By Khem “Babu” Khadaka, founder, driving these roads since 1996 · Last updated: 2027 season (October 2026 – June 2027)
An Upper Mustang jeep tour takes you to the walled city of Lo Manthang by road in about ten days from Kathmandu, and since the permit became a daily fee, it is the cheapest way into the old Kingdom of Lo.
Until recently the only way to see Upper Mustang was to walk for two weeks. Now a rough road runs up the Kali Gandaki from Pokhara to Jomsom, on to Lo Manthang and all the way to the Tibetan border at Korala.
That road opens Lo Manthang to people who can’t or don’t want to trek: older travellers, families, photographers and pilgrims heading for Muktinath. But it is not a smooth highway, the altitude comes quickly, and a badly planned jeep trip is long hours of dust with little time at the places that matter.
So instead of asking only “Can I drive to Lo Manthang?”, it helps to ask a better question:
How do I reach Lo Manthang by road safely, gain the altitude slowly, and still have a full day to see the caves and monasteries once I’m there?
That is what this Upper Mustang jeep tour guide is built around. It covers the road from Pokhara to Jomsom and Lo Manthang as it is in 2026, a 10-day day-by-day plan, how the new permit rules make the jeep tour cheaper, how to handle the altitude when you gain it by car, the Chhoser caves, Korala and Muktinath, the best months, and a clear comparison with trekking. It ends with our per-person prices.
Upper Mustang was the Kingdom of Lo, closed to foreigners until 1992 and ruled by its own king until 2008. It’s a high desert of red cliffs, cave-riddled canyons and whitewashed Tibetan villages, in the rain shadow of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges.
The trek to Lo Manthang takes 12 to 14 days. The jeep tour gets you there in about half the walking time, with most of the same villages, monasteries and caves, and you can still walk short sections where the old trails are prettiest.
It suits people with limited leave, travellers over 60, families with children, anyone with knee or back problems that rule out long descents (though not long bumpy drives), and photographers who want to stop wherever the light is good.
There are three sections, and they are very different.
| Section | Distance | Time (dry season) | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokhara to Beni | About 75 km | 2.5–3 hours | Paved highway |
| Beni to Jomsom, via Tatopani, Ghasa and Marpha | About 85–105 km | 5–6 hours | Rough gravel and dirt through the Kali Gandaki gorge |
| Jomsom to Kagbeni | About 11 km | 30–40 minutes | Riverbed and dirt |
| Kagbeni to Lo Manthang, via Chele, Ghami and Tsarang | About 60 km | 4–6 hours | Dirt road with steep climbs; some paved stretches near Lo Manthang |
| Lo Manthang to Korala (Tibet border) | About 20 km | About 1 hour | Dirt road |
The Beni to Jomsom stretch is the hardest on the body: narrow, bumpy and exposed, with waterfalls across the road and, in the monsoon, landslides that can close it for hours or days. Road-widening work continues on parts of it.
Above Jomsom the road is dirt and riverbed, with steep switchbacks up to the passes near Syangboche and Ghami. It’s dusty in the dry season and slippery after rain. Only a proper four-wheel-drive jeep with a local driver who knows the road should be used.
Fly or drive to Jomsom? The 20-minute morning flight from Pokhara saves a long, jarring day, but it’s often delayed by wind or cloud. Many of our guests drive up, stopping at the hot springs at Tatopani and the apple village of Marpha, and fly back.
This is a typical shape for an Upper Mustang jeep tour, built to gain height gradually. Our 10-day Upper Mustang jeep tour follows the same idea; the trip page has the exact plan.
| Day | Route | Overnight (approx. altitude) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Kathmandu; permits processed | Kathmandu (1,400 m) |
| 2 | Fly or drive to Pokhara | Pokhara (820 m) |
| 3 | Drive up the Kali Gandaki via Tatopani to Marpha or Jomsom | Marpha (2,670 m) or Jomsom (2,720 m) |
| 4 | Morning at Muktinath temple (3,760 m), then down to Kagbeni | Kagbeni (2,810 m) |
| 5 | Enter Upper Mustang: Chele, Samar, Ghami, the long mani wall | Tsarang (3,560 m) |
| 6 | Short drive to Lo Manthang; afternoon inside the walls | Lo Manthang (3,840 m) |
| 7 | Chhoser caves, Garphu and Nyphu monasteries; Jampa and Thubchen | Lo Manthang (3,840 m) |
| 8 | Drive back down, with a stop at Ghar Gompa or Dhakmar if the road allows | Jomsom or Marpha |
| 9 | Drive to Pokhara, with a soak at Tatopani hot springs | Pokhara (820 m) |
| 10 | Fly or drive to Kathmandu; tour ends | End |
Two things make this plan work. The visit to Muktinath on day 4 takes you to 3,760 metres and back down to sleep, which helps acclimatisation. And the night at Tsarang breaks the climb to Lo Manthang, so you don’t jump from 2,800 to 3,840 metres in one day.
The same permits apply whether you walk or drive, but since the rule change the length of your stay decides the cost.
| Permit | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted Area Permit (Upper Mustang) | USD 50 per person per day | In force since December 2025; replaced the flat USD 500 for 10 days |
| ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area) | NPR 3,000 (NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals) | Covers Jomsom, Kagbeni and Muktinath too |
| TIMS registration | NPR 2,000 for most nationalities, where required | Arranged by the agency |
| Licensed guide | Compulsory | Through a registered agency |
| Minimum group | None since 22 March 2026 | A solo traveller can now get a permit |
On a jeep tour you spend about four to five days north of Kagbeni, so the permit comes to roughly USD 200–250 per person, against USD 500 under the old rules. That saving is the main reason jeep tours have become much more popular in 2026. The change was reported by the Kathmandu Post; ACAP can also be bought through the official NTNC e-permit portal, though on our tours we arrange everything.
Permits are issued in Kathmandu for fixed dates and checked at Kagbeni and Lo Manthang. Carry your passport at all times.
Lo Manthang, founded in 1380 by Ame Pal, is a walled town of narrow lanes, whitewashed houses and prayer flags, with the old royal palace at its centre (history). Cars stay outside the walls; inside, you walk.
Monasteries are unlocked by a caretaker and usually ask a small fee or donation. Take a torch, and don’t use flash on the paintings.
The rest day in Lo Manthang is where the jeep pays for itself: the best sights north of the town are spread out and hard to reach on foot in a day.
For many Indian and Nepali travellers, Muktinath is the reason for the whole journey. At about 3,760 metres, it’s sacred to Hindus as a Vishnu temple and one of the 108 Divya Desam, and to Buddhists as Chumig Gyatsa (Muktinath).
Pilgrims bathe under 108 water spouts and in two ponds, and visit the Jwala Mai temple, where a small flame burns above running water. From Jomsom it’s about an hour by jeep to Ranipauwa, then a short walk or pony ride up to the temple.
Muktinath is below Upper Mustang, so it needs only the ACAP permit, not the restricted-area one. On our Upper Mustang jeep tour we visit it on the way up, which doubles as an acclimatisation day. For the wider picture of Hindu and Buddhist sites, see our India–Nepal pilgrimage guide.
This is the one real risk of going by road. On foot, your body adapts as you climb. In a jeep you can gain 1,000 metres in a morning without noticing.
Travel insurance must cover you to at least 4,000 metres and include helicopter evacuation.
| Months | Road and weather | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| March | Cold; snow possible on the passes early in the month | Fair, late March better |
| April to June | Dry roads, clear skies, windy afternoons; Tiji festival (expected 1–3 June 2027) | Excellent |
| July to August | Little rain in Upper Mustang, but landslides and slippery roads between Beni and Jomsom | Possible with spare days; drives can take much longer |
| September | Monsoon ending; roads drying out from mid-month | Good from mid-September |
| October to November | Dry, clear, cold nights; the best views | The best overall |
| December to February | Freezing, snow on passes; many Lo Manthang families move south | Not recommended |
If you want the Tiji festival, the masked-dance festival in Lo Manthang, operators expect it on 1–3 June 2027; it was on 13–15 May in 2026. Lodges fill for Tiji, so book early and confirm the dates in spring.
| Upper Mustang jeep tour | Upper Mustang trek | |
|---|---|---|
| Length from Kathmandu | About 10 days | About 14 days |
| Days inside the restricted area | About 4–5 | About 10 |
| Permit cost at USD 50/day | About USD 200–250 | About USD 500 |
| Physical demand | Long bumpy drives; short walks | 5–7 hours walking a day |
| Acclimatisation | Faster; needs a careful plan | Gradual |
| What you see | The main villages, Lo Manthang, Chhoser, Muktinath | Every village and the off-road return via Dhakmar |
| Our price, couple (2–3) | USD 1,550 per person | USD 1,950 per person |
In short: if you love walking and have two weeks, trek. If time, age or knees say otherwise, take the jeep. Our Upper Mustang trek guide has the full walking itinerary.
The drive between Pokhara and Jomsom is long, but it’s one of the great road journeys of Nepal, through what is often called the deepest gorge in the world, between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna.
| Stop | Why stop |
|---|---|
| Tatopani | Natural hot springs by the river; a soak on the way back is a highlight |
| Rupse Chhahara | A tall waterfall right beside the road |
| Ghasa and Lete | Where the forest gives way to dry mountain country |
| Kalopani | Views of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri and the Annapurnas |
| Tukuche | Old Thakali trading village with a distillery |
| Marpha | Whitewashed lanes, apple orchards, apple brandy and a monastery |
Leave Pokhara early. The gorge is best in morning light, and it’s safer to be off the gravel road before dusk.
Porters aren’t needed on a jeep tour, but your guide and driver will help with bags at each lodge.
Our Upper Mustang jeep tour to Lo Manthang by road is private and priced per person, depending on your group size:
| Groepsgrootte | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Small group, 6–8 travellers | USD 1,025 |
| Family, 4–5 travellers | USD 1,270 |
| Couple, 2–3 travellers | USD 1,550 |
| Solo traveller | USD 2,045 |
Included: lodging and meals on the tour, a licensed guide, the permits (Restricted Area Permit and ACAP) and the ground transport, including the 4WD jeep and driver. The trip page lists everything. Not included: your Nepal visa, international flights, any domestic flights such as Pokhara–Jomsom, travel insurance and tips.
Prefer to walk? See our 14-day Upper Mustang trek from USD 1,285 per person. Want to add Chitwan or Lumbini before or after? We’ll build it with our Nepal car and driver service. Tipping is always optional (see our tipping guide).
Tell us your dates, group size and whether you want Muktinath or Tiji included. We reply within 24 hours with a fixed per-person price. If you’d like a detailed day-by-day itinerary, it costs €100, and the full €100 is deducted from your tour price when you book. There is no obligation.
Op maat door India & Nepal
Vertel ons waar je van houdt en we antwoorden binnen 24 uur met een vaste prijs. Een uitgebreide dag-tot-dag reisroute kost €100, die volledig van de reissom wordt afgetrokken.
Kies een of meer bestemmingen — je kunt India en Nepal vrij combineren.
Zo kunnen we het juiste tempo, verblijf en de juiste activiteiten kiezen.
We antwoorden binnen 24 uur. Nooit spam.
Before you book, run through these eight questions:
If you can answer yes to most of these, your Upper Mustang jeep tour will run smoothly.
Think of an Upper Mustang jeep tour as three drives and two nights at the top.
Up the gorge: Pokhara to Jomsom, with Tatopani and Marpha. Into the kingdom: Muktinath, Kagbeni, Tsarang and Lo Manthang, gaining height slowly. The far north: the Chhoser caves and monasteries on a full day from Lo Manthang, then the long drive home.
Get the acclimatisation right, travel in the dry months, and budget the permit by the day. Then this Upper Mustang jeep tour guide has done its job.
Yes. A dirt road runs from Jomsom through Kagbeni, Chele, Ghami and Tsarang to Lo Manthang, and on to the Korala border. You need a 4WD jeep with a local driver, a restricted-area permit and a licensed guide.
About 10 days from Kathmandu. That allows two nights in Lo Manthang, a morning at Muktinath and nights at lower altitude on the way up to help acclimatisation.
About 4 to 6 hours from Jomsom or Kagbeni in dry weather, for roughly 70 km. After rain or in the monsoon it can take much longer.
About 7 to 9 hours for 160 to 180 km. The road is paved to Beni, then rough gravel and dirt through the Kali Gandaki gorge. The 20-minute morning flight is the alternative.
The Restricted Area Permit is USD 50 per person per day, so 4 to 5 days north of Kagbeni costs about USD 200 to 250. You also need the ACAP permit at NPR 3,000.
Yes. A licensed guide is compulsory in Upper Mustang, and the permit must be arranged through a registered agency, whether you walk or drive.
Yes, more than on the trek, because you gain height fast. Sleep at Kagbeni and Tsarang before Lo Manthang, visit Muktinath and come back down, drink plenty of water and tell your guide about symptoms.
Yes. Muktinath is about an hour by jeep from Jomsom and needs only the ACAP permit. We visit it on the way up, which also helps with acclimatisation.
Korala is a trade crossing between Nepal and China, not open to foreign tourists. Whether you can drive up towards it depends on local security on the day.
April to June and September to November. The monsoon brings landslides on the road below Jomsom, and December to February is freezing, with snow on the passes.
Often yes, for travellers who are fine with long bumpy drives and short walks. The altitude is the main concern, so check with your doctor first.
A four-wheel-drive jeep, typically a Mahindra Scorpio or similar, with a local driver who knows the road. Ordinary cars cannot manage the road above Jomsom.
Our 10-day tour costs USD 1,025 per person in a group of 6 to 8, USD 1,270 for 4 to 5, USD 1,550 for 2 to 3 and USD 2,045 solo, including permits, guide, lodging and meals on the tour and the jeep.
Yes. It’s shorter, and with the daily permit you pay for about 4 to 5 days instead of about 10. Our couple price is USD 1,550 per person, against USD 1,950 for the 14-day trek.
Yes, if you time it right. Tiji is expected on 1 to 3 June 2027 in Lo Manthang. Lodges fill up, so book early and confirm the dates in spring 2027.
Yes. It’s written for the 2026–27 season and reflects the daily permit fee and the solo-permit rule of 2026. Road conditions change after every monsoon, so we check them before you travel.
A good Upper Mustang jeep tour isn’t about how fast you reach Lo Manthang. It’s about arriving well and having time once you’re there.
Nights at lower altitude on the way up? A dry-season date? The permit budgeted by the day? A licensed guide and a proper 4WD? A spare day for the road?
If the answer is yes, you’ll see the walled city, the caves and the monasteries of Lo in comfort. If not, you’ll see the inside of a jeep.
Once you plan around those things, this Upper Mustang jeep tour guide is simple to use. Read our Pokhara travel guide for the days either side, our guide to the best places to visit in Nepal, or see all our Nepal tours.
See the 10-day Upper Mustang jeep tour · Annapurna and Mustang region · Plan my trip
