Upper Mustang Trekking

Upon your arrival, our friendly airport representative will be there to greet you at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu for the Upper Mustang trek. Look for the Adventure White Himalaya signboard outside the airport terminal. You will then be comfortably transferred to your designated hotel in our private tourist vehicle.

Please note that on either Day 01 or 02, depending on your arrival time, there will be a pre-trek meeting for the Upper Mustang trek. During this meeting, we’ll introduce you to your trek leader/guide. It’s a great opportunity to get any questions about the trek answered. Additionally, we will provide you with our trek duffel bag and a cap. For the meeting, make sure to bring your passport, three copies of passport-size photos, and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. We’ll also request you to sign a legally binding trip form and a non-liability disclaimer.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

After your morning meal, your guided tour will commence at 8:30 AM to the Upper Mustang trek. We arrange a private vehicle and an experienced tour guide for your convenience. Our first stop is Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest Buddhist shrines globally, where you can observe Buddhist monks engaged in prayer in the surrounding monasteries.

Following Boudhanath Stupa, we head to Pashupatinath, the country’s most renowned Hindu temple, situated on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River. Here, you’ll witness Hindu holy men (sadhus) meditating, pilgrims taking ritual baths, and occasionally, funeral pyres burning on the ghats.

Note: The remainder of your time in Kathmandu is at your leisure for further exploration and some last-minute shopping in the Thamel area near your hotel.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

After your morning meal, your guide will arrive at your hotel at 6:30 am to escort you to the bus station. There, you’ll catch a tourist-standard bus bound for Pokhara. The journey of the Upper Mustang trek unfolds through the picturesque Nepalese countryside, offering diverse landscapes and captivating settlements. This is all about for the Upper Mustang trek.

During the drive, we make two stops – first for breakfast and then for lunch – allowing you to savor the local flavors. The scenic route leads us through a beautiful valley with interesting settlements, making the 7-hour journey to Pokhara a visual delight.

Upon reaching Pokhara, you’ll be transferred to your lakeside hotel. Take advantage of the evening to enjoy a leisurely stroll around the serene lake.

Overnight in Pokhara.

In the early morning, you will take a northwest flight from Pokhara to Jomsom, a key entry point nestled between the majestic peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. During the flight, you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of towering massifs exceeding 8,000 meters and the world’s deepest gorge.

Upon reaching Jomsom, you’ll meet the rest of the trekking team. The Upper Mustang trek kicks off as you make your way towards Kagbeni, the primary gateway to Upper Mustang. Following the trail along the Kali Gandaki River, you’ll arrive at Kagbeni after approximately 4 hours of hiking. This was a great experience from during the Upper Mustang trek time.

Overnight at a local lodge in Kagbeni.

After having our permits checked in Kagbeni, our trek continues towards Chele. The trail takes us along the east bank of the Kali Gandaki River, climbing over numerous ridges as it heads north and eventually reaches Tangbe village. Tangbe is a charming maze of narrow alleys, surrounded by whitewashed houses, and adorned with fields of buckwheat, barley, wheat, and apple orchards. Throughout the journey of the Upper Mustang trek, the Nilgiri peak stands prominently on the southern skyline, showcasing its various shapes.

Moving beyond Tangbe, we reach Chusang village in approximately half an hour. Crossing the river, the trail proceeds northward, ascending to a large red conglomerate chunk that has fallen from the cliff, creating a tunnel through which the Kaligandaki River flows. Departing from the Kali Gandaki valley, the trek ascends steeply through a rocky gully to reach Chele. The entire trek takes about 6 hours. At Chele, you’ll notice a shift in culture from the Manangi to the Tibetan culture of Lo.

Overnight at a local lodge in Chele.

The ascent continues through steep, treeless, and waterless terrain, following the edge of a stunning, steep canyon until reaching a pass marked by a cairn of rocks. Following the pass, there’s a long, gradual descent leading to Chortens on a ridge. As the descent continues, the trail becomes more pleasant, leading to Samar village.

Beyond Samar, the route climbs above the village to another ridge, followed by a descent into a large gorge. Crossing a stream, the trail ascends to a ridge at 3,800 m, climbs another pass, follows a ridge, and descends to Shyangmochen. From there, a gentle climb takes us to a pass at 3,770 m, followed by a descent to Geling Village. The trek to Geling takes approximately 7 hours.

Overnight at a local lodge in Geling.

From Geling village, the path takes a gentle ascent to reach the intriguing Nya La pass and then descends below the striking blue, grey, and red cliffs. Crossing a steel bridge over the Tangmar Chu river, you’ll encounter a Mani Wall, which is likely the longest and most impressive Mani wall in Nepal. Continuing, the trail climbs another pass at 3,600 m, followed by a long, gradual descent leading to Charang village. The prominent attractions here include the towering five-story white Dzong and the red Gompa. Exploring these, you can observe a collection of statues, Thankas, and numerous large paintings of seated Buddhas. After 7 hours of trekking, you will finally reach Charang.

Overnight in a local lodge in Charang.

Today, we begin our day by exploring the fascinating village of Charang and its large monastery before heading to Lo Manthang. This presents an opportunity to visit two other villages during your Upper Mustang trek. The trail ascends steadily until Lo-Gekar, an ancient Gompa that predates even the famous Samye Gompa in Tibet, making it one of Nepal’s oldest. A short distance ahead lies the 1,200-year-old Ghar Gompa, with Guru Rinpoche as the primary figure. This Gompa is renowned for its rock paintings, and it takes around 2 and a half hours to reach from Charang.

According to legend, making a wish at Ghar Gompa is believed to fulfill that wish. After spending an hour exploring and roaming around, the Upper Mustang trek continues to Lo Manthang. The trail leading to Lo-Manthang involves some minor climbing but is generally smooth. Upon reaching the ridge, you’ll catch sight of the walled city of Lo. Descend briefly, cross the stream, and then climb up onto the plateau of Lo-Manthang. The total duration to reach Lo Manthang from Ghar Gompa is approximately 4 hours.

Overnight in a local lodge in Lo Manthang.

Today is a day dedicated to exploring and acclimatizing in Lo Manthang. We delve into the heart of the Lo Manthang settlement, often referred to as the “Hidden Tibetan kingdom,” to gain insights into their traditions, cultures, and languages. Our first destination is Namgyal Gompa, and the hike to reach there takes approximately 2 hours. Perched on a hilltop, Namgyal Gompa holds significance as a crucial monastery for the local community, also functioning as a local court.

After exploring Namgyal Gompa, the journey continues to Tingkhar, a village comprising around 40 houses and the last primary village to the northwest of Lo Manthang. Having visited Namgyal Gompa and Tingkhar, we return to Lo Manthang.

Overnight in a local lodge in Lo Manthang.

After a full day of exploration in Lo Manthang, we begin of our Upper Mustang trek early in the morning to avoid the windier conditions that prevail during the daytime. The trail leads straight from Lo Manthang to the Dhi pass at 4,100 m, and then descends to Dhi village within approximately 5 hours of trekking. The journey from Lo Manthang to Muktinath is challenging but brings more rewards and interesting experiences compared to the west side of the valley.

Dhi village stands out as one of the best villages in the entire Lo Manthang region, appearing prosperous and strategically settled in a suitable location. Crossing a river, we follow a path along the left bank of the riverside, leading us to Yara village (3650m).

Overnight at a local lodge in Yara.

Starting from Yara, the trail follows the river for approximately 2 hours, eventually crossing the river from Damodar Kunda, one of the sacred lakes in the region. As there is no bridge over the river, you’ll need to wade across barefoot. After successfully crossing the river, the trail ascends to a high pass at 3,850 m, offering expansive views of grassless, treeless hills.

Descending from the pass, the trail leads directly to Tange village, situated at an elevation of 3,370 m. Tange is a small village with around 30 houses, most of which are attached. On the rooftops, you’ll notice piles of dry wood, reflecting the prosperity of their society. The trek for the day is expected to take around 7 hours.

Overnight at a local lodge in Tange.

The trail leads through a steep ridge of hills, offering picturesque views of the wind-carved landscape. Tetang village is nestled between two hills, likely chosen as a safe haven to shield against the strong winds prevalent in the entire Kali Gandaki valley. Tetang stands as the upper village of Chusang, a place we explore on the initial day of entering Mustang from Kagbeni. The journey is anticipated to last around 9 hours.

Overnight at a local lodge in Chusang.

On this final day of the Upper Mustang trek

, we continue our journey through the village, passing scenic Mani walls. Moving past the plateau, we ascend until reaching a small pass, providing breathtaking views of high mountains and a picturesque panorama of the revered Muktinath temple. Following the trail leading to Muktinath temple, passing through the Kani/gate, we explore the temple and take some time to rest. From Muktinath, we embark on a local jeep for a one-hour drive back to Jomsom.

Overnight at a local lodge in Jomsom.

Today, we take a short 30-minute morning flight from Jomsom to Pokhara. Upon landing at Pokhara airport, we drive to our hotel. In the afternoon, we embark on a sightseeing tour around Pokhara valley, exploring Fewa Lake, Davis waterfall, the museum, Tibetan refugee settlement, and Gupteshower cave.

Overnight in Pokhara.

In the early morning, we embark on a drive to Kathmandu from the Upper Mustang trek, following the scenic Prithivi Highway. The journey retraces the route we took to Pokhara, offering picturesque views of natural beauty along the way. The drive to Kathmandu takes approximately 7 hours. In the evening, we gather for a farewell dinner at a Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

Today marks the conclusion of our journey. Our Airport Representative will accompany you to the Kathmandu International Airport for your departure flight from Nepal. As you bid farewell to this beautiful country, we hope your experiences leave you with cherished memories. Safe travels, and we look forward to welcoming you back to Nepal in the future.