Home Trips & Tours Pokhara To Upper Mustang Tour 10 Days | 9 Nights

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Jeep safari to the Kingdom of Lo

Pokhara To Upper Mustang Tour 10 Days | 9 Nights

6 spring departures left

Mustang Region, Nepal

4WD drive through the Kali Gandaki gorge

Two full days in Lo Manthang

Chhoser cliff caves and Muktinath temple

Starts and ends in Pokhara

This overland tour brings the hidden Kingdom of Lo within reach of travellers who would rather ride than walk. Starting and ending in Pokhara, we travel by private 4WD jeep up the Kali Gandaki, the deep gorge between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, and on across the dry, high plateau of Upper Mustang to Lo Manthang.

The journey itself is a highlight. On the way north you soak in the hot springs at Tatopani, pass the apple orchards and stone lanes of Marpha, and stay in medieval Kagbeni. In Upper Mustang we break the drive at Tsarang, with its dzong and red monastery, before spending two full days based in Lo Manthang: one for the monasteries and royal palace inside the walls, and one for the Chhoser valley and its multi-storey cliff caves. On the return we stop at Muktinath, a temple sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, before descending to Tatopani and home to Pokhara.

Walking is limited to short village and monastery visits, so the tour suits families, photographers and anyone with limited time or trekking experience. You still reach 3,840 m, so the itinerary climbs gradually and includes rest nights along the way. Roads are rough dirt tracks in places and days in the jeep can be long and dusty.

Elevate Trek is based in Pokhara, so we can collect you from your hotel, handle the Restricted Area Permit and ACAP, and match you with an experienced driver and licensed guide.

At a glance

Duration

10 Days
Nights

9 Nights
Difficulty

Easy
Max.Elevation

3,840 m (12,598 ft)
Accomodation

Hotel, Lodge & Guesthouse
Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner during the tour
Group Size

1 - 12 Travelers
Best Season

Mar - Nov
Starting Point

Pokhara
Ending Point

Pokhara
Permit

Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit, Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
Trip Type

Private or Group

Elevate Trek is based in Pokhara, so we can collect you from your hotel, handle the Restricted Area Permit and ACAP, and match you with an experienced driver and licensed guide.

Itinerary

A 10-day private 4WD loop from Pokhara up the Kali Gandaki to Lo Manthang and back via Muktinath, with short walks at every stop.

Day 01

Arrival in Pokhara

Max Altitude 822 m
Accommodation Hotel
Meals Dinner Included

Welcome to Pokhara, our home town. We pick you up from the tourist bus park or Pokhara airport and take you to your lakeside hotel. In the afternoon your guide holds a briefing on the route, road conditions and what to pack for the cold, dusty north, and collects your passport details for the Restricted Area Permit. Spend the evening strolling along Phewa Lake with views of Machhapuchhre, then join us for a welcome dinner with traditional Nepali food. We also check your clothing for the cold nights ahead.

Day highlights

Lakeside Pokhara
Welcome dinner and briefing

Day 02

Pokhara to Tatopani

Max Altitude 1,190 m
Accommodation Guesthouse
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included

Our 4WD leaves Pokhara after breakfast and heads west via Nayapul and Kushma to Beni, where the Myagdi Khola joins the Kali Gandaki. From here the road follows the river north into the gorge, with waterfalls tumbling down the valley walls. We stop for the night at Tatopani, whose name means hot water. In the afternoon, soak your muscles in the natural hot spring pools beside the river. The road is paved at first and becomes a rough dirt track after Beni.

Day highlights

Kali Gandaki gorge
Tatopani hot springs

Day 03

Tatopani to Kagbeni via Marpha

Max Altitude 2,810 m
Accommodation Guesthouse
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included

We continue up the deepest stretch of the Kali Gandaki gorge, passing Rupse Chhahara waterfall and the villages of Ghasa and Kalopani, with Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I rising on either side. The forest thins as we enter the drier Thakali country. We stop in Marpha, a charming village of white stone houses and flagstone lanes famous for its apples and apple brandy, then drive via Jomsom to Kagbeni. Kagbeni’s maze of mud-brick houses and its red monastery make a fine place for an evening walk.

Day highlights

Apple village of Marpha
Medieval Kagbeni

Day 04

Kagbeni to Tsarang

Max Altitude 3,560 m
Accommodation Guesthouse
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included

After the permit check just north of Kagbeni we enter Upper Mustang. The jeep track climbs past Tangbe and Chhusang, with cave dwellings cut into the cliffs, then zigzags up to Chele, Samar and Syangboche before crossing high ground of around 4,000 m near the Nyi La. We break for lunch in Ghami, known for its long mani wall, then continue to Tsarang. In the afternoon we visit Tsarang’s large red monastery and the old five-storey dzong at the edge of the canyon.

Day highlights

Entering the restricted area
Tsarang monastery and dzong

Day 05

Tsarang to Lo Manthang

Max Altitude 3,840 m
Accommodation Guesthouse
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included

A short morning drive over the Lo La brings the first view of Lo Manthang: a walled city of whitewashed houses on a wide plain, with the hills of Tibet beyond. After checking in to the lodge we take an easy first walk around the outer walls to help acclimatise, and visit the Amchi traditional medicine school or a local home. The afternoon is relaxed on purpose, as Lo Manthang is the highest point of the tour and the body needs time to adjust.

Day highlights

First view of Lo Manthang
Easy acclimatisation walk

Day 06

Monasteries of Lo Manthang

Max Altitude 3,840 m
Accommodation Guesthouse
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included

Today we explore the walled city on foot. We visit Jampa Lhakhang, the oldest temple in the city, known for its mandala wall paintings, and the great assembly hall of Thubchen Gompa with its tall wooden pillars. We also call at Chode Gompa, the city’s working monastery, and walk past the nine-cornered royal palace. In the afternoon we drive a short distance to Namgyal Gompa on its hilltop and the village of Tingkhar for views back over the city. Monastery entry fees are paid locally at each gompa.

Day highlights

Jampa and Thubchen gompas
Royal palace and Namgyal Gompa

Day 07

Excursion to the Chhoser caves

Max Altitude 3,840 m
Accommodation Guesthouse
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included

We drive north up the Chhoser valley towards the Tibetan border to visit the Jhong cave complex, a remarkable multi-level network of rooms, ladders and passages cut high into the cliff face. Nearby is Nyphu Gompa, built into the rock, and Garphu Gompa across the valley. The landscape here is stark and beautiful, with fluted cliffs and small green fields along the river. We return to Lo Manthang in the afternoon for a final evening inside the walls. Wear shoes with good grip, as the cave ladders are steep.

Day highlights

Jhong cave complex
Nyphu cliff monastery

Day 08

Lo Manthang to Muktinath

Max Altitude 3,800 m
Accommodation Guesthouse
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included

We begin the journey south, driving back past Tsarang and Ghami and down the Kali Gandaki valley. Below Chhusang we leave the restricted area and turn east up the Jhong valley to Muktinath at 3,800 m. In the late afternoon we walk up to the temple complex, sacred to Hindus as Muktinath and to Buddhists as Chumig Gyatsa. Pilgrims bathe under the 108 water spouts, and inside a small shrine a natural gas flame burns beside a spring. The drive is long and bumpy, so we take regular breaks for tea and photos along the way.

Day highlights

Muktinath temple and 108 spouts
Views of Dhaulagiri

Day 09

Muktinath to Tatopani

Max Altitude 3,800 m
Accommodation Guesthouse
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included

We descend past Jharkot, with its old fortress and monastery, to Jomsom and back down the Kali Gandaki. There is time to stop in Marpha or Tukuche for photos and a cup of local apple juice before continuing through the gorge to Tatopani. After a long, dusty day in the jeep, the hot spring pools by the river are the perfect place to unwind, and this is our last night with the Mustang crew. Your guide will point out landmarks you may have missed on the way up, and lunch is taken at a village restaurant along the river.

Day highlights

Jharkot village
Hot spring soak in Tatopani

Day 10

Tatopani to Pokhara, tour ends

Max Altitude 1,190 m
Meals Breakfast Included
Drive 5-6 hrs / approx. 115 km

After breakfast we follow the river down to Beni and back onto paved road to Pokhara, arriving around early afternoon. We drop you at your hotel, the airport or the bus park for your onward journey. If you are staying on in Pokhara, the afternoon is free for the lakeside, a paraglide from Sarangkot or a well-earned massage. Thank you for exploring Mustang with Elevate Trek. If you would like to add a Sarangkot sunrise tour, a Pokhara city tour or extra nights by the lake, our team can arrange it easily from our Pokhara office.

Day highlights

Return to Pokhara
Hotel or airport drop-off

Maps

Where this trip takes you.

Fixed Departures

Set group departures below. Private dates can be arranged on any day that suits you.

Oct 20

Oct 20 - Oct 29, 2026

Group Joining
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From $2,390 /Person

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Nov 05

Nov 5 - Nov 14, 2026

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Nov 20

Nov 20 - Nov 29, 2026

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Mar 05

Mar 5 - Mar 14, 2027

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Mar 20

Mar 20 - Mar 29, 2027

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Apr 05

Apr 5 - Apr 14, 2027

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Apr 20

Apr 20 - Apr 29, 2027

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May 05

May 5 - May 14, 2027

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May 20

May 20 - May 29, 2027

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Jun 05

Jun 5 - Jun 14, 2027

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Jun 20

Jun 20 - Jun 29, 2027

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Jul 05

Jul 5 - Jul 14, 2027

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Jul 20

Jul 20 - Jul 29, 2027

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Aug 05

Aug 5 - Aug 14, 2027

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Aug 20

Aug 20 - Aug 29, 2027

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Sep 05

Sep 5 - Sep 14, 2027

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Sep 20

Sep 20 - Sep 29, 2027

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From $2,390 /Person

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Availability

Join a set group departure, or ask us for a private date that suits you.

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Didn’t find a suitable date? Contact us with your dates and preferences.

Inclusions & exclusions

What the trip price covers, and what to budget for separately.

What’s included

Private 4WD jeep – with experienced driver for the whole tour, Pokhara to Pokhara
Pokhara hotel – 1 night on arrival, twin-share with welcome dinner
Mountain lodges – 8 nights in the best available guesthouses along the route
Meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner from Day 2 to breakfast on Day 10
Permits – Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit and Annapurna Conservation Area Permit
Licensed guide – English-speaking tour guide, mandatory in the restricted area
Staff costs – food, lodging, salary and insurance for guide and driver
Transfers – pick-up and drop-off in Pokhara
First aid – medical kit and pulse oximeter carried by the guide

Not included

Travel to and from Pokhara – flights or bus from Kathmandu or elsewhere
Nepal visa and international flights
Travel insurance – must cover altitude to 4,000 m and emergency evacuation
Entry fees – monasteries, Chhoser caves, Muktinath and Tatopani hot springs
Personal expenses – drinks, snacks, hot showers, charging and Wi-Fi
Tips – for guide and driver
Extra nights – caused by landslides, road closures or early return

Why people fall for it

Why this trip stands out

You reach Lo Manthang and the Chhoser caves without multi-day trekking, making Mustang accessible to non-trekkers.
Two full days in Lo Manthang give time for the monasteries, palace and the cave complex without rushing.
The route takes in hot springs, Thakali villages, Kagbeni and the Muktinath pilgrimage site as well as Upper Mustang.
Starting and ending in Pokhara means no flights to Jomsom and no weather cancellations to worry about.
Elevate Trek is based in Pokhara, so your jeep, driver and guide come from our own local network.

Good to know

Practical information to help you prepare for this trip.

Permits

We arrange both permits for you before departure from Pokhara:

Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit: currently USD 50 per person per day in the restricted zone, issued through a registered agency with a licensed guide.
ACAP: NPR 3,000 per person for foreign nationals.

Essential Packing Guide

It is dusty on the road and cold at night in Lo Manthang.

Dust protection: buff or face mask, sunglasses and wet wipes.
Warm clothing: down jacket, fleece, hat and gloves.
Comfortable shoes: walking shoes with good grip for monastery steps and caves.
Sun protection: SPF 50 sunscreen and lip balm.
Swimwear: for the Tatopani hot springs.

Altitude & Acclimatisation

You sleep at up to 3,840 m and drive over ground near 4,000 m. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol for the first nights up high and move slowly on arrival in Lo Manthang.

Accommodation and Meals

Lodges in Upper Mustang are simple, family-run guesthouses; several in Lo Manthang now offer rooms with attached bathrooms. Meals are taken in the lodges and include Nepali, Tibetan and some Western dishes.

Internet and SIM Card

There is mobile coverage in Jomsom, Kagbeni, Lo Manthang and Muktinath, with patchy signal between villages. Most lodges have paid Wi-Fi.

FAQs

Answers to the questions travellers ask us most about this trip.

Do I need to be a trekker for this tour?

No. Travel is by 4WD jeep, and walking is limited to village, monastery and cave visits of up to a couple of hours. You should be able to climb steps and short slopes at altitude, and cope with long, bumpy days on dirt roads.

How much is the Restricted Area Permit for a jeep tour?

The same permit applies whether you walk or drive. It is currently charged at USD 50 per person per day inside the restricted zone, which on this tour is roughly five days, from Kagbeni to Chhusang. The permit and ACAP are included in our price.

What are the roads like?

The road from Pokhara to Beni is paved. Beyond Beni it is a mix of improved sections and rough dirt track, dusty in the dry season and sometimes affected by landslides during the monsoon. Our drivers travel this route regularly and know the conditions well.

Is altitude a concern?

The highest overnight is Lo Manthang at 3,840 m. Driving gains height faster than walking, so we break the ascent with nights at Kagbeni and Tsarang and keep the first day in Lo Manthang easy. Mild headaches are common; tell your guide if symptoms get worse.