Kingdom of Upper Mustang

Kathmandu, the incredibly diverse capital of Nepal is a fascinating blend of centuries old Hindu and Buddhist shrines, traditional architecture and a city embracing the 21 century. Upon arrival, your leader will transfer you to your hotel from the airport. Your hotel is in the heart of the city close to Thamel, a popular choice with tourists, with colourful handicraft stalls, trekking gear shops and excellent restaurants. In the evening, after your trek briefing, you have the option of going out for a group dinner with your trek leader.

Today is a free day to relax after your flight and prepare for the trip ahead whilst we prepare your permits. For those looking for sightseeing suggestions your leader will be on hand to help out and organise any side trips you may wish to undertake. In the late afternoon you will be issued with your trek pack and departure information for the next morning.
Meals included: Breakfast

Flight: 25 minutes
After breakfast you are transferred to the airport for your flight to Pokhara. If the weather is clear there are fine views of the Himalayan range to the north. Upon arrival at the airport there will be a transfer waiting for you to take you to your hotel which is located close to the Phewa Lake.
Pokhara is one of the largest city of Nepal in terms of area, and the second largest city in terms of population. Due to its proximity to the Annapurna mountain range, the city is a base for trekkers undertaking the Annapurna Circuit through the Annapurna Conservation Area region of the Annapurna ranges in the Himalayas.
Meals included: Breakfast

Flight time: 35 mins/Trekking: 4 hours
The flight from Pokhara to Jomsom leaves early in the morning and is perhaps the most exciting flight in Nepal. There are fantastic views as you fly up the Kali Ghandaki Gorge, flanked on either side by the Himalayan giants of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. Your trekking crew will already be in Jomsom (2715m), awaiting our arrival. The walking is easy as you follow the Kali Ghandaki through barren, windswept trans-Himalayan scenery. This is your first day at altitude so a relaxed pace is recommended. You are now north of the main range so it is worthwhile turning around every now and again to view the spectacular panorama of huge towering peaks, in particular, Dhaulagiri and Annapurna, and Tukche Peak. After just over two hours you reach the few houses of Eklabhatti, from whence the main trail ascends to Muktinath. You bear left and continue up the valley to the small village of Kagbeni, the beginning of the restricted zone.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 5 hours
Before leaving Kagbeni you need to complete special permit formalities as you enter the restricted zone. The trail then climbs above the village and continues on a series of short ascents and descents on the east bank of the Kali Ghandaki. Whilst the valley floor is a flat river plain, it cannot be followed due to the number of river crossings that would need to be made. On the west bank we soon see the Gompa Kang monastery, of the Nyingmapa sect. The high trail that disappears into the barren distance leads to the Dolpo region. The first village from Kagbeni is Tangbe (2940m), located above the valley and identified by a trio of black, red and white chortens (Bhuddhist shrines). The village itself is a maze of whitewashed, flat-roofed houses linked by narrow alleyways. You take lunch close to the village near fields of buckwheat and apple orchards. The afternoon walk is shorter and you should reach Chuksang in a further two hours. Again you follow the east bank, until you reach the confluence of Narshang Khola and the Kali Ghandaki. The village is split into three sections and the remains of an old fort can be seen close by. The scenery is totally unlike the traditional views one sees of Nepal; here the terrain is barren and very similar to that associated with Tibet. From the lodge, huge red and orange sculptured cliffs, with inaccessible caves, dominate the opposite side of the valley.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 5 hours
The morning walk follows the riverbed before crossing the Kali Ghandaki on a steel suspension bridge close to the place where the river passes under a huge block of red sandstone. From here there is a steep ascent to the village of Chele, where you take lunch close to barley fields and nearby willow trees. In the afternoon you climb again to a cairn at 3130 meters where the village of Gyakar lies across an impressive canyon where a patchwork of green fields gives a dash of colour to the barren terrain. The trail is narrow in places and continues to ascend to a pass at 3550 meters. To the south great views of the Himalayan peaks can be enjoyed including Nilgiri and Tilicho peaks. From the pass it is a short descent to the village of Samar and your lodge admongst a willow grove and irrigation channels.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 4 hours                                        
From the village you descend steeply past a red, black, yellow and white chorten for nearly 60 meters into a deep ravine before inevitably climbing out and descending again into another canyon. You continue the climb through an area of shrub juniper. It takes nearly two hours to reach a small ridge at 3750 meters after which a short descent leads to the lodges at Shangmochen. The afternoon is free to relax or explore the small village.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 5 hours
From the lodge you ascend again to another pass at 3,770 metres to enter a huge east-west valley where you head right to follow the trail down to Gheling where you take lunch in the village. In the afternoon you ascend gently through fields passing below the settlement of Tamagang and a large chorten from where you make a steep climb to the head of the valley and the Nyi La pass (3930m). You are now at the border of Mustang and from here you descend gradually for half an hour to meet a trail junction. The right fork heads to Charang and our track bears to the left towards Ghami (3250m) where you stay for the night. Ghami is a busy village and after a welcome break well worth exploring.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 5 hours
From the lodge you descend to cross a small river gulley before a short climb leads to a plateau and long Mani wall where the trail bears east climbing above the village of Tramar to a ridge at 3770 meters. From here it is a gradual descent to Tsarang, a large and fertile village populated by people form Mustang - the Lobas. The village has a magnificent monastery and palace which you are recommended to visit.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trekking: 5 hours
After spending part of the morning exploring Tsarang, you descend from the village into the Tsarang River canyon before ascending a stony trail heading north, with fine views behind us of the Nilgiri, Tilicho and Annapurna ranges to the south. The trail passes an isolated chorten and spectacular caves etched into the surrounding cliffs, before reaching a ridge at 3850 meters for your first views of Lo Manthang and the spectacular scenery of the Mustang Khola and the snow-capped peak of Mansail in the west. From the ridge you descend to a small river and climb briefly to enter the fabled walled city from the north-eastern corner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Exploration days
The fabled walled city contains around 150 houses and four monasteries, one of which is reported to date back to the 15th century. Inside the temples you are able to view many Buddha images and religious paintings. Photography is sometimes not permitted and you should beware of the fierce Tibetan mastiff dogs that guard the monasteries. The city itself has declined since the Chinese invasion of Tibet. Prior to this, Lo Manthang was a centre for the old salt and wool trade and at one time was a prosperous city. The dominant building in the centre of the city is the King’s Palace. The Royal Family are descendants of an aristocratic family from Lhasa in Tibet and today, though their duties are largely ceremonial, the King is a well-respected horseman and breeder of Lhasa apso dogs. After exploring the city in the morning you may take an optional walk towards Chosar in the afternoon. You have scheduled a further day in Lo Manthang to explore the valley to the north.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Driving: 5 hours                                                            
You leave Lo Manthang in private 4x4 jeeps for the return journey heading back via Tsarang to Samar.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Driving: 5 hours
From Samar we descend into the Kali Ghandaki Valley to Chhusang , Kagbeni and onto Jomsom, a dusty and wind-swept town where we spend the night in a lodge to await our flight back to Pokhara the following morning. The day has been kept short as contingency time in case of delays with jeep travel on the return leg of our journey.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Flight time: 35 mins
You rise early in the morning for the return flight to Pokhara and return to your hotel located close to the lakeside. After a welcome shower, you have the rest of the day free to relax or do some exploring. There are various small museums scattered around town including the renowned International Mountain Museum.
Meals included: Breakfast

Flight: 25 minutes
After breakfast you are transferred to Pokhara airport for the short flight to Kathmandu. The rest of the day is free for shopping or further sightseeing. Enjoy a final evening out tonight.
Meals included: Breakfast

Your trip ends today after breakfast. Your leader will be on hand to advise and assist with your onward travel arrangements. A departure transfer to the airport is included.
Meals Included: Breakfast