- Difficulty Level Moderate
- Max. Altitude 5416 m/17,769 ft
- Group Size 1+
- Trip Starts Kathmandu
- Trip Ends Kathmandu
- Group Style Group and Private
Highlights
- Adventure on ancient Trans-Himalayan Salt Trade and Caravan Trail to Tibet via Mustang.
- Extension of huge South-West Tibetan plateau and world’s highest table-land.
- Explore lovely Mustang villages enriched with the old traditional culture of Buddhism.
- Impressive monasteries and trails are decorated with impressive prayer walls and bells.
- Walk on high windswept-dry and arid country within beautiful landscapes.
- Grand views of snow-capped peaks of Dhaulagiri Nilgiri and Mustang Himal.
- Trekking into the former walled kingdom of Upper Mustang at Lo-Manthang.
Trip Introduction: Upper Mustang Trekking 2023/2024 -17 Days.
Upper Mustang Trekking-17 Days is an exotic tour and one of Nepal’s most mysterious and popular treks. It has been described as the desert in the Nepalese Himalayas. “Mustang’ is a Tibetan-derived word meaning fertile plain’ in Nepali. Geographically, it is located in the north of Annapurna at an average altitude of 4,000m and is culturally part of the Tibetan plateau. The landscape of Mustang is dry, with naturally carved sandstone pillars and discontinuous moraine terraces; these all present a naturally colorful variety of red, yellow, and brown together. The trek to Mustang is through an almost treeless and infertile landscape. You experience the strong wind blowing across the area as it is a rain-shadow area of Nepal.
The most convenient way to get to the upper Mustang is to fly from Pokhara to Jomsom and start the trek there. The flight is an attraction in itself, passing through the deepest gorge in the world. Upper Mustang Trekking is perfect for visiting the oldest Buddhist monasteries, many historic caves, and the beauty of the Himalayas. This trek brings you into the hidden world of the ancient Buddhist kingdom of Mustang, also called Lo. This semi-autonomous region is heavily Tibetan-influenced.
The trek to Lo-Manthang (the walled capital) is almost through a treeless barren landscape, a steep rocky trail, and a downhill. Panoramic views of Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and several other peaks make your trek memorable. Upper Mustang is also known as “the last forbidden” kingdom of Nepal”. The landscape here is stunning.
A lifestyle of people residing calmly, even in such a harsh environment, has charm. Lo-Manthang, Chooser Cave, and Ghar Gompa are significant attractions of Upper Mustang Trekking. TiJi is the most fantastic festival in the Mustang Region. It will be a unique privilege to witness the same color, costume, dancing, and rituals displayed by these people in this place more than 600 years ago.
Before 1991, Upper Mustang was a restricted area for foreigners to enter. The Nepal Department of Immigration started issuing a small number of Special Trekking permits in 1991. Foreigners are allowed, and the Upper Mustang has become the best tourist attraction worldwide. You can do a camping trek and a teahouse trek. Tea house treks are comparatively the least costly; however, lodge-to-lodge stays are also available. So, get ready to explore this exotic trekking route with Trekking Planner Nepal to make it more convenient and memorable.
Where does the Upper Mustang Trek Start and End?
We take the air route, which follows the world’s deepest gorge, Kali Gandaki Gorge, between Annapurna I (8,091m) and Dhaulagiri (8,167m) mountains. Upon arrival, collect the gear and supplies and trek for 3 hours to Kagbeni, alongside the Kali Gandaki River and the magnificent mountain view.
Kagbeni is the main entrance to this trek, and today the trail starts with an uphill for half an hour, leaving the Kali-Gandaki River behind for a while. The path leads to the harsh, barren countryside, with occasional stops, passing through a few small villages as the walk progresses to Tangbe. Another hour of good walking from Tangbe reaches Chussang.
Then, walk towards Chele village after crossing the stream through the broken canyons and ruined castle walls on the surrounding cliffs. Across the river from Chussang are some spectacular red eroded cliffs above the mouths of inaccessible caves. After crossing the small bridge, an uphill walk for 45 minutes brings you to Chele Village. From Chele village, the walk gets steeper for an hour up to the ridge at 3,130m; from here, you can get a good view of Gyagar across a vast canyon. The trek continues with a slow climb on the windswept terrain until the pass reaches 3,540m. From here, the trail heads gradually up to Samar.
After a short climb above Samar Village to a ridge and downhill leading to a large gorge past a chorten, the walk continues into another valley with juniper trees. After crossing the stream, the walk follows an uphill path to a ridge at 3,800 m. The trail climbs over another pass, and from here, the route descends to Shyangmochen, a small settlement with few tea shops.
From Geling, the trail climbs gradually through the fields up the valley’s center, passing below the settlements. The walk continues a long climb across the head of the valley to the Nyi La pass (3,950 m), the trek’s highest point. The key itself happens to be the southern boundary of Lo. From here, a slow descent for half an hour brings you to a junction; the right path leads directly to Tsarang, while the left leads to Ghami village, one of the main towns in the Lo region. From here, the final climb brings you to a 3,600m pass. After the last receipt, a gentle descent leads to Tsarang, an exciting village.
(The Capital of Mustang), the trail goes up and down through several exciting villages, along with the river and a nice big Chorten. This walk offers a nice mountain view and a vast, windswept landscape as you cross several passes. Finally, reach the Lo Manthang.
The people are amicable and exciting here in Lo Manthang. One of the largest villages in this trek has about 160 houses and many lamas. The school, health post, police post, and several important chortens are located outside the walls, north of the gate and east of the monastic part of the city.
Then descend and make a less short climb to Ghami, crossing a few passes with a nice view of the valley and mountain. Once you reach the Ghami, you must explore and around it. It has many important things to see.
Retrace back to Kagbeni: more descend and less ascend. Retrace your steps back to Jomsom on a very gradual walk along the Kali-Gandaki Valley. This trek offers a fantastic view of the Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri Mountains.
After an early breakfast at the hotel, your guide will take you to the airport for a short but scenic flight to Pokhara. Leisure Day in Pokhara.
Additional information
Fitness | Beginner- Intermediate |
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Suggested Equipment List
- Duffel/Rucksack bag/Suitcase (We provide one complimentary Trekking Planner duffel bag that is to be returned after the trip).
- Day pack.
- Trekking shoes.
- Sports shoes or sandals.
- Sun Hat/cap.
- Warm woolen cap.
- Warm fleece jacket or puffy jacket.
- Waterproof Gore-Tex layer.
- Pullover or warm sweeter.
- Raincoat.
- 4/5 pairs of good quality socks.
- Hand gloves.
- 2/3 pairs of trekking trousers.
- 3/4 pairs of trekking shirts.
- 3/4 pairs of underwear (non cotton preferred).
- Sun glasses.
- Water bottle.
- 4 season sleeping bag (Optional/we can provide one if you need it. It is to be returned after the trip).
- Flash or Torch light.
- Camera and batteries.
- Adventure around high and scenic Manang Valley and beyond to picturesque Tilicho Lake.
- Explore a beautiful country enclosed within an array of giant mountains of Annapurna Himalaya.
- Visit impressive traditional villages interwoven with strong cultures of Buddhism religion.
- Walk from low warm areas to cooler green hills and into windswept scenic at Manang Valley.
- Beautiful scenery on walks to emerald-colored Tilicho Lake within tall snow-capped peaks.
- Traverse from the end of Manang Valley to the Lower Mustang region crossing the high Thorang-La pass.
- This trip departs every day of the year.
- This trip is fully customizable. We can customize the trip as per your need, please contact us.
- This trip is available on both a Fixed Departure and a Private Group Basis.
- Resurgence Travel also organizes various trips in small groups that can suit you. We recommend you reserve a seat for yourself by booking with us right away for a wonderful experience with us. Hurry up! Adventure is waiting for you.
What’s Included
- All airport Pick-up and drop by private vehicle.
- Welcome dinner and farewell in an Authentic Nepali cultural Restaurant.
- 3-night twin/double shearing deluxe accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu.
- 2-deluxe twin/double shearing accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star hotel in Pokhara.
- Guided sightseeing tours in Kathmandu and in Pokhara with privet vehicles. (entrance fees extra).
- Kathmandu to Khudi (if you want a private vehicle from Kathmandu also available at additional cost) and Pokhara to Kathmandu by bus (if you want a flight or private vehicle from Pokhara also available at additional cost).
- Jomsom to Pokhara flight.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit and Trekkers’ Information Management System( TIMS card).
- A highly experienced, helpful, knowledgeable, friendly, English-speaking, trained Government license holder guide with all his salary, food, drinks, accommodation, Transport, and insurance.
- 1 porter for 2 guests (will carry about 15 kg-20 kg weight)with their Insurance, Salary, Food, accommodation, and equipment.
- Twin/double shearing lodge accommodation in the mountain during the trekking.
- Three meals a day; breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner during the trekking.
- First add kid box.
- Trekking Planner’s sleeping bag, down jackets, Ti-shart, Cap, duffle bags, city and trekking route maps – if necessary.
- Arrangement of emergency evacuation service (should have insurance for emergency evacuation and will be paid by your travel insurance company).
- Oximeter to check your pulse, oxygen saturation, and heart rate twice daily during the trekking(Very useful to check Altitude Mountain Sickness(AMS) symptoms) Which will ensure you trek is in the safest hands possible.
- All applicable government and local taxes as per the itinerary.
What’s Excluded
- Your Nepal Visa fees.
- All the International air fare from and to Kathmandu.
- Lunch and Dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
- Personal travel and health Insurance, Insurance for helicopter evacuation.
- In case of extra more night accommodation, lunch and dinner in city due to early arrival and late departure as well as early back/return from mountain/trekking (due to any reason) than the given time period of itinerary.
- Your Personal expenses such as ( laundry, baggage charge, phone calls, battery recharge, bar and beverage bill, boiled or bottle water, hot and cold shower, extra porter.. etc).
- The Tips to the trekking crews and drive.
- Extra expenses due to flight delays, strikes, weather condition or any event out of our control.
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