Our adventure begins in the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. Here, you’ll meet your fellow trekkers and expert guide at a pre-trek briefing. This session will cover everything you need to know about the trek, including safety procedures, what to expect on the trail, and Mustang’s fascinating history and culture.

After the briefing, we will take a local bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara, which will take 6 to 8 hours. You will stay in a hotel near Phewa Lake, enjoying the majestic view of the Machhapuchhre peak reflected in the lake.

From Pokhara, we took a flight to Jomsom, a gateway town nestled beneath the mighty Annapurna range. In the afternoon, we took a short walk to Kagbeni, a village where the Kali Gandaki and Trishuli rivers converge. The journey took 1.5 hours on a dirt road. We stayed overnight in a comfortable hotel.

The actual trek starts as we depart from Kagbeni and trek alongside the Kali Gandaki River valley. Along the way, we pass through villages like Phalyak and Dangarjung, offering us a glimpse into the traditional way of life in Mustang. We’ll be staying overnight in Phalyak village.

The trek for the day involves 5 to 6 hours of walking. We will be gaining 342 meters in elevation and descending 300 meters.

Today’s itinerary offers a change of pace. We start early in the morning by descending back to Kagbeni to catch a jeep. We will then use the newly constructed and frequently traveled road to reach Samar. Following the Kali Gandaki River, we cross the village of Tsuksang. After crossing a bridge on foot, switch vehicles to climb to Chele.

Here, the trail takes us on a hike through two passes at 3600 meters and 3765 meters, offering beautiful vistas of the snow-capped Nilgiri and distant Annapurna ranges. Finally, we will descend to Samar, a village along a river lined with poplars. This leg of the journey will take 4 hours of trekking, with an ascent of 955 meters and a descent of 150 meters.

We will journey through the mystical Chungsi Cave, a revered pilgrimage site. According to legend, the Buddhist saint Padmasambhava meditated in this cave for three years, three months, and three days. The cave is filled with natural stalagmites and has a deeply spiritual atmosphere. After lunch in Syangboche, we hike down to the beautiful village of Ghiling, which is nestled beneath a protective monastery. The trek takes approximately 6 hours, involving a climb of 950 meters and a descent of 1000 meters.

Today’s adventure involves a challenging yet rewarding ascent. We will start with a gentle climb followed by a steeper section that leads us to a pass at 4,025 meters. After descending to Ghami (3,545m), we explore the ruins of the former village, which was abandoned due to water scarcity. The remains of the village blend slowly into the sharply cut ochre cliffs.

Ghami is known for its beautiful windows adorned in red, blue, green, and black, as well as a monastery where we have lunch. Instead of following the traditional trail, we will join ridges that offer views of gray and blue cliffs before reaching Dhakmar. Upon arrival at Dhakmar, we find dwellings perched atop troglodyte homes. This leg of the journey will require 7 to 8 hours of trekking, involving an ascent of 900m and a descent of 800m.

We start the day by taking a narrow, winding path that leads us through cliffs. Our climb takes us to the Mui La Pass at 4,170 meters, followed by a descent to the historic Ghar Gompa monastery, one of Nepal’s oldest dating back to the 11th century. Take a moment to appreciate the detailed architecture and experience the monastery’s peaceful atmosphere.

After lunch, we continue walking over a pass and a scenic balcony path, gradually revealing the majestic Mustang plateau and the walled city of Lo Manthang, our final destination for the day. We trekked for 7 hours with a 900-meter ascent and an 850-meter descent.

Today is dedicated to exploring the well-restored monasteries of Lo Manthang, including the Thubchen Gompa. Four large gompas are worth visiting: Jampa Lhakhang, Jampa Gompa, Chodey Gompa, and Choprang Gompa. In the afternoon, we will take a short hike northwest, leading us to the fort of Amepal, whose ruins dominate a desert landscape.

Today, you have two exciting excursion options to explore Mustang’s hidden gems:

Excursion 1: Take a round trip to the enchanting Chhoser Valley, starting in Barcha. The journey will lead you along a river and through landscapes of ochre and blue pinnacles. For the adventurous, there’s a challenging but rewarding ascent to recently discovered caves with a unique atmosphere. This option is a full-day adventure and requires approximately 8 hours of walking.

Excursion 2: You can visit Kacho Dzong. The return journey will take you through Namgyel, a monastery overlooking Lo Manthang. This excursion is a shorter option, requiring roughly 5 hours of trekking.

Our journey continues as we bid farewell to Lo Manthang. Today’s trek involves an ascent to the 3,910-meter pass on the Tsarang route. The trail turns left on a gentle slope before becoming steep and narrow. Along the way, you’ll encounter a challenging 4,300-meter col.

We then descend for an hour and 45 minutes to Dhi, a beautiful village by the Mustang Khola River. We will have our lunch at Dhi village, surrounded by peach and apricot orchards. After crossing a river via a bridge, we climb steeply over scree slopes, with the path gradually revealing the village of Yara nestled below. This day’s trek took 6 hours, with 580 meters of ascent and 800 meters of descent.

We will start with a 2-hour walk along the riverbed. Once we reach the Luri monastery, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and talk with the elderly lama who resides there. You can also learn about the history and significance of the monastery.

If you are interested in further exploration, there is an option to climb further into the cliffs to reach the Luri hermitage. It is accessed by a unique ladder made from a massive tree trunk. Inside the first cave, you’ll find statues of Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The second cave houses a magnificent stupa with ceilings decorated with original motifs. After exploring the spiritual significance of these sites, we will descend via the Ghara village. The entire trek will take around 5 hours and includes an ascent and descent of 400 meters each.

We begin by ascending to a vast plateau facing Yara, followed by a sharp descent to the Ghechang River. The area is famous for its beautiful fossils found in its bed. Depending on the time of year, we may travel alongside the Mustang Khola and Tange Khola rivers, or take a path along the mountainside to experience a unique view. Finally, we reach Tange, a village known for its white houses nestled under striking cliffs and decorated with lovely chortens and traditional Buddhist stupas. The trek took 7 hours, with a 920-meter ascent and an 1180-meter descent.

We’ll start early from Tange and begin with a steep 4-hour climb, crossing the Tange River in the process. At 4,200 meters, we’ll reach a pass with stunning views overlooking Mustang and the Lo Manthang basin to the north, and the Dhaulagiri range to the south. After enjoying the scenery, we’ll descend to a refreshing spring at 4,000 meters for lunch.

In the afternoon, we’ll tackle two more passes at 4,400 meters and 4,500 meters. The higher pass may require a short climb to a 4,600-meter peak for safe passage. Along the way, we’ll catch a glimpse of the Thorong La Pass and Muktinath, a sacred pilgrimage site.

Depending on the group size, we will spend the night in either Tetang or Chhusang, two charming villages in the Mustang region. The trek will take around 9 hours, with an elevation gain of 1300 meters and a descent of 1655 meters.

Today’s itinerary involves an ascent south towards the Gyula Pass at 4,077 meters. As you conquer this pass, get ready to witness breathtaking views of the Annapurna and Nilgiri ranges. After a short descent, the trail leads us to Muktinath, a sacred pilgrimage site revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. This unique destination features a vibrant blend of religious structures, including a sacred Jwala Mai temple with an eternal flame and the Muktinath Gompa, a prominent Buddhist monastery. Take time to explore these spiritual sites and soak in the peaceful atmosphere of Muktinath. The trek takes 6 and a half hours, with an ascend of 1200 meters and a descent of 5505 meters.

The trek begins to descend as we leave Muktinath behind. The path leads us to the charming village of Lupra, perched high above the Kali Gandaki Gorge. In the following section, you have two options: a scenic walk alongside the Kali Gandaki River or taking a jeep ride. The jeep option requires an additional charge for the ride to Jomsom. This leg of the journey takes 5 hours of walking, with a 70-meter ascent and a 1000-meter descent.

Our Mustang adventure ends in Jomsom. From here, you can take a flight back to Pokhara, a beautiful lakeside city where you can unwind and reflect on the trek. Depending on your preference, you can either continue by flight to Kathmandu or opt for a more leisurely bus ride back to the capital city.