Upper Mustang Trek
Overview
Upper Mustang Trek
‘Adventure within old Trans Himalayan Caravan Route around picturesque country’
Upper Mustang Trek is located in Nepal Far North Western Himalaya a country of immense beauty with breath-taking scenery of windswept landscapes with high canyons and weather-beaten eroded hills dotted with small caves, where in ancient times monks and priest meditated in perfect isolation within the harmony of beautiful views of snow-capped peaks. Upper Mustang actually an extension of South Western Tibetan vast plateau of great fascination with age-old villages Kagbeni-Tsusang-Ghami-Tsrang and a walled kingdom of Lo-Manthang where Raja ‘King’ of Mustang ruled the country for hundreds of centuries to last few decades, before Nepal become a republic nation. Upper Mustang trek is part of Annapurna circuit trek.
Upper Mustang Trek rewards you with incredible views of dramatic landscapes of red-brown colored canyons and hills with traditional villages, monasteries where the trail leads you to long series of prayer walls and wheels in the shade of Damodar and Mustang Himal and as far to Dhaulagiri range makes this an awesome country to visit.
Upper Mustang Trek starts with a short scenic flight from beautiful Pokhara city in the shade of massive Annapurna Himalaya, then landing at Jomsom the headquarter town of Mustang district famous for delicious apples and its products. From Jomsom heading on the ancient Trans Himalayan Trade Route and Caravan Trail of Nepal and Tibet to reach the high dry country of Upper Mustang walking past Kaligandaki River valley to enter Kagbeni village, an interesting place of Tibetan style with similar Buddhist culture and way of traditional life. The walk leads further from Kagbeni, entrance and exit point of Upper Mustang and a door to Tibet border, where special permits required traveling beyond Kagbeni village.
As the walking progress with mules to carry your baggage with overnights in nice and lovely villages of Tsusang-Ghami-Tsarang within barley and buckwheat fields then visit its old interesting monasteries.
After a fruitful visit of Lo-Manthang and around Upper Mustang with its amazing views of landscapes heading back taking an alternative route or on the same trail to Jomsom town after a grand and enjoyable time at Upper Mustang Trek.
Details Itinerary:
We will spend our second day by sightseeing of Kathmandu Valley. Pashupatinath, regarded as the holiest temple of Lord Shiva, Bauddhanath was known as Little Tibet and Swayambhunath knew as Monkey Temple will be our main sightseeing destination. Then we will enter Basantpur Durbar Square. After visiting Kathmandu valley we will return back to the hotel and make preparation for tomorrow.
After check our special permit at Kaagbeni we will continue our journey toward Chele. We will unknowingly picturesque desert valley of Nepal which will be so much interesting. We will walk in sandy and windy trails with up and downhill. Slowly walking we will reach the small ridges at Chele Village where we will spend our night.
From Chele, we will continue our walk toward Syangboche. We need to walk through Ekle Bhatti. After crossing Taklam La pass (3624m) we almost complete today’s walk. We need to walk on plateaus and narrow stretches. Panoramic scene of Tilicho Peak, Damodar Danda, and Yakawa Kang will be so much memory.
Early morning we walk toward Charang. First of all, we need to cross Ghaymi Khola to start our journey. Ascending on the plateau and passing beside a very long Mani wall (a sacred stone wall made by the followers of Buddhism) we will Charang village of a maze of fields for our cool night.
After having breakfast we trek toward Lo-Manthang. We need to walk through the main trial. Magnificent views of Tilicho, Annapurna I, Nilgiri and Bhrikuti Peak can be seen through our trial. Finally, we will be at Lo from where we can observe the panoramic view of Lo-Mangthang valley.
Today we spend our whole day exploring at Lo-Manthang. First of all, we will visit Namgyal Gompa (situated on a hilltop considered as an important monastery in the local community) and Tingkhar (last main village to the northwest of Lo-Manthang). In this way, we will spend our whole day.
After having breakfast, we will continue our walk toward Chhuksang. We need to walk through the main trail. We will be pleased with the beautiful scenery which will be so much impressive. Walking slowly on Humpty Dumpty way we lastly reach Chhuksang where we will spend our night at a lodge.
We will catch the early morning flight over to Pokhara. From the flight magnificent view of mountain ranges with snow, a cap can be seen. After reaching Pokhara we will view and visit the local market at Lakeside in our leisure time. Then we will return back to the hotel to stay at our memorable night.
Details Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300m/4,428ft)
Day 02: Cultural Sightseeing tour & trek Preparation
Day 03: Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (850m): 5-6 hours
Day 04: Fly to Jomsom (2,700m) and trek to Kagbeni (2,800m): 3/4 hours
Day 05: Kagbeni to Chele (3,065m): 6 hours
Day 06: Chele to Syanbochen (3,485m): 6-7 hours
Day 07: Syanbochen to Ghami (3,530m): 5-6 hours
Day 08: Ghami to Tsarang (3,640m): 5-6 hours
Day 09: Tsarang to Lo-Manthang (3,730m): 3-4 hours
Day 10: Explore Lo Manthang/ Acclimatization
Day 11: Lo-Mangthang to Drakmar (3800 m): 6-7 hours
Day 12: Drakmar to Ghiling (3,806m): 5-6 hours
Day 13: Ghiling to Chhuksang (3050m): 5-6 hours
Day 14: Chhuksang to Jomsom (2,700): 6-7 hours
Day 15: Fly back to Pokhara 25m
Day 16: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu by tourist bus 7/8 hrs
Day 17: Final departure
Cost Details
- 3-star hotel accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara with breakfast
- Teahouse accommodation during the trek
- All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek
- Welcome and farewell dinners
- All ground transportation on a comfortable private vehicle as per the itinerary
- Domestic flights (Pokhara-Jomsom-Pokhara)
- Guided city tour in Kathmandu by private vehicle
- Entrance fees for sightseeing/monument visits as per the itinerary
- An experienced, English-speaking and government-licensed trek leader and assistant trek leader
- Porter service
- Staff costs including their salary, insurance, equipment, domestic airfare, food and accommodation
- Down jacket and sleeping bag (to be returned after trip completion)
- Nepal High Trek’s trekking bag/duffel bag, t-shirt and trekking map are yours to take
- All necessary paperwork and trekking permits (National Park Permit, TIMS)
- Medical kit (carried by your trek leader)
- All government and local taxes
Not Included in the Cost:
- Nepalese visa fee
- Excess baggage charge(s)
- Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara because of early arrival, late departure, early return from mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
- Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara (and also in the case of early return from the mountain than the scheduled itinerary)
- International flights
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Personal expenses (phone calls, internet, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottled or boiled water, shower, etc.)
Tour Notes
