New Entry Update for Upper Mustang

Upper Mustang is a pure gem of Nepal. Located in the Mustang district, sharing a border with the Tibetan Plateau, it is now accessible to everyone. According to the Government of Nepal, the new entry update for Upper Mustang states foreigners now have to pay only USD 50 per day. In the past, foreigners visiting Upper Mustang had to pay USD 500 for permits. As the new rule is legislated, many can enjoy this beautiful Himalayan village at an affordable price.

Upper Mustang is also known as the “Last Forbidden Kingdom” of Nepal due to its restrictive policies. Filled with culture and nature, it was one of the politically sensitive regions. However, as of the new entry update for Upper Mustang, this remote region is open.

In the past, the Government had imposed many restrictions and strict permit regulations for foreign visitors. As of November 2025, they are getting rid of the long-held mandatory 10-day permit fee of US$500 with a US$50 per person per day fee for foreign visitors.

This Mustang’s New Update is not a subtle change. It creates a whole new opportunity for travellers to plan trips to Upper Mustang. This blog will clarify everything about the new entry rule for Upper Mustang. This blog talks about why it was changed, how it may benefit the tourism industry, and its impact on foreign travelers.

New Entry Update for Upper Mustang: Why Upper Mustang Was Restricted?

The Restricted Status of Upper Mustang

Upper Mustang is one of the most desired places to visit in Nepal by travellers. However, due to its fragile ecosystem and geopolitical sensitivity (located near the Nepal-China/Tibet border), it has led to the implementation of strict rules and regulations.

The traveller must have an Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) and A Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to visit Upper Mustang. These permits are introduced to protect the centuries-old culture and environment of this place.

In the past, to visit Upper Mustang, all travelers required:

• Must have Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) and A Restricted Area Permit (RAP)
• Travel with a Government-registered Nepal-based trekking agency.
• Accompanied by a licensed guide throughout the visit.
• At least two people are allowed.
• Solo foreign travel was illegal and completely restricted.

All the above-mentioned rules were mandatory. These strict rules helped the government to control access, preserve local culture, heritage, and provide the safety of travellers and people living there. Sadly, these strict policies caused the permits to be very expensive and bureaucratically heavy for travellers to visit there.

The Old Permit Rule: US$500 for 10 Days

Before the new update for Upper Mustang Trek, the previous rules required foreigners to strictly pay US$500 for a 10-day. These fees were for a Restricted Area Permit. Whether you stayed for 10 days or not in Upper Mustang, it was compulsory to pay this much of amount. Likewise, if you have to stay for extra days or extend the stay, it used to cost US$50 per extra day. So many travelers were obliged to pay those amounts despite not staying for that long.

These rules were extremely harmful to the tourism industry. Many travellers had to return from the Muktinath Temple or Kagbeni. Due to costly permits, travelers were forced to not go deep into Upper Mustang. Looking at the data from that time, only 3 to 4% of foreign tourists travelled inside Upper Mustang.

Many visitors, tourism stakeholders, and local people raised concerns about these factors because they prevent sectors like tourism and the economy from growing. This fee structure and requirement of special permits have been implemented for many decades.

The New Entry Update for Upper Mustang: US$50 Per Day

What Has Changed as of Mustang’s New Update?

The breaking news is, now foreign visitors have to pay $50 per day only. In the past, it has rigid rules of paying $500 fixed for a 10-day permit. Now, it’s gotten more flexible, and you only have to pay one amount depending on how many physical days you plan to stay in Upper Mustang.

This new entry update for Upper Mustang is made via an amendment to Schedule 12 of the Immigration Regulations, 2051. As of now, visitors won’t need a minimum 10-day stay anymore. They can stay however many days they wish. Just pay for the exact number of days you stay in Upper Mustang, and that will be enough.

Why did the Government amend the New Entry Update for Upper Mustang?

The factors that brought a new entry update for Upper Mustang:

• Boosting Tourism: The old permit fees were expensive. Whether you stayed for 10 days at Upper Mustang or not, paying that much amount was mandatory. This caused a hindrance for many visitors who didn’t have enough time or money either. This Mustang’s new update of pay-as-you-stay rules is more convenient. Hope this new entry Update for Upper Mustang helps to attract more tourists into the restricted region.
• Supporting Local Communities: One of the major income sources of the people living here is tourism. These new rules will bring more visitors. It will automatically help to support more businesses. The income amount of local guides, homestays, teahouses, jeep drivers, restaurants, and other service providers in Mustang.
• Modernizing Policy: The latest updates are also more flexible and align with modern travel trends. By reforming the old permit system into a new, flexible one, it shows a willingness to grow.
• Political & Border Factors: Upper Mustang is located in the proximity of Nepal and Tibet/China. This new entry update of Upper Mustang also increases the cross-border tourism. This is very significant for economic growth.

What Remains Unchanged after Mustang New Update?

The permit costs for Upper Mustang have changed, but the previous restrictions remain. The old rules that are still valid are:

• Mandatory Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to visit Upper Mustang.
• Annapurna Conservation Area Project permit (ACAP) is also compulsory.
• Guides must be government-licensed and Nepali.
• No solo trekking.
• Permits are available only through registered Nepali trekking/tour agencies.
• Only group visits are allowed (with a minimum of two travelers excluding the guide).

In conclusion, costs have become more flexible, but other rules and regulations remain the same.

Implications for Travellers due to the New Upper Mustang Update

Though the changes are small but they highly affect the travellers’ itineraries, planning, budget, and trip design. And the changes are only positive:

A. More Affordable Short Visits

One of the biggest benefits is that you can now plan for short-duration trips as well. In the past, it was compulsory to $500 for 10 days, no less money or day. Now, you can just pay $50 per stay.

To be precise, if you are planning a short Upper Mustang jeep tour of 7 days, it will only cost you $350 (7 × $50). In the old permit system, you had to pay $500 even if you stayed for 7 days.

Likewise, if you have limited time but want to visit Lo Manthang or do a photography trip, you can do it easily for a fair and affordable price. Just pay for the days you stayed.

B. Flexible Itineraries & Better Trip Planning

The new update for Upper Mustang gives freedom to plan and flexible itineraries. You don’t need to stay for a minimum of 10 days; travellers can stay as long as they want.

This helps people to plan more systematic itineraries, like adding rest days for acclimatization, extending the stay, or even exiting earlier without losing on prepaid permit value.

This flexibility comes in very handy if you plan to visit Upper Mustang during the festival season, like the Tiji festival in Lo Manthang. You can set a date of visiting and staying more precisely.

C. Increased Potential for Tourism Growth

This system will be very helpful for the growth of local tourism businesses like homestays, guides, porters, and transport. Flexibility and a cheap price automatically attract more visitors. Moreover, the beauty of Upper Mustang is not justifiable with limited means. So if you are one of the people who had to skip visiting Upper Mustang due to cost, this is your golden opportunity.

As short-duration tourism grows, the regularity of visitors also gets balanced, helping to reduce the crowds. Most importantly, economic growth becomes more sustainable as the income source depends on the traveller’s actual days of stay.

D. Cost Trade-Offs for Long Stays

In the past, visitors staying beyond 10 days had to pay $50 per day. This was very costly to those who were planning for longer days in Upper Mustang. This led visitors to plan their trip very carefully. It was very difficult to plan the itinerary and logistics as you will be abide to the expensive permit cost. Now, the price will be more budget-friendly.

Conclusion

The new entry update for Upper Mustang plays a crucial role. This magical region, where time has completely stopped completely deserves to be explored by all the travel lovers. The lower permit costs motivate more visitors to visit here and open doors for many local businesses.

Change is not all about decreasing the travel cost. It should also be able to conserve the centuries-old beauty, ecology, and cultural heritage, and not affect the local communities with the new system. As this creates an increase in visitors in Upper Mustang, all of us should be responsible: travellers, the government, and local people. A balanced system only helps with the growth; otherwise, it only brings downfall, even if the new rules were meant for good.