Ghami: The Upper Mustang Village With the Long Mani Wall

Last updated 9 October 2026.

Ghami is a village at 3,520 m in Upper Mustang, a long day's walk south of Lo Manthang. It is known for a very long mani wall and for the cave dwellings cut into the cliffs on the approach. We sleep in Ghami on the way back from Lo Manthang on the Upper Mustang Trek, 10 days, and on the way in on the jeep tour.

Short answer: Ghami is at 3,520 m (11,549 ft). Lo Manthang to Ghami is a long day of 7 to 8 hours and about 23 km, over the Lo La and through Tsarang. The next day goes on to Samar in 7 to 8 hours, about 21 km, over the Nyi La at 4,010 m. A restricted-area permit is needed, and a licensed guide is compulsory.

Ghami at a glance

Where does Ghami sit on our Upper Mustang treks?

On the 10-day trek, Ghami is the night of day 7, the first stop on the way back from Lo Manthang. You go through it on day 4 but do not stop, because we walk on to Dhakmar. The same two days appear on the Upper Mustang Trek via Pokhara and Jomsom, 15 days, where Ghami is the night of day 10.

On the Upper Mustang Jeep Tour, 8 days from Pokhara, Ghami is the night of day 2. The jeep follows the Kali Gandaki gorge north from Kagbeni through Tangbe and Chhusang, then on past the red cliffs above Chele. The next morning the jeep drives to Lo Manthang through Tsarang.

The next day, Ghami to Samar, climbs out over the Nyi La and passes Syangboche and the Yamda La before dropping to Samar.

What is the day from Lo Manthang to Ghami like?

You begin the return south. The trail crosses the Lo La, which is new ground because you came in over the Choku La, and drops to Tsarang. There you can visit the 14th-century Tsarang Dzong and the gompa with its old Buddhist murals. Then it continues to Ghami. Walking south the views reverse: Nilgiri, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri are now ahead of you instead of behind. At about 23 km it is a long day, but it feels faster because your body is acclimatised by now. Before you set off from Lo Manthang, I suggest a full breakfast and a packed lunch.

What is there to see in Ghami?

The mani wall is the reason people mention Ghami. It is very long, so stop for a closer look. Around the village, on the approach from the north, the cliff faces are cut with ancient cave dwellings. Our trek goes past them on the way in, on day 4. The setting is high desert: dry, wide and quiet.

What are the lodges and food like in Ghami?

Ghami is a good overnight stop with a choice of guesthouses. Expect simple rooms and meals cooked for you in the guesthouse. Your tier decides the rest. Budget means shared rooms, no meals included and no porter. Standard means private rooms, all trek meals and one porter for every two trekkers. Luxury means a private deluxe room, all meals plus fruit and nuts, and a dedicated porter for each trekker. A licensed guide walks with you on every trek.

Is altitude a problem in Ghami?

On the 10-day trek you reach Ghami after Lo Manthang at 3,840 m, so you are already used to the height, and Ghami is 320 m lower. On the jeep tour it is different. Kagbeni is at 2,804 m, so Ghami at 3,520 m is a rise of about 716 m in a day, with no walking to help your body adjust. Drink water, go slowly on any walk and tell your guide about headaches. Buy travel insurance at home with helicopter rescue and evacuation cover. The Nyi La, 4,010 m, is the high point of the next day.

What do you need to know about permits and the road?

Upper Mustang is a restricted area. The permit is USD 50 per person per day for the days inside the zone, and you also need the Annapurna Conservation Area permit and a TIMS card. All three are included in our price. A licensed guide is compulsory, solo travellers can book since 22 March 2026, and there can be at most 7 trekkers per guide. We need at least 48 hours in government working days to file the permit. You cannot walk apart from your guide. Read my notes on the permit rates and on flying or driving in.

As of 7 October 2026 the Beni to Jomsom road is closed for repairs, and reopening is expected in mid-October. We check 48 hours before departure, and if the road is not open we move your dates free.

When is the best time to be in Ghami?

Spring, March to May, is clear and warming, and the Tiji festival falls in May in Lo Manthang. Autumn, September to November, is the other main season. Upper Mustang also works in the monsoon, June to August, because it sits in the rain shadow, so it can be a good choice if your leave falls in July. See Upper Mustang in the monsoon for the detail.

Questions people ask

How high is Ghami in Upper Mustang? Our itineraries give 3,520 m, which is 11,549 ft.

How far is Ghami from Lo Manthang? About 23 km, a walk of 7 to 8 hours via the Lo La and Tsarang.

Do you sleep in Ghami on the way in? On the trek, no. We walk on to Dhakmar on day 4. On the jeep tour, yes: Ghami is the night of day 2.

Why is the mani wall in Ghami famous? It is very long, and it is the best-known sight in the village.

What is the next village after Ghami on the way back? Samar, 7 to 8 hours and about 21 km on, over the Nyi La at 4,010 m.

Do I need a permit to stay in Ghami? Yes. It is inside the Upper Mustang restricted area, so you need the restricted-area permit, the Annapurna Conservation Area permit and a TIMS card. We arrange all three.

Can I visit Ghami without trekking? Yes. The 8-day jeep tour from Pokhara sleeps in Ghami on day 2.

Group size is 2 to 20, and you can also trek solo. The deposit is 10 per cent and it is non-refundable, with no refund if you cancel. You can reschedule free of charge with at least 7 days notice to any date within one year. The balance is paid on arrival in Kathmandu in USD or EUR, cash or by card. Card carries 3.5 per cent and cash in Kathmandu carries none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign clients.

How do you plan this with us?

Message me on WhatsApp on +977 9810351300 with your dates, how many of you there are and whether you prefer to walk or take the jeep. I will tell you which tier and which route I would choose, and send you the exact quote.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.