A total of 772 foreign tourists have entered Mustang from Manang via the Thorong La Pass over the past two weeks, following the reopening of the high-altitude section of the Annapurna Circuit trekking route after heavy snowfall. According to the checkpoint of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) at Jomsom, 43 tourists from SAARC countries and 729 tourists from other countries entered Mustang through the route during the period.
Thorong La Pass Draws Adventure Trekkers
Located at an altitude of 5,416 metres above sea level, Thorong La Pass is one of the highest points on the Round Annapurna Circuit and connects the Manang and Mustang sections of the trekking route. Foreign trekkers cross the challenging pass from Manang before descending towards Muktinath in Mustang, making it one of Nepal’s most adventurous and demanding trekking routes.
The route had been obstructed by heavy snowfall and rainfall on October 11, disrupting movement between Manang and Mustang during the early part of the trekking season. After tourism entrepreneurs in Mustang cleared accumulated snow from the trail above Thorong Phedi, access through the pass was restored, allowing trekkers to resume their journey towards Muktinath.
Tourism Entrepreneurs and Security Personnel Clear Snow
Security personnel and local tourism entrepreneurs also cleared the trekking route from the Manang side through coordinated efforts. Joint snow-clearing efforts from both sides reopened the Thorong La section and allowed trekkers to continue along the Annapurna Circuit. Sanjog Thakali, Natural Resources Conservation Assistant at ACAP Jomsom, said that 772 foreign tourists had reached Mustang through the Thorong La Pass by Thursday after the snow was cleared from the trekking route.
Two Trekking Seasons Bring Foreign Visitors
The Round Annapurna Circuit generally attracts foreign trekkers during two major seasons. The main trekking period falls in May, June and July, while a significant number of foreign tourists also travel through Thorong La Pass in October and November before the winter season begins. Thakali said the number of foreign tourists arriving in Mustang through Thorong La during the pre-winter season has remained significant, with the reopening of the route helping restore tourist movement after the recent snowfall.
More Than 100 Tourists Crossing Thorong La Daily
Suraj Gurung, President of the Muktinath Hotel Association, said the trekking season through Thorong La Pass has now gained momentum, with the number of foreign tourists arriving in Mustang from Manang increasing steadily. According to Gurung, heavy snowfall at the beginning of the tourist season had temporarily disrupted the route.
However, after tourism entrepreneurs and security personnel from both Manang and Mustang cleared the snow, the flow of tourists crossing from Manang into Mustang began to increase. He said more than 100 tourists have recently been reaching Muktinath through the Thorong La Pass each day, highlighting the rapid recovery of tourist movement along the high-altitude route.
Thorong La Trekkers Support Muktinath Hotels
Although the number of tourists arriving in Mustang through the Beni–Jomsom road has declined, the growing arrival of foreign trekkers through Thorong La Pass has helped sustain hotel businesses in Muktinath. Gurung said the presence of trekkers arriving from Manang has helped keep many hotels in Muktinath occupied, providing much-needed business during the current tourism season.
He added that the route is expected to remain active for foreign trekkers until the end of November, when the seasonal window for crossing Thorong La begins to close because of winter conditions. The renewed movement of foreign tourists through Thorong La Pass is expected to provide further support to tourism businesses in both Manang and Mustang, while reinforcing the Annapurna Circuit’s position as one of Nepal’s major adventure trekking destinations.
