The Kingdom of Mustang
Culturally and geographically similar to Tibet, the “Forbidden Kingdom” of Mustang was only opened to trekkers in 1992. Its Buddhist monasteries, unique and dramatic landscapes and hardy yet open people, make it one of the most interesting and rewarding places in Nepal, yet it remains visited by just a lucky few. A spectacular destination for that “once in a lifetime” journey.
12-DAY TREK INTO MUSTANG
After a breathtaking flight between some of the highest mountains of the Himalaya to Jomsom, we trek north up the valley of the Kali Gandaki, finally arriving in the unique earth-coloured landscape of Upper Mustang. Our route takes us through picturesque white-painted villages, huddled against the wind and surrounded by fields of buckwheat, barley, orchards of apple trees and groves of willow and poplar. We visit monasteries painted in the horizontal grey, white and yellow stripes typical of the Sakyapa sect of Buddhism and pass long walls of intricately carved mani stones. Later we come across the red and white chortens (monuments) which typify upper Mustang and are further evidence of an ancient heritage of Tibetan Buddhism.
LO MANTHANG - ANCIENT CAPITAL
Finally, we arrive at the ancient walled fortress city of Lo Manthang, the capital of Mustang. Although culturally Tibetan, Mustang is actually part of Nepal. The Raja (king) of Mustang has retained his title and a certain degree of autonomy; his imposing four-storey palace dominates the city. We visit the temples of the city, some dating back to the 15th century, built from the proceeds of trade. These include the Champa Lakhang which houses a huge painted statue of the Maitreya Buddha and the red Thugchen Gompa adorned with massive wooden columns.
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Details |
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Price Includes |
(HK-6208-P) |
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Flight ( London - Kathmandu - London) |
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Accomodation ( Hotel / Camping) |
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19 Breakfasts |
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13 Lunches |
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13 Dinners |
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Price Excludes |
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Local Payment 700USD |
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Suitability / Level |
Demanding |
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Theme |
Small Group Travel
(Click to Search All) |
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Max Group Size |
14 |
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Itinerary
& Highlights |
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Special highlights - Among the many highlights featured on this tour, we particularly mention:
KATHMANDU
Half day walking tour in bazaar and Durbar Square, half day guided tour to temple of Pashupatinath and Bodnath Stupa.
MUSTANG TREK
Trek through the spectacular Tibetan scenery and Buddhist heritage of the ‘Forbidden Kingdom’ to the legendary walled city of Lo Manthang.
ANCIENT MONASTERIES
Buddhist culture and see the imposing 4-storey palace of the Raja of Mustang.
ITINERARY
DAY 1. MONDAY. JOIN TOUR KATHMANDU.
DAY 2. IN KATHMANDU
After breakfast we will go on a walking tour, visiting the bazaar and the Durbar Square area, the centre of old Kathmandu. Much of the day to day life of Kathmandu takes place in the bazaar: a fascinating mixture of people selling fruit, vegetables and spices; potters spinning their wheels to produce small household bowls and containers for temple offerings; devotees visiting their favourite gods at temples and small shrines dotted along the sides of alleyways; rickshaw wallahs honking their horns and the ever-present sacred cow wandering amongst it all.
After lunch there will be a pre trek briefing by your tour leader to let you know the programme for the next few days, to check that everybody is properly equipped, and to give you an idea of what to expect on a day to day basis whilst on trek.
DAY 3. FLY TO POKHARA
We take a flight to Pokhara where we have the rest of the day at leisure. Pokhara is famed for its lakeside situation and fine mountain panoramas. We have time to explore the lakeside area, take a boat trip or ride a bicycle to visit a nearby Tibetan village.
DAY 4. FLY TO JOMSON; TREK TO KAGBENI
We take an early morning flight from Pokhara to Jomsom. (Adverse weather conditions such as cloud or high wind and other local factors can cause delays and cancellations. Although seats are booked and confirmed well in advance it may prove necessary to adjust the itinerary to ensure the best use of your time.)
This flight takes us up the Kali Gandaki valley and between the peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, to land at the small airstrip at Jomsom (2760m) where we meet our trek crew. From Jomsom we begin our trek, heading north along the riverbank of the Kali Gandaki to reach the attractive village of Kagbeni (2840m).
Kagbeni, surrounded by orchards and fields of barley, is like an oasis in the surrounding arid landscape and with its old houses, narrow Carealleyways and large red gompa (monastery) is a foretaste of things to come as we travel further north into upper Mustang. About 3hrs walk.
DAY 5. ACCLIMATISATION EXCURSION TO MUKTINATH; RETURN TO KAGBENI
Today is free for acclimatisation. The best option is to walk up to Muktinath, a village at 3800 metres which is an important pilgrimage centre for both Hindus and Buddhists. Here, various shrines and temples are set in a grove of poplar trees. One old temple shelters jets of burning natural gas and a sacred spring – a combination of earth, fire and water which is considered of great religious significance. 4hrs and 900m ascent and 3hrs to return.
DAY 6. TREK FROM KAGBENI TO CHELE
Once we have completed formalities at the police checkpost at the end of Kagbeni village we are then allowed to pass the sign which says ‘restricted area’ and enter the once forbidden region of Mustang. Using a combination of the route along the river bank and a higher trail we reach Tangbe village (3060m), with its black, white and red chortens, narrow alleys and white painted houses surrounded by fields of buckwheat, barley, wheat and apple orchards.
Continuing north we cross the river by a bridge just before the Kali Gandaki enters a tunnel and climb steeply up a rocky gully to Chele set amongst extensive barley fields at 3100 metres. From this village as we travel north we are in the true Tibetan culture of the region of Lo. Approx 6-7hrs walking.
DAY 7. CHELE TO SAMAR
A more gentle day to aid acclimatisation. From Chele we continue climbing to a cairn from where we have views across a huge canyon. A further steep and somewhat unrelenting climb brings us to a pass at 3630m and then we descend on a pleasant trail to Samar, situated in a grove of poplar trees at 3530m and a major stopping place for horse caravans. Approx 3hrs walking.
DAY 8. SAMAR TO GELING
Today we cross several passes as we go up and down across east/west valleys running down to the Kali Gandaki. From Samar we climb to a ridge and descend into a gorge, passing a large chorten (memorial) painted in red, black, yellow and white. Cross several pasture areas then ascend to and cross the pass at Phyangbo La. Follow zig zags down into a narrow gorge then ascend steeply to the Chungjen Rangjen Gompa tucked away in a side valley.
The gompa houses a Guru Rimpoche stone carving and is a popular pilgrimage destination for local people. Himalayan Griffon vultures next in the cliffs above. Make a steep ascent to reach the small village of Shyangmochen and then the Shyangmochen la 3850m. Finally descend to Geling (3580m) surrounded by extensive fields of barley. Approx 7hrs walking.
DAY 9. GELING TO TSARANG
From Geling the trail climbs gently up the centre of the valley, and then more steeply to reach the Nyi La pass (4020m). We then make a more gentle descent, cross the Tangmar Chu (river) and then climb past what is perhaps the longest and most spectacular stretch of mani wall in Nepal.
We climb to cross yet another pass at 3870 metres before making a long, more gentle descent to Tsarang (3560m). Tsarang is a maze of fields, willow trees and houses situated at the top of the Tsarang Chu canyon and dominated in the east by the white dzong (fortress) and red gompa (temple). Approx. 7-8hrs walking.
DAY 10. TSARANG TO LO MANTHANG
We descend from Tsarang to cross the Charang Chu then climb steeply up a rocky trail to a cairn on the ridge opposite the village at 3950m for first views of the walled city of Lo Manthang. We then descend to the ‘Plain of Aspiration’ and climb to a plateau where the city is situated at 3840m. Total 4.5hrs walking.
DAY 11. IN LO MANTHANG
This morning we may visit the monasteries and the monastic school. The prosperity of the Mustang region was built on the trade in salt and wool with Tibet and the city of Lo Manthang probably dates back to the late 14th Century – the current Raja can trace his ancestry back to the first king of that perid. His palace is an imposing 4-storey building in the centre of the city.
Two of the most important monasteries of the city were built in the early 15th Century. The Chompa Lakhang contains a huge painted clay statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha and the red Thugchen Gompa has a massive assembly hall supported on huge wooden columns. In the afternoon it might also be possible to visit nearby villages.
DAY 12. LO MANTHANG TO DHAKMAR
Leaving Lo Manthang we take a slightly different return route and follow a trail to climb to the highest pass on our trek, Chogo La (4325m) before descending to Lo Gekar monastery (also called Ghar Gompa) which, dating back to the 8th Century, is thought to be one of the oldest gompas in Nepal which is still active.
From Lo Gekar we climb to a ridge before descending to a pretty valley where the village of Dhakmar is situated at 3820m. Camp with views across grassy meadows to the red cliffs of Dhakmar set dramatically above. Approx 6hrs walking.
DAY 13. GHEMI TO SHYANGMOCHEN
In the morning look for the vultures atop the cliffs spreading out their wings to dry from the overnight dew. We cross a ridge and descend again to Ghemi (3490m) a large village of whitewashed houses surrounded by fields. Climb to a pass at 4020m before descending steeply into the Geling valley to the hamlet of Tama Gaon where we rejoin the main trail and continue to Shyangmochen 3860m to camp. 6.5hrs walking.
DAY 14. SHYANGMOCHEN TO CHUKKSANG
We take a different route back from here passing through dry, scrubby terrain and crossing the Yamdo La 4010m and the Bena La 3860 before dropping down to Samar. Here we rejoin our upward trail and continue through Chele to descend to Kali Gandaki river before turning south to Chukksang and our camp (2980m). 5 hrs walking.
DAY 15. CHUKKSANG TO JOMSOM
From Chukksang we return to Tangbe and Kagbeni and then continue back down the river bed to Jomsom (2760m). 6hrs walking.
DAY 16. TO JOMSOM / AT JOMSOM
Spare day in itinerary, in case of delays to our flight up to Jomsom at the beginning of the trek. If we’re on schedule we will spend the day exploring Marpha located about 1.5 hours further down the Kali Gandaki. Marpha is a unique paved, whitewashed Thakari village with splendid examples of the houses of the salt trade days.
DAY 17. FLY TO POKHARA
Early morning flight from Jomsom to Pokhara. Rest of day at leisure in Pokhara.
DAY 18. FLY TO KATHMANDU
Morning flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu. In the afternoon we plan to visit the temple of Pashupatinath on the banks of the Bagmati River, the holiest Hindu shrine in Nepal, and also to visit Bodnath, the largest stupa in the country and a destination for Buddhist pilgrims from all over Nepal.
DAY 19. IN KATHMANDU
There will be the opportunity in the morning (optional, weather permitting) to take a mountain flight with outstanding views of the Everest region. The flight lasts approximately 45 minutes, flying initially west to east towards Everest and then turns and returns to Kathmandu, thus those on the right get good views on the outward leg and those sitting on the left get the good views on the return.
During the afternoon there is the opportunity of an optional visit to Bhaktapur a city retaining much medieval character and some notable 17th century art.
DAY 20. SATURDAY. TOUR ENDS KATHMANDU
Passengers on the group flight will transfer in the late afternoon to the airport for the overnight flight back to the UK, arriving the next morning. |
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Accommodation
& Centre Details |
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6 Nights Hotel
13 Nights Camping |
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Holidays
Extras |
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We have provided a little section of extra travel needs that you may need and to make life easier for our customers. We aim to provide all the extras you would need; flights, hotels, insurance, car hire and airport parking. |
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Included
