Trekking Agency to issue Upper Mustang Permit, Guide, Porter Hire Price

Trip Overview

OVERVIEW OF UPPER MUSTANG

Upper Mustang Trek the last small Himalayan Kingdom in Nepal. For centuries Upper Mustang is the most mysterious and least known territory of Nepal. It was also entitled to the Forbidden Kingdom. Upper Mustang is located in the northwestern part of Nepal and at the top of the Kali Gandaki River.

The landscape of Upper Mustang is similar to the Tibetan Plateau with its endless expanses of yellow and gray rolling hills eroded by the wind. Upper Mustang can be traveled by trekking as well as trekking. Both journeys will be through a virtually treeless and barren landscape with a rocky trail up and down the hill passing through high peaks, passes, glaciers and alpine valleys. The trip gives a very different and unique experience to everyone.

In Upper Mustang local lifestyle, culture, and heritage remain unchanged for centuries to this date. The interesting thing is although Upper Mustang is part of Nepal it had retained his own King (Raja) in the name of Mustangi Raja until Nepal was declared a republic in 2008. He had a certain amount of autonomy and he was given the honorary rank of colonel in the Nepal Army.

Lo Manthang is the heart of Upper Mustang. Here is the palace with four stories of past kings. The name of the last king of Lo Manthang is Jigme Palbar Bista. Until his death in 2016 the people had great respect and honor for him. The king also used to grant the audience the visitors upon request.

Upper Mustang, as this area laying in the Himalaya’s rain shadow, it has much less rain than the rest of Nepal. During Monsoon the skies are cloudy but very little rainfall there. So Upper Mustang tour and trekking can be done year-round.

REQUIREMENTS FOR UPPER MUSTANG TOUR & TREKKING

Nepal Government has a policy that to travel Upper Mustang, every person needs to get Upper Mustang Restricted Permit. This permit is also called a special permit. The permit must be obtained through any local trekking agency which is registered in Nepal Government. Further, there is a rule that all people who are going to Mustang by jeep tour or trekking should at least two people in one group. The group also compulsorily need to hire one authorized person from the trekking agency, either a guide or porter. Be noted that the group number does not count guide and porter.

Apart from Upper Mustang Restricted Permit, it also requires ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit). Because Upper Mustang is also inside the territory of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project.

THE COST OF THE PERMIT

Mustang Restricted Permit: USD 500 per person for the 10 days and USD 50 per additional day (For all the people including Indian Nationality)

ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit): NPR 3000 or Around USD 30 per person

Note: In general TIMS Permit (Trekking Information Management System Permit) does not require to travel in a restricted zone like Upper Mustang. But if you are traveling via an overland/road trip, TIMS permit is also required. Also, if you are connecting Upper Mustang Tour Trekking with Annapurna Circuit Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, and other trekking routes, TIMS permit is necessary. The cost of the TIMS permit is USD 10 per person. But the good thing is you do not need again ACAP permit.

WHAT NEEDS TO ISSUE A UPPER MUSTANG PERMIT FOR TREKKING AGENCY?

Trekking Agency requires following things to apply for your Upper Mustang Restricted Permit:

. Original passport with your Nepal entry visa with the arrival stamp.
. Passport Size Photo
. Travel Insurance (Optional) that covers medical and emergency evacuation

For, ACAP, it requires only passport size photo and passport copy.

Note: It requires to apply for Upper Mustang Restricted Permit at the immigration office in Kathmandu, Nepal. The office only opens from Sunday to Friday between 9 am to 5 pm. It is also closed every Saturday and other public holidays. So, you advised consulting with us or any trekking agency before fixing your arrival date in Kathmandu. If everything is on track and all requirements are complete, the Upper Mustang special permit should be ready within a 2 to 3 hours timeframe.

Excellent Himalaya Trek and Expedition assist to arrange Upper Mustang Restricted Permit and other permits (ACAP, TIMS) for you. Besides permits, we also arrange an experienced trekking guide and porters, ground transport (private car/ jeep/ flight).

Trekking Guide Fee: USD 30 Per Day. It includes his food, accommodation, allowance, travel insurance. Be noted that our trekking guide will have many years of experience in the Upper Mustang trekking tour, holding a guide license issued by the Nepal government.

Porter Fee: USD 25 Per Day. It includes his food, accommodation, allowance, travel insurance. According to the rule, one porter carries the baggage of two trekking up to a maximum weight limit of 25 kg.

Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] by email/ or click here, if you require additional information about Upper Mustang Trekking and Tour.

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