Upper Mustang is famous for its walled capital, its sky caves and its monasteries. Since 2022 it has also had something nobody expected: a golf course. On a windswept plateau above Lo Manthang, at about 4,645 m (15,239 ft), golfers now tee off with the Annapurna and Nilgiri ranges on the horizon and the Tibetan plateau a few kilometres to the north.
Quick answer: the Mustang Golf Course is a nine-hole course near Lo Manthang in Upper Mustang, at about 4,645 m. Its organisers say it is the highest golf course in the world, well above the Yak Golf Course in Sikkim, India, which has long held the title. It hosted its first tournament, the Top of the World Golf Classic, on 27 August 2022, and the event has been held most years since in late summer. To play, you need the Upper Mustang restricted area permit (US$50 per person per day) and a licensed guide.
How the course came about
The course was the idea of local politician Indra Dhara Bista, a former minister and member of the Gandaki Province Assembly from Mustang, who wanted to give the region a new kind of tourism. Working with the Nepal Golf Association and Lomanthang Rural Municipality, local people cleared and laid out the course with a budget of about one million rupees from a constituency development fund. It is a simple, natural course, not a manicured resort: fairways run over hard, stony ground, and the "greens" are very different from anything you'd find at sea level.
The Top of the World Golf Classic
The course opened on 27 August 2022 with the first Top of the World Golf Classic, a nine-hole Stableford event with 36 golfers. Dr Rita Thapa, then 81, hit the ceremonial first shot. Shyam Tamang won the men's title with 22 points, ahead of Balram Thapa, and Sushma Singh won the women's trophy. Tamang returned to defend his title the following year. The 2025 event was played over 18 holes (two rounds of the nine), and the 2026 tournament was scheduled for 13–14 September. One tradition makes the event unique: a player who makes a hole in one wins a horse.
Sources: The Himalayan Times, The Kathmandu Post, Ekantipur, Diplomat Nepal.
Is it really the highest golf course in the world?
At 4,645 m, the Mustang course is far higher than the Yak Golf Course in Sikkim, India (about 3,970 m), which has long been listed by Guinness World Records as the highest. The Nepali organisers have claimed the record, but at the time of writing we haven't seen official Guinness confirmation, so treat "world's highest" as the organisers' claim.
What playing golf at 4,645 m is like
- The ball flies further. The air is much thinner than at sea level, so drives carry noticeably further. Club selection takes some guesswork.
- Walking is hard work. At this altitude, even a gentle slope leaves you breathless. Take it slowly, drink plenty of water and don't rush between holes.
- The wind matters. Mustang is famous for strong winds that blow up the Kali Gandaki valley from late morning. Play early in the day.
- The sun is fierce. UV levels are very high, so wear sunglasses, a hat and high-factor sunscreen.
- The ground is rough. Expect stony fairways and few soft lies. Bring plenty of balls.
Altitude: the most important thing
The course is about 800 m higher than Lo Manthang (3,840 m). Don't play on your day of arrival. Spend at least one or two nights in Lo Manthang first, sleep low and come up to the course for the round. Know the symptoms of altitude sickness and descend if they get worse. Read our altitude sickness guide, and make sure your travel insurance covers travel to 4,700 m.
How to get there
Lo Manthang is reached from Pokhara via Jomsom, by a short flight or a long drive, and then by 4WD jeep along the unpaved road up the Kali Gandaki through Chele and Ghami, which takes about two days. You can also walk in on the classic Upper Mustang trek. The course is a short drive from the town.
Permits
Upper Mustang is a restricted area. You need the Upper Mustang restricted area permit, which costs US$50 per person per day, plus the Annapurna Conservation Area permit, and you must travel with a licensed guide arranged by a registered agency. See our permits guide.
When to go
The road and lodges in Upper Mustang are open from about April to November. Because Mustang lies in a rain shadow, the tournament months of late August and September are usually dry there even during the monsoon further south. October brings clear skies and colder nights. From December to March it is freezing and many lodges close.
Our Upper Mustang golf tour
Our Upper Mustang Golf Tour combines Lo Manthang's monasteries and sky caves with a round at the Mustang Golf Course, after proper acclimatisation. It travels by private 4WD jeep, with a licensed guide, lodges and all meals in Mustang, and the permits are included. Departures can be timed to coincide with the Top of the World Golf Classic. If you'd rather not play golf, our Upper Mustang jeep tour follows the same route.
Other golf in Nepal
Golfers can combine Mustang with a round at the Himalayan Golf Course in a river gorge outside Pokhara, or at Gokarna and the Royal Nepal Golf Club in Kathmandu.
Contact us to plan a golf trip to Upper Mustang.