17 Days Upper Mustang Trekking

  • Duration 17
  • Destination Nepal
  • Trip Grade Moderate
  • Starts at
  • Ends at
  • Meals Full Board During Trek
  • Accommodation 3-star & Tea House
  • Max. Altitude 3942m (12933 ft)
  • Activity Sightseeing and Trekking
  • Group Type
  • Group Size 2-15(Customize your Trip on Request)
  • Best Season

17 Days Upper Mustang Trekking Overview

Embark on an extraordinary 17-day Upper Mustang Trekking adventure and step into a world untouched by time. Discover the ancient secrets of Nepal’s “Forbidden Kingdom,” a land of dramatic landscapes, unique culture, and breathtaking Himalayan views. This moderate grade trek offers a rare opportunity to explore a region opened to outsiders only in the 1990s, making it one of the most sought-after remote treks in Nepal.

Upper Mustang Trek Overview: A Journey Through Time

Your Upper Mustang adventure begins in Kathmandu with a visit to UNESCO World Heritage Sites before a scenic drive to Pokhara. The true journey commences with a thrilling flight to Jomsom, the gateway to Mustang. This historical region maintained its status as a separate principality until 1951, and the King of Lo Manthang still holds honorary rank, preserving centuries of tradition.

As you trek through the Upper Mustang region, you’ll be captivated by tree-free landscapes, vast rocky trails, and unparalleled panoramic views of iconic peaks like Nilgiri, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri. This Mustang trek offers deep cultural immersion, allowing you to experience the authentic way of life in this high-altitude desert.

Trip Highlights & Features:

  • Duration: 17 Days
  • Destination: Remote Nepal (Upper Mustang Region)
  • Trip Grade: Moderate (Achievable with good physical fitness)
  • Max. Altitude: Reach Lo Manthang at 3,730m (12,234ft) and higher passes up to 3942m (12933 ft)
  • Activity: Cultural Sightseeing, Scenic Flights, and High-Altitude Trekking
  • Group Size: 2-15 participants (Private departures available)
  • Best Season: March to November (excluding monsoon, June-August, due to specific weather patterns for the region)
  • Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu.
  • Enjoy scenic flights to Jomsom through the Kali Gandaki Gorge.
  • Discover the ancient capital, Lo Manthang, the heart of the forbidden kingdom.
  • Witness picturesque views of the Himalayas, including Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges.
  • Immerse yourself in unique Tibetan Buddhist culture and traditions.

Accommodation & Dining: Comfort Amidst Wilderness

Your Upper Mustang trek package includes comfortable stays throughout your journey. You’ll lodge in 3-star hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara (as per itinerary), and experience authentic local hospitality in teahouses during the trek (11 nights). All accommodations are based on a twin-shared basis. A single supplement can be arranged upon request for an additional cost. While most lower elevation regions offer rooms with attached washrooms, facilities may vary at higher altitudes. Mountain Expedition Nepal prioritizes your comfort during this incredible Himalayan trekking experience.

For Meals, all meals are provided during the trekking days (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner). In Kathmandu and Pokhara, only breakfast is included, with special welcome and farewell dinners to enhance your trip. Our diverse menus offer delicious Nepalese, Tibetan, Indian, and Continental dishes.

Can You Trek Upper Mustang? Fitness & Preparation

The Upper Mustang Trek is classified as a moderate trip, making it suitable for trekkers with good physical health who can comfortably walk 6-7 hours a day with a light backpack. No technical mountaineering skills are required. To best prepare, we strongly recommend a regular jogging and exercise regimen for at least a month prior to the trek. If you have any pre-existing health conditions, please inform Mountain Expedition Nepal for personalized advice.

Best Time to Travel to Upper Mustang

The best months for Upper Mustang trekking are from March to November. This wide window is due to Mustang’s unique geographical location in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, which means it receives very little monsoon rainfall. Therefore, trekking is possible even during the conventional monsoon months (June-August), making it a year-round destination compared to other Nepal treks. We can customize your trip outside these months if needed.

Day to Day Itinerary
Expand all

Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan intl. airport our representative welcomes you and assists to transfer in your hotel in Kathmandu. At the evening you’ll transfer for welcome dinner in one of the typical Nepalese restaurant with the cultural & musical programs in the heart of Kathmandu and briefing about your trip and overnight at Hotel. Included meals: Dinner

We tour Durbar Square, Pashupatinath temple, Swayambhunath stupa and Bouddhanath stupa which are all world heritage sites. The Durbar Square reveals the life of the royals in ancient times. Pashupatinath temple is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for all Hindus. Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple and Baudhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world. At noon, we are introduced to our fellow participants and discuss our trip at Himalayan Adventure Nepal office. Overnight in Kathmandu. Included meals: Breakfast

We have breakfast then leave for Pokhara, also known as The Lake City owing to the large number of lakes in the city. Upon our arrival in Pokhara, we are rewarded with magnificent views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri (8,167m/26,794ft), Manaslu (8,156m/26,759ft), Machhapuchhre (6,993m/22,943ft), the five peaks of Annapurna and others. We then check-in to our hotel and take a rest. We enjoy boating in the Fewa Lake and stroll in the city’s quaint streets. Overnight in Pokhara. Included meals: Breakfast

Today we will take an early morning flight to Jomsom which is famous for its apples, strong winds and the landscape. We begin our trek on an open trail alongside a beautiful valley. We pass through Eaklibatti village before reaching Jomsom which is ideally located at the bank of two rivers. The village is beautiful with flat-roofed houses and also has ruins of an old fortress. Overnight in Kagbeni. Included meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

We get our permits checked then begin our trek on a trail alongside the Kali Gandaki River. We walk on sand amidst strong winds before ascending on a hill. We reach the Tangbe Village and admire its narrow alleyways, white-washed houses, barley and buckwheat fields, and apple orchards. We continue our walk and pass another village and cross a river on our way. Next, we walk on a ridge before reaching Chele Village. Overnight in Chele. Included meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Our trek from today will be a little hard compared to what we experienced before.  Our walk today involves crossing two passes, Taklam La pass (3,624m) and Dajori La pass (3,735). On our way, we enjoy great views of Tilicho, Yakawa Kang and Damodar Danda and pass by Ramchung Cave. We descend further and reach Samar Village. From here we walk on a trail above the village and reach a ridge. Next, we descend on a steep trail to a stream and continue our trek to Syanboche. Overnight in Syanboche. Included meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

We ascend to the Yamda La pass at 3,850m. On the way, we pass by a few teahouses, chortens and beautiful villages. We trek through poplar forests and barley fields and reach Nyi Pass at 4,010m. From here, we descend to Ghami which is one of the biggest villages in the Lo region. The village is beautiful with fields surrounding the entire village. Overnight in Ghami. Included meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Our trek today begins with a descent through a rough and often slippery trail. We then cross a suspension bridge over the Ghami Khola and begin ascending. The pathway is beautiful with mani walls along the trail. Next, we cross the Tsarang La Pass at 3870m and reach Tsarang village. The village lies atop the Charing Chu canyon with a huge fortress and a red gompa towards its east. Overnight in Tsarang. Included meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

We begin our trek by descending to a canyon and cross a river before beginning our uphill trek to Lo La pass which at 3950m. From the top of the pass we can admire the beautiful Lo Manthang village. From the pass we descend to Lo Manthang which is a beautiful walled village. From here the views of the Himalayas including Nilgiri, Tilicho and Annapurna I, Bhrikuti Peak as well as Damodar Kunda (pond) is quite good. Overnight in Lo-Manthang. Included meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Lo Manthang is a walled town of the remote Upper Mustang region of Nepal. We spend the day touring three major gompas of the town namely Jhampa, Thupchen and Chhoeda. All of these gompas have undergone expert restoration over the last two decades. We can also trek to Tingkhar which is a beautiful village located north-west of Lo-Mangthang. Overnight in Lo Manthang. Included meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

We trek on a different route when returning from Lo-Manthang. Our trail passes through Gyakar village which houses a century old Ghar Gompa with beautiful rock paintings. According to a local legend, anyone who makes a wish at the Gompa will have it fulfilled. We explore the Gompa and continue our trek to Drakmar for an overnight stay. Included meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

We start our trek early to avoid strong winds and descend for the most part of the trek. Our trail passes through a dry plateau and fields before reaching Ghiling. The walk can be relatively difficult as we are most likely to experience strong winds on our face. Ghiling is mostly dry, but we still get good views of Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri mountains. We can tour the village around the evening. Overnight in Ghiling. Included meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

We begin our trek after breakfast. We walk on the same trail as before going up to Lo Manthang. On the way to Chhuksang we can enjoy great views of the Himalayas and small villages we pass en route. Overnight in Chhuksang. Included meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Today is the last day of our trek and it is a long one. After trekking for a while, we come to an end of our Mustang trails and join the trails of the Annapurna circuit. We stop for lunch at Kagbeni. After lunch, we continue our trek to Jomsom for an overnight stay. Included meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

We take an early morning flight to Pokhara. The airplane passes through a gorge between Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains making the flight itself an amazing experience. After arriving in Pokhara, we can spend the rest of the day in leisure. Overnight in Pokhara. Included meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we say goodbye to the beautiful northern skyline of Pokhara and drive towards Kathmandu. This will be a journey along river banks with wonderful views of terraced hills and the rural Nepalese lifestyle. After reaching Kathmandu, we take a rest or do some souvenir shopping. To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will have a farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight in Kathmandu. Included meals: Breakfast Dinner

Our Upper Mustang Trek in Nepal comes to an end today! A representative from  EMEN will take us to the airport approximately three hours before the scheduled flight. On our flight back home, we take with us amazing memories of our Lo Manthang trip and Nepal. Included meals: Breakfast

Our team guides, porters and accompanying staff are locals with a broad knowledge about each and every location that we travel through.

Customize Trip
Cost Includes
  • Standard twin-sharing accommodation in a three-star hotel in Kathmandu & Pokhara including breakfast as per itinerary.
  • Guesthouse accommodation during the trek in mostly twin-share and occasionally dormitory-style rooms (11 nights).
  • All standard meals during the trek (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).
  • Local English-speaking trekking guide having licensed. An experienced, English-speaking and government-licensed trek Guide and assistant trek Guide(6 trekkers: 1 assistant guide)
  • The required number of local staff and porters to carry your luggage during the trek. Food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment and medicine for all staff.
  • Upper Mustang Resurrected Area Permit/Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS.
  • T shirt, bag.
  • Official expenses.
  • Welcome dinner with cultural program as listed in the itinerary.
  • Day guided city tour
  • Pokhara – Jomsom – Pokhara Round trip flight..
  • Kathmandu – Pokhara – Kathmandu tourist bus.
  • Medical kit (carried by your trek leader)
  • All government and local taxes
  • Farewell Dinner.
Cost Excludes
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu. Depending on your budget, it may cost about USD 15 to USD 20 per person.
  • Travel Insurance (compulsory!), which covers emergency high-altitude rescue and evacuation
  • International airfare and airport departure tax
  • Nepal entry visa – You can obtain the visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu (Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 15 days can be obtained by paying USD 25 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 30 days and 90 days can be obtained by paying USD 40 and 100 respectively. Please bring 2 copies of passport size photos.)
  • Alcoholic, hot and cold drinks.
  • Personal trekking equipment (click on the Equipment tab).
  • Tips for trekking staff and driver (tipping is expected).
  • Any others expenses that are not mentioned in the ‘Price Includes’ section.
  • Any extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary plan
  • Cost arising out of landslides, road blockade, and rescue of any form, cancellation of flight or reasons beyond our control
  • World heritage entrance Fees.
Departure Dates
  • We have daily departures for this trip from March to May and from mid-September to mid-December. You can type in the number of passengers to book a reservation and select a date that is convenient for you. Due to group size, we never cancel a trip once you’ve made a reservation. If you would rather join the group, we will add more travelers on the selected date. You can let us know once you make a reservation or earlier.
Useful Info

Our website contains as much information as possible about this trip. If you have some query please directly E-mail us at info@mountainexpeditionnepal.com any time. Your happiness is our success.

Write a Review
MEN Have Questions?
Talk to Expert

Kiran Bhattta

WhatsApp/Viber +977- 9851093613
You May Also LikeSimilar Itineraries
22 Days Lower Dolpo & Phoksundo Lake Trek
22 Days Lower Dolpo & Phoksundo Lake Trek
22 Days
17 Days Jumla & Rara Lake Trek
17 Days Jumla & Rara Lake Trek
17 Days
17 Days Upper Mustang Trekking
17 Days Upper Mustang Trekking
Difficulty: Moderate 17 Days
Max. Height: 3942m (12933 ft)

Associate and Certified

NG NMA NTB TAAN

We Accept

Brand 1

Recommended By

Tripadvisor Lonely Planet