Upper Mustang Trek: A Journey into the Last Forbidden Kingdom
The Upper Mustang Trek offers an unparalleled adventure through Nepal’s remote trans-Himalayan region, providing an extraordinary blend of culture, history, and breathtaking landscapes. This 19-day journey begins in Kathmandu, where travellers explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites, immersing themselves in Nepal’s rich history before setting off on their trek.
From Kathmandu, we drive to Pokhara, a scenic lakeside city, before flying or driving to Jomsom, the gateway to Upper Mustang. From here, the trek begins, leading explorers through an arid, tree-less terrain, striking rocky trails, and a dramatic desert-like landscape unique to this region. Along the way, trekkers are rewarded with panoramic views of Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and the surrounding Himalayan peaks.
A Glimpse into the Last Forbidden Kingdom
Upper Mustang, often referred to as the Last Forbidden Kingdom, remained restricted to foreigners until the 1990s, preserving its ancient Tibetan-influenced culture, monasteries, and traditions. The region’s medieval walled city, Lo Manthang, offers a rare opportunity to witness authentic Tibetan Buddhist heritage, where centuries-old monasteries, caves, and palaces tell the story of a once-thriving Himalayan kingdom.
Trip Highlights:
Trekking through the remote and culturally rich Upper Mustang region.
Exploring the ancient walled city of Lo Manthang and its monasteries.
Majestic views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Nilgiri ranges.
Experiencing the distinct landscape of rocky cliffs, deep gorges, and barren valleys.
Immersing in Tibetan Buddhist culture and traditions.
Visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu.
The Upper Mustang Trek is not just a physical journey but a cultural and spiritual experience, offering a rare glimpse into one of Nepal’s most preserved and mystical regions. With its breathtaking Himalayan scenery, centuries-old heritage, and untouched natural beauty, this trek is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path exploration.
For those ready to embark on an unforgettable Himalayan adventure with Goreto Treks and Expeditions, Upper Mustang awaits with its timeless charm and breathtaking landscapes.
19: Days
Age: 10
Trip Grade: moderate
Max. Altitude: 4200 m
Transport: Air/Private Vehicle
Best Season:March to January
Destination:Nepal
Start/End:Kathmandu-Upper Mustang-Kathmandu
Departure Location:Kathmandu
Included:
3 meals – Breakfast, lunch, and dinner during trekking days
Entry fees included
Welcome/Farewell dinner (Welcome if the flight is early during the day; if late, farewell dinner)
Both way flight from and to Jomsom
A porter for 2 pax to carry your belongings during your trekking
All surface transportation where applicable
Tourist standard hotel accommodation on BB basis in Pokhara and Kathmandu for 2 nights
First Aid kits
Rescue assistance in case required (Provided by your incurrence company)
Excluded:
Travel insurance
Medical expenses
Services not mentioned in Package Includes list
Expenses of Personal Nature such as alcohol drinks, beverages etc.
Tips and incentive to our staffs
Tour Plan / Itinerary
1
Arrive in Kathmandu
After landing at the Tribhuwan International Airport, we will be greeted by a representative of Goreto Treks and Expeditions, who will drop you off at your hotel. We then check-in at the hotel, freshen up and take a rest.
Overnight staying in Kathmandu.
2
Pre-Departure Meeting and Kathmandu Tour
After breakfast we will organize a pre-departure meeting for providing the detail information about your tour and treks by our Guide. During our meeting clear all the remaining dues if any, bring 3 copies of passport size photos, copy of your passport and travel insurance policy. Please feel free to ask any queries with our guide related to your trekking regions. After meeting, our excellent tour guide will take you for Kathmandu valley sightseeing in private tourist vehicle. During the tour, you will visit major historical, cultural and religious center of Kathmandu valley including Swyambhunath Stupa (The Monkey Temple), Kathmandu Durbar Square, Boudhanath Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple. Our tour guide will explain you about the cultural, historical and religious importance of these places in brief during the tour. You will be transferred to hotel after your tour.
Overnight at hotel.
3
Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara
At 6:30am, our trekking staffs will pick up you at hotel and escort to the bus station. The bus to Pokhara leaves at around 7:30am. You will drive by the beautiful rivers Trisuli and Marsyangdi which is very popular for rafting as well. Pokhara is very popular for the panoramic view of majestic Himalayas such as Annapurna, Machhapuchare(Fishtail) in the north, Dhaulagiri in the west, Lamjung Himal and Manaslu in the east. After 7 hours of drive, you will arrive at Pokahara, beautiful city of lakes, caves Buddhist and Hindus temples. You can enjoy your evening wandering on lake sides.
Overnight at hotel in Pokhara.
4
Fly to Jomsom (2720M) and trek to Kagbeni (2800M)
after Breakfast you will hop on the flight for Jomsom (2720M) which takes about 18 min to 20 mins. During the flight you will be able to enjoy the majestic scenery of the Annapurna Mountain Range. Jomsom, the capital city of Mustang is our starting point for the trek. From Jomsom our trek will continue towards Kagbeni (2800M) along the Kali Gandaki riverbed which takes 3-4 hrs. Kagbeni, is famous for its windy breeze and splendid scenery of the desert plains of Mustang Region.
Overnight in Kagbeni.
5
Kagbeni to Chele 3070m Trek time: 5/6
After the permit checks (trekking permit for restricted Mustang region) at Kagbeni, we begin our trek by moving upstream the Kali Gandaki river towards Chele (3100M). Our journey takes about 5hrs-6hrs tentatively. The path follows the river closely and leads to the eastern flat desert like plains. Approaching Tangbe we come across colorful chortens, whitewashed buildings that have been partly painted red and narrow alleyways that reflect the uniqueness of the region. From Tangbe, we ascend to Chele our ending point for the day.
Overnight in Chele.
6
Chele to Syanbochen 3780m Trek time: 6/7 hours
Today, we ascend for a steep climb from Chele to Syangbochen ( M). The route for today is pretty adventurous as we come across various up and down trails through plateaus and narrow stretches with breathtaking views. The entire trek today takes about 5hrs-6hrs.When we reach the village of Syangbochen we can notice the influence of the Tibetan culture from the Kingdom of Lo.
Overnight in Syanboche.
7
Syanbochen to Ghami 3560m Trek time: 5/6 hours
We start our trek from Syangbochen after a good breakfast. On our journey today we will pass through several chortens, local villages with Tibetan styled houses and passes. Then we ascend towards the Nyi Lia Pass with splendid scenery of the vast wilderness that is spread across the region. From Nyi La we descend toward Ghami where we will overnight.
Overnight in Ghami.
8
Ghami to Tsarang 3570m Trek time: 5/6 hours
From Ghami we trek towards Tsharang village. It is a pleasant walk that takes about 5hrs-6hrs.Along the route to Tsharang we pass through long mani walls carved with Buddhist prayer stones. The village of Tsharang has beautiful stupas, gompas and monasteries that reflect the unique Buddhist traditions and the Tibetan influences.
Overnight in Tsarang.
9
Tsarang to Lo-Manthang 3840m Trek time: 3/4 hours
We depart from the beautiful village of Tsharang and ascend up the ridge to the windy pass of Lo, where we will first view the walled city of Lo Manthang, the capital of the forbidden kingdom of Lo. As we move toward the city we climb onto a plateau where the city is based. The white washed walls encloses several homes, tea houses, the ancient palace and gompas. The only entrance to the city is through the gate in the northeast corner. We overnight at a teahouse in Lo Manthang.
Overnight in Lo-Manthang.
10
Explore Lo Manthang/ Acclimatization Explore time: 4/5 hours
Today is the day we explore the entire city of Lo Manthang. This is one of the most important ventures of our entire trek as the city holds historical and cultural importance. We will be able to experience and observe the unique Tibetan culture. We will visit the four major Gompas in the city. Another point if interest is the royal palace, a nine-cornered, five story structure built around 1400. We will also visit Chhosar cave. Chhosar cave are manmade residential caves built into rocks in Chhosar.
Overnight in Lo Manthang.
11
Lo-Mangthang to Dhakmar 3820m Trek time: 6/7 hours
We descend toward Dhakhmar from the city of Lo. We will cross two passes along the way.The trek today takes 6hrs-7hrs. Close to Dhakhmar you can find the oldest Tibetan monastery in the world, the Lo Gekar Monastery. Lo Gekar Monastery was built in the 8th century by the famous Tibetan magician Guru Rinpoche.
Overnight in Dhakhmar
12
Drakmar to Ghiling 3570m Trek time: 5/6 hours
Today we continue down to Gelling for our overnight stay. We can explore the area of Gellling in the afternoon.
Overnight in Ghiling.
13
Ghiling to Chusang 2950m Trek time: 5/6 hours
We descend to Chhuksang from Gelling. It is a 5hrs-6hrs trek. Along the route you can enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery.
Overnight in Chhuksang.
14
Chhuksang (2950m) to Muktinath (3810m) Trek time: 6/7 hours
From Chhuksang we start our trek to Muktinath temple. It takes about 7hrs-8hrs to reach Muktinath. Muktinath is a sacred place for both Hindus and Buddhists and is a popular destination for tourists visiting the Mustang region. The temple has a total of 108 water taps. The water from these taps is said to have great spiritual and religious importance. Another attraction in the temple is the natural flame. The temple has a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere with panoramic views of snowcapped mountains.
15
Muktinath (3810m) to Jomsom (2700m) via Lupra village
After Breakfast at Muktinath valley we will trek back to Jomsom via the Lupra village. Lupra is a traditional village hidden in the Panda Khola gorges between Kagbeni and Jomsom. We will stay overnight at Jomsom.
16
Fly to Pokhara from Jomsom
After exploring the city of Jomsom for a short period we check into the airport for a flight back to Pokhara. On arrival at Pokhara airport, our guide will transfer you to a lakeside hotel in Pokhara where you will overnight.
17
Exploration of Pokhara, the lake city
This is the day to enjoy the beauty of Pokhara. The most beautiful places like Phewa Lake, Devi’s water fall, International Mountaineering museum, Tibetan refugee settlement and Gupteshowr cave will be visited. You will have a relaxing afternoon. You can also spend some hours boating in Phewa Lake.
Stay overnight in hotel.
18
Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu
Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu by company vehicle that takes about seven hours. While driving from Pokhara to Kathmandu, you head up to Damauli, Dumre, Muglin and Kurintar where the Nepal’s first Cable car is operated to reach to Manakamana Temple. En route, you could enjoy the mountain views, green sceneries, rice terrace fields, vegetable fields and people being engaged in their daily life activities. From Naubishe you climb up to Thankot, the gateway to capital city. In the evening you can take a short walk around Thamel if you need to purchase some souvenirs to take back to your country. We will provide you a fully sponsored farewell dinner for your great achievement in successfully completing the Trek at a restaurant of your choice or our home.
Stay overnight in hotel.
19
Departure from Kathmandu
You will be transferred to the international airport for your final departure by our company van. It’s our great pleasure to organize your tour and thanks for joining the team of Goreto treks and Expeditions.
Map Overview
Upper Mustang trek offers a spectacular trekking experience in the remote trans- Himalayan mountain region of Nepal. The 19-day trip begins in Kathmandu with tours of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Then we drive to Pokhara and fly / drive to Jomsom the next day and begin trekking. Upper Mustang is also known as the Last Forbidden Kingdom. Because it wasn’t until the 1990s that tourists were allowed to enter the region. While trekking in the Upper Mustang region of Nepal, we can admire the uniqueness of tree-less landscape, rocky trails and views of Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and other Himalayas.
Map
Photo Gallery
Frequently Asked Question
What is the best time to trek in Nepal?
The best time to trek in Nepal is during the pre-monsoon (spring) season from March to May and the post-monsoon (autumn) season from September to November. These periods offer clear skies, moderate temperatures, and stunning views.
Do I need a permit for trekking in Nepal?
Yes, most trekking regions in Nepal require permits. The common ones are the TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) card and specific area permits like the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) or the Sagarmatha National Park Permit for the Everest region.
What should I pack for a trekking expedition in Nepal?
Essential items include:
Sturdy trekking boots
Layered clothing (thermal wear, fleece, down jacket)
Waterproof jacket and pants
Hat, gloves, and sunglasses
Sleeping bag
First aid kit
Trekking poles
Water purification tablets
Snacks and energy bars
Personal identification and permits
Do I need travel insurance for trekking in Nepal?
Comprehensive travel insurance covering high-altitude trekking, medical emergencies, and evacuation is highly recommended.
Are there any special cultural considerations I should be aware of?
Yes, it is important to dress modestly, especially when visiting religious sites. Always remove your shoes before entering temples and ask for permission before taking photos of people or inside temples.
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