Upper Mustang Trek – 18 days
Upper Mustang: Trekking into the Last Forbidden Kingdom
Upper Mustang – a journey into one of Nepal’s most starkly beautiful and culturally preserved landscapes. Tucked behind the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges in the trans-Himalayan rain shadow, this region remained closed to outsiders until the early 1990s. Even today, it feels like a world apart – an arid, high-altitude desert of ochre cliffs, wind-carved canyons, and ancient cave dwellings, where Tibetan Buddhist culture continues in rhythms unchanged for centuries.
The trail begins in Jomsom, following the Kali Gandaki River northward into Mustang’s sculpted badlands. As you climb through the villages of Kagbeni, Chele, and Dhakmar, the terrain grows more dramatic – red sandstone towers, narrow cliffside paths, and high passes with sweeping views of Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, and the Annapurna massif. On clear days, the distant peaks of Tukuche and Thorong Ri shimmer on the horizon, adding to the sense of vastness and isolation. Along the way, you’ll encounter whitewashed chortens, prayer wheels, and monasteries that echo with the chants of monks and the scent of juniper smoke.
At the heart of the journey lies Lo Manthang, the walled capital of the former Kingdom of Lo. Here, centuries-old palaces and gompas house exquisite murals and thangka paintings, while narrow lanes bustle with traders, pilgrims, and herders. The cultural immersion is as powerful as the landscape – this is a place where Tibetan language, dress, and ritual remain deeply rooted in daily life.
This is a trek for those drawn to remote places and timeless cultures. It’s not just about altitude or distance – it’s about entering a living highland world shaped by wind, devotion, and resilience. From the sacred site of Muktinath to the honeycombed cliffs of Tangge, Upper Mustang offers a rare blend of raw Himalayan drama and quiet spiritual depth.
Trek Cost Details (2025 & 2026)
Upper Mustang Trek
Group Size – Cost PP (USD)
2-3 –
4-6 –
7-9 –
10 –
11+ –
$2,050
$1,902
$1,817
$1,720
Contact Us
Notes
• If you are a solo traveller, please contact us for prices and further details.
• If you would prefer to have a return trip Kathmandu to Pokhara by domestic flight, rather than tourist bus, please contact us for prices.
• We do not merge travellers into mixed groups — your trek is private and personalised.
• Need a trek to fit your budget? Contact us — we’re happy to help tailor your experience.
Highlights
- Trek through one of Nepal’s Restricted Regions
- Lo Manthang – Discover the walled capital of the former Kingdom of Lo, with its ancient palaces, monasteries, and Tibetan heritage.
- Follow the world’s deepest gorge northward, using the Kali Gandaki Corridor, into Mustang’s sculpted badlands, flanked by Nilgiri and the Dhaulagiri range.
- Walk beneath towering crimson sandstone formations at Dhakmar’s Red Cliffs.
- Visit Ghar Gompa, one of the region’s oldest monasteries.
- Explore ancient meditation caves and cliff dwellings carved into vertical rock faces.
- Cross the dramatic high passes of Lo La and Ghar La, with sweeping vistas of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Tukuche, and the peaks of Thorong Ri and Tilicho.
- Immerse yourself in Tibetan Buddhist Culture, a living highland world of prayer flags, chortens, and timeless rituals.
- End your journey at the revered sacred pilgrimage site of Muktinath
- Stay in the traditional remote settlements of Kagbeni, Chele, and Yara
Itinerary
Arrival & Preparation:
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,355m)
Upon arrival at Kathmandu International Airport our staff will greet you and escort you to your 3* hotel in Kathmandu. Depending upon your arrival time you may spend free time visiting nearby cultural sites, shopping or simply resting at your hotel. Overnight 3★ hotel. Driving 1 hour.
Day 2: Trek preparations in Kathmandu
Today we will be finalising your trek preparations and permits. You will have the day to explore the cultural sites of Kathmandu and do any last-minute gear shopping. In the early evening you will have a trek briefing with your guide. Overnight 3★ hotel.
Journey to the Trailhead:
Day 3: : Kathmandu to Pokhara (827m)
Your adventure begins with a scenic drive westward in a luxury tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara, winding through river valleys and terraced hillsides. Upon arrival, settle into your lakeside hotel and soak in views of Machhapuchhre, and the Annapurna range. Overnight 3★ hotel. Driving 7-8 hours.
Day 4: : Pokhara to Jomsom (2,740m) onto Kagbeni (2,810m)
An early flight takes you to Jomsom – a dramatic start to a desert‑mountain adventure. From Jomsom the trail follows the wind‑scoured Kali Gandaki gorge toward Kagbeni. Mountains on view shift from Annapurna’s western faces to the distant, Dhaulagiri. While Tibetan‑style gompas and prayer flags announce the cultural shift into Mustang’s old trading world. Expect dry air, and an immediate sense that you’ve entered a different Himalayan climate. Overnight Tea House. Trekking 3–4 hours. Flying time: 30 minutes.
Climbing into the Desert:
Day 5: Kagbeni to Chele (3,050m)
Your climb from the riverbed into ever‑more lunar landscapes; wind‑moulded canyons, red sandstone towers, and banded cliffs carved by millennia of flash storms. Chele’s stone houses, barley terraces and mani stones follows Tibetan Buddhist life. Look for the wide panoramas of Nilgiri and Annapurna’s far ridgelines on the horizon. The air is thinner, the light harder, this is Mustang’s desert at altitude. Overnight Tea House. Trekking 6 hours.
Day 6: Chele to Syanboche (3,800m)
As you climb higher the terrain becomes a plateau of wind‑polished rock and sparse grass, with dramatic views opening to the northern horizons. Mountains feel close and austere, with Dhaulagiri to the west and the Annapurnas behind you. Villages here are small, with flat roofs and prayer flags strung between houses; the culture is a close weave of Tibetan ritual and mountain practicality. Nights grow cold and the sky enormous, perfect for star‑gazing on a clear evening. Overnight Tea House. Trekking 6–7 hours.
Ridges and Rockfaces:
Day 7: Syanboche to Dhakmar (3,820m)
Today the route threads along shelves carved into the cliff faces. Dhakmar’s dramatic location, perched on a high ridge, gives it one of Upper Mustang’s most cinematic outlooks. The village is a cluster of houses and tiny gompas. Expect bone‑dry wind, rock‑salt colours and the quiet scent of warming stone kitchens. From the ridgeline you can pick out the great western wall of Dhaulagiri, the Annapurna massif, and the distant summits of Nilgiri and Tukuche. Overnight Tea House. Trekking 6 hours.
Day 8: Dhakmar to Lo Manthang (3,840m)
From Dhakmar you traverse a sequence of ridgelines and narrow paths cut into orange cliffs, descending into sheltered villages. Wildlife is sparse but resilient, watch for griffon vultures wheeling above the cliffs. The trail opens onto high plateaus as you approach Lo‑Manthang, the walled capital of the old Kingdom of Lo. Overnight Tea House. Trekking 6-7 hours.
The Walled Kingdom:
Day 9: Exploration of Lo‑Manthang (3,840m)
Today is devoted to absorbing the atmosphere of Lo Manthang, a walled city that feels like a living archive of Mustang’s past. Its maze of narrow lanes leads you between whitewashed homes, hidden courtyards, and the imposing royal palace at the town’s heart. At Namgyal Gompa, thangka paintings, ritual objects, and the soft murmur of prayers offer a window into the region’s deep Tibetan Buddhist roots. Climb to one of the rooftop viewpoints and the horizon opens toward the distant ridges of Bhrikuti Himal and Tirila Peak, with sculpted earth pillars and ancient cave complexes scattered across the surrounding desert. Overnight Tea House.
Day 10: Drive to Chhoser caves and back to Lo Manthang.
Today’s journey takes you north of Lo Manthang, by jeep, toward Chhoser. Once there, you explore the remarkable cave complexes that have been hollowed into sheer rock faces. These ancient dwellings, once used as meditation retreats and shelters, reveal layers of Mustang’s history. Inside, you’ll find interconnected chambers, ladders, and niches that speak to centuries of adaptation in this rugged land. The surrounding cliffs are alive with echoes of the past, and the silence is broken only by the flutter of prayer flags and the occasional call of a raven. After time to wander and absorb the atmosphere, you return by jeep to Lo Manthang. Overnight Tea House. Driving 1 hour each way.
Through the Badlands
Day 11: Lo Manthang to Yara-gau (3,600m)
Today, the trail heads southeast across wide, windswept plateaus. The landscape is stark yet captivating, barren ridges, eroded cliffs, and scattered chortens marking the way. The route gradually descends into the valley leading toward Yara-gau. Here, the terrain shifts to dramatic canyon walls and sculpted cliffs, with caves carved into the rock hinting at Mustang’s ancient history. The village itself sits tucked against the cliffs, surrounded by barley fields and stone walls. Overnight: Tea House. Trekking 6–7 hours.
Day 12: Yara- Gau to Tangge (3250m)
From Yara-gau, the trail descends steadily from the high plateaus into a harsher, more sculpted landscape. Paths wind through gullies lined with salt deposits and cliffs carved into dramatic shapes by centuries of wind and water. Tangge emerges as a cluster of stone houses and prayer walls. Hidden in the surrounding cliffs are cave dwellings and meditation sites, reminders of Mustang’s deep spiritual past. On clear days, the skyline stretches to the distant outlines of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, while closer in the terrain feels raw, wind-swept, and austere, alive with the quiet resilience of mountain life. Overnight Tea House. Trekking 6–7 hours.
Day 13: Tangge to Chhusang (2,980m)
This is a long day through Mustang’s most theatrical landscape – towering rock pillars, narrow canyons and honeycombed cliffs. Chhusang itself is set beneath vertical cliffs and ancient caves where Tibetan traders once sheltered. Cultural traces are everywhere: carved mani stones, small mani walls, and local farmers tending barley and buckwheat in sheltered folds. Expect dusty trails and dramatic light. Overnight Tea House. Trekking 8–9 hours.
Sacred Heights and Valley Return:
Day 14: Chhusang to Muktinath (3,710m)
From Chhusang (2,980m) the trail follows the Kali Gandaki south to Kagbeni, the gateway between Upper and Lower Mustang, before climbing steadily through the fortress-like houses and monastery of Jharkot (3,550m) and continuing to Ranipauwa, the settlement below Muktinath; here trekkers enter the sacred realm of Muktinath (3,710m), an important Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage site where 108 water spouts, shrines, and the eternal flame create a powerful spiritual atmosphere beneath towering cliffs. Overnight Tea House. Trekking 6–7 hours.
Day 15: Muktinath to Jomsom (2,740m)
Descending from the high plateau, you retrace the path toward the Kali Gandaki valley and Jomsom, moving from stark alpine scrub into riverine terraces and villages. Look back to see the plateau you’ve crossed and the ridges you’ve conquered. Below, Jomsom bustles with mule trains, teahouses and the hum of the valley airstrip. Cultural rhythms return to market life and roadside gompas, and the colours of the landscape shift to softer browns and green irrigated strips. Overnight Tea House. Trekking 6 hours
Lakeside Landing:
Day 16: Jomsom to Pokhara (827m)
A short morning flight returns you to Pokhara’s lakeside calm. The afternoon invites you to unwind, whether with a lakeside walk, a boat ride across the shimmering water, or relaxing in your hotel. It’s a fitting pause to reflect on a journey that carried you from high Himalayan passes to the heart of a Tibetan-style kingdom. Overnight 3★ Hotel. Flying time 30 minutes
Farewell and Departure:
Day 17: Pokhara to Kathmandu
Today we will take a scenic drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu, by luxury tourist bus. The journey follows the Prithvi Highway, passing through picturesque hills, and countryside villages. The rest of the day is free for souvenir shopping, sightseeing, or simply relaxing. In the evening, we invite you as our guest to enjoy a traditional Nepali farewell dinner together with our team in Kathmandu. A great way to celebrate your incredible trek through the Mustang region. Overnight 3★ hotel. Driving 7-8 hours.
Day 18: Departure from Kathmandu
Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for a final stroll through the city or a short visit to a nearby temple. Our staff will escort you to the airport for your onward journey. Or, if you’re keen to explore more of Nepal’s wonders, we can help to arrange a custom extension to your trip.
What’s Included in your Upper Mustang Trek
from airport transfers to farewell dinner.
- All hotel–airport transfers as per itinerary
- Kathmandu 3★ hotel – 3 nights, bed & breakfast
- Pokhara 3★ hotel – 2 nights, bed & breakfast
- Round-trip Luxury tourist bus between Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Round trip airfare between Pokhara and Jomsom, back to Pokhara (total 15kg luggage allowance)
- 12 nights tea-house accommodation on trek
- Three meals a day during trek: breakfast, lunch, dinner, with tea or coffee
- Fully licensed, English-speaking trekking guide (salary, food, equipment, insurance included). Assistant guide provided for every six trekkers
- Porter service (one porter per two trekkers; salary, food, insurance included)
- All necessary national park fees, permits, and paperwork, including Mustang Restricted Area permit
- Local and government taxes
- First aid kit available during trek
- Emergency helicopter arrangement (cost covered by your insurance)
- Complimentary trekking map to keep
- Complimentary trekking duffle bag to keep
- Complimentary loan of sleeping bag during trek
- Farewell dinner
What’s Not Included
While we’ve covered the essentials, here are a few things you’ll need to arrange separately:
- International airfare and arrival/departure taxes to and from Kathmandu
- Nepal visa fees upon arrival (please bring accurate USD cash and two passport-size photos)
- Personal travel/trekking insurance — You must have insurance, covering trekking up to 3,840m and rescue in case of emergency
- Additional expenses in tea-houses (Wi-Fi, charging, hot showers, laundry, bottled drinks, speciality coffees (espresso, latte etc), snacks, bar bills, phone calls, etc.)
- Additional activities like paragliding, zip-lining, or extra sightseeing at Pokhara.
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
- Lunch and dinner in Pokhara
- Extra night(s) accommodation in Kathmandu if returning early from the trek or late departure.
- Tips for guides and porters
