Upper Mustang Trek

Trip Overview

Trip Facts

Country: Nepal
Trip grade: Challenging
Destination: Upper Mustang
Activities: Trekking
Accommodation: Hotel, Teahouse
Meals: Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners
Group size: 2+
Best Season: Mar-Nov

Want to experience and enjoy a trekking adventure that takes you to an incredibly rugged landscape in the mountains? Upper Mustang Trek offers you such an adventure trekking experience in Nepal. It is one of the restricted area trekking adventures in the mountains that offer you an experience of a lifetime.

You will walk through the rugged mountains of the Upper Mustang region of the Himalaya. The region comes under the restricted regions in the mountains. You will need a special permit for the trek. The permit is different than the one for regular trekking regions like Annapurna Sanctuary Trek.

What you see during Upper Mustang Trek

When you are on this adventure, you will experience something that you cannot experience anywhere else. The adventure offers you a wonderful mixture of walking adventure, magnificent mountains, and beautiful culture. In addition to the walking adventure, you will get to see and experience a unique cultural lifestyle in the region.

Upper Mustang is a place with a colorful mountainous landscape and incredibly beautiful culture. While you are on a trek in the region, you will get to explore both. The final destination of the trek, Lo Manthang, is a beautiful village in the region that offers an incredible cultural immersion.

The walk from Jomsom to Lo Manthang and return is an experience to cherish for life. However, as a restricted region trekking, the adventure will require a special permit at the cost of USD 500 for ten days. But the experience that you will get on the trek is something that is incomparable to the money. It is simply invaluable. Walking through the Kali Gandaki River valley up towards the rugged mountain surroundings of Upper Mustang is an adventure to go for.

This trek starts from Jomsom where another beautiful trekking adventure, Annapurna Circuit Trek, in the Annapurna comes to end.

Reasons this trip becomes an Experience

Nepal Climbing Adventure always strives to offer an adventure traveling experience that you can cherish. While the Upper Mustang Trek is beautiful in its all essence, your experience of trekking there becomes even more beautiful with us.

By the time we take you to the base camp and bring you back, we take one step ahead to offer you a beautiful experience. We keep your safety and happiness is our top priority and you will experience the same during the trip.

Trekking with us to Upper Mustang is traveling in safe hands.

Fixed Departures

Join our Fixed Departure

Trip start	Trip end	Status	Price	Book Now
15th June, 2023	29th June, 2023	Available	From US$ 2,150

Detail Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)

Normally, your arrival in Kathmandu is the day one of this trip. We will come to pick you up at the airport as per your flight time and transfer you to the hotel. There are no activities today apart from a trip briefing meeting. The information about the meeting time will be available upon your arrival at the hotel.

You have time to relax and go for any last-minute preparation for the trip. Welcome to Kathmandu!

Accommodation: Hotel

Day 02: Kathmandu – Pokhara (900m) (6-7 Hrs. Drive by Tourist Bus)

On the second day of the trip, we have a long day drive to Pokhara. Our day starts pretty early in the morning and gets ready for the drive. We will go to the tourist bus station to board the bus to Pokhara.

It takes us 6-7 hours to drive 200 kilometers from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Although the drive is long for the distance, the scenic surroundings of the highway will ease the travel a bit. We will drive past small and beautiful towns and villages along the highway. Most of the time, we will drive along beautiful rivers.

Once we reach Pokhara 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu, we will have enough time to go around and explore the Lakeside. Pokhara offers an incredibly beautiful view of the Annapurna range. This peaceful city has various natural attractions like lakes, caves, mountains, and green surroundings.

We will spend quite a relaxing time in Pokhara after checking into the hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meal: Breakfast

Day 03: Pokhara - Jomsom - Kagbeni

Early in the morning, we will catch our flight to Jomsom of around 20 minutes. The scenic flight lets us the view of the Majestic Himalayas and forests. After reaching Jomsom, the largest village of the Kaligandaki valley, we will begin our trek and head towards Kagbeni. Our trail follows along a narrow ascending pathway with a panoramic view of Nilgiri. Overnight at Kagbeni.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 04: Kagbeni - Chele

At Kagbeni, we will have our permits checked and will begin our trek passing across the Kaligandaki River.We will go through a few hollows, religious communities, excellent fields of grain, buckwheat, apple and wheat close Tangbe town. Proceeding through the blustery valley we will achieve Chhusang town. We will cross a little stream and leave the Kaligandaki valley before reaching Chele for overnight.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 05: Chele - Ghiling

When we proceed across Kali Gandaki River and climb towards the town of Samar, we will leave the Chhortens behind before we reach another valley with juniper trees. We will have an incredible day with high elevation chilly deserts in front and leaving the shining mountains behind. Proceeding further we will descend to Shyangboche which is a locale of neighborhood individuals. From here the trail drops to Ghiling where we stop for the night.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 06: Ghiling - Tsarang

We will have our breakfast before we begin the day for Tsarang. Proceeding with our excursion through a dry trial, we will reach Ghami where we will go through one of the longest Buddhist mani walls of Nepal encompassed by the lovely Himalayas at Ghami. Going forward will take us to Tsarang where we remain overnight.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 07: Tsarang - Lo Manthang

We start our trek for the day by going down to a canyon and crossing a river before starting our tough trek to Lo La pass which is at 3950m. From the highest point of the pass, we can appreciate the delightful Lo Manthang town. From the pass, we descend to Lo Manthang which is an excellent village. From here the perspectives of the Himalayas including Nilgiri, Tilicho and Annapurna I, Bhrikuti Peak, and also Damodar Kunda (lake) is very amazing. Overnight at Lo Manthang.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 08: Lo Manthang Exploration

Lo Manthang is a delightful walled town of the remote Upper Mustang district of Nepal. We spend the day visiting three noteworthy gompas of the town in particular Jhampa, Thupchen, and Chhoeda. These gompas have experienced master reclamation in the course of the most recent two decades. We can likewise trek to Tingkhar which is a wonderful town situated in the north-west of Lo-Manthang.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 09: Lo Manthang - Dhakmar

We will take an alternate course to Drakmar than the one we took while coming to Lo Manthang. After so ups and downs, we will reach Ghar gompa where we will investigate a cloister that is accepted to be 1200 years of age. Local individuals believe that any wishing made in the cloister is satisfied. Proceeding forwards will take us to Dhakmar town for overnight.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Dhakmar - Syangboche

Before proceeding to Syangboche, we will have breakfast in the morning. Visiting several caves, we will rise to the edge above Ghami from where we will have incredible perspectives of the past and the long mani wall that we passed a few days prior. Besides, crossing two excellent passes will take us to Syangboche for overnight remain.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: Syangboche - Chhusang

We begin our adventure to Chele through a valley where we will meet sheep and goats brushing in the valley. Passing along the trail will take us to Samar, then Chele, and afterward to Chhusang for overnight remain. We will have an excellent Himalayan landscape en route.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12: Chhusang - Jomsom

As we begin for the last day of the trek, we arrive at an end of our Mustang trails and join the trails of the Annapurna circuit. We will have our lunch Kagbeni and continue again with our trek to Jomsom. Overnight in Jomsom.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 13: Jomsom – Pokhara (900m)

We have an early morning flight to Pokhara. The flight is a short one of just 20 minutes but it takes us along the river valley and past the massive mountains. Even during this short flight to Pokhara, we can see the breathtaking view of the mountains.

Once we reach Pokhara and check into a hotel, we will have the day to relax. The Lakeside in Pokhara is a beautiful place to hang around and relax after the trek. We can just take a leisurely stroll on the Lakeside or find some relaxing massage or just sit at a restaurant eating and drinking. There are lots of options to spend the day at leisure in Pokhara.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meal: Breakfast

Day 14: Pokhara – Kathmandu

As we have completed our trekking journey, it’s time now to return back to Kathmandu. We will get ready for the early morning bus ride back to Kathmandu. It will take another seven hours to reach Kathmandu.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meal: Breakfast

Day 15: Departure Day

The trip has come to an end today. We have to bid farewell for this time hoping to meet again for another adventure soon. We will drive you to the airport for your departure flight as scheduled.

Meal: Breakfast

Cost Details

What is included?

All airport and hotel transfers
Welcome and farewell dinner
Accommodation and meals during the whole of the trek
Accommodation in a 3 star hotel in Kathmandu
All necessary paper works and permits
Government and local taxes
An experienced English speaking trekking guide, assistant trek guide (4 trekkers, 1 assistant guide), porters (2 trekkers, 1 porter) including their salary, insurance, food, lodging and all equipment.
A comprehensive medical kit

What is not included?

Nepal Visa fee(bring small denomination cash USD and two passport photographs)
International airfare
Excess baggage charges
Extra night accommodation apart from the schedule due to any reasons
Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu in case of early return than the scheduled itinerary
Drive/Flight to Pokhara and Jomsom and back.
Travel and rescue insurance
Personal expenses
Tips for travel guides or porters

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions - Trekking in Nepal

Are you a licensed trekking agency?

Yes, we are a licensed company to operate adventure tours in Nepal. We have been organizing tours, Treks, and Expeditions for our valued clients for over two decades. Our long journey and experience in the field have made us pioneer in the industry.

Do the guides speak English and have first aid training?

All of our guides are experienced experts in their job and speak fluent English. Most of them are born in the areas they guide trekkers to and have several years of experience as trekking guides in the mountains. It's mandatory that they are trained in first aid and also carry a first aid kit with them during the trek.

How big are the groups?

We always do our best to team up a small group of likeminded people to give them a memorable and insightful adventure travel experience, coupled with an invaluable opportunity to interact with each other in the true spirit that comes with adventure. Our trek groups generally comprise of maximum 12 members. We need a minimum of 2 participants to run our fixed departure dates. For private trips, no minimum or maximum numbers apply.

Are permits included in the price of the trek?

Yes. All of the necessary permits for your trek are included in the price and will be arranged for you prior to your trek. For certain restricted regions (like Manaslu and Makalu), you'll need to have a full day in Kathmandu prior to your trek as your trek operator will need your passport for the permit registration.

Do you arrange private treks?

Yes, we do. If you would like to travel independently, or with your friends, families & colleagues you are invited to choose any of the trips at a timeframe that best suits you for any number of people (minimum 1 & maximum 100 at a time). The costs for private trips are generally fixed on the basis of group size, trek area, duration, and trek style, and is negotiable. We also arrange TREKS FOR A SINGLE WOMAN. If by any chance, none of our fixed group departure dates work for you and you do not have anyone to accompany you, you can still be able to make your preferred trip with us. There is absolutely nothing to worry about if you want to go solo. We assign local guides, porters, etc who you can trust your life with.

Do you provide any equipment while trekking?

On all our Camping treks, we provide all the tents, sometimes dome tents, sometimes sturdy A-frames and normally people share one tent between two; a foam mattress each; all the cutlery and utensils, cooking pots, stoves; candles/kerosene lantern, tables, and stools, kitchen tent, dining tent and toilet tent; all the main meals while trekking but not snacks. On Tea house treks there isn’t really a necessity to provide any equipment.

But you are provided a duffel bag if you don’t have one and a down jacket if you haven’t flown in with your own. This is loaned to you and must be returned when the trek is done.

How difficult are the treks?

Classifying the difficulty of a trek is like walking a thin red-line, as it depends on your fitness and experience hiking in the mountains. In the Himalaya, a trek's difficulty depends on the steepness of the trail, the general altitude, and the duration of the trek. Generally, the higher you go the more difficult the trek becomes. For most treks in the lower foothills (Ghorepani, Poonhill, Ghandruk, and Pikey Peak), it's fairly moderate trekking, although some days will be more challenging than others. For higher-altitude treks (i.e. Everest Base Camp, Gokyo, Annapurna Circuit, and Nar Phu), the treks become more challenging as you get going over 5,000m passes with longer days. If you’re an avid walker and enjoy hiking, then there’s no better adventure than trekking.

How long do we walk each day?

Much of our trekking ventures are classified into THREE different categories according to the level of difficulty. Soft Adventure treks are only about a week to 10 days in duration. They generally don't go above 4000 meters and each day, you can expect to be walking for around 4 – 5 hours. While moderate to fairly challenging treks are longer treks that go right into high mountain country. Physically quite tiring, these involve approx 6-8 hours trekking along rocky ridges of high Himalayan peaks. Arduous treks are longer treks that go far beyond the normal haunts of trekkers and tourists. Physically challenging, these may involve 7-9 hours trekking and likely to include unfavorable weather conditions and activities that are not only physically challenging but also tax the mind. These trips are not for greenhorns.

What is exactly 'teahouse' trekking?

Teahouse trekking refers to staying at a small local lodge or mountain hut each night of your trek. The lodges are basic but pretty cozy; enough to shelter you from the bitter mountain winds. They consist of 5-10 rooms with a common area used for eating and hanging out. Most treks in Nepal are teahouse treks where the lodges are run by members of the local community. Bunking out at these teahouses in some of the harshest territories on earth will give you a true sense of what life is in the wild.

What do we mean by FOT trek?

On FOT or a ‘Fully Organized Trek’, all meals and sleeping arrangements will be fully organized by the support crew. FOTs are also known as CAMPING TREKS. On camping treks, you will be sleeping in tents. A trekking crew consists of one sirdar, one cook, and kitchen crew, Sherpa assistants, and porters depending on the size of the group. Under the leadership of the Sirdar (local trek leader), the crew consists of several Sherpa assistants who will ensure you don't take the wrong path, a cook and kitchen crew to keep you well-fed with delicious and nutritious meals, and the porters to transport all the gear from camp to camp.

Our main aim is to make the trek as hassle-free and enjoyable as possible. The ratio of both Sherpa guides and kitchen crew to group members is generally 1:4 and the ratio of porters to group members is around 3:1 at the beginning of the trek, but this decreases as food is eaten and loads become smaller. For bathroom facilities, we carry a toilet tent. Your camping staff dig a deep hole in the ground for excrement and cover the hole with soil after nature’s call is done. Camping treks are more expensive than teahouse treks. These treks are generally operated in remote restricted alpine zones that go above the tree-lines. Camping treks can also be used as options for teahouse treks throughout the Himalaya to enjoy the true spirit of adventure!

What is security like during trekking?

Security for our clients is always a foremost priority for us. All our guides and other support crew are carefully chosen for your trips. Our guides hold licenses issued by the Nepal Government. They are very honest and reliable. But we would also advise you to take care of your own personal belongings. If you are on ‘camping treks’ please do not leave your bags unattended at any time for your own safety. Take your main bag inside the tent once you reach the campsite. At night, all bags and belongings are kept in the middle of the tent. Your guide assigns a Sherpa on a rotation basis to guard the campsite throughout the night. If you are on a ‘Tea house or GAP trek’ arrangement, you will be sleeping in local teahouses. You need to take sensible precautions yourself at all times. Never leave your baggage unattended and keep your lodge room locked when you go out.

What happens if I fall ill during the trek?

If by chance you fall ill during your trek, the first course of action depends on what's wrong with you. If it's altitude sickness, moving to lower altitudes and taking altitude medication will solve most cases; if it's quite severe, your guide will arrange for emergency evacuation by helicopter (be sure that emergency helicopter rescue is covered in your travel insurance). If you have a stomach sickness, bug, or any other types of food or water-related illnesses, your guide will have medication on hand for the most common illnesses.

What type of food is served during a trek?

On CAMPING TREKs we provide three delicious, plentiful and nutritious meals daily with a tasty mix of local and western dishes. Your day starts with a king-size breakfast consisting of a choice of porridge, muesli, and cereals followed by omelet, fried, or scrambled eggs with ‘chapattis’ [rounded bread made from wheat] or multigrain-bread. Also included are seasonal fresh fruits. Lunch is generally a selection of organic salad, cooked vegetable dishes, pasta, and traditional bread. Dinner is a truly hearty 3-course meal - soup, followed by a variety of vegetables, meat, and rice and pasta dishes and completed with a simple dessert [which may include a finger-licking crusty apple pie].

Ironically, some of the best apple pies in the country are found on these mountains and not in Thamel, Asia’s hub for backpackers; as many tourists would assume. Tea and coffee are also provided at all meals. We use as much fresh organic produce as possible available at some of the villages we hike through and special diets are regularly catered for. The trek leaders maintain very tight controls on health and hygiene in the kitchen with respect to general cleanliness and food preparation and also within the group with respect to personal hygiene.

All foods are well cooked and vegetables are treated by potassium permanganate or iodine. We only serve Boiled water for drinking. Antiseptic soaps and potassium or iodine treated water are provided for washing. Special dietary requirements can always be catered for. On Tea House treks we provide standard breakfast, lunch, and three-course dinner, tea or coffee is also included with each meal. Your guide will help with menu selection and ensure that you get the best value meals possible. Although the food is usually plentiful and delicious, you should be aware that the menu is not normally extensive. Most teahouses offer a variety of rice and soupy noodle dishes, as well as soup and seasonal vegetables. A variety of cereals, bread, and egg dishes are generally available for breakfast. There will also be plenty of snacks available such as biscuits, chocolate, and soft drinks and in some areas, you will find fresh fruit in season. You can buy packaged water (bottled mineral water) from local lodges and shop en route or you can also ask your guide to fill your water bottle with boiled water and treat it with water purification pills. Although it's held that gluttony is a sin, nevertheless, we ensure our trekking guests are well fed in as much as they can digest to cope with the arduous trails and the tough elevations.

Do I need to carry my own gear?

You'll carry your daily essentials (sunblock, water, hat, light jacket, and camera) but your porter will carry the bulk of your gear, such as extra clothing and overnight basics. Porters are especially helpful for longer treks where you'll be carrying more gear. For shorter treks (2-3 days), you may opt just to have a guide if you're comfortable carrying your own gear, but hiring a porter is a great way to support the local economy and is quite affordable. It's also the safest thing to do when you’re hiking on the biggest and most rugged mountains on planet earth.

How much could porters carry?

Porters typically carry up to 30 kgs max. (To ensure they're not overloaded). For fragile items, such as cameras, it's still best to carry these items yourself. If you have more than 15 kg., please carry the extra weight in your day pack. In the commercial trade, when transporting goods and supplies up into the high mountains, some porters carry up to 100 kgs and get paid less than a fair wage provided by some so-called responsible trekking companies. However, doing things like this weighs on the conscience and we totally avoid such unfair situations.

We know the risk that comes with neglecting our porters and follow all mandatory guidelines as stipulated by the IPPG international porters association.

What is the overnight accommodation like?

In cities like Kathmandu or Lhasa, accommodation will be in hotels of your preference. We have a pool of hotels that ranges from luxury deluxe to budget hotels. While on a trek accommodation will depend on the trek style. If you are taking a camping trip then you will be sleeping in tents. Whilst we endeavor to stay in the best possible accommodation along the way, you should be aware that most teahouses, particularly in the smaller villages, are pretty basic but cozy enough to protect you from the harsh elements. The bedrooms are usually very small, the shared bathroom facilities are often outside and meals are served in a communal dining hall. Although simple, the teahouses do provide shelter and warmth and are normally run by friendly local families. Tea house treks are less expensive than Camping treks and are largely suitable for small groups. Usually, during busy seasons if private rooms in smaller villages are fully occupied you might have to bunk out in a dormitory. But then this is what adventure is all about.

Can we change the itinerary?

Depending on the prevailing situation, you can modify it to some extent after consulting with your senior guide. However, the date of trek completion should always coincide with the original itinerary. You should keep in mind that this is an adventure trip into some of the most remote regions in the world, where many unforeseen circumstances may contribute to the need for a change in itinerary. In such cases, we or your guide will suggest the best alternative similar to your original itinerary.

Is tipping included and if not, how much should I budget?

Tips are always appreciated by your support team after the trip. The amount depends on your budget and appreciation of their work. Guiding on some of the riskiest trails on earth is a tough job and your crew always makes sure they lead from the front. Some trekkers give 10% of the total tour cost as tips. The hat is passed around and the whole group contributes. Most trekkers happily provide tips with big hearts. The choice is yours if you feel they’ve been worth it.