Embarking on a trek to the enchanting Upper Mustang region of Nepal is an adventure that promises breathtaking landscapes, ancient caves, and a glimpse into the rich history and culture of the Tibetan-influenced communities. But before you dust off your hiking boots and pack your bags, one question lingers in the minds of every aspiring trekker: What will the Upper Mustang trek cost? Fear not, for in this comprehensive guide, we are here to demystify the cost factors associated with this extraordinary journey.
Nepal’s Upper Mustang Trek is a stunning hiking destination, boasting its pristine Himalayan landscape and rich Tibetan Buddhist culture. While exploring this beautiful region can be expensive, the Upper Mustang Trek Cost is notably higher than other trekking destinations, such as Annapurna, Langtang, and Everest.
If you are seeking cheaper options, you may try Lower Mustang Trek. The Upper Mustang Trek price depends on group size, availability of the fixed date, and how to get there relatively cheaper way.
From permits and transportation to accommodation and meals, we will uncover the hidden expenses and break down the budget for an unforgettable experience in the heart of the Himalayas. So, whether you are a budget-conscious backpacker or a luxury-seeking traveler, join us as we unravel the mysteries of the Upper Mustang Trek cost and help you plan your dream adventure in this awe-inspiring region. Get ready to delve into the details and discover the cost of exploring the hidden gem of the Upper Mustang.
Table of contents
- Why trek to Upper Mustang?
- What will be included in the Upper Mustang Trek cost?
- Upper Mustang Trekking Permit Cost
- The guides and porters prices.
- Transportation (Drive or fly)
- Meals and accommodation
- Telecommunications and wi-fi facilities in the Mustang Region.
- What do you expect to get a guide from our company?
- How do you know a company that specializes in Upper Mustang Trek?
- Conclusion: Summarizing the costs and benefits of the Upper Mustang Trek
Why trek to Upper Mustang?
The Upper Mustang Trek offers a unique blend of stunning scenery, cultural immersion, and spiritual awakening, resulting in an unforgettable experience. This popular destination in Nepal is known for its breathtaking view and cultural background. Nevertheless, there are many reasons why you should go for a trek to Upper Mustang.
It’s a small, off-the-beaten-track in Nepal. For example, the upper Mustang is visited by only about 1500 to 2300 tourists, while Everest Base Camp Trek has 30,000 tourists.
It is exceptional, over 4000 meters, due to colorful cliffs and the beautiful alpine pastures. These combinations are going to take very few places on this planet!
| Upper Mustang Trek | Quick fact |
| The High Himalayas, such as Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massif | Over 6 to 8000 meters |
| Upper Mustang Trek difficulty | 3 of 5 (Moderate) |
| Highest altitude | 4200 meters |
| Best season | Spring, Summer, and Autumn |
| Accommodation | Lodge/Hotel |
| Trek starting & ending point | Jomsom |
| Mode of transport | Flight / Local bus / Local Jeep |
| Trekking days | More than two weeks (12 – 16 days) |
What will be included in the Upper Mustang Trek cost?
Generally, the following services include the Upper Mustang Trekking cost while the trekking company sends you a travel proposal, although Himalayan Exploration provides customized trekking packages within Nepal.
- Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project entry Permit
- Guide and Porters
- Meals and Accommodations
- Transportation such as local bus or Jeep/domestic flights
The Upper Mustang Trek is one of the restricted trekking destinations in Nepal. You must also have a licensed guide or porters via a local trekking agency. And you’ll need to have the Upper Mustang permits issued by the Department of Immigration.
In contrast, ACAP is from the Nepal Tourism Board—noted that you might apply through a local trekking company for the restricted area. However, you’ll need two different permits, as mentioned above.
Trekker’s Information Management Systems (TIMS) does not require trekking in the Upper Mustang. However, if you expand to Annapurna Circuit, it is mandatory.
Upper Mustang Trekking Permit Cost
| Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit Cost | NPR 3000 |
| Upper Mustang RAP | USD 500 per person for ten days |
| Total permit cost | For one person, USD 530 |
A copy of the passport, photo, and the original key with the visa stamp is necessary to obtain the Upper Mustang Trek Permit. It will only take 3-4 hours to get a permit from Sunday to Friday (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). Also, make sure that, except for public holidays.
If you don’t have an extra day in Kathmandu to obtain a permit, some companies can issue it without an original passport and visa. If you want a trekking license issued in advance or to check with your company, don’t hesitate to contact us.
The guides and porters prices.
While Nepal has many trekking trails, tourists can go hiking without a guide. Besides the trekking routes, Nepal restricts solo travel in Upper Mustang.
Having at least two trekkers in a group is also mandatory to get a trekking permit. Please check with your company if you travel solo and whether they can match you or obtain a trekking permit. If you go alone, you will pay double the permit costs and trek with a natural person.
Hiring a professional guide to Upper Mustang is more expensive than any other trek in Nepal. The average price is 30 to 35 USD daily, covering food, lodging, and guide insurance. Of course, the meals are expensive due to remoteness.
Guide and Porter Cost For Upper Mustang Trek:
| Well-trained and Skilled Guide with local knowledge | US$ 35/day |
| Professional & Experienced Porter/Guide | US$ 33-35/day |
| Experienced Trekking porter | US$ 28-30/day |
We also arrange a Porter com guide if the customers ask us. But the price of hiring a porter is not that different from hiring a guide. Although, due to the food price and insurance, it is a little more expensive.
Hiring a porter can cost around USD 30 to 35 per day when trekking in the Upper Mustang. This includes lodging, accommodation, and insurance. A porter guide can be beneficial as it helps distribute the weight and carry your belongings along the trail.
Although a qualified guide is highly recommended for safety reasons, their intensive training for obtaining a license should provide confidence.
Of course, it all depends on you as long as you don’t go to Upper Mustang Trek solo without a guide or a porter. Going either Guide or Guidecom Porter is all-inclusive with the upper Mustang trek cost.
Transportation (Drive or fly)
To start the Upper Mustang trek, take a 20-minute flight to Pokhara and another flight to Jomsom the next day. If someone wants to take a long trip from Kathmandu, there’s a night or day bus to Jomsom.
It may be cheaper, but getting from a local bus to the Upper Mustang trek may be difficult. Therefore, understanding how trailhead transport operates when planning the Upper Mustang Trek itinerary is significant.
If you want to make yourself comfortable, I recommend going on the first day from Kathmandu to Pokhara and spending a night there. It would be best if you also flew to Jomsom the next day.
Transportation cost list for the Upper Mustang Trek
| One-way flight cost to Jomsom | US$ 124×2 = 248 per person |
| One-way flight cost to Jomsom | US$ 130×2 = 260 per person |
| Direct Bus from Kathmandu to Jomsom local bus cost | US$ 28×2 = 56 per person |
| Kathmandu to Pokhara (Tourist Bus) | US$10 ×2 = 20 per person |
Meals and accommodation
As the Upper Mustang is located in a remote area of Nepal, the cost of food is typically higher due to its distant proximity. Those visiting other base camps in Nepal know that food prices tend to rise as the elevation increases. That is because the delivery of food is more complicated.
Supplies are transported from Pokhara to Jomsom by helicopter. So you might imagine how much work is put into every meal you can eat in the region. So you may want to budget about USD 8-10 per meal.
It has changed significantly in the Mustang Region. You don’t have to worry when finding a place to stay in Upper Mustang this year because plenty of tea houses are available in every camp. So if you’re bringing a small group of up to sixteen people, it should be fine to find basic accommodation. The good news is that a twin-sharing bed will only cost around US$ 6 to US$ 9 per night.
Telecommunications and wi-fi facilities in the Mustang Region.
Only a few spots in the Mustang region have a cell phone signal. However, several villages do have a satellite emergency telephone. In addition, some lodges in specific towns, such as Jomsom, Kagbeni, and Jomsom, provide wireless internet access at an additional cost.
It’s commonly known that if you need to make an extra effort, please don’t claim to be cheap because you’re being paid in the mountains. You may also wish to add additional costs to your budget for any trek in Nepal. Those things are permanently excluded from the Upper Mustang Trek Cost.
- Charging batteries of your gadgets
- Hot Showers (available at lodges upon request)
- Donations
- Tipping
What do you expect to get a guide from our company?
- We seriously take your safety and security. We also ensure that all of our guides are highly qualified and Government-authorized.
- Most of our skilled guides come from the mountain region. They are familiar with restricted trekking areas in Nepal, such as Manaslu, Tsum Valley, Upper Dolpo, Upper Mustang, Kanchenjunga, and Nar Phu. So, they know their way in these mountains very well.
- Our guides were at least two to three times a year at Upper Mustang, so you can be sure of their experience in this region.
- Our guide is mainly young but also well-educated and experienced. In addition, the guides can speak English well and are available in other languages.
- We want to ensure you enjoy your time with Himalayan Exploration apart from being safe. Therefore, all guides earned 5 out of the 5-star scale from our previous customers.
- Every guide has an excellent link to the locals and tea houses on the trail. So contact with tea houses or searching for accommodation isn’t a problem.
- Before confirming trekking arrangements, we conduct pre-departure meetings with guides to ensure a positive relationship. You can ask the guide for questions and verify expertise and experience. Please let us know if our guide needs to meet your requirements better. We will gladly provide you with an alternative guide.
How do you know a company that specializes in Upper Mustang Trek?
Here are some tips on finding the right travel company for your next trip to Upper Mustang. Some of my ideas below could save a few hundred dollars but still end up with the best service. Collaborating with a large and expensive company requires adequate resource allocation.
- Check their legal documents to ensure the Nepal government is registered and licensed appropriately.
- Search for a company not listed in Google’s top ads section, as such companies will pass on advertisement costs to customers.
- Check out what other trekkers say about the service, such as Tripadvisor. These are independent reviews written by consumers and reviewed by TripAdvisor so that you can be sure of the level of service that these companies can offer. If 90% of their customers are well served, certainly, chances are, you will provide the same service.
- Consult with a local company if your guide has a license, first aid, high-altitude training, insurance, and the right hiking equipment.
Based on your analysis, various companies offer the Upper Mustang Trekking at different prices. Therefore, it confuses you as the price range is quite diverse, making it challenging to determine which company to trust. Consequently, it is crucial to have a comprehensive guide for the Upper Mustang Trek before making any decisions.
For instance, to find out how much the Upper Mustang Trek costs. From international tour operators, it exceeds US$ 4000. If you’re looking to lower the cost of the Upper Mustang Trek package, it’s recommended that you search for local travel companies. Doing so can reduce the price from $1800 to $2500 per person for the same services.
Customize Your Holiday?
Tailor your holiday with help from a local travel specialist that matches your requirements.
There is nothing like a 5-star tea house in the mountain area. As a local trekking company, we offer Upper Mustang Trek prices for Nepali and foreigners.
Conclusion: Summarizing the costs and benefits of the Upper Mustang Trek
In conclusion, the Upper Mustang Trek offers a remarkable adventure in the heart of the Himalayas. While the costs may seem daunting initially, proper planning and budgeting can help make this dream trek a reality. It’s important to consider all the costs involved to make intelligent choices about your travel expenses. This includes permits, lodging, meals, transportation, and the cost of hiring a guide or porter. By understanding these factors, you can plan ahead and avoid any unexpected expenses.
Remember to take advantage of budgeting tips and consider the additional expenses to ensure a memorable and financially manageable experience. So, lace up your hiking boots, prepare your backpack, and embark on an unforgettable journey through the hidden gem of the Upper Mustang.
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