Mustang region · Tea house trek
Upper Mustang Trek
- Trek
- Upper Mustang Trek
- Trek type
- Tea House Trek
- Duration
- 16 days
- Program starts/ends
- Jomsom
- Trek difficulty
- Moderate
- Maximum elevation
- 3,840 m
- Walking duration
- 4–7 hours
- Group size
- 1–6 people
- Best season
- Mar–Nov
- Accommodation
- Tea houses
- Transportation
- Flight and jeep
- Permits
- Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit, ACAP permit and TIMS card
From $2,450 for 1–2 People
Book this trekOverview
The Upper Mustang Trek takes you into the old Tibetan kingdom of Lo, north of the Himalaya in the rain shadow of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. It is a dry, high desert of red and ochre cliffs, cave dwellings, whitewashed villages and centuries-old monasteries, closed to foreigners until 1992 and still a restricted area today.
After a short flight from Pokhara to Jomsom, you walk up the Kali Gandaki valley through Kagbeni, Chele, Syangboche, Ghami and Tsarang to Lo Manthang (3,840 m), the walled capital of Lo. You spend a full day there, visiting its painted monasteries and the Chhoser caves, and return by a quieter route past Lo Gekar (Ghar Gompa), one of Nepal's oldest monasteries, and the red cliffs of Drakmar.
You sleep in simple family-run tea houses and pay for your food and room directly, so your money stays with local families. The walking days are 4 to 7 hours and the altitude stays below about 4,000 m, so this is a good trek for fit walkers who want culture as much as mountains. Mustang lies in the rain shadow, so it is one of the few treks you can do in the monsoon.
Related treks: the Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek, the Annapurna Circuit Trek and the Makalu Base Camp Trek.
Highlights
- Lo Manthang (3,840 m), the walled capital of the old kingdom of Lo, with its royal palace and painted monasteries
- Lo Gekar (Ghar Gompa), one of the oldest monasteries in Nepal, and the red cliffs of Drakmar
- Ancient cave dwellings in the cliffs, including the Chhoser caves near the Tibetan border
- Tibetan Buddhist villages with mani walls, chortens and prayer flags: Kagbeni, Ghami and Tsarang
- A dramatic desert landscape in the rain shadow of the Himalaya, with views of Nilgiri, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri
- One of the few treks in Nepal you can do in the monsoon
- Trek with purpose: a licensed guide, fair porter wages and insurance, and a share of every trip fee for community projects
Itinerary
A. Outline Itinerary
- Day 1 1,400m
- Day 4 2,810m
- Day 7 3,520m
- Day 9 3,840m
- Day 10 3,840m
- Day 13 2,980m
- Day 16 1,400m
| Day | Description | Altitude (m) | Net Gain/Loss (m) | Duration (hours) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Kathmandu | 1400 | - | - |
| 2 | Kathmandu: permits and preparation | 1400 | 0 | - |
| 3 | Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara | 820 | -580 | 6-7 by road |
| 4 | Fly to Jomsom, trek to Kagbeni | 2810 | 1990 | 3-4 |
| 5 | Trek from Kagbeni to Chele | 3050 | 240 | 5-6 |
| 6 | Trek from Chele to Syangboche | 3800 | 750 | 6-7 |
| 7 | Trek from Syangboche to Ghami | 3520 | -280 | 4-5 |
| 8 | Trek from Ghami to Tsarang | 3560 | 40 | 4-5 |
| 9 | Trek from Tsarang to Lo Manthang | 3840 | 280 | 4 |
| 10 | Explore Lo Manthang | 3840 | 0 | 3-5 |
| 11 | Trek from Lo Manthang to Drakmar via Lo Gekar | 3810 | -30 | 6-7 |
| 12 | Trek from Drakmar to Ghiling | 3570 | -240 | 4-5 |
| 13 | Trek from Ghiling to Chhusang | 2980 | -590 | 6-7 |
| 14 | Drive from Chhusang to Jomsom | 2720 | -260 | 2-3 by jeep |
| 15 | Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara | 820 | -1900 | 25 min flight |
| 16 | Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu | 1400 | 580 | 6-7 by road |
B. Detailed Itinerary
Itinerary
- Altitude: 1,400 m
- Walking: None
Our team meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and takes you to your hotel in Kathmandu. In the evening, meet your guide for a short briefing about the trek and the Upper Mustang permit.
- Altitude: 1,400 m
- Walking: None
Upper Mustang is a restricted area, so we apply for your Restricted Area Permit at the Department of Immigration today, together with your Annapurna Conservation Area permit. Use the free time to visit Boudhanath stupa or Patan Durbar Square.
- Altitude: 820 m
- Walking: None (6 to 7 hours by road)
A tourist bus or private car takes you west to Pokhara, Nepal's lake town. Relax by Phewa Lake and prepare for the early flight. Overnight in a hotel.
- Altitude: 2,810 m
- Walking: 3 to 4 hours
A spectacular 25-minute morning flight takes you between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna into the Kali Gandaki valley. From Jomsom you walk up the wide, windy riverbed to Kagbeni, a medieval village of mud-brick houses and a red monastery at the gate to Upper Mustang. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 3,050 m
- Walking: 5 to 6 hours
At the permit check post you enter the restricted area. The trail follows the Kali Gandaki past Tangbe, with its whitewashed houses and apple orchards, and Chhusang, then crosses the river and climbs to Chele. The landscape turns dry and colourful, with red and ochre cliffs and caves high in the rock. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 3,800 m
- Walking: 6 to 7 hours
A long day with several small passes, including Taklam La (3,624 m) and Dajori La (3,735 m), and wide views back to Nilgiri and Annapurna. You pass Samar and the Rangchyung cave chorten before reaching Syangboche. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 3,520 m
- Walking: 4 to 5 hours
Cross the Yamda La (3,850 m) and pass chortens and fields of barley to Ghami, one of the largest villages in Lo, with whitewashed houses, prayer flags and a long mani wall. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 3,560 m
- Walking: 4 to 5 hours
Walk past the longest mani wall in Mustang and the red cliffs of Dhakmar, then cross Nyi La to Tsarang, with its five-storey white dzong (fort) and red Thupchen monastery. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 3,840 m
- Walking: 4 hours
A gentle climb over Lo La (3,950 m) gives you the first view of Lo Manthang, the walled capital of the old kingdom of Lo. Walk in through the city gate into narrow lanes of mud-brick houses, monasteries and the king's palace. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 3,840 m
- Walking: 3 to 5 hours (optional hikes)
A full day in Lo Manthang. Visit Jampa, Thubchen and Chodey monasteries with their old wall paintings, and walk around the city walls. In the afternoon, ride a horse or jeep to the Chhoser cave dwellings near the Tibetan border, carved into the cliffs centuries ago. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 3,810 m
- Walking: 6 to 7 hours
Take the quieter western route back. Climb over a high ridge to Lo Gekar (Ghar Gompa), one of the oldest monasteries in Nepal, said to date back to the 8th century. Then descend to Drakmar, a village below spectacular red cliffs. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 3,570 m
- Walking: 4 to 5 hours
An easier day past Ghami and through barley fields to Ghiling, a quiet village with a large monastery and views back to the Annapurnas. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 2,980 m
- Walking: 6 to 7 hours
Walk back over the passes via Syangboche and Samar, then descend to the Kali Gandaki at Chhusang. Overnight at a tea house.
- Altitude: 2,720 m
- Walking: None (2 to 3 hours by jeep)
A jeep takes you down the valley via Kagbeni to Jomsom. In the afternoon, visit Marpha village with its apple orchards, or rest. Enjoy a final evening with your guide and porter. Overnight at a lodge.
- Altitude: 820 m
- Walking: None (25-minute flight)
An early morning flight back to Pokhara. Free afternoon by Phewa Lake. If the flight is cancelled by wind, we take you by jeep (about 7 to 8 hours). Overnight in a hotel.
- Altitude: 1,400 m
- Walking: None (6 to 7 hours by road)
Drive back to Kathmandu, or take the 25-minute flight. Your guide drops you at your hotel. End of the trek.
Permits for this trek
- Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit: US$500 per person for the first 10 days, then US$50 per person per extra day.
- Annapurna Conservation Area permit (ACAP): NPR 3,000 per person.
- TIMS card (Trekkers’ Information Management System): about NPR 2,000 per person.
Under the current rules a single trekker can get this permit, as long as you trek with a licensed guide through a registered agency. We arrange all your permits through our registered agency (TAAN no. 1597) in Kathmandu on Day 2. Please send us a copy of your passport and 2 passport-size photos. Fees can change, so we confirm the current amounts when you book. Want to know how your price is worked out? See how we price your trek.
How to Get to Upper Mustang
The trek starts and ends in Jomsom, the main town of Mustang district, reached from Pokhara.
- Kathmandu to Pokhara: a 6–7 hour tourist bus (about US$25) or a 25-minute flight (about US$120).
- Pokhara to Jomsom: a 25-minute morning flight (about US$130 each way). Flights are often delayed by afternoon wind, so they only fly early in the day.
- By road: Pokhara to Jomsom is about 7–8 hours by jeep via Beni, if flights are cancelled or you prefer to drive.
- Chhusang to Jomsom (end of the trek): 2–3 hours by jeep, included in your price.
Cost and Price Details
The Price Includes
- A licensed, English-speaking guide: daily wages, food, accommodation and insurance
- A porter (one for every two trekkers): daily wages, food, accommodation and insurance
- Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit (US$500 per person for 10 days)
- Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card for each trekker
- Flights Pokhara–Jomsom–Pokhara for your guide and porter
- Jeep from Chhusang to Jomsom
- A contribution to our community projects in Sankhuwasabha
- 25% agency service charge, including government tax
The price does not include
- International flights
- Nepal visa (currently US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days)
- Hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Bus or flight between Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Your flights Pokhara–Jomsom–Pokhara (about US$130 each way)
- Food and accommodation on the trek (paid directly to tea houses)
- Travel and medical insurance, including helicopter rescue (required)
- Personal expenses: drinks, hot showers, charging, laundry, monastery entry fees, horse or jeep to the Chhoser caves
- Tips for your guide and porter
- Costs caused by events outside our control, such as flight cancellations, landslides or strikes
Tea houses: pay as you go
We don’t include trail food and accommodation in our price. Instead, you choose and pay for them directly at family-run tea houses, so 100% of that money stays with local families. Budget about NPR 4,000 per person per day for food and accommodation. Prices are a little higher than on other treks because supplies come up from Jomsom. There are no ATMs above Jomsom, so bring enough Nepali rupees.
Upper Mustang Trek Cost: Your Full Budget
Our package is US$2,450 for 1–2 trekkers. It covers your guide, porter, the restricted area permit and other permits, your staff’s flights and the jeep from Chhusang. For a bigger group, ask us for a price.
Here is a full budget for one person in a group of two, so you know the real total before you book.
| What | Cost per person |
|---|---|
| MAST trek package (guide, porter, Upper Mustang permit, ACAP, TIMS, staff flights, jeep): US$2,450 shared by 2 | about US$1,225 |
| Food and tea houses on the trek: about NPR 4,000 a day for 11 nights | about US$330 |
| Flights Pokhara–Jomsom and back (about US$130 each way) | about US$260 |
| Bus Kathmandu–Pokhara and back | about US$50 |
| Tips for your guide and porter | about US$100–150 |
| Total for one person (group of 2) | about US$1,965–2,015 |
Trekking alone? Your package is US$2,450, so your total is about US$3,190–3,240.
Not included in this budget: international flights, Nepal visa, hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, and travel insurance with helicopter rescue.
Your Guide and Porter
Your guide is licensed, speaks English and knows the trails, monasteries and tea-house families of Mustang. A porter carries your main bag, up to 15–20 kg (one porter for every two trekkers). Your guide looks after your health at altitude, and every staff member is paid a fair wage and insured.
Altitude and Fitness
This trek sleeps as high as 3,840 m at Lo Manthang and crosses small passes up to about 4,000 m. You should be fit enough to walk 5–6 hours a day on dry, dusty and often windy trails. The climb is gradual, which helps you acclimatise. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water, use strong sun protection, and tell your guide straight away if you have a headache, nausea or dizziness. Travel insurance with helicopter rescue is required.
Best Time for the Upper Mustang Trek
You can trek Upper Mustang from March to November. It lies in the rain shadow of the Himalaya, so it is one of the few treks that is good in the monsoon.
| Months | What to expect | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Mar–May (spring) | Mild days, cold nights; Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang, usually in May | Best time |
| Jun–Aug (monsoon) | Little rain in Mustang, green fields; Jomsom flights may be delayed by clouds in Pokhara | Good |
| Sep–Nov (autumn) | Clear skies, harvest season, cold mornings | Best time |
| Dec–Feb (winter) | Very cold and windy; many villagers and tea houses move south | Avoid |
Upper Mustang Trek Map
FAQs
General
Upper Mustang lies on the border with Tibet and was closed to foreigners until 1992. To protect its culture and environment, the government still limits visits with a special permit. You need a Restricted Area Permit and a licensed guide, booked through a registered agency like us.
US$500 per person for the first 10 days, then US$50 per person for each extra day. Our 16-day itinerary keeps you inside the restricted area for 10 days, and the permit is included in our price. You also need the Annapurna Conservation Area permit (NPR 3,000) and a TIMS card.
Yes. Under the current rules a single trekker can get the Upper Mustang permit, as long as you trek with a licensed guide through a registered agency. Our package price is the same for one or two trekkers, so two people sharing pay less each.
It is a moderate trek. The days are 4 to 7 hours on dry, dusty trails with several small passes around 3,600 to 4,000 m. It is often windy in the afternoon. Anyone who is fit and walks regularly can do it.
March to November. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant. Because Mustang lies in the rain shadow, it gets little rain in the monsoon (June to August), so it is one of the best treks for summer. Winter is very cold and many tea houses close.
Tiji is a three-day Buddhist festival in Lo Manthang, usually in May, with masked dances in the main square. If you want to see it, book early and we will plan your dates around it.
You pay for your meals and room directly at family-run tea houses, so 100% of that money stays with local families. Budget about NPR 4,000 per person per day. Prices are higher than on other treks because most supplies come up from Jomsom.
Yes, a dirt road now reaches Lo Manthang, and you may share parts of the trail with jeeps and motorbikes. Our route uses walking trails away from the road wherever possible, and the return via Lo Gekar and Drakmar is much quieter.
The risk is low to moderate. You sleep at up to 3,840 m and climb gradually over several days. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water, and tell your guide if you have a headache, nausea or dizziness. Travel insurance with helicopter rescue is required.
Yes. We can add extra days in Lo Manthang, a visit to Muktinath, or combine it with the Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek. Extra days in the restricted area cost US$50 per person per day for the permit. Contact us to plan it.
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