Upper Mustang was closed to outsiders until 1992. For centuries it existed as an independent kingdom tucked behind the Himalayas, and because the mountains block the monsoon rain, the landscape looks nothing like the rest of Nepal. Think red and ochre cliffs, canyon walls carved with ancient cave dwellings, and whitewashed villages where Tibetan Buddhist […]
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Upper Mustang was closed to outsiders until 1992. For centuries it existed as an independent kingdom tucked behind the Himalayas, and because the mountains block the monsoon rain, the landscape looks nothing like the rest of Nepal. Think red and ochre cliffs, canyon walls carved with ancient cave dwellings, and whitewashed villages where Tibetan Buddhist culture has continued almost undisturbed for six hundred years.
This 16-day trek takes you from Kathmandu up to Jomsom by flight, then on foot through the Kali Gandaki valley and into the restricted zone north of Kagbeni. You walk through villages like Chele, Geling and Charang before reaching Lo Manthang, the walled capital of the old Kingdom of Lo. At 3,840 metres the city sits in a wide plain ringed by hills, and inside its walls you will find monasteries, a royal palace and a way of life that has barely changed in centuries.
The return route takes a different trail back through Dhi and Tange, so you see a completely different side of the landscape on the way down.
Because Upper Mustang sits in the Himalayan rain shadow it is one of the few treks in Nepal you can do during the monsoon season, from June to August, when most other routes are wet and difficult. The best overall windows are March to May and September to November.
This is a restricted area trek. The Nepal government limits the number of permits issued to protect the culture and control visitor numbers. Your Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit ($500 for 10 days) is included in the trip price. You need a minimum group size of two people and a licensed guide, which is arranged by us.
You should be comfortable trekking 5 to 8 hours a day on exposed terrain at altitude. No technical climbing is involved but the remoteness, altitude and daily distances make this a serious undertaking.
A Mountain Kick representative will meet you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer you to your hotel in Thamel. The rest of the day is yours to rest, explore the streets around the hotel, or pick up any last minute gear. Your guide will come to the hotel in the evening for a pre-trip meeting to walk you through the itinerary, check your gear and answer any questions.
Distance: Airport transfer | Time: 30 minutes | Difficulty: Easy
Points of Interest:
After breakfast we board a tourist bus for the drive to Pokhara. The journey takes around seven hours through the hills, following the Trishuli River for much of the route. Pokhara is a relaxed lakeside city and a good place to do a final gear check before the trek begins. The Annapurna range is visible from the lakeside on clear evenings.
Distance: 200km / 124mi | Time: 7 hours | Difficulty: Easy (road journey)
Points of Interest:
An early morning flight from Pokhara takes you to Jomsom in around 20 minutes. Flights operate early before the valley winds pick up, so you will leave the airport quickly after landing. From Jomsom we walk north along the Kali Gandaki River, the deepest gorge in the world, for around three hours to reach Kagbeni. The landscape changes quickly here. Vegetation thins out, the terrain becomes rocky and dry, and the first signs of the Tibetan plateau begin to appear. Kagbeni is a compact mud-brick village at the gateway to the restricted zone, and your Upper Mustang permit is checked here before you continue north.
Distance: 8km / 5mi trek | Time: 3 hours | Difficulty: Moderate
Points of Interest:
Today is a long and physically demanding day through the Kali Gandaki valley. The trail climbs out of Kagbeni and heads into increasingly barren terrain. You will pass through a couple of small villages before reaching Chele after around eight hours of walking. The wind in this valley is strong and consistent, often picking up stones from the riverbed, so a buff or scarf is worth having to hand.
Distance: 16km / 10mi | Time: 7 to 8 hours | Difficulty: Hard
Points of Interest:
The trail today passes through several small riverbeds and a handful of villages as you gain altitude steadily. It takes around five hours to reach Geling, a quiet farming village surrounded by fields of mustard and barley. The Himalayan peaks are visible in the distance for much of the day. This is a more manageable day than yesterday and a good chance to settle into the rhythm of the trek.
Distance: 12km / 7.5mi | Time: 5 hours | Difficulty: Moderate to Hard
Points of Interest:
he trail today involves a series of steep climbs and descents through a landscape that alternates between eroded canyon walls and surprisingly fertile farmland. Locals grow corn in small terraced fields along the route. The walking takes around five hours. On arrival in Charang you can visit the 700-year-old Charang Dzong, a fortress palace with a monastery inside that is still active today.
Distance: 10km / 6mi | Time: 5 hours | Difficulty: Moderate to Hard
Points of Interest:
Six hours of walking up a rocky trail brings you to Lo Manthang, the walled capital of the former Kingdom of Lo. The city was built in the 14th century and the original structures, including the royal palace, four main monasteries and the city walls, are still standing. Lo Manthang was completely off limits to foreign visitors until 1992 and the culture inside has remained largely intact as a result. Walking through the gates into the old city for the first time is genuinely unlike anything else on the trekking circuit in Nepal.
Distance: 14km / 8.7mi | Time: 6 hours | Difficulty: Hard
Points of Interest:
A full rest and exploration day based in Lo Manthang. In the morning we walk west to Namgyal Gompa, a monastery perched on a hilltop with wide views across the plateau. Beyond it is the village of Tingkar, where ruins of ancient fortresses sit on the hillside above the village. In the afternoon you have free time to walk through Lo Manthang’s lanes, visit the remaining monasteries, or simply sit and take in the atmosphere of a place that feels genuinely removed from the modern world.
Distance: 8km / 5mi (day excursion) | Time: 4 to 5 hours walking | Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Points of Interest:
We leave Lo Manthang and begin the return journey on a different trail to the one we came up on. The first section involves a steep climb before a long descent to the village of Dhi. The route passes through open plateau terrain with wide skies and very few other trekkers. It takes around five hours to reach Dhi.
Distance: 11km / 6.8mi | Time: 5 hours | Difficulty: Moderate to Hard
Points of Interest:
We follow a river trail for around two hours before crossing near the holy lake of Damodar Kunda. The landscape shifts between barren hillsides and occasional patches of greenery near water sources. After the crossing, the trail continues through open terrain to the small village of Tange. It is a quieter and shorter day, around four hours of walking in total.
Distance: 9km / 5.6mi | Time: 4 hours | Difficulty: Moderate
Points of Interest:
A predominantly downhill day as we descend through a series of hills toward the lower Mustang valley. You pass through Tetang before dropping further down to Chusang. The altitude loss makes this a more comfortable day physically, though the trail is still rocky underfoot. Around five hours of walking.
Distance: 13km / 8mi | Time: 5 hours | Difficulty: Moderate
Points of Interest:
The final day of trekking brings you back to Jomsom along the Kali Gandaki valley. It is mostly downhill and the familiar landmarks of the lower valley reappear as you get closer to town. Around five hours of walking. Jomsom has good facilities after days in the remote north and it is a welcome place to clean up, eat well and reflect on the trek.
Distance: 15km / 9.3mi | Time: 5 hours | Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Points of Interest:
An early morning flight takes you back to Pokhara in around 20 minutes. The rest of the day is completely free. Most people spend it by the lake, get a massage, do some shopping, or simply sit and eat good food after two weeks of trail meals. It is a well-earned rest day.
Distance: Flight | Time: 20 minutes | Difficulty: Easy
Points of Interest:
After breakfast we take the tourist bus back to Kathmandu, retracing the scenic hill road from the beginning of the trip. We arrive in the afternoon and in the evening Mountain Kick hosts a farewell dinner with traditional Nepali food and cultural performances. A good chance to celebrate the trek with your guide and fellow travellers before everyone goes their separate ways.
Distance: 200km / 124mi | Time: 7 hours | Difficulty: Easy (road journey)
Points of Interest:
A free day in Kathmandu before your departure. Use it for last minute shopping in Thamel, visiting Boudhanath Stupa or Pashupatinath Temple, or simply relaxing at the hotel. Your guide is available if you want company or recommendations.
Points of Interest:
A Mountain Kick representative will transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward flight. Thank you for trekking with us and we hope to see you back in Nepal soon.
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You have to book your own international flight from your country to Nepal and back according to your trip departure dates.
A chauffeur from Mountain Kick will come receive you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Representatives of the company will visit you at the hotel itself and brief you on your trip.
You will trek in the Himalayas in a group of international travellers fully assisted by our guides, porters and local support staff. We will take care of your entire trip as soon as you land in Kathmandu and safely take to your preferred destination and back as per the package you choose. Travel will involve plenty of sightseeing and mixing with local culture.
A regular person can complete the trip with help from our guides and porters. But it is important that you are healthy and have no physical injuries. Trekking for long hours in high altitude and difficult terrain will surely put a strain on your body and you might suffer severe physical and mental breakdown, especially if you are trekking in the Himalayas for the first time. It is, therefore, expected that you have taken light endurance training especially for longer trips.
On most days of your trips, you will trek for a couple of hours only. But some trekking days require as much as six to eight hours of walking in high altitude. However, there will be plenty time each day for rest and acclimatization.
In Kathmandu, you will stay in a three-star hotel while you will be staying at standard guesthouses during your travel. There will be electricity, internet, laundry and hot showers in all of the places you stay. You will have to share your room with a fellow traveller in our typical package. At some destinations, especially in the Himalayas, you will have to stay in a tented camp. If you want to make separate living arrangements, talk to us beforehand and we can arrange single rooms for additional $250. Some guesthouses at very high altitudes and remote places may not have attached washrooms or single rooms.
All your major meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included in your trekking package except in Kathmandu (where only breakfast is provided for). You will be served local food at all places we dine but you can order anything you like on the menu which you will have to pay for yourself. You will have a range of options so there won’t be a problem if you are a vegetarian or vegan. We make sure you get healthy and hygienic food throughout your travel.
Our guides and porters always put your safety and comfort first. We have English-speaking guides who take you to all major attractions throughout the travel and are happy to answer all your queries. We have one porter assigned each for two travellers and you will have to pay separately if you want to hire extra porters. We have local support staff in all villages and camps you reach to assist you in any way possible.
The guides always carry a professional first aid kit with them to treat with minor injuries. We also have health professionals at villages and camps along the journey. The travel insurance you take (which is compulsory) covers any and all emergency rescue and evacuation.
We are always happy to accommodate your wishes during the travel so far as they do not conflict with schedules and other travellers. If you have special plans, you can talk to us beforehand so that we can arrange a customised trip for you.
You have to bring all travel equipment yourself. Please see the equipment section for a standard list of required equipment prepared by our guides. Most of the items are easily available in Kathmandu in case if you miss any and we also lend you some of the gears for the duration of the trip for a small fee.
There is internet and telephone connection in all of our stops for the day throughout the journey. You will be able to call back home or post your pictures on Facebook everyday.
As soon as you land into Kathmandu, we take care of all your travel documents required during your trip. You just need to bring your passport and a copy of your travel insurance. Tourist fees and permits to enter certain areas will be arranged for by Mountain Kick.
Most of the trekking routes are open throughout the year but September through to December and March to May are the best months to travel.
Rides for sightseeing and reaching destinations within city limits are done in a private vehicle like a car, a jeep or a microbus. Most of the long distance travel is done in luxurious tourist buses hired exclusively by the company. In some journeys, you may also need to take a public bus but as you will travel in a group with our guides and support staff, you need not worry about your safety or comfort.
Around $50 will be enough to buy you lunch and dinner in Kathmandu. During your travel, you can get by with around $25 a day. But it depends on how much you want to spend. Due to the exchange rate and predominantly rural economy of Nepal, things are pretty cheap in Nepal.
Almost all international credit cards are accepted in Nepal. However, not all places, especially during your travel, accept them. There may be a fee involved in processing your card.
Our staff do not expect you to tip them. Generally, travellers tip them if they are satisfied with the service as a means of gratitude. Even when travellers tip the guides and porters, there is no fixed rate. However, if you like to tip them, follow customs of your own country for tipping (which, as we have learned, is 10 to 15 percent of total cost for most western countries).
You can obtain a visa at your home country through Nepal’s embassy or consular office. But you can easily get a visa upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. You just need two passport-size photographs. A tourist visa with multiple entry for 30 days costs $40 while the same for 90 days costs $100.
Click Book Now to enter your details and we shall contact you. You can contact us directly for any further information or to prepare a customized itinerary for you. For payment information, see our Terms and Conditions.
No upcoming fixed departures are scheduled at the moment. Contact us to arrange a private departure on dates that suit you.
| 30+ days before departure | Deposit forfeited, balance refunded in full |
| 15–29 days before departure | 50% of total trip cost charged |
| Under 15 days | No refund |
| MountainKick cancels trip | Full refund or reschedule |
We never force our customers to follow our set itinerary. You can customize your itinerary exactly the way you want. Please share with us your ideas.
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