Mystical, less explored and untouched land of Upper Mustang calls every trekker to explore its magnanimous beauty. The once forbidden land, Upper Mustang, lies beyond the mountains and is the only dessert land of Nepal. Heavily influenced Tibetan styled settlements are common sites to see in this region which reflects old aged culture and tradition of the former Kingdom of Lo. Upper Mustang Trek is a visual and spiritual treat for travelers seeking tranquility in a faraway land.
The 15 days Upper Mustang Trek takes you to the off beaten paths of Nepal that is compact with pristine culture and nature. Starting from the capital of the country, first you will fly to Pokhara and then to the windy town of Jomsom from where your trek begins. The trail takes you through the apple orchards of Kagbeni, the gateway to Upper Mustang, and walks through the riverbed of Kali Gandaki River passing several settlements until reaching Chele. The trail consists of many passes and crosses several small streams that lead to picturesque destinations. The trek reaches Chungsi Cave—a cave turned into a monastery, Ghar Gumba—an ancient monastery believed to hold the pure virtue of Lo, and other monasteries beholding the culture and history of Upper Mustang. The highlight of this trek is the fortress city of Lo Manthang which used to be the capital of the former Kingdom of Lo. The palaces and fortresses of Lo Manthang situated amid the colorful desserts make for an enchanting view for the travelers. The trek allows you to interact with the people living beyond the Himalayas and provides you a chance to understand how life goes on in such tough terrain.
Expedition Himalayan is known to provide the best hospitality and services to our customers from all around the globe. We make itineraries as per your demand and assign you with an experienced and friendly guide who can make sure that your trip is full of beautiful memories. We provide you with the best transportation and accommodation facilities and also acquire all kinds of permits for your trip.
Just after you touch the land of Nepal, we will be there to welcome you at Tribhuvan International Airport with our warmest hearts. Then, we will escort you to the hotel for your overnight stay.
The trek is definite to require great energy and a mental preparation. Therefore, you will today get prepared and have the overall knowledge of the trek. In the meantime, you can visit the heritages of Kathmandu like Swayambhunath and Kathmandu Durbar Square, and also stroll around the streets of Kathmandu. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Your early morning flight to Pokhara will be short, but possesses a great aerial view of topographical landscapes of Nepal. Reaching Pokhara is on every tourist lists as it has a lot of natural sites and scenic beauties to explore. You can spend your time in Pokhara visiting the famous Phewa Lake and going for a boat ride in the lake. In the meantime, you will be greeted with spectacular views of Mt. Machhapuchhre (6993m) and the Annapurna range. Overnight in Pokhara.
Jomsom is windy all the time. You can definitely feel those winds blowing after you reach Jomsom with a short flight you take from Pokhara through Kali Gandaki Gorge. This flight will provide you with the mountain views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs. From Jomsom, you will trek to Kagbeni following the trails of Kali Gandaki River. Kagbeni is the gateway to Upper Mustang and is the last place that can be visited without a special permit. Overnight in Kagbeni.
Passing through the east bank of Kali Gandaki River, you will come across many villages on the way. You will trek through buckwheat fields, barley fields, apple orchards, and wheat fields in order to reach Chele. You will then pass through the Gurung village of Tangbe and Chhusang. Continuing to walk on the riverbed of Kali Gandaki River, you will finally cross a steel bridge and enter the village of Chele. Overnight in Chele.
With Phalkang (6180m) dominating the skyline, you will trek through the dusty and barren landscapes of Upper Mustang. After passing a steep canyon, you trail ascends to Taklam La Pass (3624m) and Dajori La Pass (3735m) before descending to Samar village. En route, you will visit Chungsi Cave, an ancient cave now converted into a monastery, situated on a cliff above Syangboche Khola. You will then make a final descend through the gorge, cross a stream, and climb a ridge which will take you to Syangboche.
First, you will trek to Ghiling climbing Syangboche La Pass (3850m), and from Ghiling, you further trek upwards. Again, you will cross a pass called Nyi La (4010m). Now, you will descend to cross Ghami Khola. On the trail, you will witness the longest Mani wall of Mustang. After you cross the final pass of the day, Tsarang La (3870m), you will reach Tsarang. In Tsarang, you can visit the 400 years old monastery and the biggest library in Upper Mustang. Overnight in Tsarang.
Trekking to Lo-Manthang will take you to one of the oldest and the most sacred monasteries of this region, Ghar Gumba. To reach Ghar Gumba, you will need to ascend alongside Charang Khola via Lo Gekar. You can have a look at the scriptures of Padmasambhava before continuing on your trek towards the walled city of Lo Manthang. Enjoying the desert-like landscape, you ascend past few small stupas to arrive in Lo Manthang. Overnight in Lo.
Today, you will spend the day exploring the Lo-Manthang vicinity. The former capital of the Kingdom of Lo is home to many fortress and palaces and is also known as the reserve of pure Tibetan Buddhism. So, you can hike up to Namgyal Gompa, the Gallup sect Monastery of Victory, to get an insight of the culture and practices of Tibetan Buddhism in Lo. After visiting Namgyal Gompa, you will hike back to Lo Manthang. Overnight in Lo.
You will leave Lo Manthang behind when you ascend to reach the ridges. Climbing across the ridge completely takes Lo Manthang away from your eyesight. You will continue your trail to Chogo La Pass (4280m), the highest altitude reached during this trek. On your way down, you will once again reach Ghar Gumba before heading down to Dhakmar. You will reach Dhakmar when you cross the Dhakmar River, climb the ridges, and follow the path of alpine meadows. Further descending will lead you to Ghami. Overnight in Ghami.
You will now retrace your trails from Ghami through a sparsely vegetated path with few villages en route. You will descend to Jhaite, Chunggar, and Tama Gaon before reaching Syangboche. Now, enjoying the view of Phalkang (6180m) and other snowy peaks, you descend to Samar via Yamdo La Pass (3860m) and Bhena La Pass (3860m). Overnight in Samar.
Today, you will leave Samar and make a steep climb to Dajori La Pass (3735m) and Taklam La Pass (3624m) before descending to Chele via the Gurung village of Ghyakar. You will then cross the steel bridge over Kali Gandaki River and descend on the riverbed to reach the village of Chhusang. Overnight in Chhusang.
You will walk through the riverbed of Kali Gandaki River and pass a few villages on the way to Kagbeni. Tackling the strong wind whilst enjoying the view of rocky hills, you arrive in Kagbeni. From Kagbeni, you will drive to Jomsom enjoying the scenic countryside view. In the evening, you can explore the Jomsom vicinity and interact with the locals. Overnight in Jomsom.
Today, you will fly back to Pokhara and then again fly back to Kathmandu. The aerial view throughout both of the flights will take your breath away one more time. Upon reaching Kathmandu, you will be transferred to the hotel. You can explore the local markets and eateries during your leisure time. Overnight in Kathmandu.
You will be escorted back to the international airport for your scheduled flight back home.
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