The Upper Mustang trek is an expedition to the north of the massive gorge between Himalayan giants Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Historically Upper Mustang dominated the trade along the ancient route connecting Tibet with Nepal and India. The inhabitants of Mustang (the Lobas) are Buddhist and culturally Tibetan, but as the king allied himself with Jumla rather than Lhasa, the region was eventually absorbed into Nepal.
If you are looking for a trek through alpine scenery, this is not it. Instead, we will be in the great Himalayan rain shadow on a wind-swept desert landscape of implausible gorges, high passes and enormous vistas. This trek goes up and down to Lo Manthang – west of the Kali Gandaki river – and is slightly more faster-paced than our standard twenty-one day Upper Mustang Trek. Also, a point to note, is that this trek criss-crosses the jeep track to Lo Manthang. But our trail follows the trekking trail as much as possible and we have listed below places where you will meet the jeep tracks. Even when hiking on the jeep tracks you will only come across a few jeeps unless during the Tiji Festival when lots of visitors drive up to Lo Manthang to witness the festival. Also, read our article on how to avoid the jeep tracks.
Also, do check out our visual blog to see what kind of lodges and meals to expect on the Mustang Trek.
| Day | Description | Overnight | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival in Kathmandu | Kathmandu | 1,340m/4,300ft |
| Day 2 | Exploring Kathmandu | Kathmandu | 1,340m/4,300ft |
| Day 3 | Kathmandu to Pokhara | Pokhara | 827m/2,713ft |
| Day 4 | Pokhara to Kagbeni | Kagbeni | 2,808m/9,215ft |
| Day 5 | Kagbeni to Chele | Chele | 3,032m/9,950ft |
| Day 6 | Chele to Syangbochen | Syangbochen | 3,627m/11,900ft |
| Day 7 | Syangbochen to Drakmar | Drakmar | 3,444m/11,300ft |
| Day 8 | Drakmar to Lo Manthang | Lo Manthang | 3,505m/11,500ft |
| Day 9 | Lo Manthang | Lo Manthang | 3,505m/11,500ft |
| Day 10 | Lo Manthang to Tsarang | Tsarang | 3,620m/11,800ft |
| Day 11 | Tsarang to Ghemi | Ghemi | 3,520m/11,450ft |
| Day 12 | Ghemi to Giling | Giling | 3,806m/12,400ft |
| Day 13 | Giling to Chele | Chele | 3,032m/9,950ft |
| Day 14 | Chele to Kagbeni. Drive to Jomsom | Jomsom | 2,700m/8,850ft |
| Day 15 | Fly Jomsom to Pokhara | Pokhara | 827m/2,713ft |
| Day 16 | Fly to Kathmandu | Kathmandu | 1,340m/4,300ft |
| Day 17 | Final departure |
Arrive Kathmandu. You will be met on arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport. Transfer to Hotel. Day Free. Enjoy welcome dinner. Briefing during dinner. (Dinner)
Full day of sightseeing in Kathmandu. You will be accompanied by our in-house city guide. In the morning, visit Bodhanath, the Stupa of a Million dew drops, to watch monks and devotees circumambulate the largest stupa in the world. Then visit Pashupatinath, Nepal’s most sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, with its two-tiered golden roof and silver door. Drive to Patan for lunch in the garden of the Patan Museum Café. After lunch, visit the well-maintained Patan Museum storing ancient Nepali artifacts, followed by a tour of Patan Durbar Square. Drive back to Kathmandu. (Breakfast and Lunch)
Board an early flight to Jomsom. The plane navigates up the Kali Gandaki gorge between Annapurna (26,538 feet) and Dhaulagiri (26,788 feet) to the Jomosom airstrip.
Begin your trek up the windy Kali Gandaki valley to its confluence with the Jhog Khola. Kagbeni is the gateway to Upper Mustang and was formed in the 14th century as a checkpoint to control travel. Overnight Camp. (All meals)
Board an early flight to Jomsom. The plane navigates up the Kali Gandaki gorge between Annapurna (26,538 feet) and Dhaulagiri (26,788 feet) to the Jomosom airstrip.
Begin your trek up the windy Kali Gandaki valley to its confluence with the Jhog Khola. Kagbeni is the gateway to Upper Mustang and was formed in the 14th century as a checkpoint to control travel.
Today’s hike is all along the jeep trail with some opportunity to walk along the banks of the Kali Gandaki river.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
JOMSOM TO EKLEBHATTI:
Distance – 5.11 miles/8.22 kilometers
Ascent – 743 feet/227 meters
Descent – 512 feet/156 meters
Ascent time – 1.5 hours
Descent time – 25 minutes
Flat time – 45 minutes
EKLEBHATTI TO KAGBENI:
Distance – 1.17 miles/1.88 kilometers
Ascent – 144 feet/44 meters
Descent – 102 feet/31meters
Ascent time – 15 minutes
Descent time – 13 minutes
Flat time – 6 minutes
Heading north along the river, snowy Nilgiri (22,431 feet) will dominate the skyline in sharp contrast to the river canyon below. Enter Tange Village, a labyrinth of narrow alleys among whitewashed houses with fields of buckwheat, barley, wheat, and apple trees. Then continue toward Chhuksang along a trail lined with chortens (Buddhist wayside shrines) painted the traditional colors of red, black, and white — colors made from local rocks and minerals. Eventually cross the Kali Gandaki River on a steel footbridge, then climb up to the village of Chele, perched on a ridge above the gorge.
All of today’s hike is on the jeep track. An alternative is to charter a jeep ($100 extra for jeep charter) and begin the trek from Chele. The day you save today can be spent to further explore Lo-Manthang.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
KAGBENI TO CHUSSANG:
Distance – 6.33 miles/10.2 kilometers
Ascent – 1,339 feet/408 meters
Descent – 1,041 feet/318 meters
Ascent time – 1.5 hours
Descent time – 1 hour
Flat time – 1 hour
CHUSSANG TO CHELE:
Distance – 2.02 miles/3.25 kilometers
Ascent – 582 feet/178 meters
Descent – 177 feet/54 meters
Ascent time – 36 minutes
Descent time – 20 minutes
Flat time – 20 minutes
Begin trek today with an unrelenting climb — the trail often hewn out of the canyon wall — continuing more gently to your lunch stop at the pleasant village of Samar. The trail from Chele to Samar (3-4 hours) is all on jeep track. In the afternoon, navigate over two more ridges (highest pass is about 12,500 feet) to Syangbochen, a small cliff-side settlement with a panoramic view of the Annapurnas. From Samar, instead of trekking via Bhena, we take the Eastern route through Chungsi caves to Syanbochen to avoid the jeep track.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
CHELE TO SAMAR:
Distance – 2.78 miles/4.47 kilometers
Ascent – 1,172 feet/357 meters
Descent – 126 feet/38 meters
Ascent time – 1.5 hours
Descent time – 9 minutes
Flat time – 25 minutes
SAMAR TO SYANGBOCHEN:
Distance – 6.49 miles/10.45 kilometers
Ascent – 1,878 feet/573 meters
Descent – 1,233 feet/375 meters
Ascent time – 2.5 hours
Descent time – 1 hour, 10 minutes
Flat time – 1 hour, 10 minutes
Start uphill to another pass of about 12,500 feet. The trail then descends to Giling. The trail upto Giling is all on jeep track. To avoid the jeep track, we continue on the Eastern trail with a gentle ascent toward a pass (12,800 feet) east of the Nye La (12,720 feet). From this pass, you’ll have incredible views of the Annapurnas and Nilgiris as well as sweeping views of Mustang. Ghemi Village, built on the edge of a steep cliff, appears in the distance. Continue to Drakmar with its prominent red-cliffs. These cliffs are home to blue-sheep.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
SYANGBOCHEN TO GHEMI:
Distance – 8.27 miles/13.4 kilometers
Ascent – 1,899 feet/579 meters
Descent – 2,532 feet/772 meters
Ascent time – 2 hours
Descent time – 2 hours
Flat time – 1 hour, 50 minutes
GHEMI TO DRAKMAR:
Distance – 2.4 miles/3.86 kilometers
Ascent – 864 feet/264 meters
Descent – 247 feet/76 meters
Ascent time – 1 hour
Descent time – 15 minutes
Flat time – 45 minutes
Today is a long and strenuous hiking day. So begin early. Soon after leaving camp, climb over Mui La and proceed to Ghar Gompa (Lo Gekhar). Lo Gekhar contains one of the oldest gompas in Nepal (built in the eighth century — even older than Samye in Tibet), a great red-and-white structure surrounded by trees.
Continue ascent to the Marang la pass. Though not very steep, if it is a sunny day, this will be a grueling climb. Then descend through a pasture to the walled city of Lo. Today’s hike is all on trekking trail – NO jeep track.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
DRAKMAR TO GHAR GOMPA:
Distance – 3.37 miles/5.42 kilometers
Ascent – 1,191 feet/363 meters
Descent – 628 feet/192 meters
Ascent time – 1 hour, 20 minutes
Descent time – 30 minutes
Flat time – 30 minutes
GHAR GOMPA TO LO MANTHANG:
Distance – 7.05 miles/11.34 kilometers
Ascent – 1,345 feet/410 meters
Descent – 1,642 feet/500 meters
Ascent time – 1 hour, 30 minutes
Descent time – 1 hour, 30 minutes
Flat time – 30 minutes
Explore the maze of narrow streets winding through approximately 150 houses, and three important gompas built in the early 15th century. These temples (along with those in Tsarang and Lo Gekhar) have been rescued from the ravages of time by the efforts and heart of local people (Lo Gyalpo Jigme Foundation in collaboration with the American Himalayan Foundation) — with stunning results. If you are very fortunate we may get an audience with the king or queen at the four-story palace. The king, Raja Jigme Parbal Bista, although his duties are mostly ceremonial, is well loved and respected throughout the region.Overnight Camp. (All meals)
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
The former trekking trail is now all jeep track to Tsarang (3-4 hours). An alternative, though almost twice as longer, is to hike down to Dhi and then ascend to Tsarang the impressive village that boasts a huge five-story white dzong (fortress) and well as the imposing red gompa – Dorje Dhen (6 to 7 hours)
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
LO MANTHANG TO TSARANG:
Distance – 5.83 miles/9.38 kilometers
Ascent – 1,293 feet/395 meters
Descent – 1,360 feet/415 meters
Ascent time – 1 hour, 35 minutes
Descent time – 1 hour, 6 minutes
Flat time – 1 hour, 5 minutes
Today is a short gentle descent to Ghemi. Again, an alternative if you wish to avoid the jeep track is to hike to Dhakmar and retrace the descent to Ghemi (6 to 7 hours)
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
TSARANG TO GHEMI:
Distance – 5.83 miles/9.4 kilometers
Ascent – 1,293 feet/395 meters
Descent – 1,360 feet/415 meters
Ascent time – 1 hour, 35 mintues
Descent time – 1 hour, 10 minutes
Flat time – 1 hour
Retrace trail to Giling and visit the village monastery.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
Retrace trail to Chele. An option is to visit Lo Gekar west of the former trekking trail before descending to Chele/Chusang where you meet the jeep track.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
Retrace trail to Kagbeni which is all on jeep track. An all trekking trail alternative is to hike east from Chhusang towards Muktinath. This is a strenuous hike and involves a 2,600 feet ascent (6 to 7 hours). From Muktinath, descend by jeep to Jomsom.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
Fly to Pokhara. Day free in Pokhara to explore the lake-side, buy souvenirs or just relax. Alternate activities include hiking to the Peace Stupa and/or visiting the International Mountain Museum.
Overnight Hotel. (Breakfast)
Fly to Kathmandu. Day free in Kathmandu for final shopping and exploring. Farewell dinner.
Overnight Hotel. (Breakfast and Dinner)
Transfer to airport for final departure (B)
Per person price (valid until December 31, 2020)
2 – 3 persons: $2,800 USD per person
4 or more persons: $2,520 USD per person
Single Supplement: $300 USD
All airport transfers; One full days sightseeing in Kathmandu as indicated in the itinerary and entrance fees to monuments; Three nights twin sharing hotel accommodation at Hotel Tibet (3 star) in Kathmandu; Two nights twin sharing hotel accommodation at Big Pillow Inn (2 star) in Pokhara; Airfare: Kathmandu to Pokhara to Jomsom and Jomsom to Pokhara to Kathmandu; Meals as indicated in the itinerary; Lodge trekking as indicated in the itinerary; Boiled water for your bottles two times a day; Use of Steripen to sterilize water; Guide and staff wages; equipment and meals; Guide and staff insurance, Mustang Restricted Area Permit; Annapurna Conservation Area Permit.
Your international airfare; Nepal Visa, Meals not indicated in the itinerary; Tips and gratuities; Personal equipment (a suggested list will be mailed to you); Travel insurance (Required); Other expenses of a personal nature.
As the name suggests, this is a fast-paced itinerary. So you must be in good shape and willing to hike up to 8 hours on a couple of days. There are many routes in the Upper Mustang area (going into Lo Manthang and returning to Jomsom) and we are happy to customize this itinerary to suit your needs. Another option is a circuit trek going into Luri Gompa which will require a few more strenuous long days of trekking. A more relaxed paced camping trek to Upper Mustang is also possible.
My trek with Crystal Mt was fantastic. I would highly recommend the Mustang trek. Although my guide became ill during the trek, Crystal Mt acted quickly to get a replacement guide on site.
We chose Crystal Mountain Treks to help us coordinate our first trek in Nepal.
My teenage sons and I wanted to be off the beaten track for 2 weeks, and the team delivered. In fact, they exceeded our expectations.
We absolutely loved Mustang – the landscape is simply breathtaking and its people, warm and welcoming.
There were very few tourists, in fact, very few people. Our guide and porters were kind, jovial, knowledgeable and made sure we had a holiday to remember. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Crystal Mountain Treks and would use this company again for our next trek in Nepal.
