Upper Mustang is situated in the northwestern region of Nepal, straddled amidst the high Himalayas. The topography is very arid and is different than most parts of Nepal. Upper Mustang lies in the rain shadow of the Himalaya, making it a great monsoon trek and open year-round for trekking.
The main consideration is the winter, when most residents leave the capital to avoid the cold and snow. Generally, the best time to visit Upper Mustang is from March to early November. During these peak seasons, it is advised to book your flights and accommodation early on.
Spring Season
The Spring season falls in March, April, and May in Nepal. During this time, Lower and Upper Mustang experience stable weather conditions. The temperature during this time is between 16 to 22 degrees Celsius. Also, in the middle of May, Lo Manthang village in Upper Mustang celebrates the amazing Tiji Festival to spread peace in the world and relive the mythical history of the festival. In addition, you might get a chance to interact with the former royal family of Upper Mustang during the festival.
Autumn Season
The Autumn season falls in September, October, and November. During this time, the weather is cool and dry, so it is also regarded as one of the best times to go on a tour or trek in Upper Mustang. You will get to witness the mountains. The temperature ranges from 12 to 20 degrees celsius.
Monsoon Season
The monsoon season in Nepal falls in June, July, and August. Although one might correlate rainfall to monsoon season, it is not so in Mustang. As Upper Mustang falls in the rain shadow area, it does not experience rain in the Monsoon season, making it ideal for trekking. The temperature ranges from 13 to 20 degrees celsius. The views of panoramic Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Tilicho, and Annapurna I are seen clearly with the blue sky.
Winter Season
The Winter season in December, January, and February months are the coldest among all seasons. As seen in the Upper Mustang trek map, the trail takes you from 2000m/6,561ft to 4500m/14,763ft so that the temperature can fall up to -22 degrees Celsius. The Upper Mustang Trek difficulty is amplified during this season as you have to be burdened with wearing extra-layered warm clothes and might have to walk through slippery snow.
