Upper Mustang, home to stunning scenery, a vibrant Buddhist community, and long-standing customs is a restricted area in Nepal’s Himalayas. Until 1992, the area remained isolated from the outside world and is known as the ‘Forbidden Kingdom’. Today, Upper Mustang’s walled city of Lo Manthang, centuries-old monasteries, and breathtaking high-altitude desert landscape provide visitors with a unique glimpse into a world that remained unchanged over time.
So, for those seeking to explore Upper Mustang has two options available: The Upper Mustang Jeep Tour and Upper Mustang Trek. Every exploration technique has special advantages and experiences to offer, enabling varying tastes, physical capabilities, and time constraints.
The Upper Mustang Jeep Tour provides a comfortable journey and effective means of navigating the rough terrain in less period of time. Upper Mustang tour by using 4-wheel vehicles to travel through the challenging mountain roads will provide views of beautiful Himalayas and isolated locations that could be hard to reach on foot. Traveling through Jeep would be the best option for those who have less time, don’t want a demanding trip, or are used to more structured travel arrangements—like hiring a car accident lawyer in San Diego to handle logistics efficiently.
On the other hand, Upper Mustang Trek provides a closer-knit and fully immersed experience of the area. This trek usually lasts 10 to 16 days, when trekkers have enough time to explore the landscape, local communities, and ancient culture. Despite being physically demanding, trekking offers chances for close interaction with locals, tours of secret caverns and monasteries, and builds stronger bonds with the natural environment.
Upper Mustang offers a rewarding experience whether you decide to drive through a jeep or walk the historic trails. This region of Nepal provides experiences that will make an impression on any visitor, including the medieval walled city of Lo Manthang, Muktinath Temple, and the vibrant prayer flags flapping in the mountain breeze.
What is the Upper Mustang Trek?
The Upper Mustang Trek offers a unique blend of natural beauty and ancient Tibetan heritage, making it a fascinating journey through Nepal’s remote and culturally rich region. Depending on the exact route and trekker pace, this trek usually lasts 10 to 15 days.
Day 1: Pokhara to Jomsom to Kagbeni
Upper Mustang Trek starts at Kagbeni, after taking a flight from Pokhara to Jomsom (8,907 feet). This trek lasts 3 hours following the Kali Gandaki River Valley.
Day 2: Kagbeni to Chele
This trek lasts about 6 hours passing through villages like Tangbe and Chhusang offering stunning views of barren landscapes, apple orchards, and red cliffs.
Day 3: Chele to Syangboche
This trek consists of steep climbing passing Taklam La Pass with roughly 6 hours of hiking offering panoramic views of surrounding mountains.
Day 4: Syangboche to Ghami
The hike takes around 5 hour’s passes the rocky terrain and crosses Nyi La Pass to reach Ghami. This trail consists of colorful prayer flags and rocks along the way.
Day 5: Ghami to Charang
Trek from Ghami to Charang takes approximately 4 hours encountering ancient mani walls and barren Mustang landscape.
Day 6: Charang to Lo Manthang
After 5 hour trek from Charang, trekkers will reach Lo Manthang, a medieval walled city known for its unique architecture.
Day 7: Explore Lo Manthang and Chhoser cave
The seventh day will be spent exploring Lo Manthang and surrounding monasteries such as Chhoser Cave, Thubchen, and Jampa Gompa.
Day 8: Lo Manthang to Dhakmar
This trek takes 7 hours featuring dramatic red cliffs and caves along the trails.
Day 9: Dhakmar to Ghiling
The trek from Dhakmar to Ghiling takes 6 hours passing arid landscapes with traditional villages.
Day 10: Ghiling to Chuksang
Trekker back to Chuksang lasts around 6 hours offering scenic views of the Kali Gandaki Valley.
Day 11: Chuksang to Jomsom
After returning to Jomsom from Chuksang, relax for a day in Jomsom before taking a flight back to Pokhara.
The highlights of the Upper Mustang Trek consist medieval city of Lo Manthang, historic monasteries like Thubchen and Jampa, and beautiful views of the Himalayas including the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges. The trek also provides an insight into distinctive Tibetan culture with its colorful prayer flags, ancient chortens, and traditional villages. The Upper Mustang trek is physically demanding. Trekkers have the chance to interact closely with local people and their daily lives. The hike offers a demanding but worthwhile experience as it passes through deep gorges, colorful rock formations, and semi-arid deserts. Simple teahouses or homestays are usually used for lodging during the trek, which further improves the cultural immersion.
What is the Upper Mustang Jeep Tour?
Upper Mustang Jeep Tour is a rewarding trip through the isolated and culturally diverse region of Nepal which lasts for 4-7 days. After a flight from Pokhara to Jomsom, the tour continues with a 4-wheel jeep ride along Jomsom-Lo Manthang road, the ancient walled capital of Upper Mustang, traveling through scenic areas including Kaligandaki Valley.
The trip also traveled through villages like Kagbeni, Chele, Syangboche, Ghami, and Charing. Along the way, travelers can explore cultural landmarks such as historic monasteries, caves, and traditional Tibetan-influenced villages.
Compared to trekking, the jeep tour provides faster access to these locations, covering the same ground in 4-7 days compared to 10-14 days on foot. The return back trip consists of a visit to the Muktinath Temple. The jeep tour involves less physical involvement in the landscapes but is more comfortable and suitable for people with limited time. In this short period, the tour allows travelers to experience Upper Mustang’s distinctive Tibetan-influenced culture, breathtaking desert landscape, and historic Buddhist sites.
Pros and Cons of Each
🚙 Jeep Tour – Pros
- Covers a large no of the area in a short period, enabling travelers to see the main sights including caves, historic monasteries, and Lo Manthang.
- The upper Mustang Jeep tour is ideal for families with elderly people having restricted mobility.
- Offers a secure exploration of the beautiful landscape, particularly in challenging terrain and weather.
- Allow the visitors to enjoy off-road driving adventures with expansive views of the Himalayas and the desert landscape of Mustang.
- An alternative way to experience the Upper Mustang’s culture and Landscapes without any demanding hike.
🚙 Jeep Tour – Cons
- The drawback for travelers looking for adventurous experiences.
- Allows the travelers to spend less time in the village, reducing the chances of in-depth cultural immersion and involvement with local people.
- The unpaved road of Upper Mustang gets extremely dusty during the dry seasons, impairing visibility during the trek.
- Jeep tours are generally costly than trekking due to the due of 4-wheeled vehicles and special permits.
- Contribute to environmental impacts such as road erosion and wildlife disturbance.
🥾Trekking – Pros
- Trekkers have enough time to learn the local customs and culture of the area by exploring and interacting with local people.
- Opportunities to discover inaccessible locations and hidden treasures.
- Improve cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength.
- Trekkers encounter cultural experiences by staying in homestays, eating traditional meals, and learning about the everyday lives of people.
- Promote a closer relationship with nature.
🥾Trekking – Cons
- Unpredictable weather conditions with simple accommodations.
- Trekking calls for a high amount of time and Physical Fitness.
- Might not be the best option for people with limited physical mobility.
- Rising elevation increases the risk of altitude sickness.
- Expensive and time-consuming at the same time.
Who Should Choose What?
During the Mustang tour, it’s important to consider your preferences while choosing between trekking and the Jeep Tour. Jeep tour could be a great option for people with limited time, as it allows the exploration of natural beauty and cultural landmarks in a short period (4 to 7 days). Taking a jeep tour would be a good option for families with older and younger members to observe the area without demanding trekking.
Additionally, the jeep tour offers a slower pace if you would rather concentrate on photography or cultural exploration without the stress of lengthy hikes. Traveling in a jeep allows a comfortable journey while enjoying the beautiful landscapes and monasteries. Furthermore, the jeep tour is useful in off-season travel when weather conditions may make trekking difficult. Overall, the jeep tour offers a quick and cozy way to see Upper Mustang, so it’s appropriate for a variety of tourists looking for a less strenuous experience.
Also, Upper Mustang is a great option for people who want to explore the place on foot. Trekkers can develop a deeper connection with the local communities and nature. By strolling through the beautiful villages and interacting with residents, trekkers can acquire a deep understanding of the area’s distinctive Tibetan culture and customs. The slower pace of traveling through hiking provides a chance to engage in local activities and observe daily life. Trekking additionally provides more understanding of the incredible views, such as the majestic Himalayan peaks and the arid desert-like landscape.
However, trekking would be more beneficial if you intended to travel in the spring or fall. These seasons provide ideal weather with clear skies and moderate temperatures which enhance the trekking experience. In addition, the trails are less crowded than other well-traveled trekking routes in Nepal, making the trip more peaceful and serene. The beauty of the landscape is further enhanced by trekking in Upper Mustang during these seasons, which offer a more vibrant experience with lush greenery in the spring and golden hues in the fall.
Overall, the Upper Mustang trek is perfect for the one seeking an authentic, physically demanding, and culturally inspiring experience that fosters a strong bond with local people and the environment. Upper Mustang Trek offers a sense of accomplishment and personal development making it an amazing experience.
Can You Combine Both?
Combining the jeep tour and trekking in Upper Mustang provides a great opportunity to enjoy the arid landscape of the area. A popular option in combining the trip is to take a jeep to Lo Manthang and then hike a portion of the way back to Jomsom. Combining both Jeep tour and trek will eliminate the physical strain of long-distance trekking while still allowing trekkers to enjoy the comfort in the jeep while admiring the breathtaking scenery and cultural landmarks. The hikers can explore the ancient city and its surroundings once they arrive in Lo Manthang, before starting the trek back to Jomsom.
A lot of tour companies offer custom itineraries, and adjust the trip according to your preferences and schedule. This allows trekkers to decide where they want to drive or hike during the trek based on their interests and level of physical fitness. This will help trekkers with limited time for a full trek but still wish to experience the distinct culture and landscape of Upper Mustang. Furthermore, trekkers can still experience the thrill of trekking while concentrating on particular features of the area, like wildlife observation, cultural exploration, or photography through customized itineraries.
Conclusion
Both the Upper Mustang Jeep Tour and Trekking provide amazing experiences as they provide different kinds of adventurous experiences. The jeep tour will be perfect for those looking for comfort, ease, and quick exploration of the area’s natural and cultural beauty. It is appropriate for families and elderly people with limited time sparing them from physical pain. Trekking on the other hand would be physically demanding, and establish a close connection with the local people and the environment. For Trekkers who enjoy hiking and desire to explore cultural experiences, trekking will be the ideal choice.
It is important to consider your interests while deciding these options. A jeep tour will be a great option if your priority is limited time and comfort, and provide an easy way to explore the distinct scenery. If you are adventurous and seeking a deeper connection with nature then trekking will be the best option. Trekking provides a fulfilling feeling with a sense of achievement and personal development. Combining jeep travel and trekking is also a good choice for people who want the best of both worlds because it enables you to drive to important locations and hike portions of the route.
The Upper Mustang trip will be unforgettable whether you travel by jeep or on foot. The area’s distinct fusion of Tibetan culture, stunning scenery, and historical significance makes it a special destination. This trip to the “Forbidden Kingdom” is extraordinary by carefully planning and taking your preferences into account. Lastly, feel free to contact many tour companies to ensure comfort on the upper Mustang trip.