The Upper Mustang trek is one of Nepal’s most distinct and culturally fascinating treks. Located in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, this restricted area offers dry desert-like landscapes, a unique Tibetan Buddhist culture that has been in place for centuries, and the amazing walled city of Lo Manthang. While trekking is all about the scenery and culture, it is important to be aware of Upper Mustang trek food and accommodation too.
Are you wondering where to stay on the Upper Mustang trek and how the meals will be along the way? Would you like to know the price and comfort level of teahouses in different villages?
Teahouse along the Upper Mustang Trek trail
From local dal bhat to Tibetan bread or plain instant noodles, the food on the Upper Mustang trek is quite simple but filling. In terms of accommodation, the options range from a homestay in a village to the best teahouses in Upper Mustang, again, depending on the village. This blog shares everything you need to know about Upper Mustang trek meals and costs and gives you a useful and clear picture of your Upper Mustang trek lodging guide.
If you haven’t already read it, check out our blog post Upper Mustang Trek Difficulty Level to help you prepare for the trail! This blog will help you make informed decisions about food and lodging so you can have a smooth and enjoyable trekking experience in Upper Mustang.
Food and Accommodation Overview on the Upper Mustang Trek
On the Upper Mustang trip, food and accommodation are provided mainly by teahouses in the villages along the walk. These teahouses are locally run small lodges that provide trekkers with basic rooms and cooked meals. There will not be any luxury hotels, but the teahouses provide the minimum requirements for hikers.
Accommodation is typically a private or shared room with twin beds, mattress, pillow, and blanket, and of course this varies from town to town. Certain locations have attached bathrooms, but most teahouses provide only shared bathrooms. Electricity for charging devices is plentiful in a lot of the towns and there is usually an added fee for this service. Hot showers are also found in some teahouses, usually heated through gas or solar.
Food is cooked fresh and served from a fixed meal. The most popular meal is dal bhat (rice, lentil soup and vegetables), which is filling and in most places allow for unlimited extras. You will typically find noodles, soups, fried rice, potatoes and Tibetan bread and occasionally pasta or pancakes. Each stop will provide you with breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Typical Nepali and Local Meals You’ll Eat While Trekking
The food on the Upper Mustang trek is fresh, simple, and locally sourced. Most teahouses share a similar menu that typically features both Nepali and Tibetan style meals. The meals are meant to provide enough food and energy to sustain you for long days of walking. The variety isn't too much compared to city areas.
The most commonly eaten and recommended meal is dal bhat, a steamed rice, lentil soup, and seasonal vegetables specification that is served for lunch and dinner. Trekkers enjoy dal bhat because many teahouses offer free servings which makes it better than typical meals. It is filling, healthy, and digestible at high altitude.
Traditional Nepali food plate with dal, curry, flatbread and local beer bottles
Other meals you will find in teahouses include Tibetan bread, fried bread, typically eaten with jam or honey, and thukpa, a warm noodle soup with vegetables or egg. Teahouses serve fried rice, fried noodles, potato meals, and soup. Breakfast options are porridge, pancakes, chapati, boiled eggs, as well as tea or instant coffee.
While some places offer meat, it is better and safer to eat vegetarian meals in relation to the fact that the meat may not always be fresh and fast to transport.
Where to Stay Along the Upper Mustang Trekking Route
Much of the Upper Mustang trek is taken in guesthouses and teahouses in various villages along the way. Across Upper Mustang, treks can find guesthouse accommodation that will provide basic rooms, sleeping pads, blankets, and sometimes shared or attached bathrooms and toilets. The best teahouses in Upper Mustang are in larger villages, like Kagbeni, Jharkot, Ghami, and especially Lo Manthang.
Some of the more popular guesthouses and hotels along the path include Hotel Yak Lo Manthang and Hotel Mustang View in Lo Manthang, each providing relatively comfortable rooms and bedding, with basic facilities. In Kagbeni, guesthouses like Hotel Mustang Top and Everest Guesthouse offer good service and fairly clean rooms. Jharkot and Ghami have simple but adequate teahouses that provide meals, sleeping, and a warm shelter from the elements.
Most teahouses in Upper Mustang have electricity and hot showers, although either a small charge comprises the cost. Because Upper Mustang is a remote part of the world and a restricted area, finding large hotels like in other trekking regions is not possible. Generally speaking, advanced booking is not needed but is a good option during the peak trekking season or for highly demanded places like Lo Manthang.
Average Cost of Food and Accommodation per Day
When planning your trek to Upper Mustang, you will need to allow $20 to $40 per day for food and accommodation. Although meal prices generally range from $5-15 each and teahouse rooms generally range from $10-30 a night, the prices may be higher in busy areas such as Lo Manthang and at peak trekking times.
To get a better understanding of the trek and plan your adventure, you can read the Upper Mustang Trek Distance: Complete Route, Distance and Duration Guide. This guide will help you to predict how many days you will be trekking, and organize your daily budget.
Village-by-Village Guide to Eating and Staying In Mustang
Kagbeni
Kagbeni is the first stop and welcome to trekkers on their way to Upper Mustang. There are a number of teahouses and lodges, the most popular being the Red House Lodge, which is transformed from a monastery into modern lodgings. You can book simply a room with shared bathrooms or rooms with private bathrooms. In terms of food while on the Upper Mustang trek, you have the options to eat dal bhat (rice, lentils, and vegetables) with unlimited refills, noodles, pasta, and sandwiches. There are fresh vegetables in Kagbeni, so you will get the best and most variety of food in Kagbeni before moving deeper into Upper Mustang. You can also drink hot tea and coffee in Kagbeni. The rooms in Kagbeni go for about $10-$30, depending on the lodge.
Simple guesthouse room with two beds, yellow walls, and mountain view through window
Samar Village
Samar is the first stop in the restricted area. You will sleep in basic teahouses that have simple but clean bedding and simple rooms. Some lodges offer solar charging for electronics. For what to eat while on the Upper Mustang trek, you will mostly have simple Nepali dishes like dal bhat. Dal bhat is filling and nutritious. Hot drinks are available. The nightly lodging costs range from $15 to $25.
Geling Village
Geling is a small village with only a few teahouses. Your lodging will be very basic with shared bathrooms, but you will be provided with warm blankets. For what to eat, you can expect simple dal bhat, local vegetables, and simple noodle dishes. You will have limited options, but it will be fresh. Tea and hot drinks available. Rooms usually cost $15 to $20 per night.
Ghami Village
Ghami is a bigger village with good accommodation options, lots of teahouses with rooms with shared and private bathrooms. The food menu here is bigger too (dal bhat, fried rice, noodles, and some western dishes, pasta). They also have local bread and vegetables, tea, coffee. Rooms cost $15 to $30 per night.
Charang Village
Charang has Tibetan-style buildings and decent teahouses. You can book basic, but clean, teahouse rooms with mostly shared bathrooms. For food during your Upper Mustang trek, try traditional Tibetan food such as dal bhat, yak meat if you desire, Tibetan-style bread, and butter tea. Meals are simple, but delicious! Room prices range from $15 to $25 per night.
Lo Manthang
Lo Manthang is the capital of the area and offers the best lodging on the trek. There are good hotels with better private bathrooms and cleaner rooms. Hot showers are available for an extra charge. You will find the most food variety in this city, including dal bhat, noodles, fried rice, pizza, pasta, local specialties, fresh vegetables and meat. Room rates range from $15 to $50 US dollars per night, prices are higher if you go during festival times.
Facilities Offered in Upper Mustang Teahouses and Lodges
Most teahouses offer simple rooms with beds, mattresses, blankets and pillows. Rooms can be private or shared with basic wooden or stone walls. Often, the toilet is available to the trekkers as either squat toilet or western-style toilet but most bathrooms are shared. Private toilets, with a hot shower, can be found in larger villages, like Lo Manthang often for a small fee.
Electricity is available in many lodges so that trekkers can charge digital devices usually during the evenings and if you encounter a charge for usage it is very cheap. Solar panels are very common in many remote places. WiFi is uncommon and can only be found at certain lodges in most large villages.
Meals are typically served in a common dining area, usually with a wood- or gas-stove to help heat the room. Many lodges offer laundry service for a fee as well as drying racks for clothes. Drinking water is boiled, filtered or treated, though many trekkers prefer to use instant purification tablets or packaged bottled water.
Some teahouses will offer snacks, tea, coffee, instant noodles, and a minority will sell basic toiletries. In general, cellular signal is limited in many regions. In general, heating in rooms is minimal so sleeping bags and warm outfits are recommended.
Mountain village houses with red roofs surrounded by green forests and hills
Is the Food Safe and Clean in the Upper Mustang?
Food in Upper Mustang is generally well-cooked and safe to eat when enjoyed in dependable teahouses, especially meals like dal bhat and noodles, which are served fresh and hot. You generally won't have to worry as long as you don't eat raw vegetables or drink only boiled or bottled water. You should always choose vegetarian food if your stomach is sensitive to different foods. Remember to carry hand sanitizer and apply it before eating to be safety-conscious. If you follow these simple guidelines, you'll be able to sample some clean food while enjoying your trek.
Should You Book Accommodation in Advance?
Yes, we suggest that you arrange your accommodation in advance, especially when peak trekking season falls or if you plan to lodge in popular places like Lo Manthang. By booking your accommodation early, you can be assured of rooms and not develop stress at the last minute.
At Himalaya Recreation, we make all of the accommodation bookings and trekking permits required to help you enjoy your trip without worry and ensure you have comfortable accommodation for your Upper Mustang trek.
FAQs
Can I find bottled water on the Upper Mustang Trek?
Yes, bottled water is available in most villages, but it gets more expensive as you go higher. You can also use water purification tablets or filters, which saves on cost and reduces plastic waste.
Is it safe to eat meat during the trek?
It's best to avoid meat on the trek. Since the area is remote, meat is usually carried in from much further away, and when you reach it, it is probably not fresh.
Do teahouse owners speak English?
Most teahouse owners have a basic knowledge of English. They can usually understand simple questions about the food, rooms, and price.
Can I cook my own food during the trek?
No, teahouses do not allow trekkers to use their kitchen. You must eat meals prepared by the teahouse.
Are there any food items I should avoid while trekking?
Avoid raw vegetables, dairy products, and meat. Only eat freshly cooked meals to be safe.
What time are meals usually served at teahouses?
Breakfast is generally available between 7-8 AM, lunch is from about 12-1 PM and dinner is from about 6-7 PM.
Can I request a packed lunch from teahouses?
Yes, most teahouses will offer pre-packed lunches, such as boiled eggs, chapati, or fried rice if you ask for it the night before. This is definitely helpful when you are doing longer trekking days.
Can I get tea or coffee during the trek?
Yes, you will find tea and instant coffee at every teahouse. Black tea, milk tea, or ginger tea are on the menu. Prices do go up a bit after each altitude.
ide mountain valley view with brown hills, snow peaks, and small lake in Manslu Circuit Trail
Conclusion
Understanding what food and accommodation options are available for your Upper Mustang trek will help prepare you for your trip better. The villages along the way such as Lo Manthang and Kagbeni have simple but decent teahouses and guesthouses to stay in. Meals will chiefly consist of the Nepalese staple foods of dal bhat, noodles and Tibetan bread. For health and safety you should always eat cooked food and drink boiled, or bottled water.
Booking accommodation is not always essential, but during peak trekking seasons and in well-known villages, advanced booking is advised.. Food and accommodation prices are more than reasonable, but can cost more when it is busy.
If you follow some basic food safety guidelines you will enjoy the local delicacies without compromising your health. If you need help where to stay on Upper Mustang trek, or more details about food and cost we will be happy to help.
Please reach out to us at Himalaya Recreation for accommodation and permits, and etc. To make sure your Upper Mustang trek goes as smoothly as possible from the start to finish.
