Getting around · Mustang
Jeep Tour to Lo Manthang
A 4 to 5 day jeep tour up to Lo Manthang from Jomsom — fast access to Upper Mustang, with permit and guide still required.
A jeep tour to Lo Manthang is the fast way into Upper Mustang: a rough but driveable road now runs the length of the region from Jomsom up to the walled city, so you can reach Lo Manthang in a four-to-five-day return trip instead of the 10-to-14-day walk. You still need the special restricted-area permit, a registered agency and a licensed guide — driving exempts you from none of the rules.
The short answer
Hire a sturdy four-wheel-drive jeep (private is far more comfortable than shared) from Jomsom, drive north through Kagbeni's checkpoint and up the Kali Gandaki valley to Lo Manthang over a long day or two, spend a day or two at the gompas and the nearby Chhoser sky caves, then drive back. It suits travellers short on time or unable to walk for days at altitude. For how it compares with trekking, see Mustang by jeep versus on foot.
A typical jeep itinerary
- Day 1: Pokhara to Jomsom (flight or drive), continue by jeep to Kagbeni or Chele.
- Day 2: Drive north through Ghami and Tsarang to Lo Manthang.
- Day 3: Explore Lo Manthang's royal palace and gompas; day trip to the Chhoser caves.
- Day 4: Drive back down toward Kagbeni and Jomsom, optionally via Ghar Gompa.
- Day 5: Jomsom back to Pokhara, with a buffer for the weather-prone flight.
What to know before you book
- Permit still required: the special permit, a guide and an agency are mandatory however you travel — see the Upper Mustang permit and cost guide.
- The road is rough: expect dust, bumps, river crossings and switchbacks; afternoons bring strong valley wind.
- Altitude still applies: driving up fast gives less time to acclimatise to Lo Manthang's 3,840m, so go slow on activity and read up on altitude sickness in Nepal.
- Comfort costs more: a private jeep is pricier than a shared seat but far more pleasant over the long, bumpy days.
Driving or walking?
A jeep gets you to the headline sights fast, but you trade the quiet villages, the gradual acclimatisation and the immersion of the walk. Many travellers split the difference — driving one direction and walking the other. For the full set of options, start with the Upper Mustang trekking guide, and if you would rather walk, see the day-by-day Upper Mustang trek itinerary. For getting to Mustang in the first place and moving around the country, our getting around Nepal guide covers flights, jeeps and roads.
However you reach it, Lo Manthang rewards the journey: a walled medieval capital of rammed earth, painted gompas and five-hundred-year-old murals, set in one of the most striking deserts in the Himalaya.
Frequently asked questions
Can you drive to Lo Manthang?+
Yes. A rough unpaved road now runs the length of Mustang from Jomsom up to Lo Manthang and beyond toward the Tibetan border. Sturdy four-wheel-drive jeeps make the journey daily in season, so you can reach the walled city without walking the full route, though you still need the restricted-area permit and a guide.
How long is a jeep tour to Lo Manthang?+
A typical jeep tour runs four to five days return from Jomsom, allowing time to reach Lo Manthang, spend a day or two visiting its gompas and the Chhoser sky caves, and drive back. It is much faster than the 10 to 14 day walk, though the road is rough and the days can feel long.
Do you still need a permit for a Lo Manthang jeep tour?+
Yes. The restricted-area rules apply regardless of how you travel, so a jeep tour into Upper Mustang still needs the special permit (around US$500 for ten days), a registered agency and a licensed guide, on top of the standard Annapurna permit. Driving does not exempt you from any of these.
Is the jeep ride to Lo Manthang uncomfortable?+
It can be. The road is unpaved, dusty and bumpy, with river crossings, steep switchbacks and a fierce afternoon wind in the Kali Gandaki. Jeeps seat several passengers, so a private vehicle is more comfortable than a shared one. The scenery, though, is spectacular the whole way.
