Upper Mustang Trekking

Upper Mustang is one of the most unique territories in the Himalaya. North of Kagbeni the landscape changes completely: you enter an arid plateau shaped by canyons, erosion-carved cliffs, vast deserted valleys and villages built of earth and stone.

For centuries the Kingdom of Lo maintained very strong ties with Tibet, and this history is still visible in the language, architecture, Buddhist monasteries, chortens and traditions of the local communities.

Crossing it on foot lets you gradually experience these changes and reach villages and valleys far from the main route used by vehicles.

Upper Mustang lies politically within Nepal, but geographically belongs to the Tibetan plateau, and for centuries the Kingdom of Lo maintained very close cultural and trade ties with Tibet.

Even today, Tibetan culture is evident in the local language, Buddhist religion, monasteries, chortens, architecture and village traditions.

When we call it “the last true Tibet,” we don’t mean a geographic region of Tibet, but rather a Tibetan culture that has remained deeply alive here.

Monasteries and Buddhist sites are a key part of the journey, not just stops along the way.

In Lo Manthang we visit the walled city and its ancient monasteries; the day devoted to the surrounding area also takes us to the Chhoser and Kimaling zone.

The second part of the trek then leads to Yara and Luri Gompa, one of the most unique Buddhist sites in Upper Mustang, set in a remote valley and surrounded by caves and rock formations.

Luri Gompa is an ancient Buddhist sanctuary built into the rock formations of Upper Mustang, in the valley reachable from Yara.

The Luri area holds caves, chortens and ancient Buddhist paintings, and lies far from the main road that runs through Mustang. Reaching it takes a full day’s walk from Yara.

This is one of the places that, in our view, still justifies crossing Upper Mustang on foot today: it’s not just about reaching Lo Manthang, but about venturing into its side valleys and most isolated corners.

Lo Manthang is the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Lo and the main historical and cultural center of Upper Mustang.
The city is enclosed by ancient walls and holds Buddhist monasteries, traditional houses and an urban layout quite unlike any other city in Nepal.

Our trek doesn’t just reach Lo Manthang and move on: we spend two nights here and devote a full day to the city and its surrounding valleys before continuing on to Yara and the eastern part of Mustang.

Buddhism is not just part of Mustang’s past. Monasteries, chortens, prayer wheels, ceremonies and festivals remain part of daily life for local communities.

Lo Manthang remains one of the region’s most important religious centers and hosts the Tiji Festival every year, when monks celebrate sacred Tibetan Buddhist rituals and dances over several days.

This is an important question, because the construction of the road has genuinely changed trekking in Upper Mustang.
In the first part of the trip, some sections of the route may run close to or cross the track used by vehicles. That’s why we recommend the Jeep Tour for anyone who simply wants to visit Lo Manthang and the main monuments.

The trek, on the other hand, is designed for those who want to experience Mustang on foot. After Lo Manthang, our itinerary leaves the main road and continues through Yara, Luri Gompa, Tangge and Chhusang, entering much more remote valleys and following part of Mustang’s ancient network of trails.

These are two different ways to experience the same region: the jeep lets you see much more in less time, while the trek lets you cross it slowly and reach places that take on a completely different meaning when you arrive on foot.

Muktinath, at around 3,800 meters, is one of the main sacred sites in the Himalaya and is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists.

Reaching it on foot after crossing Upper Mustang also creates a natural conclusion to the journey: from the Tibetan-culture valleys of Lo Manthang, Yara and Tangge, we arrive in a place where Buddhist and Hindu traditions have coexisted for centuries.

The trekking portion of the trip ends at Muktinath, and we then head back to Pokhara.

It’s suitable for hikers in good health who are already used to walking for several consecutive days.

The altitude reached is lower than on Everest, Manaslu or Annapurna Circuit, and no passes above 5,000 meters are crossed. The difficulty mainly comes from the length of the days, the arid terrain, the wind and the sheer number of consecutive walking days.

It presents no mountaineering difficulties, and the highest point is around 4,000 meters, but we wouldn’t call it a simple walk.

Most stages require 5–7 hours of walking, and some days, such as Dhakmar–Lo Manthang and Tangge–Chhusang, can take 8–9 hours.

The terrain is often dry and dusty, with constant ups and downs and wind that can become strong, especially in the afternoon.

Most days involve around 5–7 hours of walking and 8–12 km.

Some stages are notably longer and can take 8–9 hours. In Mustang, distance and timing depend heavily on the terrain, the ups and downs, and especially the wind.

Yes. Wind is one of the defining features of Upper Mustang, and it tends to pick up from late morning through the afternoon.

For this reason, we start trekking days early whenever possible. A good windproof jacket, sunglasses, and a mouth and nose covering for dustier days are all essential.

The very dry climate also makes it essential to drink regularly, even when you don’t feel especially thirsty.

In the weeks before departure, we recommend regular 6–8 hour hikes, gradually increasing distance and elevation gain.

There’s no need to train specifically for extreme altitudes, but it’s important to be used to walking for many consecutive days and to recover well between one stage and the next.

Yes. Even though the trek doesn’t go above 4,000 meters, most of Upper Mustang lies above 3,000 meters, and altitude sickness can appear at even lower elevations.

Our itinerary climbs gradually from Kagbeni toward Chele, Syangboche, Dhakmar, and Lo Manthang. We spend two nights here before continuing into the second part of the trek.

We recommend drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding alcohol during the ascent, and reporting any symptoms to your guide right away.

We recommend spring, between April and May, and autumn, between September and November, above all.

Upper Mustang lies in the rain shadow of the Annapurna range, though, and receives far less rainfall than southern Nepal. It’s therefore one of the few regions in Nepal where trekking is technically possible even during the monsoon.

However, access via Pokhara and the Kali Gandaki valley can be affected by weather conditions, so for our departures we favor periods with generally more favorable conditions.

Upper Mustang is a region where access for foreign travelers is regulated through a special Restricted Area Permit.

The permit cannot be requested directly by individual travelers; it is arranged through an authorized trekking agency.

Yes. To enter Upper Mustang you need the special Restricted Area Permit and the Annapurna Conservation Area permit (ACAP).

Himalaya Exped arranges the guide and all the necessary documentation directly before departure. Permits included in the itinerary are covered by the trip price.

English is always guaranteed: all our Nepali guides who accompany international clients speak English.

When available, we can also assign guides with a good knowledge of Italian or German. However, these languages are not guaranteed on every departure: if they matter to you, let us know before booking and we’ll check the availability of the most suitable guide.

Yes. We require participants to have travel insurance that covers high-altitude trekking, any medical expenses, and emergency evacuation.

Even though we don’t go above 4,000 meters, we cross a remote region, and on some stages we’re far from normal road infrastructure.

In Kathmandu we’ll give you a duffel bag to hand over to the porters. We normally provide one porter for every two participants, with a maximum of 13 kg of personal luggage per person.

The duffel bag is carried ahead to the next stage and will be waiting for you again once you reach the lodge.

It’s a concern we understand, but the issue isn’t using porters — it’s how they’re treated. Working as a porter or guide is, for many families in mountain regions, one of the few income opportunities tied to tourism, and refusing their work on principle doesn’t necessarily help them.

At Himalaya Exped, porters are part of the team. We work with local people and guarantee decent working conditions, insurance during the trek, and clear limits on the weight carried. We normally provide one porter for every two participants, with a maximum of 13 kg of personal luggage per traveler.

To us, responsible tourism doesn’t mean taking work away from local communities — it means making sure that work is carried out with dignity, safety, and fair pay.

During the trek you’ll only carry a light backpack, roughly 20–25 liters, with water, a windproof and waterproof jacket, a warm layer, sun protection, sunglasses, documents, camera, and anything else you might need during the day.

The rest of your gear travels in the duffel bag carried by the porters.

Anything you don’t need during the trek can be safely left at the hotel in Kathmandu and picked up on your return.

Along the way, you’ll just need the duffel bag carried by the porters and your small daypack.

During the trek, we stay in family-run lodges and guest houses in the villages of Upper Mustang.

In the main towns, such as Lo Manthang, rooms with a private bathroom are easier to find, while in more remote stages like Yara and Tangge the facilities are more basic and shared bathrooms are common.

Our guides always look for the best accommodation available, but a private bathroom can’t be guaranteed at every stage. Rooms are generally unheated.

In Kathmandu and Pokhara, we stay in 3-star hotels in double rooms with private bathroom and breakfast included.

Yes. Lodge rooms are generally unheated, and at night, especially near 4,000 meters, it can get very cold.

We recommend a sleeping bag suited to the season of your trip. If you don’t have one suitable for Himalayan conditions, you can rent one in Kathmandu.

The lodges serve Dal Bhat, noodles, rice, momo, soups, potatoes, eggs and various Tibetan-inspired dishes.

In Lo Manthang the choice is wider, while in more remote stages such as Yara and Tangge it becomes more limited. Mustang is also a region where barley, potato and apple products are widely used.
Our guides tend to recommend simple, often vegetarian dishes in the more isolated lodges, especially when it’s not possible to be sure meat has been stored properly.

Himalaya Exped provides 2 liters of drinking water per participant every morning, to be carried in your own water bottle or thermos.

At the lodges, you can usually buy extra boiled or bottled water. Water straight from taps, fountains or streams should not be drunk without first boiling, filtering or treating it with a purification product.

In Mustang’s very dry, windy climate, it’s especially important to drink regularly, even when you don’t feel very thirsty.

They’re not essential, but we recommend bringing a few bars, dried fruit or supplements you’re already used to using on treks.

After Lo Manthang, on the stages toward Yara and Tangge, buying snacks becomes limited, so it’s best to bring whatever you prefer to use during the longer days from Kathmandu or Pokhara.

The climate is very dry, with sharp temperature swings. During the day, especially in the sun, it can be relatively warm, while evenings, nights and early mornings can be cold.

Wind often picks up as the day goes on and can significantly lower the perceived temperature.

We recommend dressing in layers and always carrying wind protection, a hat, sunglasses and good sun protection.

You can recharge phones and cameras in most lodges, but electricity may be limited or only available at certain times in the more remote stages.

We therefore recommend a high-capacity power bank, especially for the section of the trek between Lo Manthang, Yara and Tangge.

Coverage in the Upper Mustang has improved a lot in recent years, but you shouldn’t expect to be connected at all times.

We recommend a Nepal Telecom (NTC) SIM card, which has coverage along the main Jomsom–Muktinath–Lo Manthang route. Wi-Fi may also be available in the main villages.

The situation changes, however, once you leave the main route: in the valleys toward Yara, Luri and Tangge, the connection can become much weaker or disappear entirely for long periods.

We therefore recommend downloading maps, documents and anything else that might be useful offline before departure.

Travelers arriving from Europe are not normally required to have mandatory vaccinations to enter Nepal, except in special cases related to travel from or transit through countries at risk of yellow fever.

It’s still advisable to be up to date with routine vaccinations and to check with your doctor or a travel medicine center which vaccines are recommended for Nepal, such as hepatitis A and typhoid, based on your health condition and the type of trip.