Mustang trekking in the Kingdom of Mustang - 17 Days
homestay and lodge/trek accommodation Until the 1980s, the small kingdom of Mustang remained independent, and until 1991 access to it was prohibited to foreigners. The current king of Mustang (heir to the Tibetan kings) still lives in the surprising fortified capital of Lo Manthang in a small palace. Lo Manthang is a maze of paths and narrow streets in a medieval setting. Around 5,000 people live in Mustang in small villages that resemble green oases in the middle of the often desert mountains, an arid land between Tibet and Nepal. The locals are very welcoming and use horses a lot to get around. The maximum altitude of the trek is 4135m and the best season is summer from May to September because Mustang is not affected by the monsoon like Nepal. The oldest vestiges of Buddhism from the 10th century can be found in Mustang. A major annual festival takes place in Lo Manthang every year, the Tiji Festival which marks the 10th day of the moon. A 3-day festival dedicated to Guru Rimpoche, founder of the Buddhist religion in Tibet at the Samyé monastery. Mustang represents one of the last intact traces of the Tibetan Buddhist religion, unchanged for centuries. This small kingdom of Tibetan culture has several active monasteries which still contain treasures of Buddhist art.
Day to Day Itinerary
Welcome at the airport by a member of our agency and transfer to the Hotel in Thamel.
To explore the city and the valley, while we complete the special permit formalities with presentation of your passports.
Departure from Kathmandu by tourist bus (6 hours drive) to Pokhara 915m. Hotel near the lake.
Early departure from Pokhara by plane (Approximately 30 minutes) for Jomsom. Flying in clear weather There are some fantastic views as we fly over: the Kali Gandaki Gorge, flanked on either side by the Himalayan giants of Annapurna 1 (8091m) and Dhaulagiri (8167m). On arrival in Jomsom, departure of the trek for Kagbeni north of Jomsom, 3 hours of walking following the Kali Gandaki river, to arrive at the Portes du Mustang, 2810m. Night in Lodge
About 6 hours of walking with ups and downs along a path where we come across convoys of mules transporting goods. On the west bank of the river you can see the Gompa Kang and some caves. Unlike most monasteries in Upper Mustang, Gompa Kang is of the Nyingmapa order. Here we find the first black, white and red chortens which characterize the Upper Mustang. Passing through the Village of Chuksang with its small winding streets. Night in Chele.
5/6 hours of walking. Climbing the ridge to the village of Samar (3400m), Taking the track you reach a huge red rock 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. Further north, the Kali Gandaki becomes impassable on foot. Then crossing the Baga La (3700m) and Yamdo La (3900m) passes. Most of the houses encountered on the way have sheep horns above their doors and ghost traps... From the passes, superb views of the Nilgiri, the Tilicho. Night in Shyang Mochen.
5/6 hours walk , night in lodge. We leave from Shyang Mochen, a tiny village. Descent to Gheling and visit of the village followed by the climb to the Nyi La pass (3990m). Crossing the Ghami La pass (3520m) then descent to the village of Ghami sheltered by an overhanging cliff. A 500-year-old monastery is established in Gami. Leaving Gami, we walk along a large mani wall, the largest mani wall in Nepal, 240m long. (Mani, stones carved with prayers ). 1h30 walk which takes us to the village of Dhakmar at the bottom of large red cliffs, one of the most beautiful landscapes in Mustang. As in all villages in Mustang, most houses are built of mud and stones with roofs made of twigs, straw and a mixture of mud and stones, and usually painted in white or ocher colors. Night in Dhakmar.
6 hours of walking. Departure from Drakmar, in the red cliffs you can see small cave openings very high in the cliffs, it is believed that this dates from ancient funerary rites from a mysterious past, but these caves are inaccessible. We pass the plain of prayers and its chortens and here we arrive at the mythical town of Lo Manthang, dominated by the old fort and from where we can see Tibet in the background. Night at Lo Manthang.
The king's palace, four stories high. Inside the ramparts which surround the city, houses nested one inside the other form labyrinthine streets , several monasteries (including two dating from the 15th century), the current king's palace and some chortens. . The capital's 1,200 inhabitants have lived to the rhythm of the seasons for several generations. You will find yourself immersed in the heart of the Middle Ages. Night Lo Manthang.
5 hours of walking. Departure from Lo Manthang for Tsarang, passing several very old chortens. Continuation to Tsarang in the middle of fields of barley, mustard and buckwheat, we will discover the monastery built on the side of the mountain, it has magnificent paintings on the walls inside. Night in Tsarang.
6 hours of walking . Departure for Gheling Whitewashed houses scattered in the middle of the fields, protected trees and above the village the gompa a very beautiful monastery and superb views of the slopes of the Nilgiri and Tilicho. Night in Gheling.
6/7 hours walk . Departure for Chuksang, the terrain becomes arid and we arrive at the confluence of the Narshang Khola and Kali Gandaki rivers. A little far from the village you can see the remains of an old fort. Night in Chuksang.
6 hours of walking . Night in Jomsom.
On arrival in Pokhara, transfer to the lakeside hotel. Night at the hotel.
(If you wish to return by plane from Pokhara to Kathmandu, flying over the Himalayan range, allow an extra charge of $93 per person).
(visits with guide on request, supplement) or Catch-up day in case the plane from Jomsom was unable to take off.
3 hours before your return plane takes off.
Includes and Excludes for Trek
- Trek in Lodges with meals and standard hotel: Full board throughout the trek.
- Flights Pokhara - Jomsom - Pokhara.
- All transportation (round trip to trek locations and during the trek).
- Accommodation and meals in Lodges (good quality local food, meals ordered by the guide).
- Professional French-speaking guide and one porter for every two persons (maximum 20 kg for two persons) to carry your bags.
- Airport reception, hotel/airport transfers, reconfirmation of return flights.
- 3 nights in quality hotels in Kathmandu and 1 night in Pokhara with breakfast included.
- Hot water showers available. Quiet hotel with restaurant.
- Meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara (excluding breakfast), extra beverages throughout the stay and trek (excluding tea or coffee during breakfast).
- Entrance fees to monuments, cities, and museums, Nepalese visa (for 15 days = $25, 30 days = $40 or equivalent in euros, in cash), your insurance, tips, and domestic airport taxes.
