The Upper Mustang Trek Cost 2026 – Permits, Guides, Food, Budget & Itinerary

Trekking to the desert of Nepal is known as the Upper Mustang Trek. This unique and barren land, with Tibet, China, has something different to explore in Nepal’s Himalayas. The main attractions of this trek are the landscapes, the giant mountain peaks, Tibetan Culture, and the Buddhist religion. So the Upper Mustang Trek Costs quite a bit more money than other normal trekking trails.

This trek is between the two world’s tallest peaks, Mt. Dhaulagiri and Mt. Annapurna, and is also surrounded by other beautiful mountain peaks. Upper Mustang is a part of Nepal, and people are Nepali, although they are more in touch with the Tibetan culture. Trekking between these snowy peaks and exploring the Tibetan culture is not as cheap as you think. So the Upper Mustang Trek Cost is expensive than other normal trekking trails in Nepal.

The dramatic landscapes in every corner of the Upper Mustang are something incredible to see. Dry territory, covered by different colors or surfaces, and just a little bit of greenery in the places where people live. And the best practices of Himalayan Buddhism in the region are reflected in the Monasteries in every village, Stupas and Mani walls, and prayer flags in every part. To see all the things in the upper Mustang, you need to purchase the Upper Mustang Trekking package and which is a bit expensive.

Why is The Upper Mustang Trek Cost Expensive?

Upper Mustang Trek is very costly because of permits, transportation, a mandatory guide, and many other things. To do the Mustang Trek requires a special permit for the restricted area and a normal Annapurna Conservation Area (ACAP) permit. Require a minimum of 2 trekkers to issue permits.

Also government-trained licensed trekking guide is mandatory. These permit fees only apply to foreign trekkers, and they are free of cost for Nepali hikers. And Mustang Trekking permits are only issued by registered trekking companies; therefore company service charge will be added to your total trekking cost.

Transportation is also a reason why this trek is expensive. Permits will be issued in Kathmandu. So your trek to Mustang starts from Kathmandu. First, you need to travel to Pokhara and then travel to Jomsom. To travel to Pokhara and Jomsom, you can choose to travel by air or land. If you want to fly, then it costs a lot of money.

Nowadays, there is a direct bus service from Kathmandu to Jomsom, Kagbeni, and even up to Upper Mustang. So, transportation-wise, taking a bus from Kathmandu to Mustang (Jomosm) is cheaper, but you need to travel for almost 24 hours on the bus. By land, you can take a bus or a jeep from Pokhara to Mustang as well.

The primary reason the Upper Mustang Trek is expensive is due to the permit, guide, and transportation costs. The cost will vary from USD 1,850 to USD 4,000. And it all depends on what kind of trekking facilities you are looking for. The luxurious trek to Mustang will be expensive than the basic one.

Upper Mustang Trek Cost Breakdown 

Permit 

Restricted Area Permit – Upper Mustang 

USD: $500 per person for 10 days 

Additional days will cost USD $50 per day per person. 

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) USD $ 30 per person per trek. 

So the total cost for the standard 10-day Upper Mustang Trek is USD $530 per person. 

The reason why such a high permit fee for the Upper Mustang Trek is that it will limit the number of trekkers and support to preserve the cultural and traditional heritage of the Upper Mustang. 

Guide and Porter Cost (Mandatory) 

Licensed Trekking Guide Required 

USD $30 to $50 per day, depending on experience and knowledge. 

A porter who can carry 2 trekkers’ luggage will cost per day USD $25 to $30 per day. 

This cost will include: Guide and Porter’s salary, insurance, equipment, food, accommodation, and transportation. 

The reason why guides are mandatory for the Upper Mustang region trek is that, upper part of Mustang is remote, culturally sensitive, and politically restricted. A professional trekking guide can ensure safety, observance, and significant cultural performance. 

Accommodation Cost 

In Upper Mustang, accommodation in the Upper Mustang is mostly basic and mountain standard, including lodges, tea houses, and homestays. Nowadays, because of the road access to the Korola Border to Tibet (China), there are some upgraded hotels and lodges are exist. 

Average cost per night USD $10 to $25, and if you want to have luxury style lodges and hotels, it will cost USD $50 to $75 per night 

Food and Drinking Water

Food and drinking water per day are around USD $30 to $40. All the trekking routes or regions you have to eat in, where you stay. If you don’t eat there, the room cost will be much higher than normal. You can carry a water purifier or SteriPen to reduce cost and plastic waste and be a responsible traveller. 

Transportation Cost Kathmandu – Mustang – Kathmandu 

Option A: Flight 

Kathmandu – Pokhara – Jomsom and vice versa, around USD $460. 

Option B: Jeep 

Kathmandu – Pokhara – Mustang and vice versa, around USD $900 to $1500, depending on what kind of jeep you are taking. 

Option C: Local Bus 

Kathmandu – Jomsom and vice versa, USD $60 to $75, it is the cheapest way to get in and out in Mustang for the Upper Mustang Trek. 

Various & Hidden Costs 

There will be other hidden costs that you need to pay before and after the trek. Those hidden costs also add extra cost for the Upper Mustang Trek. Such as travel insurance, USD $80 to $15,0, which will cover helicopter evacuation during the emergency. Tips for guides and porters are USD $150 to $30,0, and some emergency/contingency costs are around USD $150 to $300

How difficult is the Upper Mustang Trek?

Upper Mustang is a trans-Himalayan land in the shadow of the two tallest peaks, and it’s a treeless area. That’s why there is less air than in other normal regions. Altitude-wise wise not very high, just above 4200m, a trekker has to walk to get to his/her destination. So it looks easier by the altitude, but in reality, it’s not as easy as we think.

Less greenery means less Oxygen, and less oxygen means difficult to walk in the Upper Mustang. This region produces less air to breathe, but this is the region where a lot of winds come and make it even harder to walk. Sometimes the wind from the opposite side tries to stop us from walking. So the main difficulties of the Upper Mustang Trek are the less air and the heavy wind while walking to a destination.

Besides the altitude and landscapes, the services such as the hotel, food, and emergency evacuation are also difficult in this region. This is a restricted trekking region, so that here organize things can be difficult because of the government procedures.

The Itinerary of the Upper Mustang Trek

This itinerary is based on how I did the Upper Mustang Trek. This can be changed as you wish to visit different places and wish to stay more days in Upper Mustang. As a trekking guide, I have walked all the trekking trails in Mustang and explored and shown the region to national and international trekkers.

Nowadays, because of the road, many trekkers combine the Upper Mustang Trek with a four-wheel drive one-way. For Upper Mustang Jeep Tour trekkers first, walk to Lomanthang via exploring villages like Chhusang, Chaile, Ghaker, Samar Chushi Cave, Syangbochen, Giling, Ghami, Dhakmar, and Tsarang. After exploring Lomanthan, the trekkers will drive back to Jomsom. The Upper Mustang Trek Cost will be even more expensive when people do a Jeep Tour.

Why Upper Mustang Trek an authentic trek in Nepal?

There are many significant elements in Upper Mustang, and when you do a trek to Upper Mustang, you must visit those places. Those places are natural, cultural, and historical.

Distinct Landscapes

The landscape in Upper Mustang is completely different than other trekking regions in Nepal. Different colors and mostly red, gray, and brown, are found in the landscape in the Upper Mustang part. The most beautiful thing about this region is the treeless land and highland with distinct colors.

Ancient Monasteries

The Upper Mustang regain is the holiest region in Nepal for Buddhism. Inside, there are all four sects of Buddhism, all of which belong to one route of Buddhism. There are very ancient monasteries that can not be found in every village, and those monasteries are the symbols of the richness of Buddhism in Mustang.

It’s believed that the Ghar Gumba is the oldest Monastery in Nepal and Tibet. As per the legend, this monastery was built by Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava) during his trip to Tibet to keep peace and stability in Tibet. Similarly, Luri Gumba in Upper Mustang is also a very popular Buddhist site in Nepal. 

Cultural diversity

In Upper Mustang, there are different castes living, such as Gurung, Thakali, Lama, and Bista. These different communities have different types of cultural values, so exploring Mustang means exploring the cultural differences of the different communities. Such various elements make the Upper Mustang Trek a lifetime journey to the Himalayas.

Conclusion: Why is the Upper Mustang Trek Cost Expensive?

The Upper Mustang Trek Cost will be expensive than other normal trekking routes like the Everest and Annapurna region. Trekking cost depends on trek duration, group size, choice of accommodation standard, types of transportation, and level of comfort. In 2026, a trekker should expect a total ranging from USD 2100 to USD 4500. 

Obligatory costs such as permits and guides from the main budget. While food, transportation, accommodation, and personal expenses will finalize the total cost for the trek. So plan wisely, travel with a group, sharing guides and porters, and choose a suitable transport option. Then you can manage costs without compromising the beautiful experience.