Upper Mustang Trek

The best time to trek to the Upper Mustang Region is during the Autumn and Spring seasons, as the climate is favorable and the trekking route is rich in luscious greens. For a safe, memorable, and incredible experience, plan a trek between mid-September and November or March and June.

However, the trek is possible all around the year. As long as you can avoid rainstorms and sustain extreme temperatures, you can ascend during colder months to avoid the crowd.

The Upper Mustang walking trek usually takes 16 days to complete, but the duration might vary depending on how you customize your trip and the transportation you use.

Though it might not be mandatory, booking your Upper Mustang trek in advance is better to ease the process, specifically if you plan for trekking seasons, as mentioned above.

Booking in advance secures your spot and ensures you and your trekking company are well-prepared for the trek. However, getting the trekking permits, booking accommodation and transport, and getting your visas might take time.

Trek to the Upper Mustang requires moderate fitness since you will walk at least 6-7 hours daily. You will also need good cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength to ascend quickly through rough terrain.

If you aren’t somebody who doesn’t perform physical training regularly, it is better to start training at least ¾ months in advance. Ensure you include cardio, flexibility exercises, and strength training in your workout to prepare your body for the trek.

To explore the Upper Mustang, you require three different permits: a special Mustang trek permit, an Annapurna Conservation Area project permit, and a TIMS card (Travelers Information Management System).

Travel insurance isn’t mandatory when trekking in the Upper Mustang region. Still, it is advisable to do so to prepare in advance for possible catastrophic situations on the trek.

Yes, you can customize your itinerary for the Upper Mustang trek to fit your needs. We can add or subtract the acclimatization days, optimize the trekking route, and shorten or elongate the trek as you prefer.

However, if you have booked for our regular trekking package that moves as a group, customizing the itinerary just for an individual isn’t possible.

Some of the best ways to train for the trek are through regular cardio, focusing on breathing exercises, strength training, lifting weights, hamstring sketching exercises, and so on. You can also switch to climbing stairs instead of lifts, walking, or jogging instead of driving to smaller distances to prepare your body.

Additionally, going on regular hikes or climbing up the hills can be the best way to train for the trek.

To trek to the Upper Mustang region, you will need lightweight and warmer clothing, trekking poles, hiking boots, headlamps, sleeping bags, sunglasses, toiletries, and solar batteries.

Getting any vaccinations to trek to the Upper Mustang region isn’t mandatory. However, you can check your country’s travel regulations and vaccinate yourself before visiting Nepal.

Typically, routine vaccines are available, including those against Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Rabies, and Cholera.

For any personal expenses other than those offered by the trekking company, you will need Nepalese rupees for your Upper Mustang trek. However, it is better to have some USD or your home currency as a backup for emergencies or returns.

Exchange your currencies for Nepali rupees in Kathmandu to find the best rates.

To travel to Nepal, you will need a “Tourist Visa.” This visa is available on arrival for most foreign visitors except those from African countries, Afghanistan, and refugees with travel documents.

Check the official website of the Department of Immigration for information regarding On Arrival and other tourist visas in Nepal.

It is possible to trek solo to the Upper Mustang Region, as the terrain isn’t that difficult to reach.

The trekking route to the Upper Mustang consists of rough rocky terrain, a couple of steep hills, stairs, and narrow trails. Along your path, you will encounter suspension bridges, a biodiversity conservation area, luscious green forests, and locally inhabited villagers.

While standard, three-star, and five-star accommodations are available in Kathmandu, the options might be restricted on the trekking route. You will most likely find tea houses with clean rooms along the route.

And yes, getting private rooms or rooms with attached bathrooms is possible, but you will have to pay an extra charge.

If you want to trek through the Upper Mustang region, you can reach the starting point, i.e., Jomsom, via flight or on a jeep ride.

Yes, electricity and Wi-Fi are available in most of the teahouses en route to the Langtang region trails. However, it might be costly to access internet services and charge your devices at these stops, and the reliability of the connection could be better, too. You can carry rechargeable solar batteries for electricity.

Since you will be traveling on a bust and then hiking along the trekking route, there is no restriction on the luggage you can carry. However, it is better to travel light as you will have to

The guesthouses and teahouses primarily serve Nepali, Tibetan, and other ethnic cuisine, including Rice, Pulses, Bread, Noodles, and Soup.

Yes, showers are available on the trek to Upper Mustang, but it’s recommended that you avoid showering at higher elevations.

There are provisions for charging your electronics in rest houses, teahouses, or local stays. But remember to carry the required adapters (C type and D type) with you to fit in your chargers.

The teahouses have clean but fundamental squat toilets en route to Upper Mustang. In case of emergencies, private areas along the trail can also be found to relieve the pressure.

Yes, doing laundry on the Upper Mustang Trek is possible. However, the water is cold, so we suggest you do not use it unless required. Packing enough clothes is better than looking for laundry in elevations with cold water.

You are less likely to find a store to buy snacks and drinks on the trek as it is a remote area inhabited by fewer people. However, the tea houses along the trail do sell biscuits, candies, and other snacks.

We advise you to carry protein bars, dried nuts, and fruits to snack when you want. For drinking water, you can bring a refillable bottle with a filter to drink water from sprouts or springs along the way.

Yes, you can find a few ATMS in Jomsom, but none are on the trekking trail.

If you get altitude sickness on your way Upper Mustang, let your trekking guide know about the situation. The guides are prepared with first aid required for such a situation.

Rest at the same spot and take anti-sickness medications. After you feel a little better, descend to a lower altitude. If the situation worsens, request the guide reach out to the head office in Kathmandu for a helicopter rescue.

It would be best to pack warmer clothes, trekking gear, all your necessary medications, and travel documents for the trek. Additionally, you should pack protein bars, dry nuts, and fruits for snacking on the trek, along with a refillable water bottle.

Even though the company will provide you with packaged water bottles along the journey, it is convenient to carry your own.

Medical facilities are very limited on the trekking routes of the Upper Mustang except in towns like Jomsom. We suggest you carry all necessary medications in your backpack before you drive to the base.

Water from natural sources looks clean in the Langtang region, but it might not be safe to drink. You can purify the water using bottle filters, chlorinate it, or boil it to make it potable.

The first thing you can do in an emergency is contact our trekking guide. Our guides are equipped with oximeters and necessary first-aid kits and trained to handle any kind of emergency.

Besides, the guides will have all the necessary contacts to contact emergency rescue services such as helicopter rescue, air ambulance, or land rescue.

The best way to prevent altitude sickness is by taking proper rest after your trek, acclimatizing to the altitude, staying hydrated, and avoiding alcohol while on the trek.

Whenever you feel sick due to altitude, stop immediately and rest for a while. Hydrate yourself and take medications to ease the pain.

You should never try to ascend or descend right away whenever you are experiencing altitude sickness. Let your trekking guide know about your situation and request an emergency rescue if the condition worsens.

Acetazolamide (usually sold under the name Diamox) can help you with altitude sickness. As it reduces the severity of any observed symptoms as well as helps you adjust to high altitude quicker, Diamox is often suggested to treat acute altitude sickness.

Some other medications that can also help are Dexamethasone, Nifedipine, and Ibuprofen. It is safe to consult your physician and take the medications in advance to prevent allergies or any undesired reaction against the drugs.

You should be aware of any medical conditions that you might have before planning the trek. If you have pulmonary diseases, asthma, or any other breathing-related illness, it’s better to get it checked and prepared in advance with medication and stimulatory exercises.

Additionally, you should be aware of any allergies that you might have before you trek. It is always best to avoid food, drinks, or agents that can instigate a hypersensitive reaction in your body to prevent any illness on the route.

It isn’t too safe to trek alone in the wilderness. If you are planning to trek to high-altitude mountains like the Upper Mustang region, which can often have unpredictable weather, is prone to natural calamities, and involves risky and rough terrains, it isn’t safe to travel solo.

If you know the route very well and are mentally and physically prepared to trek alone, go for it. Otherwise, it is recommended to take along a travel guide who knows the route well to have a smooth trekking experience.

If you get injured during the trek, stop for a break and take the necessary first aid. If you have a serious injury that needs immediate attention, call for emergency rescue with the help of your trekking guide.

Since the trekking route takes you through conservation areas, it is obvious to see animals on the route. Although it is less likely to find a dangerous animal on the trail, it isn’t impossible. Leopards, cheetahs, musk deer, etc., can often inhabit mountainous regions.

Traveling in groups in such forest areas is better than encountering one. But if you do, don’t just run or instigate the animal; let it pass before you move.

The weather can be unpredictable if you are trekking in a mountainous region. Usually, the temperature is lower and can drop to freezing at night.

Besides, the higher elevation areas often have snow storms, soft rains, and chilled breezes.