Upper Mustang Trek

We will meet you at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer to your hotel. When you have had your time to settle in and freshen up after your long fight, you will be invited to visit our office for a briefing about your program. You will have meeting with your trekking guide and discuss about the equipment needed for the trekking and we will process for the trekking permits. During this visit we will help you check your equipment and facilitate the processing of other necessary items such as National Park Permits, special permits etc. If you arrive at night we will have same discussion in next day morning after your breakfast.

The very next morning, after breakfast you will leave for a full day sightseeing tour around Kathmandu valley. You can visit sacred Pashupatinath Temple and Swyambhunath, very ancient and essentially enlisted in UNESCO World Heritage sites. The biggest Buddhist Stupa at Boudhnath and the fine arts and historical architecture of Kathmandu Durbar Square reflecting the ancient Nepalese culture are highlighted on our guided tour. On return to your hotel you will have time to explore the local area, have dinner and perhaps take a leisurely stroll through the popular streets. today we will make a special permit for Mustang( it shouldn’t be a Saturday and public holiday)

After having your breakfast, we will drive you to the Domestic Airport to take a 25 minutes flight to Pokhara. Or if you wish you can take a Tourist bus to Pokhara about 6-7 hour drive exploring & enjoying with scenic beauty all the way around. Pokhara offers magnificent views of Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhare, five peaks of Annapurna and others. In the evening, a boating trip on Phewa Lake will be followed where you can enjoy the spectacular views of Annapurna Himalaya Range reflected in all its glory in the calm green water of the lake and visit Bindavasini Temple lying in middle of the lake.

We will take a flight early in the morning to Jomsom of about 25min with spectacular views of Mountains bringing you to the District headquarter of Mustang, Jomsom. From here onwards it is very windy in the afternoon, trail is quite barren with craggy rocks and sand and is mostly flat, which makes it very easy going. The spectacular and picturesque peaks of Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, Tukuche Peak and Dhampus above the sparse brown landscape, as you walk on gently undulating trails until you reach Kagbeni. Kagbeni provides you with a taste of scenes to come in upper Mustang, with its narrow alleyways and tunnels, irrigation canals, green fields of wheat and barley and a large red Gompa. The Rest of the day we will explore around village, people’s culture and life hood.

Next day journey starts with a special permit check up onwards to the riverbank of Kali Gandaki up stream. We enter upper Mustang and follow the east bank of the river over a series of small ridges. The trail leads us through the scenic picturesque wasteland landscape windy valley following up and down hills to Tangbe village. The town of white washed houses contains an intriguing pattern of alleyways and is surrounded by fields of wheat, barley and buckwheat, interspersed with small apple orchards. The Nilgiri peaks, which dominate the southern skyline of Kagbeni, provide a spectacular backdrop. From here we trek forward to Chhusang crossing the river heading up to the huge red chunk of conglomerate that has fallen from the cliff above forming a tunnel through which the Kali Gandaki follows. The trek now leaves the Kali Gandaki valley and climbs steeply up a rocky gully to Chele.

We climb to Taklam La Pass (3,624m/11,923 ft) through plateaus and narrow stretches with views of Tilicho Peak, Yakawa Kang and Damodar Danda.The climb continues along steep, treeless and dry terrain, along the side of a spectacular deep canyon to pass a cairn of rock. The trail then makes a long gradual descent to some chortens on a ridge, and descends further on a pleasant trail to Samar. The Annapurna Range, still dominated by Nilgiri, stands magnificent far to the south. We relax descend into a large gorge and go into another valley along the surrounding of cool streams and junipers trees, crossing a stream and climbs up to a ridge at 3800m. Further walk to reach at Syanbochen for the overnight stay. We also pass by a famous Ramchung Cave and explore surroundings ancient unique village area.

After breakfast the trail climbs gently toYamda La (3850m). Descend past a large painted square chorten and village with a Tibetans styles house. Turning north, it rejoins road and becomes unrelenting climb across the head of the valley to the Nyi La (4020m) with wonderful landscape vista. Nyi Pass is the highest point of the trek thus far and the southern boundary of Lo. The trail then drops steeply to the whitewashed buildings of Ghemi. Ghemi is surrounded by large fields most of which are barren. The afternoon is in perhaps the driest part of Mustang and views of countryside are magnificent with the rugged mountains in the east and west. Over night stay in Ghemi.

The track descends below the blue, grey and red cliffs across the valley to a steel bridge across the Tangmar Chu. Then climb to a plateau and passes the longest and most spectacular Mani walls in Nepal. From the end of the wall the trail heads east to the village of Charang (Tsarang) with a maze of fields, willow trees and houses separatd by stone walls at the top of the Charang Chu canyon. At the eastern end of the village, are huge Dzong [fortress] and a red Gompa which houses an excellent collection of statues and Thankas as well as many large paintings of seated Buddha’s. The huge five-storey monastery fortress is perched on the edge of the Kali Gandaki gorge.

The trail descends about 125m from Charang, crosses the Tsarang Chu and follows the track to a cairn on a ridge opposite the village at 3580m, then enters the Tholung village. Then the trail further ascends gently to the 3,850m windy pass of Lo, from where you can see the Lo-Manthang Valley (3700m), views of the walled city appear magnificent with its hills on the Tibetan Border. A short descent leads onto the plain of Aspiration and then the trail crosses a stream and climbs up onto the plateau of Lo-Manthang. Stay overnight at camping here.

A day is less to explore this outstanding historical and cultural centre. Kimling and Phuwa are interesting as well as the Gompa of Namgyal serve as an important monastery of the local community and also as a local court. Hike to Tingkhar, a village of around 40 houses, the last main village to the northwest of Lo-Mangthang is picturesque. In the eastern valley nestles the village of Chosar; also rich in Gompas, this valley is the main trading route to Lhasa. Visit the Tall Champa Lakhang “God house”, the red Thugchen Gomba, Chyodi Gomba and the Entrance Hall which are the main magnetize of lo Mangthang Trip. Also you may have visit the four- story building of the Raja’s Durbar (Royal Palace) where the Mustang’s King offers Tibetan tea as his hospitality. There are many places to explore as the surrounding panoramic views of the Himalaya, where you may not tire to.

Instead of following the trail south to Tsarang, turn southwest along an indistinct trail that passes the irrigated fields of the city. After Lo Gekar, the trail climbs steeply to a cairn on a pass at 4000m, offering a last glimpse of Lo Manthang. Cross the Chogo La (4325m), the highest point on this trek. The trail makes descend beside a stream visiting ancient Ghar Gompa more than 1200 years old and meet the Guru Rimponche. Gompa is famous for its rock paintings andthe legend of fulfilling our good wishes. Climb to a ridge, the route crosses some alpine meadows to a crest and then drops down a steep eroded gully overshadowed by red rock towers to Drakmar.

Today we continue down the valley to Ghiling in dusty and windy trail. The trail leads passing through the arid plateau and crops field in between, the walks may not be pleasant on the back as we suffer the wind on face in Kali Gandaki wind valley. The landscapes are deserts types offering the majestic views of Mt Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri. At the late afternoon travels around the surrounding of Ghiling village.

The path trekking back to Chhuksang is easy working down enjoying the Tibetan life style and culture. You will have wonderful scenery and the amazing views of Nilgiri, Tilicho and others tremendous Himalayan peaks. Stay overnight at hotel.

Today we walk down to the southern border of the Mustang region to Kagbeni. We gradually get down through old salt trade route; the stupa, monasteries and chortens (Buddhist shrine) are the main attractions of the day. After having a lunch at Kagbeni we will head to Jomsom following the Kali Gandaki River Bank with an easy and flat work. Continue the trail down on the stony path facing Tukuche, Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri. Explore the headquarter city and have your over night stay here.

An early morning we will take a short picturesque flight to Pokhara. The view of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains and world’s deepest gorge, Kali Gandaki are stunning. Relax whole day in Hotel or wander around Lake Side with fascinating mountains panorama view and nature charming.

Take a flight or drive by tourist bus/Private car to Kathmandu. At the evening you can have your last night in Nepal enjoying the Nepali cultural dinner show, taking some beautiful snaps and making up your mind for the returning journey. You can have a greetings exchanging among friends and with all Nepalese people.

We will take you to the International Airport for your convenience. Wish you a happy journey in the traditional and cultural way of us Nepalese and Good-Bye with a hope to see you again.