UPPER MUSTANG TREKKING

Day 01:    Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.

On landing at Kathmandu and Nepal international airport received by Himalayan Asuka guide and staff for short drive to your hotel in the centre of Kathmandu city, at the hotel our guide / leader provides briefing on Upper Mustang treks with full information required to make your time in Nepal enjoyable with us.

Day 02:    In Kathmandu with tour around world heritage sites.

A day in Kathmandu to relax after a jet leg of previous day, interested people can join in for interesting tour.
Kathmandu is full of historical and famous religious place listed in world heritage sites, rest of the afternoon free and preparation for Upper Mustang Trek.

Day 03:     Drive/ fly to Pokhara 860 m - 06 hrs (30 mins by air).

Morning an overland journey to reach beautiful city at Pokhara, where drive covers a distance of 220 k.m from Kathmandu heading past many farm villages and towns as drive ends at Pokhara, located Nepal Mid-West.
On arrival in Pokhara transfer to your hotel situate near side of calm Phewa Lake with views of Annapurna and Machhapuchare Himal ‘Fish-Tail’.
(Option by air 30 mins of scenic flight from Kathmandu to land at Pokhara)

Day 04:     Fly to Jomsom 2,715 m (22 mins) trek to Kagbeni 2,807m -04 hrs.

Morning with early breakfast transfer to Pokhara airport for scenic short flight to land at Jomsom where flight takes about 22 mins with panorama of Dhaulagiri-Tukuche-Nilgiri’s with Annapurna and Machhapuchare Himal.
On reaching at Jomsom airport, meet our other group of staff and porters and walk to nearby lodge for short rest and refreshment.
Jomsom a headquarter town of Mustang district located above Kaligandaki River which is on the old Trans-Himalaya Salt and Caravan route to Tibet that extends beyond Upper Mustang.
After rest and refreshment first day begins walking on wide Kaligandaki River valley to reach at Kagbeni, as journey heads further North West for first overnight stop at Kagbeni, an interesting village to observe the local traditional life and culture of strong Tibetan custom.
Kagbeni is the last point where trekkers can walk to, from here onward into restricted areas of Upper Mustang where special permits required.

Day 05:     Trek to Tsuang/ Chusang 2,920 m - 06 hrs.

Morning walk leads to higher country into Upper Mustang, as route leads to slow climb within exposed valley, in between giant eroded canyons and high cliff edge dotted with small caves of various interesting colored mud and rocks.
Walking on gradual path with views of Nilgiri’s-Dhaulagiri and Mustang Himal, on walks with some short rest to catch beautiful surrounding scenery as trek leads further to reach at Chussang / Tsusang for first overnight stop within Upper Mustang.
Chussang also spelled as Tsusang, a nice farm village having few trees of Willow-Juniper and Poplars that surrounds the village, afternoon enjoy visiting around this nice village.

Day 06:     Trek to Samar 3,290 m -06 hrs.

From Chusang morning leads to cross a fast stream within broken and eroded canyons that resembles of a ruin castle or fort like with high cliffs, walk proceeds with fabulous scenery of desert like country. 
After a great walk of an hour then reach at Chele or Tshele village for brief stop and to witness old traditional life, from here walk leads to steep climb for an hour to the top of a ridge at above 3,130 m high rewards you with excellent views of Gyagar across a huge canyon. 
Trek continues on uphill to reach a small scenic pass at 3,540 m, and then gradual descent to Samar for overnight stop in a nice local lodge or guesthouse.

Day 07:     Trek to Ghiling 3,600 m - 06 hrs.

Walk leads with short climb above Samar village to reach a ridge top, and then descend into a gorge past prayer wall and religious monument called as chhorten painted red, black, yellow and white, special colors of Sakyapa sect of Buddhism.
Adventure continues to reach another scenic valley within some vegetation of juniper trees, after crossing stream then walk uphill to a ridge at 3,800 m high, and then climb over another pass, from here downhill to Shyangmochen.
A small settlement with few small tea shops at the height of 3,710 m high, after a pleasant stop continue walk with gentle climb over another smaller pass at 3,770 m to enter a huge valley where descend leads to our overnight stop at Geling a lovely  village surrounded by large field of barley and wheat.

Day 08:     Trek to Charang / Tsarang 3,520 m - 05 hrs.

After nice overnight stop at Geling, morning starts with slow climb past tended fields within centre of a valley, as route leads below Tama Gung settlements and continue long climb across a valley above Nyi La pass at 3,950m.
From the top of the pass offers stunning views of Mustang landscapes includes white snow-capped peaks which is the highest point of the adventure as well the southern border of Lo areas. 
From here downhill to a junction; as walk leads to Tsarang while the other left side of the path leads to Ghami village one of the main major villages within Lo area. 
Walking beneath high hills of grey and red colored cliffs across a valley then cross a steel bridge over Tangmarchu River, as climbs leads past to long interesting stretch of Mani (prayer) wall, one of the longest around Nepal Himalaya. 
From here last and final climb leads to a high pass at 3,600 m high, then descend to Tsarang or Charang for overnight stop, this is a interesting village with maze of fields, willow trees and a huge and high five storied white colored Dzong with Monastery known as Gompa located at the edge of Kali Gandaki River gorge, at Tsarang with own village community electricity system supply.

Day 09:     Trek to Lo Manthang 3,780 m /12,402 ft -05 hrs

From here head to our main highlight and major destination to enter into former walled kingdom Lo Manthang, morning starts with short downhill to cross Charangchu River, and then with steep climb to a ridge past Tholung valley. 
Our route diverts towards north and climb to a place with a large chhorten, that marks the boundary between Tsarang and Lo areas, climb follows to a stream and then reaching a great wide windswept valley.
At the top with height above 3,850 m high facing views of walled kingdom of Lo-Manthang, a short descend leads to a stream that outlines walled town/ village, a short climb leads to the southern wall of Lo Manthang town or a large village. 
On entering former forbidden kingdom of Lo Manthang, takes you back into medvial time era, at Lo-Manthang transfer into a nice local lodge or guesthouses with time to browse its alley and narrow streets with many shops and stores.

Day 10:     At Lo Manthang rest day with local excursion.

Rest day to visit and explore around Lo-Manthang, this place once was a former capital of Lo (Upper Mustang area), a large settlement with more than 150 houses includes number of resident quarters for priest, monks and lamas, which also has a closely packed palace and monasteries located at the bottom section around vertical part of L shaped houses. 
School, health post, police post and several important chhorten are located outside the walls to the north of the gate and east of monastic areas of this large village. 
Despite apparent residential area of Lo Manthang, the village is well-off and maintains strong sense of community, here the native call themselves as Lobas, means people of Lo.
The local with strong Tibetan Buddhism religion and similar culture, where the economy started with strong trade with Tibet where all salt and wool trade within Kali Gandaki passed through Lo-Manthang and this brought a substantial amount of economy to this great village town. 
The Mustang raja's palace stands an imposing 4 storey building in the centre of the city. It is the home of the former Raja (king), Jigme Parbal Bista, and the Rani (queen), who is from the noble family of Lhasa and Shigatse in Tibet.
At Lo-Manthang tour of famous monasteries Namgyal Gompa, Champa Lakhang (God House), Red Thubchen Gompa, Chyodi Gompa and the great Entrance Hall with special permission to visit palace interior.

Day 11:     Trek to Ghami 3,440 m - 06 hrs.

After an enjoyable time at Lo-Manthang, depart from former kingdom start with descend and with few short climb all the way to Ghami.
As morning leads outside the walled Lo-Manthang route leads to a steady climb to a pass offering last glimpse of Lo-Manthang, walk from here on is more or less on gradual with downhill slopes most of the way to Ghami village for overnight stop, Ghami another important village of Upper Mustang region.

Day 12:     Trek to Samar 3,150 m-05 hrs.

Trek follows on same route towards Nyi La, climb to a ridge and then contouring upwards and then reaching a trail of Tsarang. 
From the top steep descend to Geling Valley, and then continue by-passing Geling to a lone teahouse and then downhill to a small settlement of Tama Gung. 
A steep switchbacks trail to a stream; as trail climbs to a large painted chhorten and then on straightforward route to our overnight stop at Samar.

Day 13:     Trek to Kagbeni -05 hrs and transfer to lodge.

Our route from Samar leads downhill on same path for few hour past Chele village to reach at Mustang Khola, from here walk leads on gradual path in between great canyons and eroded high cliffs to reach back at Kagbeni for last overnight within Upper Mustang.

Day 14:    Trek to Jomsom 2,715 m and transfer to lodge -04 hrs.

After walk and adventure around Upper Mustang, today with pleasant morning walk to reach Kaligandaki valley with views of Mt. Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri’s peaks.
A nice scenic walks leads to Jomsom, home to indigenous Thakali tribes of Kaligandaki Valley. Afternoon free at Jomsom after checking into a nice lodge, walks and explore Thakali town, an interesting place to witness local culture and the area around famous for delicious apples and products, a nice town for overnight stop at Jomsom to end our wonderful walks.

Day 15:    Fly to Pokhara 22 mins and transfer to hotel by the lake Phewa.

Morning short walk to Jomsom airport and then board in small aircraft either in Twin Otter / Dornier or similar type as plane lifts above Kaligandaki River Valley enjoy scenic views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna range of mountains. Stunning mountain views lasts till it lands at beautiful Pokhara, after a most enjoyable and scenic time on high valley and hills of Annapurna mountain range.

Day 16:    Drive / Fly to Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.

After pleasant stop at scenic Pokhara, morning taking an overland journey in a car or coach depending upon group size, where drive leads on scenic country observe Nepalese farm life around villages and towns then reaching into hustle and bustle city life of Kathmandu.

Day 17:    International Departure Homeward bound.

Last day in the country of high Himalaya and with great memory of exciting experience on Upper Mustang Trekking, and then transfer to Kathmandu / Nepal international airport for on ward flight to respective destinations or homeward bound.