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Upper Mustang Trek 2024/2025

Remote and otherworldly, the Upper Mustang region in Nepal is an arid river valley known for its old cave dwellings, red cliffs, and deep ravines. As a gateway to an ancient Buddhist kingdom, the Upper Mustang trek in Nepal shares deep cultural vibes close to those of Tibet. The 10-day Upper Mustang itinerary will include detours to beautiful rock art and Buddhist monasteries like the Ghar Gompa and Namgyal Gompa, and you’ll enjoy panoramic views of peaks like the Annapurna, Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri while experiencing this uniquely preserved region and people.

Check out tour trekking tours to Upper Mustang below.

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Upper Mustang trek Reviews

5 - Excellent
Based on 29 customer reviews
Amazing trip to Lo Mantang
5 - Excellent
  • Richard Kertesz
“I finally managed to fulfill my boyhood dream and visited Nepal alone. But I also wanted to visit Mustang and I knew that I would need the help of someone local. and I am glad that this agency helped me with my trip. The proceedings were very fair and the support was, in one word, incredible. I want to at least thank UAI on this way for the beautiful experiences that I am taking away from Nepal.”
Great trek despite the low season challenges
4 - Very Good
  • Jean Grunenwald
“Great support from the team (Khum, Krisna) as well as our guide Meg and porter Kumar. Many guest houses were closed due to the low season. Meg found alternatives and secured our daily accommodation. Mind blowing, spectacular landscapes. This second trek in Nepal was at the level of our expectations. I highly recommend this tour.”
Upper Mustang Trek July 2019
5 - Excellent
  • Alexander McKenna
“My partner and I organised the Upper Mustang trek through the local operator. Communication was excellent with Surya and customising the itinerary was made very easy. We had a fantastic experience on the trek with our excellent guide Tersang making sure we were all looked after the whole time. He was very knowledgeable about the region, telling us the history of the places we visited and he knew the best places to stay and visit. We went at a pace that suited us and when my partner injured herself he organised a Jeep at short notice. Tersang is very friendly and personable and made the tough days easier. We would highly recommend Tersang and this company.”

Upper Mustang Trek - Overview

View of Kagbeni village during Upper Mustang Trek.
Visit Kagbeni village and interact with the locals.
Traveler walking on the trails of Upper Mustang
Follow the scenic trekking route in Upper Mustang.
The mountain landscape of Upper Mustang.
Get an amazing view of the mountain landscapes.
Tibetan woman from Lo Manthang in Mustang.
Hear interesting stories from the locals in Mustang.

The Mustang trek will take you through Upper Mustang, a restricted area that previously only allowed some 200 trekkers through annually. While the trail is amazing, its rural and barren landscapes are also not for the faint-hearted. The trek itself does not go to extremely high elevations and is not physically very tough, but relentless afternoon winds can be a challenge. Because of the winds and lack of sufficient water, camping will be done in villages, which are not always conveniently spaced. Some trekking days will thus be relatively long, and others relatively short. These are, however, the conditions if you want to experience the starkly beautiful and highly cultural land of Mustang, a trek that is highly recommended.

Upper Mustang - Trek Facts
Trek difficulty: Moderate
Trek duration: 14 Days
Max altitude: 4200 meters
Remoteness Very Remote
Accommodation:

Guesthouses / Lodges

Best season:

March to May, October to November

Transport to/From trek:

Flight

Permit:

The Restricted Permit for Upper Mustang costs USD 500 per person for up to 10 days and USD 50 per person per day after 10 days.

A scenic view of a village in Mustang on a cloudy day.
A village in Upper Mustang.

Upper Mustang Trek - Itinerary

Upper Mustang Trek map.
An overview map of Upper Mustang Trek.

The below is a sample itinerary. It may vary slightly depending on the final trekking agency you choose to go with:

Day 1 Bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara
Day 2 Flight from Pokhara to Jomsom and trek to Kagbeni (2,858 m)
Day 3 Kagbeni to Chele (3,050 m)
Day 4 Chele to Syanbochen (3,475 m)
Day 5 Syanbochen to Ghaymi (3,520 m)
Day 6 Ghaymi to Charang (3,500 m)
Day 7 Charang to Lo Manthang (3,700 m)
Day 8 Exploration day at Lo Manthang
Day 9 Lo Manthang to Dhakmar (3,810 m)
Day 10 Dhakmar to Ghiling (3,810 m)
Day 11 Ghiling to Chhusang (2,700 m)
Day 12 Chhuksang to Jomsom
Day 13 Flight back to Pokhara
Day 14 Bus back to Kathmandu
View of Lo Manthang during the Upper Mustang trek.
Lo Manthang, the capital of the Kingdom of Lo.

Upper Mustang Trek — Highlights

  • Visit the local monastery, Tibetan herbal medicine center, and an old fortification near Jharkot village on the Upper Mustang trekking route.
  • Stroll in the atmospheric medieval village of Kagbeni, with its narrow lanes, mud brick houses, and 15th-century gompa.
  • Discover the village of Chhusang (also spelled Chuksang), which dramatically juts out into the Kali Gandaki Gorge and is surrounded by cliffs.
  • See the King’s Palace and the striking 16th-century Thubten Shedrup Dhagyeling Monastery in Tsarang (Charang), the second-largest settlement in Upper Mustang.
  • Enjoy excellent views over rooftops of the countryside from the upper floor of the Jampa Gompa in the walled city of Lo Manthang, and also visit the city’s three other important monasteries, Dragkar-Thegchen Lina Gompa, Chode Gompa and Thupchen Gompa along with the Monastic Museum.
  • Walk amid the ruins of the King and Queen’s Castles (dzong) atop two hillocks north of Lo Manthang.
  • Admire the statues and thangkas (Tibetan paintings using pigment on cotton or silk) at the fort and gompa near Tsarang Chu Canyon.
  • Explore the multi-storied cliffside Jhong Caves in Chhoser, which have dozens of rooms and a communal kitchen.

Best time to go to Upper Mustang Trek

Located in the rain shadow Himalayan region, Upper Mustang weather is usually dry and suitable for trekking throughout the year. However, March to early November is the best time to trek to avoid the winter cold and snow. The terrain can be desert-like and sandy in some places and rocky in others. Upper Mustang gets cold at night, with overnight temperatures (in non-winter months) in Lo Manthang dropping to -8°C. Some afternoons may be windy and a bit dusty. Check out our article on trekking seasons in Nepal for more information.

Upper Mustang Trek — Safety Considerations

  • Clean, accessible water at tourist standards may be difficult to find or expensive on an Upper Mustang trek, so carry a basic water filtration system or purification tablets just in case.
  • Though the weather in Upper Mustang is more predictable than other trekking tours in Nepal, don’t rule out the possibility of rain or sudden drops in temperature. Pack accordingly.
  • Always carry cash to use at teahouses.
  • It’s best to go in a group with an expert guide familiar with the local terrain.

Upper Mustang Trek - Questions and Answers

  • How much does it cost to trek the Upper Mustang region?

    The trek to Upper Mustang costs USD 1600-1800. These costs usually include flights to and from Jomsom, trekking permits and registration fees, transport to and from the airport, teahouse accommodation, meals, and guide and porter costs. It also includes the permit fee for the trek, which is USD 500 per person for 10 days. If you extend the trek, it will cost an additional USD 50 per day.

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