Upper Mustang Trekking - 14 Days

Route: Pokhara → Jomsom (flight) → Jomsom → Kagbeni

The day starts with an early morning bass aviation flight from Pokhara to Jomsom across some striking and glimpsed Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, including the restricted peaks of Machapuchare and Nilgiri. This short, 20-minute flight affords you exceptional views of the Himalayas and will ideally begin the day. Flying over all these great mountains is exciting.

After reaching Jomsom, the actual trek to Kagbeni starts and covers a distance, passing through dry, high-altitude land. Beautiful vistas encompassing arid slopes, Kali Gandaki River, and far away snow-capped mountains are also visible along the trail. You'll discover that this trek is quite colourful due to the changes in the region's landscape. Every movement is a step to Kagbeni, an archaeologically significant dusty village at the junction of Kali Gandaki River and the old salt-trade trail to Upper Mustang.

Luckily, the flight to Jomsom is very short, and the terrain has no driving roads to worry about. The path from Jomsom to Kagbeni is often mainly stone and dusty; hence, sophisticated shoes are expected. Nonetheless, no unique road-related problems arise here so that you can enjoy this sector's incredible vistas and the spirit of trekking. The mountain top is quiet, and the air is perfect, thus contributing to the experience and discovery of the area; this makes this trek one of the most memorable experiences.

Route: Kagbeni → Tangbe → Chhusang → Chele

The third-day trek involves a journey along the perfect route from Kagbeni to Chele through Chuksang. The road runs along the Kali Gandaki River and provides pleasures like views of rainless territories, stony slopes, and centuries-old monasteries. As you approach Upper Mustang, the environment becomes much different, as the area's conditions contrast nicely with the valleys you might have enjoyed earlier. It also offers an experience of traditional houses in the conventional mud brickwork of the Tibetan villages blending with nature.

The path from Kagbeni to Chele is quite a trail through the barren land, with rocky and dry paths. The trails, although defined, can be slightly dusty at some places, and loose carriage may slow down due to rough terrains. While trekking in Mustang, notice that the beauty is dwarfed by none; every step is worth it. 

As you approach Chele, you will begin to get a feel for the Upper Mustang area, which is much like a desert. Chele village will explain the roots of its architecture, and friendly people will create a unique atmosphere for you. This day is rewarding for the beauty of the environment as well as the history and culture of the region.

Route: Chele → Samar → Bhena → Syangboche

Trekking from Chele to Syangboche is adventurous and passes through features such as narrow gorges, baron hills, and broader valleys to Syangboche. When you pass through, you'll feel the local lifestyle in small Tibetan communities that you will come across amidst the barley fields. The faces of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri masses are distant, but the view of the mountains during the trek becomes genuinely eye-catching.

This means the route is characterized by small and rocky tracks, with elevated trails sometimes challenging the trek. However, the lack of vegetative cover and a dry surface, as observed with occasional juniper trees, contribute to the area's scenic features. As with most of this trek, this region will demand attention and provide sights worth a lifetime.

Once you arrive at Syangboche, the feeling of adventure and accomplishment increases due to the kind of roads you will encounter. Syangboche is a village located on rather hills, and this place can be considered a night stop where you can look at beautiful views, rest, and think about what you did. This journey overcomes not only stress and physical obstacles but also the view and attractiveness of the Mustang area.

Route: Syangboche → Ghar Gompa → Ghemi

The trek from Syangboche to Ghemi crosses a high desert, passing villages like Ghar Gompa. The Poon Hill area is characterized by cliffs, beautiful landscapes, and stunning observations of the higher lands and monasteries, along with a few Tibetan villages. As the trail goes on, the valley turns, and you'll see red sandstone cliffs, making the place stand out. Occasionally, ascents require extra caution and focus and can get quite bumpy. Be careful with your feet to ensure a safe hike, particularly when crossing some parts of more complex, steep terrain. Adventure and exploration are still felt at the highest level. Sightseeing in the beauty of nature and cultural heritage uniquely appeals to everyone.

Ghemi Village, right in the heart of Upper Mustang, is enchanting, reflecting the region's rich cultural heritage and incomparable natural beauty. Locals also call it Red Canyon because of its unique red sandstone cliffs and breathtaking landscapes. Ghemi has a combination of ancient traditions and tranquil surroundings. Traditional Tibetan-style houses with mud bricks and colourful prayer flags present a pictorial and peaceful atmosphere. The ancient Ghar Gompa monastery is believed to be one of the oldest in the region, giving quite an essential spiritual element. Besides, the chortens and mani walls are scattered everywhere, giving the village a spiritual touch. Extremely popular for warm welcomes and endurance, the villagers follow the norms of the traditional lifestyle in this domain by barley cultivation and animal husbandry and, thus, deliver a strong sense of belongingness to Mustang's cultural and historical identity.

Route: Ghemi → Tsarang

The trail from Ghemi to Tsarang covers barren hills and mere valleys of rocks with majestic distances of the mountains surrounding the region. When you travel across this high-altitude desert area, you will likely come across monasteries in the Tibetan architectural design built on cliffs & trails flanked by crops such as barley, among others. The mountains in the foreground are dominant, namely Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri, which are touchingly marvellous and gigantic.

The trail is not flat and sometimes consists of small, sharp rocks, making walking a bit tricky, especially when climbing steep hills. The trails are often narrow and loose in some sections, making the hike even more demanding. However, the beauty of the environment and the gorgeous ancient places, which are actual cultural landmarks, are worth it.

This town is situated at the location of the old kingdom of Mustang, and after reaching this town, you will find that it is filled with cultural heritage. Tsarang or Charang has a large monastery, the Tsarang Monastery, with attractive paintings and old writings on the walls. The village is also traditional, with houses built in the typical Tibetan architecture and energetic barley fields. The food is served warm and friendly, and along with the backdrop of rich cultural and historical implications of the location, Tsarang is one of them, which proves to be the high point of the trek.

Route: Tsarang → Lo Manthang

The trail to reach Lo Manthang from Tsarang passes through broad terrain; thus, there are fantastic views of Mustang's colourful and barren land. It becomes so beautiful as you move from one place to the next through the wind-swept valleys and barren hills. The height of Lo Manthang is a low desert-like area. At the same time, it has a distinct Tibetan touch in its construction. In the distance, the white-capped mountains of the Annapurna and the Dhaulagiri add some grandeur to the skyline.

The path is primarily composed of rocks and can be incredibly steep at spots, so some inclines require navigation on very uneven terrain. Compared to previous days, it is relatively flat, but it is also essential to be cautious on the trail. The trek to Lo Manthang is very similar: full of stunning views and anticipation of an important historical and cultural place.

You'll trek to Lo Manthang, an ancient city full of history and charisma. When you begin exploring this ancient city, you will find it easy to get enchanted with monasteries, locally made narrow streets, and mud brick houses. Royal palaces were built in the 15th century, and amazingly well-preserved gompas such as Thubchen Lhakhang are adorned with intricate paintings and religious objects. Apart from some stunning photographs where you shot Lo Manthang, it is so much more than a pretty picture; it is a walking museum that provides a peek into the rich and historical lifestyle of the Tibetans, which has been preserved for centuries. Walking around, you will find proof of many civilizations in one place, and people follow their traditions and culture anywhere. This part of the trip is culturally vital to the Nepalis, making this trek segment particularly attractive because of the beautiful view of the Mustang area.

Lo Manthang is an architectural structure that fully considers the walled city with typical Tibetan features offering stunning impressions to visitors. There is plenty of opportunity to wander through monasteries with painted frescoes and relics, sit in the former Royal Palace, which speaks of ancient history, and stroll through narrow streets and squares with vivid populations.

While strolling, you can see wind-sculpted cliffs and sometimes the only spots of green barley fields. The city's geographical location contains historical and traditional features and gives insight into how the people of that diverse town have been living. Such walking dominates this exploration since the city and most villages and monasteries are found to have comparatively inclined terrains, though not steep.

This day provides you with leisure in Lo Manthang, where you can see its culture, buildings, and wonderful beauty. The old city and the nearby mountains perfectly suit this unusual place.

Route: Lo Manthang → Ghar Gompa → Dhakmar

The trail from Lo Manthang to Dhakmar goes through some of the most culturally rich areas of Upper Mustang in terms of painting the landscape.

It crosses Lo-Manthang city and a historic monastery known as Ghar Gompa, a central spiritual and cultural aspect of the trip.

The trail can be quite different in places. Some parts have loose rocks on the ground, making it tricky to walk, and the climb is also steep in some areas. The rugged hills have a few juniper trees and barley fields, giving the area a unique look. The red sandstone cliffs near Dhakmar are especially striking, standing out in the desert with their bright red colour. The whole landscape has a very special and memorable feel.

Dhakmar is a village famous for its rocky cliffs and comparatively calm atmosphere. Prayer wheels, old chortens, and the mani walls around the town depict its religious history. Due to its tranquil location and rocky landscape, Dhakmar is a fantastic spot on your trip across the Upper Mustang.

Route: Dhakmar → Ghami → Ghiling

The physical journey from Dhakmar to Ghiling is inspiring, as it involves challenging geography with a lot of heritage. Way farther from the red cliffs of Dhakmar, the route starts moving up and down in different areas of the high desert, where one gets a glimpse of the valleys of Mustang. On the way, you will cross ancient villages and cultivated barley fields with evident remains of prosperity populating in such a rather severe climate—this difference between the barren land and farmlands displayed in Mustang human beings the ability to withstand harsh environments.

The trail consists mainly of gravel, some stones and fine-grained material, and occasional steep slopes that require attention and appropriate path choice. Some of the terrain appears dry with limited vegetation. Yet, these vantage points are visually interesting and magnificent due to the constant sightings of far-stretched white snow-capped mountain ranges during the trek. 

The beautiful village of Ghiling in the otherwise barren region of Mustang provides you with a friendly look. It is blessed with traditional mud-brick houses painted with colourful prayer flags, a beautiful local monastery and an unaffected local population. The cultural setting of the village is quite relaxed and serene after a day of hiking, especially given the stunning backdrop of the seclusion in dramatic terrains. The possibility of a closer view of the village's thin paths, meeting the town's friendly inhabitants, and gaining additional perspective on their culture.

Route: Ghiling → Samar → Kagbeni → Jomsom

The track from Ghiling to Kagbeni is downhill to return to the lower region areas of Mustang, and from the arid zone, it returns to the valley area. The trail takes through a few typical local village houses and numerous mani walls and shortens as witnesses of Mustang's religious past. After reaching Kagbeni, the Kaligandaki River is by the side of the trail, and km-long gorges made by this river can be seen for thousands of years. Such a change from steep, rocky and in some areas rather barren slopes down to lush, green valleys is a decided plus and offers a variety of scenes to the eye.

The terrain ranges from steep descending to a more moderate terrain that will, at times, have loose gravel and narrow sections of the trail that need extra care to be taken. The views are constantly different, and the ground becomes gradually green, cultivating field crops and terraced farming. The rocks also create a dramatic experience of light and shadow that makes the journey almost a feast to the eyes of the trekker. You’ll hardly get bored on the trek because there is variation in terrains, which offer magnificent scenes around each corner.

Kagbeni is a lively village on the bank of the Kali Gandaki River at the entry point of the uphill trail to Upper Mustang. It is famous for its old monasteries and typical architecture. This village is one of the best, with narrow streets and little bazaars; the tour gives a good insight into Mustang's cultural history. Following that, you get to Kagbeni, then drive to Jomsom, a lively place that acts as a base for the Mustang trek. The drive gives a last view of the beautiful country sections you are passing through before ending this part of the trek. Energetic, bubbly and equipped with some of the most effortless comforts seen in recent Nepalese architecture, Jomsom re-establishes the comfort factor after an adventurous day through the remote villages.

On this day, you’ll have a close encounter with the vibrant town of Jomsom, the centre of the Mustang region. This lively and colourful town is quiet and perfect for rest after hiking a day before returning to Pokhara. One enjoyable sightseeing trip is visiting the local market to buy souvenirs and other handmade things.

The market clearly depicts the people, carving skills, and overall lifestyle of the Mustang people.

Besides the market, other short hiking options include ascending to the next Neighbouring villages/Viewpoint to enjoy pleasing views of the Himalayas. These hikes afford one beautiful view of the adjacent valleys and mountains, complementing the physical image that is part of this country's landscape. The temperature during these short treks is cool and fresh because most of the terrain is mountainous, which explains why the trips are enjoyable.

Another interesting thing to do on the tour is to visit the Jomsom Ecotourism Museum, where you can get acquainted with the culture, plants, and animals. This museum helps give the Mustang region a non-ecological and cultural perspective from which to interpret the area. Even for just loosening up and contemplating the tremendous adventure you have gone through, the place provides a perfect ambience as a final stage for the trek.

It’s almost the end of your trip. The stunning flight from Jomsom to Pokhara early in the morning is the flying experience of about half an hour soaring over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. The flight also offers the last chance to view the area's beautiful landscape with deep gorges, waterfalls, and terrace fields. The short ride gives you goosebumps as it captures the spirit of the Himalayas and becomes a part of your trip.

You will arrive in the morning, and for the rest of the day, you will have time to go sightseeing in the beautiful lakeside town of Pokhara. Near Phewa Lake, lovely cafes and markets make Pokhara the sight's contrast to the Mustang's hardness. Tourist attractions include the World Peace Pagoda, Devi's Fall, and the International Mountain Museum. All these attractions give different views of these regions' cultural and natural history.

Finally, Pokhara is the best place to end your trek; the place is very calm, and the landscapes are stunning. This day of the tour can be devoted to viewing the beauty of Nepal, as seen from the water of Phewa Lake in the morning or watching the sunset in Sarangkot in the evening. The excellent environment and outstanding views mean that the end of your journey offers a sense of relaxation and contemplation, which will stay with you in this wonderful region.

Route: Pokhara → Kathmandu (via Prithvi Highway)

The last day of the journey is the drive from the Place of Three Winds—Pokhara back to Kathmandu through the Prithvi Highway. Pressing on from Pokhara, the thick foliage and tranquil waters of Phewa Taal reach out to the terraced hills and local village that set this part of Nepal. Often, it is a feast for the eyes because when entering a bend, there is a new aspect of Nepal's beautiful countryside.

The road, which is tarmac for most of the distance, is reasonably acceptable, but part of the route is narrow and curvy. The drive is offered through prominent districts like Muglin, a point on merging Trishuli and Marshyangdi Rivers, and Naubise, famous for its speedy market and restaurants. The Trishuli River, stretches of white water, appears side by side with the highway, enhancing its beauty.

Approaching Kathmandu, the land becomes much more developed, and the electrifying presence of the Capital City comes into view. There is enough time to meditate on the marvellous terrains, ethnicity, experiences, and memories amassed during the discovery of Nepal. After reaching Kathmandu, you will have free time in the evening to shop for souvenirs in areas like Thamel or Durbar Marg to have fun and celebrate the successful completion of an incredible trip.