• Family friendly
• Hiking
• Walking

Upper Mustang Trek Details

Main Attractions:

• Kaligandaki is the deepest gorge in the world
• Kagbeni / Muktinath
• Lo Gekar Monastery is the oldest Tibetan monastery in the world
• Thogen Gompa, a four storey Royal Palace
• Man-made caves which are thousands of years old

Difficulty Level: Easy | Days: 18 | Max. Altitude: 3820m (Dhakmar)

Upper Mustang is also known as The Last Forbidden Kingdom, locally known as Lo. Before 1992 Upper Mustang was a restricted area which was forbidden for foreign visitors. However, nowadays, the area welcomes a wide range of visitors from all across the globe. The walled city of Lomanthang is considered by some scholars to be the best preserved medieval fortress in the world.

The highlights of the trek are Kaligandaki Gorge (the deepest gorge in the world), Kagbeni (an ancient Buddhist village), Muktinath (a famous place for Hindu/Buddhist pilgrims), Lo Gekar Monastery (the oldest Tibetan Monastery in the world), Thugchen Gompa (four stored Royal Palace) and the museum in Lo Manthang.

An archaeologist has recently discovered thousands of sky caves (which are thousands of years old) carved 155 feet above the ground level. These man-made caves are one of the world’s greatest archaeological mysteries. Along the trail, you can also witness the spectacular view of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri and several other peaks. Another big attraction in Upper Mustang is the Tiji Festival influenced by Tibetan Buddhism.

People and Culture:

The Mustangi people call themselves Lobas. Socially, the Lobas are divided into three groups, one of which contains those of royal heritage. Rules of society are based on the values of respect and honor. The structure of their families is also based on these and other traditions. One tradition says that the eldest son will inherit the family’s property. When he does, the next son must become a Buddhist monk. Among all the festivals, Mustangi people celebrate Tiji festival, which is commemorated for the victory of Buddha’s incarnation. The festival is celebrated on May 3, 4 and 5.

Getting there:

The trip starts with a 30-minute flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara followed by another 30-minute flight to Jomsom. Trekking then starts from Jomsom to Kagbeni, the entry point of upper Mustang Region. Follow the banks of Kaligandaki River upstream to get to Lo-Mangthang, the capital of the upper Mustang.

When to Visit:

April to November are the best months to trek the Upper Mustang. The Upper Mustang is a rain shadow area, which means that trekking in this part of Nepal can take place even in the monsoon season which is mid June to mid September. During the monsoon, trekking other popular trails is not recommended due to the conditions.