Upper Mustang Trek

Welcome to Nepal! Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, a Himalayan Dream Team representative will welcome you and transfer you by private vehicle to your hotel. After check-in, you can relax or spend some time exploring the lively streets, shops and cafés of Thamel.

In the evening, you will meet your trekking guide for a pre-trek briefing about the Upper Mustang Trek, including the itinerary, permits, weather, equipment and other important preparations. Afterwards, enjoy a traditional Nepali welcome dinner, offering your first introduction to Nepalese cuisine and hospitality.

After breakfast, begin a guided sightseeing tour of some of Kathmandu Valley’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, offering an introduction to Nepal’s rich Buddhist, Hindu and Newari cultural heritage.

Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple): Visit one of Kathmandu’s oldest Buddhist stupas, located on a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley. The site is known for its ancient shrines, prayer wheels, colourful prayer flags and panoramic views across the city.

Pashupatinath Temple: Continue to Nepal’s most sacred Hindu temple complex, situated along the banks of the Bagmati River. Here you can observe temples, shrines, sadhus and traditional Hindu rituals while learning about the religious importance of Pashupatinath.

Kathmandu Durbar Square: Explore the historic royal square in the heart of old Kathmandu, known for its traditional Newari architecture, courtyards, temples and centuries of cultural history.

After sightseeing, return to the hotel for the final preparation for your Upper Mustang Trek. Your guide will review the trekking program, required equipment and permits and answer any last-minute questions before the journey to Pokhara the following day.

After breakfast, you will travel by tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara, following a scenic highway through the hills of central Nepal. The journey passes rivers, terraced farmland, traditional villages and green valleys, providing an interesting glimpse of rural life along the way.

Upon arrival in Pokhara, you will be transferred to your hotel near the Lakeside area. Pokhara is beautifully situated beneath the Annapurna range and, on clear days, offers impressive views of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Annapurna and Dhaulagiri.

The remainder of the afternoon or evening is free to relax after the journey. You can take a walk along Phewa Lake, explore the shops and cafés of Lakeside or simply rest at the hotel before continuing toward Mustang the following morning.

After an early breakfast, you will transfer to Pokhara Airport for the scenic mountain flight to Jomsom (2,720 m). The short flight (25 minutes) follows the Kali Gandaki Valley between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, offering spectacular Himalayan views in clear weather.

After landing in Jomsom, you will meet the trekking team and continue by vehicle to Kagbeni (2,804 m). Located at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Jhong rivers, Kagbeni is an ancient fortified village with narrow lanes, traditional mud-brick houses, chortens and a centuries-old monastery.

Kagbeni marks the traditional gateway to Upper Mustang and is the final settlement before entering the restricted area. You will spend the night here before beginning the Upper Mustang trek on foot the following morning.

After breakfast, your Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit is checked at Kagbeni before you begin trekking north along the Kali Gandaki Valley.

The trail follows the river through Upper Mustang's increasingly dry and dramatic landscape to Tangbe, a traditional village of whitewashed houses, narrow lanes, chortens and fields of barley and buckwheat. Continuing north, you reach Chhusang, surrounded by colourful cliffs and ancient cave formations.

Beyond Chhusang, the trail crosses the Kali Gandaki and climbs away from the river valley toward Chele (3,050 m). The final ascent provides an impressive introduction to the barren cliffs, deep canyons and Tibetan-influenced settlements that characterize Upper Mustang.

Today is one of the longer and more rewarding trekking days of the journey. After breakfast in Chele, the trail climbs through Upper Mustang's spectacular dry landscape of eroded cliffs, deep canyons and high ridges before reaching Samar, a beautiful traditional village surrounded by poplar trees.

From Samar, you leave the more direct trail and descend into a dramatic side canyon toward Chungsi Cave, also known as Ranchung Cave. This sacred Buddhist meditation site is associated with Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), who is traditionally believed to have meditated here during his journey through the Himalayan region in the 8th century.

After visiting the cave, the trail climbs back through the canyon toward Syangmochen. This section involves considerable ascent and descent and takes you to around 3,800 m, the approximate highest elevation of the day.

From Syangmochen, continue across the high Mustang landscape before descending toward Ghiling (3,570 m). The village is known for its traditional houses, chortens and Buddhist monasteries and provides a peaceful overnight stop after a long day on the trail.

After breakfast, leave Ghiling and begin a steady climb through the open, arid landscape of Upper Mustang. The trail gradually ascends toward Nyi La Pass (approx. 4,020 m), the highest point of the day, with wide views across the Mustang plateau and surrounding mountains.

From the pass, descend toward Ghami (3,520 m), one of the larger traditional villages in Upper Mustang. After lunch, cross the Ghami Khola and continue past the impressive Ghami Mani Wall, one of the longest and most important mani walls in Mustang.

The final section passes colorful chortens and spectacular eroded cliffs before reaching Drakmar (approx. 3,820 m). The village is especially known for the dramatic red cliffs and ancient cave formations surrounding the valley.

Today is one of the most memorable days of the Upper Mustang Trek. Leaving Drakmar, the trail climbs through a spectacular landscape of red cliffs, high valleys and barren ridges before reaching Ghar Gompa (Lo Gekar), one of the most important ancient Buddhist monasteries in Mustang and traditionally associated with Guru Rinpoche.

After visiting the monastery, continue across the high plateau and climb toward Chogo La Pass (approx. 4,320 m), the highest point of the entire trek. From the pass and surrounding ridges, enjoy expansive views across the remote Trans-Himalayan landscape.

The trail then descends gradually, and the ancient walled city of Lo Manthang eventually appears ahead. Continue across the high plateau to reach Lo Manthang (3,840 m), the historic capital of the former Kingdom of Lo.

Today is dedicated to exploring Lo Manthang, the cultural heart of Upper Mustang. Surrounded by its historic defensive wall, the old town preserves traditional mud-brick houses, narrow lanes, Buddhist chortens and centuries-old monasteries.

Visit important cultural and religious sites such as Jampa Lhakhang and Thubchen Gompa, and learn more about the history, Buddhist traditions and everyday life of the people of Upper Mustang.

Depending on local conditions and the interests of the group, the day may also include exploration beyond the walled city toward nearby villages, monasteries or cave settlements.

Lo Manthang was part of the former Kingdom of Lo, and Upper Mustang remained restricted to foreign visitors until 1992. The region continues to be a restricted trekking area today, helping preserve its distinctive Tibetan-influenced culture and heritage.

After breakfast, leave the ancient walls of Lo Manthang and begin the return journey south. The trail climbs gradually toward Lo La Pass (approx. 3,950 m), where you can look back for a final panoramic view of the walled city and the surrounding Mustang landscape.

Continue across the broad high-altitude plateau, passing isolated chortens, eroded cliffs and numerous ancient caves carved into the rock faces. The trail then descends toward the Tsarang Khola before climbing into Tsarang (Charang) at 3,560 m.

After arriving, there will be time to explore this historic village and visit its prominent monastery and old palace, important reminders of Tsarang's role in the history of the former Kingdom of Lo.

After breakfast, leave Tsarang and begin the journey south through the high desert landscape of Upper Mustang. The trail crosses open ridges before descending toward Ghami, where you rejoin part of the route followed earlier in the trek.

From Ghami, climb gradually through the barren hills, passing traditional settlements, chortens and expansive views across the Mustang plateau. The route climbs again toward Nyi La Pass (approx. 4,020 m), the highest point of today's trek.

After crossing the pass, descend through the rugged landscape toward Syangmochen, where you spend the night in a local lodge.

After breakfast, begin the final trekking day of the Upper Mustang journey. The trail initially crosses a high ridge before descending through Bhena and Samar, with impressive views of Mustang's dry valleys, colourful cliffs and distant Himalayan peaks.

Continue through the dramatic canyon landscape toward Chele, followed by a descent to the Kali Gandaki Valley and onward to Chhusang (approx. 2,980 m).

At Chhusang, meet the waiting vehicle and drive south through Kagbeni to Jomsom (2,720 m). After checking into the lodge, enjoy a well-earned rest following the completion of your Upper Mustang trek.

After breakfast, transfer to Jomsom Airport for the morning flight to Pokhara (25 minutes). The spectacular flight follows the Kali Gandaki Valley between the towering Dhaulagiri and Annapurna massifs, providing beautiful mountain views in clear weather.

Upon arrival at Pokhara Airport, transfer to your hotel in the Lakeside area. The remainder of the day is free to relax beside Phewa Lake, explore Lakeside or simply enjoy a comfortable afternoon after completing the trek.

Flights between Jomsom and Pokhara are weather-dependent and normally operate in the morning when conditions are more flavourable.

After breakfast, travel by tourist bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu. The journey follows the highway through river valleys, terraced farmland, villages and the green hills of central Nepal.

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free for rest, shopping or exploring the city at your own pace.

For travellers who prefer to avoid the long road journey, an optional flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu (25 minutes) can be arranged at an additional cost, subject to availability and weather conditions.

Your Upper Mustang Trek comes to an end today. After breakfast at the hotel, you will have some free time depending on the departure time of your international flight.

At the appropriate time, a Himalayan Dream Team representative will meet you at the hotel and transfer you by private vehicle to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward journey. We normally arrange the airport transfer with sufficient time for international check-in, taking Kathmandu traffic conditions into consideration.

If your flight departs later in the day, you can leave your luggage at the hotel and enjoy some additional free time in Kathmandu before the airport transfer.

For travellers who would like to extend their stay in Nepal, Himalayan Dream Team can also arrange additional experiences in Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini or other destinations.