Upper Mustang Trek

You’ll arrive in Kathmandu via Tribhuvan International airport, our representatives will be there to pick you up. And you’ll be transferred to one of the standard hotels in Kathmandu.

You’ll be given a very wonderful leisure time for exploring the heritages of Kathmandu and to sightsee different historic relics of the heart of Nepal. It’s an important time to shop for necessary gear for trekking.

Exploring the vibrant town After breakfast, you will head to Pokhara via Prithvi Highway. The bus ride will be around 6-7 hours long. You can enjoy the views of the western Himalayas on the way. The beautiful and tad-tiring bus ride takes you to the beautiful valley of Pokhara. Pokhara is the gateway to some of the highest and beautiful mountains of Nepal. On arrival, you will check in to the local hotel.

Drive from Pokhara to Kagbeni is an exciting mountain road journey from the lakeside city of Pokhara into the dramatic landscapes of the Lower Mustang region. The route follows the Kali Gandaki River through deep gorges, waterfalls, traditional villages, apple orchards, and high Himalayan terrain before reaching the historic village of Kagbeni.

The tiring trek continues towards the east bank of the Kali Gandaki. You will climb through many ridges and reach Tangbe village. The scenic Tangbe village is a labyrinth of narrow valleys amid white-washed mud and stone houses. You can also witness sweet apples from apple trees if you want. From here, you’ll continue your hike to Chhusang village. After this, you will cross the dwindling waters of Kali Gandaki. Then, you will climb up the huge red mass of Conglomerate. This fell from the cliff above and now forms a tunnel through which Kali Gandaki flows. After crossing the Kali Gandaki Valley, you continue your uphill climb to The Chele.

Leaving behind the dramatic cliffs of Chele, You will gently climb uphill throught eh dusty road till Samar than the trail turns away from the main route and dives deep into a quiet, shadowed canyon carved by wind and water over centuries. Navigating this narrow, sunless gorge feels like entering another world, surrounded by looming sandstone walls and towering rock formations. Tucked into the side of the cliff sits Chhungsi Cave, a sacred pilgrimage site where Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated in the 8th century. Inside the natural limestone cavern, the air is cool and peaceful, filled with the faint scent of incense, where butter lamps illuminate naturally formed stalactites believed to hold sacred spiritual energy.

After leaving the tranquil cave behind, a steep, climb brings you up out of the canyon and back onto Yak pastureland. The final stretch of the day winds gently uphill through open terraced land into Syangboche, a small, welcoming settlement tucked between wind-swept hills that offers a peaceful resting place after a day of canyon exploration.

This trek can push you a little. You will trek through zigzag non-uniform terrains across two different passes. You begin your trek with an uplift over the Syangbuche Pass. From here, you can view the spectacular perfect landscape of Upper Mustang. After crossing the small stream, you slowly hike and uplift to Jhaite and onwards to Nyi La Pass. Here you’ll feel the strong, gusty winds of Mustang alongside the fluttering of prayer flags. After this your descent to a trail junction. After a final descent, you reach Ghemi. This is a touch village with a little Chorten at its entrance.

After passing through the longest Mani wall of 1000ft, you’ll find yourself heading towards the pass from where you can see the Mustang as a desert and barren without any vegetation or any partially true life. The red-painted Tsarang stupa welcomes you to Charang one of the largest villages which were the capital of Mustang before Lo-Manthang.

Perched dramatically above a steep, wind-carved canyon, Tsarang stands as one of the most historically significant villages in Upper Mustang. Once serving as the royal winter capital of the Kingdom of Lo during the 14th and 15th centuries, this quiet settlement is surrounded by vast fields of high-altitude barley and framed by stark desert plateaus. At the edge of the village, hovering over a sheer cliff face, sits the towering five-story Tsarang Dzong—a former royal palace and fortress that historically protected the eastern approaches of the realm.

A short walk through the village’s maze of narrow, stone-paved alleys leads to the massive red-walled Tsarang Monastery, a vital center of Tibetan Buddhist learning for over five centuries. Inside its dimly lit halls, visitors can discover rare collections of gold-lettered scriptures, ancient thangkas, and vibrant wall murals detailing sacred spiritual histories. Connecting these historic structures are long rows of carved stone mani walls and whitewashed chortens, where daily life carries on in harmony with centuries-old traditions, making Tsarang a deeply authentic and memorable stop along the high desert trail.

The journey from Tsarang to Lo Manthang is the grand finale of the trek into Upper Mustang, taking you deep into the heart of the ancient Kingdom of Lo. Leaving Tsarang behind, the trail crosses the Tsarang Chu river before ascending gradually through a wide, arid valley of wind-sculpted earth and towering rock formations. As you trek across the open high-desert plateau, the landscape feels vast and untamed, flanked by dramatic canyon walls and distant snow-covered Himalayan peaks framing the northern horizon.

Along the route, the trail climbs toward the Sungda Chorten and eventually reaches the windy heights of the Lo La Pass (3,950 meters). Hitting the top of the pass provides a thrilling, iconic moment: below in the distance sits the isolated, whitewashed walled capital of Lo Manthang, nestled against green willow trees and terraced fields in the middle of the high-altitude desert.

Descending gently from the pass brings you across the final stretch of flat plateau toward the main entrance gate of Lo Manthang. Entering the citadel feels like stepping back centuries in time, completing an unforgettable journey through Mustang’s ancient landscapes, deep Buddhist heritage, and enduring culture.

Exploring the Ancient Walled City:  Your journey begins by stepping through the main northern gate of Lo Manthang into a medieval landscape of narrow stone alleys, flat-topped mud houses, and fluttering prayer flags. Start your morning at Jampa Lhakhang, where a massive three-story clay statue of Maitreya Buddha commands the room alongside walls adorned with 15th-century gold and silver mandalas. From there, wander through the central plaza to Thubchen Gompa to marvel at its cavernous assembly hall, supported by carved timber pillars and covered in vibrant, restored frescoes of Buddhist guardians. Spend the afternoon taking in the towering four-story Royal Palace at the heart of town before finding a quiet local teahouse to sip warm butter tea and soak in the slow rhythm of the Loba people.

Sky Caves and Hilltop Panoramic Vistas: On your second day, venture outside the city walls toward the dramatic canyon landscapes of the Chhoser region. Your morning trip brings you to the foot of Jhong Cave, an extraordinary five-story cave complex hand-carved directly into a sheer wall of red rock, where you can climb interior wooden ladders to explore interconnected chambers once used for defense and living space. In the afternoon, ater visiting the Ghar Phu Monastery and Lo Nipu, make your way northwest of town to Namgyal Monastery, perched on a steep ridge that serves as a spiritual sanctuary and local monastic school. End your day here taking in sweeping panoramic views across the terraced green fields of the valley floor framed by the stark, arid trans-Himalayan desert.

Leaving the mud-brick walls of Lo Manthang behind, the trail climbs steadily into the wild high-altitude wilderness, trading the valley floor for sweeping ridgelines. As you push upward toward the windswept Chogo La Pass, standing at nearly 4,300 meters, the air thins and the horizon opens into a breathtaking panorama of snow-capped Himalayan giants rising above stark, sun-baked earth. Colorful prayer flags snap violently in the mountain breeze at the top of the pass, marking the high mark of your trek before you begin a long, scenic descent across quiet plateau trails.

Tucked into a tranquil canyon along the descent sits Ghar Gompa, a sanctuary deeply rooted in mountain lore and considered one of the oldest spiritual centers in the entire region. Inside its quiet, shadowy halls, ancient wall paintings, hand-carved stone tablets, and rows of worn brass prayer wheels offer a serene moment to rest and absorb the centuries of quiet devotion held within its stone walls.

The final stretch of the journey leads across high barren terraces before dropping steeply into the valley of Dhakmar. As you round the final bends, the landscape transforms dramatically, revealing a striking wall of fiery red clay cliffs rising directly behind the small, isolated village. Carved high into these crimson rock faces are ancient sky caves, glowing brightly in the late afternoon sun and providing an unforgettable backdrop as you end your day’s journey.

Dropping down from the pass leads straight into the picturesque village of Ghami, where traditional mud-brick homes sit surrounded by vibrant green barley fields. Passing through Ghami brings you alongside the longest mani wall in Mustang—a massive stone structure meticulously carved with sacred Buddhist mantras. From here, the trail crosses a river suspension bridge and ascends up to the Nyi La Pass, the historic boundary dividing Upper and Lower Mustang.

The final leg of the trek winds gently down from Nyi La across open terraced ridges toward Ghiling. Shielded from the harsh northern winds, this peaceful settlement greets travelers with whitewashed houses, ancient monasteries perched high above the village, and a noticeably milder atmosphere as you settle in for the evening.

Leaving Ghiling, the trail winds out of the peaceful basin and climbs steadily through stark, wind-carved desert landscapes toward the Yamda La Pass at 3,850 meters. Crossing the ridge reveals expansive vistas of deep canyons and distant Himalayan crests before descending into the vibrant village of Syangboche. From Syangboche, the path continues over the Taklam La Pass, offering panoramic views across the arid plateau before making a long, scenic descent down into Chele, where traditional flat-roofed mud houses cling dramatically to a high cliff face over the Kali Gandaki River.

Beyond Chele, the terrain drops dramatically into the river canyon. Crossing a suspension bridge to the opposite side of the Kali Gandaki, you follow the river bed as the surrounding rock walls grow sheer and towering, displaying incredible layers of red, orange, and gray rock strata shaped by wind and water over millennia. Passing near the high-altitude cliff caves of Tangbe, with its distinctive red, black, and white chortens, the trail follows the final flat stretch along the riverbank into Chhusang. Nestled at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Narshing Rivers, Chhusang greets travelers with green apple orchards, towering red conglomerate cliffs, and a noticeably warmer atmosphere as you complete your descent back into Lower Mustang.

Leaving the apple orchards and towering red conglomerate cliffs of Chhusang, the route turns away from the main river valley and begins a steady, demanding climb into the high desert landscape. The path winds upward through the quiet, terraced village of Tetang, passing ancient whitewashed mud fortresses before ascending steep, open ridgelines. As you gain elevation toward the Gyu La Pass (4,077 meters), the scenery shifts into vast alpine meadows framed by dramatic rock formations, offering a peaceful, off-the-beaten-path alternative to the busier roads below.

Reaching the crest of Gyu La Pass rewards you with one of the most magnificent panoramas in the entire region. Looking back, the stark canyon landscapes of Upper Mustang unfold into the northern horizon, while looking forward reveals breathtaking, front-row views of the snow-capped Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges. Colorful prayer flags flutter wildly at the summit, marking the high point of the day’s journey before the long descent begins.

Dropping down from the pass, the trail winds gently across open high-altitude slopes toward the sacred valley of Muktinath. Along the descent, the ancient village of Jharkot appears in the distance, perched dramatically atop a rocky outcrop with its historic monastery and fortress ruins. The final stretch brings you to Muktinath, a revered pilgrimage destination for both Hindus and Buddhists, known for its sacred 108 water spouts, eternal natural gas flames, and serene mountain atmosphere.

You will catch an early morning drive to Pokhara. It is a perfect way to end your Upper Mustang trek once for all. The driver takes you along the Kali Gandaki Gorge between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Reaching Pokhhara, you will enjoy your free time at evening.

You’ll be accompanied by the Trisuli River and the different scenic hills on the drive back of 6-7 hours. Enjoy your coming back replaying memories of Upper Mustang Trek. At Evening, you will enjoy your free time and last minute shopping.

It’s time to say goodbye to Nepal, and completing the Upper Mustang trek and it’s amazing people until next time. Our representative will drop you to International Airport before three hours of your flight time.