Sherpa Nomads offers an amazing adventure to Upper Mustang, once a forbidden kingdom, where the king of Mustang regimes still exist from the fort palace of walled city / village of Lomanthang, located North West Nepal on the caravan route to Tibet, where the trade still flourish across the border.
Upper Mustang trek offers views of Mt. Dhaulagiri I (8,167m) Tukuche Peak (6,920 m) Nilgiris Peak (7,061m) Annapurna I (8,091m / 26,545ft) Annapurna South (7,219m-23,693ft), Gangapurna (7,455m-24,457ft) and Annapurna III (7,555m-24,787ft) to Mt. Machhapuchhre (Fish-tail) Base Camp with 08th highest Mt. Manaslu 8,163 m, range of mountains with Lamjung Himal.
Trek to Upper Mustang starts with a scenic sweeping flight to Jomsom from picturesque Pokhara valley with alluring views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range of mountains with majestic peak of Machapuchare the Fish Tail, landing at Jomsom the headquarter town of Mustang district located on a shelf above Kaligandaki River, this area famous for apples and its products from here the adventure begins with slow scenic walk on the Kaligandaki River valley to reach at Kagbeni, the gateway to Upper Mustang and beyond to Tibet border.
On route this trek to Upper Mustang visiting interesting villages of strong Tibetan influenced similar culture, Buddhist / Bon (pre Buddhism) traditions and daily way of life and custom, walk leads on the barren windswept terrain with amazing views of red rock formation walls high cliffs in the backdrop of high snow capped mountains.
Upper Mustang trek passes through several interesting villages of Tshele, Geling,
Tsarang with beautiful looking green farm fields of bucket wheat and barley the trekking trail dotted with prayer / mani walls and prayer wheels, slowly after crossing few high scenic passes Nyi –la and Yamda La reaching to the highlight of this adventure at famous walled city of Lomanthang at an altitude of 3,700 m high. On this interesting walled village visit the monasteries and the fort palace of Mustang Raja (king). After a great time here heading back to Jomsom taking an alternative route through interesting villages of Dhakmar and Ghiling to reach at a nice town of Jomsom for the scenic flight back to Pokhara and then a drive back to Kathmandu after a wonderful adventure to Upper Mustang with great service of Sherpa Nomads and its friendly crews and guides.
Fascinating trek on the high extension of the Tibetan plateau, amazing scenery of rock and canyons, snow-capped mountain views of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiris, Bhirkuti and Mustang Himal, visiting traditional villages of Buddhist culture and religions, interesting monasteries, on the walled city of Lomanthang, on the arid barren photogenic landscapes, on the wild areas of Upper Mustang
On reaching Kathmandu international airport, received by Sherpa Nomads staff and transfer to respective hotel in the hub of Kathmandu, and then briefing / orientation program regarding Kathmandu, Pokhara and Upper Mustang trek.
Morning after breakfast our city tour guide will take you on a half day tour at places of interest around interesting old temples, monasteries and palaces, Kathmandu is full of World Heritage Sites, afternoon free and preparation for the trek to Upper Mustang.
Depending upon your choices either take a short scenic flight or drive to Pokhara which takes 6 hours of interesting drive, on reaching Pokhara transfer to respective hotels by the lake Phewa.
An early start from Pokhara for a short flight to Jomsom, the flight takes only 22 mins with mind blowing views of Annapurna, Manaslu and Dhaulagiri range of mountains, on reaching Jomsom meet our trekking crews and porters, Jomsom a large town and a headquarter of Mustang district. First day walk of this fabulous journey starts right from Jomsom walking on a gentle path most of the day on the Kali-Gandaki river valley, after four hours of good walk on this windy valley reaching at Kagbeni village from here starts the Tibetan culture and religion with great scenery of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Nilgiris.
From Kagbeni morning walk continues with an uphill into a canyon gorge of Kaligandaki river, following this river upstream with awesome landscapes scenery with red cliffs on both side of the gorge, passing few villages and hamlets coming to a nice cultivated farm land at Tirigaon village, looking over an interesting and picturesque cliff canyon of red colored erosion, continue trek on this windswept valley for another few hours reaching at Tsele (or Chele) village for overnight stop, this quite a large village located by the Kaligandaki river valley.
After a nice stop at Tsele village, our journey continues with a climb to Gyakar village, on the wide barren and arid terrain to reach at Samar village, one of the lovely villages along this route. After a ice stop continue walk towards a small settlement of Bhena, and then leading to a steep uphill to Yamda La top at 3,860 meters a small pass, offering glorious views of Mustang wide valley including high peaks with Mt. Dhaulagiri mountain range. After an enjoyable stop with the striking views, descend all the way to Geling village for overnight stop through Syangboche village.
Morning an optional tour of old Geling monastery before beginning the walk to Tsarang “Charang” village, an interesting old monastery of Geling here visiting the monastery with Buddhist mani (prayer) wheels run with water power, after a quick tour, morning walk leads to cross over Ghaymi Khola (stream) and then following a long row of interesting Mani walls (holy prayer stone) and reaching at Dhakmar village, after a short rest here couple of hours of good walk brings at overnight stop at Tsarang village encircled by large crops fields with buck wheat’s and barley the only crops that can be grown on this high elevation and cold climate, at Tsarang after getting organized in local lodge or guesthouse for overnight stop, with time to visit another monastery of Tsarang village.
Walk today leads to our main highlight and to our destination reaching the higher side of Upper Mustang at Lho Manthang. A half day walk to Lho Manthang for lunch and overnights, the pleasant morning walk follows a gentle path and then crossing a steel bridge to reach at Marang village, from here the trail winds up to a ridge top, coming across chortens and mani stones in between Tsarang and Lho Manthang, offering amazing views of windswept terrain landscapes and of true Tibetan plateau country with super panorama of Nilgiri’s, Tilicho and Bhrikuti mountains, after a wonderful moment walk leads to a climb at Lo La pass 3,950 meters elevation and looking below views of Lo Manthang walled city with its fortress, and then on the downhill path reaching a stream and an hour walk reaches inside a mystical, medieval walled city of Lomanthang here check into a lodge for overnight stop for two nights.
An exciting place for rest and free day and this is the highest overnight stop of this wonderful journey as well, after a lazy morning with breakfast explore the important places if the king of Mustang is around worth a visit to the palace like fort, nearly all the houses are of Tibetan style with its strong influence and way of life also, visit the surrounding villages intact with this large village rather than a city. This amazing place with four major monasteries the Namgyal Gompa, Champa Lakhang (God House), Red Thubchen Gompa, Chyodi Gompa and the great Entrance Hall.
From Lho-Manthang heading back to Jomsom onwards, after 2 nights of great interesting and impressive time, heading back using an old trekking route passing several farm houses and tended fields with few willow and poplars the only trees that survives in this barren terrain, a few hours trekking to Marang village on the same path and then avoiding the main trail to an old walking path all the way to our overnight stop at Dhakmar village after six hours of nice fine walks.
After Dhakmar village, starting the morning trekking retracing the same path back to Ghiling village for overnight stop, crossing a bridge over Ghami Khola to Ghami village with visit Geling monastery on route.
As the walk progress loosing elevation as the journey heads towards Kaligandaki valley, morning walk beginning with gradual uphill to Syangboche village, from here couple of hours walk brings at Yamda La after catching the wonderful views of surrounding hills and valleys, then downhill to Bhena and Samar villages, and then following a stream leading through Gyakar and Chele villages and completing the day walk at Tsusang village.
From Tsusang village walk comes to an end of this wonderful trip, today’s walk is quite long so enjoy the final day walk to Jomsom town which leads to a gentle downhill and then following several villages and into a canyon with high red cliffs to reach at Kagbeni village, after a stop here for while another 3 hours of good walk on the valley floor brings at Jomsom and the end of the long walk of this amazing trips, in Jomsom in the comfort of nice and good lodges and enjoy the party with fellow members and staffs with apple products of Mustang area, as Jomsom, Kagbeni to Marpha famous for apples and its products.
From Jomsom transfer to domestic airport in the early morning for a sweeping panoramic flight to Pokhara and then transfer to another or on the same flight back to Kathmandu with 30 minutes of scenic air borne, on reaching Kathmandu transfer to respective hotels.
Your last day in Kathmandu as per your international flight time, our Sherpa Nomads staff will transfer you to airport for the flight homeward bound after a life time experience around Upper Mustang and in amazing Nepal with excellent service of Sherpa Nomads.
