Upper Mustang is a restricted and culturally rich destination which lies on the mustang region in Gandaki province. This pace is well known for its Tibetan culture, beautiful landscapes, ancient caves dwellings, monasteries which are there for centuries, and walled city of Lo Manthang. Since 1992 this region have been favorite to the foreigners and is still a place lost in time. This place offers windswept valleys, medieval villages and cliff hugging monasteries. Upper mustang offers you a great experience in Nepal.
Upper mustang is hidden gem of Nepal with diverse cultural and spiritual significance. The monasteries, caves, and traditional settlements makes Upper Mustang a living museum. Places like luri gumba and Ghar Gopma helps to attract Buddhist pilgrims from across the Himalayas. Waking on the monasteries and villages feels like an entire living museum, where the traditions and culture are preserved. Lo Manthang is the capital of Upper mustang and the major attraction of the place. It is also known as the walled city. This place is rich in history.
Ancient Monasteries like Ghar Gompa, the Luri Gumba, and other spiritual sites are main attraction to the Buddhist people and tourists. Caves and Cliff Dwellings is the major factor that makes mustang living museum it is the insight into the traditional lifestyle of Upper Mustang’s people. Where the traditions are preserved. Kagbeni one of the he village located at the edge of the Mustang region and is gateway to Tibet. These places will bring total adventure to your life.
There are two main ways to explore Upper Mustang one is by trekking and another by touring by jeep. You can trek on mountains through the mountains trails by foot or you can tour along the jeep through the off road paths both ways offers unique way to explore Upper Mustang. You will get the insight into the region’s culture and beauty through both options. Although you can explore the whole beauty both option differs with each other based on the level of comfort, experience, time, physical ability and demand. Trekking is more tiring than touring since trekking needs your physical ability while touring doesn’t demand high physical ability.
The main purpose of the article is to help the readers choose the best option based on their preferences. This article will help you to remove your dilemma about trekking and touring.
What Is the Upper Mustang Trek?
The journey to upper mustang is like getting back in time. Travelers will trek through the ancient tribe and trade routes and barren high altitude desert. You will walk past ancient Cliffside caves, Sherpa villages, forests, gumbas and routes of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri region.
Pokhara to Jomsom is your starting point to reach Upper mustang. You can start your journey wither with flight or road. First you will start your journey from Pokhara then from there you will fly to Jomsom. The flight is short but you will get the authentic views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Journey to Upper Mustang will be a total adventure experience for you. You will dive from Jomsom to Lo Manthang. From Jomsom your adventure will start where the various stops will your experience from the traditional villages to the sights along the way, villages like Kagbeni, Chuksang, and the famous ancient monasteries. Your trek lasts till 10 to 14 days depending on place and acclimation days.
Challenges should be accepted, the challenge to trek in upper mustang is moderate. The altitude range between 2800 to 4200 meters. The routes isn’t that much snowy or steep as other Himalayan trekking. The strong winds, dusty trails and arid climate will be exhausting for you, dusty trails and sudden climate change can be harmful for you and can affect your breathing ability. The road conditions in these region is dusty as it gives the feeling of desert. The rugged roads, dust, and bumpy rides adds adventure to your jeep tour. Highways aren’t smooth, it is mainly rocky. Trekking experience is nit essential for this trekking but good level of physical fitness and stamina is highly required. To avoid altitude sickness you must have good knowledge of proper acclimatization.
What Is the Upper Mustang Tour (Jeep Tour)?
Jeep tour to upper mustang is easier and comfortable ways for those who are looking for comfort on their adventure. Jeep tour will offer you an adventurous yet less physically demanding way of experiencing the beauty of upper mustang region.
It is now very accessible to rich deep into the mustang through dirt roads. You can now drive to Lo Manthang and back in a 4wd vehicles in easy way. This tour typically takes the time span of 5 to 8 days, starting your journey from Pokhara to Kathmandu, with overnight stops in villages like Kagbeni, Ghami and Tsarang. The drive will let you follow upper mustang pletu and Kali Gandaki River Valley.
Jeep tour is suitable for families with children, seniors or the travelers with limited span of time. This tour will allow you to have quality of time and witness Mustang’s grandeur. Not only that you will visit to the ancient monasteries and will be able to interact with locals without physically draining yourself.
Key Differences: Trek vs. Tour
There is a vast difference between Trek and Tour as they both differs from physical challenges and fitness level, time, experience, comfort and access.
Physical Challenge and Fitness Level
Trekking demands your physic. You should be good with your physical fitness as you have to walk minimum 5 to 7 hours daily through Rocky Mountains, dusty trails and high altitude. Meanwhile, tour needs minimal physical effort you will take short walks around villages and some view points only.
Time Required
Trekking typically takes 10 to 14 days as you don’t rely on any kind of vehicles, you rely on yourself, your physical ability and your guide. Tour typically takes 8 to 4 days as you rely on 4 wheeler, a guide without any need of professional physical ability.
Cost and Budget
Tour budget is slightly similar than trek somehow it differs according to the facilities. Trek typically cost around the range from 1800 dollars to 25000 depending on your duration, tour guide and porters. Tour is slightly similar to trek the cost can range from 1500 dollars to 2200 dollars your expenses is focused on vehicle rental and fuels instead of porter support.
Experience with Nature and Culture
Trek offers you a deeper connection with nature as you walk through routes on your feet you will experience more immersive cultural interaction where you can be into the culture and tradition of the people. Tour only covers the highlight of culture, tradition and nature. Where you experience a lot of thing quickly. You may feel more superficial due to the limited engagement with the local people and nature itself.
Comfort and Accommodation
Trek offers you basic tea houses with some shared rooms and common shared toilet. Your comfort will be minimal so you should not expect more. Meanwhile, tour have slightly better accommodation options, you can expect a good comfort in tour accommodation options, you can accommodate in villages local houses can be your option. You will not have to share same latrine with other people.
Access to Remote Areas
Trek is very easy mode for you as you can explore off the beaten path trails and some hidden monasteries which are unreached by vehicles. Meanwhile the road accessible areas are limits if you are touring through vehicles road are uncertain, but you will get major sight which are reachable with 4 wheelers.
Pros and Cons
There are lots of pros and cons in both upper mustang trek and tours.
Upper Mustang Trek
Pros
Through trekking you will get closer interaction with local communities. You will have access to remote and less visited villages. You will get a sense of achievement after waking through the high and risky trails. Trekking is itself authentic, you can embrace your physical ability. You will get to immerse in culture slowly.
Cons
Trekking demands physical ability. It is time consuming. Requires both physical and mental ability. You have to have a good health condition and acclimation. You will get limited and rough accommodations with less facilities, sometimes you have a condition where you have to share everything with a complete stranger.
Upper Mustang Tour
Pros
Tour is very comfortable than trek. Tour is time efficient and ideal for those with less time limits. Tour is less physical exhausting you will be provided with stunning views and cultural sight without any efforts. There is a chance you might get better accommodation options.
Cons
Tour is less immersive you might feel rushed. You will have limited access to off roads and hidden locations. The roads are dusty and bumpy so your rides will be tiring. You will feel the level of happiness for reaching the destination but you won’t be able to feel the rewarding experience that an adventure seeker feels.
Who Should Choose the Trek?
Upper mustang trek is ideal for the travelers who are adventure seekers who loves exploring the remote, rugged trails and mysterious village’s routes, trekkers who are aiming to discover the unique culture which are the major highlight of Himalayan region, photographers who wants to explore the contras of nature, writers who wants to get inspired or seeking for inspiration, and cultural explorers who wants to dive deep into the cultural norms and values especially the Mustang’s Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
Who Should Choose the Tour?
Upper mustang tour is ideal for families with children who can’t handle long hikes, seniors who are looking for comfort while exploring the remote areas that lies on mustang region, time-constrained visitors who are more focused on their time table or the person who have limited amount of time apart from their professional life, and people who are recovering from injury or depression who are not ready to go back to the world or physical exertion.
Important Things to Consider
Your tour includes transportation, permits, guides, accommodation, etc. Travel permits is needed since the Upper mustang is highly preserved, your tour permit will be provided by your guide. Upper mustang is restricted area so it is required that both the trekkers and tourist obtain their permits. You will be charges 500 dollars for 10 days and 50 dollars per day thereafter to have restricted area permit. You will be charged 30 dollars for Annapurna conservation area permit. These permits can only issue through a government registered trekking agency with licensed guide.
The best season to travel Upper Mustang is spring March to May and autumn September to November these season will help you to get the scene of clear skies. There is high chances of you enjoying the pleasant weather. These seasons are the ideal seasons to visit in Upper Mustang. You should avoid visiting to Upper Mustang during monsoon season. During the monsoon season June to August the roads are muddy because of the rain and it’s hard for you to pass through routes. The travelling time will be lengthy and challenging for your driver and you if you are touring if you are a trekker it will be challenging for you since the roads will be slippery and risky to walk. During winter season the temperature is cold. You can expect snow covered landscapes during the winter season.
You should be physically prepared. You should be well prepared for the altitude and routes. Try doing yoga and cardio vascular activities. Focus on your breathing techniques. Stay hydrated and eat nutritious food as you need more energy. Packing essentials is very useful don’t bring unnecessary gadget. Clothing, camera gear, and other items should be welly packed for your upper mustang travel.
Guided vs. independent travel
One of the important thing to remember is that independent trekkers in upper mustang is not allowed because of upper mustang’s restricted issue since the government focuses on preserving the culture and tradition. You must be in a group least the group of two people. You must be or travel with a licensed guide weather you are travelling or touring. Guide is very much important for cultural interpretation, navigation, safety, permit handling, and local connections. In addition to guide a tourist also have to consider hiring porters to carry their bags which makes your trek more managed.
Conclusion
Upper Mustang road trip is one of the best experience you can get from Nepal. This place is literally the museum with highly preserved tradition, culture and monasteries. Upper mustang offers you a beautiful scenic landscapes where you get to acknowledge the desolate yet striking landscapes. The landscape looks desert-like terrain, jagged cliffs, and snow-capped peaks all in one combination. Upper Mustang is highly influenced by Tibetan culture. Most of the people follows Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan is the major local language if you want to communicate with the locals then you have to be able to understand Tibetan language.
Customs in the Mustang region is highly preserved so you have to be respectable toward them. Festivals and traditions are so different in Mustang region. Tiji Festival is the major festival celebrated in this region. This festival include the masked dance which is the ritual to drive away the evil spirits and the customs of the local people are very unique.
Though there are difference in both trekking and touring your experience are not limited. Whether you are waking through the trails or moving through four wheelers your upper mustang journey will be unforgettable with the ancient and blended history, culture and beauty. If you are physically fit and have time try upper mustang trek for rewarding experience and deep connection with nature, if you are seeking for comfort, speed, ease, travelling with your family and have limited time you should try Upper mustang tour where you will get the views and experience of some unique place and culture.
Upper mustang tour is ideal for families with children who can’t handle long hikes, seniors who are looking for comfort while exploring the remote areas that lies on mustang region, time-constrained visitors who are more focused on their time table or the person who have limited amount of time apart from their professional life, and people who are recovering from injury or depression who are not ready to go back to the world or physical exertion.
Upper mustang trek is ideal for the travelers who are adventure seekers who loves exploring the remote, rugged trails and mysterious village’s routes, trekkers who are aiming to discover the unique culture which are the major highlight of Himalayan region, photographers who wants to explore the contras of nature, writers who wants to get inspired or seeking for inspiration, and cultural explorers who wants to dive deep into the cultural norms and values especially the Mustang’s Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
Upper mustang trek and travel is filled with full of experience and adventure both ways will bring you to same destination .Either way, Upper Mustang will leave you amazed.
