Mustang Trek

Arrival in Kathmandu / Welcome dinner, O/n at hotel / trek preparation.

DAY 1: IN KATHMANDU (1,400m/4,593ft)

Soon you land in Kathmandu airport your group leader will be there to greet you and transfer you to the hotel.

Highlights:

• Pick up from the International Airport.
• Transfer to the hotel by your Group Leader.
• Trek briefing and equipment distribution.
• Arriving early gives you an opportunity to explore Kathmandu.
• Welcome dinner and getting to know each other.

Cultural tour / trek preparation / drive to Pokhara.

• Visit to Boudhanath Stupa and Pashupatinath.Flying or the other Today after the cultural tour in Kathmandu we drive to Pokhara fo the over night stay at hotel, Pokhara is the second biggest city of Nepal.

Highlights:

• We explore the sights and sounds of world heritage sites in Ktm in morning and later in the day we drive to Pokhara
• 6 hours drive.
• Very relaxing, fabulous scenery with multiple breaks giving you time to stretch and enjoy.
• Being in Pokhara unlike Kathmandu will definitely add more excitement to your anticipation.

Fly to Jomsom (2,725m/ 8,940ft) and trek to Kagbeni (2,810m/ 9,219ft). walk 3 hrs.

A short morning flight to Jomsom, the district headquarters of Mustang, through the world’s deepest Kali Gandaki Gorge with the glorious view of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri is exceptional.

Highlights:

• 20 minutes breathtaking flight to the windy valley of Jomsom is unbelievable.
• Great view with dozens of Himalayan giants poking into the sky.
• Witness the Kali Gandaki river which dates back to 80 million old flowing from Tibetan Plateau.
• After morning tea walk to Kagbeni, the gateway of Upper Mustang through the ancient salt trade trail is unique.
• Easy walk, lunch at Kagbeni itself – and after lunch excursion around the antique village of Kagbeni which is not to be missed.

Trek to Chele (2,920m / 10,006 ft ) (enter into the restricted upper Mustang area) walk 7 hrs.

Having completed the permit formalities today we enter the restricted area of Upper Mustang. As said to be the desert of Nepal the valley widens with barren and arid surroundings with green villages in the middle that appears more like a mirage which is simply incredible.

Highlights:

• Walking on the extended trail with Kagbeni and Nilgiri mountain at the backdrop is dazzling.
• Witness the different part of the world, the land of ammonites (pre historic stone) with striking views.
• The stretch of Kali Gandaki river bed gives u the ancient history of its existence.
• The dramatic setting of the landscape with canyons and wind eroded hills is phenomenal.
•  Lunch at Tangbe or Chhusang, another ancient village.
•  Chele is a small beautiful settlement from where u can overlook the valley with its picturesque setting.

Trek to Syangboche (3,800m/ 12,467ft) 5-6 hrs.

Today’s walk is more into undulating trails with couple of steep climb and descents. Despite 6 hour walk the tremendous canyons with its unusual colour that opens out is extraordinary. In this bizarre the farming fields with rich red buckwheat and brilliant green and the south view offering you a panorama of Nilgiri, Annapurna, Tilicho Peak, and YakawaKang adds up to its magnificence.

Highlights:

• The initial steep walk through the hill cut trail in one of these tremendous canyons is remarkable.
• You would witness the sky caves which date back more than 3000 years that were used as human settlement, burial chambers and now lama hermit retreats.
• Lunch at the small settlement of Bhena which is now a jeep station but with fabulous scenic beauty.
• Climb up to the pass before dropping down to Syangboche is remarkable for its unexpected views.
• Syangboche is small settlement deep into the valley but has a theatrical setting.

Trek to Ghami (3,520m/ 11,548ft) walk 5 hrs.

From Syangboche we climb gently to a small pass of 3,800m/12,467ft with extraordinary views of mountains and deep valleys into the wind eroded canyons. Today’s walk is effortless with few short climbs in between but beautiful scenery alongside would hardly allow us to realize the passing away of time and arrive at Ghami for lunch.

Highlights:

• Endless colourful gullies to the north, east and west which is outstanding.
• South is still dominated by the soaring peak of Nilgiri, Tilicho and Annapurna.
• After lunch free afternoon to explore Ghami, the ancient village with time honoured monastery, Chortens and mani (prayer) walls.

Trek to Tsarnag (3,560m/11,679ft) 4 hrs.

This short trek to Tsarang takes us into the ‘Land of Chortens”. This trail marks the history and legend of the Indian saint Padmasambhava (750-810 AD), the founder of Tibetan Buddhism who created a fusion of Buddhism with the original Shamanistic religion of Tibet called Bon – whose influence upon the Indian Buddhism makes Tibetan Buddhism so fascinating.

Highlights:

• Half an hour walk from Ghami we see the Longest ancient mani wall of Mustang.
• The soaring red cliffs to the west that tells you the legends of Padmasambhaba is intriguing.
• 4 hours walk brings you to the fascinating big village of Tsarang that just looks dramatic.
• After lunch visit to the ancient Monastery and the white palace of Tsarang which is their heritage.
• Self exploration around maze like Tsarang is worth it.

Trek to Lo Manthang (3,800m/ 12,467ft) 4 - 5 hrs.

(3,800m/ 12,467ft) 4 – 5 hrs.

Finally we get to the plateau of Lo Monthang, ‘The Capital city and the Plain of Aspiration’ of Mustang. The fabled walled city of Lo, the kingdom with a single entrance is a welcome sight! The king, “Lo Gyelbu”, named Jigme Palbar Bista, still resides at his four-storied palace inside the walled city of Lo Manthang.

Highlights:

• Fascinating solitary ancient chorten in the middle of the road after hour and a half walk from Tsarang.
• The spectacular view of Lo Manthang, valley of Thinkar and Chhosar from 4000m pass of Lo-La.
• View of varied historical ruined forts on the high hills is one of the highlights.
• After lunch exploration into the legendary walled city of Lo.
• Your group leader will organize various thrilling side excursion.

Explore day at Lo Manthang.

Lo Manthang the capital city of Mustang contains about 150 houses and has some of the largest and finest Tibetan Buddhism gompas in Nepal. The city itself is absolutely fascinating place with four major ancient Monasteries which are impressive and an enormous 14th century palace imposing 4-storey building in the centre of the city.

Highlights and Excursions:

After breakfast your leader will organize a jeep for Chhosar excursion.

What u see in chhosar:-

• Nyphu Cave monastery built into the side of a soaring cliff.
• 2500 years old Jhong Sky Cave that has more than 44 compartments and gives u the pre historic settlement of humans.
• During afternoon if you are not exhausted you can walk to Thinkar summer palace or explore the extraordinary ancient monasteries inside the walled city itself which is exceptional.

Trek to Dhakmar (3,800m/ 12,467ft) 7 - 8 hrs.

Today we will walk different west terrain which offers you the most beautiful view despite few steep down hill trials. We visit the world’s oldest Tibetan monastery Ghar Gompa built around 7th century by the incarnated monk Padmasambhava.

Highlights:

• We take a different trail that leads us to the world’s oldest monastery, Ghar Gompa.
• The views of landscape and the mountain in the south is mesmerizing.
• Lunch at 7th century monastery is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
• Walk to Dhakmar is thrilling with different trail high above the canyons and eroded hills.
• Dhakmar, a land of red cliffs is one of its kind where overnight is worth.

Trek to Syanboche.

We trace back to the village of Syanboche where on the way back you have ample opportunity to look back into the missed out views.

Trek to Chusang (3,040m/ 9,973ft) 5 – 6 hrs.

We again trace back our trail towards south. We start early today to visit the Chungsi Cave Monastery which is one of the most attractive among all cave monastery of Mustang where the Saint Padmasamvaba meditated around 7th century. But be prepared for all the steep ascent.

Highlights:

• Early trek to visit the legendary Chungsi Cave Monastery built on the side of the vertical canyon wall, this is where Padmasambava meditated with a vision to bring Buddhism in Tibet.
• We have lunch at a pretty village of Samar famous for its poplar grove.
• Descending down to the Chhusang with a great view of Nilgiri and a wide stretch of Kali Gandaki is significant.
• Chhusang is another pretty old village with apple orchard, there are too many nepali and Tibetan songs sung portraying the beauty of Chhusang.

Trek to Kagbeni (2,810m) walk 4 hrs.

We again trace back our trail towards south.

Highlights:

• Descending down to the Chhusang with a great view of Nilgiri and a wide stretch of Kali Gandaki is significant.
• Chhusang is another pretty old village with apple orchard, there are too many nepali and Tibetan songs sung portraying the beauty of Chhusang.
• We exit from the restricted area of Mustang and stay overnight in Kagbeni.

Trek to Jomsom (2,720).

This morning we trek along the wonderful trail through more Mustangi villages, where we will feast on delicious apples and see the traditional back-loom weaving techniques being practiced by the local women.

• Being it a last night fun activities follows with dancing, eating, drinking and tipping the local staff.

Fly to Pokhara after the Upper Mustang Trekking.

We take an early morning flight from Jomsom to Pokhara – a fantastic way to round off the trek, flying right along the Kali Gandaki Gorge between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Catch further flights to Kathmandu. Over night stay at Hotel.

Drive to Kathmandu / PM free in Kathmandu.

Today we take back the scenic drive back to Kathmandu which takes around 6 hrs. There is an option to have flight to Kathmandu from Pokhara on added extra cost as required.

Mustang trekking ends / Airport transportation.

It is time to fly back to home keeping all the exhilarating experiences of Nepal in mind. Please make sure that you have collected all valuable from the Mountain Monarch security department. Those people traveling by aircraft to further destination will be transferred to the airport and assisted with check in procedures.