Upper Mustang Trekking

At present Mustang is a very popular trekking region in Nepal. The Home Ministry of Nepal announced the opening of the restricted areas in October 1991. There is also strict control in obtaining a special permit from the Department of Immigration to protect their tradition from outside influence as well as to protect their environment. The high desert region of the Tibetan influence, Kaligandaki, from the Tibetan border south to Kagbeni is generally referred to as “Upper Mustang” that has its own nominal king. The Mustang is one of the very few places on earth which is not spoilt by trekkers.

Being under the rain shadow of the Himalayas, the area receives scanty rainfall making the region dry and arid-very similar to the adjoining Tibetan plateau. The trek to Lo-Manthang is through an almost tree-less barren landscape, a steep rocky trail up and down hill and panoramic views of Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and several other peaks make your trek memorable.

• DAY 1

  ARRIVE IN KATHMANDU

  When you arrive in Kathmandu, you'll be taken to your hotel. While in Kathmandu you will have time fascinating Buddhist and Hindu temples and shrines reflecting ancient local traditions are highlighted on our guided tour. There's time to explore the city's many charms on your own too. In the evening delicious traditional Nepali well come dinner await for you. O/N in Kathmandu. (Welcome-Dinner)

• DAY 2

  KATHMANDU CITY TOUR

  After breakfast, we'll visit Swoyambhunath temple, and said to be 2000 years stupa on a hillock offers breath-taking view of Kathmandu City. We will then processed to Visit Pasupatinath and Bouddhanath. After lunch we'll visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan (Lalitpur) - which is the oldest of the three major cities in Kathmandu Valley - famous for its Buddhist monuments and Hindu temples, and you can catch the traditional artisans working with wood, stones and metals. O/N in Kathmandu. (B/L/D)

• DAY 3

  KATHMANDU / POKHARA

  This morning you will be drive to Pokhara (200km), departure early in the morning, approximately 6 hrs away by tourist bus. You see along the drive good scenery. You will be arrive late afternoon at Pokhara. Pokhara lakeside villages sits, "front row center" to one of the most beautiful Himalayan panoramas in the world. The Annapurna and famous "Fishtail" mountain peak of Machapuchhare tower over the tropical setting of Pokhara and you spend there will be the scenic highlight of your trip. In the evening you will prepare yourself for your trek to Upper Mustang. O/N in Pokhara. (B/L/D)

• DAY 4

  POKHARA / TIKHEDHUNGA (1491m.)

  After breakfast approx:7:30 AM drive to Nayapul (42km) 1.5 hr by Car via large village of Lumle and walk about 20 minutes to Birethanti, a large and prosperous town. The trail follows the main street of Birethanti, going through bamboo forests and past a large waterfall and swimming hole. Beyond a pasture used by pony caravans, the trail reaches Sudami where you have Lunch. After lunch climb steadily up the side of the valley , reaching Hile at 1495m near by Tirekhedhunga. Along the way, various hamlets offer ample camping possibilities but if Ghorepani is the objective for the next day it is better to push on to Tikhe Dhunga. O/N in Tirkhedhunga at Tented Camp. (B/L/D)

• DAY 5

  TIKHEDHUNGA / GHOREPANI (2855m)

  Breakfast served in morning 7:00 AM . From Tirkhedhunga the trail crosses a stream on a suspension bridge near the camp site at Tirkhedhunga. The trail ascends a steep stone staircase to the large Magar village Ulleri at 2070m. Above the village where the trail climbs gently through pastures and cultivated fields. There are magnificent more pleasantly through rhododendron and oak forest. There is a hut with water and a small camp site about 1 hr. above Ulleri. The trail crosses two sparkling clear two streams before making a short, final climb to Nangethanti. Your lunch spot in Nangethanti. Thanti is a Nepali words meaning "rest house" "Dharmasala". In the winter the trail can be covered with snow. From Nangethanti about one hours trek, climb to Ghorepani at 2850m. Arrive at the top of the Ghorepani pass and camp there. O/N in Ghorepani at Tented Camp. (B/L/D)

• DAY 6

  GHOREPANI / TATOPANI

  Being of the early morning 5:30 AM wake up and start to you journey climb to Poon Hill (3195m) around 1 hr. to provides better unobstructed views and sunrise over the high Himalayas. You can see a lots of white mountain peaks from Poon Hill. After sunrise, you'll return to our camp and time for breakfast. Ghorepani means "horse water" and it is no doubt a welcome watering stop for the teams of horses, mules and ponies that carry loads between Pokhara and Jomsom. From Ghorepani the trail downhill trail follows the Jomsom route. Across the rhododendron forest, we pass some small villages and walk along side the Ghaja Khola. In Tatopani (Hot Spring) there are natural hot water springs - time for a "Scrub-up". O/N in Tatopani at Tented Camp. (B/L/D)

• DAY 7

  TATOPANI / GHASA

  A lovely day walking along Kaligandaki riverside, gradually ascending with transition into sub-tropical vegetation. Very interesting suspension bridges to be crossed that makes your trek exciting. Arrive Ghasa an ethnic Thakali village. O/N in Ghasa at Tented Camp. (B/L/D)

• DAY 8

  GHASA / MARPHA

  The trails follows the Kaligandaki river through the narrow gorge, passing through Thakali traditional villages. Marpha is the main inhabitants of the ethnic group of Thakalis. O/N in Marpha at Tented Camp. (B/L/D)

• DAY 9

  MARPHA / KAGBENI

  An easy and lovely day walking along the riverside to Jomsom the district headquarters of Mustang district. This is the most interesting town in the area. The spectacular views of Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, Tukuche peak and Dhampus peak will make you buy some extra rolls of film. Arrive Kagbeni, the entry point of the upper Mustang for overnight stop. O/N in Kagbeni at Tented Camp. (B/L/D)

• DAY 10

  KAGBENI / CHELE

  There is a trail up the east bank of the Kaligandaki that climbs over many ridges as it heads north and reaches Tangbe village. The town is a labyrinth of narrow alleys amongst whitewashed houses, fields of buckwheat, barley, wheat and apple orchards. Nilgiri peak which dominates the southern skyline at Kagbeni continues to loom massively at the foot of the valley. Beyond Tangbe we reach Chhusang village about 1 1/2 hrs trek, and cross the river from there and continue north climbing up the trail to a huge red chunk of conglomerate that has fallen from the cliff above, forming a tunnel through which the Kaligandaki follows. The trek now leaves the Kali Gandaki valley and climbs steeply up a rocky gully to Chele at 3030 Mt. The culture changes from the Manangi culture to the Tibetan culture of Lo from here. O/N in Chele at Tented Camp. (B/L/D)

• DAY 11

  CHELE / GELING

  The climb continues along steep, treeless, water-less terrain, along the side of the spectacular steep canyon to a pass and cairn of rock at 3540 Mt. Then the trail makes a long gradual descent to some chortens on a ridge, then descends further on a pleasant trail to Samar. The Annapurna, still dominated by Nilgiri, is visible far to the south. Climb above Samar to a ridge, then descend into a large gorge and the trail goes into another valley field, crosses a stream and climbs up to a ridge at 3800 Mt. The route climbs over yet another pass, follows a ridge and then descends to Shyangmochen. From there gently climb to a pass at 3770mt and descend to Geling. O/N in Geling at Tented Camp. (B/L/D)

• DAY 12

  GELING / CHARANG

  From Geling, the trail climbs gently to the interesting pass on your trek NYI LA and descend below the blue, grey and red cliffs across the valley to a steel bridge across the Tangmar Chu ( river), then climbs past what is perhaps the longest and most spectacular stretch and main wall in Nepal. Climbing over another pass at 3600m, the route makes a long gentle descent to Charang. The huge five storey white Dzong and red Gompa is an interesting visit to observe collections of statues and Thankas as well as many large paintings of seated Buddhas. O/N in Charang at Tented Camp. (B/L/D)

• DAY 13

  CHARANG / LO MANTHANG

  The trail descends about 100 meters down from Charang, crosses the Charang Chu and climbs steeply up a rocky trail to a cairn on a ridge and continues to climb. Finally from a ridge at 3850 Mt. there is a view of the walled city of LO. After a short descent, cross a stream then climb up into the plateau of LO Manthang. O/N in Lo Manthang at Tented Camp. (B/L/D)

• DAY 14-15-16

  LO MANTHANG

  There are four major places and several other places like the Tall Champa Lakhang "God house", the red Thugchen Gompa, Chyodi Gompa and the Entrance Hall which are the main attractions of this town. An another attraction is the four storey building of the Raja's Palace as well as the surrounding panoramic views of the Himalaya. Having seen one, you are excited to see the others. Besides LO Manthang there are two other interesting valleys worth visiting. The western valley Tingkhar, the sight of Raja's summer palace, Kimling and Phuwa as well as the Gompa of Nangyals "The Monastery of Victory " is the newest and most active Gompa in LO. The eastern valley contains Chosar, the site of a High School, Garphu and Nyphu Gompa and is the main trading route to Lhasa. O/N in Lo Manthang at Tented Camp. (B/L/D)

• DAY 17

  LO MANTHANG / GHAMI VIA GEKAR

  This is an opportunity to visit two other villages on your return trek. The trail climbs steadily to the pass marked by a cairn, offering a last glimpse of LO Manthang. The trail contours past two small ridges and valleys and across a ridge at 4070m then descends across to the south through two more valleys, meadows and a stream. The trail then makes a long rocky descent to Gekar. LO Gekar Gompa is older than Samye Gompa in Tibet and one of the oldest Gompa in Nepal. Then crosses a ridge after a little climbing and drops down steeply to Thamar village. The trail descends along the side of the stone walls and fields of extensive villages, then climbs to a ridge. It is a short descent to Ghami. O/N in Gekar at Tented Camp. (B/L/D)

• DAY 18

  GHAMI / SAMAR

  From Ghami climb to NYI LA and descend to Samar through the same route. O/N in Samar at Tented Camp. (B/L/D)

• DAY 19

  SAMAR / KAGBENI

  Return trek to Kagbeni. O/N in Kagbeni at Tented Camp. (B/L/D)

• DAY 20

  KAGBENI / JOMSOM

  Return trek to Jomsom. O/N in Jomsom at Tented Camp. (B/L/D)

• DAY 21

  JOMSOM / POKHARA

  Fly back to Pokhara. O/N in Pokhara. (B/L/D)

• DAY 22

  POKHARA / KATHMANDU

  Drive back to Kathmandu. O/N in Kathmandu. (B/L/D)

• DAY 23

  KATHMANDU

  After breakfast you're free as your own in Kathmandu. O/N in Kathmandu. (B/L/D)

• DAY 24

  DEPARTURE

  After breakfast free for you until time to leave the international airport for your final destination. (B)