Best Time to Visit Mustang, Nepal (Including Winter and Monsoon)

Mustang does not follow Nepal’s usual seasons. It sits in the rain shadow behind Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas, so it stays dry while Pokhara and Kathmandu are drenched by the monsoon — but its winters are long, bitterly cold and windy, and the road and flights that get you there have seasons of their own.

This guide uses official climate data for Jomsom, recent road and flight records and festival calendars to explain what Mustang is really like in every month, for riders, trekkers and jeep travellers alike — and which month is best for what you want to do.

Why Mustang’s seasons are different

Moist monsoon air from the Bay of Bengal hits the southern wall of the Himalaya and drops most of its rain there: Pokhara gets more than 3,000 mm a year. By the time the clouds have squeezed through the Kali Gandaki gorge, there is little left. Jomsom’s official average is about 292 mm a year — less than a tenth of Pokhara’s — and Upper Mustang is drier still, with a cold, semi-arid climate.

Three other factors shape the seasons: altitude (Jomsom is about 2,720 m and Lo Manthang about 3,800 m, so it is cold for much of the year), wind (a strong valley wind blows from late morning every day, strongest in spring) and access (the road from Beni and the Jomsom flights are both affected by weather lower down).

Mustang weather by month: the data

Jomsom figures are 1991–2020 normals from Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. There is no long-term official record for Lo Manthang; at about 1,100 m higher it is typically around 6°C colder than Jomsom, and temperatures of −15°C were recorded there in early December 2025.

Spring: March to May

March is cold at night but sunny, with very few visitors; Lower Mustang is in good shape and Upper Mustang lodges start reopening late in the month. April is a superb month: warmer days, apricot and apple blossom in Marpha and Tukuche, and roads at their best before the monsoon. May is warmer still and brings the Tiji festival to Lo Manthang.

The downsides: the afternoon wind is at its strongest in spring, and haze from lower Nepal can soften views of the big peaks by May. For riders it is one of the best seasons — the Beni–Jomsom road is dry and stable.

Monsoon: June to August

This is where Mustang differs most from the rest of Nepal. Jomsom averages only 32–47 mm of rain a month in June, July and August, and Upper Mustang is drier still. The trails and the road to Lo Manthang are dry and quiet, the barley fields are green, and the Yartung horse festival is held in late summer.

The catch is getting there. South of Ghasa, the Kali Gandaki gorge lies outside the rain shadow, and the Beni–Jomsom road crosses steep, landslide-prone slopes. In August 2025 the road was blocked by landslides at several points, and in late September 2026 floods blocked it in more than 50 places, keeping it closed until 9 October. Jomsom flights are frequently cancelled in cloud and are often suspended for part of the monsoon.

Monsoon trips to Upper Mustang can be magical, but they need flexibility, spare days and an operator who watches the road closely.

Autumn: September to November

September is a transition month: the rain clears from Mustang early, but the road below Jomsom can still be hit by late-monsoon landslides. October is the classic month — stable weather, crystal-clear views of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri and Annapurna, harvest time in the villages and the apple season in full swing. It is also the busiest month: in a typical year more foreign visitors enter Upper Mustang in the Nepali month of Ashwin (mid-September to mid-October) than in any other. November is quieter and colder, with superb visibility; by late November nights in Upper Mustang are well below freezing and lodges start to close.

After Dashain, the big Nepali festival in October, domestic tourism to Mustang surges, with Nepali bikers and jeep groups heading for Muktinath. In 2026 Dashain falls on 11–21 October and Tihar on 8–10 November.

Winter: December to February

Winter in Mustang is cold, clear and empty. In the official records, January nights in Jomsom average about −2°C; in Lo Manthang −15°C has been recorded, and many families move south to Pokhara, Kathmandu or further afield until spring. Most Upper Mustang lodges close, and visitor numbers fall to almost nothing — in the coldest Nepali month (mid-January to mid-February) only a few dozen foreigners enter Upper Mustang.

Lower Mustang stays open. Jomsom, Marpha and Kagbeni have lodges operating, the sun is strong, skies are often perfectly blue and you will have the villages to yourself. Snow can close the road between Jomsom and Muktinath for a few days at a time, and Jomsom flights are often suspended in winter — over the 2025–26 winter they stopped for around three months.

We do not run Upper Mustang motorbike tours in mid-winter. Lower Mustang in December can be excellent for well-equipped riders.

Festival calendar

Tiji dates are set by the Lo Manthang monastery each year. Lodges in Lo Manthang fill months ahead, so book early if you want to be there.

Best time by type of trip

• Motorbike tours: April–May and October–early November for the best roads and weather. See our Upper Mustang and Lower Mustang tours.
• Jeep tours: same as above; summer is possible for Upper Mustang if you allow spare days.
• Trekking in Upper Mustang: May to October; the monsoon months are good for the trek itself.
• Pilgrimage to Muktinath: March–June and September–November. Summer brings large crowds of Indian pilgrims. See our Muktinath temple guide.
• Photography: October and November for clarity; May for festivals; August for green fields in a desert.
• Avoiding crowds: March, late November and early December.

Riding Mustang in each season: tips for motorcyclists

• Spring: start early to avoid the strongest winds; carry a buff and goggles for the dust.
• Monsoon: expect mud, rockfall and river crossings in the gorge; allow two buffer days and never ride after heavy rain.
• Autumn: book bikes and lodges early for October; carry warm gloves for frosty mornings above Kagbeni.
• Winter: wait for the sun before riding; watch for black ice in shaded corners; heated grips or winter gloves are essential.

Whatever the season, read up on altitude sickness on a motorbike before heading above Kagbeni.

What to pack, by season

Mustang month by month

January

The coldest month. Jomsom days reach about 10°C in the sun but nights drop below freezing; Upper Mustang is deep-frozen and largely emptied of residents. Lower Mustang is open, quiet and clear. Flights are often suspended. Good only for hardy travellers sticking to Jomsom, Marpha and Kagbeni.

February

Still very cold, with the best chance of snow at Muktinath and above. Tibetan New Year (Losar) sometimes falls in February, though many Lo Manthang families celebrate it in the south. Very few visitors.

March

Days warm noticeably and the valley comes back to life. Upper Mustang lodges begin reopening late in the month. Roads are dry; winds strengthen. One of the quietest good months.

April

Excellent. Blossom in the orchards, warm days around 18–19°C in Jomsom, frosty nights higher up and open roads all the way to Lo Manthang. Book in advance; this is a popular month with trekking groups.

May

Warm, long days and the Tiji festival in Lo Manthang (usually). The afternoon wind is at its fiercest and haze can reduce views from the gorge. Indian pilgrim numbers at Muktinath rise sharply in May and June.

June

The monsoon arrives in the south. Mustang stays dry, but the road through the gorge begins to suffer landslides and flights become unreliable. Upper Mustang itself is very pleasant.

July

The wettest month, though Jomsom still averages under 50 mm. Expect road closures below Ghasa; allow buffer days. Green barley fields make Upper Mustang beautiful.

August

Similar to July, with the Yartung horse festival in late summer. Apple harvesting begins at the end of the month in some villages. Road disruption is likely.

September

The rain clears early in Mustang, but late-monsoon landslides can still block the road below Jomsom, as happened in late September 2026. The apple-picking season starts in Marpha in the second half of the month.

October

Peak season: clear, stable weather, the best mountain views of the year, apple harvest and harvest festivals. After Dashain, Nepali domestic tourists flood in. Book bikes, jeeps and lodges early.

November

Crisp, cold and gloriously clear, with fewer visitors. By the end of the month, nights in Upper Mustang are well below freezing and lodges start to close. Great for Lower Mustang.

December

Winter sets in. Lower Mustang is quiet and sunny; Upper Mustang residents move south and most lodges close. Flights may be suspended from late December.

Mustang through the seasons

Autumn light is the clearest of the year; spring brings blossom to the orchards around Marpha and Tukuche; summer turns the barley fields of Upper Mustang green against the desert; and winter covers Muktinath and the passes in snow.