A restricted-area trek north from Kagbeni through the eroded canyons of the former Kingdom of Lo to the walled town of Lo Manthang, returning via Lo Gekar and Dhakmar.
- Days
- 12 days
- Maximum altitude
- 4,325 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Upper Mustangछुसाङ
Chhusang
A farming village of three hamlets beneath red cave-riddled cliffs, usually the first night inside Upper Mustang.
This is Chhusang (Chuksang), the village at the junction of the Narshing Khola and the Kali Gandaki in Upper Mustang, Mustang district; not to be confused with similarly named settlements elsewhere in Nepal.
- Altitude
- 2,980 m*
- Best months
- Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct
- Type
- Trek stop
- District
- Mustang, Gandaki
- Permit
- Restricted-area permit
Higher seasonal exposure: road blockages (Jun-Sep), other (Jun-Sep).
Why go
Chhusang is usually the first overnight stop after entering the Upper Mustang restricted area at Kagbeni. It lies about an hour's walk north of Tangbe, where the Narshing Khola meets the Kali Gandaki, and is made up of three hamlets, Tangma north of the stream, Braga to the south and Cikyab towards the river. Fields of barley, buckwheat and apple trees fill the flat ground between them.
What makes the stop memorable is the setting: tall red, orange and grey cliffs on both sides of the valley, pitted with man-made caves. Across the Kali Gandaki, to the west, is the cave area known as Thagsing Grangma, and just north of the village the river squeezes through a natural rock tunnel near Chele. Within Upper Mustang it is a quiet place to adjust to the altitude before the climb to the higher villages.
History and culture
Chhusang is one of the Baragaun (Twelve Villages) settlements of southern Mustang, where people speak the Seke language and follow Tibetan Buddhism alongside older local customs. The village was a separate village development committee with a population of 860 at the 1991 census and is now part of Baragung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality. South of the Thagsing Grangma caves is an abandoned nunnery known as Gompa Gang.
Things to do in Chhusang
Explore the village lanes
Walk through Tangma, Braga and Cikyab in the late afternoon when farmers return from the fields.
Look across to the caves
View the cave openings in the western cliffs; climbing into caves is unsafe and may be prohibited.
Weather and the best time to visit Chhusang
Weather in Chhusang
Forecast for 2,980 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Good month: Apr
- Good month: May
- Good month: Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Good month: Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- September and October are clear with buckwheat and barley harvests in the fields.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is cold and windy; some lodges close.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- April and May are dry and sunny, with fierce afternoon winds along the valley.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August is fairly dry here, but river levels rise and some crossings become harder.
Where to stay
TeahousesLodges
A few simple family lodges serve trekkers; rooms are basic.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Walk or drive north from Kagbeni along the Kali Gandaki; Chhusang is the first main village after Tangbe.
Nearest hub: Jomsom airport
- trekKagbeni to Chhusang on foot in roughly 5-7 hours via Tangbe.
- jeepJomsom to Chhusang by jeep in roughly 2-3 hours on the Upper Mustang road, depending on the river crossings.
Getting to Chhusang, by mode
Nearest hub: Jomsom. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By airfrom Pokharaabout 0.3-0.6 hJomsomoften delayed or cancelled by weather
Fly Pokhara to Jomsom in about 20 minutes, then continue north by jeep or on foot. Morning flights only, and cancellations are common.
When to set off: Flights are scheduled in the early morning, when wind speeds in the gorge are lowest; keep a spare day in the plan.
By car or jeepfrom Jomsomabout 2-3 h
An unsealed jeep track runs north from Jomsom through the Kali Gandaki and over the ridges towards Lo Manthang; high-clearance vehicles are needed and river crossings and dust govern the pace. Because Upper Mustang lies in the rain shadow, the track itself stays usable through the monsoon, while the road up from Beni does not.
Road: Unsealed jeep track with river crossings; a 4WD or jeep is normally needed.
When to set off: Jeeps leave Jomsom in the morning for the run north.
By motorbikefrom Jomsomabout 2-4 hExperienced riders only
The Upper Mustang track is unsealed, sandy and stony with river crossings, and a restricted-area permit is needed; experienced riders only.
Road: Unsealed, sandy and stony jeep track with river crossings and strong afternoon winds.
When to set off: Start early; afternoon wind and dust make the valley hard going.
On footfrom Kagbeniabout 5-7 hAbout 5-7 hours from Kagbeni via Tangbe, following the Kali Gandaki with modest height gain.
The first walking stage inside the restricted area, up the river from Kagbeni past Tangbe.
Where people go next
- Kagbenion foot, about 5-7 hBack down the Kali Gandaki to the permit checkpoint and the Jomsom road.
- Samaron foot, about 5-7 hNorth via Chele and a steep climb out of the gorge.
- Lo Manthangby car or jeep, about 5-8 hJeep north on the Upper Mustang track.
Permits and fees
Restricted-area permit
Chhusang is inside the Upper Mustang restricted area, so foreigners need the Upper Mustang restricted area permit through a registered agency plus an Annapurna Conservation Area permit.
- Upper Mustang restricted area permit: The Department of Immigration lists USD 50 per person per day for Upper Mustang.
- Annapurna Conservation Area entry permit: Required throughout Mustang district.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of Immigration: Trekking route and permit fee.
On the trail
On the Upper Mustang Trek.
- Previous stop:
- Kagbeni
- Next stop:
- Samar or Syangboche
- A typical day:
- From Kagbeni, about 5-7 hours with modest height gain (about 200 m) along the riverbed and terraces via Tangbe; the next day climbs steeply past Chele towards Samar.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Chhusang
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Road blockageshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
The approach road below Jomsom is the weak link: the Beni-Tatopani-Ghasa gorge section is prone to landslide and flood blockages in the monsoon, while it is generally straightforward from about October to May.
Otherhigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
Monsoon cloud over Pokhara and the gorge frequently delays or cancels the Jomsom flight; the airstrip is below the minimum for visual approaches roughly 15 per cent of the year, so spare days matter.
Altitudemoderate in a typical yearAll year
Chhusang sits at about 2,980 m, well above the roughly 2,500 m at which altitude sickness becomes common, and most itineraries go higher still. General information, not medical advice: gain height slowly (a common guideline is no more than about 300 m a day in sleeping altitude once high), learn the symptoms, descend if they get worse, see a doctor before travelling, and carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Othermoderate in a typical yearMar-Oct
The Kali Gandaki valley is known for gusty up-valley winds that build from late morning; walking and riding are much easier before midday.
Coldmoderate in a typical yearDec-Feb
Winter temperatures in Upper Mustang fall to around -25 C or lower and many residents move to lower ground for the season, so Chhusang is cold and thinly served from December to February.
Landslideslow in a typical yearJun-Sep
Upper Mustang lies in the rain shadow of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri and gets only about 250-400 mm of precipitation a year, so local landslide exposure in the monsoon is low.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- At about 2,980 m, mild altitude symptoms are possible, and the next stages climb above 3,500 m. This is general information, not medical advice.
- There is no ATM; carry cash from Jomsom.
- Mobile signal is patchy; charging may depend on solar power.
- Ask before photographing people, and walk clockwise around chortens and mani walls.
Treks through Chhusang
Questions about Chhusang
Is Chhusang in Upper Mustang?
Yes. It lies north of Kagbeni inside the Upper Mustang restricted area, so the restricted area permit is required.
How long is the walk from Kagbeni to Chhusang?
Roughly 5-7 hours on foot via Tangbe, or a short jeep ride on the road.
How high is Chhusang?
About 2,980 m, which is usually low enough for most people, but the following days climb higher.
More in Upper Mustang
All of Upper Mustang
Town or village · 3,840 m
Lo Manthang
The walled former capital of the Kingdom of Lo, with a royal palace and monasteries from the 15th century.
Trek stop · 3,560 m
Charang
A large Upper Mustang village on the edge of a canyon, with an old fort-palace and a red Sakya monastery.
Trek stop · 3,520 m
Ghami
A large whitewashed village in Upper Mustang, below eroded cliffs and next to a long mani wall of carved prayer stones.
Trek stop · 3,660 m
Samar
A small village in poplar groves above the Kali Gandaki, on the climb from Chele towards Ghami in Upper Mustang.
Nearby
Town or village · 2,804 m
Kagbeni
A medieval mud-brick village at the confluence of two rivers, the gateway between Lower and Upper Mustang.
Valley or region
Upper Mustang
The old Kingdom of Lo: a dry, wind-carved valley of cave cliffs, red monasteries and walled villages north of Kagbeni.
Temple, monastery or heritage site · 3,762 m
Muktinath
A high temple complex below the Thorong La, sacred to Hindus as Mukti Kshetra and to Buddhists as Chumig Gyatsa.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Chhusang, Wikipedia, Upper Mustang, Wikipedia, Upper Mustang trek height, weather and temperature, Himalayan Masters, Department of Immigration: Trekking route and permit fee