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Upper Mustang Trek Itinerary

A dry, high desert kingdom with cliffs, caves and the walled city of Lo Manthang. A 13-day plan from Kathmandu with daily stops, altitudes and walking times, an altitude profile, warnings and permits. Pick your start date and add it to your calendar.

Duration

13 days

9 walking, from Kathmandu

Highest point

3,820 m

Lo Manthang

Difficulty

Moderate

Mustang (restricted area)

Best months

March to May + October to November

Spring and autumn

Restricted area. You need a special permit arranged through a registered trekking agency, and independent trekking is not allowed. Confirm the guide and group rules with the agency before booking.
Planning guide, not a substitute for a guide. Altitudes and walking times are compared from several operator itineraries and differ between sources by 10 to 150 m and by an hour or more. Weather, trail damage and road changes alter plans. Confirm your route, permits and fees with a licensed agency or guide.

Plan your dates

Add rest or spare days

Altitude profile

The height you sleep at each night. Dots: green rest day, amber and red a bigger climb than the usual guideline. Triangles mark the highest point of a day.

0k1k2k3k4k3,000 m: altitude guidelines startDay 1: Pokhara, about 820 mDay 2: Kagbeni, about 2,810 mDay 3: Chele, about 3,050 mDay 4: Zhaite, about 3,730 mDay 5: Charang, about 3,575 mDay 6: Lo Manthang, about 3,820 mDay 7: Lo Manthang, about 3,820 mDay 8: Dhakmar, about 3,730 mDay 9: Geling, about 3,570 mDay 10: Chuksang, about 2,950 mDay 11: Jomsom, about 2,750 mDay 12: Pokhara, about 820 mDay 13: Kathmandu, about 1,400 m12345678910111213Day

1 day climb faster than the usual guideline (about 500 m a night above 3,000 m, and a rest day roughly every 1,000 m). This is common on the standard route. Go slowly, drink plenty, and add the rest days above if you can.

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Kathmandu to Pokhara

    Sleep: Pokhara · about 820 m6 to 8 h by road, or about 25 to 30 min by flight

    Pokhara is the lakeside gateway to the Annapurna region. Flights are weather dependent in the morning, so book a flexible ticket. Spend the evening sorting gear and checking your permits.

  2. Day 2

    Pokhara to Jomsom to Kagbeni

    Sleep: Kagbeni · about 2,810 m (sources: 2,810 to 2,847 m)Walking 3 to 4 hFlight Pokhara to Jomsom, about 20 to 25 min (mornings only, weather dependent)

    Fly to Jomsom (about 2,750 m) and walk or take a jeep to Kagbeni, the official checkpoint of the restricted area. Permits are checked here.

  3. Day 3

    Kagbeni to Chele

    Sleep: Chele · about 3,050 mWalking 5 to 6 hSleeping altitude +240 m

    Enter the restricted area and follow the Kali Gandaki, with the first views of the red-and-ochre cliffs.

  4. Day 4

    Chele to Zhaite

    Sleep: Zhaite · about 3,730 mWalking 7 to 8 hSleeping altitude +680 m

    A long day over high ridges. Other itineraries go via Syangboche and Ghami instead, so the route and overnight stops vary between operators.

    Your sleeping altitude rises about 680 m. The usual guideline above 3,000 m is no more than about 500 m a night.

  5. Day 5

    Zhaite to Charang

    Sleep: Charang · about 3,575 m (sources: 3,560 to 3,740 m)Walking 5 to 6 h

    Visit the Lo Gekar monastery and Dhakmar, with its red cliffs. Sources disagree on the altitude of Charang.

  6. Day 6

    Charang to Lo Manthang

    Sleep: Lo Manthang · about 3,820 m (sources: 3,780 to 3,840 m)Walking 5 to 6 hSleeping altitude +250 m

    Cross the Lo La pass and arrive at the walled city of Lo Manthang, the highest point of the trek.

  7. Day 7 · rest day

    Rest day in Lo Manthang

    Sleep: Lo Manthang · about 3,820 m (sources: 3,780 to 3,840 m)

    Explore the monasteries and the old palace, and take a short trip to the Thinggar valley.

  8. Day 8

    Lo Manthang to Dhakmar

    Sleep: Dhakmar · about 3,730 mWalking 6 to 7 h

    Return by a different route past Lo Gekar.

  9. Day 9

    Dhakmar to Geling

    Sleep: Geling · about 3,570 mWalking 4 to 5 h

    A shorter day through one of the largest villages in Upper Mustang.

  10. Day 10

    Geling to Chuksang

    Sleep: Chuksang · about 2,950 m (sources: 2,950 to 2,980 m)Walking 7 to 8 h

    A long day descending to the Kali Gandaki valley.

  11. Day 11

    Chuksang to Jomsom

    Sleep: Jomsom · about 2,750 m (sources: 2,720 to 2,750 m)Walking 5 to 6 h

    Pass back through Kagbeni, where permits are checked again, to Jomsom.

  12. Day 12

    Jomsom to Pokhara

    Sleep: Pokhara · about 820 mFlight about 20 to 25 min (morning only, weather dependent)

    Jomsom flights are often delayed by wind, so keep a spare day.

  13. Day 13

    Pokhara to Kathmandu

    Sleep: Kathmandu · about 1,400 m6 to 8 h by road, or about 25 to 30 min by flight

    Return to Kathmandu. Keep a spare day before an international flight in case of delays.

Permits

  • Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit (for the area north of Kagbeni), arranged through a registered trekking agency
  • Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
  • The agency needs your original passport to process the permit
  • Check the current guide and group rules with the agency before booking

Fees and rules change, so this page does not quote prices. Check the current fee with your agency or the permit office.

Altitude sickness basics

  • Above 3,000 m, raise your sleeping altitude by no more than about 500 m a night, and rest about every 1,000 m of climbing.
  • Headache, nausea, dizziness and unusual tiredness are early signs. Do not go higher with symptoms.
  • If symptoms get worse, or you feel confused or unsteady, go down immediately.
  • Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and do not travel alone. Ask a doctor about medication before you go.

General information, not medical advice.

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Upper Mustang Trek Itinerary from Kathmandu

Upper Mustang is the former Kingdom of Lo, a high desert of eroded cliffs, ancient cave dwellings, whitewashed monasteries and Tibetan-style villages. The trek follows the Kali Gandaki north from Kagbeni to Lo Manthang, a walled capital at about 3,820 m, and loops back by a different path.

Altitudes stay between about 2,800 and 3,800 m, so it is gentler on the lungs than most treks, but the days are long and dusty and the wind is strong in the afternoon. The restricted area begins at Kagbeni, where permits are checked on the way in and out.

Day-by-day itinerary (13 days)

  1. Day 1: Kathmandu to Pokhara. Sleep at Pokhara (about 820 m). 6 to 8 h by road, or about 25 to 30 min by flight.
  2. Day 2: Pokhara to Jomsom to Kagbeni. Sleep at Kagbeni (about 2,810 m). Walking about 3 to 4 h. Flight Pokhara to Jomsom, about 20 to 25 min (mornings only, weather dependent).
  3. Day 3: Kagbeni to Chele. Sleep at Chele (about 3,050 m). Walking about 5 to 6 h.
  4. Day 4: Chele to Zhaite. Sleep at Zhaite (about 3,730 m). Walking about 7 to 8 h.
  5. Day 5: Zhaite to Charang. Sleep at Charang (about 3,575 m). Walking about 5 to 6 h.
  6. Day 6: Charang to Lo Manthang. Sleep at Lo Manthang (about 3,820 m). Walking about 5 to 6 h.
  7. Day 7: Rest day in Lo Manthang. Sleep at Lo Manthang (about 3,820 m).
  8. Day 8: Lo Manthang to Dhakmar. Sleep at Dhakmar (about 3,730 m). Walking about 6 to 7 h.
  9. Day 9: Dhakmar to Geling. Sleep at Geling (about 3,570 m). Walking about 4 to 5 h.
  10. Day 10: Geling to Chuksang. Sleep at Chuksang (about 2,950 m). Walking about 7 to 8 h.
  11. Day 11: Chuksang to Jomsom. Sleep at Jomsom (about 2,750 m). Walking about 5 to 6 h.
  12. Day 12: Jomsom to Pokhara. Sleep at Pokhara (about 820 m). Flight about 20 to 25 min (morning only, weather dependent).
  13. Day 13: Pokhara to Kathmandu. Sleep at Kathmandu (about 1,400 m). 6 to 8 h by road, or about 25 to 30 min by flight.

Altitudes and walking times are compared from several operator itineraries and differ between sources. Confirm your route, permits and fees with a licensed agency or guide.

Best time

Upper Mustang lies in the rain shadow of the Himalaya, so it is drier than most treks and can be walked in some summer weeks, but winds are strong in the afternoon, flights from Jomsom are often delayed, and winter is very cold. Spring and autumn are the most dependable.

Permits

  • Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit (for the area north of Kagbeni), arranged through a registered trekking agency
  • Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
  • The agency needs your original passport to process the permit
  • Check the current guide and group rules with the agency before booking

Altitude sickness

Above 3,000 m, raise your sleeping altitude by no more than about 500 m a night and rest about every 1,000 m of climbing. Do not go higher with symptoms, and descend if they get worse. This is general information, not medical advice.

Frequently asked questions

How many days is the Upper Mustang Trek from Kathmandu?

This plan takes 13 days from Kathmandu back to Kathmandu, with 9 days of walking and the rest for travel and rest. Itineraries from operators vary, and you can add extra rest days on the page.

How high does the Upper Mustang Trek go?

The highest point most itineraries reach is Lo Manthang, at about 3,820 m.

What is the best time for the Upper Mustang Trek?

March to May and October to November. Upper Mustang lies in the rain shadow of the Himalaya, so it is drier than most treks and can be walked in some summer weeks, but winds are strong in the afternoon, flights from Jomsom are often delayed, and winter is very cold. Spring and autumn are the most dependable.

Do I need a permit for the Upper Mustang Trek?

Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit (for the area north of Kagbeni), arranged through a registered trekking agency. Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). The agency needs your original passport to process the permit. Check the current guide and group rules with the agency before booking. Fees change, so confirm the current amounts with your agency.

Do I need a permit for Upper Mustang?

Yes. Upper Mustang is a restricted area north of Kagbeni, and the Restricted Area Permit is arranged through a registered trekking agency. You also register for the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit. Confirm the current rules and fees with the agency.

How long does the Upper Mustang trek take?

This plan takes 13 days from Kathmandu, with the flights to and from Jomsom. Operators offer 12 to 18 day versions, and the route and overnight stops vary.

How high is Upper Mustang?

Villages sit between about 2,800 and 3,800 m. Lo Manthang is about 3,820 m, so altitude is milder than most Himalayan treks, but acclimatisation still matters.