Kathmandu – Pokhara – Jomsom – Lo Manthang

Upper Mustang Helicopter Tour to Lo Manthang

A full day out to the walled city of Lo Manthang, in the former Kingdom of Lo, flying over the red cliffs and cave dwellings of Upper Mustang. The restricted-area permit is included.

3,840 mlanding, Lo Manthang

Duration: About 6 hours
Departs: Kathmandu, around 6:30
Landing: Lo Manthang, about 3,840 m
Time on the ground: About 1 hour
Group size: 1 to 5 per helicopter
Best months: March–November (Mustang has little monsoon rain)

Upper Mustang lies north of the Himalayan crest, in the rain shadow of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, and it looks far more like Tibet than Nepal. It's a high desert of wind-carved cliffs in red, ochre and grey, dotted with caves dug into the rock centuries ago and villages built around white chortens. Its capital, Lo Manthang, is a walled town of around 150 houses and four old monasteries.

Mustang is a restricted area, and going overland takes most visitors ten days. This flight gets you there and back in one. You fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara, refuel at Jomsom, then follow the Kali Gandaki north past Kagbeni and over the canyons to land just outside the walls of Lo Manthang.

You'll have about an hour to walk through the town gate, see the monasteries and gaze out over the plateau towards Tibet before the helicopter flies you back the same day. The US$500 restricted-area permit is included in the price.

Highlights

Land at Lo Manthang, the walled capital of Lo
Red cliffs and cave dwellings of Upper Mustang
The Kali Gandaki gorge between two 8,000 m peaks
Restricted-area permit included

Price per person by group size

You hire the whole helicopter, and its cost is shared between everyone on board. Travelling solo or as a couple? Ask about a shared seat, which costs the lowest price.

Passengers	Price per person
1 person	US$5,112each
2 people	US$2,956each
3 people	US$2,272each
4+ people	US$1,846each

Flight plan

1
To the Kingdom of Lo and back
- Hotel pickup in Kathmandu and fly to Pokhara, about 40 minutes.
- Continue up the Kali Gandaki to Jomsom (2,720 m) to refuel.
- Fly north past Kagbeni, Chele and the cliffs of Dhakmar to Lo Manthang.
- About an hour in Lo Manthang: the town gate, the monasteries and the old palace from outside.
- Fly back via Jomsom to Kathmandu and drive to your hotel by mid-afternoon.

What's included

Hotel pickup and drop-off by private car
Your seat on the helicopter, with all landing and route charges
Airport and government taxes
Passenger insurance held by the helicopter operator
Upper Mustang restricted-area permit (US$500 per person)
Annapurna Conservation Area entry permit

Not included

Travel insurance
Meals unless listed
Tips and personal spending

Good to know

Where we meet you: Your hotel in Kathmandu. We need a passport copy 5 days before the flight for the permit.
Cancellation: If the weather grounds your flight, you can move it to the next clear day or have a full refund. If you cancel more than 10 days before the flight, we refund half of what you've paid; within 10 days, the deposit isn't refundable. Booking terms
Notes: Permits are issued for named passengers, so changing a name once the permit has been issued costs extra.

Questions

Can we start in Pokhara?

Yes, and it costs less, because the helicopter skips the Kathmandu leg. Just ask us for a Pokhara quote.

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