Upper Mustang Trek

Upper Mustang is a sacred area of Nepal’s Mustang District situated in the other hidden side of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himalayan ranges. This area is used to be a Kingdom of Bhote/Thakali community until Nepal is declared a newest secular and Republican Country in 2008. Lo Manthang was the capital of Ex. Mustang Kingdom. Mustang is divided into two parts saying Upper Mustang and Lower Mustang.

The lower part of mustang is open to everyone for normal tour and trekking to Muktinath, Jomsom and Annapurna Circuit. However, Upper Mustang is known as restrict area of trekking. To get a permit to trek Upper Mustang you need to apply for a special permit with the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Home, Immigration department paying minimum of US$ 500.00 per person for 10 days and minimum required 2 persons for a group size.

The area is restricted because the historical and religious monuments and the natural and geographical diversity are supposed to be protected as their importance is more essential for the nation. We  organize several Teahouses and group camping trekking in the Upper Mustang Area which lies in the North West part of Western Region in Nepal. Easiest way beginning from Pokhara-Jomsom by flight or overland Journey by 4wd to Kagbeni.

Upper Mustang trekking can be organized both of Tea house and Camping trek. On a camping trek, We arranges you to sleep in tents. Our staff includes a guide, cook, Sherpa and sufficient porters. Sometimes we use mules to carry all your trekking gears. Even if you have never camped before, there is no need to worry that you won’t enjoy the experience. The tents we provide are roomy, the sleeping pads/mattresses are comfortable and international style food of a high standard freshly prepared and served in the camp. On all of our camping treks, We manages a bathroom tent as well as a dining tent with tables and camp stools, providing a cozy, comfortable atmosphere to eat and chat with fellow trekkers during each evening.

Lo-Manthang

Lo-Manthang was founded in about 1450 by the son of the legendary Ame Pal, who conquered and united the small kingdoms in upper Mustang. The high wall, 300 metre long by 150 meter wide, in an ‘L’ shape, has safeguarded the town from warriors, bandits and fierce winds for hundreds of years and archaeologists say the fact that the wall has not been extended is proof that this community has remained largely unchanged for the last 500 years.

In the town Lo-Manthang, around 1300 people live in about 150 houses, connected by narrow alleyways. Most of the houses are two-storeyed, with the bigger buildings being monasteries or palaces. There are some chortens in front of the main gate, and after these the first building we see is the 40 feet high king’s palace. There are three monasteries in Lo-Manthang, but monks are only resident in the newest, Chode Lhakhang, which is about 200 years old and offers secular as well as Buddhist teachings. The other two monasteries are no longer used, but are looked after by different families, who share the duties of changing the water each morning and lighting the butter-lamps when night falls. Many people here protect their homes from evil spirits by hanging ‘ghost traps’ over their doors.  These are decorated goat skulls with pieces of string knotted around. The landscape around Lo-Manthang is jigsaw-like in its diversity, being composed of valleys, canyons, plains, snow-topped mountains and rivers, with the ancient city as the centerpiece.

Lo Gekar Monastery:

A small creek flows down the other side of the pass and a welcome change, we begin to see grass, flowers and bushes. Soon the monastery of Lo Gekar, one of the oldest and most important in Mustang, appears. It was here that the first of the hidden scriptures of Padmasambhava were discovered (he hid his teachings in many different places in the Himalayas, to ensure that they were safe when the times were dangerous for the survival of Buddhism). In the anteroom of the monastery are tiles depicting Buddha Sakyamuni and Bodhisattwas. The Gonkhang is illuminated by dozens of butter-lamps, which enhance the statues, including images of Padmasambhava and the Yoginis Yeshe Tshogyal and Mandarava. In a small room to the left are more beautiful figures, including a Green Tara.

Tsarang:

The Gompa in Tsarang is a massive structure on a small hill with glaciers visible behind. In former times several hundred monks lived here.  Now there are only about 50, but most are not resident. Though imposing from the outside, the Gompa is running to ruin and many rooms are unusable. There are some fine paintings in the assembly hall, as well as Thangkas and statues. The other main landmark here is the king’s palace, which too has fallen into disrepair, having not been used for half a century. The only two rooms remaining in good condition are the Gonkhang and the chapel, which has some fine statues, including ‘The Three Holies’, figures who played an important part in Mustang’s early history, and Tibetan books. In the Gonkhang, or room of the protectors, above, is a stuffed snow leopard, some old weapons and armor and an infamous severed hand. There are three popular theories about the hand  that it was the hand of a thief (severing the right hand was the typical punishment for a second thieving offence), that a monk offered his hand as a sacrifice, and that it was cut from the architect of the dzong, to prevent him creating a similar building anywhere else !

Outline Itinerary:

Day 01:  Arrival in Kathmandu-Transfer to Hotel.

Day 02:  Kathmandu Sightseeing and Trek Preparation.

Day 03:  Kathmandu to Pokhara overland Journey.

Day 04:  Transfer to airport fly to Jomsom and trek to Kagbeni.

Day 05:  Trekking from Kagbeni to Chaile.

Day 06:  Trekking from Chaile to Shyangboche.

Day 07:  Trekking from Shyangboche to Ghami.

Day 08:  Trekking from Ghami to Tsarang.

Day 09 – 10: Trekking from Tsarang to Lo Manthang and Explore.

Day 11:  Trekking from Lo Manthang to Tamar.

Day 12:  Trekking from Tamar to Shyangboche.

Day 13:  Trekking from Shyangboche to Tetang.

Day 14:  Trekking from Tetang to Muktinath.

Day 15:  Trekking from Muktinath to Jomsom.

Day 16:  Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara transfer to Hotel and Explore Pokhara.

Day 17: Fly or Tourist Bus Journey  from Pokhara to Kathmandu.

Day 18:  Final Departure to your port of Destination.