Mustang, the hidden kingdom...

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  France - Kathmandu

  

  Flight to Kathmandu. Accommodation: plane (meals on board). Meals included: on board.

• day 2

  Kathmandu

  

  Welcome at Kathmandu airport by our team, then transfer and check-in at the hotel. Briefing by your guide and final preparations for the trek. Rest of the day free in Kathmandu for a first immersion in the city of the famous pagoda-roofed temples. Meals are free in the city. Transfer: private vehicle, about 1 hour. Accommodation: hotel***. Note: For some time now, the "luggage porters" have been putting pressure at the exit of Kathmandu airport; they are becoming more and more insistent, even with our guides. The "normal" tip for this "service" is 100 Rps (1€) per person.

• day 3

  Kathmandu - Pokhara (880 m)

  

  Transfer to Kathmandu airport for the flight to Pokhara. Located on the shores of Lake Phewa, Pokhara offers a magnificent view of the gigantic peaks of Macchapuchare (6997 m), Annapurna III (7555 m), and Annapurna IV (7525 m). Its lively streets will be an opportunity for last-minute shopping before heading to Mustang. Meals not included. Transfer: plane, 35 minutes. Accommodation: hotel***. Included meals: morning. Meals not included: lunch - dinner.

• day 4

  Pokhara - Jomosom - Kagbeni (2800 m)

  

  Morning transfer to Pokhara airport for the flight to Jomosom. From Jomosom, we take a vehicle to reach, via the newly created track along the Kali Gandaki river, where many marine fossils abound, the very beautiful fortified village of Kagbeni with Tibetan architecture, which closes off the Mustang valley. Transfer: plane, about 25 minutes, then private vehicle to Kagbeni, about 1 hour. Accommodation: lodge. Meals included: morning - noon - evening.

• day 5

  Kagbeni - Tangbe - Chuksang - Chele (3,075 m) - Samar (3,640 m)

  

  Today we are taking a jeep to reach Samar. Indeed, for this stage, there is no other alternative than to walk on the trail. We have therefore opted for a jeep transfer. Leaving the village, we pass the check-post and show our permits for Upper Mustang. We leave Lower Mustang and pass through the village of Tangbe. Along the stream, we continue our route to the village of Chuksang, located opposite a huge cliff carved with many caves... Still along the Kali Gandaki, called Mustang Khola here, we cross a bridge on foot to change vehicles, which will take us, via the trail, to the village of Chele where we will discover vertical manis, which is unusual. We cross a pass at 3,500 m, from where the view of the snow-capped mountains is magnificent; then descend to the village of Samar, which is an important caravan stop. Samar, in Tibetan, means "red earth." Discovery of the village wooded with willows and poplars, surrounded by barley and wheat fields, with, as a backdrop, the peaks of Nilgiri (7,134 m) and Tilicho (7,161 m) towering above us. Transfer: private vehicle, about 3 hours. Walking time: about 1 hour. Ascent: +200 m. Descent: -200 m. Accommodation: lodge. Meals included: morning - noon - evening.

• day 6

  Samar - Syangboche (3800 m) - Geling (3570 m)

  

  Departure on foot along the trail that follows the riverbed, then climbs up on a balcony facing the Nilgiri and the Annapurna range. Among a few alpine pastures where shepherds settle in the summer, we quickly plunge into a superb canyon with steep walls and visit along the way a sacred cave where many pilgrims come to pray. We arrive at the tiny white village of Syangboche, with its flat roofs, clustered tightly together. We continue to climb until we reach a pass at 3850 m, then descend towards Geling, which we enter by following a red ochre mani wall. Geling is vast; its fields, widely irrigated, are protected by a long dry stone wall. A superb monastery, dating from the 1400s, preceded by a pretty chorten, dominates Geling... Visit of the monastery. Walking time: about 6 hours. Positive elevation gain: + 750 m. Negative elevation loss: - 820 m. Accommodation: lodge. Meals included: morning - noon - evening.

• day 7

  Geling - Col Nya La (4,010 m) - Ghami (3,510 m) - Dhakmar (3,800 m)

  

  Through the pastures of Geling, a good trail climbs up to the Nya La pass (3990 m); the view is clear over the Annapurnas. The descent then takes place in a deep gorge with sculpted walls, followed by a traverse along the slope that brings us to the small Ghami pass, which opens up the view over the village of the same name. The white houses, with windows framed by brightly painted woodwork, the chortens and prayer wheels make Ghami a very pretty village overlooking its beautifully laid out fields. After lunch, a walk is possible to discover the longest mani wall in Mustang. We then leave Ghami by the path that leads us to another small pass; from there, we discover the extraordinary red ochre cliffs that close the horizon and overlook Dhakmar. As usual, a few chortens mark the entrance to the village. Walking time: about 5 hours 30 minutes. Ascent: + 850 m. Descent: - 500 m. Accommodation: lodge. Meals included: morning - noon - evening.

• day 8

  Dhakmar - Muy La (4170 m) - Ghar Gompa (3665 m) - Ghar La (4200 m) - Lo Manthang (3810 m)

  

  Among the earth penitents, the trail winds up to the first Muy La pass, then crosses a beautiful plateau to the real Muy La pass (4170 m). It then follows a balcony path and winds through the alpine pastures where goats and yaks graze, then passes the monastery (which we will visit) of Ghar Gompa, very lively and decorated with beautiful frescoes. Then descent into the thalweg, followed by a gradual ascent to Ghar La (4200 m), accompanied by the song of a small stream. From the first pass, we traverse along the slope to go around the valley and thus reach the second Ghar La pass at 4280 meters. In a landscape of magnificent colored hills, ranging from white to red ochre with all shades of yellow, all crowned by snow-capped peaks, we reach Lo Manthang, the fortified capital of the ancient and mythical Kingdom of Lo. Walking time: about 7 hours. Ascent: + 900 m. Descent: - 830 m. Accommodation: lodge. Meals included: morning - noon - evening.

• day 9

  Lo Manthang (3820 m)

  There are many walks around Lo Manthang, among the barley, mustard, and buckwheat fields. Stroll through the small narrow streets of this town, meeting the locals chatting in the square of the royal palace, coming back from the fields or bringing in the herds. Ancient monasteries, housing very beautiful paintings and magnificent mandalas, are worth a visit. An optional excursion is possible to Choser, towards Tibet, with its caves and its monastery half built into the cliff. In this case, we will have to rent horses to make the round trip in a day. Accommodation: lodge. Meals included: morning - noon - evening.

• day 10

  Lo Manthang - Col Lo La (3,950 m) - Dhi Gaon (3,880 m) - Yara (3,650 m)

  

  We cross the pass above Lo Manthang again. The path branches off into the adjacent valley of the Mustang Khola, then a magnificent balcony trail, with a splendid view of the high peaks of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, leads us to a small pass at around 4000 m altitude. Then we descend to the village of Dhi Gaon by a steep path that ends in a lunar landscape, between immense earth pinnacles. Magnificent viewpoint over the village and the river. Then we climb back up for a good hour in the bed of the Puyun Khola river, dominated by cliffs carved with ancient troglodyte dwellings forming a true 7-storey city. The trail becomes steeper and we arrive at the small hamlet of Yara, with its houses tightly packed together. Walking time: about 5 to 6 hours. Positive elevation gain: + 680 m. Negative elevation loss: - 800 m. Accommodation: lodge. Meals included: morning - noon - evening.

• day 11

  Yara - Luri Gompa - Yara (3400 m)

  

  Passing at the foot of a troglodyte city seventeen stories high and arrival at Luri Gompa, a monastery carved into the fairy chimneys. Discovery of its 15th-century Buddhist frescoes and the magnificent "stupa." Return to the village of Yara. Walking time: about 4 to 5 hours. Ascent: +400 m. Descent: -400 m. Accommodation: lodge. Meals included: morning - noon - evening.

• day 12

  Yara - Tangye (3,220 m)

  Long ascent up to a pass (3700 m); then descent towards the Dhe Khola river... The landscapes are very desert-like, but oh how grandiose! After crossing a second pass at 3900 m, descent towards the village of Tangye (3320 m), remarkable for its alignment of chörtens. Walking time: about 6 to 7 hours. Positive elevation gain: + 915 m. Negative elevation loss: - 1100 m. Accommodation: lodge. Meals included: morning - noon - evening.

• day 13

  Tangye - Tetang (3100 m) - Chuksang (3020 m)

  

  Without a doubt, the most beautiful day of the whole trek (but also the longest)… Crossing the Paha pass at 4100 m with superb landscapes all over the Mustang region… Striking contrasts between the red cliffs of Mustang and the snowy, rocky lands of Annapurna (8091 m) and Dhaulagiri (8167 m)… Along old salt mines, arrival at the unusual village of Tetang (3100 m), with its tall houses like real fortresses. We will continue to Chuksang to spend the night there. Walking time: about 8 to 9 hours. Ascent: +990 m. Descent: -1400 m. Accommodation: lodge. Meals included: morning - noon - evening.

• day 14

  Chuksang - Muktinath (3760 m) via the Gyu La pass (4077 m)

  

  Ascent to the Gyu La pass (4077 m), along a river topped by high cliffs, then descent towards Muktinath (3810 m) passing Buddhist sanctuaries, temples, pagodas, and sacred springs where a natural gas flame burns! Superb views of the summits of Dhaulagiri (8167 m), Tilicho Peak (7134 m), and Nilgiri (7061 m). Walking time: about 8 hours 30 minutes. Positive elevation gain: + 1200 m. Negative elevation gain: - 500 m. Accommodation: lodge. Meals included: morning - noon - evening.

• day 15

  Muktinath - Lupra (2790 m) - Jomosom (2710 m)

  We continue the descent through arid landscapes, opening onto the Tibetan plateaus to the north and, to the south, onto the scenery of high snow-capped mountains: here is the Nilgiri and, above all, the impressive pyramid of Dhaulagiri. A short climb leads to a pass (4000 m) from where the view of Dhaulagiri is exceptional. We then descend towards Lupra, the only "Bön" village on our route. The "Bön" religion is the Tibetan religion that predated Buddhism. Walking time: about 5 to 6 hours. Negative elevation gain: -1050 m. Accommodation: lodge. Meals included: morning - noon - evening.

• day 16

  Jomosom - Pokhara - Kathmandu

  

  Transfer to Jomosom airport for a first flight to Pokhara, then directly for a second flight to Kathmandu. Free meals in Kathmandu, rest of the day free to rest or start visiting the city. Transfer: plane, about 1 hour. Accommodation: hotel***. Meals included: morning. Meals not included: lunch - dinner.

• day 17

  Kathmandu

  

  Accompanied by a French-speaking Nepalese guide, you will set out to discover the Kathmandu Valley. Visit Bhaktapur, often considered the most extraordinary "museum-city" in the entire Kathmandu Valley. The finest examples of civil or religious architecture can be seen around vast squares spread across different districts. Every alley, every corner, preserves delicately carved brick and wood buildings, characteristic of Nepalese art. Next, visit Bodhnath, where a monumental stupa (a hemispherical-shaped building), the largest in Nepal, stands. The top of its dome is surmounted by a quadrangular tower, each side of which bears a pair of Buddha's eyes; many monks of Tibetan origin live nearby. Lunch is free, traditional dinner in the evening in a typical Nepalese restaurant. Accommodation: hotel***. Meals included: morning - evening. Meals not included: lunch.

• day 18

  Kathmandu - France

  Free time in Kathmandu, if flight schedules allow, to do your last shopping or to continue visiting the capital and its surroundings. Then transfer to Kathmandu airport for the return flight to France. Meals not included. Accommodation: plane (meals on board). Included meals: morning.

• day 19

  France

  Arrival in France.