Short Upper Mustang Trek

After having breakfast in the morning today, we drive to Pokhara. It takes around 7 hours to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu by bus. You can also take the flight which take about 30 minutes and in the remaining time, take your time to explore the Pokhara city and Lakeside. We stay overnight at a guesthouse in Pokhara.

Our guide assists you to transfer for Pokhara Airport to fly for Jomsom. This scenic adventurous flight takes about 20-25 minutes passing through the world’s deepest George presenting spectacular mountain views of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna Ranges and Fishtail with several famous peaks within the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri area from its both sides. The airstrip is in Jomsom, the main village in the Kali Gandaki valley. Jomsom is the beginning point of our trek. After landing here we start our trek toward Kagbeni which takes about 3-4 hours walk. Kagbeni is also the check point for entrance to restricted Upper Mustang Trekking. We can enjoy the majestic view of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri and Tukuche peak while walking the trail in the opposite direction.

At the Police Check Post at the north end of Kagbeni Village, you have to clear the formalities to enter the Upper Mustang area. The trail continues the east bank of the Kaligandaki that climbs over many ridges as it heads north. You can see Gompa Kang & some caves on the west bank of the river. The village of Tangbe is situated alongside the east bank trail above the river at an elevation of 2930m. Nilgiri Peak, which dominated the southern skyline at Kagbeni continues to loom massively at the foot of the valley. Chhuksang village is about hours a half beyond Tangbe at the confluence of the arshang Khola and the Kaligandaki 2920m elevation. Continue north; wither wading the river or climbing. The trek now leaves the Kaligandaki Valley and climbs steeply up a rocky gully to and Chele at 3030m.

The climb from Chele is up a steep spur to a cairn at 3130m. Here there is a view of the village of Gyagar across a huge canyon. You will see some Chortens on a ridge, then descends further on a pleasant trail to Samar (3290m). The Annapurna Himal, still dominated by Nilgiri, is visible far to the south. Shyangmochen is the lunch place for today. The trail climbs gently from Shyangmochen to a pass at 3770m & enters another huge east-west valley. There is a trail junction, take the right fork and descend to Geling with its extensive fields of barley at 3600m.

From Geling, the trail climbs gently through fields up the center of the valley, passing below the settlement of Tama Gung and an Chorten. It rejoins the direct trail and then becomes an unrelenting climb across the head of the valley to the Nyi La pass at 3950m, the highest point reached on the trek. The descent from the Nyi La is gentle; the valley to a steel bridge across the Tangmar Chu then climbs past what is perhaps the longest and most spectacular stretch of mani wall in Nepal. Climbing over another pass at 3600m, the route makes long gentle descent to Charang at 3520m.

The trail descend about 100m from Charang crosses the Charang Chu and climbs steeply up a rocky trail to cairn on a ridge opposite the valley at 3580m, then enter the Tholung valley. The trails turn north and climb gently as the valley climbs to a large isolated chorten that marks the boundary between Charang and Lo. Still climbing, the trail crosses a stream, and then becomes a grand wide through fare traveling across a desert like landscape painted in every hue of gray and yellow. Cross a stream, then climb up onto the plateau of Lo Manthang. In Lo Manthang the Raja´s palace is an imposing 4-story building in the center of the city. It is the home of the present Raja, Jigme Parbal Bista and the queen who is from an aristocratic family of Lhasa. The Raja is an active horse men and keeps a stable of the best horses in Lo. He also breeds Lhasa Apso dogs and several monstrous Tibetan Mastiffs that can be hear barking angrily on the second story of the palace. We enjoy the festival in the afternoon upon arrival.

Today the trail climbs steadily to a pass marked by a cairn, offering a last glimpse of Lo Manthang. The trail contours across the head of a valley and crosses another ridge, then drop into another large desolate valley. After ascending to the valley floor, the route heads to the right, up the center of the valley to it head. Cross a ridge at 4070 meters & traverses across the heads of two more valleys to an indistinct pass. Cross the pass to some meadows & a stream. The trail then makes a long rocky descent down a ravine to a grassy valley where LO Geker is situated in a grove of large trees alongside a stream. We will walk further to reach Dhakmar for our overnight stay. O/N in Dhakmar.

A large stream meanders through this village, making this a particularly pretty valley. Most of the surrounding hills are pastel shades of Grey & yellow, but a huge red fluted cliff provides a dramatic contrast. The trail descends alongside the stone walls and fields of the extensive village, After 05 hours gentle walking we will reach to place called syangmoche.

From Syangmoche, Trek back to chusang for 5 hours.

Chhuksang to Jomsom [2700/8,856ft]: 6-7 hrsToday is the same way that you already had. The trail passes through villages like Tangbe. After Tangbe the trail still continues through the bank of Kaligandaki River as well as the windy landscapes & reaches to Kagbeni and to Jomsom.

Early morning fly back to Pokhara and half say sightseeing of Pokhara. Overnight at Pokhara.

Drive back to Pokhara through the same route.

Free until departure. Fly back to home.