Upper Mustang Tea House Trek

Welcome to Nepal, the gateway to the Himalayas! Once you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, our representative will meet you and escort you to your hotel to rest. After a few hours, we’ll meet to share a brief overview of the Upper Mustang trek, daily plan, and what you can expect on this amazing journey.

Today is your final day in Kathmandu before heading to Upper Mustang. So, we’ll help you get the permits. Then, we’ll double-check your packing list to ensure you’re trek-ready. P.S.: We provide essential equipment like a down jacket and a sleeping bag, so you don’t need to buy them. If anything is missing besides those, we’ll take you to the best shops to buy them so that you can be fully prepared for the next 12 days of trekking.

We’ll take a tourist bus ride to Pokhara. The drive follows the winding Prithvi Highway along the Trishuli River. Look out for beautiful views of terraced hillsides, rivers, and rural villages from your window seat. The roads are mostly paved, but can get bumpy in some stretches. We’ll stop for lunch at a local riverside restaurant, usually in places like Muglin or Malekhu, known for their fresh fish and local dishes.

Once in Pokhara, you’ll have time to unwind by the Lakeside. You can enjoy a peaceful boat ride on Phewa Lake, or even explore some key spots in the Pokhara Valley. Overnight stay at a hotel.

Quick insight: You can also take a flight with Yeti or Buddha Air to get to Pokhara from Kathmandu, which takes just 30 minutes. That way, you can save time and enjoy a more relaxed day.

Depending on the flight schedule, we may have breakfast in Pokhara. If not, we’ll enjoy it after landing in Jomsom (2,715 m). It is the district headquarters of Mustang and is often referred to as the “Courtyard of the Mountains”. From here, our trek to Upper Mustang tea house officially begins. We’ll follow a beautiful route along the Kali Gandaki River. You can feel the refreshing, strong wind as you walk through its riverbanks.

After a short time, we reach Ekle Bhatti and stop for lunch. Post-lunch, the Upper Mustang trek route continues along the river’s right bank. We arrive at Kagbeni after about three hours of steady walking. Kagbeni is a beautiful village made of stone and mud houses, surrounded by mountain views. It is the gateway to the Upper Mustang trek. Trekkers usually spend the night at a lodge here before starting the journey.

On day 4, we begin the trek after breakfast. We’ll proceed to a checkpoint at Kagbeni, where the restricted area permit will be checked. Then, we continue along the east bank of the Kali Gandaki River. As we enter Upper Mustang, the trail takes us along small ridges on the river’s east side. On the other side of the river, you can spot Kang Gompa, a key monastery of the Nyingmapa tradition.

Walking on, we pass through the Gurung village of Tangbe. Tangbe has striking red, black, and white chortens that symbolize Upper Mustang. We continue the Upper Mustang Tea House trek along its narrow alleys, which almost feel like a maze. You’ll see whitewashed homes and fields of barley, buckwheat, and wheat, dotted with apple orchards. Crossing back to the east side of the river, we finally climb to the cliffside village of Chele, where we rest for the night.

On the sixth day of the trek to Upper Mustang Tea House, we cross a series of prominent ridges, including Taklam La and Yamdo La Pass via a narrow path. Today’s walk from Chele to Syangboche is one of the toughest, but also one of the most beautiful parts of the trek. The trail starts with a steep climb over dry hills and narrow valleys. Soon, you’ll reach the Taklam La Pass (3,624m), where you can see amazing views of the Tilicho and Damodar Himal mountains. The path continues over windy ridges and even passes old cave houses built into the cliffs.

On the way, you’ll pass through the Samar village. It’s a lovely place with barley fields and poplar trees. We will take a short tea break. After that, the trail goes down into a deep gorge, then climbs up again past Bhena and the Yamdo La Pass (3,850m). Today’s altitude remains gentle enough to avoid any acclimatization issues. Still, we keep a steady pace towards Syanbochen, where we settle in for the night.

Leaving Syangbochen, the Upper Mustang tea house trek path follows a steady ascent toward the Yamda La Pass (3,850 m) after breakfast. We will pass traditional villages, teahouses, colorful chortens, and Tibetan-style homes with open verandas. Then, we continue over a few smaller passes, lined with poplar trees and barley fields. These bring life to the barren landscape in the Upper Mustang region.

After some time, we reach Nyi La Pass (4,010 m), the highest point of the trek so far. It is also the southern boundary of the ancient Lo Kingdom. From here, the path descends into a dramatic valley, eventually leading us to Ghami. Ghami is one of the larger villages in Upper Mustang. Overnight stay in Ghami.

Today’s trek takes you through one of the driest parts of Upper Mustang. After breakfast, you descend to the Ghaymi Khola (river) and walk past a long line of mani walls. These long stone walls, carved with Buddhist prayers and symbols, are believed to possess spiritual power.

En route, you’ll also cross Charang La Pass (3,870 m), the highest point of the day. After that, the trail leads you to Charang, a peaceful and historic village. Here, you’ll find a large white dzong (fort) and a red gompa (monastery) filled with ancient statues and colorful thangkas (Buddhist paintings). You’ll stay overnight in Charang.

In the morning, we explore the fascinating village of Charang and visit its large monastery, joining the locals for prayer time. Then, we return to the lodge for breakfast. After that, we begin our Upper Mustang Tea House trek journey toward Lo Manthang. The route crosses the Charang Khola and gradually ascends to the Lo La Pass (3,950 m). Moving forward, we pass through a series of chortens that mark the way.

When we reach the top, the route widens and reveals our first breathtaking view of Lo Manthang, a walled city tucked into the high desert landscape. There’s only one official entrance, so we follow the wall around to the northeast gate. Inside the walls, we find narrow alleys, old monasteries, and a royal palace sitting slightly higher than the rest of the town. It feels like stepping back in time. We stay overnight at a local teahouse.

As we have reached our main destination today, we will spend the entire day exploring Lo-Manthang. This walled city has around 150 traditional houses and several monasteries that depict ancient Tibetan culture. One main highlight is the royal palace, where the King (Raja) and Queen (Rani) live. While the king doesn’t have political power anymore, many locals still respect him and sometimes ask for his help with community matters.

Lo Manthang is full of charm and gives you the chance to see Tibetan culture up close. You can walk around the town or even hire a horse (at your own cost) to visit nearby places.

Important note: Lo Manthang is often referred to as the “Land of Monasteries.” So, you are expected to support the local community through small entry fees or donations. These are used to help preserve this unique heritage.

After a day of exploring, it is time to go back now. We head toward Ghar Gompa, one of the oldest and significant monasteries in the region. On the way, we climb a Chogo or Marang La (4,230 m), where we catch our final glimpse of Lo Manthang.

Then, we make our way into a vast, windswept valley. This descent route of the Upper Mustang Trek House trekking goes through a dry, desert-like area with cold, strong winds, so it’s best to start early. The journey to Ghar Gompa offers raw beauty and silence.

Our trek continues with a descent into the valley along the Ghami Khola. Then, we climb over Mui La Pass (4,170 meters). Walking on, we pass by ancient chortens and scattered traditional settlements that give you a deeper sense of life in the Upper Mustang.

As we cross the dry, open terrain, you’ll notice the high winds and dusty paths typical of the region. So it’s best to walk earlier in the day before midday. On clear days, you’ll also catch glimpses of distant snow-capped peaks. We end the day in Ghiling, a small village known for its peaceful setting and surrounding farmland.

Today, we begin our descent back toward Chele. We retrace the route through arid cliffs, hidden caves, and windswept ridges. Along the way, we pass the sacred Chungsi Cave, where Guru Rinpoche is believed to have meditated. Resuming our steady walk, we have lunch at Samar (3,660 m), where we also catch panoramic views of the Annapurna and Nilgiri ranges. The path then climbs gently over Dajori La Pass (3,735 m) before dropping back into the deep canyon route leading to Chele.

Day 14 is our final day in the Upper Mustang region. We walk the left bank of the Kali Gandaki River. Along the way, we pass through the Chhusang and Tangbe, where we see the signature red, white, and black chortens of Mustang once again. We continue along the river until we reach the checkpoint at Kagbeni. This marks the end of your Upper Mustang.

We take a brief rest in Kagbeni and continue our descent toward Jomsom, the district headquarters of Mustang. Upon arrival, we check into our hotel. We will have a well-earned meal in the evening with the trekking crew to celebrate the incredible adventure we’ve completed together.

We take a scenic morning flight from Jomsom to the beautiful lakeside town of Pokhara. Once there, you’ll have the rest of the day to relax or explore the area. You can go boating on Phewa Lake, try exciting activities like paragliding or the zip flyer, or simply unwind in the peaceful Lakeside district. If the flight is canceled due to weather, we’ll travel back by jeep, which also offers incredible views along the way.

From Pokhara, we head back to Kathmandu by tourist bus. You can also opt for a 30-minute flight. Once you’re checked into your hotel, the rest of the day is free for you to relax, walk around Thamel, or shop for souvenirs and gifts for your family and friends. In the evening, we’ll gather for a farewell dinner to celebrate the journey and share memories before saying goodbye.