 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 practised 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 successful, 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 historically 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.
|
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
03-20 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 |
Chhuksang (2,980 m).
|
|
Day
06 |
Day
4: Samar (3,620 m).
|
|
Day
07 |
Day
5: Gelung (3,570 m). |
|
Day
08 |
ascent a 4,000 m pass, Nyi La. Arriving at Ghami
(3,510 m) is interesting - it is a very large village,
all whitewashed houses and blue, ochre and grey views,
surrounded by enormous tracts of fields and with a
remarkable gomba.
|
|
Day
09 |
Tsarang (3,560 m). .
|
|
Day
10 |
A Lo
Manthang (3,900 m).
|
|
Day
11-12 |
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 adn 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. |
|
Day
12 |
Lo
Gekar (4,000 m), near which is a large monastery in a
tranwuil gorve.
|
|
Day
13 |
Ghami
(3,510 m).
|
|
Day
14 |
Samar
(3,620 m).
|
|
Day
15 |
Tangbe (3,060 m), . |
|
Day
16 |
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). |
|
Day
17 |
Spend
the day exploring Kagbeni, which lies at the
confluence of two streams. Wander through its 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
18 |
Climb
down to Eklaibhatti, and up along the shale and rock
ridge to approach Jomosom (2,713 m). |
|
Day
19 |
Take
the heart-stopping flight out of Jomoson to Pokhara,
for a day and night spent relaxing by the lake. |
|
Day
20 |
On
the bus to Kathmandu. |
|
Day
21 |
Free day
in Kathmandu for shopping.
night at hotel . |
|
Day
22 |
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.
|
