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Nestled beneath the towering peaks of the Himalayas lies Upper Mustang, the Forbidden Kingdom of Nepal, steeped in intrigue and mystery. The gusts of modernity have long been kept at bay, preserving a world that has remained untouched by passage of ages.
Upper Mustang promises a once-in-a-lifetime adventure; as you traverse through the windswept landscapes and barren terrain, marveling at the snow-capped peaks, you have the chance to immerse in a culture, frozen in time, and the spiritual aura that permeates this enigmatic land.
Also known as the 'Lost Tibetan Kingdom', Upper Mustang lies between the Tibetan plateau in the north and the Annapurna / Nilgiri Himalaya range in the south. Home to the former Tibetan Kingdom of Lo, this region has some of the world’s tallest peaks, including over 8000-meter tall Dhaulagiri and Annapurna range. The Upper Mustang Trek promises an unspoiled display of nature, with glowing red and orange rocks under the vivid blue sky, and over 20,000 snow-capped peaks surrounding you.
Upper Mustang is still one of the most preserved regions in the world. The area became open to tourism only in 1992, and it still remains a restricted region. So, you will need a permit to reach there. To reach Upper Mustang from Kathmandu, we can either take a flight of 4 hours or we can take a 6 hour drive to Pokhara, followed by an early morning flight to Jomsom the next day. The scenic flight promises a panoramic view of the Kali Gandaki (the black river), the Kali Gandaki gorge (deepest in the world), and the Annapurna, Nilgiri, and Dhaulagiri Mountain ranges. The trek itself is mostly flat, and you will be hiking along the Kali Gandaki river. This holy river is also the only river in the world where we can find Saligram, black rocks made of fossils that are considered as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu by the Hindus. Along with a beautiful landscape, you may also get the chance to witness snow leopards, the endangered bharal (blue sheep), and the mythical methi (abominable snowman). The old Buddhist monasteries, isolated caves add to the serenity of this region, and the tales of Guru Rimpoche – Padmasambhava will accompany you throughout your trek.
With cave dwellings that seem to have been in existence for over 2000-3000 years, Upper Mustang bears witness to early human settlements in the region. In 1380 Ame Pal, a warrior from Western Tibet, established this region as the independent Kingdom of Lo, and built the walled city of Lo Manthang, the capital. The population grew, and in 1440, the palace at Tsarang, along with numerous other forts and settlements, was built. The region remained as an independent kingdom until 1950, and the Palace of Mustang King stands till this date.
The Lopas, related both ethnically and culturally to Tibetans, have been the inhabitants of this remote area for the last 600 years. The dominant religion in Upper Mustang is the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism, although Nyingma, Kagyo, and Bon also have a presence. The region's natural beauty is marked by the striking hues of ochre, white, and gray, which are reflected in the monasteries, chortens, and mani walls throughout the land, adding to the unique cultural heritage of Upper Mustang. While these structures create a beautiful chromatic harmony with the surrounding environment, they also represent the three Bodhisattvas, protectors of this region.
Upper Mustang has a long history of being a remote, isolated region that remained closed to outsiders for centuries. Even when the Kingdom of Lo became part of the larger Kingdom of Nepal, it still operated under its own rule. And the rulers strictly controlled access to the region to preserve its unique culture and prevent outside influence.
In Addition, the Nepalese government had also imposed a strict permit system, granting only a few select individuals the permission to enter this region. This was because of its strategic location that allowed the Kingdom to control the lucrative salt trade route between Tibet and India via the Kali Gandaki gorge.
Today, these restrictions have helped in preserving the cultural heritage of Upper Mustang. The distinctive architecture, art, and religious practices have made Upper Mustang a fascinating destination for travelers all over the world. The famous singer-songwriter Ricky Martin referred to this region as “Moonland”.
Trekking in Upper Mustang is relatively easy; you will mostly remain below 4000m, and there are no technical sections. However, the trek can still be physically demanding since you will be hiking up a hill only to descend all the way to the riverbed just to ascend again.
The trekking trails have a series of lodges providing food and comfortable accommodation, but the dust and wind can be challenging to deal with, especially if you're walking straight into it. You will be hiking alongside the Kali Gandaki river, and you might find some loose stones in some parts, making some trails a bit tricky. The trekking trails are also not well marked, making it confusing to navigate. Therefore, hiring an experienced guide is highly recommended.
If you are planning to go on an Upper Mustang Trek, Earthbound Expeditions comes highly recommended by national and international newspapers and magazines such as Lonely Planet, Trip Advisor, The New York Times, and The Guardian for our exceptional services. We have over 23 years of experience in providing various trekking, hiking, and travel packages in Nepal.
So, why delay? Contact us, right away!
CNN Travel lists Mustang Valley as must-visit destination in 2023
The 20-day trek to Upper Mustang starts at just $2,187 per person. Now a days as the road is approching upper Mustang we can also make the Mustang trek shorter like 10 or 12 days too. Or we can also offer half drive and half hiking Mustang trip.
Upon your arrival at the Airport, you will be greeted and received by our representative and transferred to the Hotel. After resting and refreshing, our team will brief you in detail about the trek. Overnight stay at the hotel.
On this day we will be exploring the Kathmandu Valley. We will be visiting Pashupatinath, one of the most revered temples for Hindus all over the world. We will also visit the biggest Buddhist Stupa of Nepal at Boudhanath. Both these places are enlisted under World Heritage Sites. We will also receive the official permit to trek at Mustang from the Nepal Tourism Board. Overnight stay at Kathmandu.
Our trip starts after breakfast in the hotel. The bus ride from Kathmandu towards Pokhara takes us through Midhills, along the Trishuli river. The beautiful landscapes and the view of the Himalayas will keep you entertained throughout your journey of around 7 hours. For an additional cost of USD 125, you also have the option to fly to Pokhara.
After breakfast, we will take a 20 minute flight to Jomsom. After a light lunch, our trek will officially begin. We will be trekking to Kagbeni, which is also the starting point of the Upper Mustang region. Overnight stay in a guest house at Kagbeni. In case the flight gets canceled or delayed, we also have the option of driving to Jomsom, which takes about 10-12 hrs.
After an early morning breakfast we start another day of beautiful trek. The trail follows a prehistoric salt trading route. It mostly passes through sandy and windy terrain. The first village that you will pass through is Tangbe. Similar to Kagbeni with narrow alleys, this is a very scenic village. Apple orchards are another highlight of Tangbe. After a couple of hours of further trek, you will reach the small village of Chhusang. Overnight at Chhusang.
Chhuksang trek to Samar (3660mtr) crossing via Dajori la pass (3736mtr). About five hours of a hike through the bank of Kali Gandaki River with little ups and little downs and do a climb to Chele, home to Tibetan mastiffs. With a descend from Chele, the trail takes us to Samar, a beautiful village with amazing views of Mount Nilgiri. Overnight at Samar.
The trek to Gheling, via Yamdo la and Shyangmochen requires 6 hours of walking. We will also visit the Gheling Gompa of Maha Kala and Shkya Monastery, which is believed to be 600 years old. Camp at Gheling.
To reach the beautiful village of Dakmar, we will need to cross Nyi La. The walk takes around 6 hours, and if there is enough time, we can climb up to Lo-Gekar and camp there so that we can reach Lo-Manthang earlier the next day.
On our way to Lo Manthang, we will also visit the Oldest Gompa in Mustang, believed to be 1400 years old. On the way we need to cross Mui La, at 4170m, and Chogo La (4230mtr). We will reach Lo Manthang, the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lo, during the afternoon, where we will camp overnight.
On this day, we will visit the nearby village and immerse ourselves in their unique lifestyle and heritage. We will also visit ancient monasteries nearby. If we are free during the afternoon, we can also try to meet the King in his palace. Overnight camp at Lo Manthang.
From Lo-Manthang we'll be walking straight till we reach Dhi Pass, at 4100 m, and then descend down to Dhi village. The trek from Lo Manthang to Muktinath is more demanding, but just as rewarding and interesting than the west side of the valley. Dhi village is one of the best villages of the whole Lo-mathang.
On this day, we will visit the nearby village and immerse ourselves in their unique lifestyle and heritage. We will also visit ancient monasteries nearby. If we are free during the afternoon, we can also try to meet the King in his palace. Overnight camp at Lo Manthang.
On this day we will trek to Tsarang and explore the valley. We will be visiting the Old Buddhist Library of Lo Manthang and Monastery. We will cross Tsarang la, at 3870m, to reach Ghami (3560 m). We will be staying at the lodge of the King's relatives.
We will start trekking back today. Once we reach Samar, we will camp at the local apple garden. However, we also have the choice to trek from Samar to Chaile and reach Jomsom on the same day via Jeep.
From Samar, we trek back to Kagbeni crossing the beautiful village of Chhusang. During this hike of around six hours, we will be walking along the beautiful Kali Gandaki River. Overnight at Kagbeni.
From Kagbeni, we make our way down to Jomsom. The trail is mostly flat and easy. It will takes us around three to four hours to reach there. At Jomsom, we will explore the village, and spend the night there.
We take an early morning short flight out to Pokhara relishing the glorious Himalayas over the sky. In case the flight gets canceled or delayed, we also have the option of driving to Pokhara, which takes around 10-12 hours. Overnight at Pokhara.
After breakfast, we will drive back to Kathmandu. The ride will take us around 6-8 hours, and we can enjoy small breaks, and stops in between. Small streams, lush hills, and green landscape will accompany us throughout the journey. Overnight at Kathmandu.
On this day, you can enjoy visiting places you have missed, including other World Heritage Sites. You can also go souvenir shopping in Thamel, or you can simply take a much needed rest in your hotel room. We will enjoy a farewell dinner together in the evening. Overnight at Kathmandu.
After breakfast, our representatives will drop you at the airport 2-3 hours prior to your scheduled flight.
Meal
In Kathmandu and Pokhara, you can eat in your hotel or explore local restaurants. Vegan and vegetarian dishes are available in most restaurants.
On your trek, teahouses and lodges will be your primary source of food. The menu is limited, with mostly Tibetan and Nepali dishes, due to the remote location and difficult road access. Tea and soft drinks, including coffee, hot chocolate, salty Tibetan tea (which is more of a soup than tea), and alcohol (locally made) are mainly available at the teahouses.
Despite the simple food, you will find your hunger satiated. Boiled water is usually available, hence, we recommend bringing your own sterilization tablets. Some teahouses, especially in higher altitudes, may charge additional cost for boiled water. Some days, we may also need to carry our lunch.
Accommodation
You will be staying in teahouses and lodges during your trek. They only provide basic facilities, and the sleeping rooms are on a twin-sharing basis or dormitory style. You will find beds and blankets and nothing else in the sleeping rooms, so bringing your own sleeping bag and pillow covers is a good idea. If there are rooms available (which is very rare), you may even get an entire room to yourself, but that will cost you additional charge. There will be no heating systems in the rooms.
Before you start packing your bags for Upper Mustang Trek, here are a few things you need to know:
The Upper Mustang region lies in the rain shadow of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges so trek runs for most part of the year.
The most popular time to trek Upper Mustang is during spring (March to May) when the climate is mild. The nights are colder and the temperature can go as low as 0°C Celsius. The Tiji festival (Demon chasing festival) also falls during May, making it an ideal time to witness the local culture and tradition. The festival, which dates back to the 8th Century, takes place in front of the royal palace in Lo-Manthang, and you will find locals dressing up in colorful attire performing the popular mask dance.
While summer (June to August) is not a popular season for trekking in Nepal, given the fact that it coincides with the rainy season, Upper Mustang does not experience monsoon during these months. Hence, this is also a suitable season to trek the region. The temperature during summer ranges from 16°C. to 25°C. During August, the locals at Upper Mustang celebrate Yartung (horse racing festival), a three day festival where men (first day), women (second day) and monks (third day) ride their horses from the town’s gate towards the east and spend the day on the fields eating, drinking, singing and dancing.
The Autumn (September to November) skies provide a great view of the landscape, however, the windy afternoons can be bothersome. While the temperature during the day ranges between 12 to 20°C, the nights get really cold as the temperature can fall down to -8°C.
While it is technically possible to hike during, we strongly advise against it. First of all, the snow is extremely deep, so walking gets very difficult. Trust us, the experience is not as enjoyable. Additionally, many locals leave the area to escape the cold weather, therefore, several teahouses and other facilities along the trekking route will remain closed. This can make the trek even more challenging and may limit the availability of essential resources.
You will have porters who will carry your luggage and drop them off on the teahouses you will be spending the night in. Therefore, you need to carry your personal bag with all your essentials required during the trek. Since one porter will be carrying the luggage of two people, please make sure that you do not pack unnecessary items. The weight limit for luggage for Pokhara-Jomsom flight is 10kgs only, be sure to stick to it.
Clothes
Note: Avoid cotton clothing as it is hard to dry and will easily stink. Opt for merino wool instead. Also make sure to bring a separate set of clothes for evening and sleeping in.
Equipment
Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit (RAP)
The permit costs approximately $500 per person (for 10 days) and $50 per person for each additional day
Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP)
The permit costs approximately US $20 per person. For SAARC nationals, the cost is around NPR 200 per person.
Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card
The Blue TIMS card for trekking in groups costs around US $10 per person whereas an individual trekker should purchase a Green TIMS card for around US $20 per person.
The cost of obtaining these permits is included in the package. Please bring a copy of your passport and 2 passport-size photographs for each card application. You can also obtain these permits on your own from the office of Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
The road from Kathmandu to Pokhara is mostly smooth. If the flight gets canceled or delayed, we will need to travel to Jomsom via bus or private jeep. For most part, the ride is decent, with occasional ditches, bumps, and graveled paths. But as you get closer to Jomsom, the road gets pretty rough. With a private jeep (which usually carries 7 people), the journey gets a bit quicker. Landslides, which are not uncommon during the summer, can damage the roads, thus, delaying the journey significantly.
For an experienced hiker, the Upper Mustang Trek will not be very challenging. The trail, for the most part, is flat and easy, and you will not be climbing extremely high altitudes. However, you should carry your personal luggage while hiking, so you should prepare your body accordingly.
If you have access to short hiking trails, start by practicing hiking for an hour for a week. If you cannot hike to practice, you can start by walking on an uneven path. You can also climb the stairs for better practice. Once you get a hang of it, carry your backpack with all the essentials that you will be carrying during your actual hike. Increase the duration by half an hour to one hour each week. During the Upper Mustang hike, you'll be walking for around 6-7 hours a day.
The main goal is to enhance stamina, so if you go to the gym, try not to emphasize on muscle building. Make sure that you inform us about any underlying or pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood disease before booking the trek.
You will find most of the basic facilities available during the Upper Mustang Trek.
The teahouses in Upper Mustang rely on solar-powered energy. While you will find charging ports, you need to pay an additional $2 to $3 per device, which can get very expensive. Therefore, we recommend that you carry power banks and portable solar chargers to avoid paying too much.
WiFi is not widely available in the guesthouses. In the places where WiFi is available, it's usually via satellite connection. The speed and connectivity can be poor in some places, and you also need to pay an additional amount of around $1 to $2 per hour depending upon the altitude.
You can purchase 4G sim cards from the airport or from numerous vendors in Kathmandu and Pokhara. You can purchase either Ncell or NTC sim cards, but we NTC is more reliable. You have various data package options to choose from. But as you reach higher, the connectivity slows down, and data becomes unreliable.
Tea houses provide basic facilities only. The rooms are not heated, and basically consist of bed, mattress and blankets only. The rooms are shared, and only the communal areas are heated. You will be sharing your table with fellow visitors and trekkers during breakfast.
In Kathmandu and Pokhara, you'll have attached bathrooms in your hotel. During the trek, however, the toilets and bathrooms are shared, it can be either a Western-style toilet or a squat style.
The showers are usually in a separate room next to the toilet. Showers normally only have cold water; you will need to pay an additional amount for hot showers, if available. Solar heated showers are more common, but they may not be reliably hot. Gas showers are rare, and more pricey. The charge for hot showers depends from one guesthouse to another.
In case you forget any clothes and gears, you can always buy them from stores in Kathmandu and Pokhara. The prices are more reasonable in Kathmandu.
Apart from a few small clinics in Jomsom and lower altitudes, there are no health facilities in the area. You need to carry your medical kit, and if you are on any prescriptions, make sure you carry an adequate amount.
While, with this itinerary, your body gets enough time to acclimatize, some people may still start feeling the effects of altitude once they are above 3,500 m. Please inform your guide in such cases. We also suggest that you do your own research on symptoms and treatment, and measures to adopt in case you develop Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) or life-threatening conditions of HAPE or HACE. Please inform your guide if you start noticing the symptoms so that we can prepare for emergency evacuations as soon as possible.
Upper Mustang Trek is a privilege; a rare insight into the traditional lifestyle of the people living in harmony with the unspoiled beauty of nature. With its breathtaking scenery and warm hospitality, the Upper Mustang Trek is an adventure not to be missed for anyone. It is a truly immersive experience suitable for both experienced and novice trekkers.
We excel by experience and have been recognized for our excellence.
Reviews
Mhant
Excellent trekking tour!
This was my first time in Nepal. A 10 days trekking tour with earthbound expeditions. Mr Rajan and his team made it to be absolutely amazing time. Pick up at the airport, hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara were good, guesthouse and transfer well.You felt welcome at the first moment.I came alone from Norway, but no worry I met a great crew of people. We were10 people from different parts of the world, and also different ages, we hang together up in the Nepali mountains plus our guide Apar and three porters. Our guide Apar Datta Pant was so friendly and helpful he did awesome job organizing, you felt safe and good with him around. The porters did a great job too, keep up with our luggage, always smiling and friendly. Ramjee Bhatta who saw the moment when we need a song to keep going and hanging in there, very friendly, helpful and service-minded. All together this team provided me with a never forgotten trip BRAVO it was great! Thank you all, a professional and dedicated staff. I cant wait to come back and see more of Nepal. I definitly recommended this trip and with Rajan and his staff in earthbound expedition! Monica (Norway)
Bastien, Australia
A fabulous Nepal experience! Earthbound Expeditions organised a 28-day trip for us that combined Manaslu and Upper Mustang treks, with a short rest in Pokhara. Everything was organised via email before our arrival in Kathmandu, and the few necessary changes during the trip were minor and seamless (28 days is a long time, some changes are bound to occur due to weather or other circumstances!). We had the absolute BEST time! Naresh (guide) and Som (porter) certainly contributed to make our trip one to remember for all the good reasons, and deserve two massive thumbs up for their professionalism and overall kindness. And Rajan was the perfect host, passionate about his country and a great story teller. Highly recommended.
PandC_11
Another fabulous trek
We've traveled with Earthbound Expeditions before and recently completed a trek to Upper Mustang with them. Their guides are excellent, they understand Western preferences, and fix problems quickly - pretty much all that you could want from a tour company.
j0hnnyb0y66
A Truly Amazing Time
Three friends and I have just returned from Earthbound's Mustang trek in northern Nepal. I could write a novel on how both the experience and the excellent service we received from the Earthbound team. The key message I would pass onto anyone considering heading to Nepal is that despite last year's earthquakes, Nepal is certainly still a fun and safe place to travel. One of our party had to return home due to a family emergency and the Earthbound team pulled out all the stops to get them home as fast as possible. I'd highly recommend them to anyone looking to see this amazing country.
chuckabutty
Trip Up to Lo Manthang
Fantastic trip with Shreeram as our guide up into Lo Manthang from Jomsom. Beginning of the trekking season in late August, not many foreigners around, more on the way back. A lot drier than we expected and barely used any rain gear. Stunning scenery and challenging but well-paced tracking experience. d Earthbound Expeditions in Nepal were amazing and helpful. Great staff and never felt lost or uncomfortable. I had to leave early at short notice - Shreeram and Rajan were incredible in facilitating my departure. I highly recommend both these companies and the trek itself.