Thar Bengaluru Club · Annual Overland Expedition

Upper Mustang
2026

The Kingdom Beyond the Mountains · October 16–27
12
Days
2
Batches
~1,300
Kilometres
3,800m
Max Altitude
The Expedition

Into the Forbidden Kingdom

Upper Mustang — the former kingdom of Lo — is one of the last Himalayan frontiers accessible by road. Our convoy rolls from the Sonauli border crossing through the Annapurna foothills, up into ancient walled villages, cliff monasteries, and the barren high-altitude plateaus of Lo Manthang. Two batches explore the same route in different orders, giving both groups a unique perspective on the landscape.

🗓️

Dates

16 October – 27 October 2026
Border to border.
Return flight from Gorakhpur: 28 October.

🚙

Vehicle

Mahindra Thar only. All vehicles must carry original RC, valid insurance (Nepal extension preferred), and a valid Indian driving licence.

🗺️

Route

Sonauli → Chitwan → Tatopani → Mukthinath → Lo Manthang → Tsarang → Lete → Besisahar → Manang → Pokhara → Sunauli.

⛺

Included

Accommodation, all meals, expedition permits, support crew, logistics, and a post-expedition party at Pokhara.

🏔️

Terrain

Highway drives, off-road trails, river crossings along the Kaligandaki, and high-altitude passes up to ~3,800 m.

🎉

Extras

Pre-expedition party, expedition goodies & T-shirts, hot springs at Tatopani, Mukthinath Darshan, and local excursions in Manang & Pokhara.

Day by Day

Itinerary

Altitude is for the listed destination. Overnight lows are approximate October climate estimates for planning, not date-specific forecasts; actual conditions can vary.

Batch A · Lomanthang First
Day Date From To Kms Time Stay Remarks Dest. Alt. Expected low
1 16 Oct Sunauli Chitwan 150 7 hrs Chitwan Cross border at Sonauli and reach Chitwan. Time includes border crossing & highway drive. 415 m~18°C
2 17 Oct Chitwan Tatopani 232 8 hrs Tatopani Highway drive, acclimatise at Tatopani, visit hot springs by evening. 1,190 m~12°C
3 18 Oct Tatopani Mukthinath 70 3.5 hrs Mukthinath Start at 8 AM. Evening Darshan planned — a 3–4 hr activity with a mild 45 min–1 hr hike to the temple. 3,710 m~1°C
4 19 Oct Mukthinath Lo Manthang 90 4 hrs Lo Manthang Off-road drive with sightseeing en route. 3,840 m~3°C
5 20 Oct Lo Manthang Tsarang 60 6 hrs Tsarang Local excursion with sightseeing and off-roading. 3,560 m~4°C
6 21 Oct Tsarang Lete 120 6 hrs Lete Complete off-roading route by the River Kaligandaki. 2,010 m~8°C
7 22 Oct Lete Besisahar 229 9 hrs Besisahar Highway drive — early 8 AM start recommended. 760 m~14°C
8 23 Oct Besisahar Manang 110 7 hrs Manang Visit Green Lake & Upper Pisang. Off-road to reach Manang — endurance drive. 3,540 m~-2°C
9 24 Oct — Rest Day with Local Excursion in Manang · 3,540 m · expected low ~-2°C
10 25 Oct Manang Pokhara 172 7 hrs Pokhara Early start by 8 AM advised. Long day on highway. 822 m~14°C
11 26 Oct — Rest Day with Local Excursion in Pokhara · 822 m · expected low ~14°C
12 27 Oct Pokhara Sunauli 250 8 hrs Sunauli Cross border — End of the Expedition 100 m~19°C
Batch B · Manang First
Day Date From To Kms Time Stay Remarks Dest. Alt. Expected low
1 16 Oct Sunauli Chitwan 150 7 hrs Chitwan Cross border at Sonauli and reach Chitwan. Time includes border crossing & highway drive. 415 m~18°C
2 17 Oct Chitwan Besisahar 161 5 hrs Besisahar Highway drive, acclimatise at Besisahar. 760 m~14°C
3 18 Oct Besisahar Manang 110 7 hrs Manang Visit Green Lake & Upper Pisang. Off-road to reach Manang — endurance drive. 3,540 m~-2°C
4 19 Oct — Rest Day with Local Excursion in Manang · 3,540 m · expected low ~-2°C · 60 km · 6 hrs Off-roading
5 20 Oct Manang Pokhara 172 7 hrs Pokhara Early start by 8 AM advised. Long day on highway. 822 m~14°C
6 21 Oct Pokhara Mukthinath 173 8 hrs Mukthinath Start at 8 AM. Evening Darshan planned — a 3–4 hr activity with a mild 45 min–1 hr hike to the temple. 3,710 m~1°C
7 22 Oct Mukthinath Lo Manthang 90 3 hrs Lo Manthang Off-road route. 3,840 m~3°C
8 23 Oct Lo Manthang Tsarang 60 5 hrs Tsarang Off-road route with local excursion. 3,560 m~4°C
9 24 Oct Tsarang Lete 120 6 hrs Lete Complete off-roading route by the River Kaligandaki. 2,010 m~8°C
10 25 Oct Lete Pokhara 123 4 hrs Pokhara Tatopani hot springs on the way — refresh yourself and drive. 822 m~14°C
11 26 Oct — Rest Day with Local Excursion in Pokhara · 822 m · expected low ~14°C
12 27 Oct Pokhara Sunauli 250 8 hrs Sunauli Cross border — End of the Expedition 100 m~19°C
Documentation

Permit Requirements

Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit

Personal Documents

  • Original Passport or Voter ID Card — must be valid for at least 6 months. Aadhaar Cards are strictly NOT accepted by Nepal Immigration or border checkpoints.
  • Passport-Sized Photos — bring at least 4 recent physical passport photos with a white background.
  • High-Altitude Travel Insurance — must explicitly cover vehicle-based travel and emergency helicopter evacuation up to 4,000 metres.

Permit Fees

  • Restricted Area Permit (RAP) Fee: USD $50 per person, per day — payable in equivalent NPR or USD cash via your agency.
  • ACAP Permit Fee: NPR 1,000 per person (discounted SAARC rate).

Vehicle Documents

  • Original Registration Certificate (RC) — must be the physical smart card or original paper document.
  • Bhansar Receipt (Nepal Customs Pass) — the pink customs slip obtained and paid for at the Indian border (Sonauli). Private Indian vehicles can stay in Nepal for a maximum of 30 days per calendar year.
  • Driving Route Permit — a specific highway and regional route permit issued in Nepal allowing the vehicle to cross the Jomsom/Kagbeni checkpoint into Upper Mustang.
  • Valid Indian Driving Licence — the driver's original physical licence.
  • Vehicle Insurance — Indian vehicle insurance policy, preferably with a geographic extension for Nepal.

ACAP Permit

Required Documents

  • A valid Passport (with at least six months of validity)
  • 2 passport-sized photos
  • A clear itinerary showing your entry/exit dates

Permit Denials & Government Regulations

  • Immigration Restrictions: Permit approval is at the sole discretion of the Department of Immigration of Nepal. The organiser is not responsible if a participant is denied an Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit due to government blacklisting, incomplete documents, or submission of invalid IDs (such as Aadhaar cards).
  • Overstay Fines: If the group overstays the dates stamped on their RAP due to vehicle breakdowns, slow driving, or getting stuck, participants are entirely responsible for all mandatory daily immigration fines and permit extension fees.
  • Changes in Government Policy: The organiser is not liable for sudden changes in Nepal's cross-border vehicle regulations, permit fee hikes, or snap closures of restricted zones ordered by the government or local municipalities.
⚠️ Important: Keep all permit dates strictly. Overstaying even by one day due to any reason is the full financial and legal responsibility of the individual participant.

Border Permit Requirements

1. Mandatory Travel Documentation

  • Valid Passport Only — strictly required for all travelers (Indian citizens and foreign nationals) to cross this checkpoint. Passport is mandatory. No exceptions.
  • Valid Vehicle Documents — original RC and valid insurance papers with current validity dates.
  • Valid Driving Licence — current, active licence for the person operating the vehicle.
  • Embassy NOC Paperwork — highly recommended for Indian nationals crossing by vehicle for standard administrative clearance.

2. Strict Border Regulations (Indian Side — SSB)

  • Zero-Tolerance Prohibited Items: Absolutely no alcohol, beer, or narcotics/drugs allowed inside the vehicle. The SSB conducts deep vehicular searches — possession leads to immediate confiscation, heavy fines, or legal detention.
  • Commercial Items: Brand new boxed mobile phones (other than personal active ones) and loose automobile spare parts will be flagged as commercial smuggling — seizure and heavy penalties apply.
⚠️ Zero Tolerance: Do not carry any alcohol or restricted items in your vehicle. SSB searches are thorough and penalties are severe.

3. Vehicle Scanning & Checkpoint Processing

  • Camera Alignment: Properly align your vehicle with border security cameras when approaching — the system automatically scans both vehicle and driver simultaneously.
  • Processing Time: Due to intensive digital security scans and physical searches, processing is individually slow.
  • Recommended Crossing Window: Arrive between 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM for minimal traffic, cooler conditions, and faster processing.

4. Government Formalities (Nepal Entry Side)

  • Land Immigration Office: All travelers must step out and visit the immigration office to complete entry paperwork and clear personal identification records.
  • Customs Office (Bhansar): The vehicle must be driven to the customs desk to process the vehicle entry permit (Challan) and pay mandatory daily government road fees. Indian-registered tourist vehicles are legally allowed to stay in Nepal for a maximum of 30 days per calendar year.