Upper Mustang Trek Map
Are you planning a trek in the Upper Mustang? Our Upper Mustang Trek map is the perfect way to get started. It includes all the important information you need, including trail distances, elevation gain, and places to stay.
Upper Mustang Trek is one of the most beautiful trekking destinations in Nepal. It is located in a remote, restricted area of the Annapurna region. The trek through the Annapurna region features several twists and turns, rocky ridges, glacial moraines, and snowy mountains, making it difficult for trekkers to navigate. It is even more complicated for the newcomers, so they must have the Upper Mustang trek Map.
The trek to Upper Mustang takes you to the forbidden kingdom of Lo-Manthang. There are many unique places to explore during the Upper Mustang trek, and you can see amazing views of mountains like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Fishtail, Hiunchuli, and others. You can also immerse yourself in the culture and tradition of the ancient Buddhist tribe.
Major Highlight’s
- Explore the majestic region of Upper Mustang and its remoteness.
- Reach the forbidden kingdom of Lo-Manthang, which falls in a restricted area.
- Get to know and immerse yourself in the ancient Buddhist culture and traditions.
- See amazing views of the mountains, like Annapurna (8,091 m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Manaslu (8,163 m), Nilgiri (2,637 m), Hiunchuli (6,441 m), etc.
- Visit and explore the ancient monasteries of the Mustang region, such as Chhosar Gompa and Gekar Gompa.
- Discover the Upper Mustang region’s biodiversity and unique wildlife.
Upper Mustang Trek Route
The Upper Mustang Trek is a journey to one of Nepal’s most remote regions. The route to the destination is varied, passing through different types of terrain, including barren lands, lush jungles, rocky ridges, glacial moraines, and snowy mountains.
The Upper Mustang route starts from Pokhara, goes to Jomsom, and then to Kagbeni. From Kagbeni, the arduous trek begins as you pass through the problematic rocky ridges. The trekker will then reach Muktinath, which marks the start of the trail towards the Upper Mustang.
Eventually, the trail leads to the ancient kingdom of Mustang in Lo-Manthang. Lo-Manthang is full of ancient monasteries, Ghumbas, meditation caves, wall chortens, etc., where ancient Gurus from Tibet used to meditate for several years. The remote settlements of Upper Mustang are fascinating and beautiful, as people lead day-to-day lives without basic infrastructure and services.
16 Days Upper Mustang Trek Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu
The first day of the Upper Mustang Trek begins with your arrival in Nepal. You will land at the Tribhuvan International Airport, where you will find our representative. They will welcome you to Nepal and take you to your authorized vehicle, which will take you to your booked hotel. After about a half-hour to an hour trip, you will reach your hotel, where our staff will help you check in. You can freshen up for a bit, then meet your trekking crew and your guide.
They will give you a brief plan for reaching your destination and help you buy trekking gear. You will have a complimentary dinner in the evening before going to sleep.
Day 2: Sightseeing in Kathmandu
The second day of the Upper Mustang Trek begins with a delicious breakfast in the hotel. After that, you will meet your trekking crew and start the second day, reaching different memorable places in Kathmandu. You will visit places like the Kathmandu World Heritage Site, Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Changunaryan, and Boudhanath. In the evening, you will reach your hotel and stay overnight.
Day 3: Drive to Pokhara
The third day of the Upper Mustang trek also begins with breakfast in the Kathmandu hotel. We will start moving early in the morning as we have to reach Pokhara today. The drive to Pokhara takes about 7 to 8 hours by road, but if you pay extra for a private jeep or car, you can reach it within 6 hours. We can also board a flight, and the duration will decrease as you get closer to 30 minutes. Driving along the Trishuli River is exciting because of the green hills.
We stop at various places for snacks and lunch. If we arrive early enough, we can take a boat ride on Phewa Lake and visit the calm Tal Barahi temple. In the evening, the colorful streets of Lakeside let us enjoy Pokhara’s lively nightlife.
Day 4: Fly to Jomsom and then Trek to Kagbeni
The fourth trek day begins with breakfast in Pokhara, where we start boarding the flight to Jomsom. It takes about 30 minutes to reach Jomsom from Pokhara. After landing in Jomsom, you can have lunch and begin your trek towards Kagbeni. You will trek through the small village of Eaklibatti, and after about half an hour, you will reach Kagbeni.
Day 05: Trek to Chele (3,050m)
On the 5th day of our trek to Upper Mustang, we hiked along a gravel trail beside the Kali Gandaki River, facing strong winds and a steep hill to Tangbe Village. We explore narrow alleyways, flat houses, and beautiful orchards, with the river by our side on a 2-hour walk to Chhusang village. As we continue, we pass through charming towns and cross rivers, eventually reaching Chele, where Tibetan culture is prominent. Overnight in Chele.
Day 06: Trek to Syangboche(3,475m/11,398ft)
The sixth day of the trek begins with breakfast in the teahouse of Chele. We start descending the trails, as the journey forward is very tough; you will have to pass through two high passes: Taklam La Pass (3624m) and Dajori La Pass (3735m). We enjoy breathtaking views of Tilicho Peak (7134m) and Yaskawa Kang (6482m), explore Ramchung Cave and Samar Village, and immerse ourselves in the local culture. After traversing a ridge and descending to a serene stream, we reach the peaceful settlement of Syangboche, where we settle in for the night.
Day 07: Trek to Ghaymi (3,520m/11,546ft)
The seventh day of the Upper Mustang Trek begins in another teahouse in Syangboche. We will start our journey by climbing the Yamada La Pass. Along the way, we will see teahouses and lovely villages. After walking through forests and barley fields, we will reach Nyi Pass. Then, we will go down to Ghaymi, one of the largest villages in the Lo region. Here, we can enjoy the beautiful landscape. We will spend the night in Ghaymi.
Day 08: Trek to Charang
The 8th day is upon us, and the penultimate day before reaching the highest elevation of the Upper Mustang trek in Lo-Manthang. When you leave Ghaymi, the trail gently climbs to the NYI La pass and descends past blue, gray, and red cliffs. You will cross a bridge and see the longest Mani wall in Mustang. After climbing over another pass at 3,600 m, you will start the long, gentle descent to Charang village. There, you can see collections of statues, Thankas, and large paintings of the seated Buddha.
Day 09: Trek to Lo-Mangthang
Today is a special day of the Upper Mustang Trek, as you will reach the highest elevation of the trek, Lo-Manthang. You will descend toward the canyon, cross different rivers, and then move toward the iconic Lo La Pass. We will descend to Lo Manthang, the walled capital of the former Kingdom of Lo, which is rich in Tibetan Buddhist culture. We will enjoy views of the Himalayas, including Nilgiri (7061m), Tilicho (7134m), Annapurna I (8091m), and Bhrikuti Peak (6364m). We will spend the night in Lo Manthang.
Day 10: Explore Lo-Mangthang
Acclimatization is essential during the Upper Mustang trek, which is why we stay in Lo-Manthang on the tenth day. The Lo-Man Thang has many unique places to explore, such as monasteries and Ghumbas like Thupchen, Chhoeda, Jhumpa, and others. In Lo-Manthang, if you visit in March and April, you can also enjoy the 3-day Tiji Festival.
Day 11: Trek to Drakmar
Now it’s time to leave Drakmar and retrace your steps. We will reach Drakmar tonight to stay in the teahouse of another beautiful village. Our trail climbs to a ridge at 4070m, offering a final view of Lo Manthang before reaching the Chogo La at 4210m, the highest point of our Upper Mustang Trek. After a steep descent, we cross the Charang River, then climb to Lo Geker and Ghar Gompa, a small monastery. Finally, we traverse a ridge, cross a valley and alpine meadows, and descend an eroded path to Drakmar.
Day 12: Trek to Ghiling
The 12th day of the Upper Mustang trek begins with the trek to Ghiling. During your trek, you will pass by different types of hills from where you can see some of the fantastic views of the mountains, like Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, etc., when you finally reach the beautiful Ghiling village. Overnight stay at the teahouse.
Day 13: Trek to Chhuksang
The thirteenth day of the Upper Mustang Trek takes you to another remote village of Chhuksang. It takes about 3 to 4 hours to reach Chhuksang from Ghiling. In the morning, we visit the Chungsi Cave monastery. After that, we have lunch in Samar village. As the sun starts to set, we walk to Tetang, then to the upper town of Chhuksang. Chhuksang is nicely located between two hills, providing shelter from the strong wind. We will stay overnight in Chhuksang.
Day 14: Trek to Jomsom
It’s time to return to Jomsom from Chhuksang. Today will be the last day of the trek, and you must trek for four to five hours to reach Jomsom. You will trek for about two to three hours to reach Kagbeni, where you will stop for lunch. After another two hours of trek, you will reach Jomsom, where you will stay overnight.
Day 15: Fly back to Pokhara
Another day in the Upper Mustang begins with breakfast in Jomsom. After breakfast, you will board the flight to Pokhara, which will take about 40 minutes to land. Upon arrival, you will board your hotel and freshen up a bit. You will stroll across the lakeside area in the evening and even go boating.
Day 16: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu
You will drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu for the second-to-last part of the trek. After reaching Kathmandu, you will check in at your hotel. You can go shopping in the evening or enjoy the nightlife.
Day 17: Final Departure
It’s the last day of the Upper Mustang Trek in Nepal. It’s time to say goodbye to the team and Nepal. Our driver will take you to the airport according to your schedule. You will leave with beautiful memories of the trip.
Elevation Table
The Upper Mustang trek is among the high-altitude treks in Nepal. Every trekker has to trek for six to seven hours, gaining a certain number of meters of elevation each day. Based on the above itinerary, we have curated a table explaining the day-to-day and overall elevation gain.
| Day | Location | Elevation Gain (approx. meters) | Total Elevation Gain (approx. meters) |
| 4 | Jomsom to Kagbeni | 100 | 100 |
| 5 | Kagbeni to Chele | 200 | 300 |
| 6 | Chele to Syangboche | 400 | 700 |
| 7 | Syangboche to Ghaymi | 100 | 800 |
| 8 | Ghaymi to Charang | 200 | 1000 |
| 9 | Charang to Lo-Manthang | 200 | 1200 |
| 11 | Lo-Manthang to Drakmar | 100 | 1300 |
| 12 | Drakmar to Ghiling | 0 | 1300 |
| 13 | Ghiling to Chhuksang | -700 | 600 |
| 14 | Chhuksang to Jomsom | -300 | 300 |
FAQs
What is the typical group size of Upper Mustang Trek?
The average group size of the Upper Mustang trek ranges from 4 to 12 people. Since this trek falls in Nepal’s restricted region, the trekkers must have at least one partner and an authorized guide who can help them navigate the twists and turns of the area. You will also get group discounts during the Upper Mustang trek, so the more members there are, the more money they will save on the trek.
How long is the Upper Mustang trek?
The Upper Mustang trek’s total distance is 125km. It is among the longest-duration trekking destinations, which takes about 15 to 18 days. You can also shorten the Upper Mustang trek and complete it within 10 days; however, it is hazardous as you won’t have enough time for acclimatization.
What is the highest elevation of Upper Mustang Trek?
The highest elevation of the Upper Mustang Trek is Lo-Man Thang, which is at an elevation of 3,840 meters (12,598 feet). After about seven to ten days of intense exploration of the Mustang region, you will reach the ancient kingdom of Lo-Man Thang.
Which permit do you need to explore the Upper Mustang Trek?
You must issue three permits for the Upper Mustang Trek: the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP), the Restricted Area Permit, and the TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System). The trekkers can issue the TIMS card and ACAP, whereas only the authorized trekking agency can issue the restricted area permit.
Which is the worst season for Upper Mustang Trek?
The worst season to trek the Upper Mustang region is the winter season. There are two ideal seasons for trekking: Spring and Autumn. The Monsoon season doesn’t affect the upper altitude of the Mustang region since it falls in the rain shadow area. The winter season creates lots of problems, such as dynamic weather, intense snowfall, and chances of avalanches.