Mustang has started the repair and upgrading of several tourist trails to support sustainable tourism and improve trekking experiences in the region. The initiative is being carried out jointly by the National Trust for Nature Conservation, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Jomsom, and local governments including Lomanthang Rural Municipality.
The restoration project focuses on preserving traditional trekking routes that have been damaged or replaced due to the construction of infrastructure projects such as the Kaligandaki Corridor road and several branch roads. Authorities aim to conserve these historic trails, promote tourism activities, and encourage visitors to extend their stay in Mustang.
According to ACAP Jomsom Office Chief Rajesh Gupta, a budget of NPR 3.26 million has been allocated during the current fiscal year for the repair and upgrading of 11 tourist trails within the ACAP Jomsom working area, stretching from Thasang Rural Municipality to Waragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality. So far, restoration work on three trails has been completed, while work on the remaining routes is ongoing.
The project includes widening trekking trails, clearing pathways, paving risky sections with stone slabs, and constructing gabion walls and safety railings in vulnerable areas.
Tourist Trails Under Repair and Upgrading
ACAP Jomsom is currently working on the following trekking routes:
In Gharapjhong Rural Municipality, authorities are repairing and upgrading:
Similarly, in Waragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality, work is ongoing on:
Last fiscal year, ACAP Jomsom allocated NPR 2.79 million for the repair and upgrading of six tourist trails, including the construction of a new trekking route from Kalopani to Dhulodada in Thasang Rural Municipality.
Meanwhile, ACAP Lomanthang has also intensified trail restoration activities in Upper Mustang. According to Office Chief Umesh Poudel, NPR 1.4 million has been allocated this fiscal year for trail improvement projects.
The trails currently being repaired and upgraded in Upper Mustang include:
Chief Poudel stated that approximately 20 kilometers of trekking trails in Upper Mustang have been repaired and upgraded over the last three fiscal years.
The restoration and upgrading of these traditional Himalayan trekking routes are expected to strengthen tourism in Mustang, improve trekking safety, and preserve the region’s unique cultural and natural heritage for future generations.
