Upper Mustang Helicopter Trek Overview
- Trip Code: CT-10061
- Package: Upper Mustang Helicopter Trek
- Duration: 14 Day(s)
- Trip Level:
ModerateRequires some level of experience in trekking with basic physical ability.
- Start At: Kathmandu
- Ends At: Kathmandu
- Transportation: Helicopter | Domestic Flight | Private Vehicle
- Accommodation: Hotel | Guest House
- Best Season: Pokhara- Kagbeni- Cheale- Geling - Charang- Lo Manthang- Drakmar -Muktinath - Jomsom- Pokhara
- Trip Route: March- April- May-June- July- Aug- Sep- Oct- Nov
Trip Highlights
- Lakeside city of Pokhara
- Flight from Pokhara to Jomsom
- Beautiful Kagbeni village
- Lo Manthang, the capital of Upper Mustang
- Old monasteries and ancient artifacts
- Sky caves
- Helicopter ride over Upper Mustang
Upper Mustang Helicopter Tour blends the perks of trekking in Upper Mustang along with a Heli tour to Upper Mustang and flying back to Pokhara with an amazing aerial view of the majestic Himalayas of Nepal. The Upper Mustang trek in Nepal is somewhat like a treasure hunt as travelers will explore isolated valleys and settlements and experience their ancient and unique cultures that are preserved to their originality till today.
The Upper Mustang in Nepal lies beyond the Himalayan Ranges of Nepal towards the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas of Nepal lies towards the south of the Upper Mustang region. Trek to Upper Mustang goes through the Annapurna region of Nepal which has a unique culture and the settlement of Upper Mustang had not been in touch with the rest of the country for many years. Travelers can experience a very primitive way of lifestyle among the communities of Upper Mustang during their travel to Upper Mustang which is still prevalent to this day.
The Upper Mustang helicopter tour is one of the popular tours in Nepal for its exquisite beauty that gives a true sense of Himalayan culture. The landscapes of this desert albeit terrains and valleys surrounded by snow-capped mountains are truly spectacular and exotic. The Upper Mustang heli tour is a popular heli tour in Nepal for its beauty that lies in solitude and isolation. During this trek in Nepal, mountains of Nepal that are in the Annapurna Region of Nepal can be seen such as Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Nilgiri (7,061m), Annapurna South (7,219m), Annapurna First (8,091m), Fishtail Mountain (6,997m), and Tukuche peak (6,920m). The helicopter flight from Upper Mustang will surely give travelers some amazing views of the Himalayan ranges of the Annapurna Region while traveling to Pokhara on the way back.
The Upper Mustang Heli tour is an amazing way to enjoy the trekking experience in Nepal. Although travelers will need a special trekking permit for the Upper Mustang Heli tour to be able to visit here and it is also necessary for you to consult with a travel company in Nepal. It offers all the perks of traveling and enjoying the great Himalayan adventure by land and by air.
The cost of the Upper Mustang helicopter tour is a little higher than other treks in Nepal because of its restrictions and permits to preserve its originality and culture, and the fact that you'll be hiring a helicopter; however, it is one of the best trekking in Nepal that one can experience. The Upper Mustang Heli Trek can be done throughout all year except for winter. Winter is pretty harsh up there. Still, the best time to do the Upper Mustang trek would be during the Spring and Monsoon season (i.e. March-July)
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Altitude |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival to Kathmandu | 1,350 m/ 4,428 ft (Kathmandu) |
| Day 2 | Trek Preparation & Sightseeing 2 places. | |
| Day 3 | Kathmandu to Pokhara | 830m/ 2,722 ft (Pokhara) |
| Day 4 | Pokhara to Jomsom to Kagbeni | 2,700m/ 8,855ft.(Jomsom) 2,800m/ 9,185ft (Kagbeni) |
| Day 5 | Kagbeni to Chuksang | 2,980m/ 9,775 ft. (Chhusang) |
| Day 6 | Chhusang to Samar | |
| Day 7 | Samar to Geling | |
| Day 8 | Geling to Ghami | |
| Day 9 | Ghami to Tsarang | |
| Day 10 | Tsarang to Lo-Manthang | |
| Day 11 | Lo Manthang Exploration | |
| Day 12 | Helicopter ride over Lo-Manthang / Mustang to Pokhara. | 830 m/ 2,722ft (Pokhara) |
| Day 13 | Pokhara to Kathmandu | 1,350 m/ 4,428 ft (Kathmandu) |
| Day 14 | Departure |
Upper Mustang Helicopter Trek Itinerary
Arrival to Kathmandu
A representative from Core Treks will come to pick you up at the airport. After that, we'll be taking you to your hotel. We'll have a short briefing session and feel free to ask any question you might have regarding the trek. If you want to explore the city we might as well walk around the street of Thamel and it's even possible to do some last-minute shopping. There're no further activities for the day so you might as well check into the hotel.
Trek Preparation & Sightseeing 2 places.
We'll be talking more regarding our trip on this day. We'll need your original passport as travelers need a permit in order to make this trek in Nepal. After finishing that we'll be doing a bit of a sightseeing tour around the Kathmandu valley. We'll be visiting two world heritage sites located in Kathmandu, namely Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath Temple (also known as Monkey Temple). In the evening we'll be doing final preparation for our trek.
Kathmandu to Pokhara
We'll be heading to Pokhara on this day. There are two options regarding our travel to Pokhara; by air travel or by driving. A flight would take around 25 minutes to reach whereas driving to Pokhara might take around 7 hours. But we offer to you a short scenic flight and enjoy the rest of the day chilling or exploring Pokhara.
Pokhara to Jomsom to Kagbeni
We'll be taking an early morning flight from Pokhara to Jomsom which is quite short and takes us about 20-25 minutes to reach. The flight is really wonderful as we will fly between two huge mountain ranges of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranging over 8,000 meters in height. We start our trekking from Jomsom as we head towards the village of Kagbeni. The Kagbeni village is also known as the gateway to Upper Mustang. The Kagbeni village is quite an old settlement that dates back to the 14th century as it used to be a check post for traders from Nepal. These places are also famous for their amazingly delicious and juicy apples which might be the best apples you've ever tasted in your life.
Kagbeni to Chuksang
The real trek begins this day onwards as we walk alongside the east bank of the Kali Gandaki valley. We follow the path that takes us alongside the Kali Gandaki river and after that, it takes us to a wide land. After some walking, we reach the village of Tangbe. We continue the trail through the traditional houses, apple trees, and fields finally leading us to the Chhuksang village. We'll spend overnight in this village.
Chhusang to Samar
We follow the trail that goes through the banks of the Kali Gandaki River from where we'll be ascending onwards. We'll also get to see the beautiful views of the Nilgiri and Tilicho Peaks during our trek. After some trek, we start doing a gradual descent towards the village of Samar. This will be the end of our day of trek upon arriving at Samar.
Samar to Geling
Today we'll be descending into a large ravine as we walk on a trail filled with juniper trees. We come to a place where there's a stream and after crossing it our trail ascends steeply toward Bhena la Pass. From there we head to another pass called Yamda La pass from where we'll start descending towards the village of Geling.
Geling to Ghami
On this day we ascend through the barley fields and then climb on a steep trail that goes towards the Nyi La pass. An amazing view of the Annapurna Himalayan ranges can be seen from the top of the pass. From there we descend as our trail takes us to the Ghami village. The village is adorned with whitewashed traditional houses and barren fields.
Ghami to Tsarang
Our trail today is a bit rough and slippery. We cross a suspension bridge over the Ghami River and then ascend toward the village of Tsarang. Our path is also filled with Mani walls along the way. We eventually cross the Tsarang La pass and reach to our destination for the day, the Tsarang village. The village lies at the top of the Charang Chu canyon where a huge fortress and red gompa lie.
Tsarang to Lo-Manthang
This is the day we'll be trekking to the capital of the Upper Mustang, Lo Manthang. We trek down To the Tsarang River and cross the Lo La pass. From there we descend and make our way towards Lo Manthang. Upon arriving at Lo Manthang, we'll be exploring the village. This village resonates with the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and the region is occupied mostly by the ethnic group of Lhoba and Bon people. There are Gompas, monasteries, and a Palace that was built around the 14th century. There are four major temples in Lo Manthang that are of important significance to the people of this region. They are Jampa Gompa, Thubchen Gompa, Chodey Gampa, and the Choprang Gompa.
Lo Manthang Exploration
We will be spending our day at the historic city of Lo Manthang which is also the capital of the Upper Mustang region. We visit three major Gompas of the city which are the Jhampa, Thupchen, and the Chhoeda Gompa. We'll also be wandering around the villages and witnessing the lifestyle of the people of this region.
Helicopter ride over Lo-Manthang / Mustang to Pokhara.
Our trekking has come to an end and we return back to Pokhara on this day via Helicopter trip. The flight begins at Lo Manthang and flies us over the Mustang region also giving us spectacular views of the beautiful Himalayan ranges and unique landscapes. Upon arriving in Pokhara we'll enjoy the rest of the day in the beautiful lakeside town of the city.
Pokhara to Kathmandu
We'll return back to Kathmandu by domestic flight. Our Office representative wait for you in Kathmandu airport. After that, we'll be taking you to your hotel. After resting for a bit, we'll be organizing a dinner party for our fellow guests where you'll be taken to a traditional Nepalese cuisine restaurant.
Departure
Our travel journey has now come to an end as we say our goodbyes and take you to the Tribhuvan International Airport 3 hours prior to your flight time. We'll come to pick you up at your hotel and a representative will drive alongside you up to the departure gate at the airport.
Upper Mustang Helicopter Trek Cost Mentions
Trip Includes
- Airport transfers by Private Vehicles.
- Standard twin- sharing accommodation in a three starts hotel in Kathmandu & Pokhara, breakfast included. (5 Nights).
- Twin sharing accommodation during trek. (8 Nights).
- Round airfare form Kathmandu – Pokhara – Kathmandu by domestic flight.
- Pokhara- Jomsom by domestic flight.
- Helicopter service from Lo Manthang to Pokhara.
- Three daily meals with tea/coffee (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek.
- TIMS Fee- Trekkers' Information Management System & Annapurna Conservation area permit (Please bring 2 passport size photos).
- Special permit for Upper Mustang.
- One highly experienced, helpful and friendly guide. Porters (1 porter for 2 people) and their food, accommodation, salary and equipment. Accident insurance for all staff
- Farewell dinner in a traditional Nepali restaurant with cultural performances.
- Personal care & attention.
- Local and government taxes.
Trip Excludes
- All kind of beverage including mineral water, Phone calls, laundry, hot shower during Trek
- Travel and Rescue Insurance
- Tipping to crew.
- Personal mountaineering gears
- Optional trips and sightseeing if extended
- International airfare and airport departure tax
- Visa fee, you obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport Kathmandu
- Do not mention the services apart from the services mentioned in "Cost Included services"
Please note the following important points regarding the Upper Mustang region in Nepal:
- A special entry permit of US$ 500 per person is required to visit Upper Mustang.
- An Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) entry permit of USD 30 per person is also necessary.
- If you plan to take a helicopter flight, both permits are required for all travelers, and the permit application process may take at least a week.
- A Nepalese government representative, usually a policeman, will fly with you from Jomsom to Upper Mustang.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Upper Mustang Heli Tour in Nepal is considered a moderate-level trek that requires little to no prior mountaineering experience. You will be provided with a brief training by our travel experts in order to equip you with the required information for the trek.
Yes, the Mustang Tour in Nepal is completely safe. Since we check the weather condition before flying and if all the requirements are met before the trip, we can assure that the trek is completely safe. However, unforeseen circumstances can arise and for that, we will provide training on what you should do during emergency conditions by our travel and mountaineering experts.
During the Upper Mustang Heli, one can expect to explore the lakeside city of Pokhara, a scenic flight from Pokhara to Jomsom, beautiful Kagbeni village, Lo Manthang, the capital of Upper Mustang, and a helicopter ride over Upper Mustang.
The food is generally our traditional Nepali lunch which is Dal (Lentil Soup), Bhat (Boiled Rice), Tarkari (Veggies), and Achar (Pickle).
For accommodation, there are special Hotels & Lodges, Tea houses, and Camping facilities. However, due to the easy accessibility of hotels & lodges throughout the trial, camping is usually avoided (unless needed) during the Mustang Helicopter Tour in Nepal.
To book the Upper Mustang Helicop[ter tour, CoreTreks offers you a number of booking options including:
- Online booking,
- Wire transfer OR,
- Cash on arrival
We recommend you go through our booking policy before you head to the payment. In case of further inquiries please feel free to contact us.
Additional Information
Equipment And Gears
To prepare for your trek in Nepal, it's essential to consider both the specific route and the time of year. Here is a Nepal trekking packing list to help you pack wisely. Here’s our Nepal Trekking packing list.
Upper Mustang Helicopter Trek Reviews
Exploring the isolated valleys and settlements
From: United States | On: 10 Sep, 2019
I have been travelling my whole life and I love to explore things that are not in the highlight every day. Nepal was a place I always wanted to go to. I’m glad that I finally completed my tour in Nepal. My main motive was to explore the isolated settlements in Nepal. So, I chose Upper Mustang region.
I am so thankful that I got a chance to peek through the local settlements of Mustang region. I was really inspired by the lifestyle of the people living there. We proceeded to return via helicopter which I think is way to underrated means of touring Nepal. It was really fun to scope out the Himalayas from the air.
I would like to thank CoreTreks for helping me with the helicopter tour. They are a team of professional who guides your through the trials of Nepal. They helped me from packing and preparing to book the return flights.I definitely recommend CoreTreks if you plan on visiting Nepal.
A delightful trip to Nepal
On: 24 Aug, 2018
Our trip to Nepal was a special one. As we had been planning for this particular trip for like almost 2 years. We are so glad that we finally did it. The trip was really inspiring and eye opening for all of us. We often take things for granted while there are people who are really happy and enjoying their life with limited resources.
I’m very happy that I chose Nepal as my trekking destination and will not hesitate to visit again in my free time. The beautiful villages feel like heaven. The monasteries and ancient artifacts keep the norms alive. And the famous Sky Caves was something extraordinary.
So, if you plan on touring the Upper Mustang just like us or any other region of Nepal, CoreTreks is the best possible partner that you can find in Nepal. They are a solid team of professional with deep knowledge in traveling and touring in Nepal. Plus they also offer customized packages, so the company is worth giving a try.
A memorable adventure to the Himalayas
From: Australia | On: 23 Mar, 2017
My family and I had a memorable adventure in Nepal. I was a bit conscious about my family but turned out that the trekking is really doable with proper planning and information. We trekked to Upper Mustang which took us like a week. Our stay was really nice and the food in Nepal is delicious.
The trip was an absolute success. We explored the beautiful pristine Phewa lake of Pokhara, flew from Pokhara to Jomsom, hiked through Kagbeni village and visited the famous Sky Caves. We really had a great time in Nepal. The local settlements and lifestyle of the people living there was really inspiring.
Special thanks to CoreTreks and the professional team for carrying out the tour and taking care of my family needs. We needed a family friendly package and they did not hesitated to make us our own custom package regarding to the need of our family. I highly recommend that you book your trip or tour to Nepal via CoreTreks too. Thanks.
A wonderful helicopter ride in Nepal
From: United States | On: 08 Oct, 2017
One of the memorable trip of my life. We had an absolute blast. The trekking to the upper mustang was a little rough for me as I am not one of the active trekkers among the group. But the tour exposed me to really stunning views of Nepal along with different cultures.
I appreciate the effort that the guiding team from CoreTreks put on and I’m really thankful to wonderful Nepalese people for welcoming us without any hesitation. It was a relatively short trip but really worthwhile.
I recommend that you consult to CoreTreks before you book your trip to Nepal whether it’s for trekking or touring. The team is really filled with positive energy and dedication. I cannot recommend CoreTreks enough.
