Arrival
at Kathmandu airport, pick up by our correspondent and transfer to the hotel.
(At the foot of the Himalayas, where they assure that their gods live, Nepal
stands, a land of spectacular landscapes, temples and cities with a rich
cultural heritage. These seem to transfer the travellers to medieval times on
their walks through KATHMANDU, BHAKTAPUR and PATAN, the three urban cities that
represent the backbone of the country. Stay overnight at hotel.
This day we will have to prepare Special Restricted
Area permit from Department of Immigration (DOI). We will have to show the
original passport having VISA of each client to issue the permit. While permit
is being issued clients can have free day for sightseeing in Kathmandu. Clients
can visit different Buddhsit stupas like: Swoyambhu (monkey temple) and
Boudhanath. Also they can visit Pashupatinath (holy Hindu temple) and Kathmandu
Durbar Square (heritage site). Stay overnight at hotel.
After breakfast transfer to
airport. Early morning fly to Pokhara by flight in 25 minutes. After
arrival in airport, clients will be taken to the hotel and can have rest for a
while. After that we can do sightseeing in some famous places and landmarks of
Pokhara such as (Gupteshore cave, David fall, Seti gorge, Pokhara
International Mountaineering Museum, Bindubasini Temple and Tibeten Refuse
Camp). Stay overnight at hotel.
Early morning we will take flight from Pokhara
to Jomsom. It takes about 20 minutes to reach Jomsom (2710m). After
landing on Jomsom airport, we will take rest for a while in Jomsom hotel.
Jomsom is the main gateway to Upper Mustang and headquarter of Mustang
district. We can mostly see the local residents known as Thakali (one of the
ethnic groups of Nepal) and the bazars (shops) in Jomsom. Also, we can see the
spectacular view of Dhaulagiri (8167 m) and Nilgiri (7061 m.). We will start
the trek to Kagbeni by walking straight trial along the bankside of Kaligandaki
river. After walking for about 2 hours, we will reach Ekle Batti. Then after walking
for about 1 hour, we will reach Kagbeni (2800m). Kagbeni is one of the famous Hindu
religious sites where people come for Pitri- Moksastala (soul peace) ritual. In the evening we will
visit Kagchode Thubten Sampheling Gompa which lies since 1429 A.D. and enjoy historic
Kagbeni village. Kagbeni village is one of the beautiful, ancient village with
small and awes trucking alleys where people are still living there. Overnight at lodge in Kagbeni.
After having breakfast in lodge, we will head
towards Chhuksang village via Tangbe. From Kagbeni, the restricted area begins
to enter Upper Mustang. We will still be walking through the bank of Kali
Gandaki River alongside the majestic view of Nilgiri (7061 m) and Tukuche (6920
m) himalaya. After walking about 3 hours from Kagbeni, passign through Kalobhir
and climbing the cliff we will reach Tangbe village. It is a small and
wonderful town with typical Gurung village of Mustang having narrow lanes and white
washed houses. We can see fields of buckwheat, barley and apple orchards while
passing by. After exploring Tangbe village, we will head towards Chhuksang
village. We will walk through the dry areas of Mustang first uphill and then
downhill for about 1 and half hours to reach Chhuksang village. It is a small
village, located at the junction of Kali Gandaki Rivers. Overnight at lodge in Chhuksang.
After having breakfast in Chhuksang, we will head
towards Samar. After walking about 2 and half hours, crossing the steel bridge
of Kali Gandaki River, called the Mustang Khola and crossing a recently built bridge to
the town of Chele, which is a clean town located on a hill that allows us to
see all the movements of the valley and its people. and climbing the hill we will reach Chele (Tsaile).
On the way we can see the mesmerizing views of red cloured cliffs, sky caves
and we can start to see the change in ethnic groups, and get to see the Tibetan
influence. The trial continues up until we reach a plateau from where we can
see the walled town of Gyagar village. After walking another 1 and half hour we
will reach typical village of Upper Mustang, Samar. It is a beautiful typical
village of Upper Mustang situated nearby the villages, Bhena and Ghyakar. Overnight
at lodge in Samar.
After having breakfast, we will head towards Geling
which takes about 4 hours. We have two ways to do this trek; one is
via Bhena & Yamda la and other is via Rangchung cave monastery. We will
trek through the second options as we can explore Chungsi cave and is quite
shorter route than first one. At first
it is a steep descent that will take us into a canyon that will seem to us that
we are in another world, here we will find sacred caves venerated by the
inhabitants of the area, especially a Stalactite-shaped Chorten. We will
continue the path through another spectacular canyon to Shyangbochen (3,700 m)
where it joins the main path. After crossing another pass of 3,860 meters we
will go down to Geling. Overnight at
lodge in Geling.
After
having breakfast in Geling we will visit Geling Monastery and then head towards
Dhakmar via Ghami village (3520 m) whcih takes about 5 hours. The
road will ascend to 4,395 meters and then descend to the village of Ghami. We
can see many sky caves nearby the cliff of Ghami village. We can explore this
beautiful Ghami village where we can see Tibetan Buddhist people, culture and
tradition. Then after we will pass through the suspension bridge over Ghami
Khola and reach Dhakmar. Dhakmar is a beautiful typical village of Mustang,
where we can see large red cliffs. Overnight
at lodge in Dhakmar.
After having breakfast in Dhakmar, we will head
towards Charang via Lo Gekar monastery which takes about 7 hours. After walking
the ascending trials we will reach Lo Gekar monastery. This monastery was built
in 11th century and is one of the religious monastery decorated with the prayer
flags and Chortens. After praying and visiting here we will head towards one of
the largest town of Upper Mustang, Tsarang (old capital). This is a beautiful
village will many Chortens (stupas) and has one of the ancient Tsarang
monastery. Overnight at lodge in Tsarang.
After having breakfast in
Tsarang, we will head towards Lo Manthang which takes about 4 to 5 hours. This is one of the adventurous walk with the
cultural lushness, natural beauty and mesmerizing landscape of Upper Mustang. As we leave Tsarang we will pass through
a turbine that gives electricity to the city, several mills and a large
Chorten. We will walk through a dry valley that will become greener; we will
reach a Lo La pass at 3950 m full of prayer flags. We can see the amazing view
of Lo Manthang village and Mount Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. From here a gentle
walk will take us to the walls of Lo Manthang, capital of the kingdom of the
Mustang. Overnight at lodge in Lo
Manthang.
Today will be free day for
exploration of Lo Manthang, city of walls. This is the ancient place where Ame
Pal came from during 1380 A.D. and started his kindgom. The village is covered
by wall, so it is called walled city of Upper Mustang. Lo Manthang is
culturally rich with Tibetan origin and ethnic groups known as Lhobas.
We can explore around the
monastery, walled city, Chhoser cave, Garphu, Namgyal and
Thinggar Gompas, Chortens, Buddhist places around Lo
Manthang. Also, we can visit the Royal Palace, explore beautiful settlement of
Tibetan Buddhist people here with the amazing view of landscape whcih is
similar to Tibet. Overnight at lodge in Lo Manthang.
After breakfast in Lo
Manthang we will descend towards Dhie whcih takes about 4 hours. We will cross the pass over Lo Manthang
again. The path will continue up the Mustang Valley. Along the way we will see
the town of Dhie, and the steep descent will end in a lunar atmosphere. Overnight at
lodge in Dhie.
After
breakfast in Dhie, we will descend towards Tange which takes about 6 hours. The
trail begins by going down to Ghechang Khola and then ascend upto 3,800 meters
before heading back down to the camp near Tange. Visit this remote town with
amazing architecture, especially its wonderful Chortens (stupas). Overnight at lodge in Tange.
After breakfast in Tange we
will head towards Tetang which takes about 7 hours. Today will be the long day
of trek as we will walk through the zigzag road at first adn then flat Mustang
road. Later we will have to ascend the steep until we reach 4100 m. As Tange
village gradually disappears we will be reaching Tetang. This day will be one
of the long and tiring day during the trek. Overnight at lodge in Tetang.
After breakfast in Tetang we will head
towards Muktinath whcih will take about 6 hours. Today we will ascend towards
Gyu La Pass (4077 m) and after crossing gteh pass we will reach Muktinath. In Muktinath there are 108
taps where it is believed to purify the soul of human beings. This is one
of the most important pilgrimage sights for Hindus, it is also
home for many ethnics Tibetans and holy Buddhists. Overnight at lodge in
Muktinath.
After breakfast in
Muktinath, we will walk towards Jomsom via Jharkot. Muktinath is also parto f
Annapurna trekking as travellers come to Muktinath after doing Thorang La Pass
of Annapurna Circuit. After 30 minutes
of walk from Muktinath, we will visit Jharkot whcih is an ancient village of
Mustang where we can see old Tibetan House settlement and visit one of the anceint gompa named, Jharkot Gompa.
Thenafter we head towards Jomsom. Overnight at lodge in Jomsom.
(Note: We can also
take 2/3 hours vehicle ride to reach Jomsom from Muktinath.)
We will take early morning flight from Jomsom to
Pokhara which is of 20 minutes or we can hire private jeep to reach Pokhara
which takes about 8 / 9 hours. Overnight at hotel in Pokhara.
(Note: If clients want to shorten the itinerary,
then it is possible to take same day flight from Jomsom – Pokhara – Kathmandu
as well.)
We can fly back / drive to Kathmandu from Pokhara
to Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel.
We will have free day in Kathmandu for shopping /
sightseeing or any other activities preferred by clients. Overnight at hotel.
Enjoy
your last day on Kathmandu before departure. At your mentioned departure time
our correspondent will pick you up from hotel and transfer to airport and
depart you with warm hearts.