Notes
Mustang Trekking Route, Altitude & Distance
Mustang Trekking Route: The Mustang trekking route takes you through Nepal’s most rugged, remote, yet beautiful landscapes of the Upper Mustang region, known as “Last Forbidden Kingdom”. Your journey starts from Kathmandu to Pokhara by Tourist bus, and a flight to Jomsom from Pokhara. Then from Jomsom you will trek through beautiful villages like Kagbeni, Chele, Syangboche, and Ghami before reaching the walled city of Lo Manthang.
Mustang Trekking Altitude: Your journey of the Upper Mustang Trekking starts from Jomsom, which is situated at an altitude of 2,743 m (8,999 ft). You will pass through several small mountain passes, such as the Djong La Pass, the Syangmochen La Pass, the Nyi La Pass, and the Muila Bhanjyang Pass, during the trek. Finally, you will reach Lo Manthang situated at an altitude of 3,840 meters (12,598 feet), which is also the highest altitude of the trek.
Distance: The total trekking distance for Upper Mustang covers around 125 to 160 kilometers. The exact duration depends upon itinerary days and side trips involved in the trek.
Upper Mustang Trek Difficulty- What To Expect
- Level: Moderate to Challenging
- Max Elevation: 4,200 meters (13,780 ft) at Lo Manthang
- Average Daily Trekking: 5–7 hours
- Terrain: Arid desert trails, rocky paths, steep ascents/descents, and river crossings
Assessment by Difficulty Factors:
Altitude: Upper Mustang Trek takes you to the high altitude wherethe chances of catching altitude sickness remain high when you do rapid ascent and do not follow the acclimatization plan. If you catch altitude sickness, you need to return to a lower altitude without reaching the Lo Manthan.
Weather & Climate: The region lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, resulting in a dry, cold desert environment. Temperature fluctuatesdrastically. You should prepare for the cold and chilly temperatures at night and early morning.
Terrain & Trail Conditions: Expect rugged, uneven trails with sections of scree, loose rock, and exposed paths. While no technical climbing is involved, endurance and surefootedness are crucial.
Isolation: Upper Mustang is remote, with limited access to medical facilities and communications. Rescue or evacuation, if needed, can be complex and time-consuming.
Essential Preparation Tips For Upper Mustang Trek
Physical Fitness: Try to maintain your physical fitness at least 2-3 months in advance by participating in exercises or activities that build leg strength and endurance. Also, practise walking on uneven terrain to improve balance and coordination.
Acclimatization Strategy: Learn early symptoms of altitude sickness and its preventive measures. Follow the standard itinerary, which has proper acclimatization days. Avoid shortcuts and walk at your own pace during the trek.
Packing Essentials: Invest in high-quality trekking boots and clothing, and pack all the essential things required for this trek.
Permits & Logistics: Obtain all the required permits with the help of the tour agency. Book flights to and from Jomsom (domestic flights from Pokhara) well in advance, as weather disruptions are common.
Manage the budget: In addition to the package cost, set aside some money for extra personal expenses such as tips, meals in Kathmandu, souvenirs, and other personal items.
Hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara: 3-Star Elegance
Your journey of the Upper Mustang trek starts with stays at comfortable 3-star hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara. We will choose the hotels that are best for their exemplary service, cleanliness, and convenience.
These hotels offer:
- Spacious, well-maintained rooms with modern amenities.
- Attached Bathroom
- 24/7 hot water, complimentary breakfast, and on-site dining.
- Strategic locations for easy access to cultural landmarks, trekking offices, and departure points.
- Wifi and charging facilities.
Accommodation in Upper Mustang Trek: Tea Houses and Mountain Lodges
You’ll stay in pre-booked tea houses and mountain lodges, which are hand-picked by High Route Adventure during the Upper Mustang Trek. These places are carefully inspected by our team for safety, hygiene, and guest satisfaction. Trekkers love these traditional inns for their warm hospitality and authentic local charm.
This tea house/mountain lodge offers:
- Comfortable Rooms: Twin-sharing room, with basic amenities like blanket, pillow, bedsheet, and mattress.
- Bathroom: Mostly squat type
- Facilities of wifi And Electricity at Extra
- Hot shower (limited availability)
Meals Served on Upper Mustang Trek
Kathmandu and Pokhara: There are a variety of restaurants in Kathmandu, and Pokhara offers a wide range of dining options serving Nepali, Chinese, Korean, Indian, Continental, and international cuisines.
In the Tea house/Mountain lodge: In the tea house/mountain lodge, three meals will be arranged by the High Route Adventure. The food items are limited in the tea house. Mostly, you can expect Nepali dishes and very few international dishes here. You can choose the veg and non-veg options from the menu.
Here are the common everyday meal items you can expect on the tea house menu:
- For Breakfast: Tea, coffee, eggs, bread, chapati, porridge, pancakes
- For Lunch And Dinner: Dal Bhat (rice, lentils, vegetables), noodles, fried rice, pasta, soup, momos
- Beverage: Tea, coffee, hot lemon, ginger tea, soft drinks, local alcohol,
Altitude Sickness & Acclimatization Plan On Upper Mustang Trek
Upper Mustang takes you to the high altitude upto 3,840m (12,598 ft). While heading at such alitude some trekkers might face the symptoms of altitude sickness(dizziness and mild headache). These early symptoms of AMS are treatable with care, rest, and simply descending to lower places. However, if we neglect these early symtoms it can result in HACE and HAPE, which can be life-threatening.
Here are some of the essential tips on how to prevent altitude sickness during the Upper Mustang Trek:
- Walk at your own pace, there is no prize for if you trek fast.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking, as it can trigger altitude sickness.
- Follow the acclimatization days and take enough rest on this day.
- Avoid heavy exercise at high altitude; instead, try yoga or meditation.
- Drink enough water to remain hydrated, as your body loses more water when doing physical activities.
- Eat a balanced diet and fresh meals during the trek.
- Use altitude sickness medicine( Diamox) to prevent altitude sickness.
Note: If you experience the symptoms of altitude sickness, you should immediately inform our trekking guide. Our expert Guide will take care of you as they know how to handle altitude sickness and other high alitude related issue.
Drinking-Water Facilites On Upper Mustang Trek
Trekkers can buy water bottles from the local shops and tea houses where they will stay during the Upper Mustang trek. At high altitudes during the trek, the shops are lacking, so it is best to carry a reusable water bottle with you. In the lower regions, you can buy the water bottle for around 20-50 Npr. But when you go at a high altitude, the price can be double.
Travel and Medical Insurance For Upper Mustang Trek
During the Upper Mustang Trek, even a healthy and physically fit person can get sick, either from past personal medical conditions or other reasons like AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). So for severe illness, one needs immediate evacuation, and the quickest way to reach a safe place with good medical facilities, like in Pokhara city, or in Kathmandu. So, before heading for this trip, make sure travel insurance covers:
- Should cover the entire duration of the trip.
- Must include coverage for pre-existing and current medical conditions.
- Should cover emergency rescue services, including evacuation in case of illness or accident.
- Must protect in unfavorable weather conditions.
- Should remain valid even during peak trekking season.
- Ensure it covers high-altitude illnesses such as AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness).
Pokhara To Jomsom And Jomsom To Pokhara Flight Information
The flight from Pokhara International Airport (PKR) to Jomsom is a short 20 minutes. Even though it is short, it is one of the most scenic flights in Nepal, where you can enjoy the breathtaking aerial view of Pokhara City, the Annapurna range, the Himalayas, and many more. The airlines that operate Pokhara to Jomson and Jomson to Pokhara are Tara Air, Summit Air, and Simrik Air. The flight operates early in the morning from 6:15 am, 7:05 am, 7:55 am, 8:45 am to 9:35 am.
Remember that the Jomsom weather is terrible, and it often gets canceled. We suggest you have the extra days in the itinerary for the delay and cancellation of the flight. If the flight is canceled, we will arrange for you to get the Jeep so that you can continue your journey. On a jeep, it will take around 8 hours to reach Pokhara.
Upper Mustang Motorbike Tour
Upper Mustang is the best destination for bike lovers. Every year, thousands of bike lovers from Nepal and other countries join this Motorbike tour from Kathmandu or Pokhara. Instead of trekking, if you are interested in a bike adventure, then you can also do that with High Route Adventure. For the Upper Mustang Motorbike Tour Itinerary and cost, you need to contact us.
Online Booking And Payment
Booking: Before booking the Upper Mustang Trek, first of all, we suggest you read all the itinerary, inclusions, exclusions, cost, and company policy. After that, for booking, you can click the inquiry form and send it to us by filling in your information. Then you need to make an advance payment of 25% to confirm the booking. The rest of the amount you can pay once you land here in Nepal.
Payment: For payment, we accept all types of payment methods[e.g., credit cards, bank transfers, PayPal, etc.]. You can choose whatever is convenient for you. For the cancellation policy, you can check on our website.
You can also book the Upper Mustang Trek Package by contacting us or visiting our office:
Email: info@highrouteadventure.com
Phone/Whatsapp: +977-9851058664
Address: Mitranagar-26, Kathmandu, Nepal
