Mustang Trek - Trip Details

✓ Max. Elevation: 4230 m
✓ Best Season: Spring - Autumn
✓ Duration: 17 days
✓ Trip Grading: High
✓ Activity: Trekking/ High Pass
✓ Transport: Private vehicle
✓ Accommodation: Hotel- Lodge- Tea house- Tent
✓ Meals: Breakfast-Lunch- Dinner
✓ Availability: Available

Highlights

Join Best Trips Nepal for a 17-day Mustang Trek, exploring Upper Mustang’s ancient Lo Manthang, Tibetan Buddhist culture, and the Kali Gandaki Gorge, with breathtaking views of Nilgiri and Tilicho Peak.

Venture into the remote Upper Mustang with Best Trips Nepal on a 17-day Mustang Trek, a cultural odyssey through Nepal’s desert-like Himalayan region, often called a “Little Tibet.” This trek follows the ancient trade route along the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the world’s deepest, to Lo Manthang, Mustang’s fortified capital, renowned for its 300m-long, 150m-wide wall, ancient monasteries, and Royal Palace. Highlights include exploring Tibetan Buddhist sites like Ghar Gompa, Jampa Lhakang, and Chöde Monastery, and visiting traditional villages such as Kagbeni, Chele, and Tsarang, with their mud-and-stone architecture. Crossing Marang La Pass (4,230m), the trek’s highest point, offers stunning views of Nilgiri, Tilicho Peak, and Annapurna. This moderately challenging trek, with daily treks of 5-7 hours, is perfect for adventurers seeking cultural immersion and rugged beauty. Best Trips Nepal provides expert guides, sustainable travel practices, and restricted area permits, ensuring a seamless journey into Mustang’s hidden kingdom.

✓ Explore Lo Manthang’s Royal Palace, historic monasteries like Chöde and Jampa Lhakang, and the mystical Jhong Cave.
✓ Trek through the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the world’s deepest, passing traditional villages like Kagbeni and Tsarang.
✓ Immerse in Upper Mustang’s Tibetan heritage, visiting the ancient Ghar Gompa via Marang La Pass (4,230m).
✓ Enjoy Himalayan panoramas of Nilgiri, Tilicho Peak, and Annapurna, ideal for cultural and adventure enthusiasts.

Itinerary

Day to Day Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu Airport (1,350m)
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, where a Best Trips Nepal representative greets you and transfers you to a hotel in Thamel. Take a short stroll around Thamel and enjoy a traditional Nepali dinner with cultural performances. Overnight at a hotel.

Day 02: Stay in Kathmandu for Official Formalities (1,350m)
Complete trekking permits, including the Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit. Optionally, explore Thamel or nearby sites like Swayambhunath Stupa or Kathmandu Durbar Square. Attend a trek briefing in the afternoon. Overnight at a hotel.

Day 03: Fly to Pokhara (920m, 30 minutes or 7 hours by bus)
Fly 30 minutes or drive 7 hours from Kathmandu to Pokhara, passing scenic rivers and hills. Check into a Lakeside hotel, relax, visit the area, or go boating on Fewa Lake. Overnight at a hotel.

Day 04: Fly to Jomsom (2,720m, 20 minutes) and Trek to Kagbeni (2,810m, 3.5 hours)
Fly 20 minutes from Pokhara to Jomsom, Mustang’s headquarters, split by the Kali Gandaki River. Trek 3.5 hours to Kagbeni along the gorge, exploring its ancient houses, monasteries, and Tibetan-style architecture. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 05: Trek to Chele (3,050m, 5-6 hours)
Trek 5-6 hours from Kagbeni to Chele along the Kali Gandaki River. Pass Tangbe and Chhusang villages, cross a bridge, and ascend steeply for 35 minutes to Chele’s mud-and-stone houses. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 06: Trek to Geiling (3,570m, 6-7 hours)
Trek 6-7 hours from Chele to Geiling, crossing Taklam La (3,624m), Bhena La, and Yamdo La. Pass Samar (3,660m) and Shyanmochen through tree-lined valleys and dramatic landscapes. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 07: Trek to Tsarang (3,560m, 7-7.5 hours)
Trek 7-7.5 hours from Geiling to Tsarang via Tama Gaon, Nyi La (4,010m), Ghami La, and Choya La (3,870m). Descend through Ghami (3,520m) to Tsarang, home to a 500-year-old monastery with historic wall paintings. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 08: Trek to Lo Manthang (3,840m, 4-5 hours)
Trek 4-5 hours from Tsarang to Lo Manthang, Mustang’s walled capital with over 1,000 residents. Explore the 300m-long, 150m-wide fortified area and its stone-laned houses. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 09-10: Sightseeing and Exploration in Lo Manthang (3,840m)
Spend two days exploring Lo Manthang’s cultural treasures: the Royal Palace, Thupchen Gyälwai Phodrang, Jampa Lhakang, Chöde Monastery, Jhong Cave, herbal medical school, and local settlements. Engage with Mustang’s Tibetan heritage. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 11: Trek to Dhakmar (3,820m, 5-6 hours)
Trek 5-6 hours from Lo Manthang to Dhakmar via Marang La Pass (4,230m) and Ghar Gompa, one of Mustang’s oldest monasteries. Pass mud-and-stone houses typical of the arid region. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 12: Trek to Syangmochen (3,650m, 5-6 hours)
Trek 5-6 hours from Dhakmar to Syangmochen via Ghami and Geiling. Enjoy expansive views of Mt. Nilgiri, farm terraces, and barren landscapes along the trail. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 13: Trek to Chhusang (3,370m, 5-6 hours)
Trek 5-6 hours from Syangmochen to Chhusang via Samar, a Tibetan-influenced village. Pass a vertical ridge with lush hill views, descending to the Kali Gandaki valley. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 14: Trek to Jomsom (2,720m, 6-7 hours)
Trek 6-7 hours from Chhusang to Jomsom, descending through the Kali Gandaki Gorge. Pass Tangbe, Kagbeni, and Eklebhatti, with stunning views of Nilgiri and Tilicho Peak. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Day 15: Fly to Pokhara (920m, 20 minutes) and Continue to Kathmandu (1,350m, 30 minutes or 7 hours by bus)
Fly 20 minutes from Jomsom to Pokhara, then fly 30 minutes or drive 7 hours to Kathmandu. Relax in Thamel and prepare for departure. Overnight at a hotel.

Day 16: Leisure Day in Kathmandu (1,350m)
Enjoy a free day to visit UNESCO sites like Bhaktapur Durbar Square, shop for souvenirs in Thamel, or unwind at a café. Reflect on the Mustang adventure. Overnight at a hotel.

Day 17: Transfer to Airport, Departure
Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your departure, carrying cherished memories of the Mustang Trek’s cultural and scenic wonders.

Included

✓ Permits: All necessary permits for trekking and climbing.
✓ Base Camp and Camps: Full logistics and setup at base camp and higher camps.
✓ Trekking Guides: Experienced and certified professional trekking guides.

Excluded

✗ International Flights: Flights to and from Nepal
✗ Personal Gear: Personal climbing equipment (e.g., boots, clothing, gloves)
✗ Personal Expenses: Tips, snacks, and souvenirs

Trip Organization

Best Trips Nepal has been a premier adventure travel company based in Kathmandu, dedicated to delivering sustainable and authentic experiences. Specializing in cultural treks like the Mustang Trek, we guide adventurers through Nepal’s remote landscapes and vibrant cultures. Our experienced guides, eco-friendly practices, and commitment to local communities ensure meaningful journeys that leave only footprints behind. Join Best Trips Nepal to explore the timeless beauty of Upper Mustang.

FAQs

1. Is the Mustang Trek suitable for beginners?: This trek is moderately challenging, suitable for fit beginners with some trekking experience, due to altitudes up to 4,230m and daily treks of 5-7 hours. Best Trips Nepal provides experienced guides for support.

2. When is the best time for this trek?: Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) offer clear skies and mild weather. Mustang’s rain-shadow location makes it viable during monsoon (June-August), with fewer crowds.

3. What permits are required for this trek?: An Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit ($500 for 10 days, $50/day extra) and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (NRs 3,000) are required, arranged by Best Trips Nepal. A minimum of two trekkers and a licensed guide are mandatory.