Experience a journey driving through the barren landscape of Upper Mustang lies in the rain shadow of the Himalaya

Upper Mustang Jeep Tour

Upper Mustang Jeep tour drives you to the capital Lo Manthang through the high-altitude desert with landscapes melting in front of your eyes

Mustang is a hidden gem in the mountains of northern Nepal’s Himalayas, and it was once an independent kingdom when fighter and devout Buddhists from Western Tibet drove away from the local warlords and built a walled capital city of Lo Manthang.

But the best part? you’ll see one of the most well-maintained Tibetan cultural kingdoms. Sky caves hide ancient Buddhist scripture and artwork. And you may look for archaeological evidence in Kali Gandaki to learn more about how the Himalayas came to be.

There is only one catch: 

  • The costly $500 permit to Upper Mustang stops tourists flow to this region. 

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

13

Elevation

3800

Start

Jomsom

Place You'll See!

Highlights

Itinerary

You will be welcomed by one of the representatives of Top1Trekking at the airport. He will take you to your hotel and assist you in checking in. The rest of the day is free to relax.

In the evening, you will meet with your guide and the rest of the team members.

Spend the night at a hotel.

Today, the day will begin early. Have your breakfast, and join your guide for a quick sightseeing tour.

The first stop is Pashupatinath Temple, the sacred temple of Hindus devoted to Lord Shiva. Sitting back from hundreds of years, the Pashupatinath Temple’s visit will allow you to witness precise architecture and observe Nepali customs.

From here, you will drive to Boudhanath Stupa, located around 15 minutes drive from Pashupatinath Temple. Boudhanath Stupa is the largest stupa in Asia. The calm morning vibe with chants in all corners of the premises will allow you to relax your mind before the beginning of the day.

Spend the night at the hotel.

After breakfast, we get into the car and started our journey to Pokhara. On the way, you’ll see lovely scenes of villages, lush green hills, thick forests, and terraced farms as you travel alongside the Trishuli River.

You will retire to your hotel in Pokhara and end your day with a delicious dinner and a stunning view of Fewa Lake.

Spend the night at the hotel.

For the journey to Jomsom, our travel guide will meet you at the hotel and take you to Pokhara airport early in the morning. The 16-minute short and beautiful flight will bring you to Jomsom. Now that you’ve gotten your bags, it’s time to go on the Upper Mustang 4WD Jeep Trip.

On our way to Chhusang, we will pass by the spectacular Kali Gandaki River Gorge, which is near Kagbeni. Then come across Thangbe before arriving at Chhusang for the night. You will be treated to magnificent views of snow-capped mountains and stunning environments on your trip.

Spend the night in a tea house.

After having breakfast, we will begin your drive towards Tsarang. The route will go high up following cliffs into wide barren valleys with scattered settlements.

The landscape will be dramatic, and it is said to have been traveled by the great Indian saint Padmasambhava (750-810 AD), who is credited with establishing Tibetan Buddhism. The route features unusual stones, beautiful countryside with canyons and hills, and the Kali Gandaki river bed.

On our way, we may stop at several outlooks to take in the gorgeous scenery. To the west of Ghami, you can see high red cliffs. We’ll reach Tsarang after crossing Ghami via a pass.

Enjoy your lunch and relax for an hour before leaving. Later that day, we’ll visit the stunning White Palace of Tsarang, as well as the popular Ghar Gompa, both of which are ancient monasteries.

Spend the night in a tea house.

Today’s journey will be extremely exciting since we’ll pass a number of intriguing passes. The path will provide you with several canyons with a distinct color pattern that you won’t forget.

After a little drive from Tsarang, we’ll notice an ancient Chorten in the middle of the road. You’ll see buckwheat fields, green willows, and Himalayan mountains like Mt. Annapurna (8,091 m), Mt. Nilgiri (7,061 m), Tilicho Peak (7,134 m), and Yaskawa Kang (6,482 m).

After that, the path will bring us to the capital of Mustang, Lo Manthang. You can discover around 150 homes in this region as well as ancient Nepalese Buddhist Gompas.

You’ll see sky caves that date back more than 3,000 years and were formerly a human settlement as well as burial chambers. After lunch, you’ll explore the region around your hotel and conclude your day with a fine meal.

Spend the night in a tea house.

We’ll go on a little trip into the Chhosar Valley, which was opened to tourists only a few years ago. You will see the Jhong Sky Cave, which has 44 chambers and recounts the history of early human settlements.

We’ll then go to the Nyphu cave monastery, which is located on a high cliff and was constructed in the 14th century. You will see beautiful artwork that has been restored for ages to replace the lost areas after washing away.

Spend the night in a tea house.

We’ll return to Tsarang via the same route, departing from Lo-Manthang and following it back. Continue driving and arrive at Gehling.

From here on, you’ll be traveling toward your ultimate destination Chele, where you’ll stay the night. Today, you will also get to reminisce about places and views that you had missed out on earlier.

Spend the night in a tea house.

On this day, you will retrace your steps from Jomsom back to where they began. To avoid the destructive winds of Mustang, you will get up early and begin driving.

We will make a brief stop at Muktinath to see one of the holiest temples of Hindus, the Muktinath Temple, on your journey back. After that, continue to go to Kagbeni and Jomsom.

The road will take you by stunning vistas of the countryside, which includes towering canyons and imposing hills.

Spend the night in a tea house.

Wake up early and return to Pokhara for the last views of the Himalayas. The flight will provide you with stunning vistas of the Annapurna Range (8,091 m) and Dhaulagiri Range (8,167 m).

With your guide, you will journey to the hotel. Later in the evening, you’ll take a cruise on the calm Fewa Lake and peruse the lively Lakeside market. We may also arrange a city tour if that’s what you prefer.

Spend the night in a hotel.

After having breakfast, you will drive back to Kathmandu following the same route as before. On the way, you will get to see beautiful sceneries including high lush green hills, rivers, waterfalls, colorful terraced fields, and small settlements.

You’ll eventually arrive in Kathmandu, where you’ll stay at a hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore the region on your own and do some shopping. You will end your trip with a company-sponsored farewell dinner.

Spend the night in a hotel.

You’ll be taken to Tribhuvan International Airport to board your flight back home according to your departure time.

Payment conditions

Trip Information

Mustang Jeep Journey

The starting point of the trip: Jomsom

The journey to Mustang starts with one of the most scenic flights from Pokhara to Jomsom, you get to fly between the two huge Himalayan ranges: Dhaulagiri and Annapurna.

Jomsom is the headquarters of the Mustang region where most visitors start their trekking trip to Upper Mustang or end their classic Annapurna Circuit trek

It takes 3 days to reach Lomangthang

With roads are being built, the trail toward the colorful capital city of Lo Manthang once was accessible only by foot or the road now connects mules allow travelers who don’t have enough time to make an unforgettable Jeep trip to the Upper Mustang region. 

After 3 days of driving through moonlike landscapes and exploring the Buddhist sights along the way, we will get to the forbidden kingdom of Lo Manthang, which means “The Southern Plains of Aspiration”

This city is almost untouched by time and modern development.

Best Season

  • You can travel to the upper mustang year long, but not during the middle of winter.
  • Tiji Festival (May) and Yartung festival (Aug) is an exciting period to experience unique cultural

Variations

Pokhara to mustang by Jeep

  • It is possible to start a jeep tour to mustang from Pokhara, however, the road is under construction in some parts.

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