Upper Mustang Trek Tour by Icicles Adventure Treks And Tours Pvt Ltd

14 daysDuration

Private TourPrivate experience, no group joining

15 peopleMaximum group size

2 peopleMinimum to book

5 - 79 yearsAge range for participants

English, Hindi, NepaleseGuide language

4210mHighest point reached

Starts

Kathmandu, Nepal

Ends

Kathmandu, Nepal

Highlights

Explore the Trans-Himalayan Region landscapes and sceneries

Visit ancient monasteries, caves and palaces

Get insights into Tibetan culture and scenery around the forbidden kingdom of Mustang

Enjoy excellent Himalayan views of Annapurna, Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri and surrounding peaks

Itinerary

Imagine wandering through a hidden kingdom where time-honored Buddhist traditions and dramatic landscapes intertwine. The Upper Mustang Trek is your gateway to Nepal’s remote Trans-Himalayan region, echoing the mystique of Tibetan topography. Trekking here means discovering colorful rock formations, ancient cave dwellings, and centuries-old monasteries that reveal the area’s deep-rooted Buddhist culture. The region, famed as the 'forbidden kingdom,' receives few visitors, ensuring a sense of isolation and authenticity throughout your journey. The trek’s centerpiece is the walled city of Lo-Manthang, where you’ll have the rare chance to meet the Mustangi King—a living embodiment of Mustang’s unique heritage. As you traverse the canyons carved by the Kali Gandaki River and pass through villages adorned with chortens and stupas, you’ll witness a lifestyle preserved through generations. The Upper Mustang trek is also remarkably weather-friendly, as its rain-shadow location makes it suitable even during monsoon months. For travelers seeking a culturally immersive trekking tour package and a genuine encounter with preserved Himalayan traditions, this journey’s USP is its rare access to living history and secluded landscapes.

day 1 - Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara

We start our Upper Mustang Trek after having our early meal.

We initially, take a pleasant 6 hours of drive to Pokhara through Trishuli River. Upon arrival in Pokhara, the naturally beautiful city with many crystal clear lakes, you may take time to spend leisurely at Phewa lakeside or just hang around the market. Accommodation: City Hotel. Included Meal: Breakfast

Duration:6-7 hours

Accommodation:2 Star Hotel

day 2 - Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom and trek to Kagbeni

Today in the early morning, we take an amazing flight from Pokhara to Jomsom that lets us enjoy stunning views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. Jomsom is headquarter of the Mustang region; it is also a major town in the Kaligandaki area linking the age old Trans-Himalayan Salt Trade route to Tibet.

From Jomsom we start our trek. Just at the start we cross a suspension bridge and continue on level path through the Kali Gandaki River bank. After a brief stop here for lunch at Eklebhatti, we walk further for an easy one hour and reach Kagbeni. 30 minutes flight and 4 hours walk. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B,L,D

Duration:4 hours

Accommodation: Guest house

day 3 - Trek from Kagbeni to Chele:

Leaving behind Kagbeni, we continue our Upper Mustang Trek through the Kaligandaki valley along the river banks. Here we also visit spectacular Kang Gompa monastery of Sakyapa sect.

Moving ahead, we reach Tangbe. Beyond Tangbe the trail drops steeply and undulates along the east bank of Kali Gandaki for about two hours and we reach Chhusang village which rests at the confluence of Narshing Khola and the Kali Gandaki. We can visit the small monastery in Chhusang. We cross the river which continues north climbing up to a huge red chunk of ruined castles that has fallen from the cliff above.

The trek now leaves the Kali Gandaki Valley and climbs steeply up a rocky gully to Chele. From here, we notice the cultural change from the Manang culture to the Tibetan culture of Lo. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B,L,D

Duration:7 hours

Accommodation: Guest house

day 4 - Trek from Chele to Geling

We cross the Kaligandaki river today near Ghayakar and ascend towards Samar that comprises walking through barren lands without trees mostly rock formations. Upon arrival at Samar, the scenery becomes awesome that exposes beautiful Himalayan sceneries of Khatung peak, Kangsar Kang, Annapurna I, Tilicho and Nilgiri peak.

Further passing through Syanbochen via Bhena La, we enter a wide valley and finally arrive at Geiling. Spectacular old red-brick gompas and caves are to be seen in Geiling. We stay overnight at local lodge. Included Meal: B,L,D

Duration:6-7 hours

Accommodation: Guest house

day 5 - Trek from Geling to Tsarang

Enjoying the good views of Annapurna Himalayas, along with landscapes at Mustang , we finally descend towards Ghemi crossing a large suspension bridge over Tangmar river. We cross the Tsarang la which is located at an altitude of 3870m above sea level and was the capital of Mustang Lho in 14th century.

Getting insights into Tibetan style cultures and tradition, we finally arrive at Tsarang. There will be plenty of day activities like visiting Tsarang monastery and exploring its amazing presence, style and architecture. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B,L,D

Duration:5-6 hours

Accommodation: Guest house

day 6 - Trek from Tsarang to Lo Manthang (3810 m/12400 ft)

We begin our day’s trek by walking few hours following the valley bed passing the ruins of fortresses and gompas and in no time, we see the walls of Lo Manthang, which is the major highlight of this trek. We trek along the southern walls surrounding the city and reach the small bridge. We have now reached the fabled walled town of Lo, with a single entrance through which only the King, Queen and Kempo (Abbot) are allowed to ride. All others must walk, to pay their respects to Chenrizig, the Buddha of Compassion.

Within the walls of Lo Manthang are about 150 houses built among narrow streets, and some of the largest and finest Tibetan Buddhist Gompas in Nepal. The city is quite prosperous due primarily to its past salt and wool trade along the Kali Gandaki with Tibet, and the Lobas themselves are still very Tibetan, living in Tibetan-style dwellings which we’ll have a chance to visit. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B,L,D

Duration:4 hours

Accommodation: Guest house

day 7 - Exploration day in Lo Manthang – Namgyal Gompa and Ting

Today we recommend horses for anyone wanting to come along on this day-trip, others are free to stay and explore the Lo streets. Namgyal Gompa (the Monastery of Victory), set spectacularly on top of a desolate ridge, is the newest and most active gompa in Lo. The village of Namgyal spreads out past the Gompa. Just past the gompa is the large, sprawling village of Tingkar, where the King has his summer palace.

There are many ancient ruins surrounding the village, some gompas and others old fortresses. Further on, we reach Kimaling village, which is an interesting, white-washed village surrounded by fields where. Below the village, on the way out as we head towards Phuwa and its gompa on the way down towards Lo. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B,L,D

Accommodation: Guest house

day 8 - Lo Manthang to Dhakmar

We leave behind Lo Manthang and head towards Dhakmar today. We return from here, but instead of following the same route back, we trek crossing the Chogo La pass. Upto Chogo La, the route is mostly uphill, and the route turns flat and downhill all the way up to Dhakmar. We reach Ghar Gumba in about five hours.

We have lunch at Ghar Gumba and explore the gompa there. Further we continue our trek and in about two hours we reach Dhakmar. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B,L,D

Duration:7 hours

Accommodation: Guest house

day 9 - Dhakmar to Syangbochen

A long valley descent takes us back to Ghemi where we will rest for a short time before climbing up to the Ghemi La. We drop down to a stream and start climbing over Nya La (4,090m) from where we see fantastic views of Mustang, Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Nilgiri, and many other mountains.

We have our lunch at a lodge at Jhaite (3,820m) before continuing on to our campsite at Syangbochen. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B,L,D

Duration:5-6 hours

Accommodation: Guest house

day 10 - Syangbochen to Chhusang:

We start our day after having our instant meal passing through seasonal hamlets and shepherds herding their flocks of sheep and goat to Samar. We climb high up into an incredible, vast canyon. We reach the Chungsi La (3810m), approximately 500 meters above the cave that offers amazing expansive views of Lo Manthang and the mountains. Then down again steeply to the tunnel bridge and then along the river bed for an hour to Chhusang. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B,L,D

Duration:6-7 hours

Accommodation: Guest house

day 11 - Trek from Chhusang to Muktinath:

Though the trail today, we find a lot of saligrams (hindus regard saligrams as a scared stone). We pass several grassy valley where we can stop for a rest; the trail is good, and the climbing enjoyable now that we are acclimatized.

Eventually we crest the 4077 meter Gyu La from where we see wonderful views of Annapurna, Nilgiri and Tukuche range of mountains and also great views down to Lower Mustang, across to the Thorung La and over the Muktinath Valley.

We might stop for lunch on top if its not too cold or windy (we have to take packed lunch today as there are no lodges enroute until we need to eat our lunch). We further move through the old village of Chhengar and reach Muktinath in about six to seven hours. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B,L,D

Duration:6-7 hours

Accommodation: Guest house

day 12 - Muktinath to Jomsom:

Today is the last day of our trekking activity, the trekking trail goes through the village of Jharkot where we can visit the many attractions such as the Jharkot monastery, Tibetan herbal medical center and the old fortress of Jharkot which once served as palace.

We can opt to take the alternative route to the east to visit the interesting Bon village of Lupra just over a small pass and down yet another narrow river valley. If we go through Lupra village, we visit the Gompa and school there and have our lunch there. While continuing the trek towards Jomsom we will enjoy the views of the Kali Gandaki valley and Kagbeni village.

We arrive Jomsom along a long, cobbled trail with the afternoon time for wash, rest and wander around. Accommodation: Local lodge. Included Meal: B,L,D

Duration:6-7 hours

Accommodation: Guest house

day 13 - Morning flight back to Pokhara

We take a morning flight back to Pokhara with great views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. After 30 minutes of flight we will be at Pokhara. Included Meal: B

Accommodation:3 Star Hotel

day 14 - Drive Pokhara to Kathmandu:

We take a drive back to Kathmandu today. After around 6 hours of drive, upon arrival at Kathmandu, enjoy free time strolling around the cultural hub, sites or simply take rest at your hotel.

Accomodation: City Hotel, Meal: B

Accommodation:3 Star Hotel

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What's Included

Two nights accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in KathmanduTwo nights’ accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in PokharaBest available twin sharing local lodge accommodation during the trekKathmandu to Pokhara transfer by tourist busPokhara -Jomsom -Pokhara flightSpecial Trekking Permit US$ 500 per person for 10 daysAnnapurna Conservation Area Permit and all necessary permits.Full board meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trekSeasonal fruits during the trekStaff– one professional, knowledgeable and friendly English speaking trekking leader along with assistant guide and portersDuffle bag, Down jacket and sleeping bag for use during the trekIcicles Adventure Treks & Tours tshirt, trekking map and trip achievement certificateFirst-aid medical kitGovernment taxes & office service charges

What's Excluded

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