Trekking · Mustang
Upper Mustang Trek Itinerary
A day-by-day Upper Mustang route from Jomsom to Lo Manthang and back — the classic 10 to 14 day walk.
A typical Upper Mustang trek itinerary runs 10 to 14 days from Jomsom: walk north through the checkpoint at Kagbeni, climb over several days through Chele, Ghami and Tsarang to the walled city of Lo Manthang, spend two nights exploring its gompas and the nearby cave monasteries, then return down a different line through Dhakmar. Below is the classic schedule, with notes on where to flex it.
The short answer
Allow roughly two weeks door to door from Pokhara. The walking core is about ten days, plus buffer for the Pokhara–Jomsom flight, which is the single most common cause of disrupted plans. Lo Manthang sits at 3,840m and the route crosses passes near 4,000m, so build in slow days. You need the special restricted-area permit and a guide throughout — see the Upper Mustang permit and cost guide.
Day by day (classic route)
- Day 1: Fly Pokhara–Jomsom (or drive); walk to Kagbeni, the medieval gateway at the restricted-area checkpoint.
- Day 2: Kagbeni to Chele, passing Tangbe and Chhusang below red cliff pinnacles.
- Day 3: Chele to Ghami over Taklam La and Dajori La, through Samar and the deep Rangchung canyon.
- Day 4: Ghami to Tsarang, past the long Ghami mani wall and the red cliffs of Dhakmar.
- Day 5: Tsarang to Lo Manthang, crossing Lo La for the first view of the walled city.
- Day 6: Explore Lo Manthang — the royal palace and the Jampa, Thubchen and Chode gompas.
- Day 7: Day trip north to the Chhoser sky caves and the multi-storey Jhong cave.
- Day 8: Lo Manthang to Dhakmar via Ghar Gompa at Lo Gekar, one of the oldest temples in the Himalaya.
- Day 9: Dhakmar to Syangboche or Samar, retracing the higher western line.
- Day 10: Down to Chhusang and Kagbeni; jeep or walk back to Jomsom.
Flexing the schedule
Many travellers now drive one direction and walk the other to save days on the rough road sections — weigh that in our Mustang by jeep versus on foot comparison. If you have less time, the freely accessible Lower Mustang trek covers Jomsom, Marpha and Muktinath in three to four days without a special permit. For the wider planning picture, start with the Upper Mustang trekking guide and the national Nepal trekking guide.
Altitude and timing
The gain is steady rather than dramatic, but the dry, thin air and daily climbs mean you should not rush — read our note on altitude sickness in Nepal and keep ascents gradual. The rain-shadow climate keeps the route dry from March to November; spring brings the Tiji festival to Lo Manthang, while autumn gives the clearest air. Start the day's flight and the long walking stages early, before the famous afternoon valley wind builds in the Kali Gandaki.
Frequently asked questions
How many days is the Upper Mustang trek itinerary?+
The classic walking itinerary runs 10 to 14 days, usually counted from Jomsom in and out, with two nights in Lo Manthang to reach the cave monasteries. Using jeeps on parts of the rough valley road can shorten it to around a week, but the full walk sits firmly in that range.
Where do you start and finish the Upper Mustang trek?+
Most itineraries start and finish in Jomsom, reached by flight from Pokhara or by jeep up the Kali Gandaki. You walk north through the restricted-area checkpoint at Kagbeni, up to Lo Manthang, then return either by the same route or a higher alternative via Dhakmar and Ghar Gompa.
How high does the Upper Mustang trek go?+
Lo Manthang sits at about 3,840m, and the route crosses several passes higher than 3,900m, including Nyi La and Chogo La at around 4,000m. It is not as high as the big Annapurna passes, but the relentless climbs and the dry, windy air still demand proper acclimatisation.
Is the Upper Mustang trek difficult?+
It is moderate rather than extreme. Days involve long ups and downs through bare valleys, often into a fierce afternoon wind, on rough trail and some jeep road. There are no technical sections, but the daily climbs, the altitude and the basic lodges make a reasonable level of fitness important.
