Mustang Trekking

Mustang is by far Nepal’s most restricted trekking area. It was only opened to foreigners in 1992 and has been strictly regulated ever since. Mustang is in the North west area of Nepal that is part of the Tibetan plateau. This area has long been inhabited by Tibetan Buddhists and no where else in Nepal can such rich , untouched culture be found. Trekkers are not common here which is why this trek provides such a rare and up close look at a society that has remained unaffected by change for centuries. Unfortunately there is a high price to pay have such an experience. Permits are seven hundred dollars per person for 10 days and 910$ for 13 days. The starting and ending point for all treks in Mustang is Jomsom which can only be reached by plane. 

Trekking in Mustang is truly one of the rarest and most rewarding experience in all Nepal.

Length of trek 14 days (4 days travelling) - 17 days (4 days travelling) Average hiking per day 4 –5 maximum elevation reached 4070 m.

Itinerary Outline:

Day 01 Kathmandu to Pokhara by Air or tourist bus.

Day 02 Fly to Jomsom and trek to Kagbeni

Day 03 Kagbeni - Chele: 7 hours 2800 m - 3050 m 18 km.
Almost immediately the path climbs quite steeply up into a jumble quillies and small towers, zigzagging to a viewpoint over Kagbeni with Nilgiri providing a duzzling white fluted backdrop , from the Kagbeni checkpost. The trail keeps to the east bank of Kali Gandaki river, climbing and descending . when we start from Kagbeni , first we meet the tanbe village . It is the lunch after 4 hours.

It is also the Mongolian village where the all villagers Gurung. From Tanbe the trail again climbs to a high point around 3100 m . The trail then drops steeply and undulates along the east bank of Kali Gandaki for 1 1/2 hours to the village of Chhuksang , from Chhuksang we can see the Chele and in Chhuksang there is a small cave Gumba. If we want to see the Gumba we have to pay 100 RS. per person.

After a short walk along the river bed, there is a solid bridge across the Kali Gandaki at the point where it tunnels . Its way under a vast block of red sandstone, from here it is a short sharp climb to Chele 3 hours walk after lunch.

Day 04 Chele - Eklobhatte 6 hours 3050m - 3820 m 13 hours
Immediately on leaving Chele , the path climbs steeply up to a plateau region through a small tunnel like gully , climbing more, gradually , the village of Ghyakar appears to the west as the path rounds a corner.

The view South offers a panorama of Nilgiri , Tilicho peak and Yakawa Kang. The peak that dominates the Thorongla Pass on the Annapurna circuit. To the far east the range of the Damodar Danda show peaks is visible. From the pass it is a short descent to Samar, a pleasant settlement in a grove of willows with good running water in irrigation channels . We get Samar village after 3 hours from Chele . It is the lunch place.

After leaving Samar the trails dives steeply for about 70 m into a deep side canyon . Inevitably it is a short steep climb out and after a brief respite it dives again into another side canyon . This second climb is steeper and longer. After about 2 hours walk from Samar, the trail reaches 3750 m and descends slightly to the first tea house. The second tea houses can be seen in the distance , but once more the trails dives into another steep canyon and it will take a further hour to reach it. This place is known as EkloBhatte . This is our camping place.

Day 05 Eklo Bhatte - Ghami
From camp the trail climbs gently to a small pass at 3870m with views directly below into deep eroded canyons where is the one beautiful cave monastery.

About 1 1/4 hours from camp, is the tea shop of Syangmochen, another possible camp area.

After gentle climb levels out to a Chorten (3700m. 2 hours) and the first view of Geling villages below (3500m.)

From here the path descends gradually into another less severe qully and climbs out to a collection of houses for lunch after 2 1/2 hours. Geling would be a good camping spot, with a monastery, Chorten and fairly extensive flat fields.

From the lunch spot the trail continues round above Geling and starts the long climb to the Nyi pass at 3950m . A long descent , out of the wind, takes we down more steeply to Ghami 3520m. 11/2 hours from lunch.

Day 06 Ghami - Tsarang 6 hours 3520 m- 3500m 11 km.
From the Gompa in Ghami two tracks level down into a qully east of the village, one steeply past a trio of red, black and white chortens that are a common sight in upper Mustang . At the bottom of the qully are two bridges across the river, there is a direct path to this point not visiting Ghami . The trail climbs onto a gently sloping plateau and passes beside a very long mani wall, about 1/2 hour, from Ghami , from the end of the wall, the trail heads east away from a very dramatic red eroded canyon wall towering above the village of Tramar in the distance, climbing steadily an altitude of 3770m is reached after about 2 hours from Ghami . The descent to Tsarang is mostly gentle and completed in a further 2 hours.

Day 07 Tsarang - Lo-Manthang 5 hours 3500 m - 3700 m. 13 km.
The trail leaves Tsarang to the northwest and once clear of the village drops steeply into the Tsarang Chu canyon . After crossing the river, the route is initially very steep up a stony trach. As we round the corner and heads north , a fine view of the great white Himalayan peaks of Nilgiri, Tilicho and Annapurna I behind Brikuti peak is visible to the south east, the trail climbs gently along the west side of a side valley to an isolated chorten at 3620 m. 2 hours from Tsarang.

A further hour takes we to 3700 m with some spectacular caves high up in the cliffs to the east. Having climbed to around 3850 m. a pass is reached and through a narrow ‘ window ‘ at the Summit the view ahead opens out to display the western valley of Lo-manthang. The bright red and grey monastery of Namgyal sits on top of a pro monastery, with the wide valley surrounding Tingkar (the site of the King’s Summer palace) and Phewa villages behind Just down from the pass is the first dramatic view of the walled city of Lo-manthang and the ancient ruined forts on the chills behind. There is a tremendous view to the east of the red, blue, grey, white and yellow eroded Mustang Khola canyon, to the north lie the flattish red colored hills and the Tibetan border.

The western view is dominated by the snow-capped peak of ‘Manaslu‘.

The descent to Lo-manthang is short and after crossing the small river and climbing briefly the fabled city is finally reached.

Day 08 Rest at Lomangthang.

Day 09 Lomanthang and eastern valleys, Nyphu, Ghaphu 5-6 hours round trip.

Day 10 Lomanthang and western valley, Namgyal, Tingkar 4 - 5 hours, round trip

Day 11 Lomanthang - Surkhang / Yara Gang (Village) 4-5 hours.

Day 12 Surkhang - Lori Gumba (Monastery) -Yara Gang / 4-5 hours (4000m) and back to Surkhang.

Day 13 Surkhang - Tange Height - 3500 - 3240 m
Time - 4 hours
Distance - 10 km

Day 14 Tange - Tetang Height - 3240 - 2940 m
Time - 30 hours +
Distance - 10 km

Day 15 Tetang - Muktinath Height - 2940 - 3800 m
Time - 6 hours

Day 16 Muktinath - Jomsom Time - 5 hours
Height - 3600 m - 2700 m.

Day 17 Jomsom – Pokhara - Kathmandu.

Cost: Please contact us.
Minimum Group size: 4
Season: March - December
Grading: 4 
Departure date: as per your convenience.

Included:

• Daily itinerary as described,
• all inclusive camping or lodge trek with English speaking guide and porters,
• all meals on trek, tea,
• all fees and land transportation,
• coffee and boiled water,
• camping gear such as twin sharing tent,
• mattress,
• toilet tent, dinning/kitchen tent,
• necessary staff.

Not Included:

• Bottled beverages,
• tips,
• items of a personal nature,
• delay due to weather,
• equipment failure or situations beyond our control.

Note: If you would like to hire horse for the trip will cost you US $ 15.00 per day per person.

For More Information: info@ecotrek.com.np