Upper Mustang Overland Adventure is rated moderate in difficulty. It is designed for travelers with no prior hiking experience. The trip involves moderate physical activity, including daily hikes of 2 to 3 hours on varied terrain. You can expect gradual altitude gains, but no technical challenges. This trip is suitable for anyone with a basic fitness level and is a great introduction to trekking in Nepal. You will encounter some ups and downs, including short hill climbs and the familiar Nepali flat, with a mix of small climbs and descents.

No previous hiking experience is required for this trip, but you should be moderately fit and enjoy walking. You should be able to walk 2 to 3 hours each day and be adaptable to high altitude conditions. Previous trekking experience is helpful, but not required. All travelers must be in good physical health to participate fully in the trip. Our itinerary is designed with ample time for acclimatization to ensure a safe and comfortable experience.

The Road conditions in Upper Mustang are rough and change with weather and season. The route consists mainly of dirt and gravel roads with uneven surfaces, dust, and occasional river crossings. Driving speeds are slow due to terrain and altitude. We use well maintained four wheel drive vehicles to ensure safety and comfort. The itinerary is designed to balance driving time with rest, cultural visits, and short walks, making the journey manageable and rewarding. This approach ensures that every day is manageable, immersive, and rewarding, offering a true taste of Upper Mustang’s unique landscapes and heritage.

The best season to do the Upper Mustang Overland Adventure is from late March to late November. Spring (March to May) and autumn (Sept to Nov) are ideal, offering clear skies, comfortable temperatures, and excellent mountain views. Spring brings blooming rhododendrons and fresh green landscapes, while autumn offers crisp air and the best visibility. Monsoon is also a good time for this trip. Upper Mustang lies in a rain shadow area, so it receives much less rain than other regions of Nepal. The monsoon season brings fewer crowds and lush, green landscapes, making it a great time to visit.

For the Upper Mustang Overland Adventure, we use private Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps that are 2007 model year or newer. These vehicles are well-suited for the rough and varied terrain in Mustang, providing a stable and comfortable ride throughout the journey. Each jeep is driven by an experienced driver who has strong knowledge of the region, road conditions, and local driving challenges. Our drivers are skilled at handling mountain roads and ensure a safe and smooth travel experience. To maintain comfort and safety, we limit the number of passengers to a maximum of five per jeep. This allows ample space for luggage, provides a more relaxed ride, and ensures better visibility and comfort during long drives.

Yes, It’s mandatory and highly recommended to get travel insurance before embarking on any adventurous trips in Nepal. We advise all our clients to get a travel insurance that covers up emergency helicopter evacuation and medical expenses that may be needed in case of the occurrence of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) in high altitudes where there are no other means of transportation available. Medical expenses, Baggage lost, Delays and Cancellation, Death & Repatriation are also another important factor to include when purchasing your Insurance. It is advisable to review carefully the insurance and its coverages before making the final decision.

Importantly, make sure your policy covers emergency evacuation up to the maximum altitude of your trek. For Upper Mustang your policy should provide coverage up to at least 4,000 meters (13,500 feet) is required.

This trip is fully inclusive, meaning that all major expenses are covered—accommodation throughout the trip, all meals while on the trek, permits, transportation, and the services of your guide and staffs are all included in the trip cost.

In Kathmandu, breakfast is included, but lunch and dinner are not. This is intentional to give you maximum flexibility to explore the city’s food scene and choose where, what, and with whom you’d like to eat. For meals in the city, you can expect to spend around $15 USD per meal. Most restaurants in Kathmandu accept credit or debit cards.

During the trek, all meals and accommodation are provided. However, you will still need to carry cash for your personal expenses. These may include alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, snacks, bottle water, hot showers, charging, Wi-Fi access, and souvenirs. For these expenses, we recommend bringing approximately $250 USD, exchanged into Nepali Rupees before you begin the trek. Card payments are not accepted in the mountains, and local currency is necessary for all purchases. So, you can exchange major foreign currencies such as USD, GBP, EUR, and AUD into Nepali Rupees at banks or authorized money exchange counters in Kathmandu. Alternatively, you can withdraw Nepali Rupees directly from ATM machines using your debit or credit card. Both options are widely available in the city.

All foreigners, except Indian nationals, must have a valid passport with at least six months’ validity to enter Nepal. Nepal visas can be obtained either in advance through Nepalese embassies or consulates abroad or upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

Upper Mustang Overland Adventure trip cost USD 3,055 per person. The cost is an all-inclusive price that covers most of the trip’s expenses, including three times meals a day throughout the trip, accommodation, all ground transportation, a permit, and a guide. Likewise, the cost covers sleeping bags, jackets, and duffel bags, so trekkers don’t need to purchase equipment for one-time use. The cost varies depending on several factors. Yet, the group size is the primary factor that affects the overall cost of the Upper Mustang Overland Adventure. The larger the group, the more you’ll get group discounts, and vice versa.

The following information will give you some ideas on what to bring for a hike. It is important not to forget the essential items, as this will determine your comfort and safety on the hike. Equally important is that you do not burden yourself with unnecessary equipment on the hike. That is why we have listed some below.

General

• All season sleeping bag and down Jacket
• Duffle bag
• A wind and waterproof thin layered jacket
• Daypack

Upper Body- Head / Ears / Eyewear

• A pair of half gloves
• A warmer hat that covers the ears
• Sunglasses
• Neckwarmer
• Sunscreen (35 to 60 SPF)
• Headlamp and an extra set of batteries

Hands

• A pair of half gloves for walking poles(if you prefer)
• Warmer shell gloves and liner

Upper Body

• long sleeve t-shirts
• Thermal tops
• wool jacket or pullover
• Sports bras for women and girls
• Water and windproof shell jacket

Lower Body

• Thermal underwear (especially trousers)
• windproof and waterproof trousers
• warmer trousers
• Comfortable trekking pants
• Extra casual sport pants

Footwear

• A pair of good waterproof trekking boots
• Pair of sandals
• 4-5 pairs of woolen socks
• Sock liners
• Light shoes and sneakers
• First Aid Kits and Medicines
• Assorted adhesive bandages (fabric preferred)
• Blister treatment cream or similar
• Insect / anti-itch ointment
• Ibuprofen or other pain-relief medication
• Diamox (125mg to 250mg tablets for altitude sickness)
• Warps, splints, and wound coverings butterfly bandage
• Water purifying pills

(Note that our guide will carry medicine and first aid kit during the trek. However, we recommend that you bring your own personal first aid kit as well)

Miscellaneous – but must useful on the trek

• 4 passport size photos with original passport
• Water bottle & filter
• Flight details
• Bathroom kit (conform, should be included toilet paper, plastic bags, hand wipes, towel, and soap, etc.)

Extra things

• Comfortable trekking poles
• Quality energy dry foods (up to you)
• Power bank and music players
• Camera (memory card, chargers, and extra batteries)