Trek · Mustang
UPPER MUSTANG
01 — Overview
Culture-first travellers and monsoon-season trekkers; no technical ground.
The last forbidden kingdom — a Tibetan desert plateau behind the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri walls, opened to limited numbers in 1992. Cave dwellings, eroded cliffs in ochre and grey, the walled city of Lo Manthang, and Tiji's masked festivals.
It rains almost never: Mustang sits in the Himalayan rain shadow, which makes it Nepal's best monsoon-season trek.
- Lo Manthang — the walled capital
- Sky caves of Chhoser and the longest in Nepal
- Tiji Festival (May, dates vary)
- The ochre canyons of Dhyame and Ghar Gompa
02 — The Route, Day by Day
The line you'll draw on the mountain.
Scroll to walk the route — the profile draws itself as the days pass, and the current altitude follows you.
- Day 01
Kathmandu → Kathmandu
Restricted permits issued.
1,400 m
- Day 02
Pokhara → Jomsom
Fly the deepest gorge in the world to Jomsom.
2,720 m
- Day 03
Jomsom → Kagbeni
Up the Kali Gandaki, gateway to Upper Mustang.
2,800 m
- Day 04
Kagbeni → Chele
Enter the restricted zone; the desert begins.
3,050 m
- Day 05
Chele → Syangboche
Red cliffs, cave complexes, windy passes.
3,800 m
- Day 06
Syangboche → Ghami
Nepal's longest mani wall.
3,520 m
- Day 07
Ghami → Tsarang
Old castle and gompas of the ancient kingdom.
3,560 m
- Day 08
Tsarang → Lo Manthang
The walled city — four-storey palace, kings and cave villages.
3,840 m
- Day 09
Lo Manthang → Lo Manthang
Day trips: Chhoser caves, Namgyal Gompa, Tibet-border viewpoints.
3,840 m
- Day 10
Lo Manthang → Ghar Gompa (Lo Gekar)
Via the Chogo La and the region's holiest gompa.
3,920 m
- Day 11
Ghar Gompa → Syangboche → Chhusang
Return along the eastern route.
2,980 m
- Day 12
Chhusang → Jomsom → Pokhara
Fly out of the desert.
2,720 m
03 — Included
- Restricted-area permit (US$500/10 days, Government of Nepal)
- ACAP
- Guide (mandatory)
- Flights Jomsom sector
- Camping full board or lodges
Not included
- International flights
- Insurance
- Gear
- Tips