Pan. No.: 893/061
Closed to the outside world for a long time, the hidden valley of Mustang won the hearts of adventure seekers and admirers of nature soon after it was opened for trekkers few years ago. The valley, an expansive high-altitude plain land beyond the Dhaulagiri summit, boasts a rich preserved culture close to the Tibetan culture. It can be accessed either from Pokhara or Besisahar via Manang.
The Himalayan range, which appears towards north from most places of Nepal, appears towards south from Upper Mustang. Beautiful views of Mount Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri is seen from Upper Mustang. Lower Mustang is an easy trek and is also famous for pilgrimage to Muktinath temple, a holy place for the Hindus. A trek to Upper Mustang is more challenging and takes longer. It is exciting to adventure seekers, particularly because this area is completely untouched from the outside world. A trek to upper Mustang requires a special permit from Nepal government.
Day 01 : Day 03 : Kathmandu To Pokhara (914) Drive
Day 02 : Pokhara to Nayapul /Drive & Trek to Tikhedhunga
Day 03 : Tirkhedhunga to Ghorepani(2675 m)
Day 04 : Ghorepani –PoonHill –Tatopani (1189 m)
Day 05 : Tatopani to Ghasa(2013m)
Day 06 : Ghasa to Tukuche (2591m)
Day 07 : Tukuche to Kagbeni (2895m)
Day 08 : Kagbeni To Chuksang(2900m)
Day 09 : Chuksang to Samar(3150m)
Day 10 : Samar to Geling(3510m)
Day 11 : Giling to Ghami(3490m)
Day 12 : Ghami to Tsarang(3620m)
Day 13 : Tsarang to Lo Manthang(3730m)
Day 14 : Explore Lo Manthang
Day 15 : Lo Manthang - Ghami (3520m / 6hrs)
Day 16 : Ghami – Samar (3540m / 6hrs)
Day 17 : Samar - Kagbeni.
Day 18 : Kagbeni – Jomsom (2700m / 4hrs)
Day 19 : Jomsom - Pokhara fly (960m / ½ hr)
Day 20 : Pokhara –Kathmandu
Day 01 : Kathmandu To Pokhara (914) Drive
Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (914m.) which takes about six hours.
You depart for the six hours drive to Pokhara (915m,), 200 kilometers
west of Kathmandu. As you climb out of the Kathmandu valley, only to
quickly descend again to the Trisuli River, you follow upstream to its
junction with the Marsyangdi River. You follow the Marsyandi gently up
through heavily terraced fields and small hill towns to the Seti River
that takes you directly into Pokhara. Having pleasant weather, Pokhara
is tourist's paradise with full of natural as well as cultural
heritage sites such as lakes, caves, temples of Buddhist and Hindus
along with mountains. You can observe views to the north across the
hills and Phewa Taal (lake) to the white peaks of the Annapurna and
Dhaulagiri ranges. This drive will take most of the morning, leaving
much of the afternoon to fall in love with its beauty. You can also
fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara which takes about 25 minutes.
Day 02 : Pokhara to Nayapul (Drive 0 7 Trek to Tokhedhunga
Trek from Pokhara (915 m.) to Nayapul (1050m.) by car which takes one
and half hours drive. Now you begin your trek from Nayapul (1050m.) to
Tikhedhunga (1577 m.) via Birethanti (1065m.) which takes about four
and half hours. After breakfast at hotel you could drive by car or van
for one and half hours to Nayapul. Then you start your trekking. The
first part of your trek is easy passing through numerous small
villages and settlements. Afterwards you could ascend gently to the
final destination of the day. The majority people here are Gurung and
their religion is Buddhist. They are engaged in agricultural
activities, tourism business and some in Gorkha and Indian regiments
Day 03 : Tirkhedhunga to Ghorepani(2675 m)
Trek from Tirkhedhunga to Ghorepani (2675 m.) and it takes about six
hours. To begin your trek, you could ascend steeply for the early 2
hours and then ascend gently passing through Ulleri (2070m.) and
Banthanti, Magar villages. On the way, you could see good view of
Machhapuchhre or Fish Tail (6997m.), Huinchuli (6441m.), and Annapurna
(7219m.) South. Now your trail is quite easier passing through forest
and descends gently up to the final camp. You could see some of the
wild life such as monkey and various species of birds.
Day 04 : Ghorepani –PoonHill –Tatopani (1189 m)
Early morning trip to Poon Hill (3232m.). This day you can enjoy the
sunrise view over Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m.), Tukuche Peak (6920m.),
Nilgiri (6940m.), Varaha Shikhar (7847m.), Mt. Annapurna I (8091m.),
Annapurna South (7219m.), Annapurna III (7855m.), Machhapuchhre
(6993m.), Annapurna IV (7525m.), Annapurna II (7937m.), Lamjung Himal
(6931m.) and other numerous snowcapped mountain peaks. After breakfast
trek from Ghorepani to Tatopani [Natural Hot Spring] (1189m.). day at
Tatopani to enjoy the natural hot spring bath. It is believed that one
who takes bath get rids of skin diseases. After several days trekking,
it is a great idea to take bath at hot spring and relax.
Day 05 : Tatopani to Ghasa(2013m)
Trek from Tatopani to Ghasa (2013m.) and it takes about five hours.
The followed route ascends gently up the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the
deepest gorge in the world, towards the village of Dana, which is
surrounded by orange groves. From autumn to winter, baskets of these
oranges are offered for sale to passing travelers. Just beyond the
small hamlet of Rupse, a thundering waterfall cascades down beside the
trail. From here, the trail enters the steepest and narrowest section
of the gorge, but the layered stone path is well-constructed and wide.
When the rock cliffs end, we descend to the river before making the
short climb back up to Ghasa. This is the first Thakali village we
come across and the houses here are all built in the flat-roofed
Tibetan style
Day 06 : Ghasa to Tukuche (2591m)
Trek from Ghasa to Tukuche (2591m.) which takes about six hours. The
trail goes gentle uphill until you reach Lete (2480m.) crossing
suspension bridge over Lete Khola (stream). On the way you find small
towns with local shops and lodges and tea shops. From Lete you follow
quite flat path all the way and cross suspension bridge, few tea
shops, lodges, small streams and villages. For some distance you walk
along the bank of Kali Gandaki river. Tukuche is a Thakali village.
There are apple distillery, apple orchard, chortens, prayer flags,
mani walls and farming terraces.
Day 07 : Tukuche to Kagbeni (2895m)
Trek from Tukuche to Kagbeni (2895m.) via Jomsom (2713m.) and it takes
about seven hours. The trails move through flat land till Jomsom.
Jomsom is the headquarter of Mustang and it is split into two towns
and between these two towns passes through Kali Gandaki river. There
is access of internet and banking facilities. From Jomsom, you can
enjoy the magnificent views of Nilgiri and Tilicho peak. Some part of
your trek goes along the bank of Kali Gandaki river. En route you find
farming terraces, apple orchard, monasteries, chortens, mani walls and
prayer flags. You can enjoy the spectacular views of Dhaulagiri,
Nilgiri, Tukuche peak and many other unnamed peaks and mountains. Now
your trail again passes through the bank of Kali Gandaki passing
through the Eklebhatti. The trail is windy after late morning. The
river flows through broader course. Finally you reach Kagbeni
following flat path. This is a small village mainly inhabited by
Gurung. Here you find monastery, apple orchard, chortens, mani walls,
prayer flags and farming terraces. From here Upper Mustang begins and
it is known as restricted area for trekking. The trekkers need to
receive special permit to trek in this area.
Day 08 : Kagbeni To Chuksang(2900m)
Trek from Kagbeni to Chuksang(2900 m.) which takes about five hours.
You trek right up the river valley, but you use a combination of the
high trail and the riverbank pathways. The trail then widens
significantly revealing an endless stretch of sand but the path is
kept interesting by the passing of mule trains bearing goods from
Mustang and Tibet. On the west bank of the river are some caves and
Gompa Kang. Unlike most monasteries in Upper Mustang which are of the
Sakyapa sect, Gompa Kang is of the Nyingmapa sect. You stop for lunch
at the village of Tangbe, where you come across the first black, white
and red chortens that typify Upper Mustang. The little town is a
labyrinth of narrow alleys among white washed houses, fields of buck
wheat and barley and apple orchards. Nilgiri Peak continues to
dominate the southern skyline. Chusang village is only about 2hrs walk
beyond Tangbe at the confluence of the Narshing Khola and the Kali
Gandaki. There are three separate parts to this village and some
ruined castle walls on the surrounding cliffs. Across the river from
Chusang are some spectacular red organe pipe eroded cliffs above the
mouths of some inaccessible caves
Day 09 : Chuksang to Samar(3150m)
Trek from Chuksang to Samar(3150 m.) and it takes about three and half hours.
There is a distinct change here, not only in the topography, but also
in the culture, lifestyle and people, and the settlements become more
scattered, smaller and more basic. The people of Lo or Mustang do
practice agriculture, but because of the lack of rain and fertile
soil, cultivation is in sheltered plots of land, scattering the brown
landscape with patches of green. Continuing north, you reach a huge
red chunk of conglomerate that has fallen from the cliffs above,
forming a tunnel through which the river flows. A steel bridge spans
the river just in front of the tunnel and north of here the Kali
Gandaki becomes impassable on foot. The trek now leaves the valley and
climbs steeply up a rocky alley to the village of Chele. Watch out
here for the ferocious Tibetan mastiffs which are chained to many of
the houses. From Chele you climb a steep spur and then continue
ascending along the side of a spectacular steep canyon to a pass.
Beyond the pass you descend on a pleasant trail to Samar, situated in
a grove of poplar trees. This is a major stopping place for horse and
mule caravans
Day 10 : Samar to Geling(3510m)
Trek from Samar to Geling (3510 m.) which takes about five hours. You
climb above Samar to a ridge and then descend into a large gorge past
a chorten before entering another valley filled with juniper trees.
You then cross a stream and after climbing to a pass, you descend
along a ridge to Shyangmochen a tiny settlement with a few tea shops.
Nearby is Rangbyung, a cave containing stalagmites which have formed
in the shape of chortens and one of the holiest places in Mustang. The
trail climbs gently from Shyangmochen and you enter another huge
valley before descending to Geling with its extensive fields of
barley. As in all the settlements of Mustang, the white and
ochre-painted houses are constructed using mud and stones, with roofs
made of twigs, straw and a mixture of mud and pebbles.
Day 11 : Giling to Ghami(3490m)
Trek from Giling to Ghami (3490 m.) via Ghami La (3520m.) and it takes
about five hours. From Geling the trail climbs gently through fields,
up the center of the valley, passing above the settlement of Tama Gun
and an imposing chorten. You then begin a taxing climb across the head
of the valley to the Nyi La [3840m]. The descent from the pass is
quite gentle and about half an hour further on we come to a trail
junction; the right trail is the direct route to Charang, the left
trail leads to Ghami. Ghami is a large white-washed village sheltered
by overhanging cliffs.
Day 12 : Ghami to Tsarang(3620m)
Trek fram Ghami to Tsarang (3620 m.) which takes about five hours.
Today's walk is through perhaps the driest part of Mustang, and much
of your energy will be spent negotiating loose, dry soil. However, the
magnificent views of the countryside, from the gentle contours of the
north to the rugged mountains in the east and west, are a source of
inspiration. Finally, you come to Charang, a large spread-out village
at the top of the Charang Chu canyon. At the eastern end of the
village is a huge dzong [fortress] and a red gompa which houses an
excellent collection of statues and thangkas.
Day 13 : Tsarang to Lo Manthang(3730m)
Trek from Tsarang to Lo-Manthang [Mustang](3730 m.) and it takes about three hours. You will spend part of the morning exploring the
interesting village of Charang and its large monastery, before setting
out for Lo Manthang. You climb gently above the valley to a large
isolated chorten that marks the boundary between Charang and Lo. The
trail then broadens and eventually you get our first view of the
walled city of Lo Manthang. The city has only one entrance so you
circumambulate the wall to the gate on the north east corner.
Day 14 : Explore Lo Manthang
Camp at Lo-Manthang to observe the blood drinking festival. camp at
Lo- Manthang to observe the blood drinking festival.
Day 15 : Lo Manthang - Ghami (3520m / 6hrs)
This is an opportunity to visit two other villages on your return
trek. The trail climbs steadily to the pass marked by a cairn,
offering a last glimpse of Lo Manthang. Crossing a ridge at 4070m, the
trail then bumpily to Gekar. Lo Gekar Gompa is one of the oldest
gompas in Nepal. And is older than the famed Samye Gompa in Tibet.
Passing through Thamar village, the steep trail finally reaches Ghami.
Day 16 : Ghami – Samar (3540m / 6hrs)
From Ghami climb to Nyi La and descend to Samar through the same route.
Day 17 : Samar - Kagbeni (2800m / 5hrs)
Return trek to Kagbeni.
Day 18 : Kagbeni – Jomsom (2700m / 4hrs)
Return trek to Jomsom.
Day 19 : Jomsom - Pokhara fly (960m / ½ hr)
After breakfast drive to airport to fly towards Kathmandu.
Day 20 : Pokhara Kathmandu Drive
Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu and it takes about seven hours
