Name: Upper Mustang Overland Tour
Brand: Mountain Hike Nepal
SKU: 1
Price: 799
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Trip Overview

The Upper Mustang Overland Tour to Lo Manthang – 7 Days Private Tour takes you into Nepal’s last forbidden kingdom, sealed off from outsiders until 1992 and still governed by a restricted entry permit. It’s a private jeep tour, not a trek, running from Kathmandu through Beni and Chhusang into the restricted area, and on to Lo Manthang, the walled former capital of the Kingdom of Lo, at 3,810 m.

Entry requires two permits, the Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit (RAP) and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), both included. A licensed local guide is also compulsory inside the restricted zone, and included by default.

On the return, the route swings through Muktinath before dropping back to Pokhara and Kathmandu. Since permits take time to process, book 15 to 30 days ahead, especially around May, when Tiji Festival draws visitors to Lo Manthang.

Trip Name	Upper Mustang Overland Tour to Lo Manthang – 7 Days Private Tour
Duration	6 Nights / 7 Days
Maximum Altitude	3,810 m – Lo Manthang
Region	Upper Mustang, Nepal
Tour Type	Private Overland Adventure (Restricted Area)
Transportation	Private 4WD Jeep (1–6)
Tour Start / End	Kathmandu, Nepal
Main Destinations	Beni, Chhusang, Lo Manthang, Muktinath, Pokhara
Highlights	Lo Manthang walled city, Muktinath Temple, Kali Gandaki Gorge
Difficulty Level	Moderate
Best Season	March to November (avoid peak monsoon in July–August on the Beni–Jomsom section)
Permits	Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit (USD 50 per person, per day inside the restricted area) + ACAP
Group Size	1 – 6 Travelers
Guide	Licensed guide included — legally required for Upper Mustang

Why Choose This Upper Mustang Overland Tour?

Reach Lo Manthang, the walled former capital of the Kingdom of Lo
Cross into a government-restricted region most travelers never see
Drive the full Kali Gandaki Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world
Visit Jampa, Thubchen, and Chode Gompa inside Lo Manthang’s walls
Pass through Chele, Ghami, and Charang, high-desert villages with centuries of Tibetan Buddhist history
Travel with a licensed guide included by default — required, not optional, in this region
Private 4WD jeep transportation, built for the unpaved roads north of Jomsom

Upper Mustang Overland Tour Highlights

The permit checkpoint at Kagbeni, the official gateway into Upper Mustang
High-desert cliffs, cave dwellings, and eroded rock formations along the route
Overnight stops in Ghami and Charang, two of the region’s oldest settlements
Crossing Lo La Pass (3,950 m) into the Lo Manthang valley
A full day inside the walled city of Lo Manthang
Optional excursion to the Chhoser caves, a multi-story ancient cave complex
Mountain views of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, and Annapurna throughout the drive

Who Is This Upper Mustang Overland Tour For?

Travelers who want to see a part of Nepal that stayed closed until 1992
Anyone drawn to Tibetan Buddhist culture and monastery architecture
Photographers interested in high-desert Himalayan landscapes
Travelers who prefer a private, guided overland trip over group treks
Those combining this with a Lower Mustang or Annapurna Circuit trip
Culturally curious travelers who want context, not just scenery

Why Travel With Mountain Hike Nepal?

Local Nepal-based company with restricted-area permit experience
Licensed guides who know Lo Manthang and the Upper Mustang region directly
Drivers experienced on the unpaved roads north of Jomsom
Full support with Restricted Area Permit and ACAP paperwork
Private transportation matched to your group size
Friendly assistance before, during, and after your trip

Price Includes

✓ Private 4WD jeep or land cruiser transportation (Kathmandu to Kathmandu)
✓ Licensed local guide (legally required for Upper Mustang)
✓ Experienced driver familiar with the Upper Mustang route
✓ Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit (RAP)
✓ Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
✓ Scenic stops for photos and sightseeing along the route
✓ All government taxes and local service charges

Price Excludes

✗ Accommodation during the trip
✗ Meals and drinks during the journey
✗ Personal expenses (snacks, drinks, shopping, etc.)
✗ Travel insurance
✗ Tips for guide and driver
✗ Optional excursions (e.g. Chhoser caves by horseback)
✗ Any additional costs caused by weather, road conditions, or unforeseen circumstances

Upper Mustang Overland Tour – 7 Days Itinerary

Day 01: Drive from Kathmandu to Beni (830 m)

Altitude: 830 m / 2,723 ft Drive Duration: 7–8 hours

Leave Kathmandu and follow the Prithvi Highway toward Pokhara, then continue on to Beni, the gateway town of the Myagdi district and the start of the Kali Gandaki road north. Overnight in Beni.

Day 02: Drive from Beni to Chhusang (2,980 m)

Altitude: 2,980 m / 9,777 ft Drive Duration: 8–9 hours

Continue north along the Kali Gandaki Gorge through Tatopani, Ghasa, and Jomsom, then on to Kagbeni, where permits are checked at the entry point to the restricted area. Push on to Chhusang, a small village just inside Upper Mustang. Overnight in Chhusang.

Day 03: Drive from Chhusang to Lo Manthang (3,810 m)

Altitude: 3,810 m / 12,500 ft Drive Duration: 8–9 hours

The longest driving day of the trip. The road climbs through Chele, Syangboche, Ghami, and Charang before crossing into the Lo Manthang valley — high desert cliffs, cave dwellings, and centuries-old villages the whole way. Arrive in Lo Manthang by evening.

Day 04: Lo Manthang Exploration

Altitude: 3,810 m / 12,500 ft Activity Duration: Full day

Spend the day on foot inside the walled city. Visit Jampa Gompa, Thubchen Gompa, and Chode Gompa, and take in the old royal palace at the city’s center. An optional excursion to the Chhoser caves can be arranged.

Day 05: Drive from Lo Manthang to Muktinath (3,710 m)

Altitude: 3,710 m / 12,172 ft Drive Duration: 8–9 hours

Retrace the route back through Charang, Ghami, Syangboche, and Chele to Kagbeni, then continue to Muktinath Temple, sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Overnight in Muktinath.

Day 06: Drive from Muktinath to Pokhara (800 m)

Altitude: 800 m / 2,625 ft Drive Duration: 9–10 hours

Descend through Jomsom, Tatopani, and Beni back to Pokhara. A long day, but the last one on rough roads.

Day 07: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu

Altitude: 1,400 m / 4,593 ft (Kathmandu) Drive Duration: 6–7 hours

Return to Kathmandu along the Prithvi Highway, marking the end of the Upper Mustang overland tour.

The Local Culture of Upper Mustang

Upper Mustang sits in the Himalayan rain shadow, cut off from the monsoon and, for most of its history, cut off from the rest of Nepal too. That isolation shaped a distinct culture: the Loba people of Mustang speak their own dialect, follow Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and trace their identity back to the independent Kingdom of Lo rather than to Kathmandu.

Kagbeni to Chhusang: Sky Caves and a Salt Trade Past

Kagbeni marks the actual threshold into Upper Mustang — south of it are riverbank fields, north of it are dry cliffs and wind-carved plateaus. The village itself celebrates festivals rarely seen outside this valley, including Toran-La, Falo (also called Kumar Jatra), and Yartung, and the nearby Kali Gandaki riverbed is known for shaligrams, black ammonite fossils considered sacred in Hindu tradition.

From Kagbeni, the route continues north through Tangbe, a walled village split around the ruins of an old fortress, before reaching Chhusang. Chhusang sits below red sandstone cliffs that were once part of a regional salt trade route, and across the river from it, cut high into the fluted rock face, are clusters of ancient cave dwellings. Nepal has more than 10,000 of these hand-dug caves scattered through Mustang, some believed to date back over a thousand years. Their exact origin isn’t fully settled — historians link them to the earliest Lo-pa settlers and, later, to Buddhist hermits who used them for meditation retreats.

Lo Manthang: The Walled Capital

Lo Manthang was the capital of the Kingdom of Lo for close to 700 years, and it’s still enclosed by its original mud-brick wall. Nepal’s monarchy ended in 2008, but Mustang’s royal line is still recognized locally, and the old palace still stands at the center of the city.

Inside the walls are three monasteries most travelers have never heard of before booking this trip: Jampa Gompa, built in the early 15th century and known locally as the “God House,” Thubchen Gompa, a large red assembly hall from the same period, and Chode Gompa, the city’s main working monastery today. Each one holds mural work that’s centuries old and rarely restored — part of why Upper Mustang draws so few visitors compared to the rest of the Annapurna region. The permit system keeps numbers low on purpose.

Tiji Festival: Lo Manthang’s Biggest Event

Every year in May, Lo Manthang hosts the Tiji Festival, a three-day Tibetan Buddhist ceremony held in the courtyard of the old Royal Palace. Monks from Chode Monastery perform masked dances that reenact the legend of Dorje Jono, a deity who defeated his demon father to save the kingdom from drought and destruction. The exact dates shift slightly each year, since they’re set by the Tibetan lunar calendar, but the festival consistently falls in mid-to-late May.

For travelers who can time their trip around it, Tiji Festival is the single best reason to visit Upper Mustang in May specifically — it’s the one time of year Lo Manthang’s usually quiet streets fill with the entire Loba community in traditional dress. Space fills up fast around festival dates, so we’d recommend booking well in advance, ideally 15 to 30 days ahead, if this is part of your plan.

Upper Mustang Overland Tour FAQ

1. What is the Upper Mustang Overland Tour?

A private 7-day jeep journey from Kathmandu to Lo Manthang, the walled former capital of the Kingdom of Lo, through Nepal’s Upper Mustang restricted area, with a Muktinath Temple stop on the return.

2. Why is Upper Mustang a restricted area?

Upper Mustang remained closed to foreign visitors until 1992 to protect its Tibetan Buddhist culture and limit tourism impact. It still requires a special Restricted Area Permit, unlike most other regions in Nepal.

3. Is a guide required for Upper Mustang?

Yes. Nepal’s government requires all foreign visitors to travel with a licensed guide inside the restricted area. It’s included in this tour by default, not optional.

4. How much does the Upper Mustang permit cost?

The Restricted Area Permit costs USD 50 per person, per day, counted from Kagbeni to Kagbeni — the day you enter Upper Mustang to the day you exit. It’s built into the tour price, not paid separately.

5. Is there a minimum group size?

Yes, permit regulations require a minimum of two travelers per group for the Restricted Area Permit.

6. How high does this tour go?

The highest point is Lo La Pass at 3,950 m, crossed on the long drive from Chhusang into Lo Manthang. Lo Manthang itself sits at 3,810 m.

7. What is Lo Manthang known for?

Lo Manthang is the walled former capital of the Kingdom of Lo, with a royal palace and three centuries-old monasteries — Jampa, Thubchen, and Chode Gompa — still standing inside its original mud-brick walls.

8. What is the best time to visit Upper Mustang?

March to November works well for this route, since Upper Mustang sits in the Annapurna rain shadow and gets little rainfall. The main thing to plan around is the Beni–Jomsom section further south, which can see monsoon disruption in July and August.

9. Is this tour physically demanding?

It’s rated moderate. The drive itself takes no physical effort, but the altitude gain to nearly 4,000 m over several days means some travelers may feel mild effects.

10. Can I visit the Chhoser caves?

Yes, an optional excursion to the Chhoser caves — a multi-story ancient cave complex — can be arranged from Lo Manthang, by jeep or horseback.

11. How is this different from the Lower Mustang Overland Tour?

The Lower Mustang tour stays outside the restricted area and reaches Muktinath in 4 days without a mandatory guide or Restricted Area Permit. This Upper Mustang tour goes further north into the restricted zone to reach Lo Manthang, and requires both a licensed guide and the RAP.

12. Is accommodation included?

No, accommodation isn’t included, so you can choose guesthouses that suit your budget along the route.

13. Can this be combined with other Annapurna region trips?

Yes. Many travelers combine this with the Lower Mustang Overland Tour or an Annapurna Circuit trek, since the routes share the same Kali Gandaki corridor as far as Kagbeni.

14. What is the Tiji Festival, and when does it happen?

Tiji Festival is a three-day Tibetan Buddhist ceremony held every year in May in Lo Manthang’s Royal Palace courtyard. Monks from Chode Monastery perform masked dances telling the legend of Dorje Jono defeating his demon father to save the kingdom from drought. Exact dates shift slightly year to year with the Tibetan lunar calendar, but it consistently falls in mid-to-late May.

15. How far in advance should I book this tour?

We recommend booking 15 to 30 days ahead. Both the Restricted Area Permit and ACAP take processing time, and a licensed guide needs to be confirmed and available for your dates. This matters even more if you’re timing your trip around Tiji Festival in May, when demand for permits and guides in Lo Manthang rises sharply.