Mustang is a popular destination for vacations and treks. It is also a pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists, which might explain why this valley saw over 400,000 tourists in FY 2023/2024. Due to its immense popularity, it is on everyone’s radar. There might not be any Nepali individuals who don’t have a ‘Mustang Plan.’ For them, Mustang is a ‘Must-go’ place. So, “How can you reach Mustang Nepal from Kathmandu?” is a common question among people from Nepal and abroad.
Well, there are three major ways to reach Mustang from Kathmandu. It depends upon various factors, such as what is feasible for you and your budget. You can book a flight or explore the terrain through buses and jeeps. In all cases, your journey starts in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital city. This blog will assist you in finding the answer to this question. But before that, let’s see where exactly Mustang is.
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Where is Mustang?
It was excited to get into the existing Tibetan culture and the most important thing is to get close to the Mustang King
I heard about Mustang “ The hidden Kingdom” many year ago and NATE can make me accomplish to this area. It was so excited to get into the existing Tibetan culture and the most important thing is to get close to the Mustang king. I had a wonderful hot lemon in the palace such a memorable.
Thanks NATE !
5.0
Norapong Woraakhom
Bangkok, Thailand
Mustang, the kingdom of Lo, is located in northwestern Nepal. It is one of the seven districts of the Gandaki Province. Mustang extends north to the Tibetan Plateau. It is one of the remotest areas in the country, and the populations are distributed sparsely. It is divided into two parts:
Upper Mustang
Upper Mustang lies north of Kagbeni and extends to the border with Tibet. It is a high-altitude desert with barren landscapes, as this region receives very little rainfall. Lo Manthang is its capital. It was prohibited for foreigners until 1992. Even now, you need a permit for Upper Mustang Trek.
Lower Mustang
As the name suggests, Lower Mustang is located in the lower part of the Mustang region. This region receives comparatively more rainfall than the Upper Mustang, resulting in the varieties of flora, including pines and rhododendrons.
How to Reach Mustang from Kathmandu Via Air
Kathmandu to Lower Mustang Via Air
Traveling by air is the quickest way to reach Lower Mustang. However, Jomsom is the only available and functional airport in the Mustang district. And there are no direct flights from Kathmandu to Jomsom. You must take a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara to Jomsom. It takes around 30-35 minutes to reach Jomsom from Pokhara airport. From Jomsom, you must travel by road using a bus or jeep to explore other places. You have the option to opt for the trek as well.
The other option to get there by air is by Helicopter. It might be the most expensive option but also the easiest and most convenient one. Your helicopter tour consists of stopping at different helipads, allowing you to explore the landscapes.
Lower Mustang to Upper Mustang Via Air
There are no airports at Upper Mustang. So, the only option to get there via air is through helicopters. This is the fastest option for reaching Upper Mustang. During your helicopter flight, you will get a bird’s eye view of the majestic landscapes and mesmerizing Himalayan terrains of Mustang. You will also explore areas like Lo Manthang and Jomsom, as the helicopter will stop at these places for a certain duration. If you opt for this option, you will have covered most of the Mustang region, including Pokhara, daily. You can take a helicopter tour of Upper Mustang from Kathmandu or Pokhara.
If you don’t mind long road trips and want to enjoy the topography as you travel, then traveling to the lower Mustang via road might be the best option for you. It is very affordable, and with the right vehicle, it is also comfortable. No matter which mode of transportation you choose, your first step in this trip is Pokhara. It will take about 6-8 hours to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu. You will spend a night at Pokhara, allowing your body to rest and recover from the long travel. The next day, you can travel to Jomsom.
You have three major options if you are planning a trip to Mustang via highway:
Public Bus— There are plenty of public buses from Kathmandu to Pokhara. You can get them at Busparks at Gongabu or Kalanki. They are highly affordable, but they might become less comfortable at times. You will also find public buses at Pokhara to get to Jomsom.
Tourist Bus—The Tourist Bus is a luxurious bus with various facilities. Its prices are a bit higher compared to public buses. You can book a tourist bus in Kathmandu to take you to Jomsom. You can also change buses once you reach Pokhara.
Jeeps—If you are in a group and want to experience majestic views as you travel and have the luxury of stopping the vehicle at different places, then a Jeep is the one you should opt for.
Lower Mustang to Upper Mustang via Road
The road conditions to Upper Mustang were poor once, but they have improved now. While you can’t take a bus, neither tourism nor public buses go to Upper Mustang, you can always hire a private jeep. If you are visiting there with the help of travel agencies, you needn’t worry about the jeep. They will take care of hiring and taking you to your destination. And, if you are going alone or with a group, you can hire jeeps all the way from Pokhara or at Jomsom.
Besides these options, you have another alternative; you can trek to Lower and Upper Mustang.
How Can We Trek to Upper Mustang?
The desert-like land, man-made sky caves at high cliffs, Muktinath, Mustang Tiji festival, and exquisite villages like Kagbeni and Marpha make Mustang one of the best trekking destinations. The view of snow-clad mountains like Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri makes it worth every penny. It is popular for treks because it’s not as intense as EBC or ABC. Also, the trails are very spacious.
Trek from Jomson to Lower Mustang
The lower Mustang trek has to be the easiest. It is ideal for even beginners. You will travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara on your first day. For the second day, you must travel to Jomsom by plane or bus. After you reach there, it is entirely up to you how you want to explore the region. Jharkot, Thini, Dhumba Tal, Kagbeni, Titi, Larjung, Marpha, and Chimang are some of the major locations that you can visit. After you finish your Lower Mustang, you can either come to Kathmandu from Jomsom, or you can further trek to Upper Mustang. Remember, you will need to trek in the Upper Mustang.
Trek from Lower Mustang to Upper Mustang
Similar to your Lower Mustang Trek, your Upper Mustang Trek also begins in Jomsom. After exploring the lower region, you can return to Kagbeni for a rest. During your trek, you can visit notable places such as Lo Manthang, the capital of Mustang, as well as Chele and Tsarang. You have the option to either visit the major attractions or create a comprehensive plan to cover almost all the areas in Upper Mustang.
Permits Required for Mustang Travel
While you don’t need a permit to get to Jomsom, you will need a few to get to the Upper Mustang and even to trek in the lower regions. Sharing its border with Tibet, Upper Mustang has a deep Tibetan culture. The monasteries and shrines are extremely important to the population there. So, these permits are to conserve the environment, preserve the culture, and ensure travelers’ safety. On top of that, the permit fee allows the locals to sustain themselves and improve on various touristic factors. Here is the price breakdown of different kinds of permits you might need depending upon your intent to visit Mustang and your nationality;
Permit Type
Amount
Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACCA) Permit
For Foreigners- NPR 3000
For SAARC Nationals- NPR 1000
For Domestic Tourists- NPR 200
Restricted Area Permit (RAP) Note: Required just for Upper Mustang
For Foreigners -USD 500 per person for the first 10 days.
-USD 50 per person/day after 10 days
Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS)
For Foreigners -NPR 1000 per person (for group trekkers)
-NPR 2000 Per Person for individual trekkers
For SAARC Nationals -NPR 300 per person (for group trekkers)
-NPR 600 Per Person for individual trekkers
Budget to Reach Mustang From Kathmandu
You must consider various aspects when determining the budget to get to Mustang from Kathmandu. Public buses are relatively cheaper than Tourist buses. The private jeep tour, however, might get tricky and even be more expensive than the flight if the group is relatively smaller. If you prioritize comfort, convenience, and privacy above all else and money is not a problem, you can opt for a helicopter tour.
Let us look at the table below to estimate your expenditure;
Category
Mode/Type
Cost (Approx.) Per person
Permits
ACAP
NPR 200-3000
TIMS Card
NPR 300- 3000
RAP
USD 500 (for 10 days)
Travel (Kathmandu to Pokhara to Jomsom)
Public Buses
NPR 3,200-NPR 4,000
Tourist Bus
NPR 5,000- NPR 6,000
Private Jeep (Two way)
NPR 25,000 to NPR 35,000
Domestic Flights (One way)
NPR 8,000- NPR 10,000
Trek
NPR 1,500- NPR 2,500 per person
Helicopter
USD 1,500-USD 1,800 per person
Remember these expenses are approximate and expenditure depends on how you want to travel.
If you look at the map, there are two major routes to reach Lo-manthang. Both routes have their own attractions. The first route takes you to the once-forbidden city of Mustang from Kagbeni through Chele and Ghar Gumba, while you get to see Tetang and Tangge on the other route. Once you reach Lo Manthnag, you can also visit the Choser Cave. To explore these regions, you can ascend through one route and descend from another.
Day by Day Breakdown
Activities to do
Day 1
Kathmandu to Pokhara via bus or flight.
Day 2
Pokhara to Jomsom via flight and trek to Kagbeni on the same day.
Day 3
To Chele
Day 4
To Syangboche
Day 5
To Ghami
Day 6
To Tsarang
Day 7
To Lo Manthang
Day 8
Explore around cave and monasteries by jeep
Day 9
Trek to Marpha
Day 10
Drive back to Marpha
Day 11
Back to Kathmandu
Consider modifying it to meet your needs and preferences. You can also research and consult with your travel agencies to create a plan based on that.
What to Pack for the Mustang Tour
It might get confusing when it comes to packing for the Mustang tour. You must consider everything from the number of days you will be on the tour to the season. There is no one particular answer. However, you must be sure not to overpack or underpack. Mustang is located at a high altitude, so general packing for such areas includes the following things:
Warm Clothes- Fleece Jackets and Thermals
Windproof and Waterproof Jacket
Light pants and t-shirts
Warm socks and gloves
Water Bottle
Sunglasses
If you are going for the Upper Mustang tour or a trek, then you might want to consider the following things;
Sleeping Bags
Trekking Shoes
Backpack
Torch
Energy Bars and snacks
Note: Don’t forget to bring your documents and permits regardless of your purpose.
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Best time to visit Mustang
Now that you know how to get to Mustang, Nepal, from Kathmandu, let’s discuss the best time to visit the district. Unlike many other regions, such as EBC and ABC, you needn’t consider any specific seasons to go to Mustang. Yes, you need to think about it if there is something that you want to prioritize. If you want to explore the snow, then you don’t want to visit Mustang in Summer. Let’s Look at what each season offers.
Spring (March-May)— Clear Skies, Pleasant Weather, Tiji Festival of Mustang, might get windy
Summer (June-September)— Warm weather, ideal for cultural exploration, possible landslides, and thunderstorms
Andrea Rai is from Solukhumbu. She is an experienced, fluent English-speaking, friendly, and knowledgeable female guide.
She is specialized in the Annapurna area though she has been guided to the Langtang area and Everest regions too. She has 8 years of experience guiding in the Himalayas. She has deep knowledge of ethnic and indigenous cultures. She has good reviews of previous groups that she guided in past.
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