Upper Mustang Trek

Today you board an early morning flight to Pokhara, which will take around 30 minutes. Have breakfast and prepare for the flight journey to Pokhara. Our guide receives you from your hotel and drops you at the airport to depart for Pokhara. As you take off, you get a scenic aerial view of Kathmandu valley, lush forests, hills, and himalayas. On arrival, firstly you will be taken to the hotel in Pokhara. Following hotel check-in, you can take a quick stroll nearby Lakeside, where you get the best view of Phewa Lake. You can enjoy boating if you wish; reflections of Machhapuchhre and Annapurna are clearly visible on the lake. Finally, the day ends with alacrity in heart for what's waiting days ahead.

The flight takes off early in the morning with a mesmerizing view of the snow-covered peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. The sight of gigantic mountains (above 8000m) and the deepest gorge is just incredible. On reaching Jomsom, we start our trek to Kagbeni, time to stretch our legs. So we head on with a spectacular view accompanying us; on reaching Kagbeni, the day's hike ends. Since this is the main gate to the Upper Mustang Trek, this place has historical significance; established around the 14th century, it was a checkpoint for Nepalese traders. Still, a checkpoint exists to control groups departing to Mustang and Muktinath.

Today we continued our trek journey towards Chele early in the morning after breakfast at the Kagbeni hotel. The trek takes you towards the east bank of the Kaligandi river. Traveling across many miles, you reach Tangbe village, where you observe whitewash houses; buckwheat, barley, and wheat fields; and apple orchards within the vicinity. You also get a close view of the Nilgiri peak that is standing on the south side. After hiking for almost an hour and a half at a stretch, we reached another village called Chhusang. Then after we cross the river and continue ascending. After a while, we leave the Kaligandaki valley behind and climb up a rocky gully to Chele, where we spend the night and prepare for the next day.

Day 5 takes you to the Geling (Ghiling) village in the Upper Mustang. The topography is unusual, with no trees or water bodies as we climb. But a gorgeous canyon along with a rock cairn at 3540m gives you a thrilling and exciting experience. You climb downhill following the route to reach the Samar village. Annapurna and Nilgiri are visible on the southern side as we again ascend from Samar to a ridge, and then we descend towards a gorge. So we go through valley fields, cross a stream, and again climb up the ridge (3800 m). Going through another pass following the ridge and again downhill, we reach Shyangmochen. So from this place, our hike gradually climbs to a pass at 3770m. Ultimately from this place, the route declines into Geling village and it's time to rest.

The day starts with the gentle climb up to Nyi La Pass (4,010 m) and then declines below the cliff. Then we cross the steel bridge of the Tangmar Chu river and reach the longest Mani wall in Mustang. Then we ascend to another pass at 3600m and after that, a long gentle decline awaits till Charang village. The main attraction here is the five-story Dzong and red Gompa; there are other things also, like the collection of statues, thangkas, and paintings of lord Buddha. The pristine nature will bring you good sleep.

At this altitude, the trail begins with a steady climb to Lo-Gekar. This Lo-Gekar Gompa is considered to be one of the oldest Gompa in the region older than the Samye Gompa in Tibet. We carry on to the upper Mustang trek to Lo-Manthang after leaving Lo-Gekar. This trail has some minor climbing to be done and a bit more adventure. Passing the wall of Lo along the route we make a short decline, crossing a stream and finally climbing to the plateau of Lo-Manthang. We stop here for the night and relax

Today is Lo-Manthang exploration day, where we explore the walled city, ancient monasteries, local courts, and places of interest. We explore the ancient royal palace, Namgyal Gompa located at the hilltop of Lo-Manthang, and Tingkar monastery at the northwest of Lo-Manthang. The sparsely populated area features traditional homes made of bricks and clay to withstand the windy and high-altitude environment. You can observe flat roofs, thick walls, and whitewashed interiors with Tibetan influenced architecture. Following exploration, you visit your place of accommodation and spend the night while preparing for the next day's adventure.

It’s a special morning after spending two nights at Lo-Manthang, so we gradually ascend to a ridge at 4070m and continue to Chogo-La (4210 m/13810 ft). So far this is the highest point of the route; from here the hike declines and the trail is steep. After a while, the Charang river is crossed, then uphill to Lo Gekar, then reaching Ghar Gompa, one of the ancient monasteries built in the 8th century. Then we go ahead climbing a ridge, crossing a valley with alpine meadows, and again descending an eroded steep road towards Drakmar. Here we spend the night at the guest house, and as usual, all meals will be served.

Today's trek will begin with a descent passing the stone walls and amazing farm lands. After a while, we climbed a ridge that further declines to the lower part of Ghami and to Jaite (3820 m). Hiking downhill to Chhung-Kah, our journey continues to Tama Gaon (3710 m). The spectacular view and nature's beauty are enough to be blissful. Hereafter, we descend at a normal pace only to have a glimpse of Shyangmochan, where we rest and prepare for the next day.

Following early morning breakfast, today we head towards Chhusang village from Shyangmochen. We walk for an average of 6 hours, crossing a steady path without steep climbs. The route gives you the best view of nearby villages, chortens, and mani walls. The route passes from the high arid landscape of the Tibetan plateau of central Mustang to the Lower Mustang region. You can enjoy the scenic landscape with the best view of red cliffs, eroded canyons, and the Kali Gandaki river valley.

Today we head towards Muktinath from Chhusang village, making a short steep ascent towards the valley. We carry on climbing until we reach a small pass from where Muktinath and the red-painted Buddhist monastery are visible. After crossing the path, we descend to a stream and cross the suspension bridge. Then we ascend for some time and eventually reach the village of Muktinath. The Muktinath temple is famous, especially for Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims. This place is also popular for stone fossils that are mainly found between Tetang and Gyu La Pass (4077 m). From here Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Tukuche can be clearly seen. Overnight stay at Muktinath.

Wake up early in the morning and visit the popular Muktinath temple, regarded by both Hindu and Buddhist followers. The holy temple gives you the best opportunity to witness religious harmony and enjoy the marvelous view of the Dhaulagiri range. Exploring the spiritual importance of the temple, we descend towards the village of Jharkot, where a monastery is situated. This was actually an old fortress, but now it serves as a Tibetan herbal center, and then hiking continues to Jomsom. Capture a vivid picture of Kagbeni village and the Kaligandaki valley along the way. Once we arrive in Jomsom, the trek adventure ends. Check in to your place of accommodation in Jomsom and take proper rest.

Today we head towards the beautiful city of Pokhara, catching an early-morning flight from Jomsom. The average flight time from Jomsom to reach Pokhara is around 25 minutes. From the flight you get a scenic view of snow-capped mountains, lush hills, village settlements, and lakes. Once you reach our team, it receives you and drops you at the hotel. After resting, you can explore Pokhara city. Visit Phewa lake, enjoy boating, and then head towards places of attraction like Sarangkot,Pumdikot, Shantistupa, Devis falls, and caves including Gupteshwor Mahadev. In the evening, you can go for a walk nearby Phewa lake or visit a local club or restaurant.

Wake up early in the morning and get ready for the return flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu. The flight takes around 30 minutes and gives you a scenic view of the Pokhara valley, lakes, green hills, and a scenic landing at Kathmandu Valley. As you land in Kathmandu, our team receives you and drops you at your Kathmandu hotel. Check in to the hotel and freshen up. If you are interested, you can explore Kathmandu City. Visit UNESCO world heritage sites such as Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swyambhunath Stupa, Boudhanath Stupa, and the holy Pashupatinath temple. You can also purchase souvenirs in various places, including Thamel, as a memory of your adventure in the beautiful Upper Mustang of Nepal.

Today is your last day in Kathmandu. Wake up and have a hearty breakfast. Prepare for departure according to your flight schedule. Ensure all your documents, such as your passport and other essentials, are in place. Our team receives you at your hotel and drops you at the airport. We thank you for choosing Trekkers Nepal for your journey to the Forbidden Kingdom of Nepal. Also, we wish you a good journey and hope to collaborate again for a new journey in Nepal.