Upper Mustang Trek

Overview

Nepal has countless destinations for trekking and breathtaking views of towering mountains, but the Upper Mustang Trek is an entirely different experience than any other trekking route. Known as the” Forbidden Kingdom,” Upper Mustang was off limits for foreigners until 1992, making it the least explored region of the Annapurna Conservation Area. The trek is all about discovering the ancient kingdom of Lo, where trekkers can witness Tibetan culture and tradition, unique landscapes, and century-old monasteries.The Upper Mustang Trek is a week’s worth of trekking in the Himalayas that begins with a scenic flight from Pokhara to Jomsom. Every village in Upper Mustang has road access: however, the route follows the unspoiled trail toward the ancient walled city of Lo Manthang. The trail passes alongside the Kali Gandaki River in route through Muktinath, Tetang, Yara, Tange and so on as an alternative route to avoid the road.Lo Manthang, “The Forbidden Kingdom of Lo”, is a remote town in the Annapurna region, near the Tibetan border. The ancient mouthwatering city is home To the Royal Palace, monasteries, residents and Buddhist caves. Yes, all of them are inside the wall. Whereas, trekking in the Upper Mustang is restricted and requires a special permit.On the way to Lo Manthang, you will stop at several significant religious sites. You will stop at Muktinath Temple, also known as temple of salvation. Discover the hidden Kabung at Luri Gumba. The term Kabung means the chortens that are believed to emerge naturally with just spiritual force. It is accepted as true there are seven of them, of which only two are found.One of the highlights of the Upper Mustang Trek is the extraordinary landscapes of its canyon valley terrain. Besides high altitude and arid desert-like terrain, the place is famous for apple farming. The apples found in Pokhara are mouthwatering and have distinctive flavors.Plus, the route this trek is different from the normal Upper Mustang Trek.

Detail Itinieary

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu

As soon as you land at Tribhuvan International Airport , Kathmandu our cheerful staff will be outside the Airport to welcome you with garland or khata, holding a company board with your name on it. After the welcome ritual is complete, our staff will transfer to your respective hotel.

Our staff will drop you at your hotel. For the rest of the day, you can chill out roaming around the Thamel Bazaar, the tourist hub of Kathmandu. There are numerous food steps serving mouth-watering  local foods as well as international cuisine. Likewise, you can hang out around religious heritage sites too.

Furthermore, if you haven’t completed your shopping Thamel can be the best spot. Overall, Thamel is the one-stop solution for all trekking needs and essentials.

Day 02: Sightseeing in Kathmandu and Trek Preparation:

Making permits for restricted areas and conservation areas can be troublesome and require a bunch of documents are ready to go. And we will handle the rest of the job.

While the officials are busy making permits, it is a perfect opportunity to discover the treasure of Kathmandu valley. While a day is not enough to visit all of them but more than enough to visit important sites. Quick reminder, Kathmandu has seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

On the same day, our boss will conduct a short meeting to provide a briefing about the whole trip. Also, you will be introduced to your guide and porters.

Day 03: Drive Kathmandu to Pokhara by tourist bus

Our trekking guide will come to the hotel in the morning at six o’clock to pick you up with private transport. We’ll drive to Pokhara (200 km), which will take us about 6 to 7 hours on a very scenic route. Along the journey, you will witness some stunning scenery of snowcapped mountains, green hills, rivers in rafting and villages. Pokhara is a beautiful valley with panoramic views of Annapurna, Machapuchare (shape of fishtail) Dhaulagiri, Lamjung Himal and Manaslu. The town of Pokhara is set on the banks of the Phewa lake. It is smaller and much less hectic than Kathmandu providing the perfect starting point for our trek. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 04: Fly to Jomsom and Trek to Kagbeni

The flight to Jomsom is often taken early in the morning. The wind gets deadly after noon which makes it a small aircraft to fly on such a current. The flight takes around 25 minutes to reach Jomsom passing between two eight-thousands, Mt Dhaulagiri and Mt Annapurna. After landing at Jomsom Airport, you can witness up-close views of Nilgiri, Tukuche, and many other peaks. Likewise, you can notice the change of environment and landscape into desert-like terrain. Jomson is a Himalayan town with various facilities like Hotels, Banks, restaurants, and more. Stepping out of the Airport, the guide and porter will manage luggage and baggage. In the meantime, you can take a short tea break. When everything is ready, it is time to start actual trekking. The first day of walking will be the easiest day of the trek. The trail follows the Budhi Gandaki River until Kagbeni. The trail is not technical, while most of the path is walking on the road and there is not any ascending and descending. But due to the wind, it can be a little dusty so, be prepared for that.It can take around an hour and a half to two hours to walk from Jomsom to Kagbeni. Lunch will be in Kagbeni in the same lodge where you will be staying overnight. After lunch, you can give a short visit to the village and century-old monastery, Kag Chode.

Day 05: Trek to Muktinath (Ranipauwa) from Kagbeni.

Time to begin the actual trekking journey to the forbidden kingdom. Starting from Kagbeni, you can feel the vibes of Tibetan culture, architecture, and religion. To make it more noteworthy, you will be taking a different route escaping the hustling and bustling of vehicles. At the beginning of the day, the trail gets uphill for a while. As you ascend, traverse through traditional Tibetan-style villages, witnessing the unique architecture and cultural heritage of the area. Enjoy the tranquility of the serene trails, away from the busy road. Along the way, encounter sacred Buddhist monasteries, where you can pause for contemplation and marvel at the intricate artwork and peaceful atmosphere. Since it will be a short trekking day. As you approach Muktinath (Ranipauwa), be captivated by the awe-inspiring vistas of the Himalayan peaks that surround the region. Explore the revered Muktinath Temple, a significant pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. Take a moment to offer prayers and immerse yourself in the spiritual ambiance of this sacred place. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to stay overnight in Muktinath, allowing enough time to delve deeper into the village and its surroundings, rather than solely focusing on the temple. Embrace the chance to immerse yourself in the local culture, interact with the friendly residents, and discover the hidden gems of this enchanting Himalayan settlement.

Day 06: Trek to Chhusang from Muktinath via Gyu LA Pass (4077m)

After having breakfast, the trek will start from Muktinath following the narrow alley en route to Muktinath Temple. The path follows through the small village called Jheng (Dzeng). The village shares a splendid vista of Ranipauwa village, nestled below Mt. Nilgiri Range. The trail descends from the village leading towards the suspension bridge. After crossing the bridge, the path gradually ascends to Gyu La Pass. The changes in the landscape can be felt as marching to the past. The pass can be reached with a couple of hours of walk. Upon reaching Gyu La Pass (4,077m), the scenery changes drastically. Somehow, it felt like a portal to the Upper Mustang. The dry terrain, canyon, and unique landscape. “So, this is Upper Mustang”, you can feel it by yourself. Then, the trail goes straight downward. The descending is more than ascending on this day. There is not any sign of life until Tetang. But Kashmir and sheep herds can be encountered on the way down. The way is all down but there are some obstacles due to dry erosion. Tetang can be ideal for lunch camp. It is the first village to visit inside Upper Mustang. It is a small village with a compact settlement and eye-catching Gompa(monastery). After lunch, the path follows roads all the way to Chhusang. Just reaching Chhusang, there is a checkpost and entry for permits. Then, you will cross the bridge to check in to the Tea house. Chhusang can be reached during the afternoon, so you may have some time to relax and explore the village more.

Day 07: Trek to Tangge from Chhusang via Pa Pass (4210m)

The toughest day of the whole trip. It will take a whole day to reach Tangge from Chhusang. It can take 10-12 hours of walking depending on the endurance of trekkers. So, be prepared mentally and physically for this day. Quick reminder, there is not any village or settlement in between. Also, there are not any water resources, besides Paa Pass (water streams are seasonal). So better to carry enough water along with a packed lunch. At the beginning of the trek, the trail goes steep ascending for a couple of hours. Then, the trail is gradual uphills and some descending too. The same pattern of the trail continues until the Paa Pass. It is not that easy but not that complicated either. On the way, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Mustang. Villages like Syanboche, Ghiling, and other picturesque settlements can be seen on the horizon. The trail follows the ridge of Siyarko Tangk Danda all the way to pass. In the middle before reaching the Pass, we will have lunch which is packed earlier from the Tea House. Also, there is a campsite with water just ahead of Pass where you can see the pass clearly. It is the perfect spot to take a break and redeem some stamina. It can take more time than expected to reach the Pass. However, standing at the Paa Pass (4,210 m), the Tangge village can be seen clearly. Don’t let the perspective fool you, it is far more than it looks.After the pass, the trail is all steep downwards. The descent continues for around three hours. Then, the trail leads to the suspension bridge where the steep descent finally ends. Still, the trek is not over yet.Walking beside the river for a while then, it will lead to Tangge village after crossing another bridge. It will be dusk while reaching the village. So, better take dinner and go to bed early. Of course, it is a tough day and the next day is waiting too.

Day 08: trek to Yara Tangee

As usual, the trek begins after breakfast. It is not as long and complicated as the previous day. So, you may have an hour more sleep and start late.For the initial phase, the trail goes uphill following the narrow path. After an hour the path leads to the flat land which will be relatively easier to walk. The flat land will last for a couple of hours more. Again, the path will lead uphill but for a few minutes. After crossing the uphill, the path goes all the way down to the Dhechyang Khola (river). While getting closer to the river, you will notice a huge apple farm in the river. As for locals, the farm has more than a thousand apple trees. The farm has a small farmhouse which will be our lunch camp too. But it is not designated as a tea house. So, our staff will prepare lunch and have it there. In the meantime, you can search for Shaligram in the nearby river. The trek again begins after having lunch. After crossing the river from the suspension bridge the trail ascends for a few minutes. As earlier the path leads to flat land. A few minutes of walking will take you to the narrow trail. Just further the trail again gets flat. In the distance, Ghara village is clearly seen. Also, watching below you can notice Dhi village too. After a while, the trail goes to the end of the foothill. Then, the path goes down to Yara village, where you will stay overnight.

Day 09: Exploration Day ( Rest Day)- Visit Luri Gumba

Today, it is going to be an exploration day as well as a rest day too. On this day you will be visiting some magical monasteries like Luri Gompa, and Tashi Kabung. It is an essential day because the rest day is important after some challenging days. As always, the exploration day begins after breakfast. To reach Luri Gompa, we will take an alternative route following the Nuyung Khola (river) where Tashi Kabung lies en route. The Kabung is located inside the wall of the cliff. The actual trail to Luri Gompa from the river is unclear due to the continuous flow of water. Still, just following the river will lead to the Gompa. The trail is not hard; most of the path will be flat. After a couple of hours, you will reach Luri Gompa. After spending quality time in monasteries, we will head back to Ghara village for lunch. Also, the trail is easy with most of the part will be on the road. Yara is just half an hour from Ghara. In the end, it is going to be an easy day and you can take a rest for the remaining day.

Day 10: Trek to Lo Manthang from Yara via Dhi La (3950m) and La (Day) La (3950m)

Almost at the end of the trek. In addition, Lo Manthang is the heart of Upper Mustang Trek. And ofcourse the highlight of the trek. Also, this day is not going to be a comparatively easy day and is shorter too. The morning trek begins with breakfast. For the first part the trail will follow from the road and river leading towards Surkhang village and crossing the Kali Gandaki River will take you to Dhi village. Just after crossing the village, the trail gets steep for more than an hour. As it goes uphill it shares stunning views of deserted landscape along with notable Mt Nilgiri range, Tilicho Peak, Khatungkang, Thorong Peak, Dhaulagiri on far sight, and many more. Following the trail, it takes a small foothill. Then, the path follows a narrow trail leading to the top point where there is a sitting point with an iron bench. The spot has one of the iconic views along the route. Afterward, the trail changes into gentle descent all the way to Lo Manthang. Just before reaching the ancient Tibetan town the trekking trail joins with the road. If you escape the road for a while and walk to some hills, you can enjoy the beautiful view of Lo Manthang. Likewise, you will reach Lo Manthang for lunch too. It is also the place where we will be staying overnight. For the rest of the day, you can visit inside the walled city of Lo. Inside you can explore different monasteries Like Chhyode Gompa, Jampa Lhakhang and Thubchen Gompa along with the Royal Palace.

Day 11: Exploration Day (Rest Day) – Visit Chhoser,  Jhong Cave or May drive to Kora La (Nepal Tibet border)

On this special day, it’s time for exploration day in which we will be exploring Jhong Cave and nearby monasteries situated in Chhoser. Furthermore, it will be a relaxing day as you travel to Chhoser comfortably by bus or jeep. The ride from Lo Manthang to Chhoser is approximately one hour. Along the way, you will traverse through several small settlements allowing the glimpses of local life. The road conditions are generally moderate, mostly off-road. Also, be aware of dust during the ride. As you approach Jhong Cave, anticipation fills the air, as this remarkable natural wonder awaits your discovery. Step into the depths of the cave, where ancient stalagmites and stalactites form otherworldly formations, captivating your senses and transporting you to a realm of awe-inspiring beauty. After discovering this primitive cave of ancient Tibetan civilization, give yourself precious time to soak in the tranquility of Chhoser. Surrounded by the serene beauty of the Himalayas, for sure it is a piece of heaven. You May drive to Kora La4,660 meters/15,290 ft (Nepal-Tibet border) also. Once you spend quality time, you will return through the same route. As It marks the final day in Lo Manthang, it is essential to celebrate the accomplishment of the trek and cherish the memory created along the way.

Day 12: Drive to Jomsom from Lo Manthang

Final day in the Forbidden Kingdom of Lo, for today it is going to be 4-5 hours of ride from Lo Manthang to Jomsom. The drive follows another route passing through some famous villages like Syanboche, Charang, and Ghami. Also, lunch is served somewhere in the village taking a break from the ride. The road condition is good enough although it is not covered in asphalt. There might be bumpy roads somewhere in the road but not much. Overall, you might enjoy a smooth ride. After reaching Jomsom, you Fly to Pokhara from Jomsom Airport will be transferred to a hotel. You will also have plenty of time to relax and explore the town.

Day 13: Fly To Pokhara from Jomsom Airport

Time to say goodbye to the Himalayas and back to city life. It is going to be a 30-minute early flight from Jomsom to Pokhara. As flying early from the Jomsom, you will have more than enough time to hang out in Pokhara. Likewise, it can be perfect to take a rest and re-energize after a challenging trek. In addition, Pokhara is a paradise for multi-adventure sports. If you are not in the mood of taking a rest you can do other better stuff too. Paragliding, bungee jumping, hot air balloon, zip flying, boating, etcetera are all available in Pokhara.

Day 14: Drive from Kathmandu from Pokhara

After a remarkable journey from Upper Mustang, it is time to get back to Kathmandu to take a flight back home. Whereas Kathmandu only operates international flights. But soon Pokhara will host international flights too. It is going to be around 7 hrs of ride from Pokhara to Kathmandu including lunch break and a few other breaks. Due to some minor traffic, the highway can halt for a while. The route follows Prithivi Highway covering 200 Kilometers. During the ride, the bus passes through some major towns like Mugling, Abukhaireni, Malekhu, Galchi, and many more. In addition, you can view the Daraudi and Trisuli Rivers along with panoramic hilly picturesque views. After reaching Kathmandu, our staff will transfer to the hotel for the final time (on this trip). Try to get fresh after an exhausting ride because we have farewell dinner waiting for you.

Day 15: Final Departure

Time to exchange final farewells. Before heading to Airport, we will complete the farewell ritual with Khata. Then, we will drop you to the Tribhuvan International Airport for final departure. Until we meet again.

Includes

• Free Airport pick up and drops of all transportation (airport to hotel to airport)
• star level 3+2 nights hotel accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara twin bed sharing basic
• Upper Mustang Restricted Area Special Permit, (ACAP) Annapurna Conservation Area Project, (TIMS) Trekker Information System Cards.
• Air tickets from Pokhara to Jomsom to Pokhara by plane (weight limit:10 kg main baggage nad 5 kg hand for passenger/flight) and Trek ending point to Pokhara hotel by taxi or car.
•  Transportation from Kathmandu to Pokhara to Kathmandu by comfort tourist bus.
•  Transportation from Lo Manthang to Jomsom by private.
•  Trekking equipment’s (warm down jacket, sleeping bags and duffle bags) during the trek if needed.
•  Nepal Mother House T-shirt/Cap and Appreciation card of Trip(after the trip ends)
•  three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek.
•  Soft and comfortable private accommodation, entire mountain twin beds sharing with the shared toilet.
•  Government license holder  English-speaking experienced local guide with their food, accommodation, salary, insurance and equipment.
•  A porter (between every 2 person basic) carries  of maximum of 20-25 kg,plus their food, accommodation, wage, insurance all transportation.
•  one Sherpa (assistance guide) if the group size is more than10 people. Plus  their food, accommodation, salary, , insurance and equipment
•  Guide and porter insurance for their happy journey.
•  A trekking map of the Annapurna Trip for a Group.
•  Supplementary snacks on the trek.
•  First-aid medical kit during the trip, including an oxygen meter to measure oxygen and plus at high altitude.
•  Welcome and Farewell program
•  Tourist service charge, VAT government tax, and official expense if necessary.
•  All kinds of hot and cold drinks, including Drinkwater , coffee, chocolates, cookies, desert, phone calls ,laundry and hot showers.
•  Clients travel insurance and evacuation (compulsory)
•  If necessary, the flight will be canceled and a charter helicopter or plane will be used
•  Tipping for the guide and porter, your meals at Kathmandu & Pokhara.
•  Personal Expenses like shopping, souvenirs or gifts, and the monastery entrance fee.
•  Optional trips and sightseeing if extended.
•  International airfare, airport departure tax, and visa fee.
•  Things that aren’t mentioned above in our services (trip cost included).
•  Visa fee: you obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu.

Excludes

• All Kinds of cold and hot drinks including drinking water, tea, coffee, chocolate, cookies, dessert, phone calls, laundry and hot showers.
• Clients travel insurance and evacuation (compulsory).
• If necessary ,the flight will be canceled and a charter helicopter or plane will be used.
• Tripping for the guide and porter, your medals at Kathmandu and Pokhara.
• Personal expenses like shopping, souvenirs or gifts and the monastery entrance fee.
• Optional trips and sightseeing if extended.
• International airfare, airport departure tax, and visa fee.
• Things that aren’t mentioned above inn our services (trip cost included).

Visa fee: you obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu.