About this trip
This trek takes you into Upper Mustang, the dry, wind-carved region beyond the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges that was once part of the Tibetan plateau's ancient salt trade routes. You follow trails once used by caravans moving goods between Nepal and Tibet, through canyon country and villages strung with Buddhist prayer flags.
The route runs from Jomsom up the Kaligandaki valley to Lo-Manthang, the walled former capital of the Mustang kingdom, before looping back. Along the way you pass through Thakali villages and land shaped by centuries of Bon and Buddhist tradition.
Short scenic flights between Pokhara and Jomsom bookend the trek, giving you close-up views of the mountains before and after the walking starts.
What you'll do
- Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himalaya
- Walk the old salt trade route through the Kaligandaki river valley
- Enter the walled former kingdom of Lo-Manthang
- Cross Lo La pass at over 3,950 metres
- Visit monasteries and the former palace of the Mustang king
- Pass through Thakali villages along the way
- Graded moderate to adventurous, with several days at altitude above 3,000 metres
- Best done April to mid-November, including the monsoon months, since Upper Mustang sits in a rain shadow and stays largely dry
- Nights are spent in a mix of hotels and local lodges
Worth it if you want a well-organised trek with genuinely attentive guides and porters. Think twice if you dislike unpredictable flight schedules or need flexibility around monsoon season.
- Guides consistently named across reviews (Keshab, Keshav, Dhruba, Rajesh) are experienced, attentive, and handle logistics end-to-end seamlessly.
- Eco Holidays handles everything upfront: permits, transport, accommodation, food, flights—no scrambling or hidden costs to sort mid-trek.
- Flight delays Pokhara-Jomsom are possible; one group took jeeps instead, describing some stretches as scary.
- Monsoon trips are doable but trekking lower sections in rain is wet; May and January offer clearer skies and better views.
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Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Kathmandu · 24 Jul – 25 Jul
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