Top 10 Reasons to Trek Upper Mustang

Upper Mustang Trek only became accessible to the public in 1992. The Trek takes you through a unique landscape of eroded sandstone columns, offering rare natural sights. You’ll visit Gyokar Gompa, a thousand-year-old monastery, and the four-story palace in Lo-manthang. You’ll also pass through caves of native tribes called Lobos and enjoy panoramic views of the Nilgiri, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri ranges, surrounded by more than 35 mountains over 6000m high. This blog will discuss ten reasons you should do the Upper Mustang Trek.

Upper Mustang Trek is one of the most beautiful trekking destinations in Nepal. This trek takes you to the peak of the Himalayas at an altitude of over 3700m. The upper Mustang region is also called the Forbidden Kingdom in Nepal, as the place was forbidden to the general public. Only kings, queens, and soldiers were allowed to enter the kingdom. So, what makes the Upper Mustang trek so unique? Let’s get into it.

Reasons to trek Upper Mustang

1. Unique Cultural Experience

Ancient Tibetan Culture

One significant reason to trek or visit the Upper Mustang region is to know or get familiar with the local people and understand their ancient Tibetan culture. The people of Upper Mustang are Tibetan migrants during the war days. During your trek, you must explore the region as you will reach several monasteries, Ghumbas, monks’ caves, chortens, prayer flags, mani walls, etc., highlighting the traditional and ancient Tibetan culture. Each of these monasteries and ghumbas has a myth and story surrounding them that will engage you and respect the culture even more.

Traditional Festivals

During your Upper Mustang trek, you can reach villages with Tibetan culture and unique traditional festivals, especially if you can time your trek in the appropriate season. The Tiji Festival in Mustang is one of the unique festivals celebrated in Nepal’s Upper Mustang and Lower Mustang areas. The festival is celebrated in April and May, which is the peak Spring season when the atmosphere is majestic with the views of mountains and skies,

2. Stunning Landscapes

Dramatic Desert Scenery

Upper Mustang is one of the most beautiful places in Nepal, where you can see the dramatic desert scenery. The Upper Mustang is located in the desert area of Nepal, where you will see the majestic views of the valleys and mountains from the top of the ridge. The desert-like landscapes make the rock and cliff formations. You’ll walk by colorful buckwheat fields and pastureland for sheep, mountain goats, and yaks. The barren hills and unique land structure are the main reasons people trek to the Upper Mustang.

Picturesque Villages

The Upper Mustang trek takes you through many unique towns, villages, and remote settlements. The remote villages with picturesque views of the local settlements, nearby monasteries, rivers, streams, waterfalls, and tall mountains are the major attractions for every Upper Mustang trek.

3. Mystical Monasteries

Lo Gekar Monastery’

One of the significant reasons you might want to trek to the Upper Mustang is to explore majestic ancient monasteries and ghumbas. One of the famous monasteries in this region is the Lo Gekar monastery. Its other name is Ghar Gompa or Gumba, which is located in the Lo Ghekar Damodar Kunda Rural Municipality. This monastery is among the oldest monasteries in the history of Tibetian culture, as it was built in the 8th century and even before the Samya Monastery. The building of Lo-Gekar Monastery ties up with the arrival of Guru Rinpoche, the eldest monk in the Musang area of Nepal.

Thubchen Gompa

Thubchen Monastery is another famous and sacred Buddhist monastery made in the 15th century. This monastery is located in the Lo Manthang area of the Upper Mustang area of Nepal. People visit this monastery to learn the ancient Tibetan culture’s myth and enjoy the beautiful drawings painted with mixtures of colors like malachite, gold, turquoise, cinnamon, and gold. The monastery is ancient, but it has been repaired occasionally. The repair took place in 1998, when the personnel repaired the damaged parts of the monastery and renovated the roof entirely.

4. Rich History

Ancient Kingdom of Lo

If you want a magnificent Himalayan adventure full of rich history, then what is more than the ancient kingdom of Lo? Mustang’s previous name was the Kingdom of Lo, the central trade hub for Tibet, Nepal, and India. The Kingdom of Lo became a central part of Nepal in the 18th century; however, it was still forbidden for the general public, and only kings and queens could enter it till 2008.

Hidden Caves and Artifacts

Upper Mustang is a land full of mystery, which means you will find many hidden sky caves throughout the region. The explorers found ancient artifacts and paintings in these hidden caves, but some were still hidden in the deep valley. You can explore these caves with your guide, but they are not dangerous. If you are interested in these ancient lores and artifacts, you can visit the local museum where you will get the most answers to your questions.

5. Authentic Local Cuisine

Traditional Tibetan Food

The Journey to the Upper Mustang is not only limited to the adventure in the Himalayas but also the adventure of authentic local cuisine, especially the famous and delicious Tibetan food, which has been well-known since ancient times. Some traditional Tibetan foods you can enjoy on your trek are Thampa, Thukpa, Momos, etc. Drinks like Sake and butter Tea are also quite popular among foreign trekkers and tourists who visit the place for the first time.

Local Delicacies

If you love traditional foods during your Upper Mustang trek, you will also love the local delicacies the teahouses still serve to the new guests and trekkers in the country. Some local delicacies you will surely enjoy during your trek are Chhang, Khapse, Tingmo, Local Honey, Ghundruk, and others. The famous local apple delicacy named Marpha is also equally popular in the Upper Mustang trek.

6.Tiji and Yartung Festival

People of the Upper Mustang region celebrated the Tiji festival in May 2024, and now they are waiting for the 2025 Tiji festival, where dates are fixed for the 24th, 25th, and 26th of May. The people of the Mustang region remain excited about the Tiji festival throughout the year. Another trendy festival celebrated in the area is the Yartung Festival, also called the Horseriding Festival. Yartung festival is celebrated from August to September, where people unite, prepare local foods and drinks, and sing and dance their native songs and dances.

7. Unique Flora and Fauna

Rare Wildlife

Upper Mustang is entirely private and has not been explored so far. You can find this region’s elusive snow leopard and the prolific musk deer. Although it’s rare to see a snow leopard, you might come across the Himalayan Yak, a long-haired domesticated cattle used for transportation and milk. The milk is used to make butter tea, a popular delicacy in the region. 

Endemic Plant Species

The region is known for its Himalayan alpine terrain with various herbal plants, which the locals use for medicine and incense. Some of the most common plant species found in the Upper Mustang area are Rhododendron, Juniper, Himalayan Cedar, etc,

8. Adventure and Thrill

Challenging Trekking Routes

Another primary reason you might want to try the Upper Mustang trek is the thrill you will experience in the high altitude. The trekking routes are reasonably easy up to Kagbeni, but as you climb more altitude, it becomes more challenging along the snowy valleys and rocky fields. The thrill of passing through yak pastures and seeing the entire Manang valley from the top of the Upper Mustang ridge is exceptional.

9. Hospitality of the Locals

The locals of the Upper Mustang trek are renowned for their hospitality and friendly behavior. The Western culture does not influence them, but they respect all foreign cultures and traditions of the people from foreign countries. However, it is also wise to respect their culture and traditions and ask permission before clicking photos visiting monasteries, temples, or other sacred places.

10. Peace and Tranquility

One of the best reasons to visit the Upper Mustang region might be to get closer to nature and experience the Mustang’s peaceful and tranquil surroundings. In modern times, people are often busy with their work in bustling city areas and often use electronic gadgets like laptops and mobiles. So, if you want to take a break from it and enjoy the incredible natural beauty in the lap of the Himalayas, be sure to explore the Upper Mustang of Nepal.

Safety Tips for Upper Mustang Trek

Upper Mustang is home to natural beauty, majestic wild animals, unique cultures and traditions, etc., making the adventure fun and challenging. However, in all those aspects, keeping yourself safe to enjoy the trek to its fullest is essential. Here are some of the safety tips you need for Upper Mustang Trek.

1. Acclimatize appropriately as you trek at high altitudes. The chance of altitude sickness is relatively high, disrupting your trek and making you ill.
2. Hire guides and porters for smooth navigation and ease of your trek. Guides are also crucial for safety; porters can carry heavy loads during your trek.
3. Trek Upper Mustang in suitable seasons like spring and autumn, and avoid off seasons like monsoon and winter.
4. Spend your time improving your physical fitness and increasing stamina before trekking. Include yourself in cardiovascular and breathing exercises to strengthen your core.
5. Carry all your documents like Visa, Passport, Permits, Cash, etc during the high altitude treks as they are essential, especially in the restricted area.

Permit Information

It would help if you had permits for many treks in Nepal, and the Upper Mustang is no different. In fact, for this permit, you need a special license, which is a restricted area permit. Furthermore, as you will be trekking in the Annapurna region, you must issue an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit or ACAP. The Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit costs $500 per person for a 10-day visit and $50 per person for each additional day. On the other hand, ACAP costs foreigners US$ 27 or NPR 3000, and for SAARC nations, NPR 1,000, for local tourists, NPR 200.

Conclusion:

Hence, these are the top ten reasons to trek to Upper Mustang Trek. The Upper Mustang trekking experience is quite different from the general trek of Nepal. This region is relatively new, raw, and unexplored; however, it is one of the most scenic treks in Nepal. So, if you still haven’t trekked the Upper Mustang region, we hope our ten reasons finally motivate you to try it. If you need information on other areas and treks in Nepal, don’t hesitate to contact us.

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