Trip Facts
Duration
17 Days
Max. Altitude:
4,070m (Lo Geker)
Group size
2 to 15
Best Time for Visit
Spring, Summer & Autumn
Activity
Trekking/Hiking
Meals
breakfast,lunch and dinner
DIFFICULTY
Moderate
LOCATION
Lo-Manthang
Trip Ends
Jomsom/Pokhara
Upper Mustang is set within arid an and haunting wilderness amongst wind eroded hills and cliffs similar to a lunar landscape, the region edges the border of Tibet. Because the region is set within the Himalayan Rain Shadow it makes for a wonderful summer trekking experience that is also not particularly difficult.
A Kingdom within Nepal for many years, Mustang retained its own monarch until a few years back. The area was first opened to tourists in 1992 and only then with strict limits on the amount of people allowed to travel there.
The destination is Lo Manthang, the capital of Upper Mustang. The town was built on the orders of the first King of Lo in 1380 A.D.ThKali trek follows The Ghandaki Valley with occasional excursions high above the valley walls. Settlements here are scattered with little sign of cultivation between villages, the town stands as a monument to Lo Manthang’s rich history and cultural heritage that flourished centuries ago due to its prominent position on the major ancient salt trade route from Tibet to Nepal.
A maize of ghompas (religious shrines) and houses surround the king’s palace all and Lo mangtang itself is contained within the eight meters high and 700 meters long boundary wall. Along the periphery of the boundary wall are a series of 14 guard towers, built to protect the town from its many envious enemies of the past.
Life here is deeply rooted in religion with chortens, mani walls (inscripted prayer walls) and monasteries everywhere. Prayer flags are found above each house, placed there to send peace to all parts of the earth and the universe beyond.
The journey to Lo Mantang can take as little as ten days although twelve days provide an all round better experience with time to take it all in.Lo Manthang for many people who have been there is considered to be one of life’s true adventures.
Always Himalaya trek provides you Hiring guides and porters cost for trekking depends on the region, the difficulty of the trek, the season, and other factors. However, we can provide a general idea for popular trekking regions like the Himalay’s Nepal which is a common trekking destination in Nepal.
Everest, Annapurna, Manaslu, Langtang, upper mustang and Kanchenjunga many more.
Guide daily cost: $30 to $40 per day
This may include their accommodation, food, and insurance. Some guides may charge a bit more for specialized services or if they have extensive experience.
Porter daily cost: $20 to $25 per day
A porter typically carries up to 20-25 kg of your gear, and this price usually includes their food, accommodation, and insurance.
Itinerary
Welcome and receive from Airport and transfer to hotel. Introductory program and briefing about the tour.
Explore around and enjoy your time
About 30 minutes flight from Pokhara. Upon arrival at Jomsom, meet the crew & set for the first day’s walk towards Mustang. The trail to Jomsom to Kagbeni is other worldly experience & through the Kaligandaki River Bank. Now the landscape changes into barren, the wind blows very heavily. After 3 hours walk you reach to Kagbeni for the night halt.
The trail widens significantly an endless stretch of sand, pebbles and bounders. Vegetation is almost non- – existent except for small shrubs and thorn bushes. The Kaligandaki canyon is awe-inspiring. However, the trail is kept lively with several passing mule trains and horsemen bearing wares from after. This day is uphill, quite steep at times up to the little village of Tangbe 2900m where we stop for lunch. Then after the path flattens out up to Chusang a fairly large settlement inhabited mostly by a mixed ethnic group of Gurungs, Thakalis and some families from the land of Lo. There is a small Buddhist Gompa constructed out of stone and mud across the river, which can only be reached during the colder months when water is low. By itself Chusang is a very interesting village with narrow covered alleys running through the center.
Having entered this long and secluded valley one feels also a distinct change, not only to topography but there is a world of difference in culture, lifestyle and landscape. Settlements are more scattered, smaller and basic. The people of Lo or Mustang practice agriculture but because of the lack of the rain and fertile soil, cultivation is in sheltered plots of land making the landscape of a pattern of brown with scattered patches of shaded greens. A little ahead of Chusang we cross a small bridge across the Mustang Khola River, across which is colorful little village called Chaili. The trail then veers northwest along steep lines right up to the village of Samar, out campsite, making it a tough four hours walk. Samar is a very old and small village situated amongst a grove of trees with a stream running through the middle.
As in all desert lands, settlements in Mustang are in oasis village most houses are constructed out of mud and stones with roof cast out of twins, straw and a mixture of mud and pebbles. The trail descends crossing couple of mountain streams followed by a fairly flat stretch of two hours before we arrive into a wide valley. The Gelling village is located an hour walk away to the right of the main trail and in a valley between two hills. North of the village lies a Buddhist Gompa, which, though new contains exquisite wall paintings.
The day walk is through perhaps the driest part of Mustang. Much of one’s energy is spent negotiating loose dry soil that give way every times you walk uphill, making it seem tiresome infertile at times. However, the magnificent views of the countryside the gentle contours of the north in contrast to the rugged mountain canyons in the east and west are the source in inspiration to walk on. A total walk of five good hours brings us to Charang, a large spread out village inhabited totally by the people of Lo who are of Tibetan origin. The old monastery and the adjoining Gompa are said to be some 500 years old and contain some of the finest religious wall paintings in the world.
We spend part of this morning exploring this interesting village and its large old monastery. We then go a bit out of the way to see Dhakmar, a small-secluded village. Today’s walk is only for 4 hrs. But mostly uphill and then the trail flattens out till Lo Manthang, then capital of Mustang consisting of over two hundred houses. The entire village is walled and painted earth brown and white.
Today is the day to explore Lo Manthang. Visit the King’s Palace & the surroundings of Lo Manthang as well as the monasteries over there.
Today the trail climbs steadily to a pass marked by a cairn, offering a last glimpse of Lo Manthang. The trail contours across the head of a valley and crosses another ridge, then drop into another large desolate valley. After ascending to the valley floor, the route heads to the right, up the center of the valley to it head. Cross a ridge at 4070 meters & traverses across the heads of two more valleys to an indistinct pass. Cross the pass to some meadows & a stream. The trail then makes a long rocky descent down a ravine to a grassy valley where LO Geker is situated in a grove of large trees alongside a stream. Visit the Lo Geker Monastery, one of the oldest gompas in Nepal that is still active built between 775 and 787.
Climb to a ridge the across a valley to cairn and a pass 200 meters above Lo Geker. The route crosses some alpine meadows to a crest, and then drops down a steep eroded gully to the upper part of the village of Tahmar “Red Crag”. A large stream meanders through this village, making this a particularly pretty valley. Most of the surrounding hills are pastel shades of Grey & yellow, but a huge red fluted cliff provides a dramatic contrast. The trail descends alongside the stone walls and fields of the extensive village, then climbs to a ridge. It is a short descent to Ghami at 3550 meters. Ghami is a large village of whitewashed houses situated above hectares and hectares of fields. Visit the Gompa in Ghami.
From Ghami, follow the direct route to the Nyi La, climbing to a cairn on a ridge and then contouring upwards to meet the trail from Charang. Continue to the pass and descend steeply into the Gelling to an isolated teahouse and descends gently to the three houses of Tama Gung. A steep set of switchback leads to a stream, then the trail climbs to a huge painted chorten. The trail rejoins the Gelling trail near the ridge, just below a chorten and the remainder of the days is on already traveled trails to Samar.
Today is the same way that you already had. The trail passes through Chusang & other major villages like Tangbe. After Tangbe the trail still continues through the bank of Kaligandaki River as well as the windy landscapes & reaches to Kagbeni.
Upon arrival in Pokhara airport. Transfer to the Hotel.
Cost Includes
- Accommodation in hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
- Sightseeing in Kathmandu with guide plus entry fees
- climbing permit/if required
- National Park entry Permit / if required
- All land transportation as detailed
- Qualified and experienced guide
- All accommodation in tea houses and tented camps as per the itinerary
- Three meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) during the trek
- Cook, Sherpa’s and porters services
- Transportation, meals, accommodation, allowance, equipment and insurance for all the staff Trekking camping equipment (tent, mattress, pillow, dining tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent, shower tent, table with chairs, all kitchen gear/utensils when camping
- Fixed rope for climbing / if climbing
- Garbage deposit fee when required
- All official paper work and all applicable government taxes
- Airport transfers
- Sleeping bag, down jacket, rucksack if required
Cost Excludes
- Meals other than breakfast when staying in hotel
- Personal expenses and bar bills
- Clients’ travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
Equipment
General
- Puffy down jacket (We have rental jackets available for rent
- Four-season (zero degree) sleeping bag (We have rental sleeping bags available form an additional cost
- Daypack (35-45 liters recommended) with rain cover
- Sleeping bag liner
Upper Body
- Sun hat or cap
- Knitted hat/Beanie
- Scarf or neck gaiter
- Headlamp
- Sunglasses
Torso
- Technical fabric base layer (light for warmer months, heavy for colder months)
- Technical fabric short (2) and long sleeve (2) shirts
- Waterproof, windproof shell
- Fleece jacket or pullover
Lower Body
- Technical fabric base layer (light for warmer months, heavy for colder months)
- Hiking pants (2)
- Comfortable pants for inside the teahouses
- Waterproof/windproof outer shell pants
- Hiking shorts
Hands
- Wool or technical fabric liner gloves
- Hard-shell outer gloves (insulated for colder months)
Feet
- Wool or technical fabric warm socks
- Hiking socks
- Liner socks (optional such as silk)
- Trekking/hiking boots (waterproof recommended)
- Ice Cleats /Micro Spikes (For trekking from November to March, it's recommended to include Ice Cleats/ Micro Spikes to prevent slipping on icy or wet surfaces.)
- Casual shoes
- Gaiters (lightweight for dust or heavy for snow in colder months)
Undergarments
- Technical fabric/quick drying is best for underwear (opportunities to launder during the trip)
- Sports bras (women)
- Pajamas or sleeping clothes
Optional
- Power bank or extra batteries
- Cameras and mobile phone
- Cards/book
Peak climbing gear
- Climbing boot
- Crampons and harness
- Hiking boot,slippers
- Carabiners 4 pes (2 lock 2 onlock)
- Ascending device jumar
- Descending device ACT and figure of 8
- Helmet ,ice axe and sleeping bag
- Hiking sucks and warm wool sucks
- Warm expedition gloves and thin treking gloves
- Wind proof pant and jacket
- downsuit,expedition bag 50 ltrs for more then 7000 mt
- expedition down jacket for more then 7000 mt
Customer Reviews
Best Trekking experience in my life Oct 2025 • Friends I did the Mera Peak trek with Always Himalaya Trek and it was an amazing experience. From the start, everything felt very personal and well orgRead more
Conal higney
united kingdom
Best Trekking company I have been on 3 treks with Sitaram; Langtang, Annapurna Circuit, and Mera Peak, all of which have been amazing. My most recent Trek was to the top of Mera Peak, the higheRead more
Gerard Melly
Ireland
We recently traveled to Nepal with “Always Himalaya Trek”, managed by Mr. Sitaram Karki, and had an amazing experience. From the warm traditional welcome at the airport to well-organized tRead more
Shamshuddin imamsaheb Kunnibhavi
India