Upper Mustang Trek — Forbidden Kingdom
Upper Mustang Trek — Forbidden Kingdom , 15 Days
About This Trek
A journey into Nepal's last surviving Tibetan kingdom, hidden behind the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs. Upper Mustang (the former Kingdom of Lo) was closed to foreigners until 1992 and retains an astonishing medieval Tibetan character: whitewashed cave dwellings carved into ochre cliffs, 600-year-old walled cities, sky-burial sites, and winding canyon trails through a surreal arid landscape that feels more like Tibet than Nepal. A restricted-area permit (USD 500) is required.
Trek Route & Checkpoints
Everything You Need To Know About Your Trek
Kagbeni (2,810 m) — Gateway to Upper Mustang
The boundary village where the Upper Mustang restricted area begins. A medieval-looking cluster of flat-roofed mud-brick houses at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Jhong rivers, with a striking red-walled monastery dominating the skyline.
Chele (3,050 m)
The first village beyond the checkpoint, perched on a hillside with views down the arid Mustang canyon. The landscape changes dramatically here — from the green Kali Gandaki valley to the stark, wind-eroded badlands of Upper Mustang.
Tsarang (3,560 m)
The second-largest settlement in Upper Mustang and former seat of a minor kingdom, Tsarang (Charang) has a magnificent dzong (fortress) and a monastery containing rare 500-year-old thangka paintings and Buddhist manuscripts. The village's Luri Gompa cave-monastery nearby is even older.
Lo Manthang (3,840 m) — The Forbidden City
The walled capital of the ancient Kingdom of Lo — one of the most extraordinary and remote towns in Asia. A compact medieval city of whitewashed houses enclosed by a high wall, with four ancient temples, the royal palace, and an atmosphere unchanged for centuries. Home to roughly 200 permanent residents and the seat of the Mustang royal family.