Upper Mustang Trek – 16 to 18 Days
Sixteen to eighteen days into the walled kingdom of Lo Manthang — Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, ochre canyons and cliff-cut sky caves in Nepal's high desert.
Trip Facts
| Duration | 16–18 days (10–12 trekking days) |
|---|---|
| Max altitude | 3,840m — Lo La / Lo Manthang region |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Trek start / end | Kathmandu to Pokhara to Jomsom |
| Best season | Mar–Nov, including monsoon (rain-shadow) |
| Accommodation | Teahouse and guesthouse + hotel |
| Group size | Minimum 2 (restricted area rule) |
| Permits | Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit + ACAP + TIMS |
| Daily walking | 5–7 hours |
Overview
Upper Mustang was closed to outsiders until 1992, and until 2008 it remained a functioning kingdom with its own hereditary Raja. Geographically it sits north of the main Himalayan chain, on the Tibetan plateau — which means the landscape has nothing in common with the rest of Nepal. There are no forests, no rhododendrons and almost no rain. What you get instead is high desert: eroded ochre and grey canyons, wind-carved cliffs, whitewashed villages built around monasteries, and barley fields irrigated by hand-cut channels. The destination is Lo Manthang, a walled city of around 150 households at 3,840m, still enclosed by its original mud-brick rampart and dominated by three 15th-century monasteries — Jampa Lhakhang, Thubchen and Chodey — holding some of the finest surviving Tibetan Buddhist wall paintings anywhere, restored over twenty years by conservation teams. Around Lo Manthang are the sky caves: thousands of man-made chambers cut into vertical cliff faces, some more than 150 metres above the valley floor, dating back three thousand years and used for burial, meditation and refuge. The Chhoser cave complex, which you can climb into, is five storeys deep. The trekking is moderate rather than hard. Altitudes stay between 3,000m and 3,900m and the trails are wide, but the wind is constant and often severe from late morning — most days start early for this reason. Critically, Upper Mustang is one of the only Nepal treks that is better during the monsoon. From June to August, while the rest of Nepal is under cloud, Mustang sits dry in the rain shadow.
Highlights
- Enter Lo Manthang, the walled capital of the former Kingdom of Lo, at 3,840m
- 15th-century monasteries with restored Tibetan Buddhist murals — Jampa, Thubchen and Chodey
- The Chhoser sky caves — thousands of chambers cut into vertical cliffs
- Ghar Gompa, one of the oldest Nyingma monasteries in the Himalaya
- The red cliffs of Dhakmar and the Kali Gandaki gorge, the deepest in the world
- Trekkable through the monsoon — the best summer trek in Nepal
- Optional timing for the three-day Tiji Festival in May
Itinerary
1,400m
1,400m
820m
2,810m
3,050m
3,800m
3,520m
3,560m
3,840m
Yara to tangya 5-6 hours
Tangya to chhuksang village 8-9 hours
Fly or drive Pokhara to Kathmandu; departure
18-day version: adds a second Lo Manthang exploration day, an overnight at Yara/Luri Gompa, and a Kathmandu weather-buffer day before your international flight. Strongly recommended — Jomsom flights cancel frequently for wind.
What the Price Includes
Cost Includes
- Airport pick-up and drop-off (private vehicle)
- All ground transport per itinerary
- Teahouse/lodge accommodation throughout the trek (twin share)
- Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu/Pokhara per itinerary (3-star, B&B)
- Three meals a day on trek — breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Tea/coffee with meals on trek
- Government-licensed English-speaking trekking guide
- Porter service (1 porter per 2 trekkers, max 25kg)
- All staff wages, insurance, equipment, food and lodging
- All required trekking permits and entry fees
- TIMS card
- Seasonal fresh fruit after dinner
- First aid kit and pulse oximeter carried by guide
- Duffel bag, trekking map and company T-shirt
- All government taxes and service charges
Cost Excludes
- International airfare and Nepal visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance (mandatory — must cover helicopter evacuation to 6,000m)
- Meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara (except where stated)
- Personal trekking equipment and clothing
- Hot showers, Wi-Fi, battery charging and bottled drinks on trek
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Personal expenses — laundry, phone, souvenirs
- Emergency evacuation costs (recoverable from your insurer)
- Tips for guide and porters
- Anything not listed under "Cost Includes"
Best Time to Trek
The most reliable season. Clear skies, stable weather, firm trails and the sharpest mountain views of the year. Book early; this is peak season on every route.
The second-best window and the finest season for scenery below 4,000m, when rhododendron forests are in full bloom. Warmer nights and longer days, with some afternoon haze building through May.
Clear, quiet and cold. Excellent for lower routes such as Poon Hill, Mardi Himal and Kathmandu Valley. High passes may close under snow.
Wet and leech-prone on most routes, but this is the right season for the rain-shadow trails: Upper Mustang, Nar Phu and Upper Dolpo.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Restricted Area Permit is currently USD 500 per person for the first 10 days, plus USD 50 per additional day, on top of ACAP and TIMS. This is why Upper Mustang costs more than other Nepal treks. Permits are issued only through registered agencies with a minimum of two trekkers.
Yes — it is one of the very few Nepal treks that is genuinely good in June, July and August, because Mustang sits in the Himalayan rain shadow. Expect dry trails, clear mornings and strong afternoon wind.
Tiji is a three-day masked-dance festival at Lo Manthang, usually held in May (dates set by the lunar calendar and confirmed a few months ahead). Book at least six months in advance if you want to attend — accommodation in Lo Manthang is extremely limited during the festival.
Moderate. Altitude stays below 4,000m and trails are wide, but days are long, the sun is intense at that elevation and the afternoon wind is relentless. Anyone who can walk six hours a day for a week will manage it.
Ready to Book This Trek?
Departures run year-round on your dates — private groups, couples and solo trekkers all welcome. Tell us your dates and we will send a full quote within 24 hours.
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