Upper Mustang Trekking

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Trip Overview


Upper Mustang Trekking Overview

The Upper Mustang Trekking is an extraordinary journey that offers a captivating blend of cultural exploration and breathtaking landscapes in the remote region of Nepal. Nestled between the towering peaks of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, Upper Mustang is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for trekkers seeking a unique adventure. This trek takes you through the ancient kingdom of Mustang, which was inaccessible to foreigners until 1992, preserving its distinctive Tibetan culture and architecture. The trail leads you through arid desert-like terrain, adorned with eroded cliffs, deep gorges, and enchanting rock formations. The highlight of the trek is the captivating Lo Manthang, a walled city resembling a labyrinth of whitewashed buildings with ornate monasteries, stupas, and palaces, offering a glimpse into Mustang's rich history. The journey offers a diverse range of landscapes, from barren landscapes to lush valleys. Along the way, you'll encounter traditional villages where locals welcome you with warm hospitality, providing insight into their unique way of life, Buddhism-influenced customs, and vibrant festivals. The panoramic views of Nilgiri, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri peaks as you traverse high-altitude passes are simply awe-inspiring. The trek generally spans around 10 to 14 days, with the best seasons being spring and autumn. Due to its remote location, trekkers require a special permit to enter Upper Mustang, adding to the exclusivity of the experience. Accommodation ranges from basic tea houses to camping, adding an adventurous touch.

Conclusion and Summary

In summary, the Upper Mustang Trekking is an expedition that marries natural beauty with cultural immersion. It's a rare chance to witness a region untouched by modernization, where time seems to have stood still, all while relishing the grandeur of the Himalayas. Whether you're a seasoned trekker or an adventurer at heart, this trek promises an unforgettable journey through a hidden gem of Nepal.

Trip Highlights


The Upper Mustang Trekking trip is a unique experience with stunning landscapes and cultural highlights. Here are some of the highlights of the Upper Mustang Trekking trip:

  1. Restricted Area: Upper Mustang is a restricted area and has been open for trekking only since 1992, so it remains unspoiled and retains its authentic Tibetan culture and traditions.
  2. Unique Landscapes: The landscapes of Upper Mustang are unique and fascinating, with barren desert-like terrain, deep gorges, and rugged mountains. The views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges are breathtaking.
  3. Ancient Caves and Monasteries: Upper Mustang is home to many ancient caves and monasteries, some of which date back to the 14th century. The caves were once used by monks for meditation, and the monasteries have intricate murals, sculptures, and ancient artifacts.
  4. Lo Manthang: The walled city of Lo Manthang is the cultural and religious center of Upper Mustang. It is home to the 14th-century Royal Palace, and the narrow streets and ancient buildings offer a glimpse into the past.
  5. Tibetan Culture and Traditions: The people of Upper Mustang are of Tibetan origin and have a distinct culture and traditions. They have their own language, dress, and customs, and their hospitality and warmth towards visitors are unmatched.
  6. High Passes: The trek involves crossing several high passes, including the Lo La Pass, the Chogo La Pass, and the Dhakmar Pass, which offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
  7. Remote and Isolated: Upper Mustang is a remote and isolated region, with limited access to modern amenities. This adds to the adventure and challenge of the trek, and makes it a truly unique experience

Itinerary


Day 01- Arrival in Kathmandu airport (1345meters).

Our airport representative will be receiving you at Tribhuvan International airport, Kathmandu and s/he will be displaying an Friendship World Treks signboard outside the airport terminal. You will be then transffered to your respective hotel in our private tourist vehicle. Overnight at Hotel.

(No meals included)

Day 02- Pre-trip Meeting and Sightseeing around Kathmandu valley.

In the morning, after breakfast, At around 8am, we host a pre-trip meeting at your hotel in Kathmandu and introduce your trek leader/guide. Please seek this opportunity to ask questions about your trek. We will also supply you with our trek Duffel Bag. For the meeting, please make sure you bring passport, three copies of passport-size photos, and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. During this meeting, please clear the due balance, if any, and sign the legally binding trip form as well as the non-liability disclaimer. Please inform us in advance if you will be arriving late and therefore are unable to attend the pre-trip meeting.

After the Pre-Trip meeting and breakfast, your sightseeing trip will start at 9.45 AM in the morning. We provide a private vehicle and guide. We visit Boudhnath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world, where we observe Buddhist monks in prayer in the monasteries surrounding the stupa. After Boudhnath Stupa we visit Pashupatinath, the most famous Hindu temple in the country, located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Here we see Hindu holy men (sadhus) meditating, pilgrims bathing and occasionally funeral pyres burning on the ghats. We also visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square, which is a collection of pagoda and shikhara – style temples grouped around a fifty-five-window palace of brick and wood. The attraction of the Bhaktapur Durbar Square are the the Lion gate, the Golden gate, the Palace of fifty five windows, art galleries, the Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla.

The rest of our time in Kathmandu is free for further exploration and some last-minute shopping in Thamel area near by your hotel. Overnight at Hotel.

(Breakfast Included)

Day 03- Drive to Pokhara (900 meters) 7 hours by tourist bus. Or Fly it’s a option.

Trekking staff will come to your Hotel early in the morning at 6:30 am to pick you up and then the bus leaves around 7.30 am to Pokhara. Overnight at hotel.

(Breakfast and Lunch Included)

Day 04- Morning flight to Jomsom and trek to Kagbeni (2800 meters).

Early morning we are flying Northwest from Pokhara toward the great portal between the snow covered peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. You will enjoy the well-raised massifs of more than 8000 meters, and the deepest gorge on this planet.

On arrival to Jomsom you will meet the rest of the trekking staff. From Kathmandu you will have a guide with you. We start to trek towards Kagbeni, the main gate to Upper Mustang. Overnight at Tea Houses.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)

Day 05- Trek to Chaile (3050 meter)

The trail leads up towards the east bank of the Kaligandaki climbing over many ridges as it heads north and reaches Tangbe village. The town is a labyrinth of narrow alleys amongst white washed houses, fields of buckwheat, barley, wheat and apple orchards. The Nilgiri peak, dominates the southern skyline of Kagbeni, all the way by different shapes. Beyond Tangbe we reach Chhusang village in about 1/2 hr, then we trek and cross the river which continues north climbing up to a huge red chunk of conglomerate that has fallen from the cliff above, forming a tunnel that the Kaligandaki follows. The trek now leaves the Kali Gandaki valley and climbs steeply up a rocky gully to Chaile. From here the culture changes from the Manangi culture to the Tibetan culture of Lo. Overnight at Tea Houses.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)

Day 06- Trek to Geling (3500 meters).

The climb continues along steep, treeless, waterless terrain, along the side of the spectacular steep canyon to a pass and cairn of rock. Then the trail makes a long gradual descent to some chortens on a ridge, and with a further descent before coming along a pleasant trail to Samar village. We climb above Samar to a ridge, then descend into a large gorge, which the trail goes into another valley field, crosses a stream and climbs up to a ridge at 3800 meters. The route climbs over yet another pass, follows a ridge and then descends to Shyangmochen. From there we gently climb to a pass at 3770meters and descend to Geling Village. Overnight at Tea Houses.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)

Day 07- Trek to Charang (3620meters).

From Geling village the trail climbs gently up to an interesting pass NYI LA and descends below the blue, gray and red cliffs. After crossing a steel bridge of the Tangmar Chu (river) you will arrive to a MANI WALL perhaps the longest and most spectacular MANI wall 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 to visit and observe collections of statues and Thankas as well as many large paintings, of seated Buddha’s. Overnight at Tea Houses.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

Day 08- Trek to Lo Manthang (3840 meters).

This is an opportunity to visit two other villages on your trek. The trail climbs steadily until Lo-Gekar. Lo-Gekar Gompa is older than Samye Gompa in Tibet and one of the oldest Gompa of Nepal. After visiting Lo-Gekar continue trek to Lomanthang. The trail until Lo-Manthang is fine with some minor climbing. Finally from the ridge there is a view of the walled city of LO. After a short descent, cross a stream then climb up into the plateau of Lo-Manthang. Overnight at Tea Houses.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)

Day 09- Visit Namgyal Gompa and Tingkhar.

It takes around 2 hours to Namgyal Gompa. Namgyal Gompa situates on a hilltop, which serves as an important monastery for the local community, also serving 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 Tea Houses.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)

Day 10- Trek to Dhi (3410 meters)

From Lo-Manthang the trail walks straight till Dhi pass 4100meters and descends down to Dhi village. The trek from Lo Manthang to Muktinath is harder, but more rewarding and interesting than the west side of the valley. Dhi village is one of the best villages of whole Lo-mathang and it seems more prosperous and it is settled in a very suitable place. Overnight at Tea Houses.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)

Day 11- Trek to Tange (3370 meters).

From Dhi the trail goes through the river for around 2 hours and crosses a river from Damodar Kunda, one of the sacred lakes, there is no bridge on the river so we need to walk across in bare feet to cross this river. After crossing the river the trail climbs up till high above a pass of 3850meters. The trail goes through a grassless, treeless bare hill. After the pass the trail again drops directly to Tangbe village at an elevation of 3370m.Tangbe is a small village of around 30 houses but most of the houses are attached to each other. On the rooftops one can see piles of dry woods, which also reflects the prosperity in their society. Overnight at Tea Houses.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)

Day 12- Trek to Tetang/ Chusang (3022 meters).

The trail walks through a steep ridge of hills providing some fine views of the wind carved hills. Tetang village is formed between 2 hills; they should have found it a safe place to avoid the strong wind that hits the entire Kaligandaki valley. Tetang is the upper village of the Chuksang, which we visit on the first day entering to Mustang from Kagbeni. Overnight at Tea Houses.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)

Day 13:Trek to Jomsom (2713meters).

This is the last day of the trek. The trail goes through the village of Jharkot where one can visit the many attractions such as the Jharkot monastery, Tibetan herbal medical center and the old fortress of Jharkot which once served as palace. Continuing the trek towards Jomsom one will enjoy the views of the Kaligandaki valley and Kagbeni village. This is the entry point to Mustang. We get a round trip of our trek in Ekle Bhatti visiting all the surprises of the human effort in this corner of the World of such an isolation and solitude. Arrive to Jomsom to celebrate the last day of the trek, with all the trekking staff. Overnight at Tea Houses.

(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included)

Day 14;Morning flight to Pokhara and same day Sightseeing around Pokhara.

Morning flight to Pokhara and same day Sightseeing around Pokhara. Or Fly or Drive to Kathmandu.

Today 30 minute morning flight takes us from Jomsom back to Pokhara. Once we arrive at Pokhara airport, we then drive to hotel. In the afternoon we will have sightseeing tour around Pokhara valley, which covers Fewa Lake, Devi’s water fall, Museum, Tibetan refugee settlement and Gupteshower cave. Overnight at hotel.

(Breakfast Included)

Day 15:Drive back to Kathmandu

Morning flight to Pokhara and same day Sightseeing around Pokhara. Or Fly or Drive to Kathmandu.

Today 30 minute morning flight takes us from Jomsom back to Pokhara. Once we arrive at Pokhara airport, we then drive to hotel. In the afternoon we will have sightseeing tour around Pokhara valley, which covers Fewa Lake, Devi’s water fall, Museum, Tibetan refugee settlement and Gupteshower cave. Overnight at hotel.

(Breakfast Included)

Day 15- Drive back to Kathmandu (1345meters).

Overnight back at the hotel in Kathmandu. If you are interested in continuing onto Chitwan Jungle Safari, River Rafting Adventure, Kathmandu Shopping Tour or Scenic Everest Flight.

In the evening we will have a farewell dinner in a traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances. (Your guide(s) and an office staff will accompany you.) Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.

(Breakfast Included)

The above information is a guide and standard template of what we provide. Our trip can be customized at your request to accommodate your specific requirements.

NOTE: During the trip; weather, local politics, transport or a multitude of other factors that are beyond our control can result in a change of itinerary. It is, however, very unlikely that the itinerary would be substantially altered; if alterations are necessary the leader will decide what is the best alternative, taking into consideration the best interests of the whole group. Where a change does occur, we do everything we can to minimize its effect, but we cannot be responsible for the results of changes or delays.

Flight Delay in JOMSOM

Twin Otter is the primary mode of transport from the airstrip at Jomsom. This service is fairly dependable. Sometimes, flights may be cancelled due to mountain weather conditions or other technical problems. In such case, Friendship World Treks will organizes the alternative available road transportation to ensure you are on schedule for your international flight.

The expense of the road transport will be managed from the reimbursement received from the flight ticket after the deduction of cancelation charge. So please note that there will be no refund of the flight from Jomsom to Pokhara, if the alternative road transportation is consolidated.

Price Includes


1. Airport Pick-up and Drop Off,
2. Licensed and trained trekking guides,
3. potters for carrying goods and supplies,
4. Meal on full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea & coffee) basis during the trek
5. 3 Nights Accommodation in the 3/4/5 Star Hotel in Kathmandu with B & B. (Bed
& Breakfast)
6. All accommodation during the trek.
7. All meals and hot beverages during the trek.
8. Transportation to and from the trail head.
9. All necessary documents and permits for trekking (where applicable)
10. National Park/Conservation Area entry Permit, Insurance, and equipment for the staffs.
11. Coordination of quick Rescue service (Costs covered by your Insurance Plan)
12. Trekking staffs wages etc.
13. 1 hr. trekker massage after your trek.
14. Welcome and Farewell dinner in a Nepali Cultural Dance restaurant in Kathmandu.
15. Flight Ticket Kathmandu to Lukla to Kathmandu
16. Trekking Staff Insurance of $10,000 Per Person.
17. Trekking Map, T-shirt, and Trekking certificate.
18. Exclusive of Medical Kit Bag
19. All Government and Local Taxes
20. International Flight ticket re-confirmation.
21. Meals will be Start when your Trek starts.

Price Excludes


1. International Airfares,
2. Travel/Trekking Insurance,
3. Excess baggage charges More than 16kg and handbag more than 5 kg in
domestic flights.
4. Visa fees.
5. Airport Departure Taxes.
6. Drinks (Cold and Alcoholic) Rescue charge.
7. Tips for The staffs.
8. Expenses of Personnel nature and Permit and Liaison officer fee (where Applicable.
9. Meals during stay in the Kathmandu and Pokhara.
10. Domestic Ticket Etc.
11. Extra Hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

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