Upper Mustang Trek
Trip Overview
Trip at-a- Glance
- Country: Nepal
- Trip grade: Moderate
- Destination: Nepal
- Activities: Nepal Trekking
- Accommodation: Hotel
- Meals: Breakfast in City 3 Meals in Trekking
- Group size: 1+
- Best Season: Around the year
UPPER MUSTANG TREK
Upper Mustang Trek is the heaven of the world which is being considered as the hidden world of the Buddhist kingdom of Mustang. It is also known as “Lo” which used to be the part of the Tibet. That’s why; the culture and traditions are very much similar to Tibet. This region was forbidden for trekking and it was officially opened only about 15 years back in 1992. Even though the trekking is open for trekkers, there is some part of Upper Mustang which is still restricted for trekking. The trekkers require special trekking permit and should accompany an officer who is appointed by the government. Upper Mustang trek lies in the rain shadow, mainly in the northern part of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. This region is completely protected from the monsoon downfall. It is better to travel here during the monsoon season as the local people will be busy with their work.
The Upper Mustang is also popularly known as the “Forbidden Kingdom” which is full of eroded canyons, parched valleys and yak caravans. The trail of Upper Mustang trek will let us enjoy the barren landscapes filled with the chortens full of colorful prayer flags, white washed-houses, and fields of barley. Ponies are available for transports which are hired. We can see the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna massifs en route to the Upper Mustang and Lo-Manthang. Lo-Manthang is the oldest capital of Mustang, where the palace of the last kind is still there. There is a Lo Gekar Monastery which was built during the Eighth century by the Tibetan magician Guru Rimpoche. There is a story that Dhakmar was painted red by the blood of a powerful demon that was killed by Guru Rimpoche. We can visit the Amchi museum and the Amchi School. The Amchi is an official Tibetan doctor of the king.
Upper Mustang Trek is usually accessible from a flight from Pokhara to Jomson. The flight will fly over the deepest gorge in the Kali Gandaki that runs between the Nilgiri and the Dhaulagiri mountains. Kagbeni is another attraction of Upper Mustang. There are several teahouses for accommodations where authentic Nepalese foods and International cuisine are available. There is a seasonal migration during November as many local inhabitants move from Lo-Manthang and surrounding regions towards the lower altitudes for winter months. This might cause the inconvenience in the food and accommodation facilities. Since Upper Mustang Trekking is considered to be a moderate type, the trekkers should be able to walk for about at least 5 – 6 hours daily. The other adventurous activities are mountain biking, village tours, trekking, and explore the Tibetan cultures with amazing food and culinary. Step On Himalaya will always be ready to serve the valued guests with the utmost facility and services. Any change in the itinerary is acceptable.
Itinerary
Day 1: Day 01: Arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu
Day 2: Day 02: Sightseeing guided tour around Kathmandu and Preparation of Trek
Day 3: Day 03: Drive to Pokhara from Kathmandu via Tourist bus
Day 4: Day 04: Flight to Jomsom from Pokhara and then Trek to Kagbeni: 3 – 4 hours
Day 5: Day 05: Trek from Kagbeni to Chele: 5-6 hours
Day 6: Day 06: Trek from Chele to Syanbochen: 6-7 hours
Day 7: Day 07: Trek from Syanbochen to Ghami: 5-6 hours
Day 8: Day 08: Trek to Ghami to Tsarang: 5-6 hours
Day 9: Day 09: Trek to Tsarang to Lo-Manthang: 3-4 hours
Day 10: Day 10: Acclimatization and Rest day at Lo Manthang
Day 11: Day 11: Trek from Lo-Mangthang to Drakmar: 6-7 hours
Day 12: Day 12: Trek from Drakmar to Ghiling: 5-6 hours
Day 13: Day 13: Trek from Ghiling to Chhuksang: 5-6 hours
Day 14: Day 14: Trek from Chhuksang to Jomsom: 6-7 hours
Day 15: Day 15: Flight from Jomson to Pokhara
Day 16: Day 16: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu via Tourist bus
Day 17: Day 17: Final departure from Nepal
Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu
You will arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport and then a representative from Step On Himalaya will be waiting for welcoming you and will drop you at the hotel. You can rest and relax in the hotel. In the evening, there will be a welcome dinner arranged by Step On Himalaya. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: Dinner
Day 02: Sightseeing guided tour around Kathmandu and Preparation of Trek
After having breakfast, we will be ready for the tour around the Kathmandu valley for sightseeing of mainly the UNESCO listed World Heritage Sites which are Pashupatinath temple, Swayambhunath Stupa, Boudhanath Stupa and Kathmandu Durbar Square. The tour will be guided by one of our experienced, English speaking Tourist Guide.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: n/a
Day 03: Drive to Pokhara from Kathmandu via Tourist bus
An early morning drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara via Tourist bus. But if you want, you can reach Pokhara by flight also which will take around 30 – 35 minutes from Kathmandu to Pokhara. We can go for boating in Fewa Lake or roam around the city or just rest in the hotel. Overnight at Pokhara with dinner included.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: Dinner
Day 04: Flight to Jomsom from Pokhara and then Trek to Kagbeni: 3 – 4 hours
We will have an early morning flight from Pokhara to Jomson. After reaching Jomson, we will walk towardsKagbeni. Jomson is mainly famous for the apples. We will walk through Eklibatti village which is situated at the bank of 2 rivers. There are flat-roofed houses and an old Fortress. Overnight at Kagbeni. 3 meals included
Accommodation: Tea House
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 05: Trek from Kagbeni to Chele: 5-6 hours
We will walk for about 5 – 6 hours from Kagbeni to reach Chele. We will have to get the permits checked and start our trek following the Trail of Kali Gandaki River. We will then ascend on the hill and reach the Tangbe village. There are usually strong winds in this region. We will pass through the buckwheat and barley fields, narrow alleyways, apple orchards and small white-washed houses. Continuing the trail, we will cross a river and a village and finally reach Chele village. Overnight here with 3 meals included.
Accommodation: Tea House
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 06: Trek from Chele to Syanbochen: 6-7 hours
From Chele onwards, the trek will be little hard as compared to earlier walks. It’s because we will be passing through Taklam La pass and Dajori La pass. We can enjoy the scenic views of Tilicho, Damodar danda, Yakawa Kang and Ramchung Cave. We will reach Samar village after descending further. We will still keep on walking through the village and reach Syanbochen after descending towards a steep trail. Overnight at Syanbochen with 3 meals included.
Accommodation: Tea House
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 07: Trek from Syanbochen to Ghami: 5-6 hours
Today’s destination is Ghami. We will climb up to the Yamda La pass at an elevation of 3,850m. On the way, we will pass by teahouses, chortens with colorful prayer flags, gorgeous hamlets with amazing barley fileds and dense forests. We will then reach Nyi Pass and after descending, we will reach Ghami. Overnight stay in Ghami with 3 meals included.
Accommodation: Tea House
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 08: Trek to Ghami to Tsarang: 5-6 hours
We will begin our trek from Ghami descending through the slippery trail. After walking for some hours, we will cross a suspension bridge over Ghami river and continue the trail ascends. On the way, there are Mani walls. Then we will cross the Tsarang La Pass and reach the Tsarang village that lies above the Charang chu canyon. There is a huge fortress and at its eastern part, there is a red Gomba. Overnight stay at Tsarang with 3 meals included.
Accommodation: Tea House
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 09: Trek to Tsarang to Lo-Manthang: 3-4 hours
After having breakfast, from Tsarang, we will descend towards the canyon. We will then cross a river and begin the uphill trek to reach Lo La pass at an elevation of 3950m. We can view the gorgeous hamlet of Lo Manthang. We will descend to the Lo-Manthang village. The views of the surrounding Himalayas like Tilicho, Annapurna I, Nilgiri, Bhrikuti peak along with Damodar Kunda is awesome. Overnight stay at Lo-Manthang village with 3 meals included.
Accommodation: Tea House
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Acclimatization and Rest day at Lo Manthang
Another day of the trek especially for Acclimatization at Lo-Manthang. Acclimatization is an essential step for planning the further trekking accordingly. This will not only let us know the weather but also prevents us from being ill of acute mountain sickness. The day will be passed easily roaming around the Lo-Manthang village, exploring the nearby gompas which were restored by experts. The 3 main gompas are Jhampa, Chhoeda and Thupchen. We can hike to Tingkhar village located at the north-western part of Lo-Manthang. Another night stay at Lo-Manthang with 3 meals included.
Accommodation: Tea House
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Trek from Lo-Mangthang to Drakmar: 6-7 hours
Our destination is to reach Drakmar today. We will trek from Lo-Manthang after having breakfast. The trail will pass through the Gaykar village. Here is famous Ghar Gompa which is supposed to be a century old. It is believed by the locals that any wishes made here get fulfilled. We will continue walking until we reach Drakmar. Overnight stay with 3 meals included.
Accommodation: Tea House
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: Trek from Drakmar to Ghiling: 5-6 hours
It is very windy during the daytime so we will start the trek early morning. We will then walk through the dry plateau and the fields. Walking through the trail, we will reach Ghiling which is usually dry. It will be a little difficult trek as the winds will blow onto our faces while walking but still enjoyable as we can see the mountains of Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri. We can either rest or roam around Ghiling. Overnight stay with 3 meals included.
Accommodation: Tea House
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13: Trek from Ghiling to Chhuksang: 5-6 hours
On this day, we will reach Chhuksang after walking for about 5 – 6 hours from Ghiling. We will pass small beautiful villages and can view the majestic Himalayas en route. Overnight stay at Chhuksang with 3 meals included.
Accommodation: Tea House
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14: Trek from Chhuksang to Jomsom: 6-7 hours
From Chhuksang, we will walk and join the trails of the famous Annapurna circuit. We will stop by at Kagbeni for lunch and then again continue our trekking until we reach Jomson to stay overnight with 3 meals included.
Accommodation: Tea House
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15: Flight from Jomson to Pokhara
An early morning flight from Jomson to Pokhara. After reaching Pokhara, you can wander around the city or rest at the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: Breakfast
Day 16: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu via Tourist bus
We will travel for about 5 – 6 hours to Kathmandu from Pokhara via Tourist bus. But still, there is an alternative of flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu. Farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 17: Final departure from Nepal
On the last day, the representative of Step On Himalaya will escort you to the Tribhuvan International Airport at least 3 hours prior to the scheduled time. Breakfast included.
Accommodation: n/a
Meal: Breakfast
Cost Details
What is included?
- Ground transportation (Pick up and drop services from and to the Airport)
- Accommodation arrangement in 3-star hotel during Kathmandu and Pokhara stay with breakfast
- Accommodation in Tea houses/lodges during the trekking period
- Kathmandu Valley sightseeing tour guided by an English speaking, experienced Tour guide
- Domestic flights from Kathmandu to Lukla and Lukla to Kathmandu
- Entrance fees during the Sightseeing tour
- All the government and local taxes, TIMS permit and other trekking permits
- Salary, Medical and Travel Insurance, Food and Accommodation of the staff
- Porter facility (1 porter: 2 trekkers)
- All 3 meals during the trekking period (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
What is not included?
- Visa fee
- International flight fare
- Travel and Medical Insurance
- Extra charges for emergency evacuation or rescues
- Accommodation and Food in Kathmandu and Pokhara other than the trekking days
- Personal expenses (bar bills, battery recharge, beverages, phone calls, internet, laundry, extra porters, hot shower, etc.)
