| Trip code | MJT-55 |
| Package name | Mustang Jeep Tour |
| Duration | 11 Days |
| Max. elevation | 3932 Meter |
| Level | EASY |
| Transportation | Flight ticket, Overland journey on 4WD jeep both ways as per itinerary |
| Accomodation | Three-star Hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara; and best Available lodges on route drives |
| Starts at | Kathmandu |
| Ends at | Kathmandu |
| Trip route | Kathmandu-Pokhara-Beni-Tatopani-Jomsom-Charang / Tsarang-Lo-Manthang Lo-Manthang-Kagbeni-Jomsom-Pokhara-Kathmandu |
| Cost | USD 1,785 per person |
Mustang Jeep Tour, an exclusive overland adventure to Nepal's Far North-Western Himalaya, in between Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massive mountain range. The main road of western Nepal is a drive on the nice and scenic Highway of Pokhara city to Baglung and Beni towns.
Then on rough dirt mountain tracks reach around the Mustang region, following the ancient trail of the Trans Himalaya Salt Trade Route. Which extends to the Tibet border through Kora-La pass at 4,660 m / 15, 290 feet high from Upper Mustang. An exciting journey with scenic and cultural perspectives to enjoy this awesome adventure on Mustang Jeep Tour.
Taking an overland ride on a Jeep or similar four-wheel drive, perfect for mountainous and hilly roads to reach around Mustang. The adventure starts in beautiful Pokhara the second largest city after Kathmandu, a renowned tourist destination for all types of holidays. Located in a verdant valley with close views of the massive Annapurna Himalaya, surrounded by tiers of green hills.
Where the high snow mountain range of Annapurna reflects on the surface of simmering Begnas and Phewa Lakes. From Pokhara, at the beginning drive on a nice highway with alluring scenery of rural countryside and farm villages. As the journey heads towards a large town at Beni, headquarter of the Mygdi district, as drive follows the Kaligandaki River to Tatopani.
A lovely village within a sub-tropical climate with a natural hot spring, the drive continues heading further north to Ghasa, where the Mustang district starts. An interesting journey that leads you between towering Mt. Dhaulagiri and Mt. Annapurna forms the world's deepest gorge. After an amazingly close view of high snow peaks, head into pine and rhododendron woods to reach Lete, Kalapani villages.
Slowly drive enters into the windswept country around Kaligandaki River valley, as it continues to lovely Tukuche and Marpha villages. Then at Jomsom, a large nice town headquarter and administrative center of Mustang district and hub of Thakali people. Indigenous tribes of Lower Mustang and Kaligandaki River valley, a prosperous village and town. As the natives have been trading and exchanging goods around Upper Mustang and Tibet for past centuries.
From Jomsom drive takes you around the wide plain and windy valley of Kaligandaki River to Kagbeni, an interesting village. The getaway to Upper Mustang and Tibet border, from here onward into the restricted region, where foreign visitors need special permits.
From Kagbeni enter the remote wilderness of Upper Mustang, and drive through a band of deep canyons and highly eroded cliff walls. Heading past nice villages festooned with Buddhist and Bon religion's prayers monuments of long series prayer wheels. As route leads over a few high passes to reach our main highlight and destination the former old walled kingdom of Lo-Manthang.
At Lo-Manthang enjoy a free day exploring the town and narrow alleys with stone-paved neat paths take you to the Medial period. Tour of famous monasteries of Namgyal Gompa, Champa Lakhang (God House), Red Thubchen Gompa, Chyodi Gompa, and Great Entrance Hall.
Tour of the historical and cultural center one of the main attractions of Lo-Manthang, the palace of the former Raja / King of Mustang. After an enjoyable and wonderful time and moment, return journey on the same route to Jomsom, Then back to low warm farmland as the drive gets better on a good road to Pokhara, where our exciting adventure on Mustang Jeep drive completes.
However, the winter season can be unfavorable for vehicles as the trail are snow-covered and hard to penetrate through. Also, slippery trails can create difficulty while driving on steep terrains. So to avoid any hassles and travel risk-free, it’s best to visit during the favorable months.
The most favorable duration for the Upper Mustang Jeep tour falls between March-November. The skies are brighter, the mountains are snow-capped, and the vegetation is blooming. The weather is also pleasant during the day, making the trip much more vibrant.
The Upper Mustang Jeep Tour takes you to the Upper Mustang region of Nepal. It is a place that showcases some fascinating landscapes with a rich and deep-rooted culture. Here, you can discover human civilization. Lo Manthang, the ancient kingdom surrounded by the immense walls of Lo, takes you back in time. The city's old forts, palaces, caves, monasteries, and convents are the preserved treasures it can see. The Mustang Driving Tour is an alternative to the Upper Mustang Trek. If you prefer walking, you can opt-out of trekking in the same area.
We need your four passport-size photographs and an original with a valid passport to obtain the restricted region permits.An Upper Mustang permit costs US $500 per tourist for 10 days. It is the one and only one for 10 days, not night. An additional day will be charged US $50 per day. The journey begins and ends from Kagbeni where your permits will be checked by ACAP and police.
This is an annual festival that takes place in the middle of May every year and lasts for 3 days monks from the "Chodhe" monastery in Lo Manthang perform a ritual dance during the festival. The management of this festival has arranged a comfortable stay with an entrance fee for the tourists who want to observe this festival up close. Nepal Highland Treks organizes driving, trekking, or motorbike trips in Upper Mustang to explore Tiji Parva.
Kathmandu and Pokhara have many restaurants to choose from for lunch and dinner. Breakfast is included in the package provided by the hotel where you are staying. During your trek, the same tea houses where you stay will serve you breakfast and dinner. Lunch is on the way to the appropriate place. All meals during trekking are included in the package. Hotels and restaurants throughout Upper Mustang offer you international standard cuisine.
Important Items: Airline tickets; Valid passport; 2 extra passport size photos; Photocopy of your passport; Insurance paper; Dollars, Pounds, or Euros in cash for purchasing a Nepalese visa at Kathmandu airport, for paying at restaurants and hotels, for gratuities, snacks and to purchase your own drinks and gifts; Credit Card (Visa/ Master Card) for withdrawing cash from cash machines if needs.
For Head: Sun Hat; Bandana or head scarf; Headlamp with extra batteries; Sun Glasses with UV protection.
For Upper Body: Shirts (1 half sleeve and 2 long sleeves); Lightweight thermal tops; Fleece Jacket or Wool Sweater; Wind Cheater jacket; Down Jacket
For Lower Body: 1 pair of lightweight thermal bottoms; 1 pair of fleece or woolen trousers; 1 pair of waterproof shell pants and 1 pair of hiking trousers.
For Hands: 1 pair of lightweight wool or fleece gloves and 1 pair of lightweight poly liner gloves.
For Feet: 2 pairs of thin inner socks; 2 pairs of poly or wool socks; 1 pair of Hiking boots (sturdy soles, water-resistant, ankle support); 1 pair of running shoes and/or sandals.
Other Useful Items: 1 sleeping bag (good to -20 degrees C or 28 degrees F); Rucksack and Travel Bags; 1 large duffel bag, A small daypack/backpack for carrying your valuables; Small padlocks for duffel- bags; 2 large waterproof rucksacks covers (optional).
Medical: Your daily taking medicine if any; small personal first aid kit; Aspirin, plasters (band-aids); Sunscreen; lip balms; Anti-diarrhea pills; Anti-headache pills; A cough and/or cold medicine; Anti-altitude sickness pills: Diamox or Acetazolamide; Stomach antibiotic: Ciprofloxacin.
Digital camera; 2 water bottles (1 liter each); disposable rubbish sacks; Toiletries: 1 medium-sized quick-drying towel; Toothbrush/paste; Multi-purpose soap; Deodorants; Nail clippers; Face and body moisturizer; Tissue /toilet roll; hiking poles, snack food (chocolate/ biscuits); umbrella; reading book or pack of cards (for leisure time during trekking).
Note: If any items are not available in your hometown you can buy them in Trekking Store in Kathmandu before you on Tour.
Your arrival at Tribhuwan International airport in Kathmandu. Our company’s (Hiker Himalaya Treks & Expedition) airport representative meet you who is displaying your/s name on the board.
You are welcome and transfer to the hotel by our private vehicle. In the evening time, our tours/ Treks experts will brief you about your program.
Meals: Breakfast, Accommodation: Three-star category Hotel in Kathmandu, Distance: 5 kilometers From Airport to Thamel
Pre-trip meeting with tours/ treks experts at the hotel and begins sightseeing tour around Kathmandu valley. Especially visit UNESCO world heritage sites are very famous for culture, history, and arts.
Experience Pashupatinath, Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath, and Patan Durbar square with a private vehicle and a professional guide.
Meals: Breakfast, Accommodation: Three-star category Hotel in Kathmandu
You will fly to Pokhara from Kathmandu. It takes around 35 minutes and gets the chance to see stunning Ariel mountain views throughout the flight. After landing at Pokhara airport, you transfer to the hotel and sightseeing program.
Sightseeing highlights visit Mahendra and Bat Cave, International Mountain Museum, boating at Fewa Lake, Devi’s Fall, and Peace Pagoda Stupa. Breakfast.
Meals: Breakfast in Kathmandu Hotel, Accommodation: Three-star category Hotel in Pokhara, Distance: 200 kilometers from Kathmandu to Pokhara.
Start the day in the early morning for an exciting and interesting drive to reach the large town of Beni, headquarter town of the Mygdi district. Located en route to Mustang, Dolpo, and Dhaulagiri circuit trek, the drive continues through many farm villages to reach Ghasa. The entrance point of the Mustang district, from here onwards populated by Thakali the main tribes of the Lower Mustang region.
As drive leads into the world's deepest gorge Kaligandaki River, situated in between the towering peaks of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Himalayas. A lovely drive into the serene forest of pines and rhododendron as the temperatures get much cooler than reaching a wide Kaligandaki Valley. Stopping at the famous and large Jomsom town, the main hub and headquarter of the Mustang region.
A town with a small airport that flies in and out to Pokhara, check into a nice lodge and hotels with time to browse around this interesting place on a windswept valley.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, Accommodation: Teahouse in Jomsom, Distance: 158 kilometers (Drive), Flight: 25 min
After a wonderful overnight stop in Jomsom, the morning after a good breakfast an interesting drive on the flat plain of Kaligandaki River to Kagbeni, the door that takes you beyond around Upper Mustang. From here onwards travelers require a special permit to enter the high terrain of Lo, the Upper Mustang.
Kagbeni village and the native of strong Tibetan origin and similar culture of Buddhism religion. Drive continues, as the landscapes change dramatically to harsh and barren country, heading through windswept terrain pastTangbe and Chusang village with few trees of Populus and Willow within a contrast of red earthen surrounding. The journey continues with a few refreshing stops for lunch and rest, then heading over a few passes facing grand views of broken canyons with ruined castles of walls and high towering wind-blown cliffs.
As the drive continues with a few steep ups and descends towardsGeling a village with a large barley field, the journey then climbs to the highest Nyi-La pass at 3, 932 m and 12, 900 feet high. Then reach our overnight stop at Charang, spelled as Tsarang also, after climbing past long series of Mani a prayer wall, one of the longest around Nepal Himalaya.
Charang is a nice and interesting village with a maze of fields, willow trees, and a huge five tiers of white-painted Dzong/fort, with a red Gomba / monastery located on the edge of the Kali Gandaki gorge. The village with its own electricity supply from a nearby stream. Here check into a nice homely style guest house.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, Accommodation: Teahouse in Charang / Tsarang, Distance: 34 kilometers
Today a short drive of the trip, morning from Charang towards our main destination to enter the former walled kingdom of Lo-Manthang. Drive across Charang-Chu River, with a climb to a ridge then towards Tholung valley, as the route leads straight north to a large Chorten that marks the boundary of Charang and Lo-Manthang.
The journey then leads towards Lo-Manthang entering from the main entrance gate of the walled kingdom. Check into the best lodge available with afternoon free for refreshing rest, and enjoy short walks around the town square close to impressive monasteries, and shops.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, Accommodation: Teahouse in Lo-Manthang, Distance: 13.8 kilometers
This former walled kingdom is often referred to as a city but is a size of a small town with about 150 houses including residents of the monks and lamas/head priests. Houses are closely linked, and the palace's late kings and monasteries, are located on the bottom section, where houses are built in a vertical part of ‘L’ shaped.
School, health post, police post, and several important places are located outside the walls within the north gate, along with the eastern monastic part of the town. The Mustang was ruled by many kings or Raja, the late former kings were Jigme Parbal Bista Raja, the palace stands four-storied building in the middle of the walled kingdom.
Tour takes you to four important monasteries Namgyal Gompa, Champa Lakhang (God House), Red Thubchen Gompa, Chyodi Gompa, and the Great Entrance Hall. A tour of the historical and cultural center is one of the main attractions of Lo-Manthang.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, Accommodation: Teahouse in Lo-Manthang, Distance: 5-6 kilometers
After a great marvelous time staying inside the former walled kingdom of Lo-Manthang, the return journey takes you back on the same scenic route. Enjoying grand views of Upper Mustang's picturesque landscape country and its traditional farm villages to reach Muktinath for the last overnight stop around the Mustang area.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, Accommodation: Teahouse in Muktinath, Distance: 46.3 kilometers
Today is the end of our fantastic journey around the Mustang region, as drive heads on the same dirt and rough tracks downhill past Marpha and Tukuche lovely villages, famous for apples and their products. From here back into tree lines and lush green vegetation as the drive takes you to low warm areas past Tatopani and Beni town.
Then on the good road and the main highway to reach Pokhara, where our exciting adventure and wonderful experience on Mustang Jeep Drive concludes.
Meals: Breakfast, and Lunch, Accommodation: Three stara cetagory Hotel in Pokhara, Distance: 179.8 kilometers
Pokhara to Kathmandu flight 35 minutes with stunning mountain flight. Driving will be 6 hours through the Prithvi highway by private transport. The remaining time for shopping and rest at the hotel depends on you. Accommodation: Hotel on BB Plan/ Private transport.
Meals: Breakfast, Accommodation: Three-Star Category Hotel in Kathmandu, Distance: 200 kilometers
This is a sign of the end of your trip to Upper Mustang. Our Nepal Glacier Treks and Expedition airport representative will drop you at Tribhuvan International airport by private vehicle.
We trust you made some incredible memories with us. Thank you, and have a safe journey home.
Meals: Breakfast Included.