Upper Mustang Trek
Trip Overview
Located in the Trans Himalayan Region, the Upper Mustang is one of the most important upper Himalayan regions from a tourism perspective as well as historically and culturally. Boarded by Tibet from 3 directions (East, West, and North), the Upper Mustang was only unzipped to tourism in 1992, but only a thousand trekkers in total could visit this hidden gem of a region.
The Upper Mustang is heavily influenced by the Tibetan culture, which results in an interesting new culture that is a mixed product of Nepalese and Tibetan practices. Props to its distant location, the region has not been exposed to and influenced by contemporary culture. You might find a bit of pop culture references here and there, but that is all there is to it.
Back in the 17th century, the Upper Mustang was an independent kingdom; it was in 1795 that it became a part of Nepal after a successful invasion. Prior to that, the kingdom of Mustang was the sole owner of the trade route between then India and Tibet. Ever since it became a part of Nepal, the region and its people have adapted a few Nepalese practices. But it was still a demilitarized and mostly untouched zone until the opening of tourism in the area in 1992.
Trekking in this region began as early as tourism started in this region. Since the Upper Mustang was untouched by international travelers it became a major attraction. Even today, the Upper Mustang region is considered a hidden gem and remains one of the most visited regions despite being hard to reach. Here’s a detailed breakdown of our Upper Mustang trek package.
Transportation
Flight/Jeep-Bus
Per Day walking:
6 to 10 hours
Best Season
Oct-Dec / Mar-May
Group Size
2-14 Pax
Accomodation
Tea House
Trip Grade
Strenuous
Max Height
4218M
Start/End
Kathmandu
Trip Highlight
- Upper Mustang, often referred to as the “Forbidden Kingdom,” was once a remote and isolated region restricted to outsiders. Trekking in this area offers a rare opportunity to explore a land steeped in mystery and intrigue, where ancient traditions and customs have been preserved for centuries.
- The landscape of Upper Mustang is a striking contrast of barren desert-like terrain, deep gorges, and towering cliffs adorned with ancient cave dwellings. Trekking through this surreal landscape feels like stepping back in time to a bygone era.
- Upper Mustang is home to numerous ancient cave monasteries, some dating back over a thousand years. These intricately carved caves, nestled into the cliffsides, offer glimpses into the region’s rich Buddhist heritage and provide a sense of spiritual tranquility amidst the rugged wilderness.
- The capital of Upper Mustang, Lo Manthang, is a fortified city steeped in history and culture. Encircled by massive mud-brick walls and guarded by a majestic palace, Lo Manthang exudes an aura of mystique and grandeur. Exploring the narrow streets and ancient temples of this medieval town is a highlight of the trek.
- Despite its arid landscape, Upper Mustang offers breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks such as Nilgiri, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri. The contrast between the barren terrain and the towering Himalayan giants creates a dramatic backdrop that is sure to leave trekkers in awe.
- Trekking through Upper Mustang provides opportunities to interact with the local Thakali and Tibetan communities, known for their warm hospitality and ancient customs. Visits to traditional villages offer insights into their way of life, with chances to sample local cuisine and witness age-old rituals.
- Upper Mustang remains one of the least-visited regions in Nepal, allowing trekkers to experience the true essence of wilderness and solitude.
- The Upper Mustang trek offers a rare glimpse into a hidden world of ancient traditions, breathtaking landscapes, and spiritual tranquility.
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Detail Itinerary
Your arrival at the international airport of Kathmandu is your 1st official day of the Upper Mustang trek. Upon your arrival, we will be there waiting for you. Our driver will pick you up and drop you off at your designated hotel, depending on your arrival time we will walk to the welcome dinner place nearby.We will arrange your trip briefing before we start walking out for welcome dinner. After a long travel, it’s best for you to take a much-needed rest as we have an exciting day tomorrow.
Keep in mind that after you arrive at the terminal, you will be escorted by the officials to get your visa done. Depending on the duration of your stay in Nepal, you will have to pay a certain fee. This expense counts as your personal expense, which the Upper Mustang trek package will not cover.
You will be introduced to one of our guides, who will be your personal GPS for the rest of the journey. Our guides are licensed professionals with a good understanding of the English language.Â
As per our recommendation, every two members of your group will share one porter.
Welcome Dinner
Hotel
On the 2nd day, we will be touring a bunch of heritage sites and temples that will serve as your introduction to the rich Nepalese culture. After a tasty breakfast, we will be heading towards the many attractions that Kathmandu has to offer.
We will spend the day sightseeing, and you will be accompanied by our guide for the whole day. Our package will only cover breakfast for this day.
Breakfast
Hotel
After an exciting day in Kathmandu, we will travel to Pokhara by air. After a 25-minute flight, we will reach the beautiful city of Pokhara.
We will be spending the day by the lake and visiting nearby attractions. There is so much you can do and see in Pokhara; you won’t get bored that easily. Just as yesterday, your package will provide you with breakfast only.
Breakfast
Hotel
On the 4th day of our Upper Mustang trek, we will take the first steps towards the remote regions, reaching Jomson via a 20-minute flight. Jomsom is a popular town in the Mustang district and the gateway to the Upper Mustang region.
Once we landed at the Jomsom airport it will amaze you with its different landscape and towering Nilgiri mountain right in front of you.You will also be introduced to the porters who will be carrying your luggage for the entire trekking route.
From Jomsom, we will be trekking towards our next stop, the town of Kagbeni. Kagbeni is more like a small village than a town and is one of the oldest villages in the region. This will be our official check-in to the restricted area of Upper Mustang. From day 4th to day 16th, we will be responsible for providing three meals per day.
In addition to that, since we are in the Himalayan region, hot showers are a must. Some lodges might charge extra for hot showers but we will cover it as a part of the Upper Mustang trek package.
Entering the Mustang region requires special permits such as the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit and TIMS (Trekker's Information Management System) card, which we will take care of as a part of the package.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
 Tea House
Chaile is another small but beautiful village in the Mustang region. We will follow a trail along the Kali Ganadki river from the Kagbeni and reach Chaile in about 6 hours crossing two major villages on the way named Tangbe and Chhuksang. Chhuksang is the village where we normally stop for hot lunch break.
On the way to Chaile, we will have to cross a suspension or a motorable bridge after lunch.The final walk to Chaile village is about 20 min climb. The total trek covers around 15 km of ground.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
 Tea House
Syangboche is a Tibetan-influenced village that is considered by many to be one of the most interesting and untouched Buddhist kingdoms.Syangboche village has a few houses where local families run tea house businesses, providing meals and accommodations for visitors from outside world. The tourism world call it the forbidden kingdom, which explains the untouched beauty of the region. As you travel up in the Mustang region, you will feel that there are fewer Western influences; some villages are not even much influenced by the Nepalese culture.
Chaile to Syangboche is just 11.5 km, but since we will be ascending over rough terrain, it will take us 7+ hours in total.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
 Tea House
On the 7th day of your Upper Mustang trek, we will be traveling through beautiful hiking trails, mostly avoiding jeep roads, and reaching Ghami village. After a few minutes of walking from the start, we will reach the hilltop, which offers stunning views of Ghiling village and old but colorful monasteries. We will stop at a tea shop before the Ghami La pass for a tea break. From the pass, we will walk downhill for about 1.5 hours to reach Ghami village. Ghami village is one of the biggest settlements in the region. We will cover about 12 km in total, which should take us about 6 hours
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
 Tea House
Once we start from Ghami, we will cross a wooden bridge over the Ghami Khola (river) and begin walking uphill for another 30 minutes. Once we reach the top of the climb, we can see the entire Ghami village from here, and the walk feels like a flat trail to Dhakmar village. From Dhakmar village, we will climb another uphill to reach the top of another pass, from where we can see Ghar Gumba and Charang village in the distanceThe second largest village of Mustang, Charang, houses multiple stupas, a fortress, and a monastery. Charang is 10.7 km away from Ghami and we will trek for about 6 hours to reach there.
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Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
 Tea House
Also known as the walled city, Lo Manthang is the capital kingdom of Mustang. This kingdom was founded in 1380 by a man named Ame Pal, the man responsible for creating this beautiful walled city.
Lo Manthang was a kingdom of its own before the Shahs of Nepal invaded it in the 18th century. Although Lo Manthang was captured, the then King of Nepal allowed the region to embrace its monarchy. Even after hundreds of years of being a part of Nepal, the kingdom of Lo had its own monarchy, but it came to an end after Nepal was declared a republic state.
From Charang to Lo Manthang, we will cover 11 km, which should take us about 5 hours of trekking.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
 Tea House
To acclimatize to the atmosphere, we will be stopping for another day at Lo Manthang. Your body also needs rest as you have been traveling for nine days.
Being the capital kingdom of Mustang, Lo Manthang offers a lot of activities. You can join in on the morning prayers that are done every day in the local monastery. The monks of the monastery perform worship rituals that are interesting to watch.
In addition to that, there are several sky caves that are open for exploration. You can also choose to spend your day in local tea shops, talking with other travelers and local people.
Meal: Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner/ Accommodation: Tea House
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
 Tea House
A historically signified village, Yara is a beautiful village known for its monastery, caves, and hamlets. The caves in this village are said to have been dug by ancient people who made this region their home.
After trekking for 6 hours from Lo Mangthang and covering a distance of 16.6 km, we will reach Yara passing another stunning village on the way named Dhi.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
 Tea House
After spending the night in Yara, our next destination will be Tange. Unlike most villages of the Mustang region, Tangge has a bit more character to it thanks to its vibrant colors. We will walk for about 7 hours this day.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
 Tea House
Tangge will be our return point and we will be descending back to Chhuksang to ultimately visit Muktinath. We will be covering over 23 km, trekking for about 10 hours. We will begin our walk after breakfast, and our lunches will be packed. There are no tea houses for us to stop for lunch or stay which forces us to cover this 23 km trail.
From Tangge we spend almost 5 hours walking uphill to reach Pha Pass which is at the altitude of 4218m.From the top of the pass it is scenic trail till Chhuksang village.
After we reach Chhuksang, we will have a warm bed to sleep on after a tiring day of trekking long hours.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
 Tea House
After you are done with your breakfast, our Jeep will drop you off at Kagbeni from where we will start trekking to Muktinath. We will be trekking on an alternate route, which will help us avoid vehicles. There are tea houses along the way, so we don’t have to worry about packing our lunch that day.
After trekking for 8 hours (approx.), covering a distance of 14.7 km, we will reach the famous temple of Muktinath. This temple is a major attraction, and you will find quite a lot of people there. For the time being, you can explore the surroundings and learn all about the history of the place.
You will find Hindu visitors from all over Nepal and India visiting the temple to seek salvation. The name Muktinath translates to freedom (Mukti) and god (nath).
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
 Tea House
On this day, you will not have to walk much as we will drop you off at Jomsom in our Jeep. You will have your breakfast and lunch at Muktinath and dinner at Jomson. You can spend your extra time in Jomsom to learn about their people and culture.
NOTE: An extension of 2-3 days will let you experience the almighty Thorang La pass.
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
 Tea House
After spending the night at Jomsom, you will be traveling to Pokhara by air. You will have your breakfast at Jomsom, after which our guides will take you to Pokhara.
You will have a day to spend in Pokhara and we will help you make the most out of it. There are tons of things to do, and whatever you choose, we will help you make it happen. During your stay in Pokhara and Kathmandu, we will only be responsible for providing you with breakfast.
Breakfast
Hotel
On the 18th day of your Upper Mustang trek, you will be making your way to Kathmandu, leaving Pokhara and the Upper Mustang region with nothing but fun memories that you are sure to cherish for years to come.
We provide you with tourist bus tickets, which will be covered by the trek package but you can opt for a 25-minute flight to Kathmandu instead. However, this flight will cost you extra.
Breakfast
Hotel
After another night in Kathmandu, you will be escorted to the Tribhuvan International Airport. We will provide you with breakfast and make sure that you are content with our service. We are open to suggestions and criticism that will help us make a better journey.
However, if you choose to extend your stay in Nepal, we will be more than happy to help you plan your next trip.
Breakfast
What's Included In The Package
- All (international and domestic) airport transfers on a tourist /Private vehicle.
- Twin-sharing/double accommodation in hotel for 3 nights in Kathmandu including breakfast.
- Kathmandu valley sightseeing tour fees/Guide/Transportations.
- Upper Mustang special permit.
- Annapurna conservation permit.
- Kathmandu-Pokhara domestic flight.
- Pokhara-Jomsom-Pokhara domestic flight.
- Pokhara-Kathmandu by Tourist bus.
- Twin-sharing guesthouse accommodation during the trek for 12 nights in the mountain region.
- All your standard meals during the trek (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner), with a cup of tea.
- Experienced, first-aid trained, government licensed, English-speaking trekking guide.
- Porters during the trek for carrying luggage (1 porter for 2 clients with Max 22 kgs weight limit in total).
- Wages, accommodation, meals, gear, insurance for all staff.
- All administrative expenses and government taxes.
- Evacuation assistance in case of emergency.
- Trip completion certificate from Avventura Himalaya.
What's Excluded In The Package
- International air fare.
- Nepal Visa.
- Emergency Evacuation/s and medical treatments.
- Upgrade of accommodations.
- Travel Insurances.
- Emergency evacuation(s), Accidents, recovery & additional transport.
- Change in Itinerary due to cancelled helicopter flight or unavoidable delays on route i.e. landslides etc, extra or cancelled accommodation etc.
- Personal Expenses.
- Excess luggage above recommended levels.
- Some meals, all kind of bottled drinks, Internet services, hot showers etc.
- Some meals, all kind of bottled drinks, Internet services, hot showers etc.
Fixed Departure Date For 2024
Essential Information
Before booking
- Choose the right trip, considering your health, physical ability, and experiences.
- Read the terms and conditions properly.
- Make sure the payment is delivered to ensure the final confirmation.
After Booking
High-altitude activities in Nepal are not just physically demanding, they are a test of your fitness. It’s not a suggestion, it’s a necessity to ensure you’re physically ready for these adventures. By committing to physical training, you’ll not only be prepared, but you’ll also be confident and ready to take on the challenge.
For Trekking
- For multiple days of trekking at high altitudes of over 4000m-5000 m, ensure you have trained yourself well. Box jump, circuit and resistance training, and endurance training like hiking, running, cycling, or swimming can be beneficial.
- Feed on the right nutritious food rich in protein, healthy fat, and carbohydrates.
- Keep yourself focused and determined, which helps to strengthen your willpower for the next challenge ahead.
International Flights arrangements:You are responsible for arranging the international flight ticket and travel insurance, which can cover emergency evacuation and medical treatment. Our package doesn’t include this service.
Route Map
