Upper Mustang Trekking is one of the most fascinating and adventurous activities to explore The Last Lost Kingdom in Nepal. Upper Mustang (Lo Manthang) is one of the most fascinating places to explore the Buddhist culture and history of Tibetians in the Himalayas, with a long, rich, and complex history of its origin and existence.

The region of Tibetan influence north of Kagbeni is generally referred to as Upper Mustang. The ancient Kingdom of Mustang – the capital Lo Manthan was attached to Tibet in the 14th century, Although it retained its identity as an autonomous dynasty throughout the centuries - is a walled city where people still remain predominantly Tibetan. Still somewhat restricted (special permits are required) the trek to Lo Manthan (3730 m) refers to the arid Tibet-like region at the northern end of Kali Gandaki. Annexed by Nepal in the 17 century, but untouched by the outside world or the Chinese Cultural Revolution, 14th-century monasteries still remain active to preserve this magnificent Trans-Himalayan kingdom, with their unrivaled Buddhist shrines with cliff-hanging monasteries, thankas, mandalas and deities and cave-dwelling people. In this wild lunar landscape of unreal color and beauty, ruggedly carved mountains reach up to deep blue skies, while icy peaks glimmer majestically to the south. Vast and barren ridges extend to the northern horizon making one feel like an insignificant dot on a timeless landscape.

Why The Upper Mustang Trek?

Trekking to Upper mustang gives you a very different immense experience. You will be exploring the Last Lost Kingdom of Tibet; the historical monuments of Tibetian people, the human-made caves of the mountains, the majestic kingdom of Upper Mustang, and the Buddhist Monastries. The trekking to Upper Mustang is like exploring the Tibetian plateau as the Upper Mustang and villages of here are geographically a part of the Tibetan plateau. The people, culture, tradition, and lifestyle of the people of Upper Mustang is similar to the Tibetian people. Mustang was a separate kingdom inside the boundaries of Nepal till 1950, with the King of Mustang residing at the Royal palace of Lo Manthang.

Upper Mustang is also regarded as the Forbidden Kingdom of Nepal as trekking to Upper Mustang needs a special restricted permit from the Government of Nepal. Upper Mustang Trekking has opened to non-Nepali trekkers only some 15years ago and since then this region has become one of the most densely visited destinations of Nepal. Upper Mustang is still a restricted region like the Manaslu region and trekkers need a special trekking permit and should be accompanied by a certified guide.

What is the Best Season for Trekking in the Upper Mustang?

The best season for Trekking to Upper Mustang is the Summer Months, During the summer Upper Mustang remains very steady with crystal clear days and dry weather. The most popular times of the year are Spring and Autumn. However, if you want to experience the cultural and religious Mustang tour, you may combine your adventure with the traditional festival the Tiji Festival of Upper Mustang. During Teji Festival the locals from far and wide visit Lo Manthang (Upper Mustang) to participate in the festival. This cultural festival Tiji is one of the most popular festivals celebrated in the Kingdom of Nepal. If you want to trek to Upper Mustang during winter, it's possible but you need to gear up with the right equipment and clothing during the month of Winter.

Upper Mustang Weather and Temperature

Trekking to Upper Mustang is on the bucket list of many travelers. The Tibetan plateau-like region with historical and cultural importance, Upper Mustang is the Forbidden Kingdom of Nepal. If you are planning to visit Mustang or Upper Mustang (Lo Manthang), Spring (March, April, May) and Autumn (September, October, November) are the best seasons. During May, you can visit Mustang to experience the most popular Teji festival. The temperature of Mustang and Lo Manthang highly differs in day and night. So, before starting your trek, make sure to pack up all the required equipment, clothing, and other accessories to stay safe and make your journey adventurous. The following table illustrates the temperature of the Mustang in Day and Night. 

MonthDay TemperatureNight TemperatureDecember, January, February0 to 5 °C (32 to 41 °F)-25 to -20 °C (-13 to -4 °F)March, April, May, June16 to 22 °C (61 to 72 °F)-6 to -2 °C (21 to 28 °F)July, August, September20 to 33 °C (68 to 73 °F)-3 to 0 °C (27 to 32 °F)October, November12 to 20 °C (54 to 68 °F)-8 to -4 °C (18 to 25 °F).