Quick Overview of Upper Mustang Permit:
- Permit Required: Restricted Area Permit (RAP), mandatory for all foreign trekkers
- Mustang Restricted Fee: USD 50 per person per day (changed from the old USD 500 flat fee)
- Also Required: ACAP permit (NPR 3,000 / USD 23 for foreigners)
- Who Issues It: Department of Immigration, Nepal, through registered trekking agencies only
- New in 2026: Solo trekkers can now enter; the two-person minimum rule is officially removed
Picture a landscape that looks like Mars borrowed a monastery. Ancient whitewashed walls rise from a high-altitude desert plateau. Wind-carved cliffs hide caves used by monks for centuries. Ahead, the walled city of Lo Manthang stands exactly as it did in the fourteenth century. This is Upper Mustang, and it remains one of the few places in the world where you need a government permit just to walk its streets.
The Upper Mustang permit, formally called the Restricted Area Permit, or RAP, changed significantly in 2026. The old flat-fee system that charged every trekker USD 500 regardless of how many days they spent inside the restricted zone is gone. Nepal now charges USD 50 per person per day, making shorter visits genuinely affordable for the first time in decades. The two-person minimum rule that forced solo trekkers to pay for ghost permits was also abolished in March 2026.
This guide covers the complete, current picture: what the special permit Mustang involves, exactly how much the Mustang restricted fee costs in 2026, how to apply through a registered agency, what the rules mean in practice, and what competitors are still getting wrong about this permit.
What exactly is the Upper Mustang Permit?
The Upper Mustang Permit is the formally named “Restricted Area Permit (RAP)”. It’s an authorization issued by the Government of Nepal, allowing foreigners legal passage into northern Mustang, which refers to everything north of the Kagbeni village all the way to the border with Tibet at Korala Pass.
This permit can only be purchased through an authorized Nepali trekking agent; individual trekkers cannot apply directly.
What Is the Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit?
Three Reasons Why Upper Mustang Is a Restricted Region Upper Mustang was deemed a restricted area for three main reasons: First, Upper Mustang has a shared and politically sensitive land border with Tibet (China), and the Korala Pass is one of Nepal’s only functioning crossings with China. As a result, the government needs to have eyes on who is entering and moving through the area. Second, the region has somehow preserved a startlingly intact living culture of Tibetan Buddhism-including monasteries, sky caves, and rituals and languages-that has survived unchanged for more than 600 years, and any unchecked tourism could destroy that in one generation. Third, the landscape is a vulnerable, high-altitude desert ecosystem that is much less able to withstand heavy human activity than the verdant foothills and valleys of Nepal.
The permit mechanism works to mitigate all three issues.
It funds checkpoint services, caps the number of people entering each year at a level that is considered sustainable, and ensures that every trekker travels with a certified Nepali guide well-versed in the nuances of both the area’s delicate culture and ecosystem. The Upper Mustang Permit applies to everyone: Everyone except for Nepali citizens needs to acquire the Upper Mustang RAP before heading to northern Mustang. This includes citizens from all the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Afghanistan).
Nepali citizens simply need their normal national identification to travel there. The permit is specifically for entry into the northern section of the Mustang district, beginning in Kagbeni and leading through villages like Chele, Syangboche, Ghami, Tsarang, and ending at the former capital city, Lo Manthang. A single permit covers your travel across all of the areas defined as the restricted region, provided the date specified on your permit reflects the exact days you spend within it.
For broader context on Nepal’s trekking permit landscape, our Mustang trekking guides cover everything from Lower Mustang to the road trip routes and cultural highlights across the entire Mustang region. You can also compare Nepal’s different permit systems through our complete Nepal travel blogs.
Why the Restricted Area Permit Exists: A Brief History
Upper Mustang remained completely shut off to foreign travelers until 1992. When Nepal first decided to open it up, they arbitrarily set a ten-day permit for $700 (a deliberately high rate meant to scare off tourists). Then it dropped to $500 per ten days for what seemed like decades, while a two-person minimum was established to prevent the more whimsical, spur-of-the-moment trips.
March 2026 will mark the biggest reform to the Upper Mustang permit system in more than three decades. A transition from a flat, minimum stay rate to a day rate will surely help, as it acknowledges that the previous structure unfairly punished shorter stays while failing to preserve the culture. A traveler in Lo Manthang for five days should not pay as much as one traversing the entire circuit over the course of twelve days.
Pro Tip: The permit fee is not refundable once issued. If you shorten your itinerary after the permit has been processed, unused days are not reimbursed. Finalise your exact itinerary before submitting the application through your agency.
How Much Is the Mustang Permit? Complete Cost Breakdown for 2026
The most commonly asked question in Mustang, the one which you most need to know if you are on a budget: Just how much is Mustang going to cost you? It depends greatly on where you are coming from, how long you are going for, and the permits you have to layer together. The 2026 Mustang RAP fee for foreign nationalities is US $50 per day for each day you spend in the Restricted Area, which is north of Kagbeni.
With the new system, there is no minimum number of days you need to stay there – you pay the fee for each day that you are physically in the region.
For someone going for four days, you would be paying $200. For a 10-day trip, $500. For a 15-day trip, $750.
SAARC nationals pay the same USD 50 per person per day rate under the 2026 regulations. This represents a significant change from the previous system, which offered SAARC citizens a reduced rate. Children under ten years of age are exempt from RAP fees entirely.
Payment for the RAP must be made in USD cash or by bank transfer in USD. Your registered trekking agency handles the payment submission to the Department of Immigration on your behalf. Most agencies accept USD cash, bank transfers, or credit card payments with a small processing surcharge.
In addition to the RAP, Upper Mustang trekkers require two further permits:
ACAP Permit (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit): Upper Mustang lies within the Annapurna Conservation Area’s southern and border zones. The standard ACAP permit, NPR 3,000 (approximately USD 23), for foreign nationals is required for entry into the lower sections of the route, including Jomsom, Kagbeni, and the Kali Gandaki Gorge area. Our complete Annapurna region guide explains the full ACAP framework, including how to obtain it in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
TIMS Card (Trekkers’ Information Management System): A TIMS card is technically listed as a requirement for many trekking agencies processing Upper Mustang permits. The current cost is approximately USD 20 for foreign nationals. Note that TIMS is no longer enforced at Annapurna checkpoints for standard routes, but the Department of Immigration may request it as part of the RAP application documentation. Confirm the current requirement with your agency at the time of booking.
Total Mustang cost for permits only (10-day trek, 2026):
- RAP: USD 500 (10 days x USD 50)
- ACAP: USD 23 (one-time)
- TIMS: USD 20 (if required)
- Total permits: approximately USD 543 per person
Beyond permits, full Upper Mustang package costs range from USD 1,500 to USD 4,000 or more per person, covering guide fees (approximately USD 20 to USD 30 per guide per day), accommodation, meals, transportation to and from Jomsom, and agency service fees. Jeep-based tours with shorter permit durations now represent a genuine value option under the per-day model.
What Changed in 2026: The Two Most Important Updates
Two landmark changes transformed Upper Mustang’s accessibility in 2026, and understanding them is essential for planning any trip to this region. Most competitor websites are either unaware of these changes or describe them incorrectly.
Change 1: Flat Fee to Per-Day Pricing
Under the old system, the minimum charge for the Upper Mustang restricted area permit was USD 500 for ten days, a fixed, non-negotiable flat fee regardless of how many days you actually spent inside the restricted zone. A trekker spending five days paid the same as someone spending ten. A jeep tourist making a three-day cultural visit paid the same as a long-distance trekker.
As of 2026, Nepal abolished the flat fee entirely. The new structure charges USD 50 per person per day, calculated only for the days physically spent north of Kagbeni. This single change has fundamentally altered the calculus for certain trip types:
A 5-day photography trip to Lo Manthang now costs USD 250 instead of USD 500. A 3-day jeep tour for the Tiji Festival (held annually in Lo Manthang) costs USD 150 instead of USD 500. A 7-day trekking extension from the Annapurna Circuit now costs USD 350 instead of USD 500. Only trekkers on 10-day itineraries pay the same as before; anyone on a shorter visit benefits directly from the new structure.
Change 2: Solo Trekker Restriction Lifted
From the opening of Upper Mustang to foreigners in 1992 until March 22, 2026, a minimum group size of two foreign nationals was required to obtain a single RAP permit. Solo trekkers faced two options: find another trekker to join their application, or pay for a “ghost permit”, a second permit issued under a fabricated name, costing an additional USD 500 on top of their own fees. The total cost for a solo 10-day trek was thus USD 1,000 in RAP fees alone.
The Department of Immigration Nepal officially ended the two-person minimum requirement on 22 March 2026. Individual trekkers can now obtain a RAP permit for Upper Mustang provided they are accompanied by a licensed trekking guide and book through a registered trekking agency. The guide requirement remains non-negotiable; self-guided independent trekking is still prohibited but the ghost permit workaround is now entirely unnecessary.
This reform was driven largely by sustained advocacy from the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), which recognised that the old rule was generating administrative fraud (ghost permits) rather than serving its intended protective purpose.
For solo trekkers planning their first Nepal adventure, our guide on how to find a female trekking guide in Nepal provides excellent resources for connecting with certified, trustworthy licensed guides for the Mustang region.
Pro Tip: Even though you can now trek Upper Mustang solo (with a guide), the per-day fee is the same for individuals as for groups. Joining a small group trek can reduce your total trip cost significantly by splitting the guide fees and transportation costs across multiple people.
Where and How to Get the Special Permit for Mustang
The special permit Mustang application process is more complex than standard Nepal trekking permits because the RAP cannot be obtained independently. Here is the precise step-by-step process for 2026.
The RAP is issued exclusively by the Department of Immigration Nepal, with offices in Kathmandu (Kalikasthan, Dillibazar) and Pokhara. However, individual trekkers cannot walk into these offices and apply themselves. All applications must be submitted through a registered Nepali trekking agency that holds a Nepal Rastra Bank-approved USD bank account and is listed with TAAN (Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal) or the Nepal Tourism Board’s registered operator list.
There are five clear steps to obtaining your Upper Mustang permit:
Step 1: Select a registered trekking agency. Choose an agency registered with the Nepal Tourism Board and TAAN. Verify their registration number through the NTB or TAAN website. Your agency handles all permit logistics and serves as the legal conduit between you and the Department of Immigration.
Step 2: Finalise your itinerary. The RAP is valid for exactly the number of days specified in your approved itinerary. Since unused days are not refunded, your entry and exit dates from Kagbeni must be accurately planned before the application is submitted. Build one to two buffer days into your itinerary for weather or trail delays.
Step 3: Prepare your documents. Gather the following before your agency begins the application:
- Original passport with a minimum of six months’ validity beyond your Nepal entry date
- Valid Nepal tourist visa
- Two passport-sized photographs (printed) plus a scanned digital copy of your passport photo page
- Travel insurance documentation (recommended, may be required)
- Completed agency application form with your trek itinerary, emergency contact details, and licensed guide’s information
Step 4: Submit and pay. Your agency submits the completed application and required documents to the Department of Immigration. Payment in USD cash or bank transfer accompanies the submission. Processing typically takes three to seven working days. The online system introduced in late 2025 and active throughout 2026 allows your agency to initiate this process before you arrive in Nepal, a genuine improvement for trekkers on tight schedules.
Step 5: Collect your permit and carry it at all times. The permit is issued as a printed document with your photograph, itinerary dates, and entry/exit details. Your agency collects it from the Department of Immigration on your behalf. Verify all details, name, passport number, dates, and route before leaving your agency’s office. Carry the original at all times; a checkpoint official at Kagbeni will verify it on entry, and officials at additional checkpoints through Chele, Ghami, and Lo Manthang may check it along the route.
Pro Tip: Apply for your RAP at least one week before your planned entry into Upper Mustang. During peak season (March to May and September to November), processing can slow as agencies handle large volumes of applications simultaneously. Your agency in Pokhara is typically faster to process than Kathmandu offices for this permit.
What Are the Mustang Rules Every Trekker Must Follow?
The Mustang RAP comes with a specific set of regulations governing how you behave inside the restricted zone. These are not suggestions — they are legally enforceable requirements that rangers and checkpoint officials take seriously.
Understanding the Mustang rules before you arrive prevents misunderstandings at checkpoints and ensures you contribute positively to the cultural preservation the permit system exists to support.
Guide Requirement and Agency Accountability
All foreigners trekking or traveling through Upper Mustang require an authorized guide. No trekking without a guide is permitted in the Restricted Area. Your guide will require an up-to-date government-issued trekking permit and will appear on your RAP form.
The same guide can take up to 7 trekkers at once.
This rule isn’t just a matter of paperwork, however. Unlike the Annapurna main circuit, there are few trails here with distinct markers, conditions can change suddenly at altitude in this high desert, and due to the proximity to the border, it is vital that foreigners can be accounted for on the trails. The guide is the key to unlocking this remote culture, too. Without your guide, you are missing the stories of the monasteries and sky caves, not to mention the inhabitants of the ancient kingdom of Lo Manthang.
Border Zone Regulations
Upper Mustang has a sensitive border with Tibet. The Korala Pass is off-limits to trekkers, who are strictly forbidden to enter Tibetan territory. The area surrounding the border is kept under surveillance. Trekkers who get too close to or cross the border without the proper documentation will have their permits revoked, incur heavy fines, be deported, and may be banned from receiving any Nepal trekking permits in the future.
The taking of photographs is supposed to be limited to border structures, military bases, or checkpoints. You should check with your guide if you wish to photograph anything in border areas. Within Lo Manthang and in neighboring villages, pictures of religious activities, festivals, and monasteries may need prior permission from the caretakers of the monastery and village elders.
Cultural Respect and Conservation
The Monasteries, gompas, and chortens in Upper Mustang are worship places, and they should not be treated as tourist spots. When entering a gompa, please make sure to take your shoes off. You must also walk counterclockwise around chortens and mani walls. Never touch or relocate any religious items in the monasteries.
The dumping of rubbish is strictly against the law in the entire restricted zone. The delicate desert ecosystem has no garbage disposal facilities other than the ones operated by the communities in the area. Be sure to take away all non-decomposable waste created during the expedition. Several guesthouses in Lo Manthang have recently introduced a waste disposal programme; however, it is still necessary for trekkers to help.
Honor the boundaries of private property in villages. Lo Manthang is a living and breathing community with around 150 families living in it. The locals like to welcome visitors but if they want to visit Lo Manthang, they have to be mindful of their actions. Always ask someone before entering a private compound and follow directions on how to behave in local neighbourhoods.
Permit Validity Strict Enforcement
The RAP is effective for the dates specified on the document. Trekkers must exit the restricted site before midnight on the last date of their permit. Penalties will be charged to trekkers for the days overstayed, and the penalties are retroactively implemented to the days exceeding the valid duration of the permit. The penalties are way higher in comparison to the typical rate of USD 50 per day.
In case a trekker wishes to prolong the time spent in the limited zone because of climatic conditions, illness, or the state of the trail, the trekker can contact the tour agency to get an extension of their RAP. The extension is subject to the above-mentioned fee rate, which is the same as the regular fee.
Lower Mustang vs. Upper Mustang: Do You Need the Special Permit?
A common confusion point for travellers planning a Mustang trip is understanding exactly where the restricted zone begins and what permits apply to which parts of the route.
Lower Mustang refers to the area south of Kagbeni village, including Jomsom (the gateway town and domestic airport), Marpha, Tukuche, Larjung, Ghasa, and the dramatic section of the Kali Gandaki Gorge. Lower Mustang is not a restricted area. You can travel here with only an ACAP permit and without the RAP. Independent trekking without a guide is also permitted in Lower Mustang, though hiring a guide adds significant cultural value.
Lower Mustang sits on the main Annapurna Circuit route and is one of Nepal’s most visited trekking corridors. Our Annapurna Circuit trekking guide covers the full route, including the Lower Mustang section through the Kali Gandaki.
Upper Mustang begins at Kagbeni and extends northward. This is where the RAP checkpoint is stationed and where the special permit Mustang becomes legally required. The visible boundary is the stone archway at Kagbeni, where rangers verify documents before allowing passage northward.
The distinction matters for planning and budgeting. If you want the dramatic desert landscape and cultural richness of Mustang but cannot stretch to the RAP cost, Lower Mustang via Marpha and Jomsom delivers a genuine taste of the region’s character at standard permit rates.
For travellers who want the complete picture of the Mustang region — including the road journey, village life, and Tibetan cultural influence- our Mustang road trip guide and Mustang itinerary planning resource cover both zones comprehensively.
Pro Tip: Combining Lower and Upper Mustang in one trip is the most efficient way to experience the full diversity of the region. Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom, explore Lower Mustang for a day or two, then enter Upper Mustang at Kagbeni. Exit via jeep back to Jomsom and fly out. Total trip of 8 to 12 days covers both zones thoroughly.
What Do the Mustang Costs Look Like for Different Trip Types?
Understanding the full Mustang cost picture, not just the permit fee but the total trip investment, helps you budget realistically. The new per-day RAP structure has genuinely changed which trip types offer the best value.
Scenario 1: 5-Day Jeep Cultural Tour (Lo Manthang focus)
- RAP: 5 days x USD 50 = USD 250
- ACAP: USD 23
- Guide fees (5 days): approximately USD 125
- Jeep hire (Jomsom to Lo Manthang return): approximately USD 200 to 300
- Accommodation and meals (5 days): approximately USD 100 to 150
- Domestic flight from Pokhara to Jomsom return: approximately USD 180
- Estimated total: USD 900 to 1,100 per person
Scenario 2: 10-Day Trekking Itinerary
- RAP: 10 days x USD 50 = USD 500
- ACAP: USD 23
- Guide fees (10 days): approximately USD 250 to 300
- Porter fees (optional): approximately USD 150
- Accommodation and meals (10 days): approximately USD 200 to 300
- Domestic flights from Pokhara to Jomsom: approximately USD 180
- Estimated total: USD 1,300 to 1,500 per person (independent arrangement)
- Via package agency: USD 1,800 to 2,500 per person
Scenario 3: Tiji Festival Trip (8 Days, May)
- RAP: 7 days inside restricted zone x USD 50 = USD 350
- ACAP: USD 23
- Guide fees (8 days): approximately USD 200
- Accommodation and meals: approximately USD 200
- Domestic flights: approximately USD 180
- Estimated total: USD 1,000 to 1,200 per person
For Mount Everest cost comparison, our Everest region guides provide a detailed breakdown of permits, logistics, and total trip costs for Nepal’s other major trekking zones.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Upper Mustang Permit
How much is the Mustang permit?
The Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit (RAP) costs USD 50 per person per day for all foreign nationals. A 10-day trek costs USD 500 in RAP fees. You also need an ACAP permit (USD 23) and potentially a TIMS card (USD 20). Total permit costs for a 10-day trek are approximately USD 543 per person.
Can solo trekkers get the Upper Mustang permit?
Yes, as of March 22, 2026. The previous two-person minimum rule was officially removed. Solo trekkers can now obtain the RAP independently, provided they book through a registered trekking agency and are accompanied by a licensed guide at all times.
Can I get the Upper Mustang permit in Pokhara?
Yes. The Department of Immigration has offices in both Kathmandu and Pokhara. Your registered trekking agency submits the application and processes the permit at whichever office they work with. Pokhara processing is often faster given the city’s position as the primary gateway to the Mustang region.
Is the Mustang RAP refundable if I cancel?
No. The RAP is non-refundable once issued. Unused days under the per-day structure are also non-refundable. Finalise your itinerary carefully before submission.
Can I extend my Upper Mustang permit if I need more time?
Yes, through your registered trekking agency. Extensions are processed at the Department of Immigration and charged at the standard USD 50 per day rate. You cannot extend the permit independently at a trail checkpoint.
Does the RAP cover jeep tours as well as trekking?
Yes. The Restricted Area Permit covers entry into the Upper Mustang restricted zone regardless of your mode of travel on foot, by jeep, or by motorbike. The per-day fee applies equally to all travel modes.
You can find related Himalayan travel content, including information on Langtang trekking permits and Kathmandu heritage tours, through our complete guide library at AskMeNepal.
Your Upper Mustang Permit Is the Door to Nepal’s Greatest Secret
The Upper Mustang permit is the most significant paperwork you will process for any Nepal trek, not because it is the most complicated, but because what it opens is so extraordinary. Lo Manthang, the ancient walled capital of the Kingdom of Lo, looks today much as it did six hundred years ago. The Thubchen Gompa’s fourteenth-century frescoes have survived conquest, earthquake, and time. The Tiji Festival still fills the palace square with masked dancers chasing demons from the valley each May.
You cannot reach any of it without the RAP. And now, in 2026, you can reach it for less money than ever before, and for the first time, you can go alone.
Plan carefully. Choose a registered agency with a proven track record. Hire your licensed guide before you finalise your itinerary. And go. Upper Mustang rewards the trekker who prepared properly with an experience that no other place in the Himalayan world can replicate.
Explore all our Mustang guides for route planning, itinerary options, cultural deep dives, and travel tips across both Lower and Upper Mustang. Nepal’s Forbidden Kingdom is waiting and your permit is the key.
