Upper Mustang — The Forbidden Kingdom Trek
Mustang, Nepal
Duration
12 days
Max Group
undefined people
Rating
4.8/5
Meets At
About This Expedition
One of the last Himalayan kingdoms closed to the outside world until 1992, Upper Mustang is a high-altitude Tibetan plateau of eroded canyons, ancient cave cities, walled medieval towns and monasteries unchanged for centuries. This restricted-area trek requires a special permit and is one of the most unique journeys on earth.
Local Impact Score
Of every pound you pay, 84p stays in local communities — guides, permits, accommodation and food sourced at origin.
Hover for methodology · With big international operators, less than 40% of your payment reaches local communities.
What this trek actually involves
Total distance
110km (68 miles)
Daily walking
5–7h
Max daily ascent
700m
Highest point
3,840m (Lo Manthang)
Temperature range
−5°C to +30°C
Total nights
9 (3 hotel, 6 teahouse)
Highlights
- Trek through the last Himalayan kingdom closed to outsiders until 1992
- Explore Lo Manthang — a walled medieval city unchanged for 600 years
- Visit Sky Caves carved high into vertical cliff faces
- Walk across a dramatic high-altitude Tibetan plateau landscape
- Ideal trekking season during monsoon when rest of Nepal is wet
Where you'll sleep
3-star hotel · Private bathroom · WiFi · Breakfast included
3-star hotel · Private bathroom · WiFi · Breakfast included
Twin rooms with bedding provided · More basic facilities than Everest/Annapurna teahouses · Shared bathrooms · Traditional Mustangi food
3-star hotel · Private bathroom · WiFi · Breakfast included
Insurance — what you need
Travel insurance is mandatory for all Voyana trips. Your policy must cover:
- Helicopter evacuation to 6,000m (not just 4,000m — most standard policies stop at 4,000m)
- Medical treatment and repatriation
- Trip cancellation and curtailment
- Personal liability
🇬🇧 UK travellers
True Traveller, World Nomads, Battleface
🇺🇸 US travellers
World Nomads, Ripcord, GeoBlue
🇦🇺 Australian travellers
World Nomads, Cover-More, NIB
Cost guide: approximately £60–120 for a 3-week Nepal trek policy.
Why is our price lower?+
G Adventures and Intrepid charge significantly more for similar itineraries. We charge £2,199. Here's why:
- No London or Melbourne office overhead
- No shareholder dividends
- No expensive marketing campaigns
- Our guides are not subcontracted — they're our own team
- We book accommodation directly, not through middlemen
84% of your payment goes directly to local Local communities. With the big operators, less than 38% does.
No payment charged yet — you'll pay on the next step
⏰ Book at least 3 months ahead
Our small expert team guides 2 seasons per year — max 8 per group. Spring and autumn dates fill early.
Travelling with your own group?
Groups of 2 or more — and even solo travellers — can book a private departure. Same trek, same expert guides, just your people.
From £2,250 per person for groups of 6+.
What will my trek actually cost?
Full breakdown — every cost, nothing hidden.
Prices shown are estimates based on typical costs for travellers from Kingdom. Voyana's trek fee is fixed — all other costs vary by timing, airline and personal choice.