The Upper Mustang trek takes you into the old Buddhist kingdom of Mustang also known as Lo. The Mustang lies in the Dhaulagiri with a complete desolate landscape surrounded by rocks of different formations. The Mustang region resembles a mini Tibet.
The trail to the Upper Mustang follows the salt caravan route of the old days when people would trade salt with grain from the lowlands. The easiest way to reach this area is to fly from Pokhara to Jomsom and start the trek from there. The flight is short and you will see the beautiful landscape below as we fly into Jomsom. During the trek we will follow the famous Kali Gandaki River upstream to Kagbeni which is where the restricted area begins.
From Kagbeni the trek goes northwards towards Lo Manthang. There is an option to go via Dhakmar and visit the oldest Tibetan monastery in the world, Lo Gekar. It was build in the 8th Century by the Tibetan magician Guru Rinpoche.
Prior to 1992, Upper Mustang was restricted and forbidden for any foreign visitors. Now any foreigner must buy a permit which costs $500USD valid for 10 days. In recent years, some villages have opened up their houses to accommodate tourists along their way. They love to show you their way of life and you can experience true Tibetan culture.
Tiji Festival dates are as follows:
Spend your 3 day in Lo Manthang for the Tiji Festival – A vibrant Buddhist celebration with dancing and traditional music.
|
S.No |
Tiji Festival |
Tiji Festival Dates |
|
01 |
Tiji Festival 2023 |
16th, 17th and 18th May 2023 |
|
02 |
Tiji Festival 2024 |
5th, 6th and 7th May 2024 |
|
03 |
Tiji Festival 2025 |
24th, 25th and 26th May 2025 |
Upper Mustang Trek is one of the most exciting treks in Nepal. Stopping by the tea-houses gives the trekkers a true taste of the local’s lives and culture. The wilderness also gives an insight into the Kingdom of Mustang in the Lo Manthang which is the Capital city of the region. This is a challenging trek due to high elevation, exposed terrain and strong winds.
Lo-Manthang is a walled city situated at around 3800 metres above sea level in the heart of northern Nepal at the top of the Kaligandaki river. The entire region is known for its caves, monasteries and infertile and barren conditions.
The trek to the Upper Mustang region is a delightful one for those who adore the Buddhist tradition. This trek is a tea-house supported trek and it requires special permits to enter the region.
Mustang’s Colorful Tiji festival is a fascinating annual three-day festival consisting of Tibetan rituals that celebrate the myth of a son who had to save the Mustang kingdom from destruction. The festival is indigenous to Lo-Manthang, Upper Mustang.
Embark on an extraordinary journey with the Upper Mustang Trek, a thrilling adventure through the Forbidden Kingdom of Lo Manthang. Explore Tibetan culture alongside ancient monasteries, high-altitude mountains, and the vibrant Tiji Festival. We assist you in customizing this once-in-a-lifetime trip to discover the magic of Upper Mustang. Explore our detailed costs, route and itinerary to Upper Mustang below.
One of our valued team members will greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. The day is yours to explore Kathmandu and in the evening our team will host a welcome dinner and give you a brief outline of what to expect.
We will start the day by sightseeing some of the major UNESCO listed sites in Kathmandu the afternoon will be free time for you to prepare yourself for the trek ahead and last minute shopping if any thing missing!
After breakfast, we start our drive to Pokhara, which takes around 6 hours. The drive is very picturesque and you will notice a distinct change in landscape along the way. We will stop for lunch and to stretch our legs. We will stay overnight in Pokhara in a hotel where breakfast will be provided.
Today we will take a 20-minute scenic flight to Jomsom with magnificent views of the mountains. After landing we will have breakfast and meet the porters for the trek. We will need to complete some trekking paperwork for the permits but then the fun really begins! First, we will go to the famous village of Kagbeni which has a monastery and is the gateway to Upper Mustang. It will take around 3 hours to reach Kagbeni from Jomsom.
We will climb the high pass of GyuLa and cross the river before climbing to Chele. We can get a view of the Nilgiri peak from most of the points.
Today’s trek will last around 6-7 hours to reach Syangboche via Samar. The landscape is phenomenal and breathtaking.
Today we will climb Syangboche La and follow the trail to Nyila Pass. This hike will involve a climb to another pass located at 3600m altitude. After leaving the pass the scenery will change significantly and you will see the ‘flaming’ mountains of the Upper Mustang. Ghemi is an interesting village worth exploring during our stop for lunch. After lunch, we will ascend for around 90 minutes until we reach Tsarang La then a further 90 minutes on the flat until we reach Charang. The hike in the afternoon is magnificent and in Charang we see an impressive former Royal Palace which we can visit.
Today, finally we will reach Lo Manthang (The last forbidden Kingdom of Nepal lies in the Mustang Region). We spend a part of this morning exploring this interesting village and its large old monastery. We then go a bit out of our way to see Dhakmar, a small, secluded village. Today’s walk is merely for 4 hrs. But mostly uphill then the trail flattens out till Lo Manthang, then the capital of Mustang consisting of over 2 hundred houses. the whole village is walled and painted earth brown and white.
Today is a day to explore the area of Lo Manthang. Without giving too much away, you will be amazed at the temples the city has to offer. In addition to temples, the King’s palace is in the center and is currently occupied by the King and Queen. With a bit of luck, we may catch a glimpse of local loyalty. This was also another place in Nepal that was restricted until the 1990s.
Today we leave Lo Manthang to head to Ghami via a scenic trail stopping at Drakmar along the way. Drakmar is as far into the Upper Mustang as you will go. En-route to Ghami we will visit Gyokar Gompa which according to locals was established more than 1200 years ago! Although today is a long day for trekking, we will see lots of interesting things along the way. We will stay overnight in a tea house and the total time for today’s walk is between 5-6 hours.
We will trek down a trail passing through desert-like places and along the river. To reach Chhuksang, you cross the Kali Gandaki River.
We will hike for around 6-7 hours today with some areas being similar to a desert. We will pass agricultural fields, apple orchards and some settlements. The landscape is beautiful with caves, old Tibetan Style Villages, Yak herds and many more beautiful scenes. We can head up to the Muktinath Temple, where you can enjoy a holy bath of 108 taps, visit a monastery and temples. The people here are very close to Tibetans as a way of living.
This is the last active trekking day of your tour. We will walk for about 5-6 hours through fields and villages and arrive at Jomsom. The majestic view of Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri will energize you throughout the walk. We will pass several monasteries along the way and walk by the Kali Gandaki River where we will rest for a bit. Later we will pick up the trail and head for Jomsom.
Today we will take a flight to Pokhara where after lunch you can wander around the town and visit some attractions. Pokhara is a hot spot for tourists so be sure to pick up gifts and take advantage of the attractions.
Today is a free day for you to explore the area. Here you will find attractions including Phewa Lake, Devis Falls, World Peace Stupa, and many more. In the evening we will enjoy the entertainment by the lake where we will find hotels, lodges, clubs, and restaurants.
Today is a short 25-minute flight or a 6-hour bus ride to get to Kathmandu where we will have our final dinner with a true Nepali show. Last minute shopping day to take back sweet home from Nepal.
Today is the final day of the trip and we will transfer you to the airport for your onward journey. We hope to see you again in the future.
| 2 travellers | 4 travellers | 8 travellers | |
|
Standard
|
$ 1988 | $ 1879 | $ 1766 |
|
Deluxe
|
$ 2433 | $2333 | $2269 |
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A good balance of relaxation and adventure makes a happy trip.
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