15-Day Upper Mustang Trek from Kathmandu to Lo Manthang

15 Days Duration

Experiences

About This Tour

Take on a 15-day Upper Mustang Trek and explore the hidden world of the ancient Buddhist kingdom of Mustang, also known as the 'Last Forbidden Kingdom'. Discove...

Duration: 15 Days · Tour type: Private · Activity level: Moderate · Accommodation: Included · Premium · Transport: Included · Wheelchair access: No · Cities: Pokhara, Kathmandu, Jomsom, Lo Manthang, Charang, Kagbeni · Languages: English

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What's Included

Airport pick-up and drop-off by private vehicle
2 nights in Kathmandu, including breakfast, in 3-star hotel accommodation
Overnight lodge/guest house accommodation during the trek
An experienced English-speaking trekking guide and a porter during the trek (2 trekkers: 1 porter)
Salary, food, insurance, and lodging costs for the guide and porter
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and tea/coffee during the trek
Welcome and farewell meals and breakfasts while in Kathmandu
National Park Permit, TIMS, and Upper Mustang Permit
Airfare from Pokhara to Jomsom and return flight from Jomsom to Pokhara, including domestic flight departure taxes
Luxury tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara and back to Kathmandu
Down jacket and sleeping bag, which must be returned to the office after trek completion
Overland kitbag and T-shirt for you
2 nights' accommodation in Pokhara, including breakfast

Not Included

Lunch and dinner during your stay in Kathmandu
Travel medical insurance and emergency evacuation costs
Nepal entry visa fee and international airfare
Personal equipment
Tips for guide and porter (tipping is expected)
Personal expenses such as alcoholic beverages, hot shower, water bottle, cold drinks, hot water, battery charge, donation, etc.
Any other expenses not mentioned in the price-included section

Itinerary

1

Day 01

Arrival in Kathmandu

Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport. Meet the representative and check in to the hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day exploring this historic and vibrant city. Meals: Welcome Dinner
2

Day 02

Drive to Pokhara

Early in the morning, travel to the beautiful valley of Pokhara via Prithvi Highway. Enjoy beautiful views of the western Himalaya during this scenic 6 to 7-hour bus ride. Explore the beautiful lake city at night, or go boating on the grand Phewa Lake. Spend the night at the Pokhara hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
3

Day 03

Flight to Jomsom

Take a scenic 25-minute flight to Jomsom. Arrive in Jomsom, where the scenery changes dramatically, with a plateau and giant mountains on both sides. Walk along the bank of the Kaligandaki River. Pass through villages and see Buddhist relics, mani walls, and monasteries with wide views of the arid landscape and mountains. Overnight at the lodge. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4

Day 04

Trek to Chele

Follow the trail as it climbs to a ridge marked by a small stone chorten. Then descend and climb over another ridge. After a few more ups and downs, the trail climbs to Tange, where you will get your first sight of the black, white, and red chortens that typify Upper Mustang. Reach the village of Chhuksang (2980m) at the confluence of the Narshing Khola and the Kali Gandaki. Across the Kali Gandaki from Chhuksang are spectacular red organ-pipe eroded cliffs above the mouths of inaccessible caves. Cross the Narshing Khola and continue north, making several ups and downs. Then descend to the riverbank near a huge red chunk of conglomerate that has fallen from the cliffs, forming a tunnel through which the Kali Gandaki flows. Leave the Kali Gandaki valley and climb steeply up a rocky gully to Chele (3100m/10171ft). Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
5

Day 05

Trek to Shyangmochen

Take on the climb from Chele, which leads up a steep spur to a cairn and a view of Ghyakar across a huge canyon. A long wall of packed earth encircles Ghyakar and its fields. The climb continues - a long, steep, treeless, waterless slog - switchbacking up the side of a spectacular steep canyon, then traversing to a cairn marking the Chele La. Enter a large side valley and make a long gradual descent to Samar (3620m), surrounded by a grove of poplar trees. The trail from Samar climbs to a ridge, descends steeply to a stream, and then climbs back to a chorten. The trail goes to another valley, crosses a stream, and climbs up to the Bhena La at 3830m. The route skirts a gorge, crosses a stream, and climbs slightly to Yamdo. Climb to yet another pass, the Yamdo La at 4010m, and then descend to Shyangmochen (3800m/12468ft). Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6

Day 06

Trek to Ghemi

From Shyangmochen, go on a short, gentle climb to the Shyangmochen La at 3850m, where the route enters another huge east-west valley. Descending past a large painted square chorten, enjoy the view of Gelling on your way to a trail junction. Take the right fork and descend to the picturesque village of Gelling (3570m) with its poplar trees and extensive fields of barley. The trail from Gelling turns westward and climbs gently through fields up the center of the valley, passing below Tama Gaon and its imposing chorten. Turning north, it rejoins the road and becomes an unrelenting climb across the head of the valley to the Nyi La (4020m). The descent from the pass is gentle for 45 minutes to the Ghemi La, a cairn on a ridge top about 45 minutes below the pass. The trail then drops steeply to the whitewashed buildings of Ghemi. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
7

Day 07

Trek to Tsarang

Cover the trail to Drakmar and Lo Gekar, which leads west from the upper part of the village. The trail descends below the blue, grey, and red cliffs across the valley to a steel bridge across Tangmar Chu, and then climbs past what is perhaps the longest and most spectacular mani wall in Nepal. Beyond the mani wall, the route climbs a rocky gully, then traverses to the Choya La (3870m). Once over the pass, make a long gentle descent past a prayer flag, then wander across fields to Tsarang. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8

Day 08

Trek to Lo Manthang

Descend about 125 m from Charang, cross the Tsarang Chu, and follow the track to a cairn on a ridge opposite the village at 3580 m. Then enter the Thorung valley. The dirt road turns north and climbs gently to a large isolated chorten that marks the boundary between Tsarang and Lo. The road crosses a stream and then becomes a wide thoroughfare travelling across a desert-like landscape painted in every hue of grey and yellow. Finally, from Lo La (3950m), there is a view of the walled city of Lo Manthang. Make a short descent that leads into the plain of Aspiration, and then the trail crosses a stream and climbs up onto the plateau of Lo Manthang (3840m/12,672ft), crossing an irrigation canal at the southern wall of the city of Lo Manthang. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
9

Day 09

Explore Lo Manthang

With a handful of temples and the King's palace in town, plus some noteworthy sites in the surrounding area, there's enough in and around Lo Manthang to keep you occupied for a couple of days. Lo Manthang is the highlight of this trek, so there is no need to scrimp on time here. There are two valleys above Lo Manthang. In the western valley are Tingkhar, Phuwa Gompa, and Namgyal Gompa. Namgyal, situated in a spectacular setting atop a desolate ridge, is of the Gelug tradition and is the newest and most active gompa in Lo. On the two hills to the north of the town are the ruins of castles. The castle on the higher hill was the palace of Ame Pal, the founder of the king of Mustang. On the lower hill are the ruins of the round castle of the queen. This is now a sky burial site. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
10

Day 10

Trek to Dhakmar

Trek on the upper trail to see blue sheep and other wild animals along the way, and admire the magnificent views of the majestic Himalayas. The trail leads on a level and delightful walk to enjoy the scenery, then descends through the wind trees to Ghar Gompa. This gompa is related to Samye Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet. Continue to Drakmar. Overnight at a lodge. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
11

Day 11

Trek to Chele

From Gelling, descend gently to Chhungar, a large chorten, house, and campsite beside an apple orchard at 3750m. The trail then makes a long traverse past a mani wall to the three houses of Tama Gaon at 3710m. A steep set of switchbacks down a rocky canyon leads to a stream, and then the trail climbs to a huge painted chorten before rejoining the Gelling trail near the ridge, just below the Shyangmochen La. Finally, retracing the upward trail through Yamdo and Bhena to Samar, descend to Chele. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
12

Day 12

Trek to Jomsom

From Chele, continue trekking down towards Chhuksang. It takes about 4-5 hours from here to reach Kagbeni. You can easily continue another three hours or so to Jomsom to be in place for a flight the following day. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
13

Day 13

Fly to Pokhara

Catch the early morning flight from Jomsom to Pokhara. Explore Pokhara if you have time to spare. Enjoy the scenic beauty of Pokhara, as it is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Nepal. Overnight in the hotel. Meals: Breakfast
14

Day 14

Drive back to Kathmandu

From Pokhara, drive back to Kathmandu and get dropped at the hotel. This is a leisure day that can be used for buying gifts and souvenirs for your friends and family. Join the farewell dinner in the evening. Spend the time reviewing great photos and sharing experiences from the trip. Overnight at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
15

Day 15

Departure or Holiday Extension

If you prefer to stay longer, you can consult us for short tours such as a game drive at national parks, rafting, mountain biking, India or Bhutan tours, etc. Meals: Breakfast

Meeting Point

Meeting point: Overland Trek Nepal, Chaksibari Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal · Tour start: Kathmandu 44600, Nepal — Tour ends at the same location as the start point.