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Among Nepal’s most restricted areas, Upper Mustang Trek with Yara is one of the popular destinations. The Mustang Yara trek leads you to the long-forgotten kingdom in a remote, barren land bordering Tibet. It is home to some of the most spectacular monasteries, canyons, gorges, and intricate cave systems.
As you trek through the Mustang region, you’ll pass through cheerful villages and beautiful desert-like landscapes that will leave you breathless. You’ll witness the lifestyle of the local ethnic people, who have survived in this remote valley for centuries. This trek is a chance to engage yourself in a world that was removed from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Our trek also has the added adventure of making a visit to a notable hill, Yara. It is famous for its natural sandy castle and beautiful scenery.
Nepal's Upper Mustang is drenched in Tibetan Buddhist Traditions, and villages are decorated with prayer flags and Mani stones (stones inscribed with mantras) along the trails. You’ll come across a monastery at the cliff-side, each with its own historical and spiritual significance. Once a forgotten kingdom, it is a dream destination for courageous trekkers seeking a blend of unique culture and traditions.
This is an adventurous trek in itself. Though not technical, the high altitude (up to 4000 meters) will demand a good fitness level. From exploring the hidden caves adorned with paintings to encountering the warm hospitality of the local people, the highlight of this trek is reaching Lo-Manthang, a fortified city that stands watch among the beauty of the Barren landscape.
The Upper Mustang Yara trek is a cultural and historical quest. It’s a chance to travel back in time to witness a distinct lifestyle and be overwhelmed by the spectacular landscape. So, strap your trekking boots on to prepare yourself for an adventure and commence a journey to the kingdom of Upper Mustang.
Let’s start with the highlights first:
Don’t you want to know the routes to Upper Mustang Yara you’ll take during the journey? Well, let us give you a quick rundown of the journey.
Your Mustang Yara Trek in Nepal starts once you land at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). One of our members will greet you on your arrival and transfer you to your hotel. You will be briefed and explained about your itinerary and plans for your trip.
A sightseeing tour will be organized for Kathmandu before your adventure. You’ll explore all the heritage sites around Kathmandu, such as Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swyambhunath, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath Stupa, Etc. You’ll also get to explore the streets of Kathmandu and witness the local and cultural lifestyle of ethnic Newari people.
Next, you take a beautiful drive to the city of Lakes, Pokhara. You stroll around the vibrant city and explore the lakeside streets. Early morning, you take a flight to Jomsom and start your journey. After landing at Jomsom Airport, you start moving towards Kagbeni, the gateway for Upper Mustang. After an overnight stay at Kagbeni, you’ll pass through villages like Chele, Geling, and Charang. After crossing these picturesque villages, you’ll reach the Capital of the Kingdom of Lo-Manthang.
The next day, you’ll roam around the town and witness the lifestyle of the locals. After you’ve explored Lo-Manthang, you'll make your way back to Yara. Subsequently, you'll reach Yara and visit the monastery, Luri Gompa. Continuing the journey, you'll hike to Tangbe and Tetang and head towards Muktinath Temple. Once you reach the temple, you’ll feel the spiritual and peaceful atmosphere. This site is worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists and is believed to be very sacred. After exploring the temple, you head towards Jomsom for your flight back to Pokhara.
After your early morning flight back to Pokhara, you will have time to roam around the city. The next day, you drive back to Kathmandu on the same highway. Your trip concludes as you will be dropped off at the airport the following day for your departure flight.
Now that you know a little about this journey, it's time to find its best time.
The best time for an Upper Mustang trek with Yara is spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). The weather is dry and clear during these seasons, with little to no rain. The temperature is mild and comfortable for trekking. You'll enjoy your hike with clear skies and great visibility of the mountain views.
However, it is important to note that Upper Mustang is a rain shadow area, which means that it receives very little rainfall throughout the year. Hence, trekking during the monsoon (June to August) is also possible. It is not recommended to trek during the winter (December to February). The temperatures can be freezing this time of the year. The trails can also be covered in heavy snowfall. Thus, it makes the journey more challenging.
Exploring the hidden kingdom of Mustang may sound appealing to most of you. But how adventurous is the journey to reach this ancient kingdom? Let’s discuss it in this section.
The Upper Mustang with Yara Trek is graded as an easy to moderate journey, depending on your physical stamina. To give you a little glimpse of the journey, you will walk through the rugged terrain, steep ascent and descent, and remote villages along the way. It requires you to hike for about 5-6 hours on a daily basis. Hence, we recommend you do some cardio exercise and add nutritious food to your diet a month before the trek.
The one thing that can get in your way is Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). The highest elevation you’ll reach during the trek is 4200 m. At this height, you are likely to experience altitude sickness. But don’t worry! We have prepared the itinerary with enough acclimatization days. Hence, you’ll have no problem adjusting your body to the high altitude.
Are you looking for more options? We have plenty of other packages you can consider if this one doesn’t fit you.
If you want to skip the excursion to Yara, you can opt for the Upper Mustang Trek. The 17-day journey will give you a taste of the upper Mustang region and will make you explore the ancient kingdom of Upper Mustang, i.e., Lo Manthang. On this journey, you’ll also hear the untold stories of locals along the way and will be amazed by their way of life.
If you’re pressed for time, consider opting for the 14-day Upper Mustang Trek-Drive Back. This route offers a glimpse of the Upper Mustang region within just two weeks. Our trek will take us to Lo-Mantang, after which we will return to Jomsom via a driving by jeep instead of retracing our steps.
No matter which trip you choose, we guarantee you an unforgettable experience. Furthermore, if you wish to personalize your journey, we will make every effort to meet your desires and requirements.
You land at TIA and are greeted by our representative at the arrival gate. You’ll be transferred to your hotel and get briefed about your itinerary.
Today, you will go on a sightseeing tour around Kathmandu City. You’ll visit cultural heritage sites like Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swyambhunath, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, etc.
Enjoy the artistic heritages and sculptures, and get a glimpse of the lifestyle of the ethnic Newari community.
Your guide will meet you early in the morning for a drive to Pokhara. The drive might be long but it is very picturesque and interesting. Upon your arrival at Pokhara, you’ll be transferred to your hotel and checked in. You can explore and roam around the city in the evening and also boat around the Fewa Lake.
Promptly toward the beginning of the day, we will fly between the snow-capped pinnacles of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri to Jomsom. The sights of transcending massifs ascending to more than 8,000 meters and the stream with the most profound canyon on earth are simply awesome.
At Jomsom, we will begin our Upper Mustang trek to Kagbeni. This is a common checkpoint before entering Kagbeni. This checkpoint has been in this place for ages when trading between Nepal and Tibet used to happen.
The trail will take you to the bank of Kali Gandaki River and travel several ridges to reach Tangbe Village. Beyond Tangbe, you’ll reach the village of Chhusang after about one and a half hours of walking. You’ll leave the Kali Gandaki Valley and climb a steep rocky alley to Chele.
Today, you’ll ascend to a treeless, waterless terrain along a steep canyon. This trail makes a long, gradual descent to Samar Village. The trail continues through another valley, crosses a stream, climbs to a ridge, and descends to Syangbochen. From here, you’ll climb to a pass and descend to Geling Village.
Leaving Geling, the trail climbs gently up to the interesting pass of NYI La and descends below the blue, gray, and red cliffs. You cross a bridge and arrive at the longest Mani wall in Mustang. You’ll climb over another pass at 3,600 m and start the long gentle descent to Charang village. You can observe the collections of statues, Thankas, and other large paintings of the seated Buddha.
The trail ascends steadily until Lo-Gekar. Lo-Gekar Gompa is one of the oldest Gompas in the region. After visiting Lo-Gekar, we continue our upper Mustang trek to Lo-Manthang. The trail is well-defined, with some minor climbings. You’ll pass through the walled city of Lo, then make a short descent, cross a stream, and climb to the plateau of Lo-Manthang.
Today, you’ll be exploring the town of Lo Manthang, which has been untouched and unchanged since the 14th century. There are four major temples within the city, and one of these is Champa Lhakang. It contains a huge clay statue of Buddha as well as elaborated mandalas painted on the walls. The king's palace is an imposing building in the center of the city and is occupied by the current King and Queen. Although his duties are mainly ceremonial, the King is respected by the people and consulted about many issues by villagers throughout the kingdom.
Bidding Lo-Manthang farewell, you start on a journey to Yara at 3838 meters. You’ll enjoy the views of Lo from a glacial valley and stop for lunch at DHI. After that lunch break, you’ll follow the riverbed or the hill trails (depending on the season) and reach Yara. You’ll marvel at the sandy castle-like structures when you reach the top of Yara Hill.
Today is another day of acclimatization in Yara, allowing your bodies to get adjusted to the high altitude and surroundings. There is an option for you to visit Luri Gompa, located at around 3.5 km/2.1 miles away from Yara which takes around 6 to 7 hours of walking. It is a sacred site on top of a 100-meter-high cliff, which is also known as the Seven Wonders of Upper Mustang.
Early in the morning, you’ll follow a route toward Dhechaeng Khola, which originated from Damodar Kund. Along this route, you cross over a small stream of melting ice before you ascend to DHI Village. The path then winds through the Desert Mountains, leading to Tangya, a Lo-Pa, a town nestled quietly among the mountains.
Today is one of the most challenging days of the Upper Mustang journey. You’ll ascend to the highest point, Paha, at 4210 meters, taking almost 2 to 3 hours of climbing. As there are no tea houses or any lunch places, you have to carry your own for sustenance. It is also crucial for you to carry plenty of water as you need to hydrate yourself. From this point, you’ll be able to view both the Damodar Himal and the Saribung Himal.
This trek will take you through a site with Fossil Stones called Shaligram, which holds significant value in the Hindu religion. Muktinath is one of the significant sacred sites for Buddhists and Hindus.
You awake to the sight of Mount Dhaulagiri, setting a tone for your day as you visit the sacred temple of Muktinath. This holy temple holds a deep significance to both Hindus and Buddhists, drawing pilgrims from all over the world. After you immerse yourself in the spirituality of Muktinath, you start your trek back to Jomsom. During your trek back, you’ll be treated to rows of apple orchids, adding a picturesque charm to your trek.
Early in the morning, we will take the return flight to Pokhara. The afternoon can be spent exploring this picturesque lakeside town as your fancy takes you.
Important Note: Flights to/from Jomsom are often delayed or canceled due to unfavorable weather conditions. If your flight to Pokhara is canceled on the scheduled date, we will drive to Pokhara on the same day, which takes about 8 hours by jeep.
Take a scenic drive back to Kathmandu along the winding roads and green hills. This also provides ample opportunity to reminisce about your journey to the Himalayas. You’ll feel a sense of achievement and fulfillment that comes after such extraordinary adventure.
Approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight, a representative from Nepal Hiking Team will bid you farewell after taking you to the International airport.
Read our genuine feedback from past travelers with Nepal Hiking Team sourced from TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook, and Trustpilot.
My family and I just came back from an amazing 10-day Upper Mustang Trek. Our guide, Arjun, was extremely welcoming, kind, and knowledgeable! The whole team was able to adjust the trek to match our ability, allowing us to thoroughly enjoy our experience while still challenging ourselves.
The views throughout the trek were breathtaking and very varied. We also had the opportunity to visit many monasteries and other well-known attractions in the Upper Mustang region.
Overall, we made so many amazing memories, and I would definitely recommend the company and this trek to everyone!
Thank you so much 🥰
Visited Upper Mustang Valley in August ‘24 and did the version of the trek that covers the eastern part, including Yara, which is a 12-day trek.
It was two of us traveling as a couple, and with no previous experience in long treks, we weren’t sure what to expect. All I can say is that the landscape was beyond anything we could have set in our minds, and we feel grateful to have experienced such a place. The villages, the people there, and the Himalayas all blended superbly to offer an incredible glimpse into this remote part of Nepal.
For those planning to visit Nepal during monsoon season, the dry climate of the region is an added bonus with minimal rainfall.
Lastly, I must mention the professionalism of our organizers, Nepal Hiking Team. Ganga, along with our guide Dependra and porter Surindra, took care of every detail and resolved any issues, allowing us to fully enjoy the trek. I wholeheartedly recommend their services.
A more remote trek than the usual routes, but all the more rewarding for it. The scenery was spectacular, with fascinating history and culture. We trekked up the western trail and returned via the eastern side, covering 170 km.
From past experience, we knew Nepal Hiking Team was excellent.
This time, we were even luckier with our fantastic guide, Dipendra “Dip.” Nothing was ever too much trouble, and his smile lit up every tea house. He also kept us off the road as much as possible, with only about 10% of our trek on it.
Ask for Dip 👍🏻
I traveled from Kathmandu to Pokhara and then flew to Jomsom for a journey through the Upper Mustang, particularly arranged by the Nepal Hiking Team. This was my first time using their services, and I organized everything from home in Sydney, Australia.
Our guide in Mustang was Yubraj, who was incredibly organized and made our trip enjoyable. Unfortunately, I injured my knee while walking from Lo Manthang to Yara. Yubraj swiftly arranged for a vehicle to reach the remote area and transport me to Muktinath by road. He also adjusted our itinerary after the accident. I highly recommend him as a guide to others.
The Nepal Hiking Team was easy to deal with and always punctual with their correspondence.
Did the Upper Mustang trek with Nepal Hiking Team for the first time.
Everything—from airport pickup to accommodation and logistics—was flawless. The response time via email before the trip was also prompt when finalizing details.
During the trek, we made some unusual and demanding requests (probably more than once), yet our guide and porters did their best to accommodate us—even going as far as trying to find a live chicken for dinner on our last night in Lo Manthang!
The trek wasn’t the toughest, but our safety was always their priority. Midway through the descent, one of our team members was hit with AMS in the middle of the night. Balaram, Arun, and their team acted immediately, rushing everyone to a lower altitude and arranging a helicopter to Pokhara for medical treatment. Despite facing a lot of issues with an unhelpful insurance company, they managed to secure the helicopter in time, ensuring our team member received medical attention before his condition worsened. Huge kudos for that!
Would definitely recommend Nepal Hiking Team to anyone looking to trek in Nepal.
