Trip Overview

The ancient Kingdom of Mustang was attached to Tibet in the 14th century although it remained an autonomous dynasty, until annexed by Nepal. Nepal’s Mustang region preserves a life almost unchanged for centuries! It lies hidden behind the Himalayan giants of Dhaulagiri (8,168 m) and Annapurna (8,091 m) at the very roof of Asia on the arid Tibetan plateau. It has long been isolated from the outside world (and only opened to trekking groups since 1991, Maximum up to 1,000 trekkers each year & from 2008 onwards, no more limitation). As you make your way through this secluded land, you’ll pass through brightly painted Chhortens (Buddhist shrines) and tiny villages guarded by enormous monasteries. Once at the walled capital city of Lo -Manthang, you’ll absorb a great sense of timelessness and appreciation for an ancient culture as you discover the ruins of old forts, monasteries rich in art and history, and caves replete with magnificent religious statue.

Outline Itinerary

  • Day 1

    Arrival in Kathmandu, hotel transfer. Free day to look around

  • Day 2

    Sightseeing in Kathmandu

  • Day 3

    Kathmandu to Pokhara (915 m /7 hrs)

  • Day 4

    Pokhara to Jomsom by flight, trek to Kagebeni (2,800 m/ 3 hrs)

  • Day 5

    Kagebeni to Chele / Tsaile (3,050 m / 5 hrs)

  • Day 6

    Chele to Syanbochen (3,475 m /6 hrs)

  • Day 7

    Syanbochen to Ghaymi (3,520 m / 5:30 hrs)

  • Day 8

    Ghyami to Tsarang (3,500 m /4:30 hrs)

  • Day 9

    Tsarang to Lo-Manthang (3,700 m / 5 hrs)

  • Day 10

    Explore Lo Manthang

  • Day 11

    Lo Manthang to Ghar-Gompa (3,785 m / 5 hrs)

  • Day 12

    Ghar Gompa to Ghiling (3,806 m / 5 hrs)

  • Day 13

    Ghiling to Chele / Tsaile (3,050 m/ 5 hrs)

  • Day 14

    Chele to Kagbeni (2,800 m / 5 hrs)

  • Day 15

    Kagbeni to Jomsom (2,700 m /3 hrs)

  • Day 16

    Jomsom –Pokhara- Kathmandu

  • Day 17

    Full day sightseeing in Patan & Bhaktapur Durbar square.

  • Day 18

    Final departure to your home country / next destination

Detailed Itinerary

  • Day 1

    Arrival in Kathmandu, hotel transfer. Free day to look around

    Arrival in Kathmandu, hotel transfer. Free day to look around
  • Day 2

    Sightseeing in Kathmandu

    Full day sightseeing in Kathmandu valley (Swayambhunath Temple/Monkey Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple & Kathmandu Durbar Square)
  • Day 3

    Kathmandu to Pokhara (915 m /7 hrs)

    We drive to Pokhara which is 200 km west from Kathmandu and it takes about 7 hrs with Lunch breaks, journeys along the Prithvi, highway, we drive through the small towns, rice field along the two major rivers Trishuli and Marshyangdi. Once we reached at Pokhara, transfer in Hotel and then explore this beautiful lake city in the evening.
  • Day 4

    Pokhara to Jomsom by flight, trek to Kagebeni (2,800 m/ 3 hrs)

    On this day, we take early morning breakfast to catch the morning flight to Jomsom, a scenic flight of around 20 minute which pass through the two highest Mounains Dhaulagiri( 8,167 m) and Annapurna I( 8,091 m) brings us to Jomsom, a district headquarter for Mustang. In ancient time, jomsom was a major transit point for the Trans Himalayan salt traders. We meet our trekking staffs and prepare for the final depart onward Kagebeni, a gradual path along the Kaligandaki riverbed brings us to Kagebeni in 3hrs. This ancient village of 14th century is a borderline for Upper Mustang. We are obliged to overnight here for immigration check in. A windswept village of Kagebeni has old monastery to visit.
  • Day 5

    Kagebeni to Chele / Tsaile (3,050 m / 5 hrs)

    Journey start only after the special permit check up by police post nearby, then we follow river bank of Kaligandaki upstream having magnificent view of the Nilgiri north and central on the sandy and windy trials to Chhusang which has very fertile crops fields. Some about 2 hours walk from this village we cross the river head up to the huge red chunk of conglomerate that was fallen from the cliff above, forming a tunnel through which the river follows. Chele is not more than an hour walk from here.
  • Day 6

    Chele to Syanbochen (3,475 m /6 hrs)

    Today we climbs Taklam La pass( 3,623 m) through an arid plateaus which gives us good view over Tilicho Peak, Yakawakang, Nilgiri, and Damodar Kunda , from this point we descend to the village of Samar, after lunch in Samar we then walk for 3 hrs to reach Syanbochen, evening we explore the village.
  • Day 7

    Syanbochen to Ghaymi (3,520 m / 5:30 hrs)

    In the beginning of the day, we trek uphill to the Yamdala (3,850 m) passing Chhortens (Buddhist shrines), Stupa and few tea houses. After having Lunch we ascend the highest point of the trek at NVI pass (4,010 m) but we descend immediately to Ghyami where we stop overnight.
  • Day 8

    Ghyami to Tsarang (3,500 m /4:30 hrs)

    We cross Ghyami Khola (river) in the begging of the day, the trail then goes smoothly ups over small passes, on this walk we pass by the very long Mani wall (secret stone wall of the Buddhism), from the end of the wall the trails heads eastward which takes about 2 hrs to reach Tsarang, this is an easy walking day of the trek.
  • Day 9

    Tsarang to Lo-Manthang (3,700 m / 5 hrs)

    Today, we reach to our final destination the LO- Manthang, Lo- Manthang is an ancient walled city with cultural interest. During the walks we can see a magnificient view of NILGIRI, TILICHO, ANNAPURNA1 and BHRIKUTI peak, the trails first descend to TSARANG CHU canyon and then climbs steeply after crossing the river, further the trail ascends gently to the 3850 m over windy pass of Lo, from this point we can see the Lo-Manthang valley (3,700 m) bordering Tibet. We explore this walled city of Lo-Manthang in the evening.
  • Day 10

    Explore Lo Manthang

    Today we visit Namyal Gompa and Tingkhar. Namyal Gompa is situates on the hilltop which serve as an important monastery for local and also as local court, all social and cultural problems are collected here to solve since centuries, after visiting this monastery the tour continue to Tingkhar which is a village of 40 household, the last village of northwest of Lo-Manthang, another visit after the end of the day is to TALL CHAMPA” God house” the red THUGCHEN Gompa and the building of the RAJA’s palaces.
  • Day 11

    Lo Manthang to Ghar-Gompa (3,785 m / 5 hrs)

    We now returning back to Jomsom following the alternative routes passing through the arid plateau and crops field in between, the walks may not be pleasant on the back as we suffer the wind on face, as Kaligandaki valley is a wind valley there is always wind after 11 am till 4 pm in the evening.
  • Day 12

    Ghar Gompa to Ghiling (3,806 m / 5 hrs)

    We walk on the stone pebble trail, we may encounter donkey or yak caravan which carrying daily supplies to the altitude villages of Upper Mustang, at the same time we passes through wheat field and irrigated lands on this walk.
  • Day 13

    Ghiling to Chele / Tsaile (3,050 m/ 5 hrs)

    Here we join the same trek as we walked up on the way to Lo- Manthang, the trek is relatively easy as we going down, on this walk we see the high summit of Nilgiri, Tilicho and others Himalayan peaks.
  • Day 14

    Chele to Kagbeni (2,800 m / 5 hrs)

    We follow the trails downstream the Kaligandaki river, we sometime go over small passes but not too difficult, we gradually get down through this old salt trade route , the Stupa, monasteries and Chhortens (Buddhist shrine) are the main attraction of the day.
  • Day 15

    Kagbeni to Jomsom (2,700 m /3 hrs)

    We start our trek early this day, we pass by Eklebhatti which gives some close view of Nilgiri and beautiful village view of Kagbeni, the trails continue down on the stony path facing Tukuche Peak (6,960 m) Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m) and Nilgiri (6,940 m), we arrive Jomsom for lunch, we then explore this district headquarter during the day end.
  • Day 16

    Jomsom –Pokhara- Kathmandu

    We first take an early morning flights to Pokhara, the flight runs only in the morning from Jomsom due to its unique geographical position, we take breakfast in Pokhara then take 7 hrs bus drives to Kathmandu the same day.
  • Day 17

    Full day sightseeing in Patan & Bhaktapur Durbar square.

    Full day sightseeing in Patan & Bhaktapur Durbar square.
  • Day 18

    Final departure to your home country / next destination

    Final departure to your home country / next destination NOTE: We do organized Camping Trek / Tented Camp Trek in this above route. If any one wishes, please ask for it! Also, it is a bit expensive than Lodge Trek! Per Person Trip Cost: Euro 1,475 or USD 1,860

Trip Info

Cost Includes

  1. Airport picks up & drops off by private vehicle.
  2. 3 Nights hotel accommodation in Kathmandu & 2 Nights hotel accommodation in Pokhara
  3. 2 Full days sightseeing in Kathmandu valley (city tour guide plus private vehicle)
  4. Trekking permit/ TIMS Card, restricted area permit (US $ 50 per person per day per 10 days), ACAP Conservation Area entry permit.
  5. Both ways flight ticket between Pokhara and Jomsom
  6. All domestic airport taxes.
  7. Taxi service for every short distances (Bus station -Hotel & Hotel-Airport)
  8. Guide, Necessary no. of porters, Sherpa, cook, kitchen helper, etc.
  9. Kathmandu-Pokhara & Pokhara-Kathmandu by tourist bus.
  10. All meals three times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea, coffee etc.)
  11. Accommodation in Tea house (lodges & guest houses) during the trek.
  12. Necessary insurance for trekking staffs.
  13. Necessary trekking gears (sleeping bag & down jacket), if required.
  14. Necessary trekking Equipment for Trekking Staffs (shoes, jacket & trousers).
  15. All Government & local taxes.
  16. An emergency rescue evacuation arrangement, if required.

Cost Excludes

  1. Monuments entry fees in Kathmandu
  2. Meals in Kathmandu (lunch & dinner)
  3. Travel insurance
  4. Personal trekking equipment
  5. All alcoholic drinks
  6. Personal nature expenses (soft cold drinks, mineral/ Bottle water, laundry service & so on)
  7. Tipping for trekking staffs.

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Upper Mustang Trek