How to make your Mustang driving tour environment friendly ?

Mustang stayed aloof from rest of the world until 1990es sustaining the medieval Tibet in the citadel of the Himalayas. The first outsider to go and research about the Mustang kingdom was Michel Peissel who went there in 1960es and wrote the book ‘Mustang the lost Tibetan Kingdom’.

Michel Peissel had to start walking right from Pokahra and he encountered the Tibetan ‘Khampa’ warriors with machine guns, the resistance against Chinese occupancy of Tibet. The walled city and the monasteries of Mustang were great sources of the history and culture of Mustang, trans-Himalayan trade and the Tibetan Buddhism. Until 1960es there are hundreds of monks practicing and the libraries had great books on various subjects.


With more tourists willing to go visit the place, Government of Nepal opened the area for trekking only in 1992. In the earlier days, trekking groups had to take government liaison officer along with them and get the expensive restricted area permit from the immigration. The restriction limited the tourists sustaining its precious culture.
In the last decade, the expansion of road to Lo Manthang made it possible to drive to the walled city. The road was the decision of the local government and majority of the local people benefited from it. However for many who admired Mustang and hidden Shangri-La, the road expansion was destruction of its environment and culture. It is quite popular these days to take a 4WD drive to Upper Mustang. While the road is discouraging trekkers, the driving option gave an opportunity to people with limited time and fitness as well.

Driving tour of Upper Mustang 

Driving tour of Upper Mustang is a new driving adventure in the Himalayas. It takes about 8 to 10 days to drive to Lo Mangtang and back from Kathmandu. With the extension of dirt road, tourists can explore the trans-Himalayan region of Nepal in less time and more convenient way. The road winds through the foothills of the Himalayas and traverse to the other side through the world’s deepest gorge wedged between two 8,000 m peaks; Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) and Annapurna I (8,091m). The drastic change of landscape, majestic snow peaks and the mystic land of Mustang makes the trip one of the fascinating driving tour in the Himalayas.

Take care of Environment and Culture

• Encourage small business by staying and eating at homesaty, local lodges and teahouses. Teahouses and small lodges are run by the local families with family members actively involved in running it. Teahouses have been hosting tourists for over two decades making them efficient and hygienic for tourists to stay and eat.
• Take your toxic waste like camera batteries back home where it could be properly disposed. Unpack and get rid of unnecessary packing at home before packing if you by new things of the trip.  Annapurna conservation area project (ACAP) manages rubbish. But is it always better to reduce and recycle at individual level.
• Bring reusable bags for carrying around packing souvenirs to avoid micro-plastics bags. Plastics and packed foods are the main cause of litter around the Himalayas.
• Bring enough warm cloths and avoid heating or cooking with firewood. Some local families are still using firewood for cooking and heating. With extra guests consumption will increase and the carbon emission also causes more pollution. So bring proper and enough warm cloths to naturally cope with weather. 
• Dress decently and be respectful to local custom. Make sure not to influence the locals with changing fashions, piercing, tattoos or hair style. Do as locals do visiting monasteries and local homes. 
• Don’t drive to all side trips. Go on a day hikes and walk to the monasteries and into the villages while your car is parked at a distance.
• Take a tour with more cultural immersion activities and side hikes. Walk to explore the villages and monasteries off the road.
• Take licensed tourist guide with proper knowledge of the area and sensitiveness of its culture. Good experienced tour guide knows how to interact with locals by appreciating their culture and the environment.  

i Tour Nepal P Ltd is Nepal based company dedicated to organize sustainable Himalayan tours and treks. We offer tours and treks in the Himalayan countries of Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and India. Visit our Nepal Tour packages for tours with cultural immersion activities. Or write us to customize your Himalayan tour.