Mustang Trek Highlights

• Ancient Tibetan Culture – people live here as they did 300 years ago.
• Entrance to once Forbidden Kingdom of Upper Mustang
• Lo Manthang – Home of the King of Mustang
• View of Caves of Mustang – as featured on National Geographic Channel
• Cultural Immersion trek with local guide.  Our guides explain culture, take you to ceremonies, explain Tibetan practices, and Himalayan way of life.

Lo Manthang, the capital of the former Tibetan Kingdom of Mustang (part of Nepal since the 1950s) is considered one of the best preserved medieval cities in the world.  The quiet streets are unspoiled by cars, lights, or the noises of modern society.  Trekking to this the remote region of Nepal is still restrictive  – permits for Upper Mustang are generally 10 days at a time (permits can be extended for private treks).  Our Nepali (and Mustangi) guides want to take you there! See unspoiled Mustang on this cultural immersion trek.

Our local guide, Karma Samdup (Mustangi), takes you to the place of his birth and shares is special culture with you on this 14 day adventure.    TREKT Himalaya is proud to have Karma as our exclusive guide for Mustang.   He recently lead New York Times correspondent Edward Wong to Lo Manthang for his report titledMyths and Mountains of Nepal. Karma will introduce you to his friends and favorite places while you adventure into a land that time forgot.  He is one of the best guides for the region, and loves sharing his stories with our trekkers.

Education Experience:  The Upper Mustang Trek is a great alternative for travelers who want to experience real Tibetan culture as it was in the past.   The Loba (Lo Pa) people are ethnic Tibetan and practice a form of Buddhism from the Sakya lineage.   There is also a sect of the rare Bon religion here.  The Bon priests practice along with Tibetan lamas at local festival.  For those who are interested in religion, anthropology, Asian studies, mythology, art or antiquity this is a great field study.

Videos of Mustang Region Nepal

Check out this video of a Bon Religion ritual made by a Russian tourist: http://youtu.be/5eaGjDBzaN0

Here is a from the Vanishing Cultures Project about Mustang: http://youtu.be/GJHEwqeViYA

Monks and a horse Upper Mustang Trekking Nepal

Gompa - Monastery Himalaya - Mustang Trek

Tibetan buddhist mantras - Mustang Trek

On the Upper Mustang Trek Nepal, ancient Tibetan culture prevails. These stones are mantras meant to remind the travel to walk the middle path.

Chorten Upper Mustang Trek Nepal

Mustang is steeped in Tibetan buddhism. Trekkers see many chortens, stupas and gompas along this Nepal trek.

Kagbeni, Upper Mustang Nepal

Chorten Upper Mustang Trek Nepal

Mustang is steeped in Tibetan buddhism. Trekkers see many chortens, stupas and gompas along this Nepal trek.

Ancient chortens - Tibetan Buddhism - Himalaya Nepal Trekking

Inclusions

• Guide(s)
• Food
• Lodging
• Permit Fees

Exclusions

• Gratuities (optional)
• Visa Fee at the Airport
• Airfare

Additional Info

• Standard Cancellation Policy: All payments are refundable with a 30-day notice. Any trips cancelled less than 30 days, incur a 100% cancellation fee. (exclude deposit)
• Minimum age is ?? years
• Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
• It is advised that you bring sunblock, insect repellent, sunglasses and water bottle.
• Watch this video to know “How to Pack for Nepal Treks” or this link https://trekthimalaya.com/how-to-pack-for-nepal-treks/

Schedule & Pricing

Best Time for Mustang Trekking:  Summer (March – October) $2850 

 *This trek is limited and we can only guarantee your place once we secure your trekking permit which ensures entry to Upper Mustang. Please book as soon as possible.  We will do our best to accommodate last minute bookings. 

Day 01 – Arrival in Kathmandu
You will be met with a joyful “namaste” by our guides at Kathmandu airport. They will show our office, and help you get checked into your hotel in the Kathmandu’s tourist district of Thamel. There are plenty of restaurants and shops for you to explore for the afternoon/evening.

Day 02 – Trek Prep and sightseeing
Trekkers meet at our office at 9am for trek preparations. This is your chance to make sure you have everything you need for trekking and our chance to finalize any documentation for your trekking permit.

Day 03 – Kathmandu-Pokhara

Day 04 – Pokhara-Kagbeni
After a short morning flight to Jomson, we start our trek to Kagbeni the last settlement in lower Mustang. The Lopa (Lo people) here are ethnic Tibetans, and you get your first taste of a Himalayan culture that is now more ancient and better preserved than that of Tibet.

Day 05 – Kagbeni-Chele (3100 metres; 4-6 hours)
Begin our Upper Mustang trek. This is where we step back into the past and enter the restricted region of Upper Mustang. The old buildings nested along sheer cliff faces stand as a testament to a land that time forgot. At Tangbe you see your first set of the black, red and white chortens that typify Mustang’s unique form of Buddhism. (Most are from the Sakya tradition, although the mysterious Bon religion is also practiced here.)

Day 06 – Chele-Geling (3570 metres; 7-8 hours)

This is the day of the 3 passes; our trek takes us over the mountain passes of Chele La, to the village of Samar (a one time Khampa stronghold as they battled the Chinese to preserve their land). From there it is up and down, through a valley and over another pass, Bhena La at 3850 meters then we continue on to Yamdo La at 4010 meters before descending to the village of Geling.

Day 07 – Geling-Charang (3560 metres; 6-7 hours)
One of the most picturesque days of this trek; we trek past many villages on the southern boundary of the ancient kingdom of Lo. We end at the village of Charang with an amazing view of a monastery perched over the gorge of the Kali Gandaki river.

Day 08 – Charang-Lo Manthang (3700 metres; 4-5 hours)
From Charang we ascend over a ridge before entering the Tholung valley where are journey takes to the arid landscape that we so often see in the photographs of Mustang. It is appropriate, as with all mystic journeys (and stories) there seems to be a descent into a wasteland before the hero enters the blissful realm he is seeking. So, is true with ours as we cross over Lo La at 3950 meters and behold the view of prayer flags flapping in the wind signaling the approach of the walled city of Lo Manthang, summer home of the Raja of Mustang.

Day 09– Day in Lo Manthang

Today we stay in Lo Manthang exploring the splendors of the town with it’s gompas, old shops, and King’s palace. On summer treks the king may be in residence, so look for special activities surrounding the palace. Our Mustangi guides have many friends in Lo Manthang, and this is the day the get a chance to really introduce you to their special culture that is like no other in the Himalaya. Because the Mustang was closed to Western visitors until the 1990s, it does not have as many of the Western trappings as other regions of Nepal. Indeed, Mustang was not even part of Nepal until 1951. It is rumored to be the region of the lost Shangri-La. Enjoy this day in one of the world’s most remote and ancient kingdoms before we begin our walk, heading south again toward Lower Mustang.

Day 10 – 13 Lo Manthang –Jomsom

We spend the next three days heading back to Jomson. We cross the mountain passes of Ghemi La and Nyi La before rejoining the Geling trail. On our final day we go through Kagbeni before returning to Jomsom.

Day 14 Jomsom to Kathmandu

We embark on an early morning ride back to Kathmandu. In the evening we will have our farewell dinner for those who want to join, and a restful night at your hotel.

Day 15 – Kathmandu
Departure from Kathmandu, or on to other activities. TREKT Himalaya and Hardcore Nepal Extreme Adventures offer many day trips from Kathmandu, so if you have a few extra days ask us about “What to do in Kathmandu” – we’re the local experts!