Inner Upper Mustang Trekking

Detail Itinerary

Day 01Arrival in Kathmandu (1345m)After arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, you will meet our representative who will receive you outside the airport with Nepal Glacier Treks & Expedition’s signboard and transfer to your respective hotel by private vehicle. You will enjoy the evening yourself and then have a pleasant stay at hotel in Kathmandu. You can either take relaxation in your respective hotel or shop nearby Thamel area for any gears for trekking. Overnight at a hotel

Day 02Pre-trip meeting and city sightseeing in Kathmandu valley On this day, after breakfast in the morning, at around 8am, we call a pre-trip meeting at your hotel in Kathmandu and introduce your trek leader/guide. Please get this opportunity to ask questions about your trek, tour and important things. In the meeting, please make sure you bring passport, three copies of passport-size photos, and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. During this meeting, please clear the due balance. After meeting we will begin our Kathmandu valley sightseeing trip around 9:30am including the cultural and historical site of Kathmandu Durbar Square is very famous and one of the ancient and old place complex of architecture and festivals. Crowded with temples and shrines, image of gods and goddess, ancient kings statues, its look like an open museum without dividers. We will visit Swyambhunath is also known as the monkey temple, it is situated on a hilltop with whitewashed stupa that also offers impressive views of Kathmandu valley. This is a 2500 year old stupa in the world. And Next, we also explore the very famous Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, which is situated in the bank of the holy Bagmati river and can see trident- bearing holy mans covered in burnt- orange and deep meditation nearby forest and small caves and one can close- view up burning ghat. We also visit Buddhist stupa of Bauddhanath is one of the largest stupa in the world, where can see crowed tourists and multi- colored prayer flags, two overlooking eyes are attractive and its attract for those pilgrims of Buddhist territory. After sightseeing back to hotel and trek preparation. Overnight at a hotel

Day 03Drive to Pokhara(820m) 6 hour drive After breakfast early in the morning around 7: 00 am, we leave Kathmandu city for Pokhara. We drive to Pokhara by private tourist vehicle that offers terraced paddy field, rocky gorges, settlement villages, rivers and beautiful mountain vistas. We have a lunch on the way’s tourist restaurant and continues drive through the Prithivi Highway. About six hour long scenery drive, we will reach to the beautiful Lake city of Pokhara. Other option is to reach pokhara, we can take 25 minutes pleasant flight over mountains from Kathmandu to Pokhara. After arriving in Pokhara, we can visit the most beautiful and accessible places and also can do some personal shopping in the evening. Overnight stay at hotel in Pokhara

Day 04Flight to Jomsom (2720m) from Pokhara and Trek to Kagbeni (2810m) 3- 4 hour walk Today, we will take a morning short flight to Jomsom from Pokhara. The scenic flight, will take 20 minute over the mountains with the excellent views of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Dhampus, Nilgiri, Tukuche, Manaslu and other beautiful snow caved peaks. Jomsom is the districts headquarter of Mustang district, which is a large town. This is also major village of Kaligandaki area and the old Trans- Himalayan Salt Trade route to Tibet. From Jomsom ahead, there is very windy in the afternoon, after around three- four hour walk finally reach to Ekley Bhatti village. And after well rest and relax here, about an hour of pleasant walk takes us to Kagbeni. It is situated at the bank of Kakkhola and Mustang Khola (River), the river called the Kali Gandaki. Overnight stay at guesthouse in Kagbeni

Day 05Trek to Muktinath (3760 m) 4 hour walk Leaving behind famous fortress town of Kagbeni and heading towards east, we hike along Annapurna path to traditional and beautiful Jharkot (3350m). After walking some hour, we reach to Muktinath complex via Ranipawa. Muktinath means place of Nirvana and is an important pilgrimage site for those Buddhists and Hindus. One this day, we can see several monasteries, 108 waterspouts in the form of cow heads spouting sacred water, and pagoda style lord Vishnu temple which is good blend of water, earth and fire. There is also another magnetism nearby is the Jwala Mai temple with an unending spouting fire fueled by natural gas. Overnight at a guesthouse

Day 06Trek to Tetang (3040m) via Gyu La (4077m) 7 hour walk We heading towards the main village route via Gyu La that looks magnificently beautiful in the sunny morning with waving prayer flags. The trek goes down to a bridge over the crossing river and start ascending steadily up near the pass. After walking about two hour, we get flat pass and will take rest, lunch and one can see incredible Himalayan views and its marks the boundary between the Upper Mustang and Annapurna. From there, we move downhill into a green cropping valley and continues walking with passes steeply sandy trail, stream, and open canyons and then gradually ups and downs we reach Tetang where can see colorful Chortens, terraced fields, ancient TetangDzong, beautiful Mani walls, the warren of Tetang villages.Tetang offers you continuously attractive fortified village with gigantic houses pock- marked with old scaffold holes. The remains of an older, collapsing dzong stand awesomely on anedge at the north end of the village with living several families in this area. There is broad number of caves in the enormous rock face through the Kali Gandaki. Overnight at a tented camp.

Day 07Trek to Pa (4010m) 7- 8 hour walk We walk ahead towards Pa from the Tetang leaving camp, the day is beautiful and longer as well as challenging. Today, we climb up into the muddy hillside of parched sand, transitory by a world of hoodoos, habitually on unprotected but safe and well trails. We spend the day hiking on top of a wave beermat of an edge line way which goes to the SiyarkoTangkDanda, the landmarks being detailed as 4015 meter, 4080 meter and 4165 meter. In this route very difficult to found water, thus must carry a bottle of water. We summit several small landmark ridge and will have a lunch, many photographs break and exploring many wonderful sights and then finally get our shaded and frosty camp at Pa in mean- afternoon. Overnight at a tented camp

Day 08Trek to Tangge (3240m) 5 hour walk This is an easier as well as shorter than previous day for Tangge, the trek starts with hiking a small edge pass at 4185m where can see Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags and further walk a steep descent utmost of the trail to the TanggeKhola (river) far lower. We need to turn north with passing a bridge, stream and another short hike from the pass. Tangge is an amazing cultural small village surrounded by white and yellowish-brown chortens is possibly largest chorten in Mustangover 50 feet high, terraced barley fields with awesome long Mani walls and monuments. Many year ago Tangge was a big village but a giant mudslide swept away many barley fields and local houses, it is now small village with little houses and goats, sheep according to local societies. At the quite distant close of the village is the higher route to Yara pass and appearance to the south part for vistas of the snowcapped peak called KAKARRU by local theme. Finally we reach a real Mustang, where can observe local culture, their lifestyle and people of the household. There is Tibetan houses are decorate by sheep horn, protective lucky charm in the form of a cross on the walls of the houses. The local publics call it ‘ZOR’ and they all trust it arrests sinful spirits in their mesh. We can see Tibetan women wearing the Tibetan adorncoral, turquoise amber as well as ‘DZIS’, old and ancient ornaments on their body. They believe truly is came from lightening when it drops onto the mountain. Overnight at a tended camp

Day 09Trek to Dhey (3920m) 6 hour walk We moves northwest leaving Tanngge in the morning, we ascent smoothly out of the beautiful village and further walk on a rolling trail through a wonderful moonscape, colored by yellowish-brown, windswept rocks which have been carved by periods of water and wind corrosion. We ascending gradually until reach a small pass, it called Serthang La (4240m) where Lord Vishnu and local gods is can see in the trip and decorated by a marker of Saligrams. A short downhill walk with another little of twistedcountryside, historical tricolored chortens, which go towards the inaccessible village of Dhey, is one of the most remote in the Himalaya. We can explore old gompa, friendly villegers and beautiful old villages and welcoming as travelers are scare here. Overnight at a tended camp.

Day 10Trek to Yara (3650m) 7 hour walk Ascending out of the Dhey village and walking over the quite windswept canyon and climb on a high pass trail. We need to pass soon this area through an old avalanche that looks like a muddy glacier and mudslide. From here, the trail goes towards east to Damodarkunda and ancient bunches of caves houses appear magically in the cliffs surfaces far above us head. After crossing a small stream and little ups and downs before goes down pretty sharply to the riverbed under at just over 3400m. We walk down to Dechyangkhola and ascend the vertical change backup trail from the settlement village of Phangyakawa. Arriving at uplands, we take some time to regard the countryside and full capture all beautiful scene in our camera. And then walk continue through more wonderful landscape and can see the beautiful as well as green village of Yara under through the Puyungkhola. After passing Rocky River and will get the beautiful village of Yara that provides us lovely sun shining with the racket leaves brightenvillage in the afternoon. We also visit nearby lower section school and other beautiful Buddhist Gompa around the village. Overnight at a tended camp

Day 11Trek to Ghara (LuriGompa) We heads northwest from the Yara, passing unbelievable as well as carved canyons with ruins of a complex of ancient caves, recently windswept sufficient to be unreachable. We hike less than an hour beside the Saligram- stream riverbed and rocky to the Tashikumbum cave complex, accessible via a narrow knot of a trail. This Tashikumbum is newly exposed group of six houses dating from the 15th century with unbelievable Buddhist murals and a huge stylishly decorated Chorten. We walk beside the Puyungkhola, its trail goes to the legendary Druk- Pa Lauri Gompa and get Tibetan Buddhist caves. Once time in the Mustang, one of the ancient King of Lo got married with Bhutanese princess, therefore the Druk- Pa persuades. The old and main Luri Gompa is located downhill near the riverbed and throughout the trek, we can see 15th century Kabum stupa is made by highly refined stucco and painted. Walking from Luri Gompa beside a high path to the village of Ghara with bankrupt Gompa, chortens and older windy walls. Enjoying the incredible mountain panorama, sunset and sunrise in the down valley towards Kali Gandaki. Overnight at a tented camp

Day 12Trek Cho DzongGompa Camp (3900m) 7- 8 hour walk This is our comparatively difficult day, we begin trek with steep ascend behind the village beside a sandy path, previous some cave dwellings and after few hour, we arrive to the top of the Ghara La passa at 4380 meter high. The Ghara, Yara and Luri Gompa are surrounded by terraced barley field; it’s looking an amazing below our trek route. On this day, we can explore many natural cultural sites such as a stream, carved rocks and canyons, border of Tibet and passing high then lower pass. Now we have entered a mislaid world of Knobby canyons, muted area and narrow passes, and wonderful direction of Lo Manthang. We must take the right trail that heads to the 14th to 15th eras Cho Dzong Gompa and it is the house of the most important Buddhist artwork in Upper Mustang. From there we will quick run up to Cho Dzong Gompa, sometimes main Gompa could be not opened but little hike up then can get small Gompa, after exploring around area and then back to main route. After climbing ups and descending down, we reach the beautiful Mustang’s Cho Dzong Gompa. Overnight at a tented camp

Day 13Trek to Yarsangkhola (4600m) 6 hour walk We head towards in the same route as yesterday from the Dzong Gompa camp, passing a long and painted ancient Mani wall, several large chortens and many other important Gompas. The trek continue, after crossing Sadekhola and reach the well path that offers us spectacular Himalayan views. We walk amongst juniper scrubs and take a threatening climb and from there can see spectacular close view up such as Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Thorung, Tilicho peaks, Annapurna| and other attractive Himalayan peaks. We walk to downriver and after crossing the great green highland its time do not see waves in series, windy atmosphere, spicy herbs and Mani walls. We just ascend to the river for spend the night. Overnight at a tented camp

Day 14Trek to Samdzong (4372m) 6 hour walk We ascend uphill around 200 meter then taking right side of Yarsangkhola, walk forward with enjoying the marvelous views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. After around half an hour hiking then will get a gorge of Yarsangkhola. Leaving valley, our trek will go up passing by beautiful Mani walls and again walk down to the deep valley. Our trip will go ahead with crossing Tal Khola and climbing the Thakla La pass then trails offers a beautiful passage in form towards the highlands that make up the Mustang himal above and a fixed of Kharkas. Engaging ourselves in the glorious desert countryside, isolated sharp peaks and battlements then continue up and down on the desert valley, we get the edge on the northern cliff of Samdzong valley. From there, descent direct into the wandering village, it might be challenging downhill trail and should be cross the stream before reaching village. This village is situated at around 4000 meter above from the sea level. Overnight at a tented camp

Day 15Trek to Choser Village6 hour walk We starts our trek with beautiful morning walking alongside the irrigation passage, it goes through the village near monastery and south part. The trail goes down through the meadows in the central of row of penitents. There is one can explore a bright red chortens that marks the entering to the canyon itself and taking good path to semi- way up. On this day, we will explore newly open Konchok Ling cave. This cave is difficult to explore, it is 7.5 meter long covered with 55 panels, therefore will take local people to know almost the route. According to the local, it’s a symbol of Buddhist Pala style date from 12th eras. There can see monks are lived and meditated nearby holy stupas. If you interested to explore Buddhism keen will more struggle to travel the Konchok Ling cave, if not we may use another route for Chhosar village. If we walk through the Konchok Ling cave, its might be difficult and must skip the exploration. After ups and down, exploring interesting old caves, we arrive to Chosar village for night camp. This valley was the main trade route with Tibet and china. We can also explore the beautiful monasteries such as Niphu, Dhuk and Garphu which is well painted with colored. Overnight at a tented camp

Day 16Trek to Lo- Manthang Today, we explore the beautiful monasteries in Chosar and walk to Lo- Manthang. Chosar is cave village with the bottomless- red Nyphu Gompa made into the rock face. In this area, we take sufficiently of time for the capture photographs before turning the chorten- toped curve, where will get scène of Gharphu Gompa on the east side of the Mustang Khola. Where we can see other incredible cave called Bdjhong cave, its need to climb by ladder with a small tunnels, which is very interesting and alleged to be 2500 years old. During the trip, would be seen Snow Mountain with Tibet border, stream and green fields lines on our path. If visitor want deep explore in this area, we need to stop at Nyamdo Gompa, after passing a small ridge then trails heads towards down western valley to Lo. The valley leads to very famous Namgyal Gompa, which is also known as the monastery of Victory is very popular amongst the Mustang. Just passing the Gompa is the large, extensive village of Thinggar, where we can see a summer Palace of Mustang’s King. There are so many ancient skeletons, nearby the village, a beautiful white Gompa and further many old fortresses can see on the trip. We reach Kimaling village, which is surrounded by field with white washed and very famous for Tibetan carpet market. The trails goes towards Phuwa and from there trekkers descend to LO. At LO, travelers get huge opportunity to explore Namgyal Gompa and snow peaks up the valley and other incredible white peaks with Tibet border. Finally we will reach the camp and enjoying evening dinner with relax at tented camp, it is might be last evening at this magical and unforgettable capital. Overnight at a tented camp

Day 17Lo Manthang We take a rest in the Lo- Manthang, is the capital of Mustang district was recognized by King Ame Pal. The local people call their King Lo Gyelbu and respect as well as love the King while he plays only traditional role these days. The King was devoted horseman and preserves his own unchanging of horses, particular of the top in Mustang. There are can see only 108 houses with narrow streets and some of the biggest and handpicked Tibetan Buddhist Gompa in Nepal. The valley is pretty successful due largely to its previous salt and wool profession beside the Kali Gandaki with Tibet. The area is surrounded by Lobs population and Tibetan style houses, only possible to entrance by king, queen and Kempo (abbot). Otherwise, we must pay to their respected for Chenrizing, the Buddha of sympathy. There arearound 1100 Lobas people within the town whereas many lower caste Lobas live outdoor the valley. Most of the Lobas people still preparation polyandry.
Lo- Manthang is really an amazing within Mustang, there are four main monasteries inside the medieval walls of valley. The 14th century’s Jampalhakhang is the very old Gompa, which is 50 feet high with brick- red painted, built in 1387. Jampa means ‘Future’ Buddha, it is might be largest clay statue in Nepal till a few years ago. Other is 15th century’s Thubchen Gompa which is 30 feet high with great assembly hall, it is a second oldest Gompa with imaginary painting in the Dukhang, and next one is Chhoede Gompa where the Kempo lives and can see a monastic school together. Choprang Gompa, it is also King’s palace and his family lives here. The queen was from aristocratic Lhasa family and called ‘RANI SAHIB’and exploring interesting village areas and then return back to camp for night spend. Overnight at a tented camp

Day 18Trek to Tsarang (3560m) via Lo GekarGompa 7 hour walk Leaving Lo- Manthang camp, we climb a small pass around half an hour on the top to the western Marang La. From the pass will catch an easy trail to goes down through green meadows until reach the beautiful chortens of Ghar Gompa and Lo Ghekar. Lo Ghekar means pure virtue of joy which is built in the 8th century is might be one of the oldest Gompa in Nepal. It looks like Samye Gompa in Tibet as well as show the ubiquitous Rimpoche. The Gompa provides you excellent painting with superb carved and colored Mani walls. Beside Gompa also gives us unique style chortens, series of colorful prayer flags fluttering in the airstream of Mustang. Ascending to down valley, we will get main path from Tsarang to Lo and moving south to pass the huge and newly re- construct chortens beside the trail. After short hike leaving Ghar Gompa, we arrive to Marang and then once more short walking brings us to Tsarang village. Tsarang means cock crest, where can see 80 houses; it was once capital of Lo in 14th century. There will be explore the beautiful green villages, shops, hydro- electric plant, nunnery ‘ANI’ Gompa, five- story Tsarang Dzong Gompa, a Tibetan styled equipped palace built in 1378 and large Tsarang Gompa built in 1385, these Dzong and Palace was built by King Ame Pal. The Palace has a amazing, old prayer room with a gold written prayer book as well as interesting collection of status, Thankas and big Buddha print that the local Lama (priest) will explain us and 500 hundred years old master designer of the palace. The assembly hall is decorated with incredible 15th century frescos. We will walk around the village to explore the everyday lifestyle of Tserang. Overnight at a tented camp

Day 19Trek to Gheling (3570 m) 6 hour walk In the morning walk through the warren of Tsarang;s passage leads to the huge brilliantly highlighted chrten which guards the doorway to Tsarang and then walk beside the dirty road to Tsarang La 3870 meter. From there walk steep down to the bottom of the valley and following ancient chortens, sculpted cliffs face is might be 1500 years old and viewing beautiful sights. After passing ochre, blue and steel- gray cliffs, tri- colored chortens, longest as well as most stunning Mani walls, Japanese built hospital and short steep descent and then crossing suspension bridge, climb slowly up to Ghami (3570m). This Ghami village was basically deserted till the Khampa fighters put up a war camp here and bring new life and prosperity to the village. Enjoy the interesting village and leaving the Mani walls and then climb straight towards to the Ghemi La (3520m). From where continue walk to the south, climb steadily for another pass of Nyi La (4010m), its offers us spectacular Himalayan views with Annapurna| and Nilgiri as well as the gather of the white painted villages, Gompas, caves and Gelling valley. A short walk down and heads to Zaite from where we get superb views of the Thorang peak, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna| and Tilicho peak. Around an hour walk down will reach Gelling village with old monasteries, sponsored school and other many awesome scenes. Overnight at a tented camp

Day 20Trek to Tangbe (3060m) 6- 7 hour walk This morning we climb slowly alongside the dusty small road to grasp the Syangboche La at 3850 meter above. On the top will enjoy with fantastic Himalayan view including Annapurna|, Nilgiri and North Tibet boeder. The trail will go down to small Syangboche village from the ridge and trek route direction goes to the left side and on the eastern trail goes to Samar via the most important Chungsi cave at 3425 meter above. On this day, we can see many nests of Himalayan Griffins, majestic birds circling and other dramatic unexplored areas. Around 1 hour walking will reach to the Chungsi cave is one of the universal Guru Rimporche’s meditation cave. There are stone steep to enter, inside are very unique self- created Buddhist carved Chortens and other Buddhist ruins.
We climb a steep up with spectacular view after crossing the Syanbochenkhola and move towards Samar. After passing incredible deep gorges, delightful and extensive views then arrived at Chungsi La (3810m) from the sea level and around 500 meter overhead the cave. The path goes down steeply through the Jhuwakhola and Samarkhungkhola and taking another trail to enter the chorten of Samer. At Samar, the trail only goes down through Chele village and entrance again to Chorten of Chele village. There are welcoming to us and continue down walk with liner caves from our path and then we cross Kali Gandaki river by suspension bridge. There sometimes must cross the river without bridge before enter the Chhusang village, continue walking through steady trail to Tangbe. Where we can get chance to explore separating the white houses, valley of barley, wheat, buckwheat, apple plantations and ancient fortress. We also can see traditional authentic Mustang village and their culture with daily lifestyle. Overnight at a tented camp

Day 21Trek to Jomsom We walk above Kali Gandaki River and heads to Jomsom through Kagbeni, around three hour hike to reach a beautiful village of Kagbeni and visitor can visit a beautiful monasteries around here. Before reaching Kagbeni will get a one village called Tiri Gaun on the west bank of the river. From there we walk through the east bank of Kali Gandaki beside will see holy Saligrams while on walking. Reaching at Ekle Bhatti and taking rest there and then continue walk to Jomsom with strong wind. We arrived Jomsom and afternoon will take a rest, wash and stroll around area. Before dinner we will celebrate our successful inner Upper Mustang trip with all staff. Overnight at a guesthouse

Day 22Flight back to Pokhara from Jomsom Today, early in the morning we take 30 minutes morning flight from Jomsom back to Pokhara. After arriving in Pokhara airport, we drive to hotel by private vehicle. Taking some rest in hotel and in the afternoon we start sightseeing tour around pokhara valley, including Gupteshwor cave, Devi’s fall, Phewa lake, Gorkha museum, Tibetan refuse settlement area and other popular area. Overnight stay at hotel in Pokhara.

Day 23Drive to Kathmandu from Pokhara On this day, you will be back to Kathmandu from Pokhara by scenery drive. It takes around six and seven hour from the Pokhara city. After arriving in Kathmandu, you will transfer to your respected hotel, refreshed and take some rest and in the evening time you can buy some souvenirs and gifts to your family, relatives, and friends and loved one back home and enjoy farewell dinner with local food and cultural show then have a pleasant stay overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 24Final departure According to the itinerary, this is the last day of your package. This day you will be transfer into the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu from where you will board the flight to your next beautiful destination hoping to see you again. “Have a nice Journey”