Upper Mustang Trek | Upper Mustang Trekking Itinerary

Altitude : 3800 m
Transportation : Jeep/Bus/Plain
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Best Season : Apr, May, June, July, Sep, Oct,
Trek Hour : 7
Accommodation : Hotel and Lodge

Cost From

USD 1815 per person

Trip Highlights

The land is comparable to that of the Tibetan plateaus dry and barren.
High walls with the views of unbending mountains in the background.
Off-the-beaten trek is less explored place and shuttered walls of Annapurna.
Himalayan rain shadow hidden valley of Upper Mustang is an amazing place.
Tibetan Buddhist culture comes across the Tsorten, prayer flags and monasteries.
Upper Mustang Treks is a treasure hunt where you travel to the mystifying places.

The Upper Mustang Trek.

“The Upper Mustang Trek is a popular trekking destination in Nepal that offers a unique experience of exploring the hidden kingdom of the Mustang. The trek takes you through the ancient villages, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, and barren landscapes of the Mustang region. The Upper Mustang Trek is also known as the “Forbidden Kingdom,” as it was restricted to foreigners until 1992. The Upper Mustang Trekking Itinerary explores local culture and traditions, showcasing their centuries-long isolation.”

Accordingly, this amazing Itinerary for Upper Mustang Trek leads you to the beautiful land of the ancient city of Lo Manthang. The top of the Kaligandaki River is home to the ancient Himalayan kingdom of Mustang. Upper Mustang trekking includes southern and northern regions with Tibetan-influenced languages and cultures. This area is thought to be among Nepal’s most fascinating and stunning. The entire region has an isolated and mysterious sense about it, which enchants and inspires people.

In order to reach Lo-Manthang, one must ascend the Kali Gandaki valley from a high-altitude desert. In places, the gorge through which the Kali Gandaki River runs is the deepest in the world. This region is full of some of Nepal’s oldest Buddhist monasteries and ancient and isolated villages with quaint white-washed houses. Mustang prospered at the height of the salt trade between Tibet and Nepal. It is a fact that has carried out the great and still operating inns we find on our route. Crossing 13,000-foot passes in the middle of the kingdom, explore the historic Lo Manthang town.

The Upper Mustang Trek in Nepal offers breathtaking scenery, a vibrant culture, and historical significance. Upper Mustang, also known as the “Kingdom of Lo,” is a restricted region located in the northern part of Nepal, bordering Tibet (China). In 1992, openings for trekking led to popular destinations.

Here are some of the main highlights and historical content you can expect to encounter during the Upper Mustang Trek:

Ancient Kingdom and Monasteries: The Upper Mustang region was once an independent kingdom, and its history dates back more than a thousand years. You’ll find ancient palaces, forts, and monasteries that reflect the rich history and cultural heritage of the region.

Lo Manthang: The capital of the former Kingdom of Lo, Lo Manthang, is one of the major attractions of the trek. It is a walled city, and within its boundaries, you’ll discover the King’s Palace and other historical structures.

Caves and Cliff Dwellings: The area is popular for its distinctive cave dwellings, some of which are old and are still in use right now. The earliest inhabitants used these caves for storage and shelter.

Buddhist Culture: Upper Mustang is deeply influenced by Tibetan Buddhism. You’ll encounter numerous monasteries, chortens (Buddhist stupas), prayer wheels, and vibrant religious festivals.

Tiji Festival: If you time your trek right, you might have the chance to witness the Tiji Festival. Lo Manthang’s annual religious festival features elaborate dances, rituals, and mask-wearing and mask-performing rituals, symbolizing good’s victory over evil.

Gompas (Monasteries): The region is home to several ancient and architecturally stunning monasteries, such as Choser Cave Monastery, Lo Gekar Monastery, and Yara Monastery.

Stunning Landscapes: The trek takes you through the high-altitude desert of Upper Mustang, where you’ll witness surreal landscapes, eroded cliffs, colourful rock formations, and deep gorges.

Remote Villages: As the trek is relatively off the beaten track and remote, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with the local communities and experience their unique way of life.

Especially, Trekking in Upper Mustang requires a special permit, a registered guide, and limited access. The regulations are in place to preserve the cultural and environmental integrity of the region. Keep in mind that specific details and conditions might have changed since my last update. But, Check for updates on regulations, permits, and the trekking situation in Upper Mustang before planning.

When you arrive in Kathmandu our representative will pick you up from Tribhuvan International Airport and take you to your respective hotel. You will have enough time for rest and our guide will brief you about the package and in the evening welcome dinner.

Our journey towards Pokhara will start early in the morning. A tourist bus will take about 7-8 hours to reach there. The distance view of mountains along the way and beautiful green hills will entice you throughout the journey. Upon arrival in Pokhara, you will be taken to the respective hotel near Phewa lake where you can enjoy the beautiful evening scenes of Phewa lake and its surroundings.

After Early breakfast drive to Pokhara airport and 20 flights to Jomsom (2,734 m.). Jomsom is a windy valley district headquarters of Mustang. The morning flight presents you with beautiful scenery of the Annapurna range and the world's 7^th highest mountain which is known as Mt. Dhaulagiri. After landing at Jomsom journey begins slowly 3 hours to Kagbeni.

The trails lead along the Kali Gandaki River bank the River it’s come from the Upper part of the Mustang. Kagbeni is the old town and beautiful scenic village known as the entrance gate of the Upper Mustang. After exploring the village of Kagbeni overnight at a guest house.

In your regular breakfast, your journey starts toward Chele (3,050 m.) flowing Kali Gandaki riverbank passing through Tangbe and Chhuksang village. This is a fantastic picturesque day you can enjoy the Buckwheat terrace field, apple garden, and mud houses.

After Chhuksang you will cross Kali Gandaki from where the dwindling waters came. Then, you will ascend to the Chele. Chele is a small beautiful village you can see real Tibetan culture and their lifestyle, overnight at the lodge.

Today's hike begins by ascending to Samar La pass and gradual flat till to Samar village where you will go to stop for early lunch. Along the way, you can see many Mani walls, Tsorten and natural colourfulness landscape which make looking gorges to the Upper Mustang.

After lunch continues to Shyangbochen with up and downhills through the lower trails. There are two trekking trails but the lower one is more beautiful and you can visit Chhungsi cave where the Guru Padma Shambaba was meditated. Then continue to ascend to your final destination Shyangbochen. Overnight at guest house.

We ascend 3,850 m up to the Yamada La Pass. On the way, we pass some lovely tea houses, chortens and villages. We walk through forests of poplars and barley fields and enter Nyi Pass at 4,010 m. We descend from here to Ghami, which is one of the region's largest villages. The village is beautiful and has fields that surround the whole village. A night stay in Ghami.

Today, our hike begins with a dive into a clean, sometimes slippery path. Instead, we cross a suspension bridge across the Ghami Khola and get up there. The paving along the road, with its mani walls, is beautiful. We first climb the 3,870 m Tsarang La Pass and enter the village of Tsarang. The village is situated on top of the Charang Chu Canyon, with eastward a massive wall, and a red gompa. Spend the night at Tsarang.

We continue to hike down to a gorge and crossing a river before starting our ascending trail to Lo La Pass which is 3,950 m away. From the peak of the pass, we will enjoy the beautiful view of the village of Lo Manthang. We descend from the pass to Lo Manthang which is an attractive walled town. These hills present also great views of popular mountains Nilgiri, Tilicho and Annapurna I, Bhrikuti Peak and Damodar Kunda are very pleasant. At Lo-Manthang overnight.

Lo Manthang is a walled municipality within the isolated Nepal zone of the Upper Mustang. We expend the day in the area visiting three great gompas, namely Jhampa, Chhoeda, and Thupchen. Over the past two decades, several of these gompas have undergone professional renovation. We can also go hiking northwest of Lo-Mangthang to Tingkhar, an ancient attractive village. Stay at Lo Manthang, in the evening.

When returning from Lo-Manthang, we're hiking on a different path. Our trail passes through the village of Lho Gyakar which is with beautiful rock paintings from a century-old call also Ghar Gompa. Anyone who wants to make a wish at the Gompa would get it fulfilled, according to a popular myth. After visiting the popular Gompa, our journey goes towards Drakmar for a stopover night.

We start our travel early and drive to the Jomsom all the way. After entering the lovely village of Ghiling we paused to appreciate the view of the dry plateau and fields for a moment. Then the same way we start travelling through summer, Chele, and entrance Kagbeni village of Mustang. When we hit the Jomsom we take a shower for the next ride to Pokhara. Celebrate our last night party at Jomsom with trekking staff and bid goodbye to the porter.

We catch a flight into Pokhara early in the morning. The aircraft passes through a canyon between the mountains of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri making the trip an incredible experience in itself. We will spend the rest of the day in Leisure City in Pokhara. Stay Night in Pokhara.

Today we take early breakfast and say bye to the beautiful landscape of Pokhara, and head towards Kathmandu. This will be a journey along the banks of the river, with beautiful views of terraced hills and the rural Nepalese lifestyle. Upon reaching Kathmandu you can do some souvenir shopping. Overnight, stay in Kathmandu and have a farewell dinner in the evening to mark the successful completion of our tour.

After your breakfast, our city guide picks you up from the hotel in private vehicles and takes to you world heritage site Swayambhunath, (Monkey Temple), Pashupatinath Temple, Bauddhanath Stupa and if still time then take to you Kathmandu Durbar Square and back to Hotel with Best and Breakfast plan.

You will be returning to your home filled with adventure memories during your stay in Nepal for Upper Mustang Trek in Annapurna Region hidden valley. Our representative will help you with your departure from your homeland.

Cost Includes

The airport picks up and drops with private vehicles.
Hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara accommodation with a B.B plan.
All necessary special permit park fees and "TIMS" cards, etc.
An experienced guide with the necessary porter during the tour.
Their salary, food, accommodation and insurance the staff.
3 times meal (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) and tea or coffee during the trek.
All ground transportation for the trip if you want a private vehicle cost is extra.
Pokhara Jomsom and Jomsom Pokhara flight ticket.
Net and clean twin sharing room during the journey.
Farewell dinner in a Nepali cultural restaurant in Kathmandu.
First Aid kit and all government taxes.
Office service charge, etc.

Cost Excludes

Food lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Your international airfare and Nepal Visa fees.
Any alcoholic beverages, mineral water, soft drinks, snack, etc.
Your personal medical or evacuation expenses travel insurance which included rescue.
All accommodation on flight cancellation due to bad weather if in case Helicopter charter.
Any extra cost for horse riding, and natural disasters.
Extra porter cost US$18 per person per day.
Tips for the Guide and Porter

The Upper Mustang Trek is a popular trekking destination in Nepal, offering a unique and remote experience in the Himalayas. Here is some useful information to help you plan your trek:

Restricted Area and Permits: Upper Mustang is a restricted area, and trekkers require a special permit to enter. As of my last update in September 2021, there were two permits necessary: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and the Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit (RAP). Be sure to check with the Nepal Tourism Board or a reliable trekking agency for the most current permit requirements.

Trekking Season: The best time to trek in Upper Mustang is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). These seasons offer stable weather and clear skies, providing breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes.

Itinerary: The typical duration of the Upper Mustang Trek is around 10 to 14 days, depending on your starting and ending points. The trek often starts from Jomsom and passes through Kagbeni, Chele, Syangboche, Ghami, Tsarang, Lo Manthang (the capital of Mustang), and can be extended to other remote areas like Lo Gekar, Dhakmar, and Muktinath.

Accommodation and Facilities: The trekking route has teahouses and lodges where you can find basic accommodation and meals. However, as you move deeper into the region, the facilities may become more limited. It's always a good idea to carry some snacks and essentials in case of emergencies.

Altitude and Acclimatization: The Upper Mustang region has relatively high altitudes, and it's essential to acclimatize properly to avoid altitude sickness. It is recommended to spend a couple of days in Kagbeni or other villages en route to adjust to the altitude before proceeding further.

Physical Fitness: The Upper Mustang Trek is considered moderate in terms of difficulty, but it still requires a reasonable level of fitness. Regular cardiovascular exercises and strength training before the trek can be beneficial.

Packing: Pack light but make sure to carry essential items such as trekking boots, warm clothing, rain gear, a sleeping bag, a first aid kit, water purification tablets, sunscreen, and a good camera to capture the breathtaking scenery.

Respect Local Culture: Upper Mustang is deeply rooted in Tibetan Buddhist culture. Show respect to the locals, their traditions, and their religious sites, such as monasteries and chortens.

Hiring a Guide or Porter: While it is not possible to do the trek independently, it is a restricted area which is why many trekkers prefer hiring a local guide or a porter. Guides can provide valuable insights into the local culture and help with navigation, while porters can carry some of your heavy belongings, making your trek more comfortable.

Permits and Documentation: Make sure to keep your permits safe and accessible throughout the trek, as there may be checkpoints along the route.

Remember that the information provided here is based on the situation up to September 2021, so it's always a good idea to check for any updates or changes in regulations before embarking on your Upper Mustang Trek. Happy trekking!

Certainly! Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the Upper Mustang Trek:

Q: Where is Upper Mustang located?

A: Upper Mustang is a northern Nepal region located in the trans-Himalayan area. It lies in the rain shadow of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna mountain ranges.

Q: Do I need a special permit for the Upper Mustang Trek?

A: Yes, a special trekking permit is required for the Upper Mustang region. Since it is a restricted area, you must obtain a special permit through a registered trekking agency in Nepal. Additionally, you might also need to get an Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) and a TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) card.

Q: When is the best time to do the Upper Mustang Trek?

A: The best time to do the Upper Mustang Trek is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) seasons. These months offer stable weather, clear skies, and pleasant temperatures for trekking.

Q: How long does the Upper Mustang Trek take to complete?

A: The duration of the Upper Mustang Trek can vary depending on the specific route and starting point. On average, the trek can be completed in 12 to 17 days.

Q: What is the level of difficulty for the Upper Mustang Trek?

A: The Upper Mustang Trek is considered moderate in terms of difficulty. The trek involves walking on rugged terrain, crossing high passes, and dealing with altitude. Previous trekking experience and a good level of fitness are recommended.

Q: What is the maximum altitude reached during the Upper Mustang Trek?

A: The maximum altitude reached during the Upper Mustang Trek is at Lo Manthang, the capital of Upper Mustang, which stands at approximately 3,840 meters (12,600 feet) above sea level.

Q: Are there teahouses or lodges along the trekking route?

A: Yes, there are teahouses and lodges available along the trekking route in the Upper Mustang region. However, the facilities might be more basic compared to popular trekking routes like the Everest or Annapurna regions.

Q: Can I do the Upper Mustang Trek independently, or do I need a guide?

A: While it is not possible to do the trek independently, it is a restricted area so you need a licensed guide with you to obtain the special permit for Upper Mustang. Having a focus can also enhance your trekking experience as they are familiar with the area, and culture, and can assist in case of emergencies.

Q: What is the culture like in the Upper Mustang region?

A: Upper Mustang is known for its unique Tibetan-influenced culture. The region was once an important trade route between Tibet and Nepal, and you'll find ancient monasteries, traditional villages, and Tibetan Buddhist practices along the trek.

Q: Are there any health risks or altitude-related concerns during the Upper Mustang Trek?

A: Altitude sickness is a potential concern during the Upper Mustang Trek due to the high elevations reached. It is crucial to acclimatize properly, stay hydrated, and be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness. It's recommended to consult a travel doctor before the trek and be prepared with any necessary medications.

Please note that conditions and regulations might change over time, so it's always best to double-check the latest information and plan your trek with a reputable trekking agency in Nepal.

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