Upper Mustang Jeep Tour | 09 Days Itinerary

The jeep tour in the Upper Mustang is not a foot trek but rather a Jeep tour that takes about 9 days to drive between Kathmandu and Lo Manthang, which is normally 6-8 hours a day.

On average, expect 6 to 8 hours of road time per day, with short walking excursions around Lo Manthang, Charang, and the monastery sites that add up to only a few kilometers of walking on any given day.

There is no undertaking involved in trekking. Physical demand is due to lengthy periods of being seated in a moving jeep over rough terrain, brief periods of walking in the highlands, and the exposure to cold and wind, not to prolonged periods of climbing. No technical section at all demands ropes, crampons or climbing ability anywhere on this route, and the walks around Lo Manthang, Charang and the monasteries are of a few kilometers’ length, and are not particularly demanding.

• Unpaved, dusty tracks beyond Jomsom with sections of loose rock and washboard surfaces
• Occasional landslide-prone stretches near the Kaligandaki gorge, weather dependent
• Strong afternoon winds common between Kagbeni and Lo Manthang
• Narrow cliffside sections north of Kagbeni that require experienced local drivers
• River crossings that can be affected by seasonal water levels, particularly after heavy rain

Those who experience bad car sickness on rough roads, cardiac or respiratory instability, or who are not prepared to accept the basic teahouse facilities offered at altitude to reconsider, or to check with their physician before booking. Those who have suffered a stroke in the last three months, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or a previously diagnosed high-altitude illness should also obtain medical clearance before embarking on this Upper Mustang Tour.

Lower Mustang (Jomsom-Muktinath) is at lower altitude and is less demanding in terms of driving time and is an acceptable option for those with the least time or fitness. Manang (side of the Annapurna Circuit) will have more walks and a much higher pass at Thorong La (and you will get more exercise per day) than the Upper Mustang Jeep Tour. The Upper Mustang Jeep Tour falls somewhere in the middle of these two: Less remote and cultural than Lower Mustang, but still less strenuous than a Manang or full Annapurna Circuit trek.

The main difference between Upper Mustang permits and other permits is that a licensed guide would know the signs of AMS and would be able to slow down the pace of the day if necessary, or to recognize when it is time to descend or evacuate. Guides have a basic knowledge of first-aid items and know which teahouse on the trek to carry out the rest of the day and help a traveler who needs to get up and take a day off.

Every traveler on the Upper Mustang Jeep Tour needs a Restricted Area Permit and an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit, both of which can only be issued through a registered Nepal trekking agency, not to independent travelers directly. These permits exist because Upper Mustang was only opened to foreign visitors in 1992 and remains classified as a restricted area under Nepal’s law.

All permits are issued in Kathmandu before the journey and the agency fills in details about the traveler’s passport, photographs and travel itinerary. Typically takes one or two days but may require a few days’ notice for the last-minute bookings.

No matter how experienced you are, independent travel into Upper Mustang is not allowed; rules require a minimum group size and registered agency to travel on your behalf. When you book an Upper Mustang Tour with Royal Holidays Adventure, we take care of all the permit requirements, group assembly for all solo travelers and adherence to current entry requirements.

The permit fees and conditions of restricted areas in Nepal are determined by the government and are subject to change. As Royal Holidays Adventure does not rely on outdated figures for quotes, quoted permit costs in your booking are accurate and will be confirmed in advance with the relevant offices prior to departure.

The best seasons for the Upper Mustang Jeep Tour are spring and autumn when the skies are clear and roads are stable, but it is possible to visit the area at most times of the year as it is in a rain-shadow zone.

Spring Travel (March to May)

Lo Manthang gets an average of 15 to 20 degrees Celsius during the day and has cold mornings and evenings. Mornings are clear with little wind, and most sightseeing and photography takes place during this time. Few windy days usually occur in the afternoon, and the majority of sightseeing and photography is done in the morning.

 Autumn Travel (September to November)

Fall is the best time of the year for weather and mountain views and also experiences the least rainfall post monsoon. It’s also the most popular time for the Upper Mustang Tour, so making reservations for lodging and permits is a good idea.

Winter Considerations (December to January)

It is possible to travel in winter with proper clothing, but night-time temperatures in Lo Manthang are often below freezing points and the road access to Jomsom may be disrupted by other parts of the country. The winter season is quieter, as there are fewer passengers travelling the route.

Monsoon Risks (June to August)

Although Upper Mustang is relatively dry because of the rain shadow of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, road disruption is most likely to occur during the monsoon months on the Kathmandu-Pokhara-Jomsom approach. The main concern in the monsoon season is not with the rainfall in Mustang, but with the landslides and swollen rivers on the approach roads.

Safety is the top priority on the Upper Mustang Jeep Tour and is built into every tour with Royal Holidays Adventure and relies on three factors: A licensed and experienced guide, a clear altitude and weather protocol, and a working evacuation plan.

Guide Certification and Experience 

The guides are registered with the appropriate tourism authorities of Nepal and have direct route experience in Mustang, which also includes knowledge of seasonal road conditions and the procedure in the monasteries and festivals. The drivers are also chosen for their experience on the cliff side and river crossing portions north of Kagbeni on this route.

High-Altitude Safety Protocols 

• Daily monitoring for AMS symptoms among group members
• Built-in acclimatization time at Lo Manthang before departure
• Flexible itinerary adjustment if weather or road conditions change
• A basic first-aid kit and oxygen awareness training carried by guides
• Clear instructions to travelers on reporting symptoms early rather than pushing through them

Emergency Evacuation Planning 

The evacuation is planned by road towards Jomsom or Pokhara as Jomsom’s airstrip and availability of better health services are the closest possible medical evacuation facilities from Lo Manthang. High altitude evacuation is not included in the standard travel package and is strongly recommended for all travelers on this Upper Mustang tour package.

Communication and Logistics 

Mobile reception is generally good in the towns along the way with weaker coverage in areas close to Charang and Lo Manthang. Guides provide contact numbers to the agency office and local authorities during the Upper Mustang Tour and conduct check-in with the Kathmandu office as planned during the tour.

Tougher routes, like this one, have their own dangers, however, and AMS can attack fit people just as readily as it can attack the unfit. Expert handling involves understanding the signs early, having a well-defined process for descending, and not using altitude as a gloss over because the tour isn’t a walking one.

During the off-season the villagers carry on their daily life in much the same way as has been done for centuries, tending to their livestock, raising their crops of barley and buckwheat, and trading items on the ancient trade routes that have linked both Nepal and Tibet. On this Upper Mustang Tour, you will see many prayer flags, small chortens and whitewashed stone houses throughout the villages you pass through.

Culture, Religion and Local Communities {H3}

Most of the inhabitants are Tibetan Buddhists, use a Tibetan dialect and have a caste system different from the one of the rests of Nepal, where it is based on traditional land use and on clan roles in society instead of the Hindu castes. Lo Manthang’s main ethnic group is the Loba people, and the Thakali people, who are renowned for their unique cuisine, are found further south around Jomsom. Around the monasteries, villagers still live a pastoral life, and seasonal festivals like Tiji are still held, and small farming of barley and buckwheat still exists.

Local Markets and Handicrafts 

There are small shops in Jomsom, Kagbeni and Lo Manthang that sell handmade textiles, prayer articles and local produce which provides an opportunity for visitors to directly benefit the village economies. In general, there is a better way to do it with local shops than with bigger shops that cater to tourists.

Accommodation on the Upper Mustang Jeep Tour is in local teahouses and guesthouses along the route, offering simple rooms, shared or attached bathrooms, and home-cooked meals rather than hotel-standard facilities.

• Basic twin rooms are standard; a few teahouses in Jomsom and Lo Manthang offer attached bathrooms
• Hot showers are usually available for a small extra charge
• Wi-Fi exists in some teahouses but is not guaranteed to be reliable higher up the route
• Blankets are typically provided, though a sleeping bag liner adds extra warmth on colder nights
• Charging points are common in dining areas, sometimes with a small fee per device

Meals are mostly Nepali, Tibetan and Thakali, and as one moves further north there are fewer western dishes, especially dal bhat, thukpa and momos. Raw salads are not recommended and bottled or treated water is encouraged at higher elevations to decrease the chance of stomach upsetting from eating raw salads.

At altitude fresh meat is not as reliable, and vegetarian food is readily available and, in many cases, safer. If travelers have any special dietary requirements, they must let Royal Holidays Adventure know beforehand so the teahouses will know about them prior to arrival.

The Upper Mustang Jeep Tour travels through the Annapurna Conservation Area, a transect of pine and juniper forests near Jomsom, then sparse alpine scrub and high desert pastures near Lo Manthang.

• Lower valleys: pine, juniper, and apple orchards around Marpha
• Mid-altitude zones: juniper scrub, seabuckthorn, and barley terraces
• High desert near Lo Manthang: sparse grass and shrub cover, home to blue sheep and, occasionally, snow leopard in surrounding highlands
• Bird species including Himalayan griffon vultures and various high-altitude finches seen along cliff faces

This section is managed by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, hence part of the reason why permit fees are not just used for the access rights but also for the conservation and community programs. There are certain regulations in force on the route in parts of the conservation area which are put in place specifically to promote the conservation of the very sensitive high-altitude habitat through which the route traverses.

Preparing to go to the Upper Mustang Jeep Tour involves packing for the cold mornings, dusty roads, and altitude sun exposure, plus the permits you need to fill out at the checkpoints.

The weather can change dramatically from the early morning sun, through the heat of the day and into the cold evenings, so a layered approach is preferable to a single heavy jacket. Most of the conditions encountered on this Upper Mustang Tour are covered by a moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating mid layer and a windproof or down outer layer.

Fine dust is blown over a large part of the way north of Kagbeni in the afternoon, and using a buff or dust mask, wraparound sunglasses, and scarf for exposed skin makes it all the more comfortable on the way.

• Documents Checklist
• Passport with at least six months validity remaining
• Nepal visa or visa-on-arrival confirmation
• Passport-sized photographs for permit processing
• Copies of travel insurance covering high-altitude evacuation
• Printed or digital copy of your booking confirmation and itinerary

This Upper Mustang Tour Package is ideal for those travelers who are looking for restricted-region culture and landscape without high pass trekking, tight timelines and serious altitude exposure. It is also ideal for those who are traveling Mustang in addition to other areas of their comprehensive tour to Nepal as the jeep trek takes fewer days as compared to a similar trek.

Yes, the jeep tour to the Upper Mustang is beginner friendly as it is on jeeps, does not require any trekking experience, and has minimum physical demands per day in comparison with on foot trekking in the Himalaya.

Fitness Requirements and Preparation 

The only important fitness requirement is to be able to sit for extended periods for long drives and walk short distances at altitude. Royal Holidays Adventure provides a pre-trip briefing that includes setting the expectations of what to expect physically and mentally before departure, as well as realistic expectations on the roads and schedules.

What First-Time Travelers Should Expect 

Be prepared for long hours in the car, an old-fashioned but comfortable teahouse, as well as a significant change in the landscape and the climate as you drive up to Lo Manthang. Those who plan for these things in advance get much more out of the tour than those who only look to see a modern tour experience the entire way.

Realistic Suitability Assessment 

It is a low-risk adventure for most ages and can be undertaken all year round but for those who have a pre-existing heart, lung or mobility problem, they should seek medical advice prior to travelling.