Upper Mustang Trek - 17 Days

Explore the centuries-old historical sites in Kathmandu and feel the classic charm of the heritage. Out of 7 UNESCO listed Cultural Heritage Sites in Kathmandu, we will visit the 4 incredible sites- Pashupatinath Temple [with 492 temples, 15 Shivalayas (shrine of Lord Shiva), and 12 Jyotirlinga (Phallic Shrines) to explore], Boudhanath Stupa (8th century massive Mandala), Swayambhunath Temple (13th century stupa overlooking the Kathmandu valley), and Patan Durbar Square (12th century Royal Palace of Malla Kingdom).

For more historical sightseeing around the Kathmandu valley, you may request a day more in your itinerary. It is a completely customizable trip.

There are two options to reach Pokhara: Private Jeep or by flight. Either way, the costs are quite similar. So, the decision depends on whether you like to explore the countrysides or not. If yes, then private jeep is the best possible option. Otherwise, you may fly to Pokhara.

The distance between Kathmandu to Pokhara is around 200 km, and it takes around 7 – 8 hours to reach Pokhara. Sometimes, traffic jams delay the anticipated time of arrival. Nevertheless, the experiences are worthwhile.

The flight to Jomsom is one of the most enthralling flights in Nepal. This 20 mins flight will startle you with a deceptive panorama of incredible hills and mountains, especially when you are in between the peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. Those are sensational views. Once you land at Jomsom, have some lunch and enough drinks before proceeding to the Kagbeni.

As you leave Jomsom, you will encounter some small monasteries and colorful Chortens- particularly grey, red and white- on the way. These Chortens will lead you to the village of Lubra, a mysterious Bon settlement that gives the inkling of future surprises. Crossing the beautiful village of Eklobhatti, you will join the trail leading to Kagbeni. There are many options for lodging at Kagbeni.

At Kagbeni, there is a check post beyond which rises a steep walking trail to Tangbe. Within an hour, you will be introduced to the aridness of the Mustang region. The trail goes through the high-standing cliffs, peering at the unreal vistas of the Northern Mustang. The black and brown colors of the sand and rocks start to become familiar as you continue your journey through the Tangbe.

The path enters into the sheer red-walled Kali Gandaki Canyon which gives the best views of the settlements of the Mustang region. The classic monasteries are ubiquitous and the little Chortens line up the trails. The Kunza Choling Monastery, at Chuksang, is the notable monastery at the lower sections of the Upper Mustang.

We will traverse several suspension bridges before making an appearance at Chele, an ageless village of traditional Mustang.

This is a long day. From Chele, the trail to Ghyakar leads to the Dajori La pass (3,735 m) overlooking the gorgeous peaks of Nilgiris and Tilicho. Down the pass, there is a humble village of Samar with a Nepalese-styled monastery. The route continues through the canyon over the Samakyung Khola and Ihuwa Khola to the dirt road that leads to the Syangmochen. The views of the Dhaulagiri peak is remarkable from

Then, through the Syangmochen La pass, we will head towards our destination, Geling, through a line of Chortens. Geling is a quiet and charming village with a monastery to explore.

From Gheling, we will go through the farm-fields and the meadows. As you proceed, the views start to grow dramatically. Just before we ascend to the Nyi La Pass, there is a rock painted with a smiley face. Maybe the smile is trying to persuade the trekkers that something spectacular awaits in the upcoming days. By the time we arrive at Ghami, we will encounter some of the astounding mani walls and the Chortens of the Upper Mustang.

Through a long mani wall at Ghami, the trail ascends to the Choya La pass and then drops to the Tsarang, dotted with countless Chortens randomly. Exploring the monastery of Tsarang is worthwhile.

From Tsarang, the trail climbs up a ravine that unravels the beautiful treasures of Annapurna I, Nilgiri and Tilicho. About two hours later, we will arrive at the beautiful Sungda Chorten and then ascend to the Lo La Pass (3,850 m). From here, the exotic palaces, white houses, and red monasteries of the Lo Manthang could be seen. Then, the trail directly descends to the Lo Manthang.

Lo Manthang is an extraordinary city that is isolated from the rest of the world by its 8.5 m tall wall. Inside this city, there are centuries-old mysterious caves and palaces which appear unexplorable at a glance. But, a handful of people have explored these historic realms. The typical Buddhist monasteries of Tibetan design tells us that the history of Lo Manthang is somewhat linked with the Tibet.

In the day, we will explore the Namgyal Monastery, whose interiors are painted with the images of the Buddha and his disciples. Later, we will proceed to the Thingkar, a 1953 palace which is used by the Royalties of Lo Manthang in summer.

It is quite a long day, and the ascents and descents are frequent. The views of the left valley peek us at several points behind the Chogo La. But, after that, you will be in the new world. The trail takes a continuous descent from the Chogo La to the Ghar Gompa, one of the most exquisite gompas of the overall Mustang region. Now, you will ascend to the Mui La that offers the best views of the arid mustang. Suddenly, the trail descends into a picturesque village of Drakmar.

At first, the trail saunters around the red cliffs and the caves of Drakmar. Then, up to the steep bluff, there extends a long Mani wall to Ghami. Within a while, we will make an appearance at the Nyi La. From here, the Syangmochen is just a few kilometers away. There are some cozy lodges to stay at Syangmochen and the views are not disappointing.

From Syangmochen, the trail descends back to the Chhusang via the same route that we have been earlier. The path is mostly descending; so, it makes it easier for you to arrive at Chhusang.

Instead of following the same route that goes to Kagbeni, we will follow the other course towards the temple of Muktinath, a sacred temple of Hindus. This temple is complex and the pilgrimage has to go through many little shrines to finally see a man-sized golden statue of Lord Vishnu in the main temple. Beware of the places where the non-Hindus are forbidden for the entry. There are also 108 sculpted taps, bathing in which is supposed to wash away all the sins of the lifetime. This temple is artistically as well as religiously popular in Nepal.

Muktinath to Jomsom is an interesting day that takes you through a wonderful village of the Jharkot and drops you to the astounding market of Jomsom. A beautiful song by Nepathya (a music band of Nepal) pays tribute to the vibrant markets of Jomsom: 'Jomsamai Bazaarmaa, baarah baje haawaa sarara'. Once we reach Jomsom, we will explore the marketplace and then check in to our hotel for the overnight stay.

We will catch the earliest possible flight to Pokhara, and if the time favors, we will explore the waterfalls, lakes, monasteries, and caves of the Pokhara.

From Pokhara, we will catch a long drive to Kathmandu. You may as well catch a flight to the capital Kathmandu. We will have a farewell party in the evening where all of our travel team will gather up and chew chat about the trips and experiences.

We will drop you to the airport. Have a good flight!