 The
restricted area of Upper Mustang looks like Tibet, and
its people live like Tibetans. The landscape here has
the lunar quality of the trans-Himalaya, with no
trees, dramatic ochre cliffs, biting blue skies, and
fierce winds that pick up during the day. The
distinctive buildings with their grey, white, ochre
and yellow stripes (all natural rock pigments) are a
legacy of the Sakya school of Buddhism practiced here,
and the packed earth, sun-baked bricks, and large
boulders are brought together to form remarkably
sophisticated structures such as the walled capital
city of Lo Manthang with its high palace. Upper
Mustang has always had a considerable amount of
autonomy, even as it has at various points accepted
the suzerainity of Tibet and Nepal. The Lobas, as
inhabitants of this area (locally known as 'Lo') are
called, have for centuries been successul, urbane
international traders. Upper Mustang is also notable
for having some of the largest Tibetan Buddhist
monasteries in Nepal, which house exceptional artwork.
And finally, Upper Mustang is hisorically interesting
for another reason too - the fearsome Khampa warriors
from Tibet, many trained and armed by the CIA, chose
this area as the staging post for their activities
against the Chinese in Tibet in the 1960s.
NB: This trek differs from number 3 above in
that we walk faster and have different stops - this
means that you need a cheaper 10-day permit for this
restricted area, rather than the 13-day one required
for the longer Upper Mustang trek.
|
Day |
Program |
|
Day 01 |
You will be picked up by
our representative from airport and transfer to
the hotel. |
|
Day 02 |
Free day
in Kathmandu, night at hotel.
Sightseeing /excursion/Himalayan flight available
on request. |
|
Day
03-17 trek as per program given below
; |
|
Day 03 |
On
the bus from Kathmanu to Pokhara. |
|
Day
04 |
A
spectacular early morning flight to Jomosom (2,713 m),
Kagbeni (2,804 m). |
|
Day
05 |
Chele
(3,100 m).
|
|
Day
06 |
to
Gelung (3,570 m). |
|
Day
07 |
Tsarang (3,560 m). Here are willow trees, buckwheat
fields, a gomba, stone-covered paths and a massive
dzong, or fortess.
|
|
Day
08 |
A
ridge walk complete with cairns through spectacular
high-altitude desert scenery brings you to the
stunning plateau of Lo Manthang (3,900 m). Find the
only entrance to the city, a gate set into the wall
that surrounds it. |
|
Day
09-10 |
Day
tripping and rest are scheduled for these days. There
are falling-down wood and stone temples with stunning
frescoes and thangka, active monasteries with regular
prayers. There are fine horses and the apsos and
mastiffs the king of Lo breeds. There is the town
itself, with its intricate system of canals running
under the walls and through the fields, and its
distinctive houses - the ground floor used for storage
and stables, the first floor for kitchen, living, and
sleeping spaces, and the roof, accessible by a notched
log, for the storage of firewood and juniper branches
for incense. The villages around Lo Manthang can be
easily visited on horseback; you can see the king's
summer palace, a large monastery perched commandingly
atop a windsept ridge, and the centuries-old,
still-active trade route into Tibet, part of which is
now being made into a full-fledged road. Make sure to
dismount in front of the city gate, though - only the
king may ride a horse within the walls of Lo Manthang. |
|
|
|
|
Return
Option A: |
|
Day
11 |
Ghami
(3,510 m). |
|
Day
12 |
Samar
(3,620 m).
|
|
Day
13 |
Chhuksang (2,980 m). |
|
Day
14 |
A
shorter day than you are accustomed to by now brings
you back to the border between Upper and Lower
Mustang, Kagbeni (2,804 m), where are winding packed
mud passages, traditional passages, the stone paths
that run through it, and the notable gomba that looks
down on the whole village. |
|
Day
15 |
Climb
down to Eklaibhatti |
|
Day
16 |
Take
the heart-stopping flight out of Jomoson to Pokhara,
for a day and night spent relaxing by the lake. |
|
Day
17 |
On
the bus to Kathmandu. |
|
|
|
|
Return
Option B: |
|
Day
11 |
Walk
off the beaten path to Surkhang (3,700 m) through more
wondrous high-altitude desert landscape - all blue,
ochre, yellow and grey. |
|
Day
12 |
The
back route to Tange (3,510 m) runs parallel to the
main trail, but feels so much rather away, and you and
nature commune alone. |
|
Day
13 |
Follow the blissfully lonely path to Tetang (3,100 m),
an oasis-like village east of Chhuksang. |
|
Day
14 |
This
long, uninhabited trail over a high pass provides a
spectacular view of the Kali Gandaki Valley, Watch out
for a shale and scree slope, as well as a lovely high
meadow. Crossing a steel suspension bridge to enter
Muktinath (3,800 m), the willow and poplar trees will
appear like balm to your eyes after all the desert
landscape, as will the shady grove in which the temple
is set. |
|
Day
15 |
Walk
past the lovely orchards and ruined fort at Jharkot,
and then continue walking along the valley floor with
occasional scrambles up to avoid fording the cold
water, and ever-strengthening gusts of wind to reach
Jomosom (2,713 m), the major transit point that has an
airport, banks, a museum, and an army encampment. |
|
Day
16 |
Take
the heart-stopping flight out of Jomoson to Pokhara,
for a day and night spent relaxing by the lake. |
|
Day
17 |
On
the bus to Kathmandu. |
|
|
|
|
Day
18 |
Free day
in Kathmandu for shopping.
night at hotel . |
|
Day
19 |
Airport transfer or back
to home. |
Cost
on your request
Cost quoted in itineraries includes:
ü
Airport-hotel transfer at arrival and departure
ü
Domestic land and air transport as described in
itinerary Pokhara-Jomsom-Pokhara US $ 160 per person
ü
Four nights 2 stars accommodation in Kathmandu
with breakfast Hotel UTSE or Similar.
All trekking and conservation area and national park
permit fees, also the permit fees for the Restricted
Areas of Upper Dolpo (US$500/ 10 days)
For Camping or Tented Trek
ü
All meals, camping gear (except sleeping bags) such as
tents, kitchen equipment etc, salaries and insurance
for guides, sherpas, cooks, porters (who will carry 15
kilos of personal belongings per person) etc during
tented treks.
ü
Re-confirmation of flight
Cost
quoted does not include:
ü
Your international flight into and out of Nepal
ü
Travel insurance
ü
Domestic and international airport taxes
ü
Lunch, dinner, drinks in Kathmandu (US$6-15 per day)
ü
Tips, souvenirs or other shopping
Note: The full details of the program day
by day itinerary,
will be provided on your request.
We do
organize any program with different option.
|
