After a picturesque flight from Pokhara to Jomsom, we begin our lovely Upper Mustang walk that will take us to the hidden Shangri-La of the ancient Buddhist kingdom of Mustang, also known as Lo. Tibetan Buddhism is practiced in its most pure form, and Tibetan communities are still constructed with whitewashed buildings and roofs covered in firewood. You can stay in a guesthouse with each overnight visit as some locals have started tiny guesthouses or teahouses. You are welcome to join them in the kitchen, which is the heart of the home in Tibetan culture and is designed to resemble a living room, while you are staying there. Therefore, spending time in the kitchen is the best approach to gaining some insight into daily life.
The scenery is quite similar to that of Tibet, in addition to its culture and traditions. Mustang is located in the Dhaulagiri rain shadow and offers visitors a chance to see a completely barren terrain that is dotted with unusually colored and shaped rocks. The settlements, with their vividly colorful fields, seem like oasis in this desolate setting. The track follows the path of the ancient salt caravan, which Mustang residents used to exchange Tibetan salt for grain from Nepal’s lowlands. The village can be seen shimmering in the distance in the desolate landscape from the Lo La pass (3950 m). You enter a new world when you enter Lo Manthang through the town gate. Just walking through the tiny alleys is amazing.
Trip Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu
- Upon arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
- Rest of the day is at leisure; you can tour around the city.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Day 02: Fly to Pokhara
- Early morning after breakfast, we departed for Pokhara.
- Once you reach the airport, you will be transferred to your hotel.
- Later in the evening you can take a walk by the lake side.
- Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03: Fly to Jomsom and then trek to Kagbeni (2780m)
- You take the spectacular early morning flight to Jomsom (famous for its apples) where you will be met at the tiny airstrip by our trek crew.
- After some initial preparation of loads, we begin the journey to a pretty village of Kagbeni.
- Overnight at a simple lodge.
Day 04: Trek to Chele (2800m-3050m), approx. 7 hours
- Almost immediately the path climbs quite steeply up into a jumble of gullies and small towers, zigzagging to a viewpoint over Kagbeni with Nilgiri providing a dazzling white fluted backdrop, from the Kagbeni check post.
- From Tanbe the trail again climbs to a high point around 3100m.
- The trail goes to the east bank of Kali Gandaki River, climbing and descending for 1.5 hours to the village of Chhuksang.
- From Chhuksang, we can see the Chele and in Chhuksang there is a small cave called Gumba (If you want to see the Gumba, you have to pay Rs. 100 per person).
- After a short walk along the river bed, there is a solid bridge across the Kali Gandaki at the point where it tunnels, and from here it is a short sharp climb to Chele (3 hours walk).
- Overnight at a simple lodge.
Day 05: Trek to Geling, approx. 8 hours
- Starting out early, we move steadily uphill to Geling.
- From Ghimi, climbing still further, we reach Tsarang, which is the second most popular settlement after Lomanthan.
- Overnight at a simple lodge.
At Tsarang, there is an old palace where the “piece de resistance” is a set of human hands. It is said to belong to the master builder of the palace. The hands were cut off in order to stop him from building another palace in the same grandeur some eight hundred years ago.
Day 06: Trek to Charang (3520m), approx. 6 hours
- From Geling, two tracks level down into a gully east of the village, one steeply past a trio of red, black and white chortens that are a common sight in upper Mustang.
- At the bottom of the gully are two bridges across the river, there is a direct path to this point not visiting Ghami. The trail climbs onto a gently sloping plateau and passes beside a very long mani wall, about 1/2 hour, from Ghami.
- From the end of the wall, the trail heads east away from a very dramatic red eroded canyon wall towering above the village of Tramar. Climbing steadily, an altitude of 3770m is reached after about 2 hours from Ghami.
- The descent to Tsarang is mostly gentle and completed in another 2 hours.
- Overnight at a simple lodge.
Day 07: Trek to Lo-Manthang (3700m), approx. 5 hours
- The trail leaves Tsarang to the northwest and drops steeply into the Tsarang Chu canyon. After crossing the river, the route is initially very steep up a stony track. As we round the corner and head north, a fine view of the great white Himalayan peaks of Nilgiri, Tilicho and Annapurna I, behind Brikuti peak is visible to the south east. The trail climbs gently along the west side of a side valley to an isolated chorten (3620 m) 2 hours from Tsarang.
- Another hour takes us to 3700 m with some spectacular caves high up in the cliffs to the east. Having climbed up to 3850 m, a pass is reached and through a narrow ‘window‘ at the Summit the view ahead opens out to display the western valley of Lo-manthang. The bright red and grey monastery of Namgyal sits on top of a pro monastery, with the wide valley surrounding Tingkat (the site of the King’s Summer palace) and Phewa villages behind.
- Just down from the pass is the first dramatic view of the walled city of Lo-manthang and the ancient ruined forts on the chills behind. There is a tremendous view to the east of the red, blue, grey, white and yellow eroded Mustang Khola canyon. To the north lies the flattish red colored hills and the Tibetan border. The western view is dominated by the snow-capped peak of ‘Manaslu‘. The descent to Lo-manthang is short and after crossing the small river and climbing briefly, the fabled city is finally reached.
- Overnight at a simple lodge.
Day 08: In Lo-Manthang
- Set out from Lo Manthang on horse to explore the surrounding area and villages. There are four major temples within the city walls. Each of these buildings is locked. The villagers feel it necessary to control access to the temples; the caretaker and the key are available only at certain times, and usually only after a bit of negotiation. The monks prohibit taking photographs inside the gompas in an effort to limit interest in the statues and paintings among collectors of stolen art.
- Visit some of the other villages in the area. In the western valley are Tingkhar, the site of the raja’s summer palace, Kimlung, Phuwa and Namgyal gompa (the monastery of victory). Namgyal is situated in a spectacular setting atop a desolate ridge. This is one of the most important Gompas in Mustang and houses some very ancient thangkas Tibetan art with religious themes).
- Next, we visit Tenger, a typical village in these parts and then the gompa at Nymook.
- Overnight at a simple lodge.
Day 09: Trek to Ghami, approx. 7 hours
- The trail climbs steadily to a pass marked by a cairn offering a last glimpse of LO Manthang. The trail contours past two small ridges and valleys before crossing a ridge at 4070m and descending southwards through two more valleys, meadows and a stream. The trail then makes a long rocky descent to Gekar. LO Gekar Gompa is older than Samye Gompa in Tibet and is one of the oldest Gompas in Nepal.
- We cross a ridge after a little climbing and drop down steeply to Thamar village. The trail descends alongside the stone walls and fields of extensive villages before climbing to a ridge. It is a short descent from there to Ghami (3490m).
- Overnight at a simple lodge.
Day 10: Trek to Shyangmochen [3460m], approx. 6 hours
- Descend to the lower part of Ghemi and then follow the upward route. Pass an isolated tea house and campsite at Jaite and then descend to Chhung – Ka, a large chorten. The trail then makes a long pass through a mani wall to the three houses of Tama Gaon at 3710m. From Tama Gaon this trail climbs to a huge painted Chorten, which rejoins Geling trail near the ridge, slightly below the Shyangmochen La. We cross the pass and descend to Shyangmochen.
- Overnight at a simple lodge.
Day 11: Trek to Kagbeni (2780m), approx. 7- 8 hours
- Shyangmochen will bring us to Kagbeni. On doing so we retrace the upward trail through Yamdo, Bena to Samar, descending through Chele to the Kali Gandaki from where we trek downstream till we reach Chhuksung. Similarly we retrace our way back. Firstly we arrive at Tangbe from Chhuksung and then to Kagbeni.
- Overnight at a simple lodge.
Day 12: Trek to Jomsom
- We mark an end to our long trek on arrival at Jomsom from Kagbeni.
- With all the good memories of the trek you take rest for the whole day and are all set for the departure to Pokhara.
- Overnight at a simple lodge.
Day 13: Fly to Pokhara
- Today you will fly from Jomsom to Pokhara.
- Rest of the evening is free to explore on your own.
- Overnight at a hotel in Pokhara.
Day 14: Drive back to Kathmandu
- Early in the morning, we depart to Kathmandu by road.
- Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 15: Final Departure
- You will be transferred to the airport for your final departure.
Important Notes
All information in this itinerary is accurate to the best of our knowledge but please note that changes to our trips can and do occur. This may be due to our effort to improve our program or logistical reasons such as changes in flight schedules, traffic conditions, weather conditions, or government policies. We will make every effort to keep you informed of any changes but cannot be held liable for any alterations made to the published itinerary.
