Upper Mustang Trekking

Upon your arrival at Kathmandu international airport receiving by your trek guide with fresh wreath then transfer to your hotel. Your trek guide stays standby at the airport with your name on the signboard. After arriving the hotel have own time until official meeting an evening.

It is Upper Mustang trekking permit documentation day, it takes few hours. While doing paperwork you may have your own time in Kathmandu. That leisure time can use to explore the medieval Kathmandu city. Kathmandu valley is a larges population occupied city and has several interesting sites including architecture, heritage, and culture namely Pashupatinath temple, Bouddhanath Stupa, Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swoyambhunath Stupa.

Pokhara can be reached by overland and air, a driver gives you the best overland trip of Nepal. Kathmandu to Pokhara drive takes around 8 hours on good condition road, the road would be pretty busy high chance to stuck in the traffic. Pokhara drive is totally picturesque with offering mountain panorama, lush and green landscapes of hilly terrain. Also, enjoy to see adventure lover doing white water rafting on the sacred Trishuli River. Pokhara city is connected by air where the local flight provides services from morning to late afternoon.
A-20 minute flight rendering panoramic mountain view of Langtang Himal, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Annapurna mountain range and 6th tallest Mount Dhaulagiri. After reaching Pokhara transfer to your hotel near Phewa Lake called Lakeside. Then later an evening enjoys walking around Lakeside street.

A 20-minute small plane presents a stunning mountain view of the Annapurna mountain range and Dhaulagiri. A thrilling flight landing at Jomsom airport, the airport is nestled on Mustang valley. Also can reach Kagbeni by day drive from Pokhara and it will be 10 hours shaky drive including paved and off-road drive and passes villages, waterfall, hot spring, and boulder gorge. After breakfast tied-your shoes less than approximately 4 hours trekking on the wide barren valley with passes few villages to Kagbeni villages. During your ramble, the trail also provides a stunning view of Nilgiri range, upon arrive Kagbeni get a magnificent view of Thorong peak. The oldest village have Tibetan cultural flavor and also have beautiful gompa on Shore of Kaligandaki River. In April can see thousands of Hindus doing ritual on confluence Glacier River.

After breakfast entering to Upper Mustang region with checking Upper Mustang restricted trekking permit. The landscapes are such amazing in the eroded valley also passes red and white painted Chhorten west bank of the Kali Gandaki River. A little uphill brings us tiny Tangbe village then follow the level trail a side of a river to Chhusang and visit tiger cave above the village in a lunch break. A short distance walk let us cross a river and see amazing sights of 16 lineup cave above the trail where impossible to reach without proper climbing. Around 20/25 minute steep climbing up to brings us another beautiful village of Upper Mustang, Chele.

A trek from Chele to Syanboche is relatively harder than yesterday, most of the day ascending up on the infertile ridge with a stunning view of Yakawa Kang, Thorong Peak and mount Nilgiri. Upon crossing the small summit, Dajori La and short descend to Samar village. From Samar village, we follow narrow pebbles trail including up and down to Rangjung Drakpuk (Chungsi Cave) monastery believed to be found in 8 century and Padmasambhava had done meditation for a long time. After a witness to see a hidden cave on the cliff, the gentle up trail on the shrubs reaches Syanboche village.

The trek begins after hot breakfast in the morning, a short climb takes us to the ridge, it offers stunning Mountain View of Nilgiri, Tilichi peak, Brikuti, Khamjungar, and Thorong peak. From here gentle descend to Ghiling village, it is a great place for farming of multiple grains. A colorful Buddhist monastery "Tashi Choling" built north of the village and its part of Sakyapa sect Buddhism.

We proceed trek out of jeep track with long ascending on the scrub ridge above the Ghiling village then go over the pass then walking on the downhill where often see some wild animals deer and jackal. The top provides a magnificent view of the mountain desert with the Himalayas.

The journey begins and hiking down to Ghami Khola, then trail passes the longest mani wall of Nepal also passes huge trio Chorten on foot of Dhakmar red cliff. Trek continued to Dhakmar with enjoying the dramatic spectacle of the red-walled cliff. Also, see closed scenery of eroded hill above the Dhakmar village. The trail beyond Dhakmar village is steady-up on the stony route to Muila Bhanjyang (4172 m), then follow flatter path to Ghar Gomba, oldest gomba of Upper mustang which was established in the 8th century while Guru Rinpoche heading to Tibet. Few red color Chorten and colorful Tibetan flag around the Ghar gompa make the scenery stunning with far distance snowcapped mountains. We walk to Tsarang village on the level trail. It is the large village and surrounded by the large apple farm as well as distinct high altitude grain. Also, the north side of the village has Tsarang palace and a monastery as well as a couple of multiple colored fortresses.

After breakfast leaving from Tsarang village, heading north to Chogo La pass. We are hiking on trekking route with skipping jeep road. The upper route offers good view of the landscapes, mountains and massif canyon. From the pass descending on downhill to wall city which also capital of Upper Mustang. The old-city is occupied by several monasteries, stupas and Buddhist sites.

It is full day tour to Chhoser village, there are several monasteries and cave nearby lobhas residence can do day trek by walking. After breakfast follows Chhoser village route north of Lo Manthang, side of a fresh stream and throughout the villages Nenyul, Arka, Ghom, Garphu then little ascend up to 5 storey Garphu cave, Nyphu Gumba (half cave and half monastery), Yachebu monastery and Namgyal monastery. Also possible to visit Samjhong village one of the remote and cultural Tibetan settlement in the north of Lomanthagn can so visit Konchok Ling cave, and only a handful tourist visited since it found.

We start the trek from Lo Manthang and trailhead steeply uphill to Lo La pass (3950 m). The trail to the summit provides an outstanding view of Lo Manthang and Choser village and the road to Kora la on for distance. After a short walk on the main road follow branch path on a northeast to another trekking pass Dhi La (3910 m). The walk towards steeply downhill with a magnificent view of the red canyon. From small Dhi village, we follow a gentle uphill trail along the Punyung Khola and passing interesting and scenic nature eroded cliffs to Yara village. We also see a small path leading to holy Damodar Lake, the source of Muktinath water taps.

The Luri cave day tour begins from Yara village, a trail keeps climbing from traditional Yara village and passes attractive Ghara village. Pleasant further walk show hanging Tibetan flag on the top and the bottom, the top weighty red color one is Luri cave. The Luri Cave and Gompa is different than others because it has Tashi Kabum, frescoes, Chortens, and dissimilar ancient wall painting. The top section of the cave been ruined and need bad repair as soon as possible. A 30-minute of the path is completely sleeper because of pebble and grit specially ambling down unit. Not allowed to take any pictures of the inner part of Luri cave and gompa because of order to protect this priceless and unique design. After a while trekking back to Yara gaon and take rest.

After breakfast, half day tour to Luri Cave via Ghara village, ancient Luri gomba set above the villages on the ridge and the path is climbing up on gravel to the 3 storey sanctum hidden cave. The Luri gompa has medieval era painting of meditation and Kabung also get a breathtaking view of unfruitful terrain. Then trek returned to Yara village and after lunch trek retraces across the river to Charang village, a path offers amazing sights of the walled eroded landscapes.

One of the longest trek days during our Upper Mustang Trekking, we probably need to trek around 8-9 hours from Tange to Tangbe including passes. The trail contains up and down plus flattens on huge yak pasture. Tange is a beautiful village with decorated colorful stupas and Chortens. Upon leaving from lodge descending to Yak Khola through seasonal vegetable farm then long and sturdy climb to Paha La, it is pleasant rambling on the huge ground and providing probably the best view of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri and several other snow-capped mountains with breathless landscapes sceneries. We walking speedily down on grit lane to Tangbe village, small farming village on foot of great canyon and only one lodge is available.

The trek starts after eaten breakfast in the lodge, we crossing 4000 m Gyula pass and the pass delivered the best view of Mount Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri and wider Kali Gandaki valley. The first section of trek from Tetang to Muktinath route is steeply up on the unyielding path. Then strolling on pretty nicely and scenery flattens footpath to the ditch where often see yak, goat, and sheep are pasturing. Again the trail leading sharply-up hill to Gyu La pass which probably takes 2 hours. Gyula summit to the Muktinath temple route is pretty easy on the barren area and into the villages. On arrival Muktinath site trips to Muktinath complex where can see one hundred and eight sacred water taps, Jwala Mai temple (flame of natural burning gas), holy pond, Narsing Gumba, and nunnery Gumba.

It is pleasant trekking from Muktinath to Jomsom via Lupra village. After breakfast straight walk down to Jharkot village and explore the Buddhist monastery. Now trail towards the east of the village with gentle climbing on the scrub pasture to Lupra Danda. The ridge provides a magnificent view of the Kali Gandaki valley, Dhaulagiri and surrounding mountains. The further trail is steeply down on the pebble and also pass apple farm. Upon crossing the bridge on cairn reaching tiny Lupra village, the villager practicing Bon Buddhism. The trek continues along the river on a stony path to Jomsom village. From Eklebhatti to Jomsom section know as Ghost Kali Gandaki valley and facing strong wind force.

Early morning 10-min trekking to Jomsom airport then 20-min mountain flight to Pokhara. Upon arrival Pokhara airport transfer to your hotel in Lakeside. We always put our effort to reserve your seat on the first flight from Jomsom to Pokhara. Because due to the weather forecast the flight may delay or cancel a day. If the scheduled flight cancel then reschedule the next day.

The distance between Pokhara to Kathmandu is only 205 km but it requires a complete day drive because of the small and zig-zag road as well as the traffic on the road. The standard tourist bus departure at 7:30 am daily from near to Lakeside Pokhara and 7-8 hours' drive on Prithivi highway. The buses stopping along the high way for breakfast, lunch, and toilet, it is a scenic drive. Although it is a long drive but definitely enjoyable and fun trip. Except for the tourist bus the public buses and micro-buses (Van) departure 05:00 hours to 16:00 hours from Prithi Chowk Pokhara.

The fascinating adventure and cultural exploration Annapurna Base Camp Trek end here by today. We hope you had a memorial and fantastic adventure with us in the Himalayas. As per your international flight scheduled transfer to Kathmandu airport 4 hours before the flight time.
Note:
If you willing to do scenic mountain flight to see Mt. Everest or willing to do one-day thrilling white water rafting. We can help to organize.