Trip Overview
Upper Mustang trek begins from Jomsom after taking a picturesque flight from Pokhara, leading us to the hidden Shangri-La of the ancient Buddhist kingdom of Mustang, also called Lo. Lo used to be part of the Tibetan empire, and is therefore closely connected to Tibet. Tibetan Buddhism is still being practiced in a very pure form and villages are built in Tibetan style, with white-washed houses with firewood tucked on the roofs. Until recently, you could only come to Upper Mustang Trek with a fully planned camping trip. However, these days some villagers have opened up small guesthouses/teahouses and you can stay in a guesthouse for each overnight stay. While staying there, you are welcome to sit with them in the kitchen. In Tibetan culture, the kitchen is the center of the house and is built like a kind of living room. So there is no better way to learn a bit about daily life than spending time in the kitchen!
Not just the culture and tradition but also the landscape, are very much related to Tibet. Mustang lies in the rain shadow of the Dhaulagiri and you walk in a completely deserted landscape, surrounded by rocks in all kinds of colors and bizarre formations. In this barren landscape, the villages with their bright-colored fields are like oases. The trail follows the salt caravan route of the old days, during which the people of Mustang traded Tibetan salt with grain from the lowlands of Nepal. The theme of the Upper Mustang trek is the capital of Upper Mustang, Lo Manthang. Lo Manthang is a medieval old town, surrounded by a huge town wall. From the Lo La pass (3950 m), you can see the town shimmering in the distance in the barren landscape. Entering Lo Manthang through the town gate, you enter a different world. It is just astonishing to wander through the narrow alleys. On several corners of the street, you can find small groups of women spinning wool and discussing the news of the day.
At the end of the afternoon, big herds of goats are being let through the city gate and the narrow alleys, back to their sheds, which are inside the town. In Lo Manthang, you can find the palace of the king, a huge 4-story-high building. When the king is at home, you can even visit him sometimes. The king doesn’t have any real power anymore but is, of course, still highly respected by his people. Besides, there are a few beautiful big monasteries, for example, the Thugchen Gompa, built in the 15th century. Or visit the Amchi Museum and Amchi School. An amchi is a traditional Tibetan doctor. 2 amchis living in Lo Mangtang, are also the official doctors of the king. They founded a school to preserve this ancient wisdom. Also interesting is a ride by horse to Chhoser, where you can visit a small monastery and a century-old cave dwelling, situated high in the rocks.
History of Mustang
Once, Upper Mustang was a self-governing kingdom, though closely related by language and culture to Tibet. From 1500 AD to 1700 AD, its strategic location granted Mustang control over the trade between the Himalayas and India. At the end of the 18th century, the kingdom was invaded by Nepal. Though still recognized by many Mustang residents, the monarchy ceased to exist on October 7, 2008, by order of the Government of Nepal. The last official and current unofficial king is Jigme Dorje Palbar Bista (born circa 1933), who traces his lineage directly back to Ame Pal, the warrior who founded this Buddhist kingdom in A. D 1380. Ame Pal oversaw the founding and building of much of the Lo and Mustang capital of Lo Manthang, a walled city surprisingly little changed in appearance from that period. In 2007, a shepherd in Mustang discovered a collection of 55 cave paintings depicting the life of the Buddha.
Geography
Mustang is situated in the Trans-Himalayan part of Nepal, is under rain shadow and is a mountain desert. Many people called it "Mini Tibet" in Nepal. The main hydrographic feature of Mustang is the Kali Gandaki River. The river runs southward towards Nepal Terai, bisecting the Mustang. Routes paralleling the river once served as a major trade route between Tibet and India, particularly for salt. Part of the river valley in the southern Mustang District forms, by some measures, the deepest gorge in the world. Traditional Mustang (the Lo Kingdom) is 53 km north-south at its longest, 60 km east-west at its widest ranges, from a low point of 2750 m above sea level on the Kali Gandaki River just north of Kagbeni to 6700 m at Khamjung Himal, a peak in southeast Mustang.
Demography
The population of the whole Mustang District in 2001 was 14,981, spread between three towns and roughly thirty smaller settlements. The people are either Thakalis, Gurung or, in traditional Mustang, primarily Tibetan. Most of the population of Mustang lives near the Kali Gandaki River, 2800–3900 m above sea level. The tough conditions cause a large winter migration into lower parts of Nepal to escape the winter cold. The administrative center of Mustang District is at Jomsom (eight kilometers south of Kagbeni), which has had an airport since 1962 and has become the main tourist entry point since Mustang was opened to western tourism in 1992.
How much does the Upper Mustang Trekking permit cost?
Foreign visitors have been allowed to travel to the region since 1992, but tourism to Upper Mustang is regulated. Foreigners need to obtain a special permit to enter, costing USD 50 per day per person. Most tourists travel by foot over largely the same trade route used in the 15th century. Over a thousand western trekkers now visit each year, with over 2,000 in 2008. August to October is the best month to visit. On August 27, 2010, local youth leaders in Mustang threatened to bar tourists beginning October 1, 2010, due to the refusal of the Nepalese government to provide any of the USD 50 per day fee to the local economy. Visitation, however, continued uninterrupted beyond that date. Mustang is rich in Tibetan Buddhist culture, similar to the area of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It is an alternate way to experience the Tibetan culture and scenery to the tours provided by the Chinese government. The Tiji festival in Lo-Manthang is another popular destination for tourists in the area seeking to experience the native culture. The first foreign visitor to Mustang was Toni Hagen, a Swiss traveler and geologist, who visited the Kingdom in 1952 during one of his travels across the Himalayas. Frenchman Michel Peissel is considered the first Westerner to stay in Lo Manthang, during the first authorized exploration of Mustang in 1964.
How to get to Upper Mustang?
Most trekkers fly from Pokhara to Jomsom and simply begin their tour. Many airlines fly to Jomsom from Pokhara every day (U$123.00 for one flight) and it takes approximately 25 minutes to reach Jomsom. You can enjoy a fantastic view of a wide range of Annapurna Himalayas while flying. Local buses and sharing jeeps to Jomsom or even beyond are available from Pokhara. Flight is much more comfortable and faster than riding tiring local vehicles in dusty and unsealed road. However, it depends on your time frame and interest. If you can allow the time, you can start the trek from Nayapul via Ghorepani Poon Hill, Tatopani, Gasa, Kalopani, Larjung, Marpha and Jomsom, then to Upper Mustang, which will make you physically much fitter and better acclimatized. That will take an additional 6-7 days to get to Jomsom.
Itinerary of Upper Mustang Trek
The Upper Mustang Trek Itinerary will be 10 to 16 days long, depending on your time frame, plus you will have to add transportation days in the duration. From Kagbeni the restricted area of Upper Mustang starts. The trail goes northward and brings you in 4 to 6 days to Lo Manthang. You cross pass after pass, which are all between 3,500 and 4,000 m. You can return partly by a different way via Dhakmar, crossing 2 passes of around 4,200 m. Close to Dhakmar, you can find the oldest Tibetan monastery in the world, the Lo Gekar Monastery. The Monastery was built in the 8th century by the famous Tibetan magician Guru Rinpoche. He had to kill a powerful demon first and the blood of the demon painted the rocks around Dhakmar bright red.
Upper Mustang Circuit or Alternative Route via Yara, Luri Gompa and Muktinath
Most of the trekkers prefer a circuit route to returning the same way. No problem! You could do this alternative route on the west side but there is no lodge or village between Tangge and Tetang. Many trekkers start the day early from Tangge with a packed lunch. It takes about 9–10 hours, depending on the level of fitness and stamina you have. Rivers may affect the trail during monsoon time (July – Mid-September) as it gets bigger due to snow melt. Mostly at Dhyee, you will have to take the shoes off and cross the river as of our last trek. This route is challenging but anyone with a trekking and walking passion can do it, and the landscape and scenery are just brilliant. Please check with us for more information during your trip booking.
Day 01: Pokhara - Jomsom - Kagbeni (2,858m/9,375ft) 3-4 hrs.
Day 02: Kagbeni - Chele (3050m/10,004ft) 5-hour walk.
Day 03: Chele - Syanbochen (3475 m/11,398 ft): 6-7 hours walk.
Day 04: Syanbochen - Ghami (3520m/11,546ft) 5-hour walk.
Day 05: Ghami - Charang (3500 m/11,480 f) 4-5 hour walk.
Day 06: Charang - Lo Manthang (3700m/12,136ft) 5-hour walk.
Day 07: Explore Lo Manthang or visit Chhoser Valley
Day 08: Trek to Yara (3600 m), 6 hours. After the Luri Gompa excursion, if you are not exhausted,.
Day 09: Trek to Tangge (3300 m), 6-7 hours.
Day 10: Trek to Tetang (3310 m), around 9 hours. A packed lunch required for this day.
Day 11: Trek to Muktinath (3800 m), 8-hour walk.
Day 12: Trek to Jomsom (2700 m)
Day 1: Fly to Pokhara.
Upper Mustang Trek Permit and Trip Cost
As per state law, except for Nepalese nationals, anyone entering to Upper Mustang must have a restricted area trekking permit that can be attained through an authorized registered local trekking agency in Kathmandu, Nepal. The upper Mustang permit costs USD 500 per person and is valid for 10 days; each additional day costs USD 50 extra. Plus, you will need an ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) permit, which costs NPR 3000 (about USD 30 ) per person. Visitors must trek with a government-registered trekking guide. Wilderness Excursion offers a special Upper Mustang Tour Package 2017 for our valued clients. For further details, please kindly e-mail us and send your requirements.
Your Financial Protection
Wilderness Excursion realizes that financial security is a consideration when choosing a trekking company to book a holiday property through. We hold a License with the Authority to operate adventure activities under the supervision of the Nepali Government. We are a fully bonded Adventure operator authorized by the Nepal Government, Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, Nepal Tourism Board, Industry Department, Company Registration Office, Nepal National Bank, and the Taxation Office. We are also affiliated with several prestigious regulating bodies, such as NATTA, NMA, TAAN, and KEEP, with whom we have a bond. We know that the last thing you want to worry about when you’re planning your trip of a lifetime is whether your money is in safe hands. As a leading Adventure provider, it’s our job to make sure your finances are secure, so when you book with us, you can be confident that we will do just that. To ensure that you have complete peace of mind, Wilderness Excursion is an authorized adventure travel agency. Please kindly check our legal documents if you have any doubt. Upper Mustang Trek group will join 2024 and 2025.
