Lower Mustang Non-restricted Trekking

Lower Mustang is a beautiful region in Nepal that offers a wide variety of trekking opportunities. The region is famous for its unique landscape, diverse culture, and spectacular views of the Himalayas.

The Lower Mustang trekking route is a popular alternative to the Annapurna Circuit trek, as it provides a shorter and less strenuous option for those looking to explore the region. This trek is not restricted, meaning that no special permits are required to undertake it.

The trek usually starts from the town of Pokhara and takes around 12-13 days to complete. During the trek, trekkers will walk through beautiful rhododendron forests, cross high suspension bridges, and pass through traditional villages.

Some of the major highlights of the Lower Mustang trek include the village of Kagbeni, which is a gateway to Upper Mustang and offers a glimpse into the ancient Tibetan culture, and the town of Jomsom, which is famous for its apple orchards and stunning views of Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri peaks.

The trek also provides trekkers with an opportunity to visit the Muktinath temple, which is a sacred pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. The temple is situated at an altitude of 3,710 meters and offers stunning views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains.

Overall, the Lower Mustang trek is a great option for those looking for a shorter and less strenuous trekking experience in Nepal. With its unique landscape, diverse culture, and spectacular views, it is sure to be an unforgettable adventure for any trekker.

Best Seasons to visit lower mustang not restricted area

Mustang, along with the all parts of Nepal has 4 different seasons- Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. Each season has its unique flavor.

Spring Season

March, April and May months of the year are considered spring season in Nepal. It is regarded as the best season to visit Nepal. The temperature increase, the rhododendron in Lower part of Annapurna circuit which we will trek along while doing lower mustang non restricted trekking blooms to add joy on our trekking trip. Verities of color of Rhododendron flowers makes a great picture of your trip of the lifetime.

The temperature is warm and clear with clear visibility of mountains and landscapes. Spring is also regarded as the best time to visit upper Mustang to cross high passes or trekking to Upper region of Upper Mustang near to Tibetan boarder.

The month of May in spring season is also the time for the region’s most famous and widely celebrated festival, the Tiji Festival at Lo-Manthang village.

The temperature during this season is between 16-22 degrees Celsius.

Summer or Monsoon season

Late May marks the beginning of summer in Nepal. June to August are the peak of summer months in Nepal. Rain during monsoon or summer is unbearable in the parts of Nepal but not in Mustang region. Mustang lies in the rain-shadow zone of the Annapurna region, meaning the upper regions of Mustang including Upper Mustang doesn’t have rainfall during monsoon.

Lower parts might witness some rain but not as bad as other parts of region where trekking in monsoon in nearly impossible because of wet land.

However, Upper Mustang is perfectly safe and comfortable to trekking during this rainy season in Nepal. In rainy season of Nepal Upper Mustang has no rain at all, making it one of the most popular destinations for trekkers

The full moon in the month of August marks the horse festival or the local Yartungmela. This popular, 3 days’ festival sees horse race, archery, songs, dances and merrymaking. The warm, clear and long days are great for trekking in this region.

Autumn Season

Another best time to visit Nepal is between the months of September and November during autumn season. Right after the monsoon, clear and fresh air and clear sky, cool temperature makes for favorable trekking conditions. The weather becomes dry and offers great visibility.

Early September still sees light rainfalls and humid weather in the lower regions but trekking or tour worth it. As December is around the corner, autumn is on the cooler side than spring. That is why spring is preferred over autumn season for those who care temperature while trekking in Nepal. However it is refreshing and often considered the best months to trekking in Nepal.

The month of October and November experiences slightly more predictable weather with great visibility of the mountain peaks, landscapes. That is why most of the high altitude expedition trips like Mt Everest climbing is done in autumn season.

You do not need any special gears and equipment for Lowe mustang non restricted region trekking during these months.

Winter Season

December marks the beginning of winter season in Nepal. The temperature starts to drop heavily during the months of January and February, especially in the late evenings and night, when there is no sun. However, you will be rewarded with clear sky & quite trekking trails with fewer visitors.

Lower Mustang trekking is possible during winter with no doubt. However, it is quite difficult to trek to Upper Mustang region during this season as most of the villagers migrate to the lower mustang regions.

There are many tea houses and lodges still open during winter. Some of the tea houses offer fireplaces, hot water, extra blankets to keep you warm. Nepalgram adventure compare and pick the tea houses, rooms, meals so you can enjoy the views of the mountains, village life at your mountain comfort.

The upper region is covered in snow while lower region of Mustang is still accessible. The temperature in Upper Mustang drops to negative. This region experiences heavy snowfall and almost all of the tea houses will be closed, hence trekking during this season is troublesome

Lower Mustang Trekking Difficulty

Lower mustang trekking is not hard at all. Even if you feel hard while trekking in the lower mustang by any chance – there are plenty of options to rest or use vehicles so as to shorten the trip or skip.

Lower Mustang Trekking gives the finest of everything. Nothing will stand in your way if you take into account the weather and plan for it. Best trekking agency and decent guide for lower mustang trekking gives best taste of the region.

You might have little difficulty with altitude but trekking in lower mustang region is below 4000 meters and in Nepal this altitude is easy destination.

Things recommended to pack for lower mustang non restricted trekking trip in Nepal

Waterproof warm jacket, hiking pant and hiking shorts
Thermal trouser
Full sleeve shirt (woolen and cotton)
Cap, hat or headscarf
Gloves
Trekking boots
Socks (woolen and cotton)
Quick-drying towel
Sunglasses with UV protection
Trekking poles
Sleeping bag
First Aid box
Water purifier
Water bottles
Earplugs
Sun block creams

Accommodation and Foods in Lower Mustang

Every trekking trip to Lower Mustang non restricted trekking route are based on the basis the kind of accommodation available in all the places. As Nepal is famous for low-budget guest houses with amazing personalized services. Although the accommodation in some places like Jomsom, Muktinath &Kagbeni are not cheap.

There are tea houses with basic facility and cheap rates along with expensive luxury hotels.

In lower mustang non restricted trekking trail there are plenty of tea house. As this trail is intersected with famous Annapurna Circuit trekking route. This is why trekkers can find lots of all budget guesthouses.

Accommodations in mustang region are expensive than other trekking region as many trekking trails are intersected in this route. Many people visit mustang region from Nepal and overseas, thus in the peak travel season in Nepal – most of the accommodation are full.

Indoor toilets with commode is common in the region. The cost of accommodation starts from USD $5 and can go higher to USD $60 per night.

As for the food! You can get all kind of basic food in lower Mustang region. Higher the trekking altitude the cost of food goes increasing too.

Western, American, continental, Arabic, Italian or indian – all kind of food are available in the region. There are plenty of fancy tea houses as well. But do not except to get the taste of fancy restaurant from the cities like Kathmandu or Pokhara.

Very commonly you can get a Nepalese meal set Dal Bhat Tarkari and many Tibetan recipes. The cost of a meal can cost like USD 5 to USD 8 and the cost of the mineral water bottle can cost USD 3 to USD 5.

Highlights

• Trekking on the footsteps of ancient trade route of Nepal-Tibet
• Explore the culture and lifestyle of local peoples along with a charming villagers.
• Explore panoramic mountain views of Mt. Annapurna and Mt. Dhaulagiri & both their ranges
• Explore the well-preserved culture of Mustang which is highly influenced by Tibetan culture
• Visit Muktinath temple, one of the holiest Hindu& Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal
• 108 water taps and ever burning flame
• Views of the north face of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri in contrast with dry landscape of the mustang region
• The Kali Gandaki river gorge – deepest of the earth

Day 1 :

Arrival

Upon arrival at Kathmandu airport, officially known as Tribhuvan International Airport, staff from Nepalgram will greet you and provide a shuttle service to your hotel. You can visit Nepalgram office or with our representative somewhere at your accommodation later today or the next day. Meeting will be to brief you on your trip with us and settlement of the payment of remaining or exceeded. Today will be guide and the Sherpas introduction with clients.
If your flight arrives on time, we would recommend local restaurants serving Nepali food while performing live cultural music and ethnic dance, in the late Afternoons.

Day 2 :

Kathmandu sightseeing tour

Around 9AM, you'll begin your city tour in Kathmandu. You'll visit Boudhnath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, Swyambhunath Stupa (also famous as Monkey Temple – named so because you can find lots of monkey in the temple) and Kathmandu Durbar Square (also famous as Temple of living goddess).
After finishing the ktmcity tour, you can do your final our shopping, if anything is missing.

Day 3 :

Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara

Today we start early morning to drive to Pokhara through the beautiful Nepalese countryside. The bust to Pokhara leaves around 7AM in the morning. Journey to Pokhara by bus will be with views of beautiful green hills &valleys, interesting settlements and terraced farms situated on the lap of the mountains.
In general the tourist bus will have two stops on the way,for the breakfast & the lunch. ON arrival at Pokhara around 3 PM, you will have time to explore the city after checking into the hotel. Evening stroll around the lake& attend apart in front of Barahhi temple are some interesting things to do in Pokhara’s evening. Leave the drinking, partying or clubbing stuff for on the way back. You will stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 4 :

Drive to Jomsom

Although there is direct bus from Kathmandu to Jomsom, it is recommended to split this long bus ride with one stop at Pokhara. Early morning bus from Pokhara to Jomsom leaves around the same time as from Kathmandu. i.e. at & AM in the morning.
Because of the off road in few sections of Pokhara Jomsom road – time to get to Jomsom will be uncertain. But you will be with your guide and things can be arranged according to the situation developed.
If you want to skip Jomsom it takes 8 to 9 hours to reach Pokhara from Muktinath by jeep. Thus it is not recommended.

Day 5 :

Trekking to Kagbeni village

The trekking route from Jomsom to Kagbeni is along the Kaligandaki river, flat and windy. So we'll head early in the morning to cross the Jomsom valley before the wind starts to blow. Local monastery also called Red Gumbaat Kagbeni is things to do at Kagbeni village in the evening. The alleys of the mountain village Kagbeni is very interesting, split 1 hours of your day to wonder in this little village. The guest house at Kagbeni are comfortable.

Day 6 :

Kagbeni& nearby villages tour – side trip & easy day at the Upper mustang entrance point

We Can't enter upper Mustang’s without special permit for the region. But staying at Kagbeni and within a few hours hike, we can go to the villages in Upper Mustang. There’s dramatic change in scenery after getting to those villages after crossing river towards the villages of Upper Mustang territory.
The wide Kali Gandaki River bed lies to our right while trekking to this beautiful village away from the busy trekking trail of Upper Mustang & Annapurna circuit trekking trail.

Day 7 :

Trekking from Kagbeni to Muktinath

Guests will be served with breakfast around 7AM in the morning. Then, 4 to 6-hour trekking will take us to Muktinath. Lunch will be on route. We will pass across multiple beautiful villages while trekking from Kagbeni to Muktinath village. On arrival we will check in at hotel in Muktinath & visit the temple. Later in the afternoon you can stroll on your own. Dinner and overnight will be spent at the same hotel.
Beautiful villages along the trekking route and view of Dhaulagiri range opening with ascending higher during the trek will make this day interesting day during lower mustang non restricted trekking trip in Nepal.

Day 8 :

Trekking back to Marpha from Muktinath

Today’s trekking will be downhill on the blacktopped road. The view of snowcapped mountains and the villages in deserted landscape will look stunning on our way back to Jomsom.

Day 9 :

Trek from Marpha to Kalopani

Marpha to kalopani will be different trekking experience as the landscape changes at this point. Kalopani at 2530 m / 8300 ft and takes 5 hrs for the hiking.

Day 10 :

Kalopani to Tatopani

Tatopani is one of the famous village of this trekking route. Natural hot spring by the river side has made this place special for trekkers from all around the world. Tatopani is at 1200 meters / 3937 feet above the sea level.
It takes 6 hours to trek from Kalopani to Tatopani.

Day 11 :

Tatopani to Pokhara by Bus

6 hours bus journey from Tatopani to Pokhara will be good experience for Himalayan roads. On arrival at Pokhara – we will check in to the hotel and can enjoy the evening by the lakeside of Phewalake.

Day 12 :

Drive to Kathmandu

8 hours bus journey from Pokhara to Kathmandu will have 2 stops on the route. The road is black topped and the bus we ride will be tourist bus.

Day 13 :

Departure day

Today is the last day of our trip with us. If you want to extend your vacation with us, we will gladly help you organize it. Otherwise, Nepalgram will drive you to the airport according to your departure.

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What is Lower Mustang non-restricted trekking?

Lower Mustang non-restricted trekking is a trekking route that is located in the Annapurna Conservation Area in Nepal. It is called “non-restricted” because it does not require a special permit or a guide to complete the trek.

Where is Lower Mustang non-restricted trekking located?

Lower Mustang non-restricted trekking is located in the western part of Nepal, in the Annapurna Conservation Area. It starts from the town of Beni and goes up to the village of Kagbeni.

How long does it take to complete Lower Mustang non-restricted trekking?

The trek can be completed in 12-13 days, depending on the pace of the trekker.

What is the highest altitude reached during Lower Mustang non-restricted trekking?

The highest altitude reached during the trek is around 3,800 meters at Muktinath temple.

Are there any cultural or environmental concerns I should be aware of during Lower Mustang non-restricted trekking?

Yes, it is important to be respectful of the local culture and environment. Visitors are advised to follow the rules of the conservation area, not to litter, and to respect the local customs and traditions.

Is it safe to do Lower Mustang non-restricted trekking?

Yes, Lower Mustang non-restricted trekking is generally considered safe. However, it is always recommended to take necessary precautions and be aware of the weather conditions and any potential risks.

What is the best time to do Lower Mustang non-restricted trekking?

The best time to do Lower Mustang non-restricted trekking is from September to November and March to May, as the weather is usually clear and dry during these months.

What are the accommodation options during Lower Mustang non-restricted trekking?

There are several guesthouses and tea houses along the trekking route that offer basic accommodation and meals.

More Information About Lower Mustang non-restricted trekking

Hindu temples are in pagoda-style and Buddhist Gumbas are traditional Tibetan architecture. The 108 water tap inside Hindu temple is one of the famous part of Muktinath. Everlasting burning flame inside the same temple is also attraction of mystery. Along with these spiritual factors there is eye catching panorama of snowcapped mountains ranges.

Lower mustang non restricted trekking 1 1 — ***Lower mustang is short trekking route to explore lots of things culturally and Naturally***

Lower Mustang non restricted Trekking offers best walking in the villages of hidden valley of Nepal. Dry valley is combination of culture and tradition of the local peoples. Moderate trekking in the stunning landscape of both Mustang & a part of the Annapurna Himalayas is overwhelming.

In general, Upper mustang trip can be done by a trekking, jeep tour, helicopter tour, motor biking, mountain biking or combination of different activities.

Muktinath Temple is the final destination of the Lower mustang non restricted trekking, an important point for Hindus and Buddhists for pilgrimages.

Lower Mustang non-restricted Trekking is by its varied terrain which is different from the rest of other destinations in Nepal. Trips to Mustang start from Jomsom or Birethanti. If you take flight from Pokhara to Jomsom the mustang region starts at Jomsom. And lower mustang region already starts at Birethanti if you drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu.

Muktinath is also major destination for visitors in Lower Mustang trekking

Along the trekking trail of Lower Mustang, travelers can enjoy beautiful views of the green hills in contrast with white Himalaya while hiking towards the deepest gorges in the world at Dana. Natural hot spring in Tatopani is one of the major attraction of this lower mustang not restricted trekking trail. It is believed that by bathing in the water of natural hot-spring, all the sins in your life would be removed.

Lower Mustang non-restricted trek Route

The trekking to lower mustang begins along the Kaligandaki River, where you can find Shaligrams (fossils), black stones that reveal different patterns when broken. Towards the end of the trekking trail takes you to Jomsom& leads you all the way to Muktinath. Muktinath has world famous Hindu temple & monasteries all around.

Between Muktinath& Jomsom there is a village called Kagbeni and this is the gateway to upper mustang restricted trail. Till kagbeni or Muktinath – this is also called mustang region but does not need special permit for this region, as this is non – restricted trekking trail.

Lower mustang non restricted trekking 3 1 — ***During lower mustang trekking , we can see great mountain range with clear weather.***

Hindu temples are in pagoda-style and Buddhist Gumbas are traditional Tibetan architecture. The 108 water tap inside Hindu temple is one of the famous part of Muktinath. Everlasting burning flame inside the same temple is also attraction of mystery.Along with these spiritual factors there is eye catching panorama of snowcapped mountains ranges.

Lower Mustang non restricted Trekking offers bestwalking in the villages of hidden valley of Nepal. Dry valley is combination of culture and tradition of the local peoples. Moderate trekking in the stunning landscape of both Mustang & a part of the Annapurna Himalayas is overwhelming.

In general, Upper mustang trip can be done by a trekking, jeep tour, helicopter tour, motor biking, mountain biking or combination of different activities.

Muktinath Temple is the final destination of the Lower mustang non restricted trekking, an important point for Hindus and Buddhists for pilgrimages.