7 Best Upper Mustang Trekking Routes for 2026

7 Best Upper Mustang Trekking Routes for 2026

Upper Mustang is the trek where one-size-fits-all itineraries break down. Recent road construction has changed access dramatically, the Tiji Festival each May draws an unusually concentrated audience, and the region's combination of cultural depth and dry rain-shadow scenery means trekkers want very different things from the same valley. Over the past decade we have developed seven distinct itineraries through this former forbidden kingdom, each designed for a different traveller profile. Here is how to choose.

A quick refresher on Upper Mustang

Upper Mustang is a Tibetan-cultured region in north-central Nepal, bordering Tibet at the Kora La pass (4,660 m). It comprises two rural municipalities, Lo Manthang and Dalome, with a population of roughly 3,500. The walled city of Lo Manthang is the historical capital and home to the monastery of Chhode, where the Tiji Festival has been performed for over three centuries. The region was closed to outsiders until 1992 and remains restricted today — only registered Nepali agencies can obtain the USD 500 permit, with a minimum of two trekkers per group.

1. Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek — 16 days

The flagship cultural trip. We time arrival in Lo Manthang for the opening day of Tiji, Mustang's biggest annual Buddhist festival held over three days in mid-May. The itinerary moves from Pokhara to Jomsom by flight, treks north through Sangmochen, Dakmar and Ghar Gompa, crosses Marang La pass, observes the full Tiji ceremony, and descends through the eastern villages of Yara, Tange and Tetang before finishing at Muktinath. This is the trek for travellers who want serious cultural depth alongside their walking.

• Best for: culture-focused trekkers, returning Himalaya visitors
• Season: May only, dates set by Tibetan lunar calendar
• Difficulty: moderate

2. Upper Mustang Yartung Festival Trek — 14 days

A summer alternative built around Yartung, Mustang's high-altitude horse-racing festival. The pace is similar to Tiji but compressed into a tighter loop: Pokhara to Jomsom, trek through Lubrak and Sangbochen, visit the Chosar monasteries and sky caves, witness Yartung in Lo Manthang, then descend through Yara and Charang back to Jomsom. Yartung is sometimes called the Kentucky Derby of Mustang — there is no ticket, you simply turn up and watch villagers race ponies across the plateau.

• Best for: travellers wanting a less-crowded festival experience
• Season: late August (lunar calendar)
• Difficulty: moderate

3. Upper Mustang Classic Trek — 15 days

Our most-recommended itinerary for first-time visitors who do not need to be there for a festival. This is the balanced route that gives roughly equal time to both the western (Dhakmar, Tsarang, Ghar Gompa) and eastern (Yara, Tange) sides of Upper Mustang. Includes Lo Manthang, Thingkar village (the king's summer residence), Chosar caves, and the hike to Kuncholing viewpoint. Finishes at Muktinath with the option to walk or drive out via Jomsom. See our Upper Mustang Classic Trek.

• Best for: first-time Upper Mustang trekkers
• Season: March-November
• Difficulty: moderate

4. Upper Mustang Jeep Tour — 14 days

For travellers who want to see Upper Mustang but cannot or do not want to walk the long days. We use Mahindra Scorpio 4x4s along the Kora La highway, with strategic short hikes off the road into key cultural sites: Marpha, Sangmochen, Lo Manthang, Chosar caves, and the eastern villages. You miss the slow reveal of the landscape you get on foot, but you cover serious ground and reach communities you would otherwise need a full week to walk to.

• Best for: older travellers, time-constrained visitors, those with mobility limits
• Season: March-November
• Difficulty: easy

5. Upper Mustang 8 Knots Trek — 20 days

The "extreme" Upper Mustang option for veteran trekkers who want the deepest possible exposure. Partially camping-based (most Mustang treks are teahouse), this 20-day route loops through Lupra, Syangbochen, Dhakmar, Charang, Ghara, the remote monasteries of Luri Gompa and Chodzong Gompa, Nomad Mesa Camp at high altitude, Samdzong, Chosar and Lo Manthang before descending through Yara and Tange to Jomsom. The "8 Knots" name refers to the eight distinct cultural and geographic nodes the trek connects.

• Best for: repeat Mustang visitors, expedition-style trekkers
• Season: April-October
• Difficulty: demanding

6. New Tiji Festival Trek — 17 days

A second, smaller Tiji-style ritual was reintroduced at a different monastery in recent years, drawing a fraction of the audience of the main Lo Manthang festival. The trek follows roughly the same route as the main Tiji itinerary but with quieter villages, smaller crowds at the dance ceremony, and a more intimate atmosphere. Same spiritual essence, very different texture.

• Best for: travellers who want Tiji without the main-festival crowds
• Season: June (lunar calendar)
• Difficulty: moderate

7. Tiji Festival Jeep Tour — 14 days

The hybrid option: Tiji Festival experience without the multi-day trekking commitment. We drive the route via Marpha, Chuksang, Sangmochen, Charang and Ghara before reaching Lo Manthang in time for the three-day festival. Post-festival drive out via Tatopani and Muktinath. Recommended for travellers who specifically want to witness Tiji but do not have the fitness or time for the full 16-day walking version.

• Best for: older travellers wanting the Tiji experience
• Season: May only
• Difficulty: easy

Other Mustang options worth knowing

Beyond these seven core routes, we also offer:

• Upper Mustang Apple Farm Trek — autumn harvest-season trek through Mustang's famous apple orchards
• Lower Mustang Trek — a no-permit-required teahouse trek through Jomsom, Marpha, Kagbeni and Muktinath, ideal as a Mustang introduction

How to choose your route

Ask yourself three questions:

1. Are you here for a festival? If yes, choose Tiji (May), Yartung (August), or New Tiji (June). If no, do the Classic or 8 Knots.
2. Can you walk 6 hours per day for two weeks? If no, choose the jeep tour.
3. Have you been to Mustang before? If yes, the 8 Knots gives you new ground. If no, the Classic gives you the best overview.

When to go

Upper Mustang's rain-shadow position means it stays dry through monsoon, which is unique in Nepal. Workable months are March through November. Peak photographic season is mid-October to mid-November when the air is clearest. The Tiji window in mid-May is the busiest time, with rooms in Lo Manthang booking out months in advance. Winter (December-February) is technically possible but cold, windy, and many lodges close.

Permit and cost reality

Every Upper Mustang trek includes:

• Upper Mustang Special Permit: USD 500 for the first 10 days plus USD 50 per extra day
• ACAP: NPR 3,000 (~USD 30)
• Domestic flights: Pokhara to Jomsom return (weather-dependent)
• Minimum two trekkers per group for permit issuance

Total trip cost typically runs USD 2,200-3,500 per person depending on duration, group size and whether you trek or jeep.

Plan your Upper Mustang trip with us

We have been running Mustang trips since 2010, our co-founders include Mustang-region guides, and we are one of the few agencies that offer all seven of these itineraries as standard. Browse our full Upper Mustang collection or contact us for a tailored 2026 itinerary.