Beyond the well trodden trails of Everest and Annapurna lies a different Nepal entirely a high, arid, rain shadow landscape more reminiscent of the Tibetan plateau than the lush green valleys most trekkers picture. The Mustang region, tucked behind the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs, sees a fraction of the trekker traffic of the country's flagship routes, offering a genuinely different kind of Himalayan experience for those willing to venture further off the beaten path.
Upper Mustang, once a restricted kingdom closed to outsiders until 1992, remains one of the last places on Earth where traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture survives largely untouched by modern trekking tourism. Its walled capital, Lo Manthang, and wind carved canyons, cave monasteries, and centuries-old chortens make it feel less like a trek and more like stepping into another era. Further south, the Jomsom Muktinath trail follows the dramatic Kali Gandaki Gorge one of the deepest gorges on Earth to the sacred pilgrimage site of Muktinath Temple, blending accessible trekking with genuine spiritual significance for Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims alike.
What unites these routes is the landscape itself: dramatic desert cliffs, wind eroded rock formations, and villages that feel worlds apart from the forested lower trails of Everest or Annapurna. Both treks also benefit from the Kali Gandaki valley's rain shadow position, meaning trekking is possible even during Nepal's monsoon season, when most other regions are washed out. For trekkers who've done the classic routes and want to see a side of Nepal fewer travelers ever reach, this is where to look.
A journey into the former Kingdom of Lo, a restricted trans Himalayan region only opened to trekkers in 1992. The route crosses high desert plateau and wind carved canyons to reach the walled city of Lo Manthang, passing centuries old monasteries and cave complexes along the way one of the most culturally distinct treks in Nepal.
A dramatic trek along the Kali Gandaki Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world, to the sacred Muktinath Temple a major pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. A more accessible introduction to Mustang's high desert landscape, combining spiritual significance with striking mountain scenery.
These routes exist in a different world from the forested, glacier-lined trails most trekkers associate with Nepal and that contrast is exactly the appeal.
| If you want… | Consider |
|---|---|
| The deepest, most culturally immersive route into restricted Mustang | Upper Mustang Trek (18 days) |
| A shorter, more accessible introduction to the region with a major pilgrimage site | Jomsom Muktinath Trek (14 days) |
| A trek that remains possible during Nepal's monsoon season | Either route both lie in the Kali Gandaki rain shadow |
Summer / monsoon (June–August) is actually one of the best times to trek here, since Mustang's rain-shadow position keeps it largely dry while the rest of Nepal is affected by monsoon rain a rare window when this region outshines the more famous ones.
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) also offer stable, clear conditions and are popular for trekkers combining Mustang with other regions.
Winter (December–February) brings cold temperatures and strong winds, particularly in the afternoons, and some higher sections of Upper Mustang can become more difficult to cross.
Permit requirements differ significantly between these two treks:
The Jomsom Muktinath Trek does not require the special restricted area permit, since it does not enter Upper Mustang beyond Kagbeni only ACAP is needed for this route. Because of the restricted-area status and cost of the Upper Mustang permit, that trek is typically arranged well in advance through a licensed trekking agency.
