Upper Mustang Trek

It is the first day of your Upper Mustang Trek - you will drive to Pokhara from Kathmandu after landing at Tribhuvan International Airport. Our agents will escort you to the transportation bus, bringing you to Pokhara in around 7 to 8 hours. You will be led to your hotel for an overnight stay. The basic amenities of the hotels in Pokhara include an attached bathroom, hot showers, electricity, and internet services.

Pokhara is a beautiful city of lakes in the mid-western part of Nepal. It is one of the major destinations for tourists all around the world.

On the second day of your Upper Mustang trek, you will fly to Jomsom, a beautiful place in northern Nepal. You will catch a flight from Pokhara airport and land at Jomsom airport. It only takes around 20 minutes to reach Jomsom.

Jomsom is one of Nepal's windiest places and has a beautiful view of the surroundings and the snow-capped mountains.

After reaching Jomsom, the headquarters of Mustang, you will start a hike to Kagbeni at 2800 meters. You will take an uphill walk through the Kali Gandaki River to reach Kagbeni. Kagbeni is also called the Gateway to Upper Mustang and is a beautiful destination. The local Nepali apple and the wine 'Marpha' are very popular nationwide.

Once you wake up the following day after reaching Kagbeni, you will prepare to kick off your next hike. Your next destination is Chele, 3050 meters above sea level. It would be best to climb uphill from Kagbeni from the east bank of the Kali Gandaki River.

First, you will reach Chussang village after a short trek, and then climb via the substantial red mass of Conglomerate. You will leave the Kali Gandaki Valley behind and then reach the Ghyakar Khola Valley. You will pass across the rocky terrain before you step into Chele. 

On the fourth day of the Upper Mustang trek, you will start your hike early in the morning at Chele and head towards Syangbochen village. On this day, you will elevate around 400 meters in altitude - Syangbochen village is located at a height of 3475 meters.

You will have to walk through the steep landscapes and the copper red canyon. Here, you can find a glimpse of Buddhism as you can see chortens and mani walls on the route. After passing the giant gorge, rocky terrains, and a valley with green terrace fields, you will finally reach Syangbochen village.

Your next destination on the fifth day of the Upper Mustang Trek will be Ghaymi, at 3510 meters. First, you will reach Geling, from where you will climb uphill through the rugged routes through the valley's center.

From there, you will reach the Nyi La pass at 3,840 meters after a few hours of trekking. Similarly, you will be reaching Ghaymi within a matter of hours from there. Ghaymi is a famous village in a white-washed town. You can also view the overhanging cliffs in this village, where you will take shelter.

On the sixth day of your Upper Mustang Trek, you will leave Ghaymi early in the morning and set off for Charang village at 3560 meters. Remember, this is a high-altitude trek over 3500 meters, so you'd better be prepared with all you have.

Charang is considered the driest part of the Mustang district, and most of the area has a rocky terrain. Your trek to Charang will be physically challenging, so use your fitness, sturdy hiking boots, and other gear.

During the trek, you will reach Charang Chu Canyon and get to the red Gompas in its eastern part. The Gompa features one of the artistic Thangka Paintings and statues around, which portray the Buddhism of the region. You can get to Charang within a few hours of walking.

The major attraction of Upper Mustang is Lo-Manthang, and you will be hiking to this beautiful place on the seventh day of our trek. You will begin your journey from Charang Village and walk for 6 to 7 hours to reach Lo-Manthang village.

Lo-Manthang is a trendy village that is rich in Buddhism and Tibetan culture. It features around 150 households. You can also see the habitats for the Buddhist Lama Guru (monks). Lo-Manthang was a Kingdom once, and to this date, you can find several ancient temples and monasteries around this region that carry great significance and reflect the ancient culture.

On the eighth day of your Upper Mustang Trek, you will take a full day's rest and acclimatize to the altitude. Since you will already be at 3840 meters above sea level, your body needs rest, and you need to acclimatize to avoid any health hazards like altitude sickness and other related illnesses.

It is recommended to make proper preparations for this trek. Eat healthy and nutritious food, stay hydrated, and take enough rest so that your body will retain energy and stamina for a successful hike.

Besides rest, you can also explore the Lo-Manthang valley. You can visit the ancient monasteries and monuments and study Buddhism and its significance around the region.

Your next trekking destination will be Dhamkar, 3820 meters above sea level. Dhamkar is located in the upper highland of the Upper Mustang region, which offers a mystic view of Lo-Manthang and Charang Valley. Similarly, the views of the snow-capped mountains around the area are breathtaking.

You will pass through the Dhila Pass at 4100 meters above sea level and then reach Dhamkar. The trek is physically challenging as it features rocky ridges and landscapes. Similarly, you have to pass through the high altitude pass, the Dhila Pass, which can be challenging to conquer. It's better to prepare well and acclimatize before starting the hike.

This is the tenth day of your trek, and you will descend back to Syangbochen on this phase of your Upper Mustang trek. You will be walking downhill and declining your altitude by 400 meters today. Stay hydrated and healthy since you must walk for hours to reach Syangbochen from Dhamkar.

On the eleventh day of your Upper Mustang Trek, you will return to Chussang village at 2980 meters from Syangbochen. You will walk through the rugged terrains, rocky landscapes, valleys, and green forests to reach Chussang Village.

At Chussang village, you can find many tea houses and guest houses to stay. You can get basic amenities like shared bedrooms, bathrooms, hot showers, and traditional Nepali cuisine.

To reach Jomsom, you will take a different route from the one you used to ascend. Instead, you will go through Jharkot village and visit Jharkot Monastery, which reflects Buddhism and its significance.

You will walk through the seasonal route as you ascend to Jomsom, enjoying the Kali Gandaki Valley and Kagbeni Village views. After 6 to 7 hours, you will finally reach Jomsom, where you will stay at a tea house.

On the thirteenth day of your Upper Mustang trek, you will fly back to Pokhara from Jomsom airport. After 20 minutes, you will reach Pokhara airport and move to your hotel. After resting for some time, you will enjoy sightseeing activities around the beautiful city.

Some must-visit places in Pokhara are Phewa Lake, Begnas Lake, Mahendra Gufa, Chamero Gufa, Mountain Museum, White Pagoda, and Sarangkot Hill. If you are interested, you can get involved in adventurous activities like bungee jumping, paragliding, and cycling. Besides that, you can go out clubbing in the evening and enjoy the vibrant lifestyle of Pokhara with live music and drinks.

This is the last day of your Upper Mustang Trek - you will drive back to Kathmandu from Pokhara on this day. You will sum up the Upper Mustang Trek, take a bus, and then head towards the capital city of Nepal. You will pass through the beautiful districts and landmarks around Tanahun and Dhading, which feature the Marsyangdi River, Trishuli River, waterfalls, bridges, green terraced fields, and vibrant towns and villages.