Upper Mustang Trek- 17 Days

Once you arrive in Kathmandu, you will be greeted by the representatives of Ace Vision. You will then be escorted to your hotel. In the evening, you will be properly greeted with a hearty welcome dinner. The dinner will give you an authentic taste of Nepali cuisine. Overnight in Kathmandu.

This day is to be spent on sightseeing of the major UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the Kathmandu valley. We can explore the Swayambhunath temple, also known as the monkey temple. The temple is picturesque and holds both Hindu and Buddhist shrines. From here, we can go for sightseeing around the Pashupatinath premises. The Hindu complex houses many temples and many rituals and processions can be seen taking place. You can later explore Boudhanath and enjoy a delicious Tibetan Dinner. Overnight in Kathmandu.

We will need to drive to the beautiful city of Pokhara today. The road winds around the sides of hills and along the vales carved by rivers. Much of the suburban and countryside life of Nepal, with traditional houses, can be observed along the way. Pokhara itself is a bustling and colorful city inside a valley. You can relax by the lakeside after a long journey, to recuperate before you begin trekking tomorrow. Overnight in Pokhara.

The day begins with an early flight to Jomsom. The picturesque flight will provide you with plenty of mountain views. You will also see the terrain shifting from greenery towards the drier rain shadow landscape. We take the dusty trail beside the Kali Gandaki River to Kagbeni, which is the first village of what is informally called Upper mustang. Kagbeni sits amongst a Patch of greenery in contrast to its drier surroundings. Kagbeni still preserves the old fashioned look through its close-knit alleyways, large monastery overlooking the village and square rock and mud houses. Overnight in Kagbeni.

We will again follow the dusty roads, through the widening Kali Gandaki river basin. We can take the Riverbed route in the drier seasons. Tangbe is a beautiful and traditional village much like Kagbeni, sitting amongst apple orchards and buckwheat fields. From here, one hour further is the village of Chhuksang which sits on the confluence of The Kali Gandaki with the Narsing River. The village also houses a beautiful monastery nearby which is cut off by the river. From here, on we pass by a similar village of Tetang before the final climb that takes us away from the Kali Gandaki basin and into the village of Chele. Overnight in Chele.

We will be gradually gaining altitude through the desolate landscape surrounded by the distinct looking canyons. The first part of the trek will give you a look at the Gyakar village that overlooks a canyon. We will continue up to the Chele pass (3630m) before making a lengthy and gradual descent down to Samar. From here on, we follow the route away and upwards from the village into another valley. Here we can see groves of Juniper trees which we follow up to the Bhena pass (3680m). The trail will continue to climb up above the tree line to the Yamdo pass (3980m), before descending along a ridge to Syangmochen. Overnight in Syangmochen.

We begin the day by crossing the Syangmochen pass (3850m). From here, we take the route to Tama Gaon village while admiring the views of the Ghiling village in the distance. We will then cross the Nyi La pass (4020m) from where we arrive at the village of Ghemi (3510m) after a gentle descent. Ghemi is a large village surrounded by cultivated fields. We will continue to Tsarang, amongst the tinged cliffs and canyons that show hues of blue and red. We will continue along the track until we come at the Tangmar Chu River. Crossing this river, you will arrive at a lengthy and spectacular Mani wall. From here on we cross the Choya La pass (3870m) before making a descent down to the Tsarang the former capital of the Lo region. Tsarang houses the huge Dzong palace. It sits perched atop the canyon at the east side of the village. Overnight in Tsarang.

We begin the day by crossing the Tsarang Chu canyon. We will follow the dirt road over this canyon by crossing the valley on the other side. We continue north along this trail, till we arrive at a Chorten marking the medieval boundary between Lo and Tsarang. From here, we head towards Lo la (3950m) pass. As we cross this pass we witness the great walled city of Lomanthang from above. From here on we arrive at the Plateau atop which Lomanthang sits. We soon arrive at the South wall of Lo-Manthang and then we circumnavigate the city arriving at the North East entrance. The 9 m tall walls are dotted with 14 towers, while the city complex inside includes the grand palace, Three monasteries, and a Monastic School. Overnight in Lo-Manthang.

Today we will spend our day exploring the villages on the north of Lo Manthang. Nyiphu and Garphu are monasteries in the Chosar Valley east of Lo Manthang. The monasteries are beautiful with colored murals and statues decorating their interior. In addition to these monasteries, the Chosar valley also holds fascinating cave-dwelling structures. Some speculate these cave dwellings were made to lead directly into Tibet for travelers, thieves or traders. Towards the north are the ancient ruins from the time of Ame Pal, the founder of Mustang. These are the ruins of the king’s palace and the queens round castle, now predominantly used as a burial site. After thoroughly exploring we will return back to Lo Manthang to spend the night. Overnight in Lo-Manthang.

Today we will put the variance in the trip by taking a slightly different route on the way back. We use the previous route but head southwest along a herding trail to Lo Gekar. On our way to Lo Gekar, we will be crossing several high passes including the Choga La pass at 4325m, the highest point of the trek. The final stretch before Lo Ghekar is a steep descent and a crossing of the Tsarang River. Ghar Gompa means house monastery. The monastery is one of the oldest in the region and the primary figure is that of Guru Rinpoche. These statues sit in an alcove above a brass altar. The monastery also has several carved stones framed and displayed. From here it’s a continuous trek to Drakmar without any settlements in the middle. Overnight in Drakmar.

The trail will take you alongside a ridge towards the upper side of the Ghemi village. We will retrace our previous steps across the Ghemi La pass, steeply climbing to the pass. Further ahead is the Nyi La pass. From Nyi La Pass, it’s a steep descent down to the Ghiling valley through Tama Gaon. The valley has many trees including several poplar groves and green fields of Barley. A Large Red Monastery overlooks the village. Unlike the other villages, the houses in Ghiling are scattered across the valley. Overnight in Ghiling.

From Ghiling, we will trace our steps back to Syangmochen La. Then take the upward trail through the Yamdo and Bhena La pass to Samar. We can, however, take a detour around the Chungsi caves, which is situated amongst majestic canyon Landscapes. The stalactites in these caves are amazing to look at. The cave also has historical significance as many site it as a place of meditation for Guru Rinpoche. Overnight in Samar.

From Samar, we begin by trekking downstream alongside the Kaligandaki River. The descent continues on to Chhuksang village. From here we continue on to Kagbeni retracing our steps to stay the night. The walk takes around 6 hours to complete and once you arrive at Kagbeni, you can take time to observe the prevailing culture of Thakali people. Overnight in Kagbeni.

We will be heading out early to avoid the rough winds that whistle up the valley in the noon. This short 3 hours’ trek will ensure that. From Kagbeni, the trail will pass through Ekle Bhatti and then a tree plantation of the Panga River. The trail continues along the Kaligandaki river basin and soon enough arrives at the entrance of the village, split by the river itself. Jomsom is the regions’ administrative headquarters and looks more developed than the rest of the areas. It is said the popular celebrities Mick Jagger and even Jimi Hendrix stayed here in their time. Overnight in Jomsom.

We will take back the early morning flight to Pokhara. The short flight will let you relive your moments in the trail once more as you get a bird’s eye view of the region that will rekindle your memories. The whole day can be spent in Pokhara resting after your long trek. You can relax by the lakeside or take short hikes or drives up to Sarangkot or the world peace Pagoda for wonderful mountain views for sunset. Overnight in Pokhara.

Today will be your final day of travel as you will leave Pokhara to Kathmandu on the Nepali countryside. You will travel along the Prithivi Highway and the road gives amazing views of the Trishuli River and the green hills. Ride along the scenic river vales as the road meanders down towns and villages. Spend the night at Kathmandu enjoying refined Nepali cuisine. We will bid farewell to you with a hearty farewell dinner. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Our trip comes to a close today. Ace Vision representative will make sure you reach the airport on time for your departure. We bid our final farewells wishing you the greatest of luck in your endeavors ahead. Goodbye and Thanks.