Every week, I get some version of the same message. "I read that Mustang permits cost $500. Someone else told me $50 a day. Another site said I need a guide, another said I don't." All three people are right — and all three are talking about different parts of Mustang.
Here's the confusion in one sentence: Mustang isn't one region with one rule; it's two regions with two completely different permit systems. Lower Mustang — Jomsom, Marpha, Kagbeni, Muktinath — is open, affordable, and doesn't need a restricted area permit at all. Upper Mustang — everything north of Kagbeni, the walled city of Lo Manthang, the sky caves near Chhoser — is a restricted zone that requires a special government permit, currently priced at $50 per person per day. Once you know which zone you're actually going to, the rest sorts itself out.
I've watched travellers show up in Pokhara with the wrong Mustang Nepal permit cost in mind and lose a day scrambling to fix it. So let me lay out exactly what you need, depending on where you're headed.
Permit requirements for Mustang Region — what you need, and where you need to be
One detail that catches people off guard: the Restricted Area Permit can only be processed once you're physically in Nepal. It's not something you apply for from home before your flight. Your agency needs your visa details and passport number on file, both of which only exist once you've actually landed and gone through immigration in Kathmandu.
In practice, this means:
A valid Nepal tourist visa, arranged on arrival or in advance
Your passport number and visa details, entered onto the application by your agency
A few passport-sized photos
Proof of travel insurance covering high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation — this is checked at the entry checkpoint, and a policy that doesn't explicitly state mountain coverage in Nepal won't hold up
All of this is handed to your agency once you're in Kathmandu or Pokhara, so they can submit the RAP before you head toward Jomsom and Kagbeni
If any of this is missing — no agency, no guide, no permit in hand — you don't get a second chance at the checkpoint. Kagbeni is staffed and enforced, and "I'll sort it out on the trail" isn't an option here. This is exactly why the whole process runs through a registered agency in the first place: they're the ones who can actually get it processed correctly before you set off.
If you're staying in Lower Mustang
Most people visiting Jomsom, Marpha, Kagbeni, or Muktinath don't need much. You're inside the Annapurna Conservation Area — the same region covered in our guide to trekking Annapurna — so you need the ACAP permit: 1,000 NPR for Indian citizens, $30 USD for everyone else. Add a TIMS card (Trekkers' Information Management System — a basic registration record used to track who's on the trail, mainly for safety purposes) at 1,000 NPR, and that's it. No restricted area permit, no minimum group size, no mandatory guide (though I'd still recommend one). The total cost is small, and both permits are straightforward to arrange.
If you're going into Upper Mustang
This is where it gets serious, and where outdated information online causes the most confusion. Upper Mustang — from Kagbeni northward through Chele, Ghami, Tsarang, and up to Lo Manthang — is classified as a restricted area. You cannot walk into ACAP and TIMS alone.
You need the Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit (RAP), currently $50 per person per day. This replaced the old flat $500-for-10-days system, which is the number still floating around on a lot of older blogs and even some outdated government pages — if you've seen $500 quoted somewhere, that's the previous rule. Under the current system, you pay only for the days you're actually inside the restricted zone.
You'll also still need ACAP, since Upper Mustang sits within the Annapurna Conservation Area — $30 for foreign nationals, 1,000 NPR for SAARC citizens, same rate whether you're going Lower or Upper.
And you need a licensed guide. This hasn't changed and isn't going to — Upper Mustang doesn't open to unguided travel. What has changed, as of March 2026, is that you no longer need a second trekker to get a permit. Solo travellers can now get the RAP on their own, as long as they're with a licensed guide. That used to trip up a lot of people trying to plan on their own schedule, so if you're travelling solo, that door is now open.
ACAP vs. RAP — what's the difference
| Feature | ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) | RAP (Restricted Area Permit) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Conservation fee for entering the Annapurna Conservation Area | Special permit for entering restricted Upper Mustang |
| Who needs it? | Everyone visiting the Annapurna Conservation Area, including Lower and Upper Mustang | Only travellers going north of Kagbeni into Upper Mustang |
| Applies to | Lower and Upper Mustang | Upper Mustang only |
| Cost | $30 USD (foreign nationals) / 1,000 NPR (SAARC citizens) | $50 USD per person, per day |
| Required for Lower Mustang? | Yes | No |
| Required for Upper Mustang? | Yes | Yes |
Simple rule to remember:
- Lower Mustang = ACAP only.
- Upper Mustang = ACAP + RAP.
If you're quoted a much higher permit cost for Upper Mustang, it's usually the RAP added on top of ACAP — the higher price is expected, not a mistake.
Planning your permits around the Tiji Festival
If you're visiting Upper Mustang for the Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang, your permit requirements don't change. You'll still need an ACAP permit, the Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit (RAP), and a licensed guide.
What does change is demand. Tiji is the busiest period of the year in Upper Mustang, with more travellers competing for flights to Jomsom, jeep seats, accommodation, and guides. While the RAP can still be arranged after you arrive in Nepal, I'd recommend confirming your itinerary with a licensed agency well in advance so everything is ready before the festival begins.
Why travellers book with HST instead of arranging permits themselves
The permits are only one part of entering Upper Mustang. The bigger challenge is making sure every piece of your trip lines up with them.
At HST, we don't simply submit permit applications. We review your itinerary, confirm the correct number of restricted-area days, verify your insurance meets checkpoint requirements, and coordinate your guide, transport, and accommodation around the approved permit dates. That way, you aren't left dealing with paperwork delays or itinerary changes after you've already arrived in Nepal.
For our travellers, permits become one item on a much larger checklist that we've already taken care of before the journey begins.
FAQs
Do I need a Restricted Area Permit for Lower Mustang?
No. Lower Mustang (Jomsom, Marpha, Kagbeni, Muktinath) only requires an ACAP and a TIMS card. The RAP only applies north of Kagbeni.
How much does the Upper Mustang permit cost in 2026?
$50 USD per person, per day, for the Restricted Area Permit. A 10-day itinerary works out to $500 — the same total as the old flat fee, but now calculated by actual days spent inside the zone rather than a fixed block.
Can I get the Upper Mustang permit before arriving in Nepal?
No. It can only be processed once you're in the country, since your agency needs your Nepal visa details and passport number to submit the application in Kathmandu or Pokhara.
Can I trek Upper Mustang solo?
Yes, since March 2026. The old two-person minimum was removed, so a solo traveller can now get the RAP with a licensed guide — no second trekker required.
Is a guide mandatory in Upper Mustang?
Yes, always. This hasn't changed and applies regardless of group size, even for solo travellers.
Do I need travel insurance for the Upper Mustang permit?
Yes. Proof of travel insurance covering high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation is required at the entry checkpoint.
Conclusion
Permit confusion is almost always a zone problem, not a permit problem — once you know whether you're staying south of Kagbeni or heading north into it, the paperwork stops being complicated. Lower Mustang stays simple and cheap. Upper Mustang comes with a real cost and a real process, but that cost is also what keeps the region what it is — a place that hasn't been flattened into a checklist stop. The permit isn't the barrier to Lo Manthang. It's part of what's kept it intact long enough for you to still walk into something real.
New to planning this trip?
Start with our complete guide to how to travel to Mustang for the full picture — routes, timing, and what to expect before you get into permits.
If you're set on the full walk into Lo Manthang, our Upper Mustang Trek covers the classic route, permits included.
Short on time but still want the restricted zone? The Short Upper Mustang Jeep Tour gets you there without the full trekking itinerary.
Comparing which side of the Mustang fits your trip? Our Upper vs. Lower Mustang guide breaks down the experience difference, not just the permit rules.
Either way, we handle all permits as part of the trip. You don't need to figure this out alone. Enquire and we'll take care of everything.
