Upper Mustang Trek
Duration : 17 days
Mustang Trek days : 09 days
Trek grade :moderate
Max altitude : 4090m
Trekking style : Full board Camping
Best Seasons: March – November
Minimum group size : 2 pax
In the remote upper region of Mustang lies the medieval settlement of Upper Mustang and its capital Lo Manthang. Forbidden for foreigners until 1992 , it has always kept an aura of remote, mysterious and unusual land. Geographically it is part of the Tibetan plateau ,characterized by windy , high arid valley , eroded canyons, colorful stratified rock formations, and a barren desert like appearance. Believed to have been migrated from Tibet, centuries ago, the people here practice Sakyapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Upper Mustang is perhaps the only place to see Tibetan culture in completely undisturbed state. The houses and monasteries in Upper Mustang have medieval look and unique local architecture. The land is a desert and people can grow only potatoes, barley and buck wheat . Festivals are mostly religious in nature , the Tiji festival being the biggest . This tiny medieval kingdom in the vast Tibetan desert is ruled by a local king.The capital called Lo Manthang , a walled complex with the houses of local nobilities and monasteries is the centre of our interest.
Recently in 2007, an international team of explorers have discovered invaluable objects of cultural and historical importance in Upper Mustang caves. In high caves requiring technical climbing they have discovered beautiful murals, and historical objects, dating back to , according to them around 800years ago. Your Upper Mustang trek will reward you with a rare visit to a plce perfectly untouched by modernity, preserving its ancient Buddhist cultur , traditions and invaluable art objects in high Himalayan desert.
A short 25 minute flight takes us to Jomsom .Walking along the Kaligandaki gorge , the deepest in the world , we head for medieval village of Kagbeni.The route north from here takes us to the Forbidden land of Upper Mustang.Depending on our itinerary , for the next 09 – 12 days we trek through the ancient villages of Samar, Charang and Geling before we reach the capital Lo Manthang at 3750m.The places of interest around Lo Manthang include Namgyal Gompa and the village of Tingkar, Garfuk and Nifuk.You still find people dewelling in caves in these villages . Finally we end our Upper Mustang trek with a visit to the holy temple of Muktinath and return by flight from Jomsom to Pokhara. This is a fully supported camping trek. You sleep in the tents and eat the meals prepared by our camp cook. The average walking is 6 hour per day and you carry just your light day pack during the trek.
Trekking Itinerary
(10 day permit)
Day 01 Arrival in Kathmandu .You will be received by our airport representative and transferd to hotel on private vehicle.Overnight in hotel.
Day 02 Guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu, covering Pashupatinath Temple,Bouddhanath Stupa, Kathmandu Durbar square and Swoyambhunath Stupa . (B)
Day 03 Scenic , 6 hour drive to Pokhara accompanied by your trekking guide. Transfer to hotel.(B)
Day 04 Early morning flight from Pokhara to Jomsom .
The flight offers great view of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains.Meet your trekking crew there and start trekking for few hours before we stop at Kagbeni(2800m) .Kagbeni on Nepal Tibet trade route is a traditional town with medieval look and interesting alleys.Your upper Mustang trek starts from here and your trekking permit days are counted once you enter from Kagbeni.Overnight at tented camp .(B, L, D)
Day 05 Trek to Chele(3050m).
From Kagbeni we climb upwards many ridges enjoying good views of Nilgiri and reach the village of Tangbe.Tangbe offers intersting white washed houses with fields of barley and buckwheats and apple orchards.We cross a stream after Chhusang village,leave the Kaligandaki valley behind and climb further to the village of Chele.From Chele we start observing the settlements with Tibetan culture.Overnight in tented camp. (B, L, D)
Day 06 Trek to Geling (3520 m).
Climbing first through steep, desert like terrain we meet some Chortens and interesting deep canyons on the way.Slowly we descend through pleasant trails to the ancient village of Samar .Climbing up to a ridge of 3800 m ,and passing through some gorges and valleys we reach the village of Geling.Overnight at tented camp.(B,L,D)
Day 07 Trek to Charang (3580m)
This is a more pleasant day, with softer walks. The trail climbs gently up from Gheling to an interesting pass and descends below the blue, gray and red cliffs. After crossing a steel bridge atTangmar river we arrive to a Mani Wall , the longest and most spectacular in Nepal. Climbing over another pass at 3600meters, the route makes a long gentle descent to Charang village. The huge five-story white Dzong and red Gompa are the main attractions for visitors. Observe the collections of statues and Thankas as well as many large paintings of seated Buddhas. Overnight at tented camp(B,L,D)
Day 0 8 : Trek to Lo Manthang (3780 m).
Making some descents and ascents and crossing small streams we finally reach a ridge from where there is a view of the walled city of Lo Manthang. After a short descent, cross another stream then climb up into the plateau of Lo-Manthang, the capitail of Upper Mustang. Overnight at tented camp.(B, L, D)
Day 09 Exploration day around Lo Manthang .
Lo Manthang is a walled town with the houses of local nobilities and important Gompas and monasteries inside.There are lots of things of interest here. . It takes around 2 hours to Namgyal Gompa. Namgyal Gompa situates on a hilltop, which serves as an important monastery of the local community and also as a local court. After visiting Namgyal Gompa continue the tour to Tingkhar, which is a village of around 40 houses, the last main village to the northwest of Lomanthang. After visiting Namgyal Gompa and Tingkhar return to Lomanthang. Overnight at tented camp.(B, L, D)
Day 10 Lomanthang to Ghami(3460 m)
Along route from Lo to Ghami we visit Ghar gompa in Lo Gekar.This is perhaps the oldest active gompa in Nepal and older than Samye gompa in Tibet.The Ghami village is famous for its hectres and hectres of fields and beautiful white washed houses.Overnight in tented camp.(B, L, D)
Day 11Trek to Samar(3450 m)
Day 12 Trek to Kagbeni
Day 13 Kagbeni to Muktinath(3800m)
The trail goes through the village of Jharkot where one can visit the Jharkot monastery, Tibetan herbal medical center and the old fortress of Jharkot, once served as palace.Trekking along the popular trail of Jomsom Muktinath trek we reach the important Hindu shrine of Muktinath and watch Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims on high Himalaya.Overnight in tented camp.(B, L, D)
Day 14 Muktinath to Jomsom(2800m).Celebrate your last day of trekking with your trekking crew.(B, L, D)
Day 15 Early morning flight to Pokhara. Sight seeing tour in Pokhara in the afternoon covering Davi,s waterfall, Tibetan camp and Fewa lake.(B)
Day 16 Fly to Kathmandu , leisure time for shopping and rest.Farewell Nepali dinner with ethnic cultural programmmes. (B, D)
Day 17 Fly home .Our staff will drop you to the airport and see off.
Note : B=Breakfast, L=lunch, D= Dinner
Note :The above itinerary is a standard itinerary with no spare days. It is often wiser to put aside one extra day incase bad weather delays your flight to or from Jomsom air strip.Also we suggest one extra day in Lo Manthang as some of our clients wish they had done so. The above information is simply a guide and standard itinerary of what we provide. All our treks can be customized at your request to accommodate your specific requirements
Special requirements for Upper Mustang trek
Participants must agree to follow certain guidelines to ensure that the unique sights , culture and beauty of the land be preserved and respected. Also it requires a special permit from the government of Nepal(which we will arrange for you) to visit this special preserved land . The permit fee is US $ 700 per person for a period of 10 days .Counting starts from Kagbeni once you enter restricted area . For any extra days in restricted area you have to pay US $90 per day.
Tour cost : USD 2480.00
Single supplement (if required ) : USD 130 per person
If flight taken for Kathmandu to Pokhara USD 80 extra
No other hidden costs .
This price is for standard services with accomodation in two star level or simillar class hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara .If you want the budget version or luxury version of the trip write to us.While comparing our prices with other companies offering simillar trip, note the number of days , services included , hotel chosen , quality of the guide and other services that matter.
Included in the price
- Airport/Hotel/Airport pick up & drop by private car/van/bus plus kathmandu to Pokhara on tourist bus.
- Down jacket and duffel bag for the trek (should return after the trek)
- Domestic airfare and airport tax from Pokhara to Kathmandu.
- Standard accomodation in two star or simillar class Hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara in twin sharing , bed and breakfast basis
- Tented accommodation and equipment during the trek. We provide two men tents, dinning tents, kitchen gears, dining table, chairs, toilet tents.
- Trekking crew and their food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment and a general first aid kit.
- Full board meal with tea ,coffee for the clients in trek days as prepared by our camp cook
- Necessary permit for Upper Mustang restricted area ( USD 700) and Annapurna conservation fees (approx USD 31)
- Guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu and Pokhara with tour guide and vehicle
- Farewell Nepali dinner with cultural programmes.
- All taxes imposed by our government
Not included in the price
- Single suppliment charges (if required.)
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Nepal entry visa fee($30)(given for 60 days upon arrival, requires 2 photos)
- Departure tax from Kathmandu airport ($24 approx)
- Personal equipments and clothing
- International airfare and your insurances
- Cold drinks and beverages
- Personal expenses and tips to the crew
- Hotel charges if you wish to stay extra days in kathmandu or Pokhara.
- Any other expenses than mentioned above as included.
