Upper Mustang region trek starts with a short drive to the Pokhara city from the Kathmandu valley after enjoying the short sightseeing tour around the Kathmandu city. Pokhara city is also famously known as the "Lake City". After enjoying the short sightseeing around the natural and cultural beauty of the city you will fly to Jomsom technically it is a very short flight but in the case of experience, you will achieve many more like views of the snow-capped peaks, Himalayan flora and fauna and any more. From the Jomsom, you will trek to the Kagabeni- the beautiful mountain village which is in-rich with locals culture and tradition. The adventure trek takes you through the copper-red parched valleys, deep gorges and eroded canyon, you will find the trial decorated with the colourful prayers flags, mani walls and mudbrick houses. You will explore the remoteness and inaccessibility of the Mustang. During the adventure hike to the Upper mustang trek you will cross the many beautiful villages like Chele, Syangbochen, Ghaymi and Charang then after a walk you will arrive at Lo-Manthang,-a red-walled town with the colourfully painted houses, old monasteries and the king's palace.
Trip facts of Upper mustang trek
- Trekking region: Mustang region
- Trekking grade: moderate
- Trek starts/ends: Kathmandu valley
- Maximum elevation:
- Trekking hours: around 4-5 hours
- Accommodation: Three-star hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara valley, a basic teahouse in route
- Meal: breakfast, lunch, and Dinner
Highlights of the Upper Mustang trek
- Explore the Lo Manthang-the ancient kingdom of Mustang Region
- Walkthrough the beautiful vegetation of the Himalayan region
- Northern views of the snow-capped mountains
- Muktinath temple- a sacred place for Hindus pilgrimages.
- Views of the ancient monasteries and explore the windy-valley Jomsom.
- Walkthrough the green-vegetation, lush alpine and fine forest, the charming scattered village of the Gurung and Magar community.
- Enjoy the Teeji festival with the Tibetan ritual, enjoy the ritual performed by the Buddhist monks of the Choedhe monasteries of Lo-Manthang.
- Experience the mixed culture, hospitality and the tradition of the locals living in the Upper Mustang region.
Sample itinerary of the upper mustang trek are listed below:
Day 01: Kathmandu valley Arrival
Day 02: Free day or sightseeing tour around the valley
Day 03: Fly or drive to Pokhara
Day 04: Pokhara to Jomsom fly and trek to Kagbeni
Day 05: Trek Kagbeni to Chele
Day 06: Chele to Syangbochen
Day 07: Trek Syangbochen to Ghaymi
Day 08: Ghyami to Charang
Day 09: Charang to Lo-Manthang
Day 10: Rest and Explore Lo-Manthang
Day 11: trek Lo-Manthang to Drakmar
Day 12: Dhakmar to Syangmochen
Day 13: Trek Syangmochen to Chhusnag
Day 14: Chhisnag to Jomsom
Day 15: Fly to Pokhara (half-day sightseeing)
Day 16: drive back to Kathmandu
Day 17: Final departure
Day to day itinerary of Upper mustang trek
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu
- Altitude: 1350 meters
- Highlights:1300m
- Accommodation: three-star hotel, Kathmandu
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
On the first day of your Upper mustang trek, you will leave your home country for the few-days and catch the flight of Nepal. You will land at Tribhuvan International Airport. After landing, Nepal Hiking Trek represented will be waiting for you carry your name writing pamphlet. They will pick you from the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Take a rest, enjoy the hot shower and in the evening you can roam around the Thamel, city. Overnight at Kathmandu.
Day 02: Free day or sightseeing tour around the valley
- Highlights: Explore the natural and cultural heritage of the valley
- Accommodation: three-star hotel, Kathmandu
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
On the second day of your trek, you will enjoy the full-day sightseeing tour around the Kathmandu valley. Today you will explore the natural and cultural heritage of the valley including the famous heritage sites and the beauty of the valley with a licensed gain and professional tour guide at your service along with a comfortable private vehicle.
Normally the day begins with a visit to the biggest Hindu temple of Nepal
Pashupatinath temple- it is one of the most sacred Hindu temple, which gives you an uncensored look into the Hindus ritual of life, death and reincarnation. After exploring the temple, you will visit Boudhnath Stupa.
Boudhnath: It is the biggest and popular stupa of Nepal which is listed in the UNESCO world heritage sites. You can explore the monasteries and temple on the premises, you can enjoy the gentle chanting of mantras and spinning of the prayer wheel.
Depending on your exploring time, in this gap, you can enjoy the lunch in one of these beautiful places.
Swyombhunath: it is the famous and beautiful stupa of Nepal and also famously known as the "Monkey Temple". This stupa is the 5th-century stupa which is one of the oldest and sits atop of hills and also listed in the UNESCO world heritage sites. This stupa offers the panoramic views of the Kathmandu valley.
Kathmandu Durbar Square: it was the home of Nepal's Kings till the late 19th century, so exploring this place provides you with the many ancient histories.
Visiting other many places, at the dinner you will provide a short brief about the trek, as what to do, how to do, what gear and equipment are very necessary and so on. In your free time, you can also do some shopping in the Thamel.
Thamel: Thamel is the famous tourist area lined with the many local's shops, you can get almost everything that you need for the trek and also, a perfect area to enjoy the sip coffee, grab a beer and enjoy the live music and many more.
Day 03: Fly or drive to Pokhara
- Altitude: 900 meters
- Accommodation: three-star hotel
- Meal: Breakfast. Lunch and Dinner
On the third day of your trek, you will head to Pokhara leaving to the Kathmandu valley after having the early breakfast following the Prithvi Highway. You will drive around 5-6 hours long to reach to your day's destination, during the drive you can enjoy the beautiful views of the western Himalayas on the way, the beautiful bus ride takes you to the beautiful valley of Pokhara- this valley is also known as the "lake city of Nepal" and also a gateway of some of the highest and beautiful snow-capped mountains of Nepal. on the arrival, you can relax and explore the beautiful lake valley, boating in the beautiful lake, explore the temple and during the evening. Overnight at Pokhara.
Day 04: Pokhara to Jomsom fly and trek to Kagbeni
- Altitude: 2800 meters
- Trekking hours: around 2-3 hours
- Accommodation: basic teahouse
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
After the early breakfast, we head to Pokhara airport and fly to Jomsom. Jomsom is the district headquarters of Mustang region. The short flight which takes around 20 minutes to offer you the great views of the surrounding on the clear sky, you can enjoy the beautiful views of the mountains and hills during your flight.
You can also view both Dhaulagiri and Annapurna from the flight which is very incredible.
Jomsom is where you actual adventure walk begins, after landing at Jomsom you will trek around 3 hours through uphills alongside Kali Gandaki rivers to reach the beautiful Kagbeni village.
Kagbeni is the charming and scenic village and also a gateway to Upper Mustang lies at the bank of two rivers, you can also enjoy the majestic views of the Mt Nilgiri and unique landscapes of that area. Overnight at Basic teahouse of Kagbeni.
Day 05: Trek Kagbeni to Chele
- Altitude: 3050 meters
- Trekking hours: around 5-7 hours
- Accommodation: basic teahouse
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
You will continue your trek walking towards the Kali Gandaki, you will climb the ridge, crossing the beautiful village in-rich with mix Tibetan and Buddhist culture, during the walk you will cross Tnagbe, Chhusang village, walking up and down, crossing the dwindling water of the Kali Gandaki, you will walk through the barren lands and forest, you will cross the Kali Gandaki valley and continue to climb Chele. Explore the local culture, tradition, experience their warm hospitality to reliefs your tiredness. Overnight at Chele.
Day 06: Chele to Syangbochen
- Altitude: 3800 meters
- Trekking hours: around 5-6hours
- Accommodation: basic teahouse
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Today's trek goes through the barren land and through the beauty of the Mustang region-unique copper-red landscapes, you will hike downhill to reach the small and charming villages Samar, stop there for the lunch and further starts, you will pass the beautiful and sparsely populates village passing the Yamada La pass, final after the continue walk for a while you will reach Syangboche. Rest for a while and spent the leisure time by exploring the village. Overnight at Syangboche.
Day 07: Trek Syangbochen to Ghaymi
- Altitude: 3500 meters
- Trekking hours: around 4-5 hours
- Accommodation: basic teahouse
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
On the seventh day of your trek, you will walk through the wavy terrains across the two different beautiful passes and starts further with an ascend over the Syangboche pass (3850 meters). You can enjoy the beautiful views of the spectacular landscapes of the Upper mustang. Then you will trek downhill to Gelling, you will pass through different Chortens on the way. With the feel of the strong air, gusty winds of the Mustang along with the fluttering of prayers flags you will enter to Ghemi. Rest for a while and explore the village. Overnight at Ghemi.
Day 08: Ghyami to Charang
- Altitude: 3560 meters
- Trekking hours: around 4 hours
- Accommodation: basic teahouse
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
On the eighth day of your trek, you will pass the longest mani walls (1000ft) of the Mustang and also pass a group of the Chortens on the way. During the walk to the uphills over a pass, you see the beauty of the Mustang, as it looks like a desert with barren hills, no vegetation or even signs of human. On the way, the red-painted Charang stupa will welcome you to the Charang, you will get the opportunity to explore the palace and monastery of the Tsarang amid field. You will reach to the Charang- one of the 2nd largest village of Mustang and also was the capital of the Mustang before Lo-Mathang. Explore the village. Overnight at Lo-Manthang.
Day 09: Charang to Lo-Manthang
- Altitude: 3840 meters
- Trekking hours: around 4-5 hours
- Accommodation: basic teahouse
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
On the ninth day of your trek. Today you will trek to Lo-Manthang today- one of the major highlighted palace of the Upper Mustang trek, you will start today's walk by Tsering Thupten Shedrub Dhargyeling Monastereus- this old monastery is the houses of 40-50 monks, you can explore this monastery, known about its facts and history. The small river which is named as the Cherang rivers separate Cherang and Lo- Mathnag. Lo-Manthang was the capital city of the forbidden Kingdom of Mustang and also present the palace of the kings, it is the area where the biggest festival of Mustang-Tiji Festival takes place every year. Rest for a while and surface view the area, you will rest for the day to explore this beautiful valley.
Day 10: Rest and Explore Lo-Manthang
- Altitude: 2800 meters
- Trekking hours: around 2-3 hours
- Accommodation: basic teahouse
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
On the tenth day of your trek, you will have the spare day at Lo-Manthang, you can explore the place. Lo-Mantha-the capital of Mustang contains around 15- locals houses and also the largest and finest Tibetan Gompas, this place is very fascinating with the four major ancient Monstareis which very beautify and impressive. You can collect the facts about the area, experience the warm greeting, the hospitality of the locals. Overnight at Lo-Mathang.
Day 11: trek Lo-Manthang to Drakmar
- Altitude: meters
- Trekking hours: around hours
- Accommodation: basic teahouse
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Today, you will walk through the different terrain which offers you the incredible views of the steep downhills trials, you will also get the opportunity to explore the oldest Tibetan monasteries Ghar Gompa which was built around the 7th century. After the continuous walk, you will reach to Drakmar. Overnight at Drakmar.
Day 12: Drakmar to Syangmochen
- Altitude: 3800 meters
- Accommodation: basic teahouse
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
From Drakmar, you will walk back to Syangboche, during the walk you can explore the landscapes you missed on the way and also can visit the Rangchung Chorten- one of the most sacred places in Mustang. You can also see the many prayer flags during the walk. Overnight at Syangmochen.
Day 13: Trek Syangmochen to Chhusnag
- Altitude: 2980 meters
- Trekking hours: around 5-6 hours
- Accommodation: basic teahouse
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
On the thirteen days of your Upper Mustang trek, you will continue your trek back by visit the landscapes and monasteries you missed on the trek like Chundsi Cave Monasteries. You will stop for a lunch, at Smar village from here, you will start continuously descending down crossing the beautiful picturesque village-like Tetang. After a certain walk, you will reach at Chuksang which lies between two hills. Explore the village for the final. Overnight at Chusang.
Day 14: Chhisnag to Jomsom
- Altitude: 2720 meters
- Trekking hours: around 6 hours
- Accommodation: basic teahouse
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
On the fourteen-day of your trek, you will continue your walk on the trail towards the south, following the trail which takes you through the Jharkot, here you can explore the Jharkot Monastery and many ancient and old places, on the way back you can also enjoy the final view of Mt Nilgiri, crossing the Kali Gandaki valley- from here you will leave the restricted region of the Upper Mustang Trek. after a walk, you will be at the Jomsom here you can enjoy the delicious mustang apple, witness the local culture and also can enjoy the last night adventure walk by dancing, eating, and drinking. Overnight at Jomsom.
Day 15: Fly to Pokhara (half-day sightseeing)
You will catch the early flight to Pokhara, it is an amazing way to finish your Upper Mustang trek. the short and adventure flight takes along with the Kali Gandaki Gorge between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges.
In Pokhara you will enjoy the half-day sightseeing as boating in Phewa, Rupa or Begnas lake, a Bicycle ride around the city, enjoying the massage or spa, visiting the natural and cultural sites of the city. Overnight at three-star hotel of Pokhara.
Day 16: drive back to Kathmandu
After the early breakfast, you will take a bus or a private car to Kathmandu, the route to the valley will keep you refresh through the journey.
In Kathmandu, you can enjoy the bath, rest for a few moments and enjoy the shopping for your family and friends. In the evening Nepal Hiking Trek will host a dinner party for the beautiful success of the trek. Overnight at Three-star hotel, Kathmandu.
Day 17: Final departure
Today is your final day at the Kathmandu, Nepal so you can explore final 15 minutes roaming around the Thamel city, sying final goodbye with your close friends, Nepal Hiking Trek representative will take you to the airport and will asst you with procedures there.
Upper Mustang Trek permit cost
- Restricted permit Cost: $500 per person for 10 days. If you want to trek longer then $50 additional per day is charged.
- ACAP Permit: &20 per person
How can you get Upper Mustang Trek to permit In Nepal?
For those who are planning for trekking in the Mustang region, TIMs and ACAP permit can be obtained by the trekkers themselves at the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) in Kathmandu and the Tourist Office in Pokhara.
It is difficult to obtain the permit to the Individual trekkers for the Upper Mustang trek. in fact, no one can trek in the Upper Mustang trek alone. So to trek to the Upper mustang trek you should be two or more.
Note: An individual guide cannot obtain a permit for trekkers. The permit must be obtained through a trekking company registered in Nepal.
Best time to trek Upper Mustang Trek
The adventure hike to the upper mustang trek fits throughout the year. The best time to enjoy the adventure hike to the mustang region is during the Autumn and spring season. This season offers beautiful visibility environment and has slightly more stable weather condition and cool temperature. the beauty in this season is incredible with the backdrops views of the stunning snow-capped mountains.
Autumn and Spring season, being the peak season many visitors trekking this region during this season so if you want to avoid the crowd you can also trekking Upper Mustang trek during the Summer. Unlike most part of Nepal, Upper Mustang doesn't get more rainfalls during the summer as it lies in the rain shadow. You can enjoy the warm and dry weather and lively nature during the summer season.
The month of winter is also great if the cold weather doesn't bother you if you don’t mind about camping. However, during these months most of the teahouses remain closed. You can enjoy a snowy Christmas at the Upper mustang during the winter season, but most of the pass remains closed due to the high snow level.
Conclusion:
Upper mustang trek is both challenging and classic trek in Nepal as it offers the beauty of the mustang region with the incredible surrounding views of the snow-capped mountains. During the trek, the wind storms can obstacle your trek but the wonders and beauty of that region blow all your difficulty and tiredness. You can easily get to the Upper mustang by following the above-given itinerary and also you can both extend and short the itinerary which depends on your interest and choice. Another factor that helps to make your trek success and beautiful is physical fitness so maintain your fitness, increase your walking strength to trek in Nepal. Choose the right trekking agency as Nepal Hiking Trek for your wonderful success of the trek.
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