Upper Mustang Trek

Your Upper Mustang Trek begins with your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. A representative from Top Trail Nepal will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

After checking in, you can rest after your journey or spend some time exploring the nearby streets of Kathmandu. Later, you will meet the trekking team for a briefing covering the route, restricted-area permits, accommodation, transportation, weather conditions and other important preparations for Upper Mustang.

This is also a good opportunity to check your trekking equipment and arrange any last-minute items before leaving Kathmandu.

After breakfast, you leave Kathmandu and travel west toward Pokhara. The drive follows the Prithvi Highway through the hills of central Nepal, passing river valleys, terraced farmland, roadside settlements and forested slopes.

Much of the journey follows the Trishuli and Marsyangdi river corridors before the road eventually enters the Pokhara Valley. On clear days, sections of the drive provide distant views toward the Himalayan ranges.

After reaching Pokhara, you check into your hotel and have the remainder of the day to relax around Lakeside or prepare for the early journey to Jomsom the following morning.

Distance: Approximately 200 km

The day begins with a morning mountain flight from Pokhara to Jomsom, weather permitting. The flight follows the dramatic Kali Gandaki corridor between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs and provides a striking introduction to the Mustang landscape.

After landing in Jomsom, you begin trekking north along the broad Kali Gandaki Valley. The terrain quickly becomes drier and more open, and strong afternoon winds are common in this part of Mustang.

The trail passes through Ekle Bhatti before reaching Kagbeni, a historic village at the entrance to Upper Mustang. Its narrow lanes, mud-brick houses, prayer wheels and old monastery provide your first real introduction to the Tibetan-influenced culture found farther north.

Kagbeni is also the main checkpoint before entering the restricted Upper Mustang area.

Flight Time: Approximately 20 to 25 min

After the required permit formalities at Kagbeni, you officially enter the restricted Upper Mustang region and begin following the Kali Gandaki upstream.

The trail passes through Tangbe, where whitewashed houses, narrow lanes, buckwheat and barley fields create a striking contrast with the surrounding dry cliffs. You then continue toward Chhusang, surrounded by colorful rock formations and cave-pitted cliffs.

Beyond Chhusang, the route crosses the river and climbs away from the Kali Gandaki toward Chele. As you gain elevation, the landscape becomes increasingly arid, with wind-shaped rock formations, narrow ridges and deep canyons replacing the greener environment of Lower Mustang.

Chele is a small settlement positioned above the river valley and marks the beginning of the higher plateau section of the trek.

Today’s trek introduces you to the series of high passes and deeply eroded valleys that characterize Upper Mustang.

Leaving Chele, the trail climbs through exposed terrain toward Taklam La at approximately 3,624 m and continues across higher ridges around Dajori La at approximately 3,735 m. From these elevated sections, there are wide views across the dry Mustang landscape and toward the distant Himalayan ranges.

The trail then descends toward Samar, a beautiful settlement surrounded by poplar trees and cultivated fields. After leaving Samar, the route continues through a landscape of narrow valleys, streams, juniper and eroded cliffs.

Depending on the trail used, you may also pass near Ramchung or Chungsi Cave, an important Buddhist pilgrimage site associated with Guru Rinpoche.

The final section leads to Syangboche, where you spend the night surrounded by the open high-desert landscape.

The trail continues higher today as you cross some of the major passes of the Upper Mustang route.

After leaving Syangboche, you climb through open terrain toward Yamda La at approximately 3,850 m. The route passes chortens, small settlements and cultivated areas before beginning the longer ascent toward Nyi La at approximately 4,010 m.

Nyi La is one of the highest points reached on the outward journey and provides broad views across the barren Mustang plateau.

From the pass, the trail descends toward Ghami, one of the larger traditional settlements in the region. The village is surrounded by cultivated fields and lies close to dramatic red cliffs and an impressive mani wall made from stones carved with Buddhist prayers.

Leaving Ghami, the trail descends toward the Ghami Khola before crossing the river and beginning another climb through the dry Mustang landscape.

One of the highlights of the day is the long mani wall outside Ghami, accompanied by chortens and prayer stones that reflect the strong Tibetan Buddhist traditions of the region.

The route then climbs toward Charang La (Tsarang La), at approximately 3,870 m. From the pass, you descend toward the broad Charang Valley.

Charang, also known as Tsarang, was historically an important center of the Kingdom of Lo. The village contains traditional mud-brick houses, cultivated fields, an old fortress or dzong and a striking red monastery.

You normally have enough time in the afternoon to explore the village and its historic surroundings.

Today you reach the cultural heart of Upper Mustang: Lo Manthang, the historic walled capital of the former Kingdom of Lo.

After leaving Charang, the trail descends toward the Charang Chu before crossing the river and beginning a steady climb through the open plateau.

The route eventually reaches Lo La at approximately 3,950 m. From the pass, you get one of the most memorable views of the trek as the walled settlement of Lo Manthang appears across the broad high-altitude valley.

You then descend from the pass and continue toward the city. Entering Lo Manthang through its traditional walls feels completely different from the small settlements passed earlier in the trek.

The afternoon can be spent taking an initial walk through the narrow lanes and getting your first look at the monasteries, traditional houses and historic architecture of the old capital.

With breathtaking views of Nilgiri, Tilicho, Annapurna I, and Bhrikuti peak along the trek, you  hike to Lo Manthang today.

Today is dedicated to exploring the cultural and historical treasures of Lo Manthang and its surroundings.

Inside the walled city, you can visit important monasteries including Jampa Lhakhang, Thubchen Gompa and Chode Gompa. The narrow lanes, traditional mud-brick houses, chortens and former royal palace reflect centuries of Tibetan Buddhist influence and the history of the former Kingdom of Lo.

Depending on the day’s plan and local conditions, you may also travel toward Namgyal Gompa, Tingkhar village or the Chhoser area north of Lo Manthang.

The Chhoser region is particularly known for its remarkable sky caves and cliff settlements, including multi-level cave complexes carved into the rock. The excursion provides a deeper understanding of the history, religion and traditional lifestyle of the communities living close to the Tibetan border.

After exploring the surrounding area, you return to Lo Manthang for another night.

The return journey begins today, but instead of simply following the same trail back, you take a higher and more adventurous route through the western side of Upper Mustang.

The trail climbs steadily away from Lo Manthang toward Chogo La at approximately 4,298 m, the highest point of the main trekking itinerary. From the pass, you can look across an enormous landscape of barren ridges, valleys and distant mountains.

After descending from the pass, you reach Ghar Gompa at Lo Gekar, one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Upper Mustang and a site traditionally associated with Guru Rinpoche, which is over 1200 years old.

After visiting the monastery, the route continues across rugged high-altitude terrain and may cross the Mui La area at approximately 4,170 m before descending toward Dhakmar.

Dhakmar is one of the most visually striking villages on the trek, famous for the huge red and orange cliffs rising directly behind the settlement.

Leaving the red cliffs of Dhakmar behind, you continue south through a mixture of barren ridges, dry valleys and traditional Mustang settlements.

The route gradually reconnects with the main trail around Ghami and continues across the high plateau toward Ghiling. Depending on the exact trail used, the day may again involve crossings around Ghami La and Nyi La, so despite the lower overnight elevation there are still significant climbs and descents.

As you move south, you can look back toward the colorful cliffs of Dhakmar and the wide landscape surrounding the former Kingdom of Lo.

Eventually, the trail reaches Ghiling, a traditional village surrounded by fields, chortens and mud-brick houses. Afternoon winds can be strong across this exposed section of Mustang, so an earlier start is generally more comfortable.

Today you continue descending toward the lower Mustang Valley, retracing part of the route through the high passes and settlements encountered earlier in the trek.

The trail passes through the Syangboche area and continues across exposed ridges before descending toward Samar. Depending on the trail conditions and route selected by your guide, the day may cross passes around Syangboche La and Bhena La, reaching elevations close to 3,860 m.

As you descend farther south, the landscape gradually changes. The broad high plateau begins to narrow into deeper river valleys, while cultivated fields and settlements become more frequent.

You eventually reach Chhuksang, surrounded by beautiful red and ochre cliffs close to the Kali Gandaki River.

Your final trekking day follows the Kali Gandaki Valley south toward Jomsom.

From Chhuksang, you retrace the lower part of the route toward Kagbeni, where you officially leave the restricted Upper Mustang region. The familiar landscape around Kagbeni marks the transition from the remote high-desert settlements of Upper Mustang back toward the busier Lower Mustang corridor.

After a break in Kagbeni, you continue following the broad Kali Gandaki Valley toward Jomsom. Afternoon winds can be strong, so an early start is useful for this longer walking day.

On reaching Jomsom, you check into your lodge and have time to rest after completing the trekking section of the journey.

After an early breakfast, you take the morning flight from Jomsom to Pokhara, subject to weather and flight conditions.

The short flight follows the spectacular Kali Gandaki corridor between the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges, providing one final aerial view of the Mustang landscape.

After arriving in Pokhara, you continue to Kathmandu according to the transportation arrangement for your trip. This may be by domestic flight or by road.

If travelling by flight, the journey to Kathmandu is relatively short. If travelling by road, expect a considerably longer transfer through the hills of central Nepal. You can choose any option before opting for final package price.

After reaching Kathmandu, you are transferred to your hotel and have the remainder of the evening free to relax.

Flight Time: Approximately 20 to 25 min from Jomsom to Pokhara and 25 to 30 min from Pokhara to Kathmandu

Pokhara to Kathmandu Distance: Approximately 200 km by road

Your Upper Mustang Trek officially comes to an end today.

Depending on the departure time of your international flight, you may have some free time in Kathmandu before leaving the hotel.

A representative from Top Trail Nepal will transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward journey.

After exploring the Kali Gandaki Valley, ancient villages, Buddhist monasteries, high desert passes, the walled city of Lo Manthang and the remarkable landscapes of Upper Mustang, you leave Nepal with the memories of one of the country’s most distinctive trekking regions.