Manang & Mustang
- Region Manang & Mustang
- Typical trip 5 – 10 days
- Best time March – June, September – November
North of the main range the rain stops, the green ends, and Nepal turns into high desert. Manang and Mustang are cut off from the monsoon by the mountains themselves, which makes them one of the few parts of the country that work well in summer.
The culture here is Tibetan — whitewashed gompas, chortens on the ridgelines, barley fields in a landscape of ochre cliffs. Upper Mustang requires a restricted-area permit and is the more remote of the two.
Highlights
- Ancient gompas Monasteries several centuries old, still in daily use by their villages.
- Kali Gandaki gorge One of the deepest gorges on earth, with eight-thousanders standing over both rims.
- Walled villages Kagbeni, Marpha and Lo Manthang — flat roofs, narrow alleys, apple orchards.
- Monsoon-proof In the rain shadow, so July and August are workable here when the south is soaked.
Things to do in Manang & Mustang
Walk into Lo Manthang
The old walled capital of Upper Mustang, on a restricted-area permit.
Marpha and its apples
Whitewashed Thakali village, famous locally for its orchards and brandy.
Cross the Thorong La
The Annapurna circuit's high pass, for those doing the full route.
Best time to visit Manang & Mustang
- January Possible
- February Possible
- March Best
- April Best
- May Best
- June Good
- July Good
- August Good
- September Best
- October Best
- November Good
- December Possible
How to reach Manang & Mustang
- By road Jeep from Pokhara via Beni and Jomsom. Rough, long, and part of the experience.
- Fly to Jomsom The usual shortcut, then continue north by jeep or on foot.
- Permits Upper Mustang is a restricted area with a separate, costlier permit. We handle it.
Travel tips
- One of the few regions worth visiting during the monsoon — it sits in the rain shadow.
- Afternoon wind in the Kali Gandaki is fierce and predictable. Do your walking in the morning.
- Upper Mustang permits have a minimum group size and a daily fee — ask us before you plan dates.
- Sun at this altitude is punishing. High-factor sunscreen, lip balm and real sunglasses.
Photos
