Trip Overview
The Upper Mustang region of Nepal is one of the most famous restricted trekking regions of Nepal. Moreover, the place is one of the jewel of this Himalayan nation. History tells us that until 18th century the place used to be an independent kingdom. Nepal annexed the region under it and since then the place is within Nepal though majority of people still follow traditions close to Tibet. The journey of Upper Mustang Trek with Luri Gompa is one of the most mythical journey to do in Nepal. Don’t miss out to witness century old things and don’t miss out to create a travel tale that shows you the remains of the lost world!
Inside Annapurna region of Nepal, Upper Mustang’s trip remains as the most coveted destination to visit. Moreover, the place offers unique traditional, natural, and mythical experiences in comparison to other regular trekking routes of the region. In fact, the journey of Upper Mustang Trek meets the Annapurna Circuit Trek route when trekkers reach the sacred Muktinath Temple. Don’t miss out to experience Lower Mustang areas of Thakali people within the Annapurna trekking destination as well as restricted trekking regions of Upper Mustang in one single trek.
Why Upper Mustang is called Forbidden Kingdom of Nepal?
Up until October 7, 2008, the region practiced monarchy but on this day Nepal government declared republic system. The last king of the region is Jigme Dorje Palbar Bista. The place was declared as the restricted region back in 1992. The people of the region are mainly Tibetans. The place is in the border of Tibet the autonomous region of China. Therefore, it is considered as the forbidden kingdom of Nepal.
2500 Years old Monastery of Upper Mustang, The Chhoser Cave
During the trekking trekkers can get the chance to visit the 2500 years old monastery. Interestingly, caves are on the hills vertically placed about 100 to 300 m from the ground level. The most iconic cave turned to the monastery or Chhorten in this areas is the Choser Cave. It is believed that Haji Gawa demon put the inhabitants of the area under the siege inside the cave. When one woman washed her hair with an oil from one of the window the demon thought that it is impossible to keep people under siege in the cave. He thought that the cave has many rations available for people to live. Thus the woman deceived the demon and the demon left people in peace.
Besides Chhoser Cave, there are many caves in the surrounding. These caves are believed to have been built by ancient people to protect themselves from any kinds of danger from the outside world. Moreover, these caves are the root of Upper Mustang people’s traditions and culture. Still, now the people of Upper Mustang firmly follow their values and rituals. Therefore, it is worthwhile trekking experience for the trekkers.
Lomanthang: Walled city beyond Mountains
There is a famous saying in Nepalese language about this place. “Himal Paari ko Gaau” means a village beyond mountains! Yes, in Nepal there are no villages behind mountains. It is safe to say that the mountains are in north and villages are in the south. However, there is a village behind snowy mountains. Therefore, the place is called as the village beyond mountains. It will be injustice to say that Lomanthang is a village. Once upon a time the place used to be the capital of vibrant monarchy state. Almost entire village is protected by the wall built by people. The word Lomanthang also means a walled city.
The major occupations of the people of Lomanthang are animal husbandry, trade, and tourism. Up in the mountainous region of Nepal, people live in clustered settlement style with flat roofs. This is to create a warm environment according to the climatic situations. The settlement style in this city is also similar. You can also visit the palace and monasteries inside the city during acclimatization activity. It is sure that you will be amazed to find many mythical and mystical monuments, murals, landscapes, and monasteries inside the city.
Luri Gompa
In the village of Yara, people can experience heavenly bliss and find out the secrets of Upper Mustang’s mysticism. Moreover, the village is in the crossroad to one of the most popular monasteries of the region. The monastery is Luri Gompa. It is believed that the monastery was built back in the 14th century. The cave monastery of Luri Gompa is home to the last remaining cave frescoes and the mystery of how its extensive tunnels and caverns were created is still a mystery to all of us. In fact, it proves that there is a spiritual presence in earth. Even if you are an atheist you will surely believe that there is a powerful presence of godly nature in earth once you visit the place.
The monastery is located in Lo Ghekar Damodar Kunda Rural Municipality’s ward 4. It is about two kilometers away from the village of Yara. Therefore, you can visit the monastery either while ascending to Lomanthang or during your return trip. In this itinerary you will visit the LUri Gompa monastery during your return trip from Lomanthang. The monastery has two chambers containing 14th century murals and symbols of four guardian deities.
What kind of Buddhism is in Upper Mustang?
Mustang is one of the most popular Himalayan district of Nepal. Majority of people living in the Himalayan region of Nepal follows Buddhism. However, many follow Hinduism too. In fact, these Buddhists people still celebrate Hindu oriented festivals like Dashain and Tihar. These festivals are becoming a national celebration regardless of any religion they follow. There are many kinds of Buddhism prevalent in Nepal.
Upper Mustang region’s people follow Nyingma Kargyupa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. This is one of the oldest sect of Buddhism after Bon Po. However, Bon Po is another form of religion and many believe that it is a separate religion than Budhhism. However, majority of rituals are similar to Tibetan Buddhism.
Tiji Festival in Upper Mustang
The festival of Tiji is the biggest for the people of Upper Mustang. During this festival, Chhode Monastery holds special Vajrakila ritual praying. The festival of Tiji is also called as Tenchi which is the short form of Tenpa Chirim. The meaning of this festival is prayer for world peace. According to the myth, the festival is related to Dorje Jono and Padmasambhava Guru Rinpoche of Tibetan Buddhism. It is believed that Dorje Jono fought with evil forces to protect the people of Upper Mustang according to the directives of Padmasambhava Guru Rinpoche. He defeated evil forces to bring prosperity and good things to the people of the region on instruction provided by Padmasambhava himself. Therefore, the significance of this festival is very huge.
This festival falls in the month of May but the actual date differs every year. Please contact with Nepal High Trek travel planners for the exact date of the festival to make your trip of Upper Mustang Trek with Luri Gompa during this festival. The festival lasts for 3 days with different colorful dances and mantras chanting inside the Chhode Monastery of Lomanthang.
Can I do Upper Mustang Trek with Luri Gompa during Monsoon?
Yes, it is possible to do monsoon season trekking to Upper Mustang region of Nepal. However, the trail may be treacherous due to heavy rainfall in lower region of the trail. High up in the area of Upper Mustang receives less rainfall but the Kaligandaki River and neighboring streams may pose hindrances for the trek. The trail head is also hardly accessible during the monsoon season. If you wish to do Upper Mustang Trek during Monsoon season then feel free to contact our travel planners. The biggest advantage of doing the trek in Monsoon season is the tranquility. Yes, during this time of the year, there are very less number of trekkers which helps you to get lodging easily and experience trekking in a serene peaceful environment.
What are the requirements for Upper Mustang Trek?
The requirements for Upper Mustang Trek are similar to all the restricted trekking regions of Nepal. Generally, trekking in Nepal requires a Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) permit, Conservation Area Permits, and in some cases Rural Municipality Permits. However, for restricted regions’ trekking activities, trekkers must obtain special immigration permit besides all the permits for trekking in Nepal.
Upper Mustang Trek with Luri Gompa requires special Upper Mustang permit. Remember that the Lower Mustang region’s trekking doesn’t require special permit. You are not allowed to do solo trekking in Nepal inside the restricted trekking regions. It is mandatory that you must trek in a group of at least two members accompanied by a guide. The guide must have trekking guide licence provided by Nepal Government. Requirements of Upper Mustang Trek is unique and therefore you must plan it out with your trekking agency in an advance.
Is it possible to do Upper Mustang Tour?
It is possible to do Upper Mustang Tour instead of trekking. There is a road network connected with Lomanthang and up to Tibetan Nepalese border. However, traveling to Upper Mustang on a jeep has risk of altitude sickness. Travelers will ascend to higher altitude while driving prompting the risk of the sickness. It is wise to do trek but if you don’t have time to do trekking then touring by using four wheel jeep is also an option.
Nepal High Trek has knitted the best updated itinerary of Upper Mustang Trek with Luri Gompa with the help of its travel planners. We don’t make itinerary based merely on published materials. In fact, our way of knitting itinerary is by doing the field research. During off season we send our travel planners to all the trekking routes of Nepal to find out the latest information and create an authentic trekking experiences! Therefore, book the Upper Mustang Trek in Nepal with us to experience majestic travel moments and impeccable hospitality!
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Details Itinerary
Day 2: Fly to Pokhara (915 m); Sightseeing around Pokhara Valley
We will board a flight to Pokhara early in the morning. Pokhara is the most popular touristic Lake City of Nepal. Upon landing in Pokhara we will check in to our hotel and then start our sightseeing tour around the attractions of Pokhara. This is the most joyous day as we will be visiting the most famous touristic attractions of Nepal’s most famous touristic city. Overnight at Hotel
Day 3: Fly to Jomsom 20 mins; Trek to Kagbeni (2700 m) 3 - 4 hrs
Early in the morning we will board a flight to Jomsom from Pokhara. The flight is a wholesome experience as the plane hover over the hills and over the narrow river valleys towards the windiest town of the Annapurna region of Nepal. The small town of Jomsom is so beautiful with an exciting scenery of mountains like Himchuli. Upon landing in the airport, we will meet our porters and start the trek. After trekking for about 3 to 4 hours, we will reach Kagbeni a small village on the banks of Kaligandaki River mainly habituated by Tibetan Buddhist people. The places below Jomsom are mainly habituated by Thakali an indigenous community of Nepal famously known as Thak Khola Civilization. Overnight at tea house
Day 4: Trek to Tetang (3040 m) via Gyu La Pass (4077 m); 5 to 6 hrs
Today after breakfast we will walk towards Tetang village along the banks of Kaligandaki River. From this day onwards we will be exploring the world’s deepest gorge of Kaligandaki River too. For about 5 to 6 hours we will be walking. The biggest plus factor during the Upper Mustang Trek with Lori Gompa is that we will be thoroughly acclimatized during the trek. On this day also we will reach Gyu La Pass top which is located at an altitude of 4077 m from sea level and again descend back to Tetang Village which is at an altitude of 3040 m. The safest way to navigate the high altitude place is to reach high altitude and spend overnight in low altitude. Yes, on this day we will reach up to 4077 m from sea level but spend overnight in the place situated at an altitude of 3040 m from sea level. Overnight at tea house
Day 5: Trek to Tange (3240 m) via Pa Pass (4210 m) 8 to 9 hrs
It is the second longest day of trekking during the trek. We will be walking for about 8 to 9 hours in the similar kind of landscape. The vegetation is scarce as we will be walking in an environment similar to Tibetan plateau. The presence of vegetation is very scarce with only few bushes of thorns. Therefore, we must not go away from our trekking guide and in any case you should not go away from a guide. Make sure that you heed his instruction until you have reached Lomanthang. In this village you can roam around in your own. The trekking itinerary is designed in such a way that your trek to Upper Mustang becomes successful without hindrance of altitude sickness. You will be crossing the pass above four thousands meters height and stay overnight at place situated at an altitude of 3240 m. Overnight at tea house
Day 6: Trek to Yara (3610 m) - 5/6 hrs
Finally, today we will reach the iconic village of Yara which is at the crossroad to Upper Mustang Lomanthang and Luri Gompa. After walking for about 6 to 7 hours we will reach the village of Yara. Make sure to explore the village and learn about their unique culture before heading towards Luri Gompa tomorrow. Overnight at Tea house
Day 7: Hike to Luri Gompa; Trek to Lomanthang; 9 to 10 hrs
The longest day of trekking is today. Therefore, we will have early morning breakfast and head towards the Luri Gompa monastery. Please read our overview section to know more about the details of this monastery. After visiting the monastery, we will straight head towards Lomanthang the capital city of Upper Mustang. The day is very tiring. There are no steep uphill and downhill but walking more than 9 hours on a single day is not ordinary. Therefore, make sure to prepare your body to walk in this altitude in between the ever changing weather conditions. Overnight at tea house
Day 8: Acclimatization Rest Day at Lomanthang; Hike to Chhoser Cave
On this day we will explore the surroundings of Lomangthang. We will visit royal palace, local houses and iconic 14th century Chhosar Cave. The cave is in natural hill and offers plenty of room for the people to stay. It is believed that people used the cave to avoid any kinds of invasion. Overnight at tea house
Day 9: Trek to Dhi Gaon (3400 m) - 6/7 hrs
After a glorious rest day activities in Lomanthang, we will retrace back the same trail but we will opt to spend overnight at new destination. We will walk for about 7 to 8 hours today to reach Dhi Gaon which is located at an altitude of 3400 m. Overnight at tea house
Early in the morning we will continue descending but our final resting place on this day is Ghami which is more than an altitude of Dhi Gaon. It is because of the fact that we want our client to feel different every day. The cost is higher but it worth every penny spent by our valued clients. Overnight at tea house
Day 10: Trek to Ghami (3510 m) 7 to 8 hrs
Early in the morning we will continue descending but our final resting place on this day is Ghami which is more than an altitude of Dhi Gaon. It is because of the fact that we want our client to feel different every day. The cost is higher but it worth every penny spent by our valued clients. Overnight at tea house
Day 11: Trek to Kagbeni (2700 m( - 6/7 hrs
We will again meet the Kaligandaki River and follow it towards the village of Kagbeni. It is truly blissful and memorable as you have already reached Upper Mustang Lomanthang and iconic 14th century old monastery. In the evening before reaching the village of Kagbeni, we will visit the most famous temple and nunnery of the region. Muktinath temple is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. The nunnery has ever flaming light and the Muktinath temple has people to look after the baby. The temple of Muktinath has the enigma of a godly creatures. The temple is of Lord Vishnu and it is also sacred place where village owner host small party to the locals as this will be our last day of trekking. You may also wait to host party for your trekking crew members once they have reached Jomsom. In fact the town of Jomsom is famous for small airport, windy town landscape, and numerous reasons. Overnight at tea house
Day 12: Trek to Jomsom (2700 m) - 3/4 hrs
This is a joyous day for walking as we will be walking downhill via Kaligandaki River shores to reach Jomsom. You can stroll around the town and gather information about the trekk to provide authentic information to your loved ones.
Day 13: Fly to Kathmandu via Pokhara
We will fly to Pokhara and subsequently take a connecting flight to Kathmandu. The main reason is that we have already visited most of the famous places in Nepal including Pokhara. Therefore, this itinerary has Pokhara sightseeing upon arrival in the first phase of the trekking. Upon landing in Pokhara we will asses the flight timing and if our flight is delayed or during late time of the day then we will take our lunch in Lakeside Pokhara. Overnight at Hotel
Day 14: Reserve Day In Kathmandu
There are many flights on this trekking trip. Therefore, we must not be complacent while planning the trekking trip. Considering the nature of flights cancellation in Nepal we must put one extra day as a cover. Please remember that on a reserve day the agency Nepal High Trek will cover for a room on a BB Basis. Overnight at Hotel
Day 15: Departure
Our airport representative and your trekking guide will take you to our international airport. We will bid farewell with a promise to meet again. You can choose to do other trekking or tour activities too.
Upper Mustang Trek with Luri Gompa Map
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