Upper Mustang Trek

Your Upper Mustang trek starts after breakfast in Kathmandu. From Kathmandu, you will travel to Pokhara by tourist bus along the famous Prithvi Highway. As you leave the busy city, the road follows the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers. Along the way, you’ll see green hills, terraced farms, small villages, and waterfalls.

You will stop for lunch at a highway restaurant near places like Malekhu or Kurintar, where fresh river fish dishes are popular. After Lunch, the drive continues through Mugling, Dumre, and Damauli, where you can get glimpses into everyday village life and distant mountain views.

Alternatively, you can also choose a 25-minute flight to Pokhara from Kathmandu, which offers beautiful aerial views of hills and mountains, including Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. This flight is optional and costs extra, as it is not included in the trek package.

After reaching Pokhara, you have free time to relax and explore. Pokhara is famous for lakes like Fewa Lake, and views of mountains such as Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). You can enjoy a lakeside walk, go boating to Tal Barahi Temple, or relax at cafes in Lakeside. Or, if you want something special, you can try evening paragliding, yoga by the lake, or enjoy local cultural music and dance. Overnight in Pokhara.

The second day of your trek to Upper Mustang takes you from Pokhara to Kagbeni. After breakfast, first you will take an early morning flight from Pokhara to Jomsom. It is a 25-minute flight known as one of the most scenic in Nepal. You will fly above the Kali Gandaki Gorge, with Mount Annapurna I on one side and Dhaulagiri on the other.

The green hills of Pokhara slowly change into the dry, rocky land of Mustang, giving you your first glimpse of the Mustang region’s unique landscape. And since Mustang is very windy, flights only operate early in the morning.

After landing at Jomsom Airport, you’ll feel the cool mountain air and see wide open valleys surrounded by tall peaks. After a short break at Jomsom, the trek starts. The Upper Mustang trekking trails from Jomsom follow the Kali Gandaki River, with mostly gentle terrain, sandy paths, open riverbeds, and minimal vegetation.

Along the way, you may spot Shaligram stones, which are sacred fossils found in this river. You will stop for lunch at Ekle Bhatti, a small settlement used by trekkers and local traders, or at another place along the route. After lunch, the trail continues through a winding valley with beautiful views of the Nilgiri and Tukuche Peak.

By afternoon, you will reach Kagbeni, which is a historic village where the Kali Gandaki and Jhong Khola rivers meet. Kagbeni is known as the gateway to Upper Mustang. The village has narrow stone streets, old houses, prayer wheels, and ancient chortens.

In the evening, you can explore the village or visit the old Kagbeni Monastery (Kag Chode Thupten Samphel Ling Monastery). You may also try a local apple brandy, which the area is famous for. Overnight stay at a teahouse in Kagbeni.

You will start early from Kagbeni to avoid the strong afternoon winds. At the village checkpoint, your Upper Mustang Trekking permits are checked before you continue along the eastern bank of the river. As the sun rises, Mount Nilgiri glows above the valley, and the landscape slowly turns dry and rugged. The Upper Mustang trek route passes eroded cliffs, rocky walls, and wind-shaped canyons. It can be dusty and windy, so wear sunglasses and a face cover.

After 2–3 hours of walking, you will reach Tangbe (3,060 m), a beautiful village with narrow lanes, white houses, chortens, and small farms. Here, apple orchards and barley fields add color to the otherwise barren land. From Tangbe, the trail continues to Chhusang, walking past red rock cliffs and ancient sky caves carved into the canyon walls.

Chhusang lies at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Narsing Khola and is a suitable place for lunch. After crossing a metal bridge, the trail climbs steadily for about an hour to Chele. At Chele, you will observe a clear shift into Upper Mustang culture. You will see Tibetan-style houses, prayer walls, and a peaceful atmosphere. After checking into your teahouse, you can explore the village or enjoy sunset views as the cliffs glow red and gold.

Today will be one of the most scenic and challenging days on the Upper Mustang trekking route. You will walk through one high mountain pass, deep gorges, and quiet villages as you move from Chele to Syangboche.

After breakfast in Chele, the trail climbs above the Kali Gandaki Valley. The path follows dry ridges and colorful red and brown cliffs. After a steady uphill walk, you will reach Taklam La Pass (3,624 m). From here, you enjoy wide mountain views, including Tilicho Peak and the Damodar range.

From the pass, the trail becomes gentler and rolls across open ridges. You will pass old cave homes carved into cliffs, once used by local herders. The trail then descends to Samar, a green and peaceful village with apple trees, juniper forests, and small farms. Samar is a common lunch stop and feels like an oasis in Mustang’s dry landscape.

After Samar, the walk becomes more demanding. You descend into a narrow gorge, cross a small stream, and then climb again on zigzag trails. Then, you will descend into Syangboche, your overnight stop. Syangboche offers the best views of both the Mustang Himal and the Annapurna range.

The fifth-day trek in the Upper Mustang region is moderate yet highly rewarding. You will cross two high mountain passes and walk through traditional villages and the famous red cliffs and desert-like scenery of Upper Mustang. After breakfast in Syangboche, you will begin trekking through a wide valley with juniper bushes, small fields, chortens, and prayer flags. After an hour or two, you will reach Yamada La Pass at 3,980 m. From here, the views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Nilgiri peaks are amazing.

From Yamada La, the trail goes down to Ghiling, a small Mustang village. This is a good spot for a tea break or lunch. The village feels peaceful, with locals working in the fields and walking along stone paths. Leaving Ghiling, the trek continues through small settlements like Jhaite. After Jhaite, the trail climbs to Nyi La Pass (4,010 m). This is one of the highest points on the Upper Mustang trek. You will walk on a rocky path that is not too steep. From the top of Nyi La Pass, you can see red, brown, and gray hills, with snow peaks in the distance.

From Nyi La, the trail slowly descends into Ghami (3,520 m). Ghami is the third-largest village in Mustang and lies beneath tall red cliffs. The village has terraced fields, stone houses, chortens, and the famous long mani wall, one of the longest in Nepal. It is a peaceful and spiritual place to rest after a long day.

Following the 11 days Upper Mustang Trek Itinerary, today you will trek from Ghami to Tsarang. The trail first descends slightly to cross a bridge over the Ghami Khola. Then the path climbs onto a wide, barren plateau where you’ll find the long mani wall, roughly 250 m long. From here, the trail continues across dry land toward Tsarang La Pass (3,870 m). This is the day’s highest point and the most challenging climb.

As you gain elevation, the views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Tukuche, Nilgiri, and other peaks appear against the empty, moonlike ridges of Mustang. The pass is an ideal place to rest, take photos, and enjoy the panoramic view. After the pass, the trail descends toward Tsarang or Charang village, following the Charang Chu canyon. The village sits on a shelf above the river.

Tsarang is home to a medieval fortress (dzong) and a large red gompa, Tsarang Monastery (Thubten Shedrup Dhagyeling Monastery), which houses statues, thangkas, and manuscripts reflecting the Gelug Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Once in Tsarang, you can visit the dzong and Tsarang Monastery, walk the narrow lanes, and see the mani walls and prayer wheels. As evening falls, the cliffs and fort glow in warm light. So, enjoy the view and rest well.

This is one of the most exciting days of the Upper Mustang trek, as you reach the famous walled city of Lo Manthang, the old capital of the Kingdom of Lo. Leaving Tsarang, the trail to Lo Manthang goes down slightly into the dry Charang Chu canyon. You will then cross a small river and climb steadily on a wide, dusty path. The green terraced fields disappear, and the landscape changes to Mustang’s high desert with red and ochre hills.

The trek takes you to Lo La Pass (3,950 m). From here, you will get your first wide view of the valley and distant peaks like Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Nilgiri, Tilicho, and Bhrikuti. Colorful prayer flags mark the pass, making it feel special. After the pass, the trail goes gently down across a high plateau toward Lo Manthang. You can take a slight detour to Lo Gekar (Ghar Gumba), one of Mustang’s oldest Buddhist temples linked to Guru Rinpoche.

By early afternoon, you will reach Lo Manthang (3,840 m), the “Forbidden Kingdom of Mustang”. The town features narrow alleys, mud-brick houses, and a royal palace at its center. You can spend the afternoon in Lo Manthang exploring the streets, visiting a few gompas, and resting before the next day’s side trips, like horse rides or visiting Chhoser cave dwellings.

Today is a rest day in Lo Manthang. You have time to explore and acclimatize. After breakfast, you can stroll through the main gate and narrow alleys, and see the whitewashed houses, wooden doorways, and lines of prayer wheels. You can also visit the five-storey royal palace, which is still important to locals even though the monarchy ended in 2008. During festivals like Tiji (usually in May), the courtyard and streets come alive with mask dances and rituals.

You can also visit several monasteries, including Jampa Lhakhang, which features a giant Maitreya Buddha and colorful wall paintings, Thubchen Gompa, a 15th-century red-walled hall with murals and a large courtyard, and Chodey & Choprang Gompas, where you can see monks chanting, studying, and performing daily rituals. You can also visit Tsechen Shedrubling Monastic School, where young monks get training.

Alternatively, if you feel energetic, you can also do side trips to Chhoser & Jhong Caves. This cave is used for meditation, burials, and hiding, and provides amazing views of the high desert. Later, in the afternoon, stroll along the market street, visit small shops and art studios that sell traditional thangka paintings and woodwork.

Good to know: Lo Manthang was built in the late 14th century by Ame Pal. He built six-meter-high walls that protected about 150–180 mud-brick houses and the royal palace at the center.

After two nights in Lo Manthang, you will leave the walled city and drive towards Jomsom or Marpha. From Lo Manthang, you will board a 4WD jeep and drive south past Tsarang, Ghami, and Syangboche. The road is mostly unpaved and bumpy, so prepare yourselves. However, the views of eroded canyons and desert hills will keep you mesmerized.

As the driving continues, the road slowly descends into Lower Mustang, following the Kali Gandaki River. The scenery changes from desert to a wider valley with fields, willow trees, and small villages. Peaks like Annapurna and Dhaulagiri tower above the valley. After hours of driving, you will finally arrive in Jomsom, where you will stay overnight. If time and energy allow, you will drive 14 km further to Marpha, famous for its apple orchards.

Day 10 marks the end of the Upper Mustang adventure as you will leave Jomsom or Marpha and drive back to Pokhara. The drive route follows the Kali Gandaki River and takes you from Mustang’s dry, rocky valleys to the greener hills of Western Nepal. Along the way, you will pass by small villages like Tukuche, Ghasa, and Tatopani, apple orchards, terraced fields, and riverside cliffs. Tatopani is famous for its hot springs.

You may see the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri peaks on clear days. As you approach Beni and Pokhara, the landscape becomes greener and more forested. The final stretch into Pokhara is smoother. On arrival, you will check into your hotel, enjoy a hot shower, a comfortable room, and local restaurants, and relax after your unforgettable Upper Mustang journey.

On this day, you will take a tourist bus back to Kathmandu. The drive follows the Marsyangdi River and later the Trishuli River. Along the way, you will pass busy market towns like Damauli, Dumre, and Mugling, with views of green hills, rivers, and distant snow-capped mountains.

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, our team will assist you to your hotel. Get some rest. Later, you can spend your final evening exploring Thamel, shopping for souvenirs, enjoying a massage, or relaxing at a cafe. This marks the end of your trek to Nepal’s forbidden Kingdom.