Upper Mustang 4WD Jeep Tour

Upper Mustang 4WD Jeep Tour is designed to provide visitors with a scenic experience in the Mustang region of Nepal. Upper Mustang, formerly the isolated kingdom of Lo, is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the remote Mustang of Nepal. It is widely admired for its pristine and unspoiled landscapes, arid valleys and cultural and traditional values of Thakalis and Tibetan people residing in the Upper Mustang.

Upper Mustang is located in a dry region of Nepal due to the trans-Himalayan landscapes. One of the major attractions of this place is the stunning desert environment and cliff-faced scenery. The mountain vistas, Tibetan culture and traditions, scenic Jeep trip and beautiful mountain valleys are best explored in the Upper Mustang 4WD Jeep tour.

The major beauty of this part of Nepal is the human factor. The civilization that originally belonged to the Tibetans and practices that are still relevant to consider a boon of old times is very astonishing. Upper Mustang residents rely on trade, tourism, and animal husbandry for a living. There was no interaction from the outside world because of the seclusion. As a result, they were able to maintain their old traditions and culture.

This Upper Mustang and Kaligandaki Valley Jeep driving tour is a ton of fun and a lifetime experience. It is designed for the people who want to travel to this magnificent land of the mustang to learn about the wonders of the language, the fascinating culture, and the customs that are virtually entirely Tibetan.

Many of the historic salt caravans travelled via Mustang, which once served as a key route for navigating the Himalayas between Tibet and Nepal. On this trip, you will take a 4x4 drive to this region to explore its amazing architecture, linguistic diversity, and fascinating culture and traditions, which have deep-rooted Tibetan influence.

During this trip, you can explore some other attractions such as Muktinath temple, Dhumba Lake, Thakali cuisine, local delicacies and the incredible life of people.

Upper Mustang Jeep Tour Facts

Where is Upper Mustang?

Upper Mustang is situated in the Tibetan Plateau. In the rain shadow region of the Himalayas, Upper Mustang is a dry river valley located close to the Annapurna Circuit. This valley used to be a prohibited kingdom within Nepal. It established its own tradition and culture, which is quite similar to Tibetan culture, as a result of years of isolation from the outside world. It is one of the most beautiful areas in the trans-Himalayan zone of Nepal. There are numerous attractions that offer a wide range of experiences and allows you to witness the mindblowing vistas, culture and traditions and the lifestyle that still has no touch of modernity. 

History and Culture of Upper Mustang

With an average elevation of 4,000 meters, Upper Mustang is part of the Tibetan plateau both geologically and culturally and is situated north of Annapurna. The valleys are dry and dusty, and there are numerous cave houses perched high up on the cliffs among colorful rock formations. Upper Mustang is one of the few locations left where one may still witness unaltered Tibetan culture because it was the first area to allow trekking activities in 1992, and it still receives only a small fraction of visitors that enter Nepal each year. 

Mustang used to be a distant, largely independent kingdom of Lo, having Lo Manthang as its capital. Previously a part of Tibet, Upper Mustang was traversed by salt caravans traveling through the Himalayas into Nepal. The royal ancestry of the Upper Mustang can be traced back to the 13th century when it is believed to have become a sovereign kingdom. During the 1960s, Mustang served as a stronghold place for the Tibetan Khampa rebels resisting the Chinese army. That movement is believed to have some influence on making the Upper Mustang a restricted area.

Ancient Tibetan Buddhism

The inhabitants of the Upper Mustang refer to themselves as ‘Lowa’. In Tibetan, ‘Lo’ is the word for ‘north’, and ‘Lowa’ is the term for the inhabitants of Tibet. They use a variety of the Tibetan language known as ‘loba’ as their primary language. The lowa people practice Tibetan Buddhism.

Lower Mustang's culture has a stronger affinity towards Tamang culture. The majority Tibeto-Burman ethnic group in Nepal is thought to be the Tamang people. Lower Mustang is primarily inhabited by Thakalis. The ‘Thak Khola’ region, a chain of valleys along the Kaligandaki river, is where Lower Mustang first appeared.

Upper Mustang is also known as ‘The Forbidden Kingdom', and Lo Manthang, the former capital, is referred to as ‘The Ancient Walled City’. For both domestic and foreign tourists, Upper Mustang has become a very popular location. The Upper Mustang’s stunning terrain and distinctive culture combine to make it a very favourable and incredibly admired tourist destination in Nepal.

Major Driving Attractions

• Try Bungee Jump in Kushma (228 m.) on the way to Tatopani.

• Explore the natural hot spring in Tatopani.

• Naturally enriched Rupse Waterfall.

• Try Tukuche Thakali Khana.

• Dhumba Lake of Mustang.

• Muktinath Temple in a return trip.

Lo Manthang

The capital of Upper Mustang and a remote Tibetan town, Lo Manthang (3,800 m), was established in 1380.  During Nepal's monarchical era, the city was the only autonomous kingdom within the Nepalese territory. However, the democratic country emerged as a part of the sovereign state and is currently governed by the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. Because the settlement is enclosed by the wall, Lo Manthang is also referred to as an Upper Mustang walled city. An estimated 900 Lobas people live in the area. The Tibetan border is around 20 kilometers to Korala. By using this route from Tibet, local people still trade in this area.

The walls surrounding Lo Manthang were constructed in the about 15th century, during the rule of Amae Pal, the first monarch of the Mustang dynasty. The walls were constructed completely of clay, and according to village elders, Yaks were employed to crush the wall as it was being erected. The language and cultural customs of this region, known in Tibetan as ‘Lo’, are identical to those of Tibetans. The region accepted the royalty and administrative system prior to Nepal becoming a federal republic state; Jigme Dorje Palwar Bista was the last king of the Lo Manthang region. More than a dozen caverns of significant historical and archaeological significance have been found in the area of Upper Mustang.

Visitors come to Lo Manthang and Upper Mustang to study the ancient Buddhist civilizations, monasteries that date back thousands of years, cultures, peoples, and stunning landscapes. Also, the region is stunning as a high-altitude desert with a small patch of greenery. The houses in the area are all constructed of mud brick. There are many other attractions to explore in the Upper Mustang of Nepal. Lo Manthang and Upper Mustang are the restricted areas.

Kagbeni

In the valley of the Kali Gandaki River, Kagbeni, a Tibetan town, serves as the lone gateway to the upper Mustang. It is also the oldest community in the Himalayas and is known for incredible cultural spectrums. Kagbeni is located in the Varagung Muktikshetra rural municipality of the Mustang district in western Nepal. It has a total area of 58.3 sq. Km and is located at an elevation of 2,804 meters above sea level. Despite being a small community, it has fame and acclaim due to its natural beauty, culture, traditions, and mind-blowing natural landscapes.

The windswept deserts of the upper Himalayas have a certain fascination. Nothing in this community is excessive; there are no frills or fluff to hide behind when you enter Kagbeni. The stark wilderness that Kagbeni contains strikes with all its blatant splendour, leaving you spellbound in a desire to get into the depth of what this beautiful mountain village has to offer.

Marpha

The village of Marpha is located in the Mustang District, which is a part of the Dhaulagiri Zone's Western Development Region of Nepal. The Mustang village of Marpha is well known for its apple crop and is located 2,680 meters above sea level. In addition to producing apples and wine, this area is well known for its Thakali population, its distinctive style of building, and its culture and traditions. Since Tibetan refugees have lived in Marpha for a considerable amount of time, Tibetan is one of the major languages spoken here.

Marpha, which is surrounded by mountains, is distinguished by its lovely, wide-roofed homes. Mural painting on the exterior of houses gives them an attractive appearance. Apple orchards cover the settlement's desert-like landscape. The Samten Choling Gumba, which is regarded as the Marpha people's cultural legacy, is located at the village's highest point. Additionally, this village is well-known for its photography and videography. The visibility of the surrounding lands, which are encircled by mountain ranges, is astounding on clear days.

What to expect from the Upper Mustang 4WD Jeep Tour? 

Sky caves, canyons, and other stunning and captivating vistas of great mountains like Dhaulagiri and Annapurna make the experience as stunning as the place itself is. There are several locations in Nepal and along the Hindu Kush Himalayan range that offer similarly stunning natural scenery, but Upper Mustang stands out because of the distinct religion, culture, and history connected to Tibet. The incredible mountain lifestyle that is purely isolated from the modern western touch and aboriginal to the people of Mustang is one of the best things that you can explore in the Upper Mustang region of Nepal. 

Some of the major things that you can do in the Upper Mustang region of Nepal are exploring diverse landscapes, visiting monasteries, interacting with the locals and getting insights into the lifestyle that still dates back to the old times. Furthermore, the lifestyle is unique and very different from other parts of the world. In the conservation efforts to protect the cultural and historical dimension of this ancient Kingdom, the Upper Mustang area is put on a restricted area by the government of Nepal. To enter the Upper Mustang of Nepal, every foreign national needs to obtain a special restricted area permit and must follow the rules and regulations as instructed by the liaison. 

The cultural setting of the Upper Mustang is a singular fusion of an arid alpine terrain with innovative irrigation systems and clay construction. Strong winds blowing daily in prayer flags, bright green barley fields fenced with pebble walls, a chromatic harmony between earthen architecture and nearby red cliffs, all of these elements combine to create an incredible cultural landscape that is best explored in this Upper Mustang 4WD Jeep tour. However, Upper Mustang Trek is also a wonderful option to explore the incredible landscapes of Nepal.