Upper Mustang Trekking journey lies in the ancient Trans Himalaya Caravan and Salt Trade Route. The trek starts from Pokhara towards the Upper Mustang and beyond. It goes across to the Karo-La Pass on the Nepal / Tibet frontiers.
It is an interesting adventure that is beyond your imagination. The trekking trail takes you to a picturesque country.This region is a photogenic place and a favorite among photographers. You get to witness amazing landscapes of dry and windblown terrain. As well as the views of the snow-capped mountain range.
The Upper Mustang is an extension of a wide and large Tibetan plateau. It is a rain shadow region where monsoon clouds are blocked by the Himalayan chain of peaks. It receives less precipitation and the moisture is absent in the atmosphere. This makes the terrain dry and arid, yet very beautiful.
The Upper Mustang Trekking Adventure begins with an exciting drive or a flight. It first reaches you to the scenic city of Pokhara. It lies in the Midwest region of Nepal. It finds itself sitting pretty on the laps of massive Annapurna Himalayas. Alongside the towering Machhapuchare, Himal is the famous and magnificent FishTail peak. The reflection of high snow mountains touches Lake Fewa and Begnas. This awe-inspiring marvel makes Pokhara one of the most attractive and charming places. These kinds of occurrences only happen here and are one of the best.
A short scenic flight from Pokhara reaches you to the town of Mustang District at Jomsom. This is the important hub of indigenous Thakali people. These people occupy the region of the Kali-Gandaki River Valley.
The route takes you further westward following the river bed of Kali-Gandaki. You can witness exciting views of the Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri Peaks. As you move on you reach an interesting old Kagbeni village. This village here forms the boundary of theUpper and Lower Mustang .
After Kagbeni you will be making pleasant stops at intervals. This gives you a chance to observe the impressive traditional farm life of the locals. Their way of life is almost the same as Tibetan culture. It has a strong Buddhism and Bon religions influence. From here the route enters the Upper Mustang. and towards the ancient former Kingdom Lo at Lo-Manthang.
You will be walking into a dry and barren country. It is enclosed within great eroded walls of canyons and towering cliffs. This reflects various dramatic colors making the walk more exciting and interesting.
As the adventure progresses you will be visiting nice lovely villages. These villages are adorned and enriched with religious monuments. All along the way, you will find Stupas, prayer walls, and long rows of spinning wheels. These chimes if you happen to rotate with Buddhist prayer chanting ‘Om Mani Padma Hum’.
Taking a walk within the villages you can witness green agricultural fields. It consists of barley and buckwheat which is their main staple diet. These fields make a great contrast with the dry and red barren landscapes. As you move on, the breathtaking views of the Mustang terrain with white-snow peaks is splendid.
At last this scenic and cultural journey enters into the walled kingdom of Lo-Manthang. You get to enjoy marvelous moments within this old medieval town. A great chance to see the medieval ancient fort / Dzong and palace of former Raja the King of Mustang.
Further the tour takes you around interesting old sites and monasteries. You then take an alternative route on your return journey. This offers extra wonderful views of the Upper Mustang. You can sense this while walking into nice cultural villages to end the walks back at Jomsom.
From Jomsom you will be catching an early morning short flight. While flying you get to see the panoramic views of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna range.After sometime you will land in the charming city in Pokhara.This marks the end of your journey giving you the best experience on Upper Mustang Trekking.