Mustang & Lo Manthang Trek with South Col

April 16th to May 1st 2015

This trek covers one of the last Shangri-la’s in the Himalaya. A lost kingdom bordering Tibet which has a regulated entry of not more than three thousand visitors per year with magnificent monasteries, frescoes, palaces and a way of life which would soon vanish forever.Sculpted canyons and fantastic rock formations, medieval villages, ruined fortresses, royal palaces, unexplored Neolithic cave complexes, Tibetan Buddhist gompas and snow-peaks characterize this spectacular region, a thumb sticking up into the Tibetan plateau.Upper Mustang and its walled capital, Lo Manthang, is a remote and starkly beautiful region, home to Buddhism as well as the remnants of the older, mystical Bon religion   For  more details  and cost please email sujoyrdas@gmail.com. 

Day 01 Arrive Kathmandu

Day 02 Process Permit as original passport and Nepal visa needed

Day 03 Kathmandu to Pokhara

We take the micro bus from from Kathmandu to Pokhara. The rest of the day is spent in Pokhara relaxing and preparing for our departure the next day.

 Day 04 Pokhara to Jomsom (2760m) by flight and walk to Kagbeni. In case flight is cancelled we will take a jeep to Jomsom. 

 Day 05 Kagbeni to Chele (3100m) 430 m ascent and 170 m descent 4 to 5 hours

We take a jeep in the morning from Jomsom for Kagbeni and then walk to Chele. The trail leaves Kagbeni and climbs to a ridge with a chorten. After several more ups and downs the trail enters the village of Tangbe (3060m). From Tangbe it is an hour to Chuksang (2980m). Across the Kali Gandaki from Chuksang there are some spectacular looking red and ochre coloured cliffs. After some more ups and downs the trail leaves the Kali Gandaki and climbs to Chele.  

Day 06 Chele to Syangmochen (3800m) (6 to 7 hours)

From Chele there is a long and relentless slog to the pass of Chele La (3630m). From the pass there is a long and mild descent to Samar (3600m). From Samar the trail climbs to the Bhena La ( 3830m). From the Bhena La there is yet another climb to the Yamdo La (4010m) from where the trail drops to the village of Syangmochen. This is a hard day’s walking.

 Day 07 Syangmochen to Ghemi (3510m) (5 to 6 hours)

From Shyangmochen the path descends to the village of Gelling (3570m). From Gelling there is another climb to the pass of Nyi La (4020m) which marks the southern boundary of the kingdom of Lo. The trail then drops steeply to the village of Ghemi.

 Day 08 Ghemi to Tsarang (3575m) (4 to 5 hours)

The trail drops from Ghemi crosses a bridge and then passes what is the most spectacular mani wall in Mustang. It then climbs to Choya La (3870m) and descends to the village of Tsarang.

Day 09 Tsarang to Lo Manthang 450 m ascent 200 m descent (3840m) 

The path descends about 125m, crosses a stream and enters the Tholung valley. It then climbs gradually to a ridge and a large chorten. From here the trail leads to the Lho La (3950m) from where it drops to the walled city of Lo Manthang

 Day 10, 11 and 12   Lo Manthang 

We spend three days  in and around Lo Manthang exploring the walled city, the monasteries, the palace, frescoes and other sights.

Day 13 – one buffer day on the trek to be utilized as needed

Day 14  Jeep from Lo Manthang to Chuksang and then down to Kagbeni and Jomsom for the night

Day 15  Jomsom to Pokhara by flight

Day 16 Pokhara to Kathmandu by flight.

For more links and information on Mustang do visit:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/04/mustang_nepals_former_kingdom.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyOfx_P9vsk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3FpzL5JyoI