In Oct 1991, the Nepalese government announced that all Nepal including the forbidden kingdom of Mustang was open to trekking Groups (but not to individuals) allowing to visit the upper reaches of Kali Gandaki Valley (world’s deepest valley) Since then, limited numbers of trekkers allowed into Mustang each year, it means this will also limit the amount of adverse Change in the Kingdom. The ancient Kingdom of Mustang was attached to Tibet in the 14th century although it remained an autonomous dynasty, later it was annexed by Nepal. Nepal’s Mustang region preserves a life almost unchanged for centuries. It lies hidden behind the Himalayan giants of Dhaulagiri (8168m) and Annapurna (8091m) at the very roof of Asia on the arid Tibetan plateau. It has long been isolated from the outside world (and only opened to trekking groups since 1991). As you make your way through this secluded land, you’ll pass through brightly painted chortens (Buddhist shrines) and tiny villages guarded by enormous monasteries; Vistas include unusual and arresting views of the snow-covered Himalaya to the south, and desolate high plateaus, deep canyons, and an ocean of windswept hills the colors of a desert sunset to the north. Once at the walled capital city of Lo Manthang, you’ll absorb a great sense of timelessness and appreciation for an ancient culture as you discover the ruins of old forts, monasteries rich in art and history, and caves replete with magnificent religious statue.
Duration of trek: 18 days.
Maximum altitude: 4010m
Mode of accommodation: camping, lodges, Hotel
Time of Visit: May till Oct
Per person cost: EURO 1475
Cost includes:
* All transfer by private bus,
*Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu & Pokhara
*Trekking permit, restricted area permit, (US $ 70 per person per day), Conservation Area Entry Permit, Camping charges
*Both ways flight ticket between Pokhara and Jomsom
*Guide, Necessary Porters, Sherpa, Cook, Kitchen helper
*All surface transportation from starting to end point of the trek.
*All meals three times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea, coffee etc.)
*Necessary Camping equipment such as sleeping tents,
kitchen tent, dining tent, toilet tent, mattresses, down
sleeping bags, down jackets, cooking utensils, fuel etc.
*Necessary insurance for trekking staffs.
Cost not includes:
*Monumetns entry fee in Kathmandu
*Meals in Kathmandu
* Travel insurance
* Personal trekking equipment
*All alcoholic drinks
* Personal nature expenses
Itinerary:
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu, Hotel transfer
Day02: Sightseeing in Kathmandu, visit Swyambhunath and Darbar square of ancient kingdom.
Day03: Kathmandu to Pokhara (853m/5hrs): We drive to Pokhara which is 200 km west from Kathmandu and it takes 5 hrs journeys along the prithivi, highway, we drive through the small towns, rice field along the two major rivers Trishuli and Marshyandi. Once we reach transfer in Hotel we then explore this beautiful lake city in the evening.
Day04: Pokhara to Jomsom, trek to Kagebeni(2,858m/3hrs): On this day we take early morning breakfast to catch the morning flight to Jomsom, a scenic flight of around 20 minute which pass through the two highest Mounain Dhaulagiri( 8,168m) and Annapurna( 8,091m) brings us to Jomsom, a district headquarter for Mustang. In ancient time jomsom was a major transit point for the Trans Himalayan salt traders. We meet our trekking staff and prepare for the final depart onward Kagebeni, a gradual path along the Kaligandaki riverbed brings us to Kagebei in 3hrs. This ancient village of 14th century is a borderline for Upper Mustang we are obliged to overnight here for immigration check in. A windswept village of Kagebeni has old monastery to visit.
Day05: Kagebeni to chele (3,050m/5hrs): Journey start only after the special permit check up by police post nearby, then we follow river bank of Kaligandaki upstream having magnificent view of the Nilgiri north and central on the sandy and windy trials to CHHUSANG, Chusang has very fertile crops fields. Some about 2 hours walk from this village we cross the river head up to the huge red chunk of conglomerate that was fallen from the cliff above, forming a tunnel through which the river follows. CHELE is not more than an hour walk from here.
Day06: Chele to Syanbochen(3’475m/6hrs): Today we climbs Taklam La pass( 3,6923m) through an arid plateaus which gives us good view over Tilicho Peak,YAKAWA KANG, NLGIRI and Damodar Kunda , from this point we descend to the village of SAMAR, after lunch in SAMAR we then walk for 3 hrs to reach SYANBOCHEN, evening we explore the village.
Day07: Syanbochen to Ghaymi ( 3,520m/5.30hrs): In the begins of the day we trek uphill to the YAMDA LA ( 3’850m) passing chortens ( Buddhist shrines) ,stupa and few tea houses , After having Lunch we ascend the highest point of the trek at NVI pass( 4,010m) but we descend immediately to GHAYMI where we stop overnight.
Day08: Ghymi to Tsarang (3,500m/ 4.30hrs): We cross Ghymi Khola (river) in the begging of the day, the trail then goes smoothly ups over small passes, on this walk we pass by the very long mani wall (secret stone wall of the Buddhism), from the end of the wall the trails heads eastward which takes about 2 hrs to reach tsarang, this is an easy walking day of the trek.
Day09: Tsarang to Lo-Manthang (3,700m/5hrs): Today we reach to our final destination the LO- Manthang, Lo- Manthang is an ancient walled city with cultural interest. During the walks we can see a magnificient view of NILGIRI, TILICHO, ANNAPURNA1 and BHRIKUTI peak, the trails first descend to TSARANG CHU canyon and then climbs steeply after crossing the river, further the trail ascends gently to the 3850m over windy pass of LO, from this point we can see the Lo-Manthang valley( 3700m) bordering Tibet. We explore this walled city of Lo-Manthang in the evening.
Day10: Explore Lo manthang: Today we visit Namyal Gompa and Tingkhar, Namyal gompa is situates on the hilltop, which serve as an important monastery for local and also as local court, all social and cultural problems are collected here to solve since centuries , after visiting this monastery the tour continue to Tingkhar which is a village of 40 household, the last village of northwest of L0-manthang, another visit after the end of the day is to TALL CHAMPA” god house” the red THUGCHEN Gompa and the building of the RAJA’s palaces.
Day11: Lo Manthang to Ghar-Gompa( 3785m/5hrs): We now returning back to Jomsom following the alternative routes passing through the arid plateau and crops field in between, the walks maynot be pleasant on the back as we suffer the wind on face, as Kaligandaki valley is a wind valley there is always wind after 9.30 till 6pm in the evening.
Day12: Ghar Gompa to Ghiling( 3806m/5hrs): We walk on the stone bath ,we may encounter donkey or yak caravan which carrying daily supplies to the altitude villages of upper Mustang, at the same time we passes through wheat field and irrigated lands on this walk.
Day13: Ghiling to Chele (3050/5hrs): Here we join the same trek as we walked up on the way to Lo- Manthang, the trek is relatively easy as we going down , on this walk we see the high summit of Nilgiri, Tilicho and others Himalayan peaks .
Day14: Chele to Kagebeni( 2800m/5hrs): We follow the trails downstream the Kaligandaki river we sometime go over small passes but not too difficult, we gradually get down through this old salt trade route , the stupa ,monasteries and chortens( Buddhist shrine) are the main attraction of the day
Day15: Kagebeni to Jomsom(2700m/3hrs): we start our trek early this day, we pass by Aklebhatti which gives some close view of Nilgiri and beautiful village view of Kagebeni, the trails continue down on the stony path facing Tukuche( 6960m) Dhaulagiri (8168m)and Nilgiri ( 6940m), we arrive Jomsom for Lunch, we then explore this district headquarter during the day end.
Day16: Jomsom –Pokhara- Kathmandu: We first take an early morning flights to Pokhara, the flight runs only in the morning from Jomsom due to its unique geographical position, we take breakfast in Pokhar then take 5 hrs bus drives to Kathmandu the same day.
Day17: Visit Kathmandu, the Swyambhunath and buddhanath Stupa
Day18: Departure.