The 19-day Upper Mustang Trek offers 12 days of actual walking, 4 days of driving, a 1-day Kathmandu cultural heritage tour, and 2 days for arrival and departure. It is a cultural special-region trek to the high Himalayan dry land of Nepal. It is a moderate-level mountain trip that reaches the highest elevation of 3,840 meters (Lomanthang) and costs 2,300-2,500 USD per person, depending on the number of trekkers and travelers in a group, and includes a tourist bus, private transportation, three nights of hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast, 2 nights of hotel accommodation in Pokhara with breakfast, all meals and guesthouse accommodation in the mountains, restricted area and conservation area entry permits, and an experienced guide. But the cost of the jeep tour is lower than the trek and ranges from 1100-1500 USD per person, including all entry permits, full board with meals and accommodations, a private jeep, and a guide.
Upper Mustang Trek
A Quick Glimpse
- Trip Duration: 19 Days
- Trekking Duration: 12 Days
- Starting Point: Kathmandu
- Ending Point: Kathmandu
- Maximum Elevation: 3,840 meters (12,598 feet)
- Difficulty Level: Moderate
- Best Seasons: January to December
- Key Highlights: Mountain views, high Himalayan desert lands, Himalayan hidden valley, man-made caves, ancient historical and religious monasteries, rivers, waterfall, hot spring, traditional villages, and more
- Mountain Views: Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, Annapurna II, Annapurna III, Annapurna Fang, Nilgiri, and more
- Customizable: Yes
The Upper Mustang Trek is in an ancient Buddhist kingdom in Nepal. It is a forbidden region behind the high Annapurna Mountains. This high-mountain desert region is similar to Tibetan land, so you might get a Tibetan feel while visiting the Upper Mustang.
Mustang had a separate king when Nepal was a kingdom but belonged to Nepal. There is still a palace in Lo Manthang. The Trek passes through the historic village of Kagbeni, a gateway to the Upper Mustang. Distinct types of landscapes and colorful hills dot the region.
Historical caves, wall paintings, and Buddhist monuments show some of Mustang's ancient lifestyles and cultures. The Mustang Trek also offers attractions such as religion, culture, outstanding landscapes, and panoramic views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Tilicho Peak, Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, and other high mountains.
Upper Mustang is a restricted region, so you must have a special Trekking Permit to enter. Lo Manthang is the last destination of the Mustang Trek. You walk through Chele, Syangbochen, Ghami, and Tsarang before reaching Lo Manthang. In the afternoon, when you arrive, you can visit three old monasteries in Lo Manthang that have existed since the 13th or 14th century. A four-story Jong cave in Chhoser village offers a glimpse into the Mustang people’s ancient history and lifestyle during the day of exploration from Lo Manthang.
On your return, visit Ghar Gompa on the way to Dhakmar. It was constructed in the 12th century and dedicated to Guru Rinpoche, who visited the region. The strong belief is that it will come true if you wish for anything from this Gompa. You can only see Annapurna I from this upper trail to Dhakmar during this Mustang Trek.
Upper Mustang Jeep Tour
There is road access to Lomangtang and, further on, to the Tibetan border. If you do not have enough time, can’t walk at a high altitude, or don’t want to trek through dusty trails, you can book a jeep tour to the Upper Mustang.
The Jeep Tour to the Upper Mustang is a luxury mountain trip, so you can explore everything that the trekkers do during the trip. The 12-day walking itinerary of the Mustang trek can be completed in 5 days on a Jeep Tour. So, it may save you time, stamina, and money.
The Upper Mustang Jeep Tour begins in Pokhara and goes to Kagbeni on the first day. After spending a night in Kagbeni, you drive to Lomanthang on the second day. Then you visit Chhoser from Lo village on the day of exploration and return to Dhakmar via Ghar Gompa. You can visit caves on the cliffside of colorful hills in Dhakmar. The fourth day's drive is back to Tatopani from Dhakmar, and the fifth day is to Pokhara.
Upper Mustang Jeep Tour Itinerary
- Day 01: Drive from Pokhara to Kagbeni (2,800m) 7-8 hrs
- Day 02: Drive from Kagbeni to Lomanthang (3,840m) 5 hrs
- Day 03: Drive to Chhoser (4,784m) for 30 minutes and drive back to Dhakmar (3,820m) for 4 hours.
- Day 04: Drive from Dhakmar to Tatopani (1,190m) 6 hrs
- Day 05: Drive from Tatopani to Pokhara (8,20m) 5 hrs
The Best Time to Trek to Upper Mustang
September to December and March to May are the Best times for the Mustang Trek. These months usually have clear views of the mountains. Winter is cold, but you can do this with warm equipment. The Mustang is a rain-shadow region, which is doable even during the monsoon season. But it may affect the Jomsom flight due to summer rain and clouds. Trekking to the Upper Mustang in the summer takes around 3 weeks.
Trek Cost for Upper Mustang
The Upper Mustang is more expensive than the other Regular treks in Nepal. A restricted area permit makes the trip costly. At least two trekkers must be in a group for the Upper Mustang.
We also organize the Mustang trek for a single person, but the cost is high because of permit sharing. 2–4 people cost 2,400 USD per person for the Mustang Trek. If you have a bigger group with more than five trekkers, the cost is reduced from the main Package Cost.
We usually arrange trekking trips to the Upper Mustang, including all-inclusive packages. The package also covers a full-day city tour of Kathmandu and accommodation in the city. You hire a guide and porter on the Mustang Trek and pay for the cheaper food.
Trekking Itinerary to Upper Mustang
The Mustang Trekking Itinerary depends on the route and direction that you are following. Start walking from Nayapul and Beni and fly out from Jomsom after Lomanthang. This is a long Itinerary. A two-way flight to or from Jomsom is a short Mustang trekking itinerary.
Alternatively, you can walk from Kagbeni to Lomanthang and Trek back to Kagbeni again. You can drive back from Kagbeni to Pokhara in one day. It is a 12-day upper Mustang itinerary if you drive to or from Kagbeni. The road is bumpy and prone to landslides after rainfall, so driving to Mustang during the monsoon is not advisable.
Our regular Mustang Trek Itinerary is for 12 days, but you can find it for 19 days from your home to your home. The Mustang journey begins with a flight from Pokhara to Jomsom, followed by a first-day trek to Kagbeni. Then it goes to Lomanthang via Chele, Syangbochen, Ghami, and Tsusang. You have an exploration day in Lo village, where you can visit the Jhong cave and monasteries. On your return, you take the upper route via Ghar Gompa to Dhakmar. You can fly out from Jomsom after your Trek if you have a short holiday in Mustang. Otherwise, you can walk down to Beni or Nayapul for a few more days.
Upper Mustang for Nepali
Most Nepali travelers to the Upper Mustang take a jeep tour. It is very cheap for Nepalis to travel to Mustang. Internal visitors do not need a special permit for the Mustang. Rather than doing a Trek, all Nepalese visitors drive in a jeep or take a bike tour to the Upper Mustang.
All Nepalese travelers to Lomanthang cannot ride motorbikes, and some might not be interested in driving off-road in the Himalayas. We offer all transportation from Kathmandu to Lomanthang and the Tibetan border to Nepal. We arrange a tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara and a 4-wheel-drive Jeep to the Mustang. It is a group tour, so we gather people to run trips to the Mustang.
Permit Cost for Upper Mustang
Trekkers need to get two different permits for the Mustang Trek. Annapurna Conservation Area entry tickets and restricted-area entry tickets are required to enter Upper Mustang. The restricted area permit can be issued from the Nepal immigration offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara. One can obtain an Annapurna Conservation Area permit from the National Trust for Nature Conservation offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Nepalese visitors do not need a Special Permit, but other travelers must have one. All foreigners must pay 50 USD per person for a restricted permit, and 3000 NPR for Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) permit beside the trekkers from South Asia. South Asian Trekker's permit cost for ACA is 1000 NPR.
Mustang Trek Attraction
Kaligandaki Valley and Gorge
The Kali Gandaki Valley is a Himalayan valley between the massive Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges. It is a windy valley, so there is a strong wind every afternoon. But if the day is cloudy, there won’t be a strong wind. Walking along the Kaligandaki river bank in this valley, you can collect some Saligrama (fossils).
The Kali Gandaki river gorge (Andha Galchi) is the world’s deepest gorge, between the villages of Ghasa and Dana. This deep Galchi divides Dhaulagiri (8,167m) to the west and Annapurna I (8,091m) to the east. Because of the measurement of these two giant peaks from the bottom, it is the world’s deepest canyon.
Kagbeni Village
Kagbeni is an ancient and beautiful village in the Mustang district. Located at 2,800m, it is the gateway to the Upper Mustang. Kag Chode Thupten Samphel Ling Monastery in the place is a highlight to visit.
It is a holy place for Hindus. There are many Hindus from different regions of Nepal attending a ritual ceremony for their lost parents. Kagbeni divides the trail to Muktinath and Lomantang.
Off-Genre Landscapes and Colorful Hills
Nepal is mostly green, but you can see diverse landscapes on the Mustang Trek. Except for some barley and oat farms, it is hard to find green grassland. So, the Mustang is composed of high Himalayan desert lands.
The Colorful Hills give you a feeling of being in another universe in the Mustang region. There are hundreds of caves on the sides of these Hills. The locals entered the caves for religious and safety purposes.
Experiencing the Religion and Culture of Mustang
Visiting ancient, historic Monasteries in the Upper Mustang may offer peace and prosperity. You will have a fateful time learning about Religion and Culture at these religious sites. You can also learn about Nepal's second mini-kingdom by visiting the palace in Lo Manthang. The polyandry marriage system and sky burial death ritual are strange experiences for Mustang visitors. The Tiji is a fateful festival celebrated yearly in Lo Manthang in May.
Jhong Cave
The Jong (Zhong cave) is a sky cave in Chhoser village. This 5-story cavern has more than 40 different rooms. You can visit this during the exploration day from Lomanthang. The man made it, but there is no proof of who had it.
According to the legend, the villagers hid in this cave to protect themselves from the enemy. From its windows, you can see a beautiful glimpse of Chhoser village, monasteries, and mountains.
Accommodation, Food, and Drinks in Upper Mustang
The Trekking trail to the Upper Mustang is well organized, so getting accommodations during the Trek is not tricky. Most of the lodges have attached bathrooms. Because there are few trekkers, you can easily find Accommodation during the tour.
You can order food from a menu in the guesthouses where you stay. So, you don’t have to take the local dishes on the trek. You can buy bottled mineral water everywhere along the way. Also, you can drink tap water using the purification methods if you prefer.
Internet, Phone, and Battery Charging
There have been no Wi-Fi services for Internet users until now, but they will soon be available. You can take a SIM card with Internet data for the Upper Mustang Region. There is just an NTC mobile signal in the Upper Mustang Region, so be sure to buy an NTC or NCELL SIM card. You can also call your family and relatives in the Upper Mustang using this SIM.
You can charge your phone, camera, and other gadgets during the trek, and it’s mostly free. Most places along the Upper Mustang Route have reliable electricity.
Collaborate with Frolic Adventure for the Upper Mustang Journey.
Frolic Adventure operates this Trek from Kathmandu. We are an authorized local trekking organizer in Nepal. Remember us for your amazing Mustang trip, so we manage the Mustang Tour at a reliable cost and securely. To travel to Mustang, at least two people must be in a group. We make bookings for individuals and manage group permits for the Upper Mustang. You can book the trip directly using our departure dates, or provide your own by contacting us.
Upper Mustang Trek Itinerary
Arrive in Kathmandu (1,350 m.)
Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, a Frolic Adventure representative will pick you up by private vehicle and transfer you to the hotel. At the hotel, you will meet the tour operator and have a pre-trip meeting after check-in.
Trekking Preparation and Trip Meeting (Optional, Kathmandu Heritage Tour)
Today, we have a short trip meeting, permit making, and trekking preparation. You can visit four UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites if you are interested. We recommend this day tour because you can learn in detail about Nepal's ancient history, culture, religion, lifestyle, art, architecture, and more from our expert tour guide. Overnight in the hotel.
Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (820 m.) 6-7 hrs.
Today, you drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara on a tourist bus. It is a 200km drive and takes around 7 hours to reach Pokhara. Alternatively, you can fly from the Kathmandu domestic terminal. After check-in at the hotel in Pokhara, you can walk around the Lakeside and stay overnight in Pokhara.
Fly Pokhara to Jomsom (2,720 m.) and Trek to Kagbeni (2,800 m.) 3-4 hrs.
Today, you fly from Pokhara to Jomsom in the early morning. After landing at the Jomsom airport, you follow the Kaligandaki valley to Kagbeni. Kagbeni is an ancient village and the gateway to the Upper Mustang. After you drop your luggage in the guesthouse, you can visit the town and an old Buddhist monastery.
Trek from Kagbeni to Chele (3, 100 m.) 5-7 hrs.
Following the Kaligandaki River, you go to Chele today. It is about a 6-hour journey to the camp through Tangbe and Chhusang villages. You can see beautiful grey and brown hills along the way to Chele, with the snow-capped Nilgiri mountain behind.
Trek from Chele to Syangboche (3,800 m.) 6-7 hrs.
After breakfast at the Chele guesthouse, you will walk for around 3 hours to Samar and stop for lunch. Two different trails go to Syangboche from Samar. If you follow the road, it has fewer ups and downs, but the trail via Chhungsi cave has more. But the route from Chhungsi cave has better views and more to explore.
Trek from Syanbochen to Ghami (3,510 m.) 5-6 hrs.
After enjoying panoramic mountain views of Nilgiri, Tlicho, Annapurna Fang, Khangsarkhang, Thorong Peak, and more from Syangbochen Hill in the morning, you trek to Ghami. Keeping Ghilling on the right, you cross dry hills to reach Ghami.
Trek from Ghami to Tsarang (3,560 m.) 4-6 hrs.
It is another short day on the walk from Ghami to Tsarang. You start the day with a short descent to the stream and cross a suspension bridge before starting the ascending part. You will walk through a long Buddhist Mani wall and see the colorful hills toward Dhakmar while you step on the ascending path. After this hill, you will have to descend and follow the flat part of the trail to Charang.
Trek from Tsarang to Lo manthang (3,840 m.) 4-5 hrs.
After Tsarang, you will have a downhill part of the stream. Right after crossing this small stream, you start ascending for a while. Then, you will have a gradual part for about 2 hours. In the end, you will have to go downhill to Lomanthang. You will explore the town after lunch in Lomanthang. You can visit historical Buddhist monasteries, the royal palace, and more in this town.
Hike to Chhoser Cave (4,000 m) 2-4 Hrs. and explore Lo Mangthang Monasteries
Today is your exploration day from Lo Manthang. After breakfast at the guesthouse in Lo Manthang, you hike to Chhoser village. It is about a 2-hour hike from Lo Manthang, or you can hire a horse. You can explore the Jhong cave and several old monasteries here. After exploring Chhoser, you can have lunch and hike back to Lo Manthang.
Trek from Lo-Mangthang to Dhakmar (3,820 m.) 6-7 hrs.
Today, you take the upper route to Dhakmar via Ghar Gumba. This trail shows you beautiful views of high snow-capped mountains, including Annapurna I. It is a long day, taking around 7-8 hours to reach Dhakmar from Lomanthang.
Trek from Dhakmar to Ghiling (3,570 m.) 5-6 hrs.
You will reach Ghami after about half an hour's walk from Dhakmar. Then the trail ascends for another 1.5 to 2 hours. After that, you start descending to Ghilling for another hour. Here, you can visit some monasteries on the side of a hill.
Trek from Ghiling to Chele(3,100 m.) 6-8 hrs.
A gradual ascent leads from Ghilling to Syangbochen. You have already been walking the lower path via Chhungsi Cave, so you can take the upper route from Syangbochen to Samar. You have a lunch break in Samar, then walk two more hours to Chele.
Trek from Chele to Kagbeni (2,800 m.) 5-7 hrs.
You will have a descending part at the beginning of the day from Chele to the Kaligandaki River. Here, you cross a suspension bridge and then walk to Chhusang. Walking on the road for about 2 hours from Chhusang, you reach Tangbe village and stop for lunch. You will trek another two hours from Tangbe to Kagbeni.
Trek from Kagbeni to Marpha - 2,650 m (Apple Town): 4-6 hrs
It is a short day from Kagbeni to Marpha, with a walk through the Kaligandaki Valley. After 2 hours of walking from Kagbeni, you reach Jomsom. If you would like to arrive in Pokhara earlier, you can spend the night in Jomsom and fly the following day. It takes another 2 hours from Jomsom to Marpha. Marpha is the capital of delightful apples, so you can see a big apple orchard here. You can visit the monastery and explore the village in the afternoon.
Drive from Marpha to Tatopani, natural hotspring(1,190 m.) 3-4 hrs
You drive from Marpha to Tatopani in the morning. You arrive in Tatopani for lunch and spend the day here. You can visit a natural hot spring in the evening. If you have two more days from our regular itinerary, you can trek through the Ghorepani Poon Hill route and finish the trek in Nayapul.
Drive from Tatopani to Pokhara (820 m.) 4-5 hrs.
You will drive directly from Tatopani to Pokhara by jeep today. Today, it takes around 5 hrs via Beni, Kusma, Nayapul, Kande, and Phedi. After you arrive in Pokhara, you can check in at the hotel first and then go out to celebrate the trek in the evening.
Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu. Farewell dinner with Frolic Adventure.
You drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu early on a tourist bus. It is about a 7-hour drive through beautiful valleys and towns. You will be invited to a farewell dinner this evening by Frolic Adventure.
Transfer to the international airport for your final departure flight.
You will drop off at the international airport for your final departure with private transportation.
The Upper Mustang trek itinerary is unique because it is a restricted trekking area in Nepal. The Upper Mustang trekking itinerary starts in Pokhara by flight, then continues by road to Nayapul, Beni, and Phedi. It depends on your time limit. The Upper Mustang trek itinerary offers access to the high Himalayan desert-like region of Tibet, also known as "mini Tibet". We make customized Upper Mustang trek itineraries, Ghorepani Poonhill Upper Mustang trek itineraries, Annapurna Base Camp Upper Mustang trek itineraries, Annapurna Circuit Upper Mustang trek itineraries, hot spring Upper Mustang trek itineraries, and more as per your request, holiday time, budget, and interest.
Route Map & Altitude Chart
Trip Cost Details
- Airport pick-up and drop-off by private car/van/bus.
- 3 nights' accommodation in a 3-star hotel and 2 nights in Pokhara, including breakfast, on a twin-sharing basis as per the above itinerary.
- All ground and air transportation during the trip.
- Your standard meal BLD during the trek, with a cup of hot tea/coffee for breakfast
- Fresh fruit after every dinner in the mountains
- All necessary paperwork, special trekking permits, conservation area entry permits, and monument entrance fees
- All accommodations in lodges/tea houses during the treks.
- An experienced, helpful, and friendly guide, porters (1 porter for 2 people).
- Salary, food, drinks, accommodation, transportation, and insurance for the guide and porter.
- The cost of an emergency helicopter service will be covered by your travel insurance company.
- Certificate of achievement
- Frolic Adventure invites you to a farewell dinner last night.
- All government taxes (GST) and Stationery expenses
Private Trip
