A representative from Himalaya Trekking Team will welcome you at Tribhuvan International Airport upon your arrival and transfer you to your hotel.

After a short briefing with your guides, we complete the necessary procedures to obtain your trekking permit. Kathmandu is then all yours to explore.

Early in the morning, we take a tourist bus to Pokhara [884m], a 200-kilometre journey along a very scenic route. If you prefer, you can fly instead. Your guide will transfer you to your Lakeside hotel. You will then have the rest of the day to relax and explore Nepal’s second largest town, wandering along the shores of Phewa Lake and absorbing magnificent views of the entire Annapurna range, Manaslu [8156m], Machhapuchhare [6993m] and Dhaulagiri [8167m].

Driving: 7-8 hours / Flight time: 20 minutes.
Overnight at hotel.

Early in the morning, we take a 25-minute scenic flight to Jomsom [2720m], Mustang's administrative headquarters. In Jomsom, we have breakfast and begin our trek, walking on slowly rising, sometimes windy paths along the Kali Gandaki River, past the small settlement of Ekle Bhatti [2740m] and all the way to Kagbeni [2800m]. Lying at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Jhong Khola, Kagbeni was originally surrounded by a defensive wall. Two female and male clay khenis or ghost eaters, remains of ancient Bön traditions, still guard its gates at each end of the village. Kagbeni is also home to an impressive Buddhist monastery and the ruined Kag Khar fort, which once housed 108 rooms.

Flight time: 25 minutes.
Trekking: 3 hours.
Overnight at trekking lodge.

At the northern end of the village, a police checkpost marks the beginning of the restricted area. We have our special permits stamped and take our very first steps into the Kingdom of Mustang, climbing along the east bank of the Kali Gandaki until we reach the village of Chhuksang [3050m], with spectacular views of red organ-pipe eroded cliffs and inaccessible caves. After crossing the river, we head towards a huge red chunk of conglomerate that has fallen from the cliffs above, forming a tunnel through which the Kali Gandaki flows. We keep on going, leaving the Kali Gandaki Valley, and climb steeply up a rocky gully to Chele [3100m].

Trekking: 5-6 hours.

We continue our trek and climb through plateaus and narrow stretches to the Taklam La [3624m], with breathtaking views of Tilicho Peak [7132m] and Yakawa Kang [6482m]. After crossing the Dajori La [3630m], we descend slowly to the village of Samar [3620m] where we have lunch. We then climb above Samar to another ridge before descending steeply to a stream. A further 3-hour walk through similar up-and-down terrain, across the Bhena La [3830m] and Beg La [3840m], takes us to Syangboche [3850m]. Or, from Samar, we can also take an alternative route through amazing canyons to visit the famous Ranchung Cave, also known as Chungsi Cave, where Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated. A single monk now cares for this holy site, reached via a steep 10-minute climb above the Syangboche Khola.

Trekking: 6-7 hours.

After breakfast, we start our trek with an uphill walk to the Syangboche La [3850m]. Passing typical Tibetan villages, houses and imposing chortens painted in red, yellow, black and white, we climb to the highest point of our trek thus far, the Nyi La [4020m], and descend steeply to the village of Ghami [3510m] where we break for lunch. The trail then drops to the Ghami Khola. We cross it and continue uphill past a spectacular 305-metre-long mani wall, one of the longest in Nepal, to the Choya La [3870m]. Here we begin a pleasant, gentle descent to Charang [3560m], with its spectacular gompa, chorten and five-storey dzong. Or, as an alternative, we take a different route out of Ghami [3510m] and head to the impressive Ghar Gompa [3920m], built in the 8th century, via the Mui La [4170m].

Trekking: 7-8 hours.

Crossing a stunning desert-like landscape, we follow an easy trail to the recently restored Sungda Chorten and climb across the Lo La [3950m]. Finally, we catch our first sight of the ancient walled city of Lo-Manthang [3840m] and its imposing four-storied palace, home of the last King of Mustang (Raja) or Lo Gyelbu, Jigme Dorje Palbar Bista (d.2016). A descent through the plateau of Lo-Manthang takes us to the city's only entrance.

Trekking: 7-8 hours.

Today, we spend all day exploring Lo Manthang. The town, founded in 1440 by the first King of Lo, Amedpal (1388-1447), is surrounded by a 6-metre-high and 725-metre-long wall with massive square towers. Within these walls are some of Nepal’s finest and largest Tibetan Buddhist gompas. We visit Thubchen Lakhang, Jampa Lhakhang, Chhoede Gompa and Choprang Gompa, as well as the royal palace.

Overnight at trekking lodge.

After breakfast, we have many options. There is so much to see in the nearby Chhosar Valley. Travelling on horses or motorbikes, or by private jeep, we can make an excursion to the Jhong cave complex, an amazing multistorey structure of interconnected dwellings reached by ladders and thought to be 2500 years old, and to Nyphu Gompa [3760m], carved into the side of a soaring cliff near the village of Garphu [3897m]. Alternatively, we can visit the King’s summer palace in Thinggar [4030m] or Mustang’s largest monastery, perched on a hillside above the village of Namgyal [3870m], known as the Monastery of Victory. Or we can climb to a viewpoint on a hill just north of Lo-Manthang for stunning panoramas of the entire valley.

Overnight at trekking lodge.

Our day begin with a steep climb to the Lo La [3950m]. Here we leave our inbound route behind and head south-east along a stunning ridge overlooking a dramatic canyon, a geologist’s dream. The trail gets steeper and looser as we descent, requiring care, but the green oasis of Dhi [3400m] soon comes into view. A major stopping place on the old salt-trade route from to Tibet, Dhi is where we stop for lunch. We then climb out of the village and descend all the way to the Kali Gandaki, which we cross. Trekking along the Puyung Khola (keep an eye out for saligrams in the riverbed) with spectacular views of fluted cliffs, sculpted canyons and inaccessible caves, we reach Yara [3650m] an hour later.

Trekking: 6-7 hours.

After breakfast, we head out with a packed lunch to Luri Gumba [4005m]. Luri’s complex of caves, some still accessible, others no longer due to erosion, dates back to the mid-14th century. According to locals, one of the older Kings of Lo married a Bhutanese princess here. The key keeper will lead us to the upper prayer room and to another cave housing a beautifully preserved khabung stupa, carved out of the rock, with intricately detailed Tibetan Buddhist frescoes of the Kagyupa saints Tilopa, Naropa and Marpa. The newer gompa lies further down by the riverbank. From there, it is a short hike to Tashi Kabum. This recently discovered cave temple, reached via a steep scramble, contains an amazing painted chorten as well as exquisite wall paintings. Access may be difficult due to erosion and damage caused by the 2015 earthquake. Having explored it all, we return to Yara via Ghara [3920m], another lovely village on the high plateau about half an hour from Luri Gumba.

Trekking: 4-5 hours.

Today, sandals would be a better idea than walking boots: we will need to ford rivers several times. First we descend to the Puyung Khola and return to Surkhang [3400m], a small administrative centre just south of Dhi [3400m]. We then climb to a viewpoint above the village overlooking the Kali Gandaki. Twenty minutes later, we are back on the riverbank and keep going for an hour and a half until we reach the Dhechyang Khola. Crossing and recrossing it several times ( again, keep an eye out for saligrams!), we walk till the Tangge Khola. Here we turn left and trek along the pebbly, windy floodplain for another hour or so. Climbing slightly, we pass colourful chortens and a long mani wall and finally reach the stunning whitewashed village of Tangge, partly wiped out by a massive mudslide some years ago.

Trekking: 6-7 hours.

It is a long and challenging day. We leave Tangge [3360m] with a packed lunch and plenty of drinking water, passing chortens, and cross a suspension bridge across the Tangge Khola to catch a rather long uphill trail to the Soya La [3400m] and then a hilltop called Pa [4218m]. But we are rewarded with unbeatable views. Below us stretches one the deepest gorges in the world between Annapurna I [8091m] and Dhaulagiri [8167m]. From there the path follows a spectacular ridge above the truly breathtaking fluted organ-pipe features of the Narsing Khola canyon, offering one of the most unbelievable sights of the entire trek. We eventually descend on a rough, sometimes slippery trail, dropping all the way to the picturesque village of Tetang [3040m].

Trekking: 8-9 hours

Today will be another long day. We will take a packed lunch, but you should make sure you have enough drinking water in your daypack. It begins with a steep climb out of Tetang [3040m], all the way to the Gyu La [4077m] that marks the border between Lower and Upper Mustang. Then it is an easy descent to the pilgrimage site of Muktinath [3800m], crossing remote and charming villages like Zhong and Thinggar.

Trekking: 6-7 hours.
Overnight at trekking lodge.

In the morning, we explore Muktinath, an ancient sacred place for both Hindus and Buddhists. We visit the complex including the Vishnu temple, with its 108 spouts in the shape of a bull’s head through which flows ice-cold, holy water from the Kali Gandaki. Then we resume our trek with an easy and enjoyable descent to Ekle Bhatti [2740m] and follow an almost flat, windswept path along the Kali Gandaki Valley for slightly over an hour, until we reach Jomsom [2720m].

Trekking: 5-6 hours.
Overnight at trekking lodge.

After an early morning breakfast, we walk to the airport and check in for our return journey to Pokhara, a dramatic flight between two huge mountains: Annapurna [8091m] and Dhaulagiri [8167m]. After landing, your guide will transfer you to your Lakeside hotel. The rest of the day will be yours to further explore Pokhara. In the evening, we get together around a farewell dinner, with traditional dance and music.

Flight time: 20 minutes.
Overnight at hotel

After breakfast, we start our 200-kilometre drive back to Kathmandu by Deluxe tourist bus. Sit on the left-hand side of the vehicle if you can. It offers better views of the scenery. If you prefer to shorten the journey, we can also fly back to Kathmandu from Pokhara, a spectacular mountain flight past the Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh and Langtang ranges.

Driving: 7-8 hours / Flight time: 20 minutes.
Overnight at hotel.

Your Nepali adventure comes to an end today. Approximately two hours before your scheduled international flight, a representative from Himalaya Trekking Team will escort you to the airport and bid you farewell, until your next visit!