I completed the Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill trek with my partner through Peaceful Nepal in May 2026 and had an amazing time! Bishnu was an amazing guide throughout the experience, organising everything and answering all our questions…
At a glance: A 12-day moderate trek, reaching 3,932 m. Best season: Spring and Autumn. From $1,850 per person.
Upper Mustang Overland Journey Highlights
Adventure following the ancient Trans Himalayan Salt and Caravan Route.
Enjoy the great bio-diversity from green hills forest to desert like terrains.
Driving through lovely villages steeped with heritage cultures of Buddhism.
From low warm paddy fields to cooler alpine hills to arid windswept country.
Explore the former walled kingdom of Lo Manthang of great cultural interest.
Trip Overview
Experience the thrill of venturinjig into Nepal’s Far Wild West with the Upper Mustang Overland Journey.
This adventure takes you through the mesmerizing landscapes of Upper Mustang, an extension of the South-West plateau of Tibet, offering an unparalleled glimpse into one of the most remote and culturally rich regions of the Himalayas.
Discover the Ancient Kingdom of Mustang
Mustang, once a separate kingdom established around the 6th Century AD by the first king, Ame Pal, remains a captivating destination. Visitors can explore the ancient fort-like palace, a testament to Mustang’s rich history. The region’s scenic landscapes and vibrant culture make it one of the most exotic destinations in the Himalayas.
A Journey Through History and Culture
The walled kingdom of Lo Manthang is home to the Lobas, natives of Upper Mustang. Their traditions and Tibetan heritage have been preserved through centuries. As a major caravan trail to Tibet and the gateway to the ancient Trans Himalaya Salt Trade Route, Upper Mustang offers a unique cultural experience.
Follow the Ancient Caravan Trail
The Upper Mustang Overland Journey follows the historic Trans Himalaya caravan trail, making this adventure both exciting and culturally enriching. Travel in the comfort of a 4WD Jeep as you trace the footsteps of ancient traders, starting from the bustling capital of Kathmandu and heading towards the scenic city of Pokhara.
Adventure Begins in Pokhara
Nestled at the base of the Annapurna Himalayas, Pokhara is a city of natural beauty and serene lakes. From Pokhara, the journey continues westward through the Myagdi district, entering Mustang at Ghasa Village. The drive ascends through forests of rhododendrons and pines, leading into the world’s deepest gorge, the Kaligandaki River Gorge. Along the way, enjoy stunning views of the Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, and Annapurna peaks as you approach Jomsom, the gateway to Upper Mustang.
Enter the Mysterious Upper Mustang
From Kagbeni Village, the entrance to Upper Mustang, you’ll begin to experience the deep influence of Tibetan Buddhist culture. The drive takes you through dramatic landscapes, towering cliffs, and windswept terrains. Cross high passes and explore charming farm villages adorned with Mani prayer walls, all set against the backdrop of red mud hills and canyon walls dotted with caves.
Exploring the Forbidden Kingdom of Lo Manthang
The journey culminates in the former forbidden walled kingdom of Lo Manthang. Here, you’ll have ample time to explore the medieval-era town, with its narrow, paved streets and significant historical and religious landmarks. Visit the famous Namgyal Gompa, Champa Lhakhang (God House), and the Red Thubchen Gompa, as well as the Chyodi Gompa with its grand Entrance Hall, where the colorful Tije festival is held. Don’t miss the chance to explore the former fort palace of the late kings, known as the Raja of Mustang.
The Return Journey
After an enriching experience in Lo Manthang, retrace your route through the scenic villages of Tsarang and Ghami, passing through lush farm fields and returning to Kagbeni and Jomsom. As you drive further south, the landscape transitions from the arid Mustang region back to the green vegetation and tall tree lines of lower sub-tropical areas. The journey continues through the villages of Tatopani and Beni Town, finally returning to the charming city of Pokhara. From there, a scenic drive brings you back to Kathmandu, concluding your Upper Mustang Overland Journey.
Best Seasons for the Upper Mustang Overland Journey
The ideal times for the Upper Mustang Overland Journey are late spring and autumn. Spring, from March to May, offers clear skies, longer daylight hours, and pleasant temperatures, perfect for scenic views and comfortable walks. The late spring season, from April to early June, is particularly favorable for warmer weather and clear mountain views. Autumn, from September to November, is another prime season, with bright days, clear skies, and cooler temperatures—ideal for trekking.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel. Day 02: In Kathmandu for optional tour and Upper Mustang preparations. Day 03: Drive to Pokhara 860 m (220 km/137 miles-06 hrs.), transfer to hotel. Day 04: Drive to Kalapani 2,535 m via Beni and Tatopani-06 hours. Day 05: Drive to Kagbeni 2,830 m via Jomsom 2,715 m -04 hrs. Day 06: Drive to Ghami 3,510 m -04 hrs. Day 07: Drive to Lo-Manthang 3,840 m -03 hrs. Day 08: At Lo-Manthang for local exploration. Day 09: Drive to Jomsom town 2, 715 m-04 hrs. Day 10: Drive to Pokhara 860 m (150 km / 93 miles) – 06 hrs. Day 11: Drive to Kathmandu and transfer to hotel. Day 12: International departure for homeward bound.
12 days on the trail: altitude, walking time, stays and meals for each day.
Altitude profileMax 3,840 m
Start · Day 1
1,355 m
Peak · Day 7
3,840 m
Finish · Day 12
1,350 m
12 days · , highest overnight 3,840 m
Day 01Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotelKathmandu Airport1,350 m→toKathmandu1,355 m▲Climb of 5 mWalking: -Stay: HotelMeals: Breakfast
Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel in Kathmandu. Attend a trip briefing and enjoy a welcome group dinner with a folk-culture program.
Day 02In Kathmandu for optional tour and Upper Mustang preparationsKathmandu1,355 mWalking: -Stay: HotelMeals: Breakfast
Enjoy a free day with options for sightseeing around Kathmandu's world heritage sites, followed by trip preparation and last-minute gear checking.
Day 03Drive to PokharaKathmandu1,355 m→toPokhara860 m▼Descent of 495 mWalking: 6 hoursStay: HotelMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Drive 220 km west along the Trishuli River to the beautiful lakeside city of Pokhara. Enjoy an afternoon stroll around Phewa Lake.
Day 04Drive to Kalapani via Beni and TatopaniPokhara860 m→toKalapani2,535 m▲Climb of 1,675 mWalking: 6 hoursStay: Tea HouseMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Begin the 4WD adventure through Beni and Tatopani, driving into the world's deepest gorge between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna to reach Kalapani.
Day 05Drive to Kagbeni via JomsomKalapani2,535 m→toKagbeni2,830 m▲Climb of 295 mWalking: 4 hoursStay: Tea HouseMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Drive through the apple orchards of Marpha to Jomsom, then continue along the Kaligandaki riverbank to Kagbeni, the traditional entrance to Upper Mustang.
Day 06Drive to GhamiKagbeni2,830 m→toGhami3,510 m▲Climb of 680 mWalking: 4 hoursStay: Tea HouseMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Enter the restricted area, driving through windblown canyons and eroded cliffs. Cross the Nyi-La pass before descending into the major village of Ghami.
Day 07Drive to Lo-ManthangGhami3,510 m→toLo-Manthang3,840 m▲Climb of 330 mWalking: 3 hoursStay: Tea HouseMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Drive past the dramatic red cliffs of Dhakmar and extensive Buddhist Mani walls, crossing Lo-La pass to enter the ancient walled kingdom of Lo-Manthang.
Day 08At Lo-Manthang for local explorationLo-Manthang3,840 mWalking: -Stay: Tea HouseMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Spend a full day exploring the medieval town, including Namgyal Gompa, Champa Lhakhang, Red Thubchen Gompa, and the former King's palace.
Day 09Drive to Jomsom townLo-Manthang3,840 m→toJomsom2,715 m▼Descent of 1,125 mWalking: 4 hoursStay: Tea HouseMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Retrace your route south out of the restricted area, driving through Ghiling and Kagbeni back to Jomsom for the night.
Day 10Drive to PokharaJomsom2,715 m→toPokhara860 m▼Descent of 1,855 mWalking: 6 hoursStay: HotelMeals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Drive out of the Mustang district, descending past the Rupsi waterfalls and Tatopani back to the warmer lakeside city of Pokhara.
Day 11Drive to Kathmandu and transfer to hotelPokhara860 m→toKathmandu1,355 m▲Climb of 495 mWalking: 6 hoursStay: HotelMeals: Breakfast
Take a 6-hour overland drive covering 220 km back to Kathmandu, tracing the Trishuli River upstream.
Day 12International departure for homeward boundKathmandu1,355 m→toKathmandu Airport1,350 m▼Descent of 5 mWalking: -Stay: HotelMeals: Breakfast
Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight back home, concluding the overland adventure.
Create a bespoke itinerary
Add rest days, upgrade your lodges or combine regions. Our guides will shape the route around you.
Join a fixed group departure, or ask us about a private date that suits you.
Choose your start date
No fixed group departures right now — run Upper Mustang Overland Journeyprivately with your own group. Pick a preferred start date and we'll confirm availability.
Loading calendar…
12Unavailable dates
Group-size discounts will be applied in the next step.
Select a start date from the calendar.
All prices per person, twin share. Subject to availability: Upper Mustang Overland Journey dates fill quickly in peak season.
What's Included
Everything your trip price covers, and what to budget for separately.
Your $1,850 covers
Per person, from price
14 items
Airport Transfers: Complimentary pickup and drop-off at the airport.
Kathmandu Accommodation: Hotel stay in Kathmandu on a twin-sharing basis, including breakfast (BB plan).
Pokhara Accommodation: 2 nights hotel stay in Pokhara on a twin-sharing basis, including breakfast (BB plan).
Kathmandu Sightseeing: Guided city tour of Kathmandu’s major attractions.
4WD Vehicle: Comfortable 4WD transportation from Kathmandu to Lo-Manthang and back, using a Land Cruiser or Mahindra Scorpio.
Meals: Three meals per day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) as outlined in the itinerary.
Mustang Accommodation: Guesthouse stays in Mustang on a twin-sharing basis with attached bathrooms.
Permits: Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card.
Upper Mustang Permit: Restricted area permit fee for Upper Mustang.
Professional Guide and Support Staff: Services of a government-licensed, English-speaking tour guide, along with support staff.
Guide and Driver Provisions: Includes salary, food, accommodation, transportation, and insurance for the guide and driver.
Trekking Gear: Provision of a sleeping bag and duffel bag for the trek (to be returned after the trip).
Medical Supplies: First aid kit available during the trip.
Taxes: All applicable government and local taxes.
Budget separately
5 items
Nepal visa fee
Travel insurance (emergency medical evacuation)
Extra expenses
Trekking gears
Tipping
Peaceful Nepal Traveler Reviews
Recent reviews from travelers across all our treks and tours.
Anna ISep 2026
Great Trek to ABC
I completed the Annapurna Base Camp and Poon Hill trek with my partner through Peaceful Nepal in May 2026 and had an amazing time! Bishnu was an amazing guide throughout the experience, organising everything and answering all our questions. He was able to change our itinerary on the trek to suit our walking pace and the conditions each day. Bishnu handled all the logistics throughout the trip, including airport pickup, transfers to Pokhara and our bus to Chitwan after, and accomodation. All accomodation we stayed at was pleasant and clean. The trek itself was also amazing! Would definitely recommend both ABC and Peaceful Nepal.
TravelerSep 2026
Excellent ABC experience
I have just completed the Annapurna Base Camp trek and would like to sincerely thank my guide, Som Giri, and my porter, Nepal Giri, for making this 6-day journey such a wonderful and memorable experience.Som Giri was an excellent guide — highly professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly caring throughout the trek. He always paid close attention to my pace, health, and comfort, and shared valuable insights about the mountains, local culture, and daily trekking routes. His calm attitude and experience gave me great confidence and peace of mind every day.Nepal Giri was equally outstanding. He was strong, reliable, and always smiling, even on the most challenging sections of the trail. His support and positive energy truly made a big difference, and I felt well taken care of during the entire journey.Both Som Giri and Nepal Giri went above and beyond their duties, showing genuine care, teamwork, and professionalism. I really appreciated having fruit every day, which made a big difference…
AAmit KAug 2026
Langtang Trek
I had an unforgettable 7-day trek through the Langtang Valley, climbing all the way up to Tserko Ri at 4,985 meters. Really enjoyed the snow-capped mountains, lush green forests, countless waterfalls and incredible wildlife (if you’re lucky you might spot a rare red panda) throughout the trek. Huge thanks to my guide Bishnu from Peaceful Nepal Treks and Tours. His deep knowledge of every trail, wildflowers and wildlife along the way made this adventure truly special.
My partner and I did the Annapurna Base Camp Trek with Peaceful Treks and it was an amazing experience!! Bishnu was great to plan with, accomodating our requests for an extra day in Kathmandu at the start and always replying to any requests we had promptly.When we started hiking Bishnu was flexible with the itinerary to allow us to go at the pace we wanted to walk. He always checked in and had some fun facts about Annapurna and Nepal in general and it was great getting to know him.Overall it was an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend Peaceful Treks.Also Bishnu made sure to grab some pics and sent them to us after, see attached :)
DDamayanthi SMay 2026
18 days Manaslu and Annapurna Circuit combined trek!
Namaste!I did a 18 days trekking tour covering the Manaslu and Annapurna circuit combined with peaceful Nepal trek and it was absolute perfection.Started with the planning phase where email and what's app inquiries were answered immediately and the itinerary was planned together and agreed upon.The trek was long and hard but this team made it bearable by always finding good accomodations (95% of my room has electric socket to charge my electronics , attached toilet which is a huge advantage and good food).The guide also brought along medical kit (which many company doesnt) and often was being asked to share medical supplies/medicine to others.Bonus is the guide love to take pictures and videos along the way so you can get nice documentation too even when you are too lazy to get your camera/phone out.Main highlights on this trip :1. Manaslu basecamp : not too many people come here for "rest day" but we made it. It was HARD but i am glad we did it. One of the best experiences on this tr…
Upper Mustang Overland Journey FAQs
Straight answers to what travelers ask us most about the Upper Mustang Overland Journey.
What are the age limits for this trip, and is insurance required?
For the Upper Mustang Overland Journey, all types of people and age groups can join. The minimum age is 12, up to elderly persons of 70 years. Those below 18 and above 65 years should be accompanied by friends, family, or guardians.
All guests need to purchase Travel and Medical Insurance as a precautionary measure against unfortunate incidents, such as being very sick and needing evacuation by the fastest means of transport, like helicopter service. It also covers situations where the road is broken or obstructed by landslides and rockfalls en route. In this situation, it might lead to a delay in the tour, or the tour might be cancelled and re-routed to other safe areas. In this case, extra expenses should be claimed from your insurance company back in your home country.
Is there internet connection and Wi-Fi?
At present, most large villages and settlements have internet and Wi-Fi facilities, including telecommunication, but in some places the connection is slow and disturbing. This depends on places such as gorges and valleys enclosed by high mountains, as well as bad weather conditions. Lodges have electricity either run by private small hydro or solar power to light the dining room, where travelers can charge electronic items at an extra cost.
How are the foods and accommodations?
The foods and accommodations are simple and good depending upon the places for overnight and lunch stops. From Kalapani to Ghami, the lodge accommodations are simple, having rooms with common baths and toilets.
But back in Kagbeni and Jomsom, the rooms are better, offering rooms with attached baths and toilets. The food menu provided is simple, with the most common Nepali Dal Bhat, noodles fried or with soup, local breads, chapatti, pancakes, and varieties of seasonal vegetables. Momos, either meat or vegetable stuffed, are available with various types of potatoes. These are followed by refreshments such as tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. For breakfast, oats porridge, cornflakes, and a variation of eggs are served with bread. Fresh fruits are rare, but you can enjoy canned fruits.
How many km. or miles do we cover on this journey?
Covering the whole drive from Kathmandu to Kathmandu will be approximately 680 km or 423 miles. Both ways include the drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara and towards Upper Mustang.
Will there be a problem with high altitude?
Not at all, the elevation rises at a slow pace, and the altitude is not a big problem on this tour. As long as all members follow the guide's instructions and move slowly, having a few stops during drives, drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration, and taking things slowly. The only rapid rise in altitude is crossing over passes above 3,900 m high. But having good rest and having the right foods will be the best, and avoiding alcoholic drinks while heading higher. It is all right to drink on the way back to Jomsom and Pokhara.
Show all 6 questionsShow fewer questions
Is Upper Mustang a restricted area in Nepal?
Upper Mustang was a forbidden kingdom after China annexed Tibet into Mainland in the late 1950s. Then it was closed for foreign visitors until it was opened in 1992. But it remains a restricted area due to its close borders with Tibet and China. All visitors have to join with a local government-registered company, accompanied by a licensed holder guide.
