Main Attractions of Upper Mustang Trek
Upper Mustang holds more cultural and historical depth per square kilometer than almost anywhere in the Himalayan region of Nepal! Here is what our team considers the essential highlights of this route:
Kagbeni: The Ancient Gateway to Upper Mustang
Sitting at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Jhong Khola rivers at 2,850 meters, Kagbeni is a dense cluster of mud-brick houses that marks the official start of the restricted zone. The old Tibetan-style monastery here, known locally as Kag Chode Thupten Samphel Ling, is active and worth visiting with your guide.
The red house your guide will point out near the village dates to around 1976, a remnant of the Khamparesistance era when Tibetan guerrilla fighters used this area as a base of operations.
Walk the narrow alleys slowly. Almost every wall carries a rich history!
Chusang and the Tangbe Apple Village
Before reaching Chusang (approximately 2,950 m), the trail passes through Tangbe, a compact farming village known for its apple orchards, buckwheat fields, and traditional architecture. It is a good place to stop for tea or lunch.
Then comes Chusang, which itself holds a cave monastery carved into the cliff face, believed to be 800 to 900 years old! There is also an older nunnery here that is no longer active as a nunnery but remains a place of quiet historical significance. Ask your guide to show you both, and we're sure he'll be happy to guide you through!
Chungsi Cave (Ranchung Cave)
Located between Samar and Syangboche, this natural cave is one of the most spiritually significant sites in all of Mustang. Unlike the thousands of man-made sky caves scattered across the region's cliffs, Ranchung Cave is entirely natural.
Local belief holds that Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), the revered master who brought Tantric Buddhism to the Himalayas, meditated here in the 8th century. The cave is also sacred in Hindu tradition, associated with Lord Shiva on his journey to Mount Kailash!
The walls of the cave contain naturally formed shapes that devotees have venerated for generations. The monastery above the cave, where Padmasambhava is believed to have practiced, is still visited by pilgrims from across the Buddhist world.
Ghami Mani Wall
As you pass through Ghami (approximately 3,500 m) on the way to Dagmar, do not walk past without stopping. Well, Ghami is home to the longest mani wall (a long row of prayer stones inscribed with Buddhist mantras) in the Lo Manthang region.
The wall is an extraordinary sight, stretching across the landscape and built stone by stone over centuries. Eat your lunch here and take time to walk along it. It is one of those sights that does not photograph well but stays in your memory!
Ghar Gompa (Lo Gekar Monastery)
Situated at 3,931 meters near Marang village and accessed on the route between Dagmar and Charang, Ghar Gompa is the oldest monastery in Mustang, dating to the 8th century. It is considered contemporaneous with Samye Monastery in Tibet, the first monastery ever established in that region.
Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) is credited with founding it, and the monastery is rooted in the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The interior holds ancient murals, sacred texts, and a large statue of Guru Rinpoche. Standing inside it, surrounded by frescoes over a thousand years old, is a genuinely rare experience!
Lo Manthang: The Walled Capital of the Ancient Kingdom of Lo
Founded in 1380 by King Ame Pal, this walled city at 3,840 meters was the capital of the Kingdom of Lo for centuries!
The mud-brick walls that surround it are approximately 20 feet high and enclose a maze of narrow alleys, whitewashed houses, and monastic complexes built directly into the urban fabric. The royal palace, Tashi Dyaphel, stands at the center.
The three main monasteries inside the walls, Chode, Thubchen, and Jampa, are open twice daily and hold extraordinary collections of ancient murals, thangkas (religious scroll paintings), and wooden carvings. Plan two full days here!
The site of Lo Manthang, seen for the first time as you descend toward it from Marangla Pass is one of the great views on any trek in Nepal.
Sky Caves of Chhoser (Chosar)
Located about two hours by jeep from Lo Manthang, the sky caves of Chhoser are carved into the cliff faces high above the valley floor. These multi-storey cave dwellings, some reaching 2,000 to 2,500 years in age, were used for habitation, burial, and meditation.
Exactly how the inhabitants accessed them without modern equipment remains an open question! The nearby Niphu Monastery, associated with the Nyingma tradition, is a good lunch stop on the same day.
Luri Gompa: A Hidden Cave Monastery
Set 100 meters above the valley floor on a steep sandstone cliff, Luri Gompa is a 14th-century cave monastery near the villages of Yara and Ghara. The inner chamber holds extraordinary 14th to 15th-century murals depicting Buddhist Mahasiddhas (great masters of tantric practice) and a large painted chorten.
It takes 4 to 5 hours to walk there from Yara and return via Ghara. The walk itself passes through barren cliffs and wide open valleys. This is one of the least visited but most rewarding sites on the whole trek that you get to do with Himalayan Ecstasy Nepal!
Muktinath: Where Hindu and Buddhist Traditions Meet
Located at 3,800 meters, Muktinath is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Nepal and a major highlight of the Upper Mustang tour. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is revered by Hindus as a place of spiritual liberation. Pilgrims come to bathe beneath the 108 water spouts and offer prayers at this centuries-old shrine.
Muktinath is equally important to Buddhists, who know it as Chumig Gyatsa and regard it as a sacred site associated with Guru Rinpoche.
Nearby attractions include the eternal flame of Jwala Mai Temple, ancient monasteries, and sweeping views of the Kali Gandaki Valley. The unique blend of Hindu and Buddhist traditions makes Muktinath one of Mustang's most significant cultural landmarks.