In many ways, a trek into Upper Mustang is similar to trekking in Tibet, as geographically it is a part of the Tibetan plateau. The district of Mustang was, until 1950, a separate kingdom within the boundaries of Nepal. To trek in Upper Mustang is a rare privilege. Here you will experience a way of life of true mountain people, who for hundreds of years, had very little contact with the rest of Nepal and retained their rich cultural heritage. The last king, the Raja of Mustang, still has his home in the ancient capital known as Lo Manthang.
Upper Mustang was opened to non-Nepali trekkers only in 1992 and even today, access is still highly restricted. To enter Upper Mustang, that is to travel further north of Kagbeni, trekkers need a special trekking permit and must be accompanied by a guide.
Upper Mustang, being in the Himalayan rain shadow, is one of the regions in the country suitable for trekking even during the monsoons. During this time, the upper Kali Gandaki valley is still quite dry with only occasional rainfall.
The Mustang trek is not particularly difficult, the highest point reached being only 3,800 meters, but the conditions at times can be arduous. Mustang is cold in winter and is always windy and dusty through the year. Winter treks are best avoided due to harsh weather.
Lo Manthang, the old capital, is reached in four days and at least one extra day should be spent here to soak in the sights and sounds of this unique walled settlement. Ponies are available for hire if you so desire. The return trip can either follow the same route as the one you took to enter or take an alternative route along the eastern bank of the Kali Gandaki.
Day 2: Drive to pokhara
Early drive on a varied route to Pokhara with a stopover in the idyllic mountain town of Bandipur. The evening is available for your own exploration in Pokhara. Overnight at hotel. (Travel time approx. 7-9 hours).
Hotel Milarepa
Day 3: Flight to Jomsom (2720 m) and trekking to Lupra (2810 m)
In the early morning, you fly in about 20 minutes with a small propeller plane through the deep gorge of Kali Gandaki to the mountain airfield of Jomsom (2720 m). There you will meet the escort team for your trekking tour.
Afterward, you drive with the off-road vehicle through the windiest and dry valley section of the Kali Gandaki and then follow the creek bed on foot to Lupra. The beautiful little place has a Gompa (monastery) that is very worth seeing. Stroll through the alleys of the village and let the atmosphere sink in. Overnight in a simple lodge. (Walking time approx. 1.5 hours, driving time approx. 0.5 hours.
Overnight: Trekking Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
Day 4: 4th day: Lupra (2810 m) - Muktinath (3760 m)
Today your trek starts. After the loads have been distributed among the porters, you will hike through the rarely visited Lupra Valley to Muktinath. On the way, there are magnificent views of the mountain colossus Dhaulagiri (8167 m) and the desert-like high plateau of Mustang. In Muktinath, you will visit the temple complex of what is probably the most important pilgrimage site in the Nepalese Himalayas for Hindus and Buddhists. Overnight in a lodge. (Walking time approx. 4-5h, 1100 m ↑, 150 m ↓).
Overnight: Trekking Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
Day 5: Rest day in Muktinath
Today's rest day is used to adjust the altitude and is at your disposal. Take an acclimatization hike towards Thorong La Pass, look for souvenirs at the small market stalls, explore the surrounding villages or relax in your lodge. Overnight as the day before.
Overnight: Trekking Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
Day 6: Muktinath (3760 m) - Chhusang (2980 m)
The route takes you over a beautiful path up to the Gyu-La Pass (4070 m), where you have a breathtaking view of the surrounding peaks. Further downhill you follow the path and walk past Tetang village before reaching Chhusang. Overnight in a simple lodge. (Walking time approx. 5-6h)
Overnight: Trekking Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 7: Chhusang (2980 m) - Dhakmar (3820 m)
Today you drive on a gravel road to Dhakmar by off-road vehicle. Your route takes you through smaller towns such as Samar (3360 m), Gelling (3570 m), and Ghemi (3520 m) before you reach your destination for the day. On the way, there are very nice views of the ice giants of Nilgiri and Annapurna in good weather. Several stops loosen up the journey. Overnight in a simple lodge. (Travel time approx. 4-5 hours).
Overnight: Trekking Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 8: Dhakmar (3820 m) - Lo Manthang (3850 m)
After leaving early, we continue on foot. You hike over the Mui-La pass (4170 m) to Ghar Gumpa, before reaching the Mustang capital Lo Manthang via another pass, the Chogo-La (4280 m). The city, surrounded by huge pastures, is protected by a fortified city wall and was built in 1380 by the first king of Mustang. Most impressive in Lo Manthang are the narrow streets and rows of houses. Overnight in a lodge. (Walking time approx. 7-8h).
Overnight: Trekking Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 9: Optional excursion: visit to a yak farm nomad lifestyle
Today you have the choice between a trip to a yak farm, nomad lifestyle or you can use the day at leisure.
Yak farm: In the morning you drive in an off-road vehicle (additional cost) in about 45 minutes to a yak farm run by a Tibetan nomad family. Here you get an authentic insight into this special lifestyle and the rough everyday life of nomadic life. After lunch, you will drive back to Lo Manthang. Overnight as the day before. (Excursion approx. 4-5 hours).
Alternatively, there is a hike to the Tri Khecho viewpoint near the village of Namgyal. You will surely remember the 360 ° panoramic view of Lo Manthang and the Mustang region. In good weather, you can even see the Tibetan border. (Walking time approx. 3 hours).
Overnight: Trekking Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 10: Optional excursion: visit to a yak farm nomad lifestyle
Today you have the choice between a trip to a yak farm, nomad lifestyle or you can use the day at leisure.
Yak farm: In the morning you drive in an off-road vehicle (additional cost) in about 45 minutes to a yak farm run by a Tibetan nomad family. Here you get an authentic insight into this special lifestyle and the rough everyday life of nomadic life. After lunch you will drive back to Lo Manthang. Overnight as the day before. (Excursion approx. 4-5 hours).
Alternatively, there is a hike to the Tri Khecho viewpoint near the village of Namgyal. You will surely remember the 360 ° panoramic view of Lo Manthang and the Mustang region. In good weather you can even see the Tibetan border. (Walking time approx. 3 hours).
Overnight: Trekking Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Lo Manthang (3850 m) - Choser (3780 m) - Lo Manthang (3850 m)
You can experience today's day trip to the north of the Kingdom of Mustang either in an off-road vehicle or on horseback (additional costs).
You drive or ride to Choser and visit the monastery of Nhyphu there. The whole area is famous for its cave culture. The Jhong Cave is outstanding with five floors and over 40 rooms. Other highlights of the day are the villages of Garphu, Ghom, Dhuk, and Sisa with various caves and ancient ruins. The view extends from the Annapurna peaks to the mountains on the Tibetan border. Overnight as the day before. (Travel time approx. 1-2 hours, riding excursion approx. 6-7 hours)
Overnight: Trekking Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: 12th day: Lo Manthang (3850 m) - Yara (3650 m)
Today you leave Lo Manthang and choose a scenic route for the return to Jomsom. From now on you hike over the Lo-La-Pass (3950 m) and an unnamed pass (4122 m) with impressive views and depths down to Dhi Gaon (3800 m). We continue through a dry river bed to Yara (3650 m). From there you can enjoy a unique view of the rocks opposite abandoned caves. Overnight in a simple lodge. (Walking time approx. 6h)
Overnight: Trekking Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 13: Excursion to Ghara Gaon and Luri Gompa
In the morning you hike to the village of Ghara Gaon, where you have an overwhelming view of different colored sand and rock formations. You will visit the Luri Gompa monastery built into a rock (4060 m). After extensive sightseeing, you hike back to Yara through a partly pathless gorge, past caves, and ruins. Overnight as the day before. (Walking time approx. 4 hours).
Overnight: Trekking Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 14: Yara (3650 m) - Tangge (3520 m)
Your trek leads over a wonderful route up to a high plateau above the Kali Gandaki valley. On a beautiful high path, you come to a very steep edge. This is followed by a descent to the Dhechyang Khola River, which you cross, after which you climb to a pass (4060 m). The route now goes over the ridge of Serthang before you hike steeply down to your destination for the day in Tangge (3520 m). Overnight in a lodge. (Walking time approx. 7 hours).
Overnight: Trekking Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 15: Tangge (3520 m) - Chhusang (2980 m)
Today the longest and at the same time, the last trekking stage is on the program. After crossing the Tange-Khola River, you will tackle a steep path up to a pass (4340 m), where you will be rewarded with an impressive view of the upper Mustang area. Nilgiri, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri are enthroned further down the valley.
Later you reach Paha (4250 m) high above the Kali Gandaki Valley. The wonderful high path leads over several small passes. Finally, you descend through rocks and scree into the valley of the Naysing Khola to Chhusang (2980 m), which you already know from the way there. Overnight in a simple lodge. (Walking time approx. 10 hours).
Overnight: Trekking Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 16: Chhusang (2980 m) - Kagbeni (2810 m) - Jomsom (2720 m)
Today you drive back to Jomsom in an off-road vehicle. On the way you stop in Kagbeni, a medieval-looking settlement on the border with the Kingdom of Mustang. Stroll through the old, winding streets and gradually say goodbye to the Mustang region. In the afternoon you will arrive in Jomsom. Overnight in a lodge. (Travel time approx. 4 hours).
Overnight: Trekking Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 17: Flight Jomsom - Pokhara
You will fly back to Pokhara very early in the morning. You will then have breakfast at the hotel. In the afternoon you have time for your own sightseeing. Pay a visit to the international mountaineering museum or relax at the idyllic Phewa Lake with a view of Annapurna and Machhapuchare from the previous days of trekking. Overnight at hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Milarepa
Meals: Breakfast,
Day 18: Free time in Pokhara
Today you can design as you wish. A rowing boat trip on Lake Phewa followed by a visit to the World Peace Pagoda is highly recommended. Or you can go shopping along the promenade and look back over the past few days in one of the numerous cafés and restaurants. Overnight as the day before.
Day 19: Flight to Kathmandu
Panoramic flight (approx. 30 min) from Pokhara to Kathmandu along the main Himalayan ridge. In good weather you can enjoy a wonderful view of the ice giants of the Himalayas. Then transfer to the hotel and free time.
Optionally, you can experience the Buddhist stupas of Boudhanath and Swayambhunath on a city tour. In the evening you can end the journey with a traditional farewell dinner. Overnight at hotel.
Meals:- Breakfast and Farewell dinner
Overnight:- Kathmandu View Hotel
Day 20: Free time and departure
Depending on the flight schedule, you have half a day or a full day at your disposal for a final shopping spree or further sightseeing. Then, or at the latest the next morning, transfer to the airport and flight back to destination.
Breakfast
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