Upper Mustang Trek

Duration: 14 Days | Based on 1 Review | Trip Photos | Trip Map

Destination: Nepal
Trip Difficulty: Moderate
Transport: Aeroplane / Tourist Bus
Food: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge to lodge
Max Elevation: 4230m
Group Size: Min 2 pax

Upper Mustang Trek is a wonderful excursion in the hidden Kingdom of Nepal. It lies in the North West of Nepal, having a large arid zone, beyond the stunning Annapurna Himalayan chain. The journey passes various Tibetan Buddhists’ settlements and the dry part surrounded by the brown sandy rocks and the seasonal flowers. Lomanthang, which is the centre of the Upper Mustang, is a major focused area of this trek.

Trek to Upper Mustang itinerary begins from the district centre of Mustang- Jomsom. The trek follows the bank of the Kali Gandaki River. It is a windy valley that carries sand. Walking during the midday is quite challenging. From Kagbeni, the trek splits towards the Upper Mustang region. Passing the white washed villages, that are typically made and the fluttering flags at the top of their houses, you move ahead and reach the stone-walled town of Lomanthang.

The ancient caves, Buddhist monasteries, Chhortens and other cultural heritages offer a greater scenario. People of Upper Mustang celebrate different festivals and Tiji is one of them. It is celebrated to ask for the rain and avoid doughtiness. Following the different retracing trail, it reaches to Jomsom (an extra day, it is wonderful to visit the Muktinath temple) and fly back to Pokhara.

Some other Remote Treks: Upper Dolpo Trek

Marvel Adventure organizes Upper Mustang trek with experienced Mustang guide, well-designed itinerary and overall arrangement. So, join us and explore the hidden kingdom of Nepal. Please feel free to contact us if you have any additional queries regarding this trek.

Highlights

Sightseeing of cultural heritages in Kathmandu
Exploring the rain shadow Mustang region
Visit La Monthang and other ancient monasteries
Exploration of amazing caves and landscapes
Acquintance of rich Tibetan culture and traditons
Scenic flight to and from Jomsom
Explore Pokhara - The City of Lakes

Day to Day Itinerary

Day 1 Drive to Pokhara (820m)
We take a wonderful scenic drive to Pokhara as we cruise through colorful rural settings and after about 6 hours, we reach the lake city. On reaching Pokhara, we will check into our Hotel, refresh and stroll around the lakeside and visit the Fewa Lake and Barahi temple. Overnight at hotel
Day 2 Fly to Jomsom and Trek to Kagbeni (2,800m)
We will catch an early flight to Jomsom, district headquarter of Mustang. After the flight to Jomsom, we will trek slightly uphill for about 3 hours alongside the Kaligandaki River to reach Kagbeni, the gateway to Upper Mustang. Overnight at a guesthouse
Day 3 Trek to Chele (3050m)
The trail leads up towards the east bank of the Kaligandaki climbing over many ridges as it heads north and reaches Tangbe village. In about one and half hour we will reach Chussang village. We will then cross a river and climb up to huge red mass of Conglomerate that had fallen from the cliff above, forming a tunnel through which Kali Gandaki flows. The trek now leaves the Kaligandaki valley and we will head west into the Ghyakar Khola valley .Then we will steep climb up a rocky gully to reach the village of Chele. Overnight at Hotel
Day 5 Trek to Syangbochen (3475m)
The trek goes along a steep barren land, alongside the copper red canyon. We will make a gradual descent to some Chortens on a ridge, and after walking downhill for some more time we will reach Samar, a beautiful village. From there, we will climb a ridge and walk down into a giant gorge. We will continue our trek through another valley, fields, cross a stream and climb up a ridge. Again we will climb another pass, go through another ridge and trek downhill to Syangbochen. Overnight at Hotel
Day 5 Trek to Ghaymi (3,520m)
We will gently hike uphill to a pass at 3,770m. and trek downhill to reach Geling. From Geling, we will go uphill passing through fields to the center of the valley. Then we will climb a tough terrain across the head of the valley to the Nyi La pass (3,840m). From there we will climb, downhill for half an hour to reach a trail junction; the right paths leading us to Charang while the left to Ghaymi. Ghaymi, where we are going to stay is a large white-washed village sheltered by overhanging cliffs. Overnight at Hotel
Day 6 Trek to Charang (3,560m)
Today we will trek to Charang, the driest part of Mustang. It will be a tough trek in this rough terrain. However, on reaching there we will be rewarded with magnificent views of the remote countryside and Rocky Mountains in all directions. On reaching Charang, we will take rest at a large village at the top of the Charang Chu Canyon. On the east of the village, there’s a big fort from the medieval times and a red Gompas which has a spectacular collection of statues and thankas. Overnight at Hotel
Day 7 Trek to Lo-Manthang (3,840m)
We will be heading towards one of the major attraction center of this trek, Lo-Manthang, consisting of around 150 households and residences for Lama Gurus. We will trek through Lo-Gekar, the oldest Gompa in Nepal. The trail is moderately easy. On reaching the walled city of Lo, we can visit the ancient temples and monasteries of the region. We can also visit the periphery of the king’s impressive palace, where still the king and queen of Lo- Manthang reside. He still serves as a king on all purpose in this isolated kingdom. We can take horses on lease and visit the beautiful valley. Overnight at a Guesthouse
Day 8 Rest and Exploration at Lo-Manthang
As a single day is not enough in exploring this mystical town of Lo-Manthang, we will spend an extra day here. We will visit the Namgyal Gompa; a beautiful Gompa is situated on a hilltop, which is of high social, religious as well as legal importance as it serves as a local courthouse. After that, we can visit the village of Tingkhar, northwest of Lo-Manthang. We will also visit Champa Lhakang which consists of a large Buddha statue and sophisticated Mandalas painted on the wall. Overnight at a hotel
Day 9 Trek to Dhamkar (3,820m)
After the wonderful days in Lo-Manthang, we will take the upper highland trail, which will reward us with fascinating views of Lo-Manthang and Charang Valley, with snowy mounts in the background. We will cross the Dhi Pass at 4,100m and reach Dhamkar. Overnight at hotel
Day 10 Trek down to Syangbochen
We will hike down to Syangbochen via Rachen Gompa enjoying and exploring the natural beauty. Rachen Gompa is a mystical Gompa which grew by itself at the lap of a rocky cave. Overnight at hotel
Day 11 Trek to Chussang (2,980m)
We will continue in our trail through steep ridges and hills alongside the pleasing sceneries of mountains and hills. We will trek to Tetang, the upper village of Chuksang which lies between two hills. Overnight at Hotel
Day 12 Trek to Jomsom (2,720m)
We will go through the trail of Jharkot village and visit the Jharkot Monastery, Tibetan Herbal Medicine Center and the ancient fortress of Jharkot which once was a palace. During descend towards Jomsom we can enjoy the view of Kali Gandaki Valley and Kagbeni Village, the gateway to Mustang. Overnight at hotel
Day 13 Fly to Pokhara from Jomsom and sightseeing tour
After boarding a 20 minute flight to Pokhara, we can spend the rest of the day in this beautiful lake city. We can go boating in exotic Fewa, Rupa and Begnas Lake, visit the beautiful hilltop monastery, or explore the mystical caves. We can do some shopping, buy souvenirs and many more. . The city also offers a wide range of adventure activities like Paragliding, Zip Flying, Bungee Jumping and many more. In the evening we can relax and enjoy the vibrant city of Pokhara.
Day 14 Drive back to Kathmandu
After enjoying the trek we will drive back to Kathmandu, which will be about 6 hours' drive. On the way you can enjoy the scenic views of villages, rivers, mountain ranges and many more. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.

What to Expect

What's included

Standard meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek
Government license holder guide
Strong and helpful porter with proper equipments (1 porter for 2 people)
Salary,food,accommodation and insurance for guide and porters
Tea house/lodge accommodation during the trek
All land transportation as per itinerary
Flight ticket ( Pokhara-Jomsom-Pokhara) along with airport taxes
TIMS (Trekking Information Management System) card
Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) entry permit
Special permit for Upper Mustang
Two nights standard Hotel in Pokhara with breakfast
Comprehensive first aid kit
Government taxes and official expenses

What's not included

International Airfare and taxes
Nepal entry visa fee
Your Travel Insurance (compulsory)
Lunch and dinner whilst in Kathmandu and Pokhara
Entrance fee in the heritage sites during city tour.
All the expenses of personal nature
Any kind of drinks and desserts during the trek
Tips for guide and porter (Tipping is expected)

Request a Private Date

Useful Information

1. Insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory for all clients undertaking any trip. It should provide adequate security for the full duration of the tour to cover personal injury, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, helicopter rescue and loss of luggage. Make sure that your insurance policy covers up to 2500-5000 meters of altitude.

2. Packing List

Sunglasses
Sun-Cream and Lip Balm with high SPF
Hat/Cap
T-shirt, Vests and Shirt
Fleece/Sweater
Fleece Jacket
Down Jacket
Waterproof Jacket and Trousers
Warm Gloves
Hiking Boots
3-4 pairs of socks
Day pack (30-40 liters)
Torch light
Water bottle (Minimum 2 liters)
Small Hand Towel
Sleeping Bag for up to -15 Degree Celsius

3. Guide and Porter

We provide experienced, knowledgeable and honest guide with good communication skills in English language to make your trip wonderful. The guide will provide all the information about the mountains, different histories, cultures, traditions and many more. We will provide 1 porter for 2 people. The porters are helpful as well as strong and will carry a maximum of 25 kgs combined. After giving the best services along with the hard works up in the mountains, guides and porters expect some tips from your side. Tipping culture is very common in tourism sector.

4. Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), is a pathological effect of high altitude on humans, caused by acute exposure to low partial pressure of oxygen at high altitude. It commonly occurs above 3000 meters. It presents as a collection of nonspecific symptoms, acquired at high altitude or in low air pressure, resembling a case of "flu, carbon monoxide poisoning, or a hangover". However, most people can ascend to 3000 meters without difficulty.

Primary Symptoms of Altitude Sickness:

Lack of appetite, nausea, or vomiting
Fatigue or weakness
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Swelling of hands, feet, and face
Insomnia
Shortness of breath upon exertion
Nosebleed
Persistent rapid pulse
Drowsiness
General malaise

Prevention:

Ascending slowly is the best way to avoid altitude sickness. Avoiding strenuous activity such as skiing, hiking, etc. in the first 24 hours at high altitude reduces the symptoms of AMS. Alcohol and sleeping pills are respiratory depressants, and thus slow down the acclimatization process and should be avoided. Alcohol also tends to cause dehydration and exacerbates AMS. Thus, Marvel Adventure strictly suggests avoiding alcohol consumption in the first 24–48 hours at a higher altitude.

Guides and porters from Marvel Adventure are very much familiar with this problem due to their experience. All of them are trained with basic medical trainings and hence they definitely can help you.

Testimonials

Ross Dean, New Zealand
Upper Mustang trek
I recently completed a trek to Upper Mustang with Nir as our guide. Nir organised the whole trip from arrival in Kathmadu until the time we left. Nothing was overlooked. Our hotels and tea houses were all of a high standard and meals provided were excellent. Nir always responded to our queries and requests within hours and his knowledge of the area and Nepal was excellent. He quickly assessed our fitness and ability and there was flexibility in the itinerary at all times. I would highly recommend Marvel Adventure to organise and guide you through any treks in Nepal.