Upper Mustang Trek
Main Features
- The one and only trek of Nepal that can be done in the monsoon season
- The contrasting feature between the snow-covered mountains and the cold desert
- The aged old tradition completely different from the contemporary world
Trip Overview
Call it Upper Mustang Trek or the Upper Mustang Trekking, both of these mean the same thing, and each of these takes place in the same place of Nepal that the trekkers like to see, walk, and visit during their trekking in Nepal. The best part of this trek is it takes you to the hidden valley of Nepal that lies between dry Tibet and snow-covered Himalayas, the landscape that is completely different from the rest of Nepal in terms of the unexpectedness beauty.
The culture and traditions of the Upper Mustang Region is as old as the hills and might surprise the trekkers coming from the developed countries of the world, who practice new cultures as they like or change, according to time. The region is also the land of myths and legends, and you get to hear all about these from your trekking guides.
If you want to see in Nepal the most unique culture, then we believe that you should go for the Upper Mustang Trekking wherein you see the sky burial of the dead and polyandry that is only followed and practiced in this part of Nepal.
The main highlights of the Upper Mustang Trek are
- Arid Valleys
- Eroded canyons
- The majestic view of the Himalayan Ranges
Of all the villages you come across during the Upper Mustang Trek, you will find Lo Manthang having a lot of attractions because it has a palace, monasteries, and of course, some amount of modernity.
Itinerary
Day 01 Arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport (standard accommodation)
Arrive in Kathmandu on the date that you have planned for or at the most suitable time you have decided. Do not worry about the pick up; we will be waiting for you outside the airport to take you to our office and to the hotel.
Our office remains open from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M.
Kathmandu is known as the city of temples, and it is the most developed city in Nepal as we write these words in this itinerary.
You will be staying in Thamel, the main tourist hub in Kathmandu. If you are staying in a 5 star hotel, it will be outside Thamel.
Day 02 Sightseeing with breakfast (standard accommodation)
Kathmandu is dotted with the world heritage sites, and the most famous of them are
- Pashupatinath
- Swayambhunath
- Bouddhanath
- Kathmandu Durbar Square
You will visit each of these with our city guide, and they will take you to the past. Those were the glorious days of Nepal. From your guide, hear the myths, the true story, and the significance of the historical monuments from the religious point of view.
Day 03 Drive From Kathmandu to Pokhara (breakfast provided, standard accommodation)
Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, where you have spend your night, from there, you head to Pokhara, the city of lakes. As you are heading to Pokhara, you are in the Pirthivi Highway and by the Trishuli River, a famous river for rafting in Nepal. Pirthivi Narayan Shah was a King, who played a great role in the unification of Nepal. At Pokhara, you spend a night in the hotel by the lake from where you can see a magnificent view of Fishtail Mountain.
Day 04 From Pokhara to Jomsom and Kagbeni (4 meals provided, standard accommodation)
Jomsom is famous for its apples and infamous for its strong wind. Keep the former aside because Jomsom has a beautiful landscape. This is the starting point of the trek, and the trekking trail that you are walking takes you to the beautiful valley and an important village called Eklabhatti. Walking by the side of the river, you will reach Kagbeni, where you will see flat-roofed houses and old fortress.
Day 05 From Kagbeni to Chele (4 meals provided, standard accommodation)
Today you are walking by the Kali Gandaki River on the sand in the windy area in the midst of the hills. You will reach a village called Tangbe, which has narrow alleys and white washed houses, and on the outskirts of this village, there are agricultural fields of barley, apple orchards, and bucket heats. There are other villages you will reach and cross a river as well as you will walk on a ridge to reach Chele.
Day 06 From Chele to Syanbochen (4 meals provided, standard accommodation)
Since you are heading to a higher altitude, this is going to be a tough day. We are saying this on the basis of the two high passes, which are of 3000 m plus. From these passes, you will enjoy the stunning view of the mountains, such as Tilicho, Yakawa Kang, and Damodar Danda. You will pass by the famous cave called the Ramchung Cave. You will walk uphill and downhill that are on the ridge, but it is the downhill that will take you to Syanboche.
Day 07 From Syanbochen to Ghami (4 meals provided, standard accommodation)
Today you are going to the pass that is almost 4000 m. Since you are in one of the Buddhist Regions of Nepal, it is common to see chortens and monasteries. Altogether you will cross two high passes. From the pass, you will descend to Ghami, a village, and it is a beautiful village, according to the trekkers.
Day 08 From Ghami to Tsarang (4 meals provided, standard accommodation)
The trekking trail is rough, and you will have the experience of roughness added by the slipperiness. There are suspension bridges and ascending trekking trails that will take you to the maniwalls and the pass known as the Tsarang La, and Tsarang village, which is perched on the top of the hill.
Day 09 From Tsarang to Lo-Manthang (4 meals provided, standard accommodation)
Following the descending trekking trail, you will head to the canyon and then cross a river, later you will reach the pass, which is almost 4000 m. From the top of the pass, you will see the beautiful view of Lo Manthang, where you are going to spend your night. You will also see the beautiful view of Nilgiri, Tilicho, Annapurna I, Bhrikuti Peak as well as Damodar Kunda, which in English means pond.
Day 10 Acclimatization (4 meals provided, standard accommodation)
By looking at Lo Manthang, you can say it is a walled village. It has highlights like Jhampa, Thupchen, and Chhoeda, and all these are monasteries. There is a nearby village, which is called Tinglhar, and many trekking guides say it is a beautiful village.
Day 11 From Lo-Mangthang to Drakmar (4 meals provided, standard accommodation)
The trekking trail takes you to the main village called Gyakar Village, which is renowned for the monastery, which is more than 100 years old. This is a wish filling monastery. After visiting this gompa or monastery, you will head to Drakmar.
Day 12 From Drakmar to Ghiling (4 meals provided, standard accommodation)
The trekking region, where you are going to trek, is windy. The trekking trail goes downhill and takes you to the dry land of the Upper Mustang. The strong wind makes the trekking difficult. Although Ghiling is dry, you will see the breath-taking view of Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri.
Day 13 From Ghiling to Chhuksang (4 meals provided, standard accommodation)
You retrace the trekking trail up to Lo Manthang. As you are on the way to Chuksang, you will see the stunning view of the Himalayas. There are several small villages that you will pass through.
Day 14 From Chhuksang to Jomsom (4 meals provided, standard accommodation)
The descending trekking trail takes you to Jomsom, the windiest place of Nepal. On the way, you sill stop at Kagbeni to have lunch and continue your trek up to Jomsom.
Day 15 From Jomsom to Pokhara (Breakfast and lunch provided, standard accommodation)
In the early morning you take a scenic 25 flight to Pokhara, the city of lakes. The aero plane flies between the Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna Mountains. From Pokhara, you can see the stunning view of the Fishtail Mountain. You can do boating in the Fewa Lake, or you can spend your time walking on the shore of the lake.
Day 16 From Pokhara to Kathmandu (Breakfast provided, standard accommodation)
From the city of lakes, you head to the city of temples via the Pirthivi Highway, and the main towns you reach are Damauli, Dumre, Mugling, and Kurintar. Visit the interesting places in Thamel, and buy souvenirs for your friends and relatives.
Day 17 Departure
Prior to three hours of your international flight, we will come to pick you at the hotel and take you to Tribhuwan International Airport. Good bye, and we wish you good luck for a safe journey
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