Upper Mustang is the accessible face of Tibetan Nepal: 10 to 14 days, lodges, a road and the walled town of Lo Manthang. Limi Valley, in Humla in the far north-west, is among the remotest inhabited valleys in the country: 16 to 20 days, mostly camping, with a pass of about 5,000 m and three old stone villages near the Tibet border. Choose Mustang for a first restricted trek; choose Limi if you want to go where very few do.
Limi Valley and Upper Mustang at a glance
- Days. Limi Valley: 16 to 20. Upper Mustang: 10 to 14.
- Highest point. Limi Valley: Nyalu La, about 5,000 m. Upper Mustang: about 4,300 m.
- Lodging. Limi Valley: camping; simple homestays in places. Upper Mustang: lodges.
- Access. Limi Valley: flights to Nepalgunj and Simikot. Upper Mustang: flight or road to Jomsom.
- Villages. Limi Valley: Til, Halji and Jang. Upper Mustang: Lo Manthang and a dozen more.
- Visitors per year. Limi Valley: a few hundred. Upper Mustang: several thousand.
Limi Valley
The trek starts at Simikot, the roadless headquarters of Humla, and follows the Karnali river north-west along the old pilgrim route to Mount Kailash as far as Hilsa on the Tibetan border. It then turns into the Limi valley, passing Til, Halji, whose monastery is said to date from the 11th century, and Jang, before climbing over the Nyalu La and returning to Simikot. See the Limi Valley trek guides.
Upper Mustang
From Jomsom and Kagbeni the route runs north through Chele, Ghami and Tsarang to Lo Manthang, with side trips to cave monasteries and the villages near the border. See the Upper Mustang guides.
Remoteness
This is the real difference. Mustang has a road, phone signal in most villages and Jomsom's airstrip a few days away. Humla has no road link to the rest of Nepal, Simikot's flights are frequently delayed, and in the Limi valley you are several days' walk from the airstrip. That isolation has preserved the villages, which are built of stone in tight terraces and look much as they did centuries ago.
Difficulty
Mustang is moderate. Limi is hard: longer days, a 5,000 m pass, cold camps and the uncertainty of mountain flights at each end.
Cost
Mustang's permit is the larger single fee. Limi's total is higher, because of two flights each way, a camping crew and more days. Humla's restricted permit is charged per week.
Season
Limi: May to October, with the monsoon months workable. Mustang: March to November.
Wildlife
Limi's high pastures have wild yak in small numbers near the border, blue sheep, Tibetan wild ass and, rarely, snow leopard and wolf. Mustang has blue sheep and many birds of prey.
What the villages are like
Lo Manthang is a town, with a palace, guesthouses, shops and schools. Halji, Til and Jang are farming villages of a few dozen houses each, where barley is threshed by hand and trade still crosses the border with Tibet. Visitors are rare enough that children come out to look.
Who goes
Mustang draws a broad mix, from cultural travellers on jeep tours to trekkers. Limi draws experienced trekkers, photographers and people on the way to or from Kailash.
Permits
Both are restricted areas. Mustang's fee is fixed for the first ten days with a daily charge after that. Humla's is charged for the first week and then per day. Each needs a registered agency, a licensed guide and at least two trekkers.
Choose Limi Valley if
- You have trekked in remote areas before.
- You have close to three weeks, with spare days for flights.
- You want to see one of Nepal's least-visited valleys.
- You are happy camping.
Choose Upper Mustang if
- You want lodges and predictable logistics.
- You have about two weeks.
- You are interested in Lo Manthang and its monasteries.
- It is your first restricted area trek.
Plan it
Ask us for itineraries for both, with flight buffers for Humla.
Common questions
Where is Limi Valley?
In Humla district, in the far north-west of Nepal, beside the Tibet border.
Which is harder?
Limi Valley.
Do both need restricted permits?
Yes, with a licensed guide and at least two trekkers.
Can Limi be combined with Kailash?
Yes. Hilsa is the Nepali border point on the route to Kailash, subject to current rules for crossing into Tibet.
Heights, days, fees and rules are approximate and can change, so confirm the current details with us before you book.
