Upper Mustang Trek

01 / THE EXPERIENCE

Discover the journey

There is nowhere else like Upper Mustang in all of Nepal. Due to its spectacular semi-arid landscape and distinct Tibetan tradition, it sits a world apart even though it borders one of the most well-known trekking locations in the nation. A trek here is also distinct from any other in Nepal because it emphasizes both cultural exploration and breathtaking scenery. The Upper Mustang trek is the ultimate gateway to the mysterious world of the old Buddhist kingdom of Mustang, also called Lo. The region, which was once outlawed and cut off from the outside world for decades, was able to develop its own unique culture and rich traditions that were intimately connected to Tibet. This moderate, less well-known trip offers majestic alpine views and travels through one of Nepal's driest districts.

03 / YOUR ROUTE

Journey at a glance

Day Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu — Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be picked up by our representative at the airport and taken to the hotel. You will meet your guide, discuss the trek program, and make final preparations for the trek. If you have an early arrival, we will take you for a sightseeing trip in the UNESCO world heritage site in Kathmandu and later, in the evening, you’ll have dinner in the hotel. Day Day 2: Drive or fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara — You will drive or fly to Pokhara which takes 5 hours by road and 45 minutes by flight. You can visit lakeside and go boating in the evening. Overnight stay at Pokhara. Day Day 3: Flight from Pokhara to Jomsom (2,700m/ 8,856ft) and trek to Kagbeni (2,847m/ 9,340ft) — Pokhara - Jomsom - Kagbeni You’ll take an early morning flight from Pokhara to Jomsom. After that, we will have breakfast and start your trek towards Kagbeni which takes 3-4 hours. It’s the gateway to Upper Mustang. Trekking Distance: 10.7km/6.6 mi Trekking Time: 3-4 hours Day Day 4: Trek from Kagbeni to Chele (3,050m/ 10,006ft) — Kagbeni - Tangbe - Chhuksang - Chele Kagbeni sits at the crossroads of four historic trade routes and the confluence of the Jhong and Kali Gandaki rivers. Your permits are checked here before entering the restricted area. Trekking Distance: 15.3 km/ 9.5 mi Trekking Time: 4 hours Day Day 5: Trek from Chele to Syangbochen (3,475m/ 11,398ft) — Chele - Ghyakar - Samar - Syangboche This is another small settlement. You have to pass Ghyakar and Samar to reach here. Between Samar and Syangboche there is a road trail via Bhena La and Yamda La, or an off-road trail via Chungsi (Runchung) Cave. Trekking Distance: 11.5 km/ 7.1 mi Trekking Time: 6-7 hours Day Day 6: Trek from Syangbochen to Ghami (3,520m/ 11,546ft) — Syangboche - Ghiling - Ghami It is another interesting village in the region surrounded by trees and fields. There is a nice prayer wall and colourful chortens in the centre, alongside taps where locals fill their water. Outside of the village lies the longest mani wall in Mustang at 305 m. Trekking Distance:9.3 km/ 5.7mi Trekking Time: 5-6 hours Day Day 7: Trek from Ghami to Tsarang — Ghami - Tsarang Tsarang (Charang) is the second largest settlement in Upper Mustang, after Lo Manthang. It was once the capital, and the King’s Palace still stands tall, overlooking the surrounding fields and houses. The most notable structure, however, is the majestic 16th-century monastery, one of Upper Mustang's most impressive structures, with a core red building encircled by striped walls. It's a wonderful village to stroll through for a few hours. Trekking Distance: 10.7 km/ 6.6 mi Trekking Time: 5-6 hours Day Day 8: Trek from Tsarang to Lo Manthang — Tsarang - Lo Manthang You will trek from Tsarang to Lo Manthang. It has a walled city which is quite amazing to see. Its warren of dirt lanes are a pleasure to get lost in, narrow alleys suddenly opening out into courtyards with water wells and rows of bulbous chortens. Trekking Distance: 11 km/ 6.8 mi Trekking Time: 4-5 hours Day Day 9: Explore Lo Manthang — This day is a rest day at Lo Manthang. You can visit three monasteries which are different and fascinating in their own right. The views from the upper floor of the Jampa Gompa are wonderful, giving you a great perspective over the neighboring rooftops and surrounding countryside. Inside the monasteries, photography is not allowed (unless you pay a fee!). You can also visit Thinggar Valley after lunch and explore the destination on your own. You can also add an extra day in Lo Manthang to explore the beautiful destination if the time is flexible for you Day Day 10: Trek from Lo Manthang to Ghami — Lo Manthang - Dhakmar The trek ends here and you start your return trek. Lo Manthang to Ghami trek is a unique and adventurous experience that takes you through the rugged terrain of the Mustang Nepal. On the way, you can see stunning views of the Himalayas, rugged landscapes, traditional villages, and ancient monasteries. You also get to witness remote settlements, hidden cities, Tibetan stupas and the famous Kali Gandaki River while heading to the village, which is very exciting. Trekking Distance: 16.1 km/ mi Trekking Time: 6-7 hours Day Day 11: Trek from Ghami to Ghiling — Ghami - Ghiling Ghami to Ghiling is a walking trail up and down. Ghiling is a village which is a home to 15th century monasteries. It sits at the foot of a rocky mountain and is surrounded by agricultural fields. Trekking Distance: 10.8 km/ mi Trekking Time: 2-3 hours Day Day 12: Trek from Ghiling to Chhuksang — Ghiling - Chele - Chhuksang This trek takes you through historic settlements and harsh terrain. The Ghiling to Chhuksang trip begins with a crossing of the Syangboche la (3850 m), following an alternate path to the nearby Chungsi cave. Once you've explored this historic cave, you'll have to cross two additional passes—Dajong La 3660 and Taklam La 3624—to get to Chhusang through Chele. Trekking Distance: 17.2 km/ 10.6 mi Trekking Time: 6-7 hours Day Day 13: Trek from Chhuksang to Jomsom — Chhuksang - Jomsom It is a last stage of the Upper Mustang trek which is ideal for observing the diversity in people and their customs. You can find fossilized ammonites known as ‘Shaligram’ which are found till Damodar Kunda Lake; upper reaches of Kali Gandaki. Chhuksang village is situated on the banks of Kali Gandaki River which is surrounded by red sandstone cliffs. Trekking Distance: 22 km/ 13.6 mi Trekking Time: 6-7 hours Day Day 14: Flight from Jomsom to Pokhara and sightseeing — Jomsom - Pokhara Jomsom is the district headquarters and administrative center of Mustang. The airport connects to Pokhara by flights. We can terminate our trek in Jomson and catch a flight to Pokhara or catch a jeep ride for 10-12 hrs to reach Pokhara by road. The view of Mt. Nilgiri is a sight to behold and is directly south and east of Jomsom. If time permits, we will visit the village of Marpha, an ethnic Thakali Village 9 km south of Jomson. It is famous for apples, apple brandy and yak meats. Day Day 15: Drive or flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu — Pokhara - Kathmandu It’s a 25 min short flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu. If you are seated on the left window, you will see Mt. Dhaulagiri on west, Annapurna ranges followed by Manaslu, Ganesh and Langtang on north and your flight time will be over before you even notice. We will settle in the hotel and visit the city for sightseeing and souvenir shopping. Day Day 16: Departure from Kathmandu — We will drop you at the airport and bid you a pleasant bye for your return journey home.

YOUR DAY-BY-DAY ROUTE

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1Arrival in Kathmandu — Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be picked up by our representative at the airport and taken to the hotel. You will meet your guide, discuss the trek program, and make final preparations for the trek. If you have an early arrival, we will take you for a sightseeing trip in the UNESCO world heritage site in Kathmandu and later, in the evening, you’ll have dinner in the hotel.+