mustang tour will be on a bumpy road and there can be low visibility in some parts due to weather conditions. We will pass many magnificent and fascinating Upper Mustang. You will have enough time to explore the beauty and diverse culture of the local people. We require at least two people to initiate this journey. 

Visiting local monasteries

There are various choices of side trips while visiting the Upper Mustang are variable but since we know very much about the local culture and traditions we might want to visit the local Buddhist monasteries. We will visit Ghar Ghumba, a side trip from Charang. There are four major monasteries at Lo Manthang i.e. Jhampa Ghompa, Chhyode Gompa, Chhujung Gompa, and Thupchen Ghompa and we will get a chance to visit all four of them during our trek. 

Overland Mustang Tour Permits

Foreign travelers were allowed to enter the region in 1992 yet very few tourists have visited this place. To enter this area, foreigners must obtain a special permit. 

Jeep Safari permissions come under the provision of trekking permits so the permit fees are similar to the trekking fees. For each foreigner, it costs $500 for 10 days and an additional $50 per day for exceeding the 10-day permit. It costs NPR 3000 per person to obtain the ACAP. 

To obtain the permit, you must be a group of at least two people, a single permit cannot be obtained. So, Nepal Nirvana Trails can accommodate a group of travelers to the region if you are alone. For that, you can directly contact us via email: at info@nepalnirvanatrails.com or WhatsApp: at +977 9841380469. 

Best Seasons

In general, Lo Manthang is open for everyone at any time of the year but to adapt yourselves to the weather conditions and take advantage of the natural beauty of scintillating skyscraping mountains and greenery of hills, the most preferred time of the year will be March-May and September-November.  You don't have to be concerned about the weather being gloomy or cold this time of year. You can freely enjoy the view and please yourself in the best weather and climate possible. 

Accommodation 

There are teahouses available to accommodate you during the upper Mustang overland tour. You will be given a warm welcome and the opportunity to learn about Nepali culture and traditions. All the teahouses are run by locals and they provide all the basic facilities like hot showers, clean bathrooms, comfortable beds, and healthy foods some teahouses provide internet facilities and suite rooms with attached bathrooms that too on a low cost.

Last-Minute Booking

Nepal Nirvana Trails provides last-minute booking as well as pre-booking according to the convenience of the visitor. You can book a last-minute trip to Upper Mustang up to 48 hours prior to the scheduled time to get your tour arranged according to your requirements. The permits can only be made on office days, so make sure you contact us for arrival during the official day only.

FAQs

  • Overland Mustang tour won't require special attire for the tour but make sure that you have warm clothes top to bottom to be safe from the cold breeze and temperature. 

  • You will be offered the local foods during the tour. You will be made familiar with the local traditional food like Thakali Khana and also will be offered an open menu that includes local food items along with trending items among tourists. In short, you will have a wide range of selections.

  • The weather in March-May will be moderate. The temperature at this stage of the year is expected to be 15-20 degrees celsius on average. At the time of September-November, the temperature slightly decreases and chances of snowfall are also bound to happen at this time. Besides, you can go for the overland mustang tour any time of the year.

  • We suggest you have travel insurance. In any case of casualties, travel insurance will be a boon for recovering the incurred funding. In these cases, helicopters are used to rescue and they can be expensive at times. So, having travel insurance will be beneficial to anyone who is going for multiday traveling purposes.

  • During the time of the tour, you would not have to face problems in communication except in some isolated places. You can use your mobile communication freely in most areas and you can buy mobile data packages for the internet. Some hotels and lodges may provide free wi-fi service for your convenience which you have to pay extra, which is not included in the tour cost.

  • There are several services like beverages, and Wi-Fi that won't be included in the package, so for those personal expenses you should carry cash.

  • The overland tour of Mustang is beginner-level trekking because we are traveling by jeep thus, it requires no trekking experience and it is quite manageable for every age group. You will be briefed about the tour and itineraries by our travel experts to get yourself mentally and physically prepared for the tour.

  • It is safe to trek to the Upper Mustang as it is a beginner-friendly trekking region. Since we are traveling in the jeep, there wouldn't be any problem except for some unforeseen weather conditions or road blockage that might interrupt the travel experience. To counter that, our experts will give you a brief about the safety precautions and directions and locations that we are heading to.

  • During the travel experience of the overland Mustang tour, you can expect the scenic view of beautiful Pokhara city and the mystic and isolated yet wondrous beauty of Upper Mustang, covered with many cultural and historical places with the unleashed beauty of Annapurna region, Mustang Valley, beautiful villages of Kagbeni, Lo Manthang, Muktinath and various other historic monasteries and uncovered sky caves and stone arts within the drive.

Client Reviews

tptripadvisor
  • B
    BeatriceItalyAugust 16, 2024

    Upper Mustang in August 2024

    Upper Mustang Trek
    August 2024
    We organized the full trek with the help of KP and he managed eveything to ensure a perfect stay for us… the organization was fantastic!
    The trekking was a magic adventure and we are back full of experience, colors and culture! We couldn't have chosen better!
    Highly recommended tour with Nepal Nirvana trails!
    Beatrice 

    Dear Beatrice, Namaste!

    Thank you so much for your wonderful review and kind words! We are delighted to hear that you had a magical adventure in Upper Mustang. It was our pleasure to organize the trek for you, and we're thrilled that our efforts contributed to a perfect stay. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you back to the Himalayas for more unforgettable journeys in the future.

    Best Regards,
    KP Dhital and Nepal Nirvana Trails Team.
    WhatsApp: +977 9841380469

  • A
    AlessandroItalyAugust 15, 2024

    Upper Mustang Trek

    It was a magic adventure and we’ll back full of experience, colors and culture. The agency, the guide Raj and the porter Raj are very flexible to follow customer needs, and they allow us to enjoy it as much as possible.
    Alessandro

    Dear Alessandro, Namaste!

    Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with us! We are thrilled to hear that guide Raj and the porter Raj were able to cater to your needs, making your journey enjoyable and memorable. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back for more adventures in the future.

    Best Regards,
    Kp Dhital and Nepal Nirvana Trails Team.
    WhatsApp: +977 9841380469

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