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 Mustangचराङ
Charang
A large Upper Mustang village on the edge of a canyon, with an old fort-palace and a red Sakya monastery.
This is Charang (Tsarang), the village in Upper Mustang, Mustang district, a day south of Lo Manthang; not the places of the same name in Russia.
- Altitude
- 3,560 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), cold (Dec-Feb).
Why go
Charang, also written Tsarang, is the last overnight stop before Lo Manthang on the usual Upper Mustang route and one of the largest villages in the old Kingdom of Lo. It spreads across a terrace at about 3,560 m above the deep Charang Khola canyon, with willow-lined fields, long mani walls and a large central chorten. It is also the administrative centre of Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality.
The two landmarks stand at the eastern edge of the village: a ruined multi-storey dzong, a fort-palace once used by the kings of Lo, and beside it the red-walled Tsarang Gompa, a monastery of the Sakya tradition with old statues and painted thangkas. From Charang the trail climbs gently to the Lo La viewpoint, from which Lo Manthang first comes into view, about 3-5 hours away. Within Upper Mustang it is a natural place for an afternoon of exploring before the final stage to the capital.
History and culture
Charang was an important seat of the Lo kings before and alongside Lo Manthang, which is why it has a royal fort. The population is mostly Lhopa (Loba), Tibetan-speaking and Buddhist. At the 1991 census the village had 682 people in 130 households; today it is the headquarters of Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality, formed in 2017 from the former Charang, Surkhang and Ghami village development committees.
Things to do in Charang
Visit Tsarang Gompa
See the monastery's assembly hall and statues; a monk may open it on request and a donation is customary.
See the old dzong
View the crumbling fort-palace beside the monastery; entry to the interior is not always possible and parts are unstable.
Weather and the best time to visit Charang
Weather in Charang
Forecast for 3,560 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 and calm, with harvest in the fields.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is very cold; many residents move south and lodges may close.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- April and May are sunny and dry, with strong afternoon winds.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August is mostly dry this far north, though access to Jomsom can be disrupted.
Where to stay
TeahousesLodges
Several family lodges cater to trekkers; facilities are simple.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Charang is about three days' walk north of Kagbeni, or several hours by jeep from Jomsom on the Upper Mustang road.
Nearest hub: Jomsom airport
- trekGhami to Charang in roughly 4-5 hours, crossing a pass of about 3,800-3,900 m and the long mani wall below Ghami.
- jeepJomsom to Charang by jeep in roughly 6-8 hours, depending on road conditions.
Getting to Charang, 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 6-8 hours north by jeep; 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 Jomsomabout 6-8 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 6-9 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 Ghamiabout 4-5 hAbout 4-5 hours from Ghami, crossing a pass of roughly 3,800-3,900 m and passing the long mani wall below Ghami.
A short high stage from Ghami; Charang is about three days' walk north of Kagbeni.
Where people go next
- Ghamion foot, about 4-5 hBack south over the pass to Ghami.
- Lo Manthangon foot, about 4-6 hNorth over the Lo La to the walled capital, or about an hour by jeep.
- Jomsomby car or jeep, about 6-8 hBack down the jeep track to the airstrip.
Permits and fees
Restricted-area permit
Charang is inside the Upper Mustang restricted area: foreigners need the 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, covering Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality.
- 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:
- Ghami
- Next stop:
- Lo Manthang
- A typical day:
- From Ghami, about 4-5 hours over a pass near 3,800-3,900 m, passing one of the longest mani walls in Mustang, then down into the Charang Khola valley.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Charang
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 Charang is cold and thinly served from December to February.
Altitudemoderate in a typical yearAll year
Charang sits at about 3,560 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
- At about 3,560 m, altitude sickness is possible; ascend gradually and rest if you feel unwell. This is general information, not medical advice.
- No ATM; carry cash for lodges and donations.
- Mobile signal is patchy and charging may depend on solar power.
- Remove shoes and hats inside the gompa and ask before taking photographs.
Treks through Charang
Questions about Charang
Is Charang the same as Tsarang?
Yes. Charang and Tsarang are two spellings of the same village in Upper Mustang, the stop before Lo Manthang.
How far is Charang from Lo Manthang?
About 3-5 hours on foot via the Lo La viewpoint, or a short jeep ride.
Do I need a permit for Charang?
Yes. It lies inside the Upper Mustang restricted area, so the restricted area permit and an ACAP permit are needed.
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 · 2,980 m
Chhusang
A farming village of three hamlets beneath red cave-riddled cliffs, usually the first night inside Upper Mustang.
Trek stop · 3,520 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
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.
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.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Charang, Nepal, Wikipedia, Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality, Wikipedia, Upper Mustang trek height, weather and temperature, Himalayan Masters, Department of Immigration: Trekking route and permit fee