The Upper Mustang Trek takes to one of the unique locations of Nepal hidden between the Himalayas. A recently opened trekking region, the trail is a rare privilege for anyone who ventures to explore it, and it also requires a restricted area permit. Notably, the Upper Mustang trek involves exploring a hidden kingdom that was secluded from other parts of Nepal for centuries, thereby keeping its culture and traditions intact.
Lo Mangthang is the primary destination of this trek, which is a small town and, formerly, the capital of a kingdom. Trekkers can explore the King’s palace in Lo Manthang, which is more than 600 years old, and a monastery that is more than 200 years old. Not only that, we will come across deserted land territories, fossil rocks, ancient caves, and of course, the unique Tibetan culture. Additionally, the trek also offers panoramic views of snowcapped peaks such as Annapurna I, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, and Manaslu.
Upper Mustang Trek Highlights
- Maximum altitude of 3770 meters
- Explore the mystical land of Lo Manthang and the King’s palace
- Witness countless chortens, gompas monasteries, prayer flags, and rock paintings
- Magnificent views of Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, and the Annapurna Massif
- Explore the lives of people living in the upper Himalayas
- Get a glimpse of the mysterious sky caves near the Kali Gandaki River
- Find yourself closer to the traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture
Itinerary
Day 1 :
Pokhara to Jomsom flight and trek to Kagbeni
We begin our Upper Mustang Trek by getting on a plane and flying to Jomsom from Pokhara. The flight will be a mere 25 minutes, whereby we can witness the Kali Gandaki Gorge as well as many Himalayan peaks. Upon landing in Jomsom, we will start hiking and head towards Kagbeni. After 3 to 4 hours of walking, we will arrive at Kagbeni, which is also the checkpoint for essential permits. We will spend the night in a guest house in Kagbeni.
Day 2 :
Kagbeni to Chele
We begin our trek early in the morning as the high winds that develop later can make the hiking difficult. We will walk along the east shore of the Kali Gandaki river before entering the Chhusang Valley. After ascending for a while, we will reach a more arid land and see a glorious view of Mt. Nilgiri. Our forest encounter will be the village of Tangbe that sits on opposite banks of the river. We can also see ancient caves on the cliffs, which are believed to be the homes of some of the earliest inhabitants. After continuing on our trail, we will reach the village of Chele, where we will spend the night.
Day 3 :
Chele to Ghiling
Our third day will include climbing the rugged hills, which will take us to a stone cairn situated at the height of 3540m. From there, we will descend to a small village named Samar. The village has plenty of things to offer such as chortens and gompas. Our trail will then follow a steep descent into a large canyon, and we will ascend again to a height of 3800m before descending down to the Ghiling village, where we will spend the night.
Day 4 :
Hike from Ghiling to Tsarang
After spending the night in Ghiling, we will then continue on our trail, which goes through Nyi La Pass at the height of 3932m. We climb down and follow the Tangmar Chu River, where we can see stones that have inscribed religious prayers. Our final destination for the day will be the Tsarang village that is known for its five-story monastery, red Gompa, and Thangka arts. We will spend the night in a guest house in Tsarang.
Day 5 :
Tsarang to Lo-Manthang
On the fifth day, we will follow a primarily uphill path thereby arriving at Lo-Gekar. The settlement also has a Gompa, which is considered to be one of the most ancient Tibetan monasteries. Upon reaching Lo-Gekar, we have the option to travel by horse to reach Lo-Manthang. We will arrive at the ancient walled city of Lo-Manthang and then descend down to our place of stay. Our night will be spent at a guest house in Lo-Manthang.
Day 6 :
Lo-Manthang Exploration
We will spend the day exploring the ancient and mystical city of Lo-Manthang. It is a walled city that comprises about 150 houses and is believed to be in existence since the 14th century. Notably, the town functioned as the capital for the Kingdom of Lo, which was founded as an independent kingdom by the Tibetan warrior Ame Pal. The whitewashed tall mud-brick walls still exist and represent the history of the city. There are also several gompas as well as the King’s Palace, which is estimated to have been built around the year 1400. As such, we will explore the various gompas and the settlements of the area. We will also visit Tingkat village, a small community to the northwest of Lo Manthang. Our day will be spent exploring the vicinity of Lo-Manthang, and we will spend our second night there.
Day 7 :
Lo-Manthang to Ghami
After spending a day in Lo-Manthang, we will head southward. It will be a different route than the one we took while arriving at Lo-Manthang. We will pass along Drakmar and visit the famous Ghar Monastery. We will spend the night in a guest house in the village of Ghami.
Day 8 :
Ghami to Samsar
We travel further south while traversing arid and remote landscapes. The path will mostly be a downhill hike along with minor ascents. After passing Nyi La, we will cross streams and finally arrive at Samsar, where we will spend the night.
Day 9 :
Samsar to Chuksang
From Samsar, we will follow the regular trekking trail and reach the Chungsi Cave Monastery. We will also pass the vertical canyon wall where Padmasambhava is believed to have meditated. Our path will then go through two deep valleys whereby we reach the riverbed of Kali Gandaki. We will spend the night in a hotel in Chuksang.
Day 10 :
Chuksang to Jomsom
The day will be our last day in Upper Mustang as we head back to Kagbeni. After trekking for several hours, we will rejoin the Annapurna Circuit at Jomsom.
Day 11 :
Flight back to Pokhara
From Jomsom, we will take a flight back to Pokhara. After arriving at Pokhara, our Upper Mustang Trek comes to an end.
