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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 slightly more faster-paced than our standard twenty-one day Upper 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. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
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.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
Today will begin 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. 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.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
Start uphill to another pass of about 12,500 feet. The trail then descends with two drops into small canyons, and then continues with a gentle ascent toward Chyunkar and 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. After lunch, continue to Drakmar with its prominent red-cliffs. These cliffs are home to blue-sheep.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
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.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
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)
Start uphill to another pass of about 12,500 feet. The trail then descends with two drops into small canyons, and then continues with a gentle ascent toward Chyunkar and 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. After lunch, continue to Drakmar with its prominent red-cliffs. These cliffs are home to blue-sheep.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
Today is a short gentle descent to Ghemi.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
Start uphill to another pass of about 12,500 feet. The trail then descends with two drops into small canyons, and then continues with a gentle ascent toward Chyunkar and 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. After lunch, continue to Drakmar with its prominent red-cliffs. These cliffs are home to blue-sheep.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
Start uphill to another pass of about 12,500 feet. The trail then descends with two drops into small canyons, and then continues with a gentle ascent toward Chyunkar and 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. After lunch, continue to Drakmar with its prominent red-cliffs. These cliffs are home to blue-sheep.
Overnight Lodge. (All meals)
Start uphill to another pass of about 12,500 feet. The trail then descends with two drops into small canyons, and then continues with a gentle ascent toward Chyunkar and 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. After lunch, continue to Drakmar with its prominent red-cliffs. These cliffs are home to blue-sheep.
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, 2019)
2 – 3 persons: $2,600 USD per person
4 or more persons: $2,340 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.
