Upper Mustang — DMC Service

Meet at Tribhuvan Airport — DMC representative with a named placard and confirmed partner voucher. Transfer to hotel in Thamel or another area according to the programme budget (three price categories). Briefing with the partner's tour leader; handover of the group document package: permit copies, insurance confirmations, 24/7 contact list, medical questionnaires for participants to sign.

Morning — finalising TIMS cards and processing the restricted-area permit for Mustang under our licence. Documents are prepared within 24–48 hours; the group supplies passports plus two 4×6 cm photographs. Simultaneously — a sightseeing programme for the group (Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath — three UNESCO sites), or optionally a free day for acclimatisation after the flight. Evening — final group route briefing.

Morning flight with Yeti / Buddha Air to Pokhara (~25 min), connecting to the short flight to Jomsom (~20 min, operated only before 11 a.m. due to the wind window in the Kali Gandaki valley). From Jomsom — jeep transfer to Kagbeni (~1 hour, 12 km), the historic gateway to Upper Mustang. Permit check at the Kagbeni checkpoint. Accommodation in a lodge; visit to Khag Chod Thubten Monastery (founded 1429).

Alternative for premium programmes: helicopter transfer Pokhara → Jomsom ($2,400–3,200 per aircraft for 4–5 passengers) — eliminates the risk of flight cancellation due to wind.

Jeep drive 4 hours to the Muktinath temple complex — a sacred site for both Hindus and Buddhists. 108 water spouts around the perimeter of the Vishnu temple; the eternal flame of Jwala Mata; Jain and Buddhist monasteries within a single complex. Altitude 3760 m — the group's first night above 3500 m; the programme includes an early dinner and a health check.

Trek 6–7 hours, 16 km. Gyula La pass (3680 m) — a short ascent from Muktinath, then descent into the Kali Gandaki valley. The landscape shifts to high-altitude desert: erosion formations, red-ochre cliffs, sparse villages along the old salt-trade route. Night stop in Chuksang.

Trek 6 hours, 15 km. The path passes through the village of Chele and climbs by switchbacks onto the plateau. Samar — a small settlement of eight houses and one monastery, a traditional halt on the trade route to Tibet.

Trek 7 hours, 12 km. Along the way — Chungsi Cave, one of four sites in Mustang where, according to Tibetan tradition, Padmasambhava meditated (8th century). The frescoes inside the cave date to the 13th–14th centuries; their state of preservation is moderate. Ghiling — a village with an active monastery of the Sakya school.

Trek 4 hours, 12 km. Two passes — Nyi La (4010 m, the only point on the route above 4000 m) and Gami La (3765 m). Beyond Gami — a long mani wall with carved stones, more than 300 metres — the largest in Mustang.

Trek 7–8 hours, 11 km. Dhakmar — a village set amid red cliffs, said by legend to be stained by the blood of a demoness defeated by Padmasambhava. Ghar Gompa — one of the oldest monasteries of the Kagyu school in the region. Tsarang — the ancient seat of the kings of Lo, a 15th-century dzong with an active monastery.

Short trek 3–4 hours, 14 km, or jeep. Entry into Lo Manthang — the walled capital of the kingdom of Lo. Approximately 600 people live here; the royal palace stands four storeys high, built in clay and timber, 15th century, serving as the residence of King Jigme Palbar Bista until 2008, and as the family's residence since the abolition of the monarchy in Nepal. Accommodation in the best available guesthouse (3 options; premium category is limited).

Day excursion to the Chhoser (Sky Caves) cave complex — approximately 12 km north of Lo Manthang. These are multi-storey cave systems cut into the cliffs, dated to the 2nd–13th centuries; archaeological research has been ongoing since 2007, with human remains, manuscripts, and frescoes discovered. Access is by permit with a local guide; entry may be restricted in certain areas for conservation reasons. Return to Lo Manthang; visit to three principal monasteries: Namgyal Gompa, Thubchen Gompa (15th century, frescoes restored by the American Himalayan Foundation), Jampa Lakhang.

Return by an alternative route, approximately 7 hours, 22 km. The eastern trail passes through the villages of Dhi and Yantra and does not retrace the outward path. Night stop in Ghiling.

Jeep to Jomsom (3 hours, subject to season), morning flight to Pokhara. Free time in Pokhara — Lake Phewa, dinner at one of the lakeside restaurants. Night stop in Pokhara.

Morning flight or jeep drive to Kathmandu (7 hours, 200 km). Depending on flight timing — farewell lunch, transfer to the airport.