Upper Mustang Trek - 14 Days

The journey to the Upper Mustang trek starts with 7 hours of journeying through scenic Kathmandu to Pokhara. The route goes along lush hillsides with terraced farmlands and pretty villages, offering glimpses of Nepal’s rural charm. Much of the route follows the Trishuli and Marsyangdi River, adding a fairy-tale consideration to the drive. The towering Annapurna and Machhapuchhre start coming into view as you near this city. 

Pokhara is often called the gateway to the Annapurna region and draws travelers for its serene atmosphere. You can spend the evening at the enchanting Phewa Lake, where the snow-capped peaks cast their reflections in the clear waters. A quiet evening like this would be the best beginning for the adventure of trekking. Overnight stay at a hotel in Pokhara.

On the second day of the Upper Mustang Trek, you will fly from Pokhara to Jomsom. It is the perfect flight for experiencing a bird’s-eye view of the mighty Himalayan range in which all of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and the Nilgiri peaks. It displays the beauty of this short but wonder-filled flight and the dramatic Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. After landing at Jomsom, the trekking adventure will set in with a 3-hour hike to Kagbeni, located at 930 meters.

Kagbeni is an awesome settlement in the suburbs of the Upper Mustang area, which combines charms in its ancient architecture, prayer flags, and chortens. You’ll also find yourself walking through dry stretches of land peppered by apple orchards and traditional settlements when you walk along the Kali Gandaki River. This is the ideal first hand experience of Upper Mustang.

From Kagbeni, the trail goes up steeper into Chele by 3050 meters above sea level, taking in 6 hours of dry, wind-swept landscape characteristic of Upper Mustang. The way is marked with narrow ridges, cliffs, and, at times, hearing the Kali Gandaki River far below. Meanwhile, as you continue on your journey, the views of Nilgiri and Tilicho Peak will grow more vivid and reassuring about the harsh terrain of the region.

This route will take you through typical villages like Tangbe, famous for its whitewashed houses, narrow streets, and buckwheat and barley fields. Chele, a small village embraced by rocky cliffs, shows some of the very old culture and architecture of the Mustang region. Resting here will make you feel the stillness of this remote Himalayan settlement.

On the fourth day of the Upper Mustang Trek, you will hike from Chele to Syangmoche, which is an interesting 6-hour walk through diverse landscapes. You will cross suspension bridges across deep and steep ascents and the steepest, descending again and again. During the journey, you will come across the high pass called Taklam La Pass (3,624 m), which is one of the major attractions of today’s journey.

It also boasts views encompassing the various Himalayan ranges and Mustang’s plains, known for being very arid. The journey has been quite in itself, completed with prayer flags and ancient chortens reflecting deep-rooted spirituality within it. After a few hours of push, you will finally reach scenic Syangmoche village, where the quietude promises captivating views of snow-peaked summits. Well, its serenity and lingering traditionalism indeed make it a perfect spot for charging up for the remaining journey.

This 5-hour walk is from Syangmoche to Ghami, the second largest village in Upper Mustang and located at 3500 m. The whole route is covered with mani walls showing the longest of all the oldest mani walls in Mustang. You will pass through the trail featuring carvings of Buddhist prayers – these religious sites lend a very strong historical and cultural context to the traveling experience.

The trail, of course, offers phenomenal views across the Annapurna and Nilgiri ranges, which change when approaching Ghami to terraced fields and traditional stone houses. The village, with its ancient monasteries and serene feeling, is a fine blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage.

The visit to Charang from Ghami takes around four hours, which we will be covering on today’s journey. It really is a short journey, however, culturally and scenically rewarding. The Tsarang La Pass (3870 m) during the journey has a panoramic view of the rugged terrain of the Mustang region with a far-off sight of the snow-capped peaks.

Charang is a very ancient town and is known for its gigantic white dzong (fort) and red monastery. The combination of ancient architecture and the monastery’s really detailed artwork makes Charang an important cultural highlight of the trek. You can explore the narrow streets and the village’s amenities for the whole afternoon. Overnight stay at Charang in a local tea house.

The seventh day of the Upper Mustang Trek brings us into one of the major highlights of this journey. We again trek for five hours and reach the historical walled city of Lo Manthang, standing firm at an altitude of 3770 meters above sea level.This walk includes panoramic views of the Himalayas and the almost arid-looking landscapes of Upper Mustang. Chortens and mani walls characterize the way to add the spiritual aspect. 

Lo Manthang was once the capital of the Kingdom of Mustang and is now a veritable treasure hub of history and culture. The mud-brick houses, the wall caves and the royal palace create an atmosphere of timelessness. It houses ancient monasteries such as the Thubchen and the Jampa Lhakhang that have exquisite murals and sculptures. 

After exploring Lo Manthang, overnight stay at a local lodge.

On this very day, you will spend exploring the mythical Chhoser Cave, which consists of many artificially created caves within cliffs near Lo Manthang. These caves are said to have been used by hermits for meditative escapes and taken up residence hundreds of years ago. The trek to Chhoser dazzles one with beautiful views of dry, nearly lifeless Mustang contrasted by the vibrant prayer flags that dot the trail. 

Inside, the caves will be admired by anyone for their wonderful designs and rich history. And after coming back here, spend the evening discovering even more about this unique culture and practice.

Today, you will hike for seven hours from Lo Manthang to Dhakmar, situated at an altitude of about 3800 m. Along with the beautiful display of some of the finest scenery around Upper Mustang, this particularly shows the imposing red cliffs of Dhakmar.

The trail offers both rugged climbs and lovely descents, scattered by plenty of chortens and ancient ruins. With dramatic landscapes surrounding it, Dhakmar is a little village, giving an impression of being a very good place to recompose energies after an exhausting trek. Though the trek time is a little long, the natural beauty of the surroundings will keep you entertained for sure. Overnight stay at a local tea house at Dhakmar.

The tenth day of the Upper Mustang Trek will begin with a warm breakfast at Dhakmar. After breakfast, you will be set on a journey that covers 6 hours through Ghiling, which is at an altitude of 3860 meters. The route runs through hushed landscapes, and you will come across lonely chortens and mani walls on the way that somehow lends a spiritual feel to the journey. 

Ghiling enjoys being a quiet village known for the view it has across the surrounding peaks as well as traditional stone houses. It is a perfect place to relax after a day’s trek because of how quiet it is.

As the morning begins with a warm breakfast at Ghiling, a hike of 6 hours leads to Chuksang, resting at 3050 meters and sounding a little slower as one finally breaks out of Upper Mustang. The scenery becomes greener, with glimpsed images of the Kali Gandaki River once in a while.

Chuksang, an old village, offers you with its splendid feel of traditional architecture and bright prayer flags. Then, one can rest on the great journey to the hidden kingdom of Mustang.

This is almost the last part of the Upper Mustang Trek. An early morning hike will take you on a five-hour journey to Jomsom, situated at 2715 meters. The path leads you again along the Kali Gandaki River in what might be the last chance to behold the marvelous sceneries of the region. Along the way, you can experience Buddhist culture showcased in the form of mani walls and prayer flags. 

Jomsom is bustling with a bazaar set against the backdrop of Upper Mustang. You can rest here enjoying a warm meal and celebrating the completion of the Upper Mustang Trek. Overnight stay at a lodge in Jomsom.

Today, we will return to Pokhara on a flight from Jomsom. This 15-minute flight from Jomsom to Pokhara offers the traveler one final aerial view of the magnificent Himalayas. It is the last stage in the art of adventure and satisfies any ambitions logistically interpreted from a bird’s eye view of the tracks traversed-the most striking ones at once.

The gentle atmosphere of Pokhara simply makes you feel good. Upon arriving at Pokhara, you can spend time either relaxing around Lakeside or enjoying the peaceful views of Phewa Lake after sunset.

As your Upper Mustang Trek is now completed, it’s time to get back to Kathmandu. You will catch an early morning bus from Pokhara Bus Station and head to the capital city in a 6 to 7 hours drive.

This drive takes you through the settlements of Tanahun and Dhading District, alongside Marsyangdi and Trishuli River.

Upon arriving at Kathmandu, you will check in to your hotel, where you will rest overnight.