Upper Mustang Trek

Upper Mustang Trek Overview

How about getting an opportunity to live like you have gone back a significant number of years with nothing but calming nature, living the life of mountain people, experiencing and exploring their culture, unbothered from the rest of the world, and only peace? That’s Upper Mustang Trek for you.

Upper Mustang is a copper red, an arid river valley that lies in the upper corner of the Annapurna circuit and borders Tibet. One of the exciting facts about Upper Mustang, which makes ‘Upper Mustang Trekking’ more striking, is that you would not be allowed to enter if you wanted to trek there about 15 years ago. Yes, the kingdom had banned foreign visitors till 15 years ago, due to which the opportunity to visit the “last forbidden kingdom” is a privilege in itself.

Given that the kingdom was hidden from the rest of the world until relatively recently, Upper Mustang is not just remote physically; but in terms of everything. The culture and lifestyle there have remained untouched by any external factors. This once forbidden kingdom is unlike the outside world and a perfect combination of natural beauty and unfiltered culture.

The place offers attractions that carry the history within itself, including ancient caves, Buddhist monasteries that are about 200 years old, and the Muktinath temple. This trek also offers you an opportunity to visit the king’s palace located in the capital of Mustang, the Lo Manthang.

The offerings of Upper Mustang Trek are not just limited to that. A lifetime unforgettable experience highlighted by 15 days at peace with soothing mountain views, colorful walls, prayer flags fluttering, living in mud-brick houses, and crystal-clear water flowing at its own pace at ease where the sound of the waterfall is undisturbed by any other external factors; just you and your thoughts and your peace of mind.

Difficulty Level of Upper Mustang Trek

The Upper Mustang Trek requires you to hike for an average of 4 to 6 hours a day. However, there will be breaks between rest and enjoying the calm environment and nature at peace.

This trek is regarded as a moderate grade trek in terms of difficulty, given that no technical skills are needed to complete the trek. However, past trekking experience is always a plus point.

Walking or jogging for about a couple of weeks before the trek is highly encouraged to get physically ready for the hike. Apart from that, it would help if you stayed determined and self-confident about completing the trek. In addition, trekkers having pre-existing health conditions should inform the agency beforehand.

Trekking Permits

Upper Mustang trek requires you to issue two permits.

• Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
  The ACAP is required to enter the conservation area, which costs USD 20 per person.
• Restricted Area Permit (RAP)
  Since the Upper Mustang is a restricted area, an additional permit is required to enter the region. This permit will be checked in a place called Kagbeni while you enter and leave Upper Mustang. The cost is $500 US dollars for each person over ten days. In addition, fifty US dollars is charged every day of extra. Moreover, this permit can only be issued by government-registered agencies and thus cannot be issued by an individual himself/herself.

Accommodation

Our 15 days Upper Mustang trek itinerary includes eleven nights in the trekking regions, two nights in Pokhara, and two in Kathmandu.

We will provide standard rooms for two nights at Samar and Chele on a double-sharing basis in the trekking regions. And for the other 9 nights, we provide rooms with an attached bathroom.

Our package includes a room with an attached bathroom, a TV, 24 hours hot water, electricity, and a laundry facility for accommodation in Pokhara.
Our package does not cover the two nights in Kathmandu.

Meals during the Upper Mustang Trek

Since we will be staying in remote places of the country located at high altitudes, the food available that we can get enough nutrition to be able to complete the trek. It means that luxurious sets of food cannot be expected during the trek. However, every meal will be designated to provide you with enough nutrition, prepared with hygiene.

The lodge’s menu offers you a slight combination of traditional local, Asian, and western food. Along with food, liquids such as the varieties of tea or soup will be available.

Moreover, you can explore various food options for the meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara, but these meals are not included in the package. This totals the cost of 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 13 dinners in the package.

Group/Single Trekking

We facilitate both group and single treks. The group discount is offered when you have your own people in your group, and the pricing will be the same whether you join a group or go on a solo trip.

A group leader will be with you to guide you throughout, and you will also be provided with porters who carry luggage of two trekkers each. Moreover, for a group of more than 12 people, an assistant guide will also be provided to address everyone equally.

Communication Facilities

Firstly, about your means of communication with your family and friends, access to internet connectivity will be offered at the lodges on the Upper Mustang Trek for an additional fee. But after we reach a higher elevation, communication will be done through cellphone for safety reasons.

Meanwhile, we will communicate with the guides every day to ensure your safety or any other help that might be required during the trek.

Extra Personal Expenses on Upper Mustang Trekking

Extra expenses for your trip when in Kathmandu and Pokhara include lunch and dinner costs. Only bed and breakfast will be covered in the package.
But for the trek, your expenses depend entirely on the extra facilities you want. You will have to pay extra money for internet, hot showers, snacks, water, electricity to charge anything.

Moreover, your desired amount of tips for the guides and personal shopping are extra personal expenses. Besides, visa fees and travel insurance will also incur some extra costs.

Battery Recharge and Water on Trekking

Since the trekking region is remote, using electricity to charge cellphones or any batteries is considered a luxury. For this luxury, you will need to pay some extra charges to the lodges.
The tablets for water purification are provided and can ensure that water is safe to drink. However, you always have an additional option to buy mineral water or boiled water from the lodges.

Travel Insurance Policy

Since this trek takes us to higher altitudes and treacherous roads, we need to prepare for the unforeseen future. Travel insurance is a must while trekking with us. You will be instructed to send a copy of your comprehensive travel insurance policy to our agency before commencing the trip.

Your travel insurance policy must cover medical and emergency rescue, including the helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses at high altitudes for utmost safety.

Passport and Visa

All foreigners except Indian travellers must get a visa to enter Nepal. You can get a Visa for Nepal at the TIA (Tribhuvan International Airport) on arrival. However, some countries might not be able to get a visa on arrival, for which they will have to contact the Nepalese embassy in their own country for a visa beforehand.

Money Exchange

Since foreign currencies are not accepted here, you can find abundant numbers of money exchange stores and local banks in the Thamel area that exchange your currency incurring a service fee of 4% or more. Moreover, you can find numerous ATM booths around Kathmandu to withdraw cash. The maximum withdrawal stands at Rs 35,000 for a foreign card incurring a processing fee of Rs 500.

Safety

Your safety is our utmost priority at any part of the trek. Our experienced guides and leaders are trained enough to hold a position to provide you with first aid service and have the power to ask you to discontinue the trek if your health deteriorates to that level. Also, the entire group is supposed to stick together during the trek for increased safety.

Booking and payment process

We are a government licensed agency operating in this field for a significant number of years with an exceptional amount of experience. Your tour planning and execution are in our hands. Our policy for booking requires you to present the necessary documents, including a photocopy of your passport, travel insurance policy, arrival and departure flight and passport size photos, along with 10% advance payment.

Payment means can be provided to you at your convenience. We accept bank transfers, payments through western union and online payments directly from our website. In addition to the 20% advance payment, the balance is payable upon your arriving in your country.

If you have any more queries about anything related to the trek or linked to our agency, feel free to message us. We look forward to facilitating you and executing your trip in the best way possible!

Best Season for the Trek to Upper Mustang

Weather plays one of the most prominent roles in any trek. Trekkers go forward with the upper Mustang trek during all 12 months, but they certainly have pros and cons to each season.

The ideal time to hike to the upper Mustang is during autumn, spring, and summer seasons. These three seasons welcome you with clear blue skies during long days, helping you get clear breathtaking views. The temperature drops during the nights, but the days are vibrant with moderate temperatures. The most exact view of the mountains could be seen in these months.

While the above-stated pros of trekking during those seasons attract some trekkers, some trekkers crave adventure and challenge. These are the trekkers who are willing to trek to Upper Mustang during the winter season. With heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures, the trekkers love themselves a good challenge!

Cost Includes

Cost Excludes