Upper Mustang Trek 17 Days

Upper Mustang Trek 17 Days

17Days
3806mMax altitude
MediumDifficulty
$2,590per person

Overview

Upper Mustang Trek 17 Days

Upper Mustang Trek is mostly concerned with exploring the hidden world of the ancient kingdom of Mustang. The trek is a completely remote trek that takes you to the beautiful dry land completely mixed with the Buddhist culture. Mustang has been protected from mass tourism for many years. It is known as the last bastion of the traditional Tibetan culture. 

Upper Mustang Trek Trip Introduction:

During the trek, you will have the chance to explore ancient monasteries and mysterious caves. You can also behold the lively art and architecture of the local population that has lived on the lap of the Himalayas for centuries. The trails to Lo-Manthang will pass through the desolately barren landscape of the Mustang region along steep rocky paths. 

The views of Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and several other majestic Himalayan peaks leave an everlasting impression of the place. You will witness the lifestyle of true mountain people who had very little contact with the rest of the country for many years. The geographical landscape of the region can be compared to the Tibetan plateau which makes the trek alike the trek to Tibet.

Itinerary Outline:

1st Day: Arrival day in Kathmandu(1,300m/4,264 ft)
2nd Day: Kathmandu sightseeing & trek preparation
3rd Day: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara Valley (823m/2,700ft), 5-6 hrs drive
4th Day: Flight from Pokhara to Jomsom (2,715m/8,910ft) and trek to Kagbeni(2,858/9,374ft)
5th Day: Trek from Kagbeni to Chele (3050m/10,004ft), 5-6 hrs walk
6th Day: Trek from Chele to Syanbochen, (3475m/11,398ft), 6-7 hrs walk
7th Day: Trek from Syanbochen to Ghaymi (3520m/11,546ft), 5-6 hrs walk
8th Day: Trek from Ghaymi to Charang (3500m/11,480ft), 4-5 hrs walk
9th Day: Trek from Charang to Lo-Mangthang (3700m/12,136ft), 5-6 hrs walk
10th Day: Acclimatization Day at Lo-Mangthang
11th Day: Trek from Lo-Mangthang to Ghar Gumpa, 4-5 hrs walk
12th Day: Trek from Ghar Gumpa to Ghiling (3806m/12,484ft), 5-6 hrs walk
13th Day: Trek from Ghiling to Chele (3050m/10,004ft), 5-6 hrs walk
14th Day: Trek from Chele to Jomsom (2700/8,856ft), 6-7 hrs walk
15th Day: Flight back from Jomsom to Pokhara
16th Day: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu, 6-7 hrs drive
17th Day: Departure from Kathmandu

Duration17 days
DifficultyMedium
Max altitude3806m
Start / EndKathmandu
AccommodationHotel accommodation in Kat...
Upper Mustang Trek 17 Days photo
Upper Mustang Trek 17 Days photo Upper Mustang Trek 17 Days photo Upper Mustang Trek 17 Days photo Upper Mustang Trek 17 Days photo Upper Mustang Trek 17 Days photo Upper Mustang Trek 17 Days photo Upper Mustang Trek 17 Days photo Upper Mustang Trek 17 Days photo

Best Season for this trip

March to November

Spring: Mar-May Monsoon: Jun-Aug Autumn: Sep-Nov Winter: Dec-Feb

Day by day

Unfold your journey

Upper Mustang Trek Map

Kathmandu → Kathmandu

Upper Mustang Trek 17 Days route map
day
1

Arrival day in Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264 ft)

20 Minutes Hotel Kathmandu Welcome Dinner
We will be waiting for you at the Tribhuvan Intl Airport to welcome you and assist you to get transferred to your hotel in Kathmandu. In the evening, you'll be taken for a welcome dinner in one of the typical Nepalese restaurants with cultural & musical programs in the heart of Kathmandu. You will also have a short briefing about your trip and overnight at Hotel.
day
2

Kathmandu valley sightseeing & trek preparation (1,300m/4,264 ft)

Hotel Kathmandu Breakfast
After breakfast, the day will start with our guided trip to cultural world heritage sites in Kathmandu valley that includes visits to the pilgrimage sites of Hindus Pashupatinath temple, the world's biggest Bouddhanath Stupa, the monkey temple Swoyambhunath Stupa. We will also take a visit to the historical Kathmandu Durbar Square to explore its temples, unique architecture, and Kumari (living goddess) in central Kathmandu. In the evening, we will have a pre-trip discussion and introduction session with our fellow trekking staff for your adventure trip.
day
3

Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara Valley (823m/2,700ft), 7-8 hrs drive

7-8 Hrs Hotel Pokhara Breakfast
On this day, we take an early morning drive by tourist bus to Pokhara through the beautiful Nepalese countryside to reach the Pokhara lakeside. After getting transferred to the hotel, we can explore the surrounding lakeside areas for the rest of the time and overnight at the hotel.
day
4

Flight from Pokhara to Jomsom and trek from Jomsom to Kagbeni (2,858/9,374ft), 3-4 hrs walk

20 Minutes 3-4 Hrs Tea House Kagbeni 3 Meals
After an early breakfast, we will take the morning flight to Jomsom. The super scenic flight of 20 minutes takes us to Jomsom, the district headquarter of Mustang. From Jomsom, our trek will continue on the gradual & windy path on the Kali Gandaki river bed for about 3 hrs to finally reach Ekley-Bhatti village. After a good stop here, we will take an hour of easy walk to Kagbeni, which lies on the bank of two rivers. Kagbeni is an interesting wind-swept village situated on the main age-old Trans Himalayan salt trade route to Tibet via the Upper Mustang area.
day
5

Trek from Kagbeni to Chele (3050m/10,004ft), 5-6 hrs walk

5-6 Hrs Tea House Chele 3 Meals
Our journey will start with a special permit check-up and onwards to the riverbank of Kaligandaki upstream. We will enter Mustang and follow the east bank of the river over a series of small ridges. Across the river, we can see Kang Gompa, a center of the Nyingmapa sect. Continuing our approach towards Tangbe, we will encounter the distinctive black, red, and white chortens that typify the upper Mustang. The town of white-washed houses contains an intriguing pattern of alleyways that is surrounded by fields of wheat, barley, and buckwheat, interspersed with small apple orchards. We will cross the east bank of the river and ascend to the village of Chele. Immediately, the strong influence of the Tibetan culture of Lo is evident in the decoration of the houses.
day
6

Trek from Chele to Syanbochen, (3475m/11,398ft), 6-7 hrs walk

6-7 Hrs Tea House Syanbochen 3 Meals
The trail for the day is characterized by the crossing of a series of large spurs. Our trek on this day takes us to Taklam La Pass (3,624m/11,923 ft), through plateaus and narrow stretches with views of Tilicho Peak, Yaskawa Kang, Nilgiri, and Damodar Danda. We will walk further for about 3 hours until we will reach Syanbochen overnight. The valleys that dissect the trail have cool streams and juniper trees to enable us to relax for a while. These altitudes should not present any acclimatization issues, so we will just take our time and enjoy the walk.
day
7

Trek from Syanbochen to Ghaymi (3520m/11,546ft), a 5-6 hrs walk

5-6 Hrs Tea House Ghaymi 3 Meals
After breakfast, we will trek uphill to the Yamda La (3,850m /12,667ft) and pass a few teahouses, chorten, and local villages which have many Tibetan-style houses with open Varanda and crosses over a few other passes. The avenues of poplar trees and fields of barley will mark our trail as we head to Nyi La (4,010m/13,193ft). Nyi Pass is the highest point of the trek thus far and the southern boundary of Lo. We will descend to our overnight stop at Ghaymi.
day
8

Trek from Ghaymi to Charang (3500m/11,480ft), 4-5 hrs walk

4-5 Hrs Tea House Charang 3 Meals
We will start our trek after breakfast with a pleasant walk. We will easily get to the Charang overnight. We will descend to the Ghaymi Khola and pass a spectacular series of Mani walls (The secret stone wall of Buddhism) to the village of Charang with its huge white dzong and red Gompa.
day
9

Trek from Charang to Lo-Mangthang (3700m/12,136ft), a 5-6 hrs walk

5-6 Hrs Tea House Lo-Mangthang 3 Meals
We will leave the Charang Khola and climb the ridge to the 3,850m/12628ft windy pass of Lo, to get the first view of the walled city of Lo Manthang. The trail will then drop to a stream and then climbs onto the plateau where the city is situated. The only gate is in the northeast corner and we will be making our way to the entrance. The white-washed walls enclose around 150 homes, Gompas, and a palace. We will stay at the teahouse. You can also spend the rest of the time exploring the surrounding area.
day
10

Acclimatization day at Lo-Mangthang

Tea House Lo-Mangthang 3 Meals
We will be taking a full day to explore this outstanding historical and cultural center. There are 4 major Gompas to visit during our stay. The palace in this area and the surrounding panoramic views of the Himalayas is the main attraction of the place. The town itself is fascinating and offers countless opportunities to observe a vibrant Tibetan culture. There are many places to explore and manage your time to explore the places. Every monastery requires donations and entry fees which are made on your own.
day
11

Trek from Lo-Mangthang to Ghar Gumpa(3942m/12933ft), 4-5 hrs walk

4-5 Hrs Tea House Ghar Gumpa 3 Meals
After a wonderful time at Lo-Mangthang, we will depart to Ghar Gumpa which is also an interesting place to explore the local area. We will get our last view of the walled city after climbing the ridge. We will then descend the valley towards Ghar Gompa. During the walk you'll suffer the dusty wind and as suggested to walk in the morning.
day
12

Trek from Ghar Gumpa to Ghiling (3806m/12,484ft), 5-6 hrs walk

5-6 Hrs Tea House Ghiling 3 Meals
We will continue our trek down the valley to Ghiling as our journey for the overnight stay. We will not be moving far away as it will be dusty to walk in the evening time.
day
13

Trek from Ghiling to Chele (3050m/10,004ft), 5-6 hrs walk

5-6 Hrs Tea House Chele 3 Meals
We will re-track back to Ghiling for the overnight stop after walking for about 5 hours. You will have wonderful scenery during the journey with a Himalayan view. Enjoy your trip and overnight at the teahouse.
day
14

Trek from Chele to Jomsom (2700/8,856ft), 6-7 hrs walk

6-7 Hrs Tea House Jomsom 3 Meals
This will be our last day trek as well as a long one. After an early morning walk, we will reach Kagbeni, finish the upper Mustang trails, and join the normal Annapurna circuit trek. We will be celebrating the achievements of the trek with the crew, reflecting on our journey in the evening.
day
15

Flight from Jomsom to Pokhara

20 Minutes Hotel Pokhara Breakfast
We will check in at the airport to fly back to Pokhara early morning after a wonderful breakfast. This will be a dramatic flight between the gorge of the two huge mountains Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. On arrival at Pokhara airport, the guide will transfer you to the lakeside hotel. You can utilize the rest of the time exploring the lake. Overnight at the hotel.
day
16

Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu, a 5-6 hrs drive

5-6 Hrs Hotel Kathmandu Breakfast & Farewell Dinner
We'll drive back through the scenic countryside and stop for breakfast & lunch en route. It will take us 7 hours to get back to Kathmandu. On arrival at Kathmandu, the guide will help you to get transferred to the hotel. You can take some rest later. After exploring the surrounding areas, we will go for an overnight at a hotel.
day
17

Departure from Kathmandu

20 Minuets Breakfast
You can go for any last-minute shopping for souvenirs or gifts for your family, friends, or relatives for you until your departure flight/drive or to commence any extra trips or activities you may have booked with us. If you are ready for the departure, you'll be transferred to the International Airport for your departure flight to your onward destination. We wish you a wonderful Himalayan adventure with us!

Upper Mustang Trek Altitude Chart

Metres above sea level

Upper Mustang Trek 17 Days altitude chart

What's covered

Inclusions & exclusions

Trip includes

  • All airport and hotel transportation by private vehicle in Kathmandu as per the itinerary suggested.
  • Deluxe twin-sharing accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast
  • Farewell dinner in Kathmandu (Alcoholic beverages are excluded)
  • Full board meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea & coffee) during the trek
  • Seasonal fruits during the trek are provided
  • Comfortable & clean accommodation on teahouse/lodge/tent during the trek
  • Government Registered Trek guide (English speaking, First Aid and eco trained), Sherpa porter (one porter for two trekkers)
  • All necessary paper works, Entry fee, and permits & TIMS card
  • Four seasonal sleeping bags, Nepal Vision Treks duffel bag, and trekking map (sleeping bag to be returned after trip completion)
  • First aid exclusive medical kit bag
  • All government and local taxes

Trip excludes

  • Visa fees (You can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu so (bring accurate USD cash and two passport photographs)) International airfare to and from Kathmandu
  • Lunch and dinner except for welcome & fare well dinner (and also in the case of early return from the mountain than the scheduled plan)
  • Any extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary plan
  • Travel and rescue insurance

Dates & Prices

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FAQ’s

What travelers often ask

How hard is the Upper Mustang trek?
The Upper Mustang trek has a difficulty grade of moderate level because it is not as comfortable as the easy treks nor as difficult as the strenuous level treks.
How long is the Upper Mustang Trek?
The trek to Upper Mustang starts from Jomsom and takes about 15-17 days on average where you reach Lo Manthang the highest elevation on the trip.
Why was Upper Mustang restricted?
Previously, the Upper Mustang was restricted due to border security and to reduce the illegal activities on the border between the two countries.
How do I get to Upper Mustang Nepal?
You can take a flight to Pokhara from Kathmandu. From Pokhara, they can take a taxi, or bus, or rent a bike to Pokhara. On Prithvi Highway, it takes around 6-8 hours to reach Jomsom which is the starting point of the Lo Kingdom in Upper Mustang.
Where is Upper Mustang located?
Upper Mustang is located north of Annapurna and at an average altitude of 4,000m is geologically and culturally part of the Tibetan plateau.
How hard is Upper Mustang trek?
The Upper Mustang trek has a difficulty grade of moderate level because it is not as comfortable as the easy treks nor as difficult as the strenuous level treks.
How long is Upper Mustang trek?
The trek to Upper Mustang starts from Jomsom takes about 15-17 days on an average where you reach to Lo Manthang as the highest elevation in the trip.
Why was Upper Mustang restricted?
Previously, the Upper Mustang was restricted due to border security and to reduced the illegal activities in the border between two countries.
How do I get to Upper Mustang Nepal?
You can take a flight to Pokhara from Kathmandu. From Pokhara, they can take a taxi, bus or rent a bike to Pokhara. On Prithvi Highway, it takes around 6-8 hours to reach Jomsom which is the starting point of the Lo Kingdom in Upper Mustang.

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