20 Days Upper Mustang Trek

66 Reviews in TripAdvisor

Country

Nepal Tour and Trek Packages

Duration

20 Days

Difficulty

Strenuous

Activity

Trekking

Best Season

March-June/ September-November

Overview
Itinerary
Includes
Reviews

Route Highlight

Duration: 20 days
Best season: March-June/ September-November
Trekking grade: C (Strenuous )
Altitude:3,700 m.(Lomanthang)
Trek Starting Point: Either fly to Jomsom from Pokhara or start the trek from Nayapool or Beni
Ending Point: Jomsom ( flyback) or walk down
Culture: Different communities with a majority of Thakali, Tibetan Lobas, and their unique culture.
Mode of Trekking: Fully Organized Camping Trek.
Himalayan Sights: Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri ranges, Nilgiri, Tibetan plateau, etc. the most isolated and unexplored corner of the Himalayas.

20d Upper Mustang Trek

Mustang lies in the North of the Annapurna Himal. Its territory extends up to the border of Tibet (China). Firstly, the Mustang Region was one of the kingdoms in ancient times and was close to foreigners. Even after, the entrance for foreigners had tightly restricted. As a result, it attracted a lot of attention as a restricted area.

Secondly, Mustang is the most remote region with a geographic extension of the Tibetan plateau. We can also name the region as windswept land of mountains. And most importantly, this place helps to preserve the last authentic remains of Tibetan culture. This area had completely isolated from the rest of the world. It opened only in 1991 to trekkers groups. In Mustang Trek, local people engaged to cultivate barley, potatoes, and buckwheat. Those food grains are the staple diet of the villages. Our trek passes by seeing the greenery of food grain to reach the ancient wall fort city of Lo Manthang.

The border with Tibet is only a short distance from here. We can either return back from Lo Manthang through the same trail or head back to Jomsom by the holy pilgrimage site of Muktinath.

Arrival and pick up from the international airport in Kathmandu, after some refreshments we will invite you for a traditional Nepali dinner. In the meantime, the team will organize the permit for Mustang.

Meals

Breakfast

Accomodation

Hotel

Trek Distance

200km

Trek Duration

6hrs

This morning you will drive to Pokhara (200km) Enroute we will see more of the countryside of Nepal that offers greeneries, rivers, villages, farms and beautiful mountain sceneries. Afternoon, we reach Pokhara.

Meals

Breakfast

Accomodation

Hotel

Trek Duration

4 hrs

Highest Altitude

2850m

Early morning take a flight to Jomsom, which is the District headquarters of the Mustang Region. From here we walk to Kagbeni, which is the starting point of the Upper Mustang Trek. The spectacular peaks of Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, Tukuche Peak and Dhampus tower above the sparse brown landscape as you walk on gently undulating trails until you reach Kagbeni, an interesting and typical Tibetan village at the entry point of the upper Mustang for an overnight stop.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accomodation

Lodge

Trek Duration

5/6hrs

Highest Altitude

3050m

Our journey starts with a special permit check up and onwards to the riverbank of Kaligandaki upstream. During the walk, we have the scenic picturesque place to stop through the sandy and windy trails. This trail follows the up and downhill. Firstly we reach Tangbe village with narrow alleys amongst whitewashed houses, fields of buckwheat, barley, wheat and apple orchards. From there we trek forward to Chhusang and after crossing the river head up to the huge red chunk of conglomerate that has fallen from the cliff above, forming a tunnel through which the Kaligandaki follows. We head on to small ridges reach Chele village.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accomodation

Lodge

Trek Duration

6/7hrs

Highest Altitude

3475m

The climb continues along the steep, treeless and dry terrain, along the side of a spectacular deep canyon to pass a cairn of rock at 3540m. The trail then makes a long gradual descent to some chortens on a ridge and descends further on a pleasant trail to Samar. The Annapurna Range, still dominated by Nilgiri, is visible far to the south. Climbing above Samar to a ridge, we then descend into a large gorge and the trail goes into another valley along the surrounding of cool streams and junipers trees, crosses a stream and climbs up to a ridge at 3800m. Today we also pass by Ramchung Cave.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accomodation

Lodge

Trek Duration

5/6hrs

Highest Altitude

3520m

After breakfast the trail climbs gently to the  Yamda La ( 3850m), during the day we will pass a small tea house, chortens, and  village with a Tibetans styles house.  From here we will climb another pass called Nyi Pass (4010m) and trek down to Ghami.  Ghami is the small village sheltered by overhanging cliffs and next to a clear stream surrounded by barren large fields. The afternoon is in perhaps the driest part of Mustang and the views of the countryside are magnificent with the rugged mountains in the east and west.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accomodation

Lodge

Trek Duration

4/5hrs

Highest Altitude

3500m

We will have a pleasant walk passing  very long Mani walls a sacred stone wall made of Buddhism followers. The route makes a long gentle descent to Charang. The huge five-story white Dzong and the red Gompa are interesting and we will visit these to observe collections of statues and Thankas as well as many large paintings of seated Buddha. Tsarang is a large spread-out village inhabited totally by Lobas. Tsarang is a maze of trees, willow fields, and houses separated by stone walls, at the top of the large Charang Chu canyon. The huge five-story monastery fortress is perched on the edge of the Kali Khandaki gorge, on the east end of the village.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accomodation

Lodge

Trek Duration

5/6hrs

Highest Altitude

3700m

This day we trek to Lo-Mangthang with a magnificent view of Nilgiri, Tilicho, Annapurna I and Bhrikuti peak. The trail first descends to Charang Chu Canyon and then climbs steeply after crossing the river. Further the trail ascends gently to the 3,850m windy pass of Lo, from where you can see the Lo-Mangthang Valley. While descending to Lo-Mangthang, views of the walled city appear magnificent with its hills on the Tibetan Border

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accomodation

Lodge

This day we explore the surrounding areas of Lo-Manthang .The western valley of Tingkhar, the site of the Raja’s summer palace and surrounding panoramic views of the Himalayas is worth exploring. Kimling and Phuwa as well as the Gompa of Namgyal (The Monastery of Victory is the newest and most active Gompa in Lo) are also here. In the eastern valley nestles the village of Chosar, also rich in Gompas, this valley is the main trading route to Lhasa

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accomodation

Lodge

Trek Duration

5/6hrs

Highest Altitude

3900m

This day it is a challenging trail lead up and downhill, the trek from Lo-Manthang to Yara is harder but more satisfying and interesting then the west side of the valley crossing through river with the panorama views of Throung peak, Damodhar Range, the Yara village is one of the best village of whole Lo-Manthang and it seems more successful and it is established in a very suitable place.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accomodation

Lodge

Trek Duration

6/7hrs

Highest Altitude

3300m

After breakfast, get up and ready for trek, first few hours through River bank then after crossing River, the trail climbs up till the pass of 3850m then trail lead through grassless, bare hills, Tange is small village but most of the house are attached each other, on the roof tops can see piles of fry woods, which also reflect the prosperity in their society.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accomodation

Local House

Trek Distance

38km

Trek Duration

8/9hrs

Highest Altitude

2900m

After breakfast, we trek downhill through river up to Paha then continue trek uphill about 6hrs to Chusang.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accomodation

Lodge

Trek Duration

7/8hrs

Highest Altitude

3775m

Early in the morning after breakfast, we start trek, it is the hardest day today, cross Gyula pass 4077m, and continue trek  to Muktinath with the best panoramic views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Tukuche, the Muktinath is an important pilgrimage center for Hindus and Buddhist. The most well known holy place is a Vishnu temple where are 108 spouts, fashioned in the shape of cows’ heads, pour forth water that is considered to be holy. This water is channeled from a stream running above the temple. The temple is built in Tibetan style and contains huge brass idols of Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, and Kali.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accomodation

Lodge

Trek Duration

5hrs

Highest Altitude

2700m

This day after breakfast we start the trek with some shining downhill, which will be more pleasurable with jeep tracks trails with a mostly downhill gradient! We have to start early as the wind gets up after 11 am making riding a bit more challenging. Chill out on this section and enjoy the views of many different mountain ranges.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accomodation

Lodge

Free in afternoon

Meals

Breakfast

Accomodation

Hotel

EXTRA FREE DAY IN POKHARA. In the late afternoon we go to Manakamana, where we stay overnight , o/n in a resort (breakfast included in the Pokhara hotel)

Meals

Breakfast

Accomodation

Resort

Morning, (if you are interested) after breakfast, you can explore around Manakamana the holy site through cable car to manakamana temple and drive back to Kathmandu.

Meals

Breakfast

Accomodation

Hotel

Meals

Breakfast

Accomodation

Hotel

Meals

Breakfast

Accomodation

Hotel

Transfer to international airport in Kathmandu

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Government licensed guide with privet transport during sightseeing in Kathmandu valley
Domestic airport tax
Accommodation in lodge during trek
Domestic flight ticket (Pok-Jom-Pok)
Mustang special permit and conservation fee
Arrival and transfer transport from international and domestic airport in Kathmandu and Pokhara, hotel with breakfast in Kathmandu and Pokhara
Transport from Kathmandu to Pokhara with tourist bus

International Airfare
Personal expenses and tips for staff
Travel insurance incase of emergency
Extra transport or porter in case of emergency case
Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara
Entrance fee of the monuments and monasteries

Duration20 Days

Authentic Local Expertise
Fair and Transparent Pricing
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Travler Reviews

View All Reviews

Lothelanor

Wonderful guides, excellent service throughout the three weeks we spent in Nepal. All complex expectations of our varied group (including 13 teenagers from 5 different countries) were met. Jagat, Prakash, and Toran took care of us 24/7 even in the difficult period right after the earthquake. We’ve been working with them in various areas of Nepal with volunteering, trekking or tourist activities for over 3 years and they’ve never disappointed us. They are highly flexible and will always help you to customize your visit to make it perfect for your personal needs, whether that is for groups, families or individual backpackers or volunteers. I look forward to going trekking with them again in Spring 2016!

Sarahh H

I had a wonderful time with Himalayan Leaders in Mustang in Nepal! I was a solo-traveler, but nevertheless, the trip was not expensive and very well organized. They took very good care of me. Mustang is an incredibly beautiful region, people are so friendly. Thank you very much, Himalayan leaders!