Upper Mustang and Lo mangthang trekking
in Nepal
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| Upper Mustang Area trekking Map |
The Mustang Trekking is also called the upper Mustang Trekking, is an exotic tour to unspoiled Tibetan Villages on the other side of Nepalese Himalaya bordering with Tibet. The main highlights of Mustang trekking are antique Tibetan villages, rare medieval Buddhist arts, the exotic culture and the unique beauty of the Himalayan desert. Foreigners were not allowed to enter Upper Mustang until 1992.Upper Mustang is not much in contact with rest of Nepal, and keeps an aura of a remote, mysterious and unusual land which is one of the unique charms of the Mustang trekking. All their festivals are religious in nature, the tiji festival being the biggest. This small medieval kingdom in the vast desert is ruled by local king. The capital called Lo Mangthang, a walled complex with the houses of local nobilities and monasteries will be one of the main attractions of Mustang trekking.
We start our trek from Jomsom and
trek northwards into the heart of Mustang reaching the region's capital Lo
Manthang after 5 days of trekking through amazing villages and stunning
landscapes. We spend two days in this ancient city before returning to Jomsom
for our return flight via a slightly different route that takes in the pilgrimage
site of Muktinath.
Mustang trekking is located in
restricted trekking area. It is necessary for international trekkers to buy
special trekking permit for mustang trekking which cost US$ 50 per day and it
is compulsory to buy 10 days trekking permit. It means minimum 500 US $ only
for permit charge and there must be at least two trekkers to go to the Mustang
reason because the Department of Immigration will not issue trekking permit to
mustang trek for an individual only.
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| Upper Mustang Trekking |
Day by day itinerary
Day 1: Kathmandu Arrival
Arrive
in Kathmandu airport. Then transfer to
Hotel.
Day 02: Kathmandu Valley
City Tour
After
breakfast,full day city Tour at Kathmandu in important and popular tour spots
which are related with history, culutre and tradition of Nepal ,Pashupatinath
Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Monaster and Patan Durbar square which
are in records of world heritage sites too.
Day 03 : Pokhara Drive or
flight to Pokhara overnight in Pokhara hotel
Day 4: Fly to Jomsom, trek
to Kagbeni(2810m)
From
Pokhara it is a short flight to reach the airstrip at Jomsom at 2713m. We cross the river to the eastern bank of the
Kali Gandaki and continue onwards to Eklai Bhatti at 2730m. From here we will
follow the trail along the river to Kagbeni at 2810m, a fascinating village
with many Tibetan influences. Kagbeni is situated at the junction of the Jhong
Khola and the Kali Gandaki, and is the northernmost village that can be visited
without a permit to continue on to Mustang.
Day 5 : Kagbeni to Chele(3030m)
The
trail continues up the eastern side of the Kali Gandaki, heading northwards
through Tangbe at 2990m and then on to Chhuksang at the confluence of the
Narshing Khola and the Kali Gandaki. The trail continues north before crossing
the river to the west bank and climbing out of the Kali Gandaki valley up a
rocky gully to Chele at 3030m.
Day 6: Chele to Shyangmochen
(3650m)
From
Chele the trail climbs along the side of a steep canyon to a pass at 3480m
before descending to the popular stopping place of Samar at 3290m. The trail
then climbs and drops a few times before reaching the small settlement of
Shyangmochen at 3650m
Day 7 :Shyangmochen to
Geling (3440m)
After
breakfast, we will make a side trip to the canyons and gorges to the east. We
will have lunch by a mountain stream after making an excursion to the Cave of
The Self-Emanating Buddha. The trail then climbs back up to Shyangmochen and to
a pass at 3700m where there is a trail junction for Geling and the Nyi La. We
take the right fork and descend to Geling at 3440m
Day 8: Geling to Charang (3490m)
The
trail initially climbs gently up the valley, passing above Tama Gaon to the
west, before rejoining the direct trail and climbing up the head of the valley
to the Nyi La at 3950m. We make a gentle descent from the pass to reach another
trail junction and continue to the large village of Ghami at 3460m. The trail
now crosses a small bridge over the Tangmar Chu river before climbing past a
long mani wall. We then climb to another pass before descending into Charang at
3490m.
Day 9: Charang to Lo
Manthang (3730m)
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| Lo Mangthang Village |
Day 10: In Lo Mathang
This
day will be spent in this mystical and isolated city. You will awake to the
mystical sounds of monks chanting and the heady sent of temple candles. After
having breakfast you will visit the four major temples within the city walls.
The major attraction of this area is the three storey’s Jampa Lhakhang, the red
Thubchen gompa with a massive assembly hall, Chodey gompa and Choprang gompa.
After visiting the temples you will take a walk to visit the ACAP office and to
Tarchun Gurung’s shop where you can climb up to the roof for a view of the
town, and buy a memento to take away with you.
Day 11: Trip around Lo
Manthang
Again
you spend another day in Lo Manthang getting to know the place and getting an
incite into how the people live in this remote and arid landscape. After having
breakfast you will visit the raja’s Place which is an imposing four storey
building in the centre of the city. Then you will hire a horse to visit some
other villages in this area where you will observe the local culture, life
style, tradition and warm heartedness of these people. Return back to Lo
Manthang
Day 12: Visit around Lo
Manthang area
There
are many fascinating ancient buildings to visit in Lo Manthang and this will
occupy our day. There are four major temples as well as the Raja’s palace, but
it is equally satisfying to observe the unique culture of this place, the
people, their houses, and their approach to life.
Day 13: Lo Manthang to
Dhakmar
From
Lo Manthang we will return by a slightly different route to take in villages
that were not visited on the route in. We initially head for Lo Gekar along a
local herder’s trail, and shortly afterwards reach the important Ghar gompa,
which is one of the oldest active gompas in Nepal. From here we ascend a pass
and make a steep, dusty descent to the pretty village of Dhakmar.
Day 14: Dhakmar to
Syangbochen (3650m)
We
rejoin our walk-in route at the village of Ghami at 3460m, and continue to trek
southwards and meet up with the trail from Charang, before ascending to the Nyi
La and then dropping into the Geling valley. From here we vary the route to
that taken on the way up and descend to the village of Tama Gaon. Continuing
south we eventually rejoin the main trail and climb up to the village of
Syangbochen
Day 15: Syangbochen to
Chhuksang
We
continue to descend and cross back to the eastern bank of the river before
continuing south to Chhuksang where we spend the night.
Day 16: Chhuksang to
Muktinath ( 3800m)
We
begin by trekking east and then in a southerly direction along a rarely-used
trail with no human settlements to reach the impressive abandoned fortress of
Jhong. We then cross the Jhong Khola and climb up to the holy Hindu and
Buddhist pilgrimage site of Muktinath at 3800m. We visit the temples and
religious shrines.
Day 17: Muktinath to Jomsom
( 2700m)
The
last day of our trek - from here we retrace our steps down the Kali Gandaki to
Jomsom, from where, tomorrow, we will fly out to Pokhara and then on to
Kathmandu.
Day 18: Early morning fly to Pokhara
Day 19: Drive or fly to Kathmandu
See You in Nepal Upper Mustang and Lo mangthang trekking in Nepal...........................
1 comment:
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