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Upper Mustang Trek

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Difficulty : Moderate

Reference Code: UMTNP

Trip Start: Kathmandu

Trek Start: Jomsom

Trek Days: 13 Days

Maximum Altitude: 4,170m.

Age: 20 years to 60 years

Season: Spring, Summer and Autumn

Accommodation: Lodge

Service: Full board

Destination: Nepal

Trip End: Kathmandu

Trek End: Jomsom

Trip Durations: 19 Days

Physical Rating: Moderate

Group Size: 4-16

Theme: Walking and Observation

Meals: Standard

In March 1992, the 'forbidden' kingdom of Mustang was opened to the outside world. Now, for the first time in recent history, foreign travelers are able to visit La Manthang, the seat of an ancient kingdom dating back to the 15th century. The Kingdom of La is situated along the north central border of Nepal north of the main range of the Himalaya's in the upper reaches of Mustang District. Lo and the area directly to its south, called Baragaon, which both fall within Upper Mustang, can be claimed as one of the most outstanding areas of the Himalaya.
The people of Upper Mustang are called Bhotias and those from Lo are called Lobas. They speak various dialects of Tibetan. Historically, their art and culture flourished due to contact with traders, monks and religious masters passing between Tibet and India, or between Ladakh and Bhutan.
The climate and geography of Upper Mustang are nearly identical to those of Western Tibet and as such, they are dramatically different from the temperate and tropical areas of the south side of the Himalayas. The dry, wind swept ecology of this Trans-Himalayan region is extremely fragile. Fuel wood is virtually non-existent, water is scare, the agricultural land yields insufficient food grains and the marginal and grasslands support only limited numbers of livestock and wildlife. With the influx of tourists, the already pressured desert environment risks further degradation.
In addition, although the culture has flourished in contact with other religious and cultural centers of the Himalayas, its sudden exposure to other worlds beyond its high plateau may create a negative impact on the society. Hence still the government of Nepal has kept this area under restricted area in order to keep the destructive environmental and cultural impact of tourism in Upper Mustang to an absolute minimum. the Ministry of Tourism has decided to develop the area as a model eco-tourism area.

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Day 01 Arrival in Kathmandu(1350m.) and transfer to hotel

Namaste! And welcome to Kathmandu, the colourful capital of Nepal where ornately carved balconies mingle with beautiful shrines and temples. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting on arrival at the exit gate of Kathmandu airport. Our staff will welcome you and pick you to your accommodated hotel. Please seek our company palmplate to find our staff at the main exit gate of the airport. Rest of the day you can relax at the hotel or short evening walk around local market on your own as per your wish.

drive 45 mins

Day 02 Rest and preparation day

A well deserved rest day at cosy of hotel after a long tiring flight. This day, one can move around nearby local market to purchase or hire trekking equipment that is necessary for the trekking like sleeping bags, walking sticks etc, exchange currency as requirement or simply walk around in the local market or Kathmandu Durbar squire nearby with small entrance fee as per your preference on your own. Evening at the hotel lobby there will be pre-trip briefing in which you will be introduced with your trekking guide and explained about your trip in short, instruction for safety etc.

Day 03 Fly to Pokhara(820m.)

We have breakfast then leave for Pokhara, also known as The Lake City owing to the large number of lakes in the city. Upon our arrival in Pokhara, we are rewarded with magnificent views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Manaslu (8,156m), Machhapuchhre (6,993m), the five peaks of Annapurna and others. We then check-in to our hotel and take a rest. We enjoy boating in the Fewa Lake and stroll in the city’s quaint streets. 

Drive 1:15 min Fly: 25 min

Day 04 Early morning fly to Jomsom(2720m.) and trek to Kagbeni(2810m.)

Today we will take an early morning flight to Jomsom which is famous for its apples, strong winds and the landscape. We begin our trek on an open trail alongside a beautiful valley. We pass through Eaklibatti village before reaching Jomsom which is ideally located at the bank of two rivers. The village is beautiful with flat-roofed houses and also has ruins of an old fortress.

Drive: 30 min; fly 22 min walk 2.5 hrs

Day 05 Trek to Chele(3050m.)

We get our permits checked then begin our trek on a trail alongside the Kali Gandaki River. We walk on sand amidst strong winds before ascending on a hill. We reach the Tangbe Village and admire its narrow alleyways, white-washed houses, barley and buckwheat fields, and apple orchards. We continue our walk and pass another village and cross a river on our way. Next, we walk on a ridge before reaching Chele Village. 

Walk: 5-6 hours

Day 06 Trek to Syangbochen(3800m.)

Our trek from today will be a little hard compared to what we experienced before.  Our walk today involves crossing two passes, Taklam La pass (3,624m) and Dajori La pass (3,735). On our way, we enjoy great views of Tilicho, Yakawa Kang and Damodar Danda and pass by Ramchung Cave. We descend further and reach Samar Village. From here we walk on a trail above the village and reach a ridge. Next, we descend on a steep trail to a stream and continue our trek to Syanboche.

6-7 hrs

Day 07 Trek to Ghami(3520m.)

We ascend to the Yamda La pass at 3,850m. On the way, we pass by a few teahouses, chortens and beautiful villages. We trek through poplar forests and barley fields and reach Mui La at 4,170m. From here, we descend to Ghami which is one of the biggest villages in the Lo region. The village is beautiful with fields surrounding the entire village. 

5-6 hrs

Day 08 Trek to Tsarang(3560m.)

Our trek today begins with a descent through a rough and often slippery trail. We then cross a suspension bridge over the Ghami Khola and begin ascending. The pathway is beautiful with mani walls along the trail. Next, we cross the Tsarang La Pass at 3870m and reach Tsarang village. The village lies atop the Charang Chu canyon with a huge fortress and a red gompa towards its east.

5-6 hrs

Day 09 Trek to Lo-Mangthan(3810m.)

We begin our trek by descending to a canyon and cross a river before beginning our uphill trek to Lo La pass which at 3950m. From the top of the pass we can admire the beautiful Lo Manthang village. From the pass we descend to Lo Manthang which is a beautiful walled village. From here the views of the Himalayas including Nilgiri, Tilicho and Annapurna I, Bhrikuti Peak as well as Damodar Kunda (pond) is quite good. 

3-4 hrs

Day 10 Exploration day

Lo Manthang is a walled town of the remote Upper Mustang region of Nepal. We spend the day touring three major gompas of the town namely Jhampa, Thupchen and Chhoeda. All of these gompas have undergone expert restoration over the last two decades. We can also trek to Tingkhar which is a beautiful village located north-west of Lo-Mangthang.

Day 11 Decent trek to Dhakmar(3820m.)

We trek on a different route when returning from Lo-Manthang. Our trail passes through Gyakar village which houses a century old Ghar Gompa with beautiful rock paintings. According to a local legend, anyone who makes a wish at the Gompa will have it fulfilled. We explore the Gompa and continue our trek to Drakmar.

6-7 hrs

Day 12 Trek to Ghiling(3570m.)

We start our trek early to avoid strong winds and descend for the most part of the trek. Our trail passes through a dry plateau and fields before reaching Ghiling. The walk can be relatively difficult as we are most likely to experience strong winds on our face. Ghiling is mostly dry, but we still get good views of Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri mountains. We can tour the village around the evening. 

5-6 hrs

Day 13 Trek to Chhuksang(2980m.)

We begin our trek after breakfast. We walk on the same trail as before going up to Lo Manthang. On the way to Chhuksang we can enjoy great views of the Himalayas and small villages we pass en route. 

5-6 hrs

Day 14 Trek to Muktinath(3760m.)

The day trek starts down hill walk on dusty road around 2 hours and then to gradual up hill to reach Muktinath temple. Muktinath is a Bishnu temple, sacred to both Hindus and Buddhist. It is located in Muktinath Valley at the foot of the Thorung La mountain pass in Annapurna Region. It is one of the world's highest temple situated at the altitude of  3,760 m. The site is close to the village of Ranipauwa, which is sometimes mistakenly called Muktinath.

6-7 hrs

Day 15 Trek to Jomsom(2720m.)

The trail descends very quickly to the valley floor below, through a dramatic arid landscape, and continues to Jomsom. We continue walking to Marpha, which must be the cleanest village in the country. The long main street is paved with spotless flagstones winding past pristine white houses, each with piles of firewood neatly stacked to the roof. There are numerous well-kept lodges and Tibetan Craft shops. These two villages are the major villages on the Kali Gandaki trading route. We can enjoy the views of Tilicho Peak and Dhaulagiri.

4 hrs

Option: you can take local transportation from Muktinath to Jomsom if you feel too tired to walk.

Day 16 Fly to Pokhara

We take an early morning flight to Pokhara. The airplane passes through a gorge between Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains making the flight itself an amazing experience. After arriving in Pokhara, we can spend the rest of the day in leisure.

Fly 22 min drive 30 min

Day 17 Exploration day

Pokhara city offers vast activities and there is always be something to everyone from tranquality lover to extreme adventure seekers. A well deserved rest day after the trek is worthful in Pokhara and rest with the cozy of hotel on the shadow of most beautiful peak Mt. Machhapuchhere. Morning you can enjoy boating in Fewa Lake which is the most popular activities to all the visitors to Pokhara and evening you can roam around the local market. However, it also provides Zip flyers, ultra light flight over Annapurna Range, Para Glyding etc. Further there are many popular places like Rupa Lake, Begnas Lake, Bindabasini Temple, Davi's fall, Mahendra Cave, Bat Cave, International Mountain Museum in short distance where you can visit and observe the beauty of Pokhara Valley.

Day 18 Fly to Kathmandu

After breakfast, we say goodbye to the beautiful northern skyline of Pokhara and fly towards Kathmandu. After reaching Kathmandu, we take a rest or do some souvenir shopping. 

Drive 30 min Fly 25 min

Day 19 Final Departure

We say 'Namaste' for memories that will last a lifetime. There are no activities planned for today and you are able to depart the hotel at any time. Check out time from the hotel is at 12 noon. If you are departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel. For your final departure, our staff will pick you up from the hotel and transfer to Kathmandu airport approximately 3 hours prior to your international flight time.

Drive: 45 min

Inclusion

Lodge basis
All ground transportation as per itinerary
3 night hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with B/B plan.

3 night hotel accommodation in Pokhara with B/B plan
TIMs (Trekking Information Management system) card
Annapurna Conservation Area Entry Fee

Special Restricted Area permit fee

Domestic flight with airport tax:  KTM-PKH-JOM-PKH-KTM

Food for the member during the trek( 3 meals a day as per lodge open menu)
Lodge accommodation on twin sharing basis

Medical supplies(First aid Kit will be available)

All required Nepalese staffs (salary, food, clothing, accommodation)

All Nepalese staffs insurance as per Nepalese Government rules

Company service charge and government taxes etc.

Exclusion

International flight with airport tax.

Nepalese Entry Visa fee
Food during stay in Kathmandu and Pokhara

All personal equipment and personal expenses
Photography Charges, Monument charges and Monument entry fees
Personal Medical and travel insurance(must cover helicopter rescue evacuation cost)
Personal Medicine

Telephone and internet charges
Laundry charges
Alcoholic beverage, bottled drinks and cold drinks during the trip
Rescue evacuation charges if required
Staff and porters Tips...

Equipment List

Clothing and Equipments List
» Pack to pack out - bring enough waterproof bags to carry all non-biodegradable rubbish back down the mountain.
» Remove all unnecessary packaging before leaving home.
» Bring enough warm dry clothes so that you can wrap up rather than burn firewood in the evenings.
» If you are going to trek higher than 5000m or you know it will be cold, buy an aluminum water bottle which can also be used as a hot water bottle at night.
» The easiest way to keep hydrated while trekking is to buy a 1 x liter platypus-drinking bladder to carry in your day pack.
» Make sure to buy proper trekking socks. Don’t buy synthetic socks as these promote sweating and can give you blisters. Always carry a few blister pads in your first aid kit and keep them handy in your day pack.
» Walking poles are very useful while trekking and helpful when descending.
» Please remember that waste disposal and recycling facilitates are limited in Nepal. When buying batteries make sure they are rechargeable and/or high quality so they last longer, and take them home to recycle.

More Lists
There is no definitive list. What you bring will vary according to the area, time of year and the length of your trek. Below is a suggested check list which you should adapt to your own needs. Ask yourself: Will there be snow/how long /high is the trek/are we camping?

» Good quality trekking boots with ankle support
» Lightweight shell/raincoat with hood
» Detachable fleece liner or separate fleece
» Fleece trousers
» Shorts and / or convertibles trousers- quick drying
» Sunglasses
» Sun hat and warm hat(good quality)
» Gloves
» Spare T-shirt x 3
» Sweat towel x 2
» Spare socks x 3 ( walking sock and thin inner sock)
» Small day sack
» Sun cream
» Small water bottle aluminum doubles as a hot water bottle.
» Iodine or water purifying kit,
» Soluble vitamin tablets to taste water or powder fruit drink
» Talcum powder
» Walking sticks or Trekking poles(good quality)
» Camp shoes/trainers/flip flops to wear in evening.
» Spare underwear 3
» Toilet kit
» Tissues
» Pen knife
» Bum bag
» Head torch(good quality)
» Biodegradable washing liquid / soap
» FILM
» CAMERA
» Ear plugs
» Sleeping bag liner(good quality)
» Sleeping bag(good quality-30)
» Bin bag/ gasbag to keep kit dry
» Small towel
» Lip balm
» Available in KTM

Personal First Aid (Aids Kit)
» Antiseptic
» Bandages
» Blister plasters
» Decongestant
» AMS medication like Diamox
» Eye drops – it can get very dusty on trails
» Paracetamol and/or ibuprofen
» Rehydration sachets, Imodium and antibiotics for traveler’s diarrhea
» Scissors
» Sterile dressing
» Sticking plasters and tape
» Throat lozenges / sweets
» Tweezers
» A sewing needle etc.

This trekking equipment list has been prepared by Adventure Zambuling Treks (P) Ltd.

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