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
Ghami
A large whitewashed village in Upper Mustang, below eroded cliffs and next to a long mani wall of carved prayer stones.
- Altitude
- 3,520 m*
- Best months
- Mar-Nov
- Type
- Trek stop
- District
- Mustang, Gandaki
- Permit
- Restricted-area permit
Higher seasonal exposure: road blockages (Jun-Sep), other (Jun-Sep), cold (Dec-Feb).
Why go
Ghami is one of the larger villages of Upper Mustang, at about 3,500-3,520 m, a cluster of whitewashed flat-roofed houses with fields and trees below tall, eroded cliffs. It is a standard overnight stop on the trek to Lo Manthang, reached from Samar or Syangboche over a pass of about 4,000 m.
South of the village, the trail to Charang passes a long mani wall of carved prayer stones, and red cliffs near Dhakmar. Ghami is also the point where trekking routes from Dolpo over the high passes enter Mustang, and where the return route via Dhakmar and Lo Gekar rejoins the main trail.
History and culture
Ghami lies in the former Kingdom of Lo and its people are Tibetan Buddhist farmers and herders, growing barley and buckwheat with irrigation from snow-fed streams. Village legend links the red cliffs of nearby Dhakmar and the long mani wall to the defeat of a demon by Padmasambhava; this is local legend rather than history. Houses keep firewood and fodder stacked on their roofs, a sign of wealth and preparation for winter.
Things to do in Ghami
Walk the mani wall
Pass the long wall of carved stones on the way to Charang, keeping it on your right as custom requires.
Explore the village
Walk the lanes between flat-roofed houses and visit the small gompa, asking before taking photographs.
Weather and the best time to visit Ghami
Weather in Ghami
Forecast for 3,520 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
Mar-Nov
- Jan
- Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- Good month: May
- Good month: Jun
- Good month: Jul
- Good month: Aug
- Good month: Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- September to November is dry and clear, and the main season for trekking.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is very cold and windy; many residents move south and some lodges close.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May is pleasant and dry, with strong afternoon winds in the Kali Gandaki valley.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August is a good time to visit because the area lies in the rain shadow, but roads further south can be cut by landslides.
Where to stay
TeahousesLodges
Several lodges, mostly family-run.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Reached on foot in three to four days from Kagbeni, or by jeep on the road from Jomsom towards Lo Manthang.
Nearest hub: Jomsom
- trekFrom Samar, about 6-7 hours via Syangboche and a pass of about 4,000 m; from Syangboche, about 3-4 hours.
- jeepJomsom to Ghami by jeep on the Lo Manthang road, a long and dusty day; check current conditions.
Getting to Ghami, 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 take the jeep track north; morning flights only and often cancelled.
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 Jomsom
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. Jomsom to Ghami is a long, dusty day, but no sourced hour band was found for this stage.
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 JomsomExperienced 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 Samarabout 6-7 hAbout 6-7 hours from Samar via Syangboche and the Nyi La (roughly 4,000 m), or 3-4 hours from Syangboche.
The stage crosses the Nyi La at about 4,000 m before dropping to Ghami and its long mani wall.
Where people go next
- Samaron foot, about 6-7 hBack south over the Nyi La.
- Charangon foot, about 4-5 hNorth past the mani wall and over a pass of about 3,800-3,900 m.
- Lo Manthangby car or jeep, about 3-5 hJeep on through Charang to the walled capital.
Permits and fees
Restricted-area permit
Ghami is inside the Upper Mustang restricted area: a restricted-area permit through a registered agency and an ACAP permit are required. Restricted-area permits are issued only through a government-registered trekking agency, for trekkers with a licensed guide; a minimum group of two has long been required, and changes have been reported, so confirm the current rule.
- Upper Mustang restricted-area permit: Issued through a registered trekking agency; checked at Kagbeni and Lo Manthang.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): Required throughout the conservation area; checked at trail checkpoints.
- Guide rule: Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas are generally required to go with a licensed guide; check the current rule.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of Immigration, Nepal: Trekking Route and Permit Fee.
On the trail
On the Upper Mustang Trek, Dolpo to Mustang treks.
- Previous stop:
- Samar or Syangboche
- Next stop:
- Charang
- A typical day:
- From Samar, about 6-7 hours over a series of ridges and a pass of about 4,000 m, then a descent of about 500 m.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Ghami
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.
Coldhigh 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 Ghami is cold and thinly served from December to February.
Altitudemoderate in a typical yearAll year
Ghami sits at about 3,520 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.
Snowmoderate in a typical yearNov-Apr
Snow can lie on the ridge passes of the Upper Mustang route between about 3,800 m and 4,200 m from late autumn into spring, slowing jeeps and walkers.
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.
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
- Altitude illness is possible above about 2,500 m: climb slowly, do not go higher with a headache or nausea, and descend if symptoms get worse. This is general information, not medical advice.
- Wind rises sharply after midday; start early and protect against dust.
- Mobile signal is patchy.
- Pass mani walls and chortens keeping them on your right.
Treks through Ghami
Questions about Ghami
How high is Ghami?
About 3,500-3,520 m.
Is Ghami on the Upper Mustang trek?
Yes, it is a standard overnight stop between Samar or Syangboche and Charang.
Do I need a permit for Ghami?
Yes, an Upper Mustang restricted-area permit through a registered agency, plus an ACAP permit.
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 · 2,980 m
Chhusang
A farming village of three hamlets beneath red cave-riddled cliffs, usually the first night inside Upper Mustang.
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
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.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Upper Mustang, Wikipedia, Department of Immigration, Nepal: Trekking Route and Permit Fee, Ghami, OpenStreetMap