The Upper Mustang Jeep Tour is the perfect road trip for those travellers who do not desire to go on a long and challenging trek. In this tour, you will get to have exciting off-road rides in the Mustang Region and an opportunity to see old villages, monasteries and the beautiful walled city of Lo Manthang.
The trip begins with a flight or a drive to Pokhara. Then you go to Lower Mustang and reach the windy town of Jomsom. When you are passing into the restricted part of Upper Mustang, the landscape is totally different. You will be able to see red and brown cliffs, whitewashed villages, terraced fields and old caves which seem to belong to another world.
You will be riding in a comfortable 4×4 jeep all through rocky trails and trade routes. On the route, you will be able to enjoy beautiful Himalayan scenery, pay visits to ancient monasteries and experience the hospitality of the Loba people. It is more than just a sightseeing tour. It offers a rich cultural experience in a thousand-year-old Tibetan village, which is rare to find in the 21st century.
The capital and centre of an old Mustang. Visit its magnificent mud-brick walls, four great gompas (Thubchen, Jampa, Chodey and Choprang), and the 5-story Royal Palace. Live in the historical nature of this heritage site.
Gates to Upper Mustang. Chhusang has its dramatic cliffside location, and across the Kali Gandaki River, whereas Chele will show you the unusual architecture and culture of the region.
A vast and long-established village including a magnificent old monastery (gompa), a grand traditional architecture palace, and a spectacular chorten (stupa), which is believed to hold the preserved body of a princess.
This place is the home of the longest Mani Wall in Nepal. It is constructed with thousands of carved stones and Buddhist praying flags. This village gives you beautiful scenery and a peaceful atmosphere.
Reputedly the oldest monastery in Mustang and one of the oldest in the world, dating back to the 8th century. It is believed to have been founded by Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) and holds immense spiritual significance.
Located at an altitude of 3,710 m, Muktinath Temple is a sacred place for Hindus (as a Vishnu temple) and Buddhists (as a place where Guru Rinpoche meditated). There are 108 watersprouts and eternal flames here. Also, Shaligram or Shila is a famous souvenir of this place, which you can buy and take home.
Famous for its stunning red cliffs, believed to be stained by the blood of a demon vanquished by Guru Rinpoche, adding a mythical dimension to its striking natural beauty.
Sky Caves of Mustang is also known as a man-made cave, which you can find on steep valley walls. These caves are believed to be older than 7 century BC, where people used them for habitation, military lookouts, meditation chambers and storage units.
From the different viewpoints during the tour, you can enjoy the panoramic view of Mount Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, and other impressive peaks.
High Route Adventure focuses on transforming your dreams about travelling into real and unforgettable experiences. We are the best tour operator in Nepal for the Upper Mustang Jeep Tour, and here is the reason why:
Our guides are the locals who are familiar with the history, culture and secret places of Upper Mustang. They tell true stories and experiences that make your experience more valuable. We have created our itineraries in a way that allows us to offer you the best experience ever, sightseeing in Lo Manthang, old caves and beautiful sights whilst making the whole process comfortable and easy.
Our 4×4 jeeps are timely serviced and well-maintained. During the ride, our Jeep will be operated by an experienced and skilful driver who is familiar with the Himalayan roads. We maintain high safety standards, we give you proper briefings and make sure that you get acclimatised well when travelling at high altitudes.
We will book the most suitable guesthouses and lodges for you so that you can stay in clean and comfortable rooms. We also take care of all logistics, permits, transportation, and meals so that you can enjoy your trip without any stress.
In our tours, you will have an opportunity to meet the hospitable people of Loba, visit ancient monasteries and experience the ancient way of life in the Upper Mustang. We promote responsible and sustainable tourism practices as well to help the local communities and preserve the culture and environment of the region.
We also allow our customers to customise the Upper Mustang Jeep tour itinerary according to their interests, schedule and budget. You can join this tour whether you are solo, in a group or want private tours. Our team is available 24/7 to help, answer your questions, and make sure you have a smooth and enjoyable trip.
Upper Mustang Jeep tour is possible from May to November, except in the winter. If you are trying to know which time might fit for you, then here is the seasonal breakdown for you:
Spring is one of the best times to visit Upper Mustang on a Jeep tour. You can enjoy lush greenery and blooming flowers in the lower region, and the roads stay in excellent condition for a smooth and comfortable ride. This season also hosts the famous Tiji Festival, a traditional Buddhist ritual dance festival celebrated in Lo Manthang.
Upper Mustang receives a large number of local and foreign travellers in autumn due to stable and pleasant weather conditions. The moderate temperature, clear view of the sky, good visibility of mountain peaks, and safe road conditions make people love to travel in this season. We recommend that you book the accommodation in advance while travelling in this season.
Upper Mustang lies in the rainshadow area of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, so even during the monsoon, this area receives very little rainfall. The daytime temperature remains high, but you can expect fewer tourists compared to the peak spring and autumn seasons. Jeep tours are perfectly viable, and the Yartung festival also takes place during this season. But what you need to be aware of is that the monsoon can affect the road conditions that take you to the lower Mustang.
The weather is extremely cold in winter, and temperatures often drop below freezing, making it hard for travellers to stay comfortably. Heavy snowfall covers the high-altitude areas, and the roads usually get blocked. Because of this, most people avoid Jeep tours during the winter season.
| Tour Type | Duration | Cost (Per Person) | Includes |
| Standard Upper Mustang Jeep Tour | 7 Days | USD 1,400–1,800 | Permits, 4×4 Jeep, guide, hotels/guesthouses, breakfast, Pokhara–Jomsom transport |
| Standard Upper Mustang Jeep Tour | 14 Days | USD 1,850–2,000 | All services in 7-day package + extra days for sightseeing, acclimatization & cultural visits |
| Luxury Private Upper Mustang Jeep Tour | 7–14 Days | USD 2,800–4,500+ | Luxury hotels in Pokhara/Jomsom, best lodges, premium 4×4 Jeep, private guide, full meals, customized itinerary |
Must read: Mustang Jeep Tour Detail CostbreakdownIf you don’t have 2 weeks to spend on the Upper Mustang Jeep tour, don’t worry, we also have a short 7-day Mustang Jeep Tour. Let’s see the itinerary of this 7-day trip:
| 7 Day Upper Mustang Jeep Tour Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu, transfer to a hotel. Day 2: Drive or fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara;evening at a lakeside hotel. Day 3: Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom; jeep drive to Kagbeni and permit check. Day 4: Off-road jeep ride from Kagbeni to Lo Manthang with village and monastery stops. Day 5: Explore Lo Manthang, Namgyal Gompa, Summer Palace, and Chhoser Caves. Day 6: Drive from Lo Manthang to Muktinath; continue to Jomsom for overnight stay. Day 7: Fly Jomsom–Pokhara; drive back to Kathmandu and end the tour. |
Note: For the cost and group membership, make sure to contact our tour operator.
Traveller's note: Tomorrow you will have an early morning ride. So be prepared for the ride by packing your things in the evening.
On this day you will can visit the cultural and UNESCO Heritages sites of Nepal:
Note: Your Upper Mustang Travel permit will get ready on this day.
Traveller's note: The travel duration will be around 7-8 hours, so make sure to pack snacks and carry local cash to have a meal during the trip. You can also choose direct flight to Pokhara or Ride to Pokhara on Private Jeep by paying extra cost.
In your case with the Upper Mustang Jeep tours in Nepal you will be using 4WD vehicles with which it will be safe to cover the rugged and mountainous terrain. The Mahindra Scorpio and the Toyota Land Cruiser are the most popular vehicles.
These jeeps are able to cope with rough roads with ease and that includes an un-paved trail, rocky trail, and riverbeds. It is absolutely safe and secure to ride this.
When it comes to low-cost tours, the Mahindra Scorpio is a frequent choice in that it is a secure vehicle, although there are no unnecessary luxuries.
In the case of luxury Upper Mustang Jeep tours, Toyota Land Cruiser will be used. They have additional comfort systems like leather seats, air conditioning, climate control, and USB charging, which makes the trip smooth and pleasant.
During the Upper Mustang Jeep tour, Highroute Adventure will arrange meals(breakfast, lunch and dinner) for you. You can choose the food from the guest house menu. Veg and non veg meals are available. In the city area of Kathmandu and Pokhara you can find local Nepali dishes and international options. But at Upper Mustang hotel the food might be limited. Let’s see the food you can expect on this Mustang Jeep Tour:
In Cities (Kathmandu & Pokhara):
In Upper Mustang (teahouses/guesthouses):
In Kathmandu and Pokhara:
In Upper Mustang:
Before starting the Upper Mustang Jeep Tour, you need a restricted area permit since Upper Mustang is located in a sensitive border region. You also need an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit, as Upper Mustang is a protected area. When you book the tour with Highroute Adventure, we will arrange all these permits for you, and the cost is included in the package—so you don’t have to worry about it.
To get the permit you need to submit us:
Must Read: New Upper Mustang Permit Rules
While it is not mandatory to have the travel and health insurance for the Upper Mustang Jeep tour but we highly recommend you to have it. Having insurance helps you to deal during illness, accidents and in emergency situations. There are no advanced hospitals here and for medical treatment sometimes you need helicopter evacuation to transfer to a city hospital.
Make sure that you insurance policy covers:
How to Book an Upper Mustang Jeep Tour: You need to make an advance payment of 20% of total package cost to reserve your seat. If you are in a group you can choose the travel date as per your interest. For the solo travellers you need to confirm first with the tour operator. Once you make the payment, Highroute adventure will send booking confirmation through mail or contact.
Payment: For the advance booking payment you can use the bank transfer or online payment method. Rest of the amount you must clear before heading for the Jeep tour.
Cancellation: There will be no refund on the advance payment which is 20%. You can change the travel date by consulting with the tour operator.
Here is the basic packing list for your Upper Mustang Jeep Tour. Even if you arrive in Nepal you don’t need to worry about what to pack because you can buy here in Nepal and some gear items like downjacket, sleeping bag, etc.
