Join an incredibly beautiful trekking adventure in the surreal landscapes of the Himalayas. Upper Mustang Trek is a walking adventure in the restricted Mustang region of the mountains in Nepal. The rain shadow region in Nepal, Upper Mustang is the home to unique cultural riches and dramatic landscapes.
Expect to enjoy the crystalline skies over the mountains all the way throughout the trek. The landscapes get more dramatic as you trek higher towards the final destination of the trek – Lo Manthang. Following the Kali Gandaki River valley, the trek takes you up and down several passes that bring you a breathtaking view of the surroundings.
In the vast deserted mountains, you will explore the settlements existing like an oasis. The beauty of the region is in the landscapes that keep you amazed all the way through. In addition to the amazing landscapes, another beauty of trekking in the region is the experience of a unique culture. People living in the region follow Buddhism that mostly sets their lifestyle and culture. Their cultural and traditional lifestyle is incredibly beautiful and inspiring.
Upper Mustang Trekking in Nepal is the adventure trekking journey to explore and enjoy such wonders of nature and culture. Witnessing the ancient hanging caves on the cliffs; enjoying views of the jagged mountains, and exploring beautiful local life make this trip really an experience of a lifetime.
The journey into Upper Mustang rises gently from the lush valleys of Pokhara and the Kali Gandaki corridor before entering the dry, windswept desert of the former Lo Kingdom. The altitude stays moderate compared to high-pass treks, but the landscape feels strikingly elevated and open, with dramatic cliffs and ancient cave settlements. Below is the approximate altitude flow for the classic route:
| Location | Altitude (meters) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pokhara | 820 m | Starting point of the journey |
| Jomsom | 2,720 m | Windy airstrip town in Lower Mustang |
| Kagbeni | 2,810 m | Gateway to Upper Mustang |
| Chele | 3,050 m | Entry into the restricted Upper Mustang region |
| Syangmochen | 3,800 m | High ridge area with desert scenery |
| Ghiling | 3,570 m | Ancient village with wide-open landscapes |
| Tsarang | 3,560 m | Historic settlement with monasteries and palace ruins |
| Lo Manthang | 3,840 m | Main capital of Upper Mustang, walled city |
| Chhoser | 3,900 m | Side trip for sky caves and ancient gompas |
| Yara | 3,650 m | Remote village surrounded by red cliffs |
| Tange | 3,340 m | Quiet, scenic desert valley |
| Chhusang | 2,980 m | End of Upper Mustang section, descending toward Kagbeni |
| Jomsom | 2,720 m | Final stop before flying or driving out |
The first day of your adventure trip to the Upper Mustang starts with your arrival to Kathmandu. Our company representative will welcome you at the airport on your arrival. He will transfer you to the hotel where you can find an easy time to relax after checking in. We will meet you in the evening at the hotel to talk about the trip in details. Any questions you may have regarding your trip will be discussed so that you are well-prepared for the trip.
Lunch & Dinner
Hotel
1400 m
We will drive to Pokhara today. It is a long day drive to the beautiful lake city that is 200 kilometers to the west of Kathmandu. About six hours of the drive along the highway takes us through beautiful villages, towns, rivers, and other wonderful surroundings. We will reach Pokhara in the afternoon that leaves us enough time to go for a stroll around the Lakeside and enjoy the beauty of Fewa Lake. Pokhara offers a peaceful atmosphere and stunning views of the mountains from the city itself. Exploring around and soaking in the beauty of Pokhara, we will spend quite leisurely time preparing for the trek to start tomorrow.
Breakfast
Hotel
820 m
Our trip enters into the actual trekking adventure today. Before we embark on the walking journey, we have a beautiful flight to the mountain. The flight from Pokhara to Jomsom is a short one but, as it flies past Annapurna range, the view it brings is simply indescribable.
After a 20-minute flight to Jomsom, we get ready for the trek of the day. We walk to Kagbeni in the Kali Gandaki river valley. It takes us about 4 hours to reach the beautiful village of Kagbeni to stay overnight.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Guesthouse
2800 m
The second day of walk in the amazing mountainous region of Mustang takes us to Chhusang to stay overnight. The landscapes get really dramatic and deserted. And the human settlements in the region look like an oasis in the desert. A beautiful and peaceful walk along the rugged mountains takes us to the beautiful village of Chhusang to stay overnight.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Guesthouse
2980 m
We trek to another beautiful village of Samar today. The trek is an adventurous yet beautiful experience. As we cover a huge elevation gain, we will need to walk pretty much of uphill with some downhill walks to. We can see how amazingly the landscapes are getting more dramatic as we trek higher. The destination for the day eventually arrives after a quite beautiful walk through the mountains.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Guesthouse
3660 m
The walk from Samar to Gheling today takes us past another beautiful village of Syanbochen. Along the way, we can also visit a cave monastery. Traversing the mountains and the valley, we eventually reach Gheling to stay overnight. It is a day of the beautiful walk and unique cultural experiences.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Guesthouse
3550 m
We continue the trek in our Upper Mustang adventure. Our walk for the day takes us past a high pass of Nyi La at the elevation of 4,010 meters above sea level. After crossing the pass we descend to Ghami village and walk further to Dhakmar to stay overnight. The pass provides a stunning view of the beautiful landscapes of Mustang.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Guesthouse
