Upper Mustang, 18 days trek/4nights Kathmandu total 22 days

Level :Moderate-difficult (max. altitude 4,320 m)

Best Months :March-Nov; this is a good trek to plan in the monsoon

The restricted area of Upper Mustang looks like Tibet, and its people live like Tibetans. The landscape here has the lunar quality of the trans-Himalaya, with no trees, dramatic ochre cliffs, biting blue skies, and fierce winds that pick up during the day. The distinctive buildings with their grey, white, ochre and yellow stripes (all natural rock pigments) are a legacy of the Sakya school of Buddhism practised here, and the packed earth, sun-baked bricks, and large boulders are brought together to form remarkably sophisticated structures such as the walled capital city of Lo Manthang with its high palace. Upper Mustang has always had a considerable amount of autonomy, even as it has at various points accepted the suzerainity of Tibet and Nepal. The Lobas, as inhabitants of this area (locally known as 'Lo') are called, have for centuries been successul, urbane international traders. Upper Mustang is also notable for having some of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Nepal, which house exceptional artwork. And finally, Upper Mustang is hisorically interesting for another reason too - the fearsome Khampa warriors from Tibet, many trained and armed by the CIA, chose this area as the staging post for their activities against the Chinese in Tibet in the 1960s. 

Day          Program

Day 01.    You will be picked up by our representative from airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 02.     Free day in Kathmandu, night at hotel.

Day 03      On the bus from Kathmanu to Pokhara.

Day 04      A spectacular early morning flight to Jomosom (2,713 m), Kagbeni (2,804 m).

Day 05       Chhuksang (2,980 m). 

Day 06      Samar (3,620 m).

Day 07     Gelung (3,570 m).

Day 08      ascent a 4,000 m pass, Nyi La. Arriving at Ghami (3,510 m) is interesting - it is a very large village, all whitewashed houses and blue, ochre and grey views, surrounded by enormous tracts of fields and with a remarkable gomba.

Day 09      Tsarang (3,560 m). .

Day 10     Lo Manthang (3,900 m).

Day 11      Day tripping and rest are scheduled for these days. There are falling-down wood and stone temples with stunning frescoes and thangka, active monasteries with regular prayers. There are fine horses and the apsos and mastiffs the king of Lo breeds. There is the town itself, with its intricate system of canals running under the walls and through the fields, and its distinctive houses - the ground floor used for storage and stables, the first floor for kitchen, living, and sleeping spaces, and the roof, accessible by a notched log, for the storage of firewood adn juniper branches for incense. The villages around Lo Manthang can be easily visited on horseback; you can see the king's summer palace, a large monastery perched commandingly atop a windsept ridge, and the centuries-old, still-active trade route into Tibet, part of which is now being made into a full-fledged road. Make sure to dismount in front of the city gate, though - only the king may ride a horse within the walls of Lo Manthang.

Day 12:    Lo Gekar (4,000 m), near which is a large monastery in a tranwuil gorve.

Day 13:    Ghami (3,510 m).

Day 14:    Samar (3,620 m).

Day 15:    Tangbe (3,060 m), .

Day 16:    A shorter day than you are accustomed to by now brings you back to the border between Upper and Lower Mustang, Kagbeni (2,804 m).

Day 17   Spend the day exploring Kagbeni, which lies at the confluence of two streams. Wander through its winding packed mud passages, traditional passages, the stone paths that run through it, and the notable gomba that looks down on the whole village.

Day 18    Climb down to Eklaibhatti, and up along the shale and rock ridge to approach Jomosom (2,713 m).

Day 19:    Take the heart-stopping flight out of Jomoson to Pokhara, for a day and night spent relaxing by the lake.

Day 20    On the bus to Kathmandu.

Day 21    Free day in kathmandu  for  shopping.

Day 22:   Transfert to the  airport or own  destination.

Cost on your request

 Cost quoted in itineraries includes:

ü        Airport-hotel transfer at arrival and departure

ü        Domestic land and air transport as described in itinerary Pokhara-Jomsom-Pokhara US $ 160 per person

ü        Four nights 2 stars accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast Hotel UTSE or Similar.

All trekking and conservation area and national park permit fees, also the permit fees for the Restricted Areas of Upper Dolpo (US$500/ 10 days)

For Camping or Tented Trek

ü        All meals, camping gear (except sleeping bags) such as tents, kitchen equipment etc, salaries and insurance for guides, sherpas, cooks, porters (who will carry 15 kilos of personal belongings  per person) etc during tented treks.

ü        Re-confirmation of flight

Cost quoted does not include:

ü        Your international flight into and out of Nepal

ü        Travel insurance

ü        Domestic and international airport taxes

ü        Lunch, dinner, drinks in Kathmandu (US$6-15 per day)

ü        Tips, souvenirs or other shopping