Upper Mustang Trek

Explore Kagbeni & Old Villages

We will visit Kagbeni located on the bank of Kali Gandaki River at about 2800 m the official gateway to the Upper Mustang. It is a fusion of old Tibet architecture; its narrow alleys, mud-brick dwellings, and red monasteries bring to the fore this aspect of Tibetan architecture. A former vital trading post between Tibet and India, Kagbeni still feels like a museum on stilts because chortens border the lanes, prayer wheels turn in vestibules and carved windows look into centuries-old homes.

The fertile floodplain surrounding the village gives an opportunity to locals to cultivate barley, buckwheat and apples. Other nearby villages like Tangbe, Samar and Dhakmar have the same mediaeval appeal where their homes are white washed with mani stones carved and also they have their own common grain mills. By spending time in these villages we will get a rare glimpse of how people have lived in the region in an unspoilt manner over several decades.

Discover Hidden Sky Caves & Ancient Monastic Sites

One of the most surprising adventures of Mustang will be the revelation of sky caves of Chhoser, cut in the high cliff walls. These caves are five-story caves and more than forty chambers used by people to bury their dead, meditate or seek refuge were constructed. The chambers are directly linked by narrow tunnels and wooden ladders, the ceilings in the soot-blackened rooms, storage rooms and fading paintings also remain.

Archeologists trace some of these caves back to 2,500 years old and have retrieved pottery, manuscripts and human remains. The visit is a touch of a living museum where silence states about devotion and survival. We will see monasteries like Ghar Gompa and Namgyal Gompa on the hills which are waiting to be seen with their deities, ornaments and relics of Mustangs deep spiritual past.

Lo Manthang, the Walled “Forbidden Kingdom”

We will go to Lo Manthang the cultural and historical nucleus of upper Mustang. First established in the 14th century and surrounded by 20-foot-high mud-brick walls, this walled city holds on to ancient practice of the Tibetan Buddhism. It is within its narrow lanes where we will find other monasteries, like Thubchen, Jampa and Chode Gompa that are covered in holy images and relics.

In the middle of the royal palace we may see the houses and courtyards whitewashed where locals perform their daily ritual. Lo Manthang was the seat of Kingdom of Lo until 2008 and it has become a perpetuated example of legacy and piety. If our trip is in the spring, we will observe the three-day festival of Tiji, when the masked dances and rites are the retelling of the legend of Dorje Jono. Strolling through Lo Manthang we will sense the distinctive vibe of a thousand-year-old kingdom breathing in the present.

Spectacular Panoramas of Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri & Annapurna Ranges

Throughout the Upper Mustang trek, we will enjoy breathtaking panoramas of the Himalayas. Wide open vistas across canyons On high passes like Dajori La, and Nyi La, we will view the snow-covered mountains of Nilgiri, Annapurna I, Tukuche and Dhaulagiri set above the drying gorges. This great contrast between hilly landscapes of barren terrain and the mountains of shiny summits makes the landscape to captivate the eyes.

At Dhakmar the red cliffs blaze marvellously in the evening sun rays and the wide plateau in between Lo Manthang stretches into views of a 360 degree Himalayan spread. Even during the trek to the caves of Chhoser one would spot windows cut in the rock and catch a peep into the distance through the touch of the twilight mountains. Such memories will not leave us and we will have best opportunities to take photographs.

Authentic Tibetan-Influenced Culture & Festivals

We can enjoy a culture in Upper Mustang being closely associated with Tibet since the centuries. Once belonging to the Kingdom of Lo and an important trade route connected Nepal and Tibet, the region continues to be driven by ancient traditions of Tibetan Buddhist. Most of them are the descendants of people who have fled their homeland Tibet in 1959 and they like to preserve their cultural norms, clothing, language.

The most popular cultural phenomenon is the Tiji Festival, a three days festival in Lo Manthang in which the monks put on a mask and act out the story of Dorje Jono overcoming his demon father. The festival does not only safeguard the tradition of Mustang but also tightens the relationship within the community as well as the economy.

In addition to festivals, traditions will be witnessed in day to day life-tasting butter tea, watching carpets being made, or prayer wheels being made. In a homestay or a turn of a prayer wheel every communal meal connects us in a relevant manner to the Tibetan past of Mustang.

Encounters with Mustang’s Tibetan Buddhist Way of Life

We will observe how the Tibetan Buddhism is rooted in the life of Upper Mustang. Monasteries play the role of focusing on prayers, education, and heritage safeguarding whereas monks in Lo Manthang perform practices that they have been doing since the past.

Townships are decorated with mani walls which are carved with sacred prayers and the chortens act as landmarks to the spirituality. Tourists tend to do the circumambulation of monasteries or even turning the prayer wheels and are guided by the karmic and compassionate ideology. As visitors we will be able to participate in prayer ceremonies, benefit and pray to lamas and the Buddhist philosophy.

By respectfully observing and joining in when invited, we will be able to experience first hand a spiritual tradition that to the people of Mustang transcends nearly every part of their society.

Experience Silence Like Nowhere Else

We will find silence like no where when trekking the rough locations in Upper Mustang. Large valleys, red-brown hills, and endless skies makes the environment very different to a modern noise. There are no dense forests; no traffic and the few people inhabiting the place mean one only hears sounds of wind, steps through gravel and the cry of goats.

The silence of the ancient Chhoser caves is almost palpable and there is an increased sensitivity to every breath. Even Lo Manthang full of life in and during festivities States a feeling of pensive tranquility. Such loneliness will grant us some reflections and even will allow us to find some space into the peacefulness, an experience as unforgettable as the remarkable scenery of the region.

Tiji Festival: Color, Masks & Sacred Rituals

We will be immersed in color and devotion if our journey coincides with the Tiji Festival,the most colorful event of the year at Lo Manthang then we will be submerged in color and devotion. Then, over the course of three days, monks re-enact the legend in sacred Cham dances, using elaborate masks and costumes, about Dorje Jono who fought his demon father in order to bring peace to Mustang.

Rituals will be the presence of a giant thangka painting, ritual prayer, and rhythm of traditional instruments. The festival does not consist only of a performance but saves ancient traditions, gathers the community, and attracts tourists which benefit the local economy. By being at Tiji we can experience a manifestation of Tibetan Buddhist rite in a place enhanced by the energy of Lo Manthang as the setting of faith and color.

Kagbeni: Gateway Village on the Old Salt Trade Route

We will step back in time as we explore Kagbeni, the historic gateway village to Upper Mustang. The village of Kagbeni is located at the point of confluence between Kali Gandaki and Jhong Rivers; it used to be a trade center where caravans used to pass wool, salt and grain taxes would have been imposed at Kagbeni fortresses. With sacred Buddhist scriptures still resident there, the red monastery was built back in the 15 th century.

It embodies rich soil and grows the barley, buckwheat, and apples as well as gullies with mud-brick homes exemplifying well-maintained Tibetans architecture. The would-be-visit to Kagbeni itself is a interesting way backward into the past, and the preface to the great step onward into the still-prehistoric Forbidden Kingdom.

Is this trip beginner-friendly?

This trek is moderately challenging but achievable for trekkers with good fitness. We walk each day distances of 10-18 km with altitudes of 2,800 m as well as 4,230m. The upper limit of sleeping is 3,810 m, so there is opportunity to acclimatize easily. Although there is no technical climbing, days will be long and the dusty winds can be wearing.

Adequate preparation, hydration, and acclimatization make the trek very rewarding even to the first time high-altitude trekkers. Since permits require at least two people, so we will always have companions on the journey. Travelers with heart or lung conditions  are advised to consult a physician prior to travelling on this trip.

Private Trip vs. Group Joining

There is an option of a group trek or a private trek between them Our customized private Upper Mustang trek package has a higher level of flexibility: we can travel at our own pace, take days off in case of any need and get more of the individual attention of guides. This is a good option to take if you are traveling with family, taking photographs, or traveling leisurely sightseeing.

Group treks, however, are economical and also more sociably-oriented than leaving on our own as we have a large group to share the experience with. Since the Restricted Area Permit demands a number of two, individuals who choose to do solo travel have the option of joining a group trekking. Both variants have the same direction in itinerary and the same services included but due to various reasons (budgetary, safety, company) we can choose which one is preferable.

Trip Extension

We will have opportunities to extend our journey beyond the standard itinerary. And there is the option of several days around Lo Manthang to enjoy Tingkhar village, Namgyal Gompa, and the remotely located Yara and the sacred Luri Gompa cave temple. More adventurous trekkers can join the trek with the Annapurna Circuit or pass over the Thorong La Pass to reach Muktinath.

A third alternative is to make use of a 4WD Jeep tour to Lo Manthang, and trek back out, cutting down days of walking but not omitting the village life experience. Helicopter flights between Lo Manthang and Pokhara also provide breath taking air views of the landscape. Any extensions will be organized with our guide and any additional permits will be acquired.

Solo Trek

Under the government regulations, solo trekking in upper mustang is not allowed. The number of people should be no less than two to get a Restricted Area Permit as it is crucially necessary to be safe and preserve the culture. In case we are an individual traveller, we can get a part of a group departure organised by RAD Global Adventure.

Additional guides and porters will accompany us throughout the trek, but they help to organize logistics, transport luggage, assist with communication. Flexibility is also an option with private trek as the requirements of permits are addressed. When travelling, be sure to bring appropriate permits and stay away of solo expeditions.

Photography and Drone Regulations

We will be in a position to take pictures walking along the trail, however, we should obey local requirement. Photography is occasionally not permitted in some monasteries and caves and in some temples of Lo Manthang. We should not take pictures of monks or the neighborhood people without asking permission. Must apply to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) beforehand and local authorities can deny even with CAAN permit.

To show respect, we must not use drones in the festivals because the sound depends on the ceremony and also the wildlife. One vital activity is not only to carry additional batteries and memory cards but also ensure that we save power carefully since there are not many places to charge the devices.

Cultural Festivals on the Trail

We can get the opportunity to attend certain cultural festivals other than the renowned Tiji Festival. Yartung Festival held in both the places of Kagbeni and Muktinath and the festival involves horse racing and archery and the harvest festivals consist of prayer and enjoyment by communal eating of food along with music. The Tibetan New Year or Losar is filled with rituals and family celebrations.

Most events conform to the lunar calendar and thus they keep on changing with each year. On discussing with our guide we are able to have our trek coincide with a festival. The festivals enhance our cultural experience but we ought also to be ready to encounter more people on the trail and difficulty of securing places during the occasion.

Useful Tips to Visit Nepal first time

We will facilitate our travelling by approaching it carefully. Carry multiple passport-sized photos and carry cash in small Nepali rupees as ATMs are not available beyond Jomsom. Wear layers in order to deal with the chilly morning, strong sun, and windy afternoons. A scarf or a buff will help against dust and refillable water bottle with either purification tablets or a filter is an essential.

Simple phrases such as “Namaste” in Nepali or “Tashi Delek” in Tibetan are important as an expression of acknowledgement of local people. We should take the footwear off before going to a home or monastery, trash should be properly arranged and single use plastics should be avoided. Trekking with licensed guides is both safe and creates a meaningful interaction with the culture.

Typical Daily Routine on the Trek

In the morning we start at 6:30 AM on most days with a hot beverage and breakfast. By 7.30 AM we depart as early as possible when the air is still cool and fresh. We will make a stop after a 3-4 hours walk to have a tasty lunch and relax. The second hiking is going to be shorter and in the afternoon, we would get to the next village in 3 PM.

Afternoons give plenty of time to relax, tea and sometimes its discovery. Dinner will be at around 6 PM after which there will be time to socialize with fellow trekkers or with our hosts. At 9PM, the majority of trekkers will go to rest to continue the trek next day. This practice assists us to adjust, save energy, and acclimatize at ease.

Mental conditioning & Trekking Bang

We will take trekking in Upper Mustang with patience and endurance. High winds and dry air and even the altitude of the region can be a challenge and flight delays or basic accommodation may be a test of patience. By embracing the hours or days it will take, luxuriating in the quiet, and hanging up our smart devices we will find the trek to be highly rewarding.

Stay with the local gathering and keeping ourselves open minded will enable us to explore what the guides and the villagers will teach us. Recognizing both small and minor victories, such as the point where we cross a high pass or enter Lo Manthang will create confidence and happiness. By keeping in mind that this trek is more of a cultural journey as opposed to it being a physical accomplishment, we will have a healthy and fruitful state of mind.