DAY 01: ARRIVE IN KATHMANDU
When you arrive in Kathmandu, you'll be taken to your hotel. While in Kathmandu you will have time fascinating Buddhist and Hindu temples and shrines reflecting ancient local traditions are highlighted on our guided tour. There's time to explore the city's many charms on your own too. In the evening delicious traditional Nepali well come dinner await for you. O/N in Kathmandu.
DAY 02: KATHMANDU CITY TOUR
After breakfast, we'll visit Swayambhunath temple, and said to be 2000 years stupa on a hillock offers breath-taking view of Kathmandu City. We will then processed to Visit Pasupatinath and Bouddhanath. After lunch we'll visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan (Lalitpur) - which is the oldest of the three major cities in Kathmandu Valley - famous for its Buddhist monuments and Hindu temples, and you can catch the traditional artisans working with wood, stones and metals. O/N in Kathmandu.
DAY 03: KATHMANDU - POKHARA
You have breakfast being of the early morning before 7:00 AM. This morning you will be drive to Pokhara (200km), departure early in the morning, approximately 6 hrs away by tourist bus. You see along the drive good scenery. You will be arrive late afternoon at Pokhara. Pokhara lakeside villages sits, "front row centre" to one of the most beautiful Himalayan panoramas in the world. The Annapurna and famous "Fishtail" mountain peak of Machapuchhare tower over the tropical setting of Pokhara and you spend there will be the scenic highlight of your trip. In the evening you will prepare yourself for your trek to Poon Hill. O/N stay in Pokhara
DAY 04: POKHARA – JOMSOM – KAGBENI
Fly to Jomsom, the district headquarters of Mustang. This is the most interesting town in the area. The spectacular views of Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, Tukuche peak and Dhampus peak will make you buy some extra rolls of film. After breakfast trek along the Kali Gandaki River. Arrive Kagbeni, the entry point of the upper Mustang for overnight stop. O/N in Kagbebni.
DAY 05: KAGBENI - CHELE
There is a trail up the east bank of the Kaligandaki that climbs over many ridges as it heads north and reaches Tangbe village. The town is a labyrinth of narrow alleys amongst whitewashed houses, fields of buckwheat, barley, wheat and apple orchards. Nilgiri peak which dominates the southern skyline at Kagbeni continues to loom massively at the foot of the valley. Beyond Tangbe we reach Chhusang village about 1 1/2 hrs trek, and cross the river from there and continue north climbing up the trail to a huge red chunk of conglomerate that has fallen from the cliff above, forming a tunnel through which the Kaligandaki follows. The trek now leaves the Kali Gandaki valley and climbs steeply up a rocky gully to Chele at 3030 Mt. The culture changes from the Manangi culture to the Tibetan culture of Lo from here.
DAY 06: CHELE – GELING
The climb continues along steep, treeless, waterless terrain, along the side of the spectacular steep canyon to a pass and cairn of rock at 3540 Mt. Then the trail makes a long gradual descent to some chortens on a ridge, then descends further on a pleasant trail to Samar. The Annapurna, still dominated by Nilgiri, is visible far to the south. Climb above Samar to a ridge, then descend into a large gorge and the trail goes into another valley field, crosses a stream and climbs up to a ridge at 3800 Mt. The route climbs over yet another pass, follows a ridge and then descends to Shyangmochen. From there gently climb to a pass at 3770mt and descend to Geling.
DAY 07: GELING – CHARANG
From Geling, the trail climbs gently to the interesting pass on your trek NYI LA and descend below the blue, grey and red cliffs across the valley to a steel bridge across the Tangmar Chu ( river), then climbs past what is perhaps the longest and most spectacular stretch and main wall in Nepal. Climbing over another pass at 3600m, the route makes a long gentle descent to Charang. The huge five–story white Dzong and red Gompa is an interesting visit to observe collections of statues and Thankas as well as many large paintings of seated Buddha’s.
DAY 08: CHARANG – LO MANTHANG
The trail descends about 100 meters down from Charang, crosses the Charang–Chu and climbs steeply up a rocky trail to a cairn on a ridge and continues to climb. Finally from a ridge at 3850 Mt. there is a view of the walled city of LO. After a short descent, cross a stream then climb up into the plateau of LO Manthang.
DAY 09-10-11: LO MANTHANG
There are four major places and several other places like the Tall Champa Lakhang "God house", the red Thugchen Gompa, Chyodi Gompa and the Entrance Hall which are the main attractions of this town. An another attraction is the four–story building of the Raja's Palace as well as the surrounding panoramic views of the Himalaya. Having seen one, you are excited to see the others.
Besides LO Manthang there are two other interesting valleys worth visiting. The western valley Tingkhar, the sight of Raja's summer palace, Kimling and Phuwa as well as the Gompa of Nangyals "The Monastery of Victory " is the newest and most active Gompa in LO. The eastern valley contains Chosar, the site of a High School, Garphu and Nyphu Gompa and is the main trading route to Lhasa.
DAY 12: LO MANTHANG – GHAMI VIA GEKAR
This is an opportunity to visit two other villages on your return trek. The trail climbs steadily to the pass marked by a cairn, offering a last glimpse of LO Manthang. The trail contours past two small ridges and valleys and across a ridge at 4070m then descends across to the south through two more valleys, meadows and a stream. The trail then makes a long rocky descent to Gekar. LO Gekar Gompa is older than Samye Gompa in Tibet and one of the oldest Gompa in Nepal. Then crosses a ridge after a little climbing and drops down steeply to Thamar village. The trail descends along the side of the stone walls and fields of extensive villages, then climbs to a ridge. It is a short descent to Ghami.
DAY 13: GHAMI - SAMAR
From Ghami climb to NYI LA and descend to Samar through the same route.
DAY 14: SAMAR – KAGBENI
Return trek to Kagbeni.
DAY 15: KAGBENI – JOMSOM
Trek back to Jomsom. O/N in Jomsom.
DAY 16: JOMSOM – POKHARA
Fly back to Kathmandu via Pokhara. Kathmandu
DAY 17: KATHMANDU
After breakfast you’re free as your own in Kathmandu. O/N in Kathmandu
DAY 18: DEPARTURE
After breakfast free for you until time to leave the international airport for your final destination. |
The region of Tibetan influence north of Kagbeni Village is generally referred to as Upper Mustang. The ancient Kingdom of Mustang – the capital Lo Manthan was attached to Tibet in the 14th century, Although it retained its identity as an autonomous dynasty throughout the centuries - is a walled city with their own present King – Jigme Prabal Bista and the people still remain predominantly Tibetan. Still somewhat restricted (special permits are required) the trek to Lo Manthan (3730 m) refers to the arid Tibet-like region at the northern end of Kali Gandaki. The trek to Lo Man than is through an almost treeless barren landscape. Strong winds usually howl across the area in the afternoon, generally subsiding at night. Annexed by Nepal in 17 century, but untouched by the outside world or the Chinese Cultural revolution, 14th century monasteries still remain active to preserve this magnificent Trans-Himalayan kingdom, with their unrivalled Buddhist shrines with cliff hanging monasteries, thankas, mandalas and deities and cave dwelling people. In this wild lunar landscape of unreal color and beauty, ruggedly carved mountains reach up to deep blue skies, while icy peaks glimmer majestically to the south. Vast and barren ridges extend to the northern horizon making one feel like an insignificant dot on a timeless landscape.
