Highlights
+ stunning, otherworld scenery
+ wild hoodoos and canyons
+ famed gompas and villages
+ Himalayan mountain views
+ impressive, revered gompas
+ Konchokling cave
+ photogenic harvest landscapes
+ Lo Manthang last functioning walled city
+ remote, ambitious route
+ 6000m pass, 6328m climb
Travel basics
90 day e-visa before/on arrival
then pay USD125 visa fee on arrival
we handle all other permits & entry fees
understand your health risks
city dengue season: Aug, Sept, October
Grading
max altitude 6328m
max sleeping altitude 5750m
multiple 5000m passes
rough, challenging trails
strenuous trekking
insurance: hiking to 6500m
(non-technical, no ropes)
2025 Dates
status: full
25 Sept-29 Oct, 35 days, USD5980
trip deposit US$1000
max 8 bookings
status: full
additional hotel nights USD70/80
Start and end in Kathmandu, airport code KTM
Preparation
trek gear discussion
Leader
Jamie McGuinness
Our service includes
all airport transfers
hotel in Kathmandu, single with breakfast
hotel in Pokhara twinshare
domestic flights as per the itinerary
group transportation by private vehicle
entrance fees and permits as needed
Kathmandu group dinner
Expedition-style trek includes
all meals, afternoon tea and hot drinks
roomy single tent / large double for couples
thin mat to protect your air mattress
our special comfy dining tent
and more Project Himalaya comforts
porter and horse porterage
very experienced crew
Lodge trek sections include
three meals with a hot drink
twinshare rooms
Nice touches included
fresh filtered coffee for breakfast
filtered drinking water
Our service excludes
trek showers, boiled water, single lodge rooms
insurance, Nepal visa, other meals in Kathmandu
additional hotel nights due to delays
international flights, equipment rental, alcohol, bottled water and soft drinks, trek showers, laundry,
tipping and other items of a personal nature
Tips & extra cash
allow approx $50 per day for Kathmandu meals
allow more if you are a shopaholic
we suggest 5% of the trip cost per trekker for the crew tips pool
The first 12 days of this itinerary follow our Upper Mustang Magic itinerary, which is more completely written up.
Day 0 - early arrival
Arrive a day or two early to recover from long flights or to go sightseeing, or to Pokhara. We still arrange the airport transfer and book the hotel for you.
Day 1 - Thursday 25 Sept 2025 - arrive Kathmandu 1350m
Welcome! We meet 6pm in the hotel lobby for a briefing and dinner.
2 - fly Kathmandu-Pokhara 827m
It is a half hour flight with the rest of the day to explore Lakeside, shop and relax or perhaps visit the Peace Stupa.
3 - fly Pokhara-Jomsom, drive Kagbeni 2800m
This is a fine weather morning flight only, then we drive to the gorgeous village of Kagbeni.
4 - Kagbeni 2800m
We'll day trip around Kagbeni, and this is a day in hand in case our flight was delayed yesterday and we drove up.
5 - drive-trek Ghiling 3570m via Chungtsi Cave
We enter cinematic Upper Mustang proper, driving to Samar then trekking to Chungtsi Cave Gompa, a strenuous 6 hour trek. From Shyangboche we drive to a simple lodge at Ghiling.
6 - drive-trek Dhakmar via Nyi La 4010m
We drive to near the top of the Ghami La then after lunch at Ghami, trek to colourful Dhakmar.
7 - trek Charang 3560m via Lo Gekar
We trek the most spectacular Mui La 4170m route to the ancient gompa of Lo Gekar then drop along the valley to Charang.
8 - drive/trek Lo Manthang 3800m
After a look around Charang Dzong, there's a back way trekking over a pass to Lo or if the legs are feeling it, drive to Lo Manthang were we base ourselves for 3 or 4 nights.
9 - explore Lo Manthang 3800m
We visit one of the gompas in the walled city then venture further afield, perhaps Namgyal Gompa.
10 - explore Lo Manthang 3800m
North of Lo, the Gharphu Gompa and the caves of Chosar are a great option, either by bumpy jeep (included) or by horse (not included).
11 - explore Lo Manthang
There is one last rarely visited place and that is spectacular Konchokling, and we hike up to the ancient cave in that red hoodoo country. We may only spend two full days in Lo Manthang; let's see how many we need.
12 - drive Yara 3650m via Luri Gompa
We drive to Yara and then trek to Luri and the Tashi Kabum, which is a unique cave gompa, set amid the incredible crumbled terrain.
**this itinerary will be further refined over time**
13 - trek Letak acclimatisation camp ~4500m
14 - trek Ghuma Thati 4780m
15 - trek Damodar Kund 4990m (/Barche Khola?)
16-17 - explore Damodar Kund 4990m
We aim to explore this area but let's see what is realistic, what appeals.
18 - trek Japanese base camp 5200m
19 - trek advanced base camp 5750m
20 - Climb Saribung 6328m, cross to rough camp
21 - trek Phu 4000m
22 - rest-explore Phu 4000m
23 - spare day
24 - trek Chyakhu 3800m
25 - trek Nar/above
26 - trek Ngawal
27 - trek Manang
28 - rest-explore Manang
29 - drive-trek Siri Kharka / Tilicho BC
30 - trek Tilicho Khola BC / alt camp
31 - trek Kaisang via Meso Kanto
32- trek Jomsom
33 - fly/drive Pokhara (_Kathmandu?)
34 - fly/drive Kathmandu
35 - Wednesday 29 October - depart
There are a number of options for the trek finish including shorter option that the grand tour above. Do talk with us!
