Upper Mustang 6-Day Tour: A Review of Hotels & Included Meals

So, you’re considering that trip to Upper Mustang from Pokhara, and you want to know what you’re actually getting for your money, right? The landscapes, they speak for themselves in pictures, yet what about that less talked about stuff – the hotels you’ll sleep in and the meals that’ll fuel your adventures? This review focuses squarely on those very elements, those included hotels and those included meals, from my Upper Mustang 6-day tour. Was the dal bhat filling enough? Was the bed comfy after a full day hiking? Read on, right, I’ve got some real details to share, more or less, so you know exactly what to expect.

The Itinerary Overview: Six Days of Mustang Magic

Basically, that 6-day Upper Mustang tour from Pokhara packs quite a punch. That, is that you spend a good chunk of your time driving, it’s almost inevitable given the distances and terrain. Day one is almost always travel from Pokhara to Jomsom, a rather scenic yet bumpy ride. Then the real adventure begins, moving into the Upper Mustang region with visits to places like Kagbeni, Muktinath, and Lo Manthang. Those days, those ones involve exploring ancient monasteries, admiring that unique desert landscape, and immersing yourself in that culture of the local people. Even if the itinerary sounds action-packed, keep in mind that acclimatization is seriously key, so things are spaced out reasonably. This tour really isn’t just about reaching a destination; it’s a deep immersion in a completely other world, very other world to the place from which you came from, you.

Hotel Stays: Nights in the Desert Kingdom

Speaking of nights, when you’re in Upper Mustang, don’t go expecting luxury resorts, not at all! Hotel standards, they’re generally more on the rustic, charming side, even though improvements are happening slowly. In Jomsom, that first night tends to be in something like a decent guesthouse. So, those rooms usually have twin beds, they’re almost always very basic, plus an attached bathroom with a hot shower, it might be amazing, depending on the altitude you are at. Moving further into Mustang, like in Kagbeni or Lo Manthang, the accommodations, those can be even more straightforward. Often, they’re family-run guesthouses, which, honestly, is part of that appeal! Expect simple, clean rooms, basically with just the bare essentials. Electric blankets, they can be a serious bonus because the evenings definitely get chilly. Remember that power, it can be erratic, more or less, so charge those devices whenever you get the chance, seriously.

Overall, that experience is less about opulent comfort and way more about experiencing the genuine warmth and that hospitality of that local culture, that local culture you came to see. Keep in mind that what they offer may be much better or way more simpler that what you know.

Specific Hotel Highlights (or Lowlights)

Now, I won’t name specific hotels, yet I can offer a few points based on my stays, for instance. One place in Kagbeni, I recall, had a very cute courtyard with apple trees – plus that made for a memorable morning chilling and chatting with some other travellers. The room itself was pretty standard, it could be pretty standard to other places, yet that atmosphere definitely made up for it. In Lo Manthang, the hotel that I chose, the guesthouse, too, had breathtaking views of the walled city. So, those views definitely came at a price – the plumbing was a tad temperamental, that’s for sure! What’s interesting to note, is that standards change all that time, that all that time is often the only way I can find, as new places appear, I assume and older places get improved. That approach, it’s best to temper those expectations and think of that accommodation like a place to recharge so you can do what you really want, actually you really came to Upper Mustang for, so you can keep exploring, of course!

Fueling Up: The Included Meals Experience

Okay, let’s speak about those meals. Typically, those “Upper Mustang 6-Day Tour with Meals Hotels” packages will include breakfast, dinner, and maybe even lunch at that guesthouse or the local restaurant, you might be surprised at that. Forget elaborate menus; you’ll find those staple Nepali foods on the meal times such as dal bhat (lentil soup, rice, and vegetables), momos (dumplings), noodles, and maybe a bit of bread with some jam for the breakfast time, you know. Now, dal bhat, it’s a serious survivor food out there. What I discovered is that variations will appear from place to place – some dal is creamy and luscious; some can be very watery. Generally, that rice portion is very big and refills come quickly, so you won’t go hungry for long, basically. I would almost certainly recommend packing a few snacks that are favourite to you, such as energy bars, or dried fruit just to spice things up, in a way, basically.

A Note on Food Hygiene

Given that Upper Mustang is remote, that’s a remote region, food hygiene is basically something to consider. Restaurants and kitchens, too it’s almost, in more rural locations are not always up to global standards, naturally. I’d tell you that to stick to freshly prepared meals, those steaming hot choices that just came off that cooking stove are a safe bet, those will prevent upset tummy. Also, I would advise against drinking that tap water – stick to boiled water, that they’ll usually provide at those teahouses and guesthouses. Carry a water filter, right, or purification tablets is that they give extra insurance, it is really extra insurance if your worried or nervous. Also, wash your hands regularly, really, so that you get rid of the bads you can catch along the trip. Those simple precautions are a game changer in not only the food, they will give you the ultimate reassurance, they will enhance you well being and let you just have fun on this epic expedition you planned.

Cultural Immersion: More Than Just Scenery

The Upper Mustang trip is basically about some landscape views. You’ll visit a whole lot of unique cultural gems. Those ancient monasteries, they’re awe-inspiring, and listening to that monks chanting, right, and seeing those butter lamps flickering in that dark interior, I guess, gives a profoundly spiritual touch, and brings about what that spirituality is about, in a very pure sense. Lo Manthang, which is that walled city, you can get that feeling of stepping back centuries into the past. Take your time to chat with that locals; almost all of them are welcoming and happy to share stuff about their culture. Learn some simple greetings in Nepali; people almost like it when you show interest. Those little interactions really enrich that travel experience more than just seeing monuments could alone do.

Responsible Travel Tips

Talking about interactions, always, actually behave respectfully and kindly and sensitively, basically towards local cultures. Clothes that expose skin should be avoided when you get to visit a shrine of a spiritual place as you will get people looking at you the wrong way. Enquire if photographs are authorised before snapping away since some inhabitants do not welcome photos. Help those local small scale businesses, eat local instead of seeking comfort in what you may know or used to get and respect nature, there’s just more simple considerations when your dealing with rural areas. Keep to the routes, discard the waste into trash and that place will give you what you really want, it will show you their raw beauty without hurting any animals, people or anything from that region. With respect towards the region, both you and the next tourist can appreciate all it brings in many trips ahead.

Essential Tips for the Upper Mustang Tour

So, thinking of taking that plunge and doing the trip? A few final suggestions are things to think about before you are jetsetting in the area. Layering, it’s an idea to put on your clothes due weather turning at very unexpected hours, especially as altitudes fluctuates the weather that’s why I suggest to put layering clothes, and be sure and protected for UV radiation! The sun is so powerful here. Always be using high SPF sunblock, very reliable lips balm or some wide sun brim hat! Remember about those trekking boots, comfy and strong shoes are your friends for the trip, they just keep that ankles from twists while stepping off from that trails, this are very important. Getting that body adapted by trekking often before even starting your travels might also give you less pain when you will walk that real area so maybe make this an idea, but no means is a requirement to enter Upper Mustang, naturally.

Things to Consider

Consider packing light to leave enough room, now packing space, for what might be those unplanned souvenirs – those wool blankets and those prayer wheels all make for really brilliant keepsakes. Buy them from the locals, right from the local that you befriended or someone you already met. Always take cash, it’s necessary in remote areas where those cards won’t necessarily always function effectively! It’s also nice to bring headlamps, batteries as electricity fluctuates.