Upper and Lower Mustang trek Overview
| Duration: 17 days |
Country: Nepal |
| Max. Altitude: (4,280 m / 14,042 ft). |
Walking Per Day: 5-7 hours |
| Accommodation: Tea-house/Lodge |
 Grade: Strenuous
|
| Best Season: Any season |
Group Size: 1-12 pax |
| Mode: Tea-house/Lodge |
Culture: Tibetan-Influence Culture |
What makes this Lower and Upper Mustang trek unique is its less-traveled path, a special route designed to avoid crowded areas and focus on cult classic places like Chumsi Cave, Dumba Lake, Paa Pass, and Tete Lake.
Highlights of the Upper and Lower Mustang Trek
- Visit the historic walled city of Lo Manthang, once a hidden Tibetan kingdom.
- Cross remote and scenic passes like Nya La, Chakola, and Paa with mesmerizing views.
- Explore Dumba Lake and Tete Lake—sacred lakes with peaceful energy.
- Walk through ancient villages like Samar, Yara, Thini, Tetang, and Chhusang.
- Visit Ghar Gompa, one of the oldest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Nepal.
- Experience the world inside the mystical Chumsi Cave and Chhoser Cave.
- Enjoy the warmth of Thakali culture and taste their famous food.
- If you do not want to trek all day long, then a jeep tour is also possible for this trek.
- Add-on activities: Pokhara sightseeing, Muktinath Temple visit, paragliding, boating, etc.
Upper and Lower Mustang Trek – Culture, Caves, and Alternative Trail
The Upper and Lower Mustang Trek is a once-in-a-lifetime journey that takes you deep into the forbidden kingdom of Lo and the peaceful villages of Lower Mustang. Unlike average trekking routes in Nepal, this itinerary explores ancient trade routes, including the walled city of Lo Manthang. This alternative itinerary of the Upper and Lower Mustang trek takes us through untouched trails with a chance to visit sacred sites, apple orchards, and local Thakali villages.
What makes this Upper and Lower Mustang trek unique is its less-traveled path, a special route designed to avoid crowded areas and focus on cult classic places like Chumsi Cave, Dumba Lake, Paa Pass, and Tete Lake. You’ll also visit sacred monasteries/gompas, local villages, and different sky caves and take a stop at Lo Manthang, the last walled kingdom of Nepal.
This is a moderate-level trek suitable for beginners who are in good health and want to relax their mind free from work in the Himalayas. Some days, this unique trail involves steep climbs and high-altitude passes, but the reward is worth every step.
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the best times to do this trek. But since Upper Mustang is in a rain-shadow area, this trek is also ideal during the monsoon months, making it a the most flexible travel destination in Nepal.
Upper and Lower Mustang Trek Overview – Day-by-Day Experience
This 16-day Upper and Lower Mustang Trek begins from Pokhara with a flight to Jomsom and a soft trek to Kagbeni, where the Kali Gandaki River welcomes you to the Mustang region. You’ll walk north through Chaile, Samar, and Syanboche, exploring different ancient caves and old trade routes.
Crossing Nya La Pass, you’ll reach Dhakmar, a small village famous for its red cliffs, and hike to Lo Manthang, the capital of Upper Mustang. This city is home to the Lo King’s Palace, Thubchen Monastery, and Chhoser Caves. Having explored Lo Manthang over two days, you now continue your trek toward the hidden trails of Yara, then to Tetang via Paa Pass, a narrow mountain trails few trekkers ever see.
The trek continues into Lower Mustang, where you’ll visit Chhusang, Thini Village, and Dhumba Lake—all peaceful spots surrounded by Himalayan peaks. From Chimang to Larjung, and onward to Tete Lake, you’ll explore valleys shaped by rivers and just relax and feel the fresh air slipping through your body.
Finally, the walk ends in Kalopani, where you can either fly out from Jomsom or drive back to Pokhara to end the 16-day trek in Upper and Lower Mustang. This trail is a mix of Lower Mustang’s natural beauty with local culture and Upper Mustang’s ancient history with spiritual insight—a perfect combined trek for those who want to explore both regions of Mustang in one journey.
Equipment Checklist
Equipment lists for 17 days Upper and Lower Mustang trek
HEAD
Sun hat or scarf
Light balaclava or warm fleece hat
Sunglasses
Head Torch
Suncreams(40+) and Lip Balms
UPPER BODY
Cotton t-shirts and thermals
Fleece jacket
Waterproof jacket
Down jacket
LOWER BODY
Lightweight cotton pants (long)
Waterproof pants
Inner thermals
FEET
Thin inner socks (3 pairs)
Thick, warm wool hiking socks
Comfortable hiking boots
Shower sandals
HANDS
Gloves (Cotton and Waterproof)
Creams
Sanitizer
ACCESSORIES
Sleeping bag rated to -10°C +
Trekking bag (Rucksack)
Duffel bag
Large plastic bags (for keeping items dry inside trek bag)
Trekking poles (optional, recommended)
Water bottle or camel bag
Toiletries and Tissue Papers
First Aid Kits
Personal Regular Medicines
Knee Caps
Bandages
Ointments
Blister Tape
MISCELLANEOUS
Medicines: We recommend you to bring your regular medicines; we will provide first aid kit from our side.
Light-weighted Towel
Swiss Knife
Passport and extra passport photos
Water Purifying Iodine Tablets, Drop or Sterilizer
