Flying in or out of Kathmandu valley is an amazing experience, very much so, on a clear day. As the plane approaches from the southern west vector, the Himalaya can be seen on the distant north. The approach beautifully navigates between low mountains, passing over picturesque views of small villages, terrace fields and lush forests, before the urban city and its intrigued network of roads and concrete buildings sprawl below us.

As you make your way through the formalities of the immigration and custom procedures, our Office Representative will be awaiting at the airport and assists during our hotel check in. Hopefully the long flight has not been too exhausting for a pleasant evening. 

Overnight: Four-star Hotel

Meals: Breakfast 

We have an exciting morning ahead of us as we head to the airport for a short flight to Pokhara, Nepal’s second largest city. If the weather permits, the flight offers spectacular views of the Himalayan ranges with the majestic Manaslu range, followed by the impressive Annapurna massif as we fly over luscious foothills, isolated villages and terraced farmlands. The distinct twin peaks of Machhapucharre (Fishtail Mountain, 6,999 m/ 22,963 ft) are seemingly hard to miss as we slowly prepare to land. On arrival, we will transfer to our hotel and have the afternoon to our leisure. 

The idyllic lakeside city of Pokhara sits with many hidden charms and cultural interests. Of course, the placid water of Fewa Tal (Fewa Lake) is her centrepiece and, the Annapurna Himal and the Dhaulagiri range are the jewels over her sky. A boat ride in the Fewa Lake is very tranquil and helps to unwind underneath the impressive views of the mountains. The boat ride offers us a side trip to the little island of Taal Barahi Temple, a Hindu site dedicated to Goddess Durga – the protector. An afternoon hike to the Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda), a hilltop Buddhist monument on the southern fringe of Fewa Lake, allows for a few-hours excursion away from the hectic city. The white dome-shaped pagoda has four statutes of Buddha from Japan, Sri-Lanka, Thailand and Nepal overlooking the four directions, and offers spectacular views of the mountains. The Old Pokhara Bazaar is a colourful market selling Tibetan, Gurung, Newari and other diverse ethnical commodities and souvenirs. The city also centres few museums dedicated to mountaineering, natural history and the Gurkha soldiers of the region, and offers insightful history of the area. A nice walk to Davis Falls, a waterfall with strange rock formation and deep cut gorge, and Mahendra Cave, a limestone cave with rising stalagmites and dropping stalactites, should provide leisurely options in Pokhara. Or we can reserve the day for just simply relaxing by the lakeside with a drink in our hand.

Overnight: Tourist-standard Hotel

Meals: Breakfast 

The flight to Jomsom leave Pokhara airport early in the morning for an unforgettable flying experience through the deep Kali Gandaki gorge, as the STOL plane glides between the towers of Annapurna I (8,091m/26,545ft), Nilgiri Central (6,940m/22,769ft) and Nilgiri North (7,061m/23,166ft) on the east and Dhaulagiri (8,167m/26,795ft) and Tukuche Peak (6,920m/22,703ft) on the west. On landing at the sensational tiny airstrip on the head of the Himalayan gorge, we allow ourselves a cup of warm tea to catch our breaths and take in the stunning Himalayan panorama, while our trek team prepares for the walk ahead. And as the freezing southerly wind rushes down from the high-rising Annapurna massif, the warmth of the tea cup spreads over the stunning rain-shadowed country we find ourselves admiring over. The spiritual Vietnamese poet, Thich Nhat Hnah said it best, “You must be completely awake in the present to enjoy the tea.”     

The walk to Kagbeni is a pleasant three-hours hike through a wide trail on a combination of sandy road and Saligram-filled riverbed along the windy Kali Gandaki Khola (river). Heading northbound, the easy trail let us stretch our legs and warm up our muscles for the coming days, whilst offering ample opportunities to impress us to the daunting rugged terrains and the high mountains of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna and Tukuche that fortifies the deep Kali Gandaki valley. Dry plateaus and barren hillsides adorned with grey, red and white chortens (Buddhist stupas) are marked with colourful prayer flags fluttering wildly in the Himalayan winds and constantly whip their blessed Tibetan scripts and mantras on travellers seeking safe passages. Soon enough, we pass the quaint settlement of Eklebhatti (2,740m/8,990ft) and stay with the Kali Gandaki Khola, all the way to a cliff overlooking a confluence where the Kali Gandaki river meets the Jhong Khola. Here Kagbeni (2,810m/9,219ft), a pretty Tibetan farm village, remains as the border settlement of Lower Mustang.  

Kagbeni is one of the oldest villages in the Himalaya. Ancient alleyways and tunnels that are low and narrow runs through the old Kagbeni and were designed to protect commuters from the mountain winds rushing down the valley. The Kag Chode Thupten Samphel Ling Monastery or better known as the ‘Red Gompa’, in the centre of the village, was built in 1429 and very much worth a visit. You can feel the centuries in the walls of the building and seek blessings from foregone ages. The outskirt of the village is walled by green fields of wheat and barley fed by the intricate irrigation canals from the Kali Gandaki river, painting a colourful contrast against the barren geography. The uniqueness of the pre-Buddhist Bom culture of Mustang can be found in the shrines for ‘ghost traps’ and figures of a male and a female Kheni (Ghost Eaters) guarding the northern and southern entrances to the village. 

Overnight: Lodge/Teahouse

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner 

To pass beyond Kagbeni we will need to sign in with a special permit. Once the formalities are over, the growing anticipation of venturing into this once forbidden Himalayan Kingdom soon becomes a reality. A long mani wall, stacked with stone tablets inscribed with elegant Tibetan devotional mantras, bless our traverse into the rugged but beautiful Shangri-La, which is immediately followed by a steep climb over a dirt road. Brightly coloured canyons, riverbeds, eroded turrets, shapely bluffs and dry cliffs characterise the rain shaded country ahead, while a glance back at Kagbeni and the southern skies contrast that with patches of green fields and stunning snow-capped spires of Nilgiri Peaks. Across the valley, the Ghilungpa Khola rushes down to meet the Kali Gandaki Khola and a trail can be seen climbing high above heading towards Jungben La pass and to the hidden wonders of Dolpo, another Himalayan sanctuary. 

The settlement of Tangbe (3,060m/1,040ft) soon arrives with a typical black, white and red chorten that are found in Upper Mustang. The pretty village of the Gurung community, is adorned with an ancient dzong (fortress), narrow alleys, whitewashed houses, an archery ground, a green apple farm and fields of buckwheat, barley and wheat. The dirt road continues on from the village, around the hillsides, occasionally disturbed by local horsemen trotting gallantly or by sturdy jeeps gasping for more air to feed the combustion engine. Across the river, Kunza Choling Monastery or better known as Gompa Kang sits unflustered away from prying visitors who may find the long detour to reach there a little bothersome. A little over an hour after leaving Tangbe, we reach Chhuksang (2,980m/ 9,777ft) where cliff walls have eroded to resemble a multi coloured ‘pipe-organ’. Anyone fancy a rendition of J.S. Bach’s ‘Toccata and Fugue’? Continuing north, we reach a ruined fort and pass narrow canyons cut deep on striking red cliffs where chunks fallen from above have been punched through by the Kali Gandaki Khola to form an interesting river tunnel. While the river struggles to find its course through the narrow defile, our attentions are diverted to the many sky caves carved high above the fluted red cliffs. Of these caves, the historian Gucci believes that they were the homes of the earliest Lo-pas, later used by hermit-monks as retreats. (As Tibetans in the western part of Tibet lived in similar caves until recently). Many anthropologists believe that the caves were the Neolithic sites of early man from a time when there was much more water, large forests and plentiful game to hunt. Soon, we cross over two suspension bridges to the west bank of Kali Gandaki (now the Mustang Khola) and begin our ascent to Tsaile on a beautiful trekking trail that sharply winds up for about 100m/328ft.

The scattered and small village of Tsaile (3,050m/10,007ft) is notable with simple houses and lodges that have sheep horns and ‘zor’ (ghost traps) above their doorways to ward off evil spirits, a practice that dates back to pre-Buddhist Bom religion. A large prayer wheel sits south of the village with eight auspicious symbols to purify travellers entering the settlement. The five neighbouring villages of the area – Tsaile, Chuksang, Ghyakar, Tangbe and Tetang are home to an indigenous community who are more culturally related to the Manangis in the east than the Lhobas in the north.   

Overnight: Lodge/Teahouse

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner 

We start off with a climb, this morning, over a dramatic canyon to the west of Kali Gandaki Valley. The village of Ghyakar, field of barleys and wood of large trees can be seen across the canyon, and behind us the panoramic views of Khatung Kang (6,484m/21,273ft), Thorung Peak (6,144m/20,157ft), and Yakawa Kang (6,482m/21,266ft) extend over the high-altitude desert of the Tibetan plateau. Sitting on a gorge, the village of Ghyakar (3,562m/11,686ft) leads us though a khani (gateway entrance) and tunnels under houses to a small village square with a washing place. Climbing steadily on, pass the bushy vegetations, the trail is drier and arid as we approach Dajori La (pass, 3,735m/12,254ft). The view at the pass now includes Nilgiri Himal (massif) stretching to our south along with the aforementioned peaks of Muktinath Himal, and a steep old trail that still connects Tsaile and Samar. The charming village of Samar is visible with a short descent that contour round a ridge lined with chortens. Nestled on an orchard of poplar trees, Samar (3,660m/12,008ft) was once an inviting rest-stop for salt traders and caravans of mule crossing over from Tibet. Later on, the village was used by the Khampas, Tibetan warriors, as a staging post to launch raids into Tibet. Now, the white-walled houses and their high masts of fluttering prayer flags welcome trekkers to a warm kitchen and a restful night.

In consideration to the height gained, we have a short day to help acclimatise better to the thinning air. A major part of Upper Mustang is the unique cultural offering this hidden country offers, and to mar that opportunity with a quick getaway holiday and unsound health would be an experience lost. An authentic Mustang lies in the interactions with the local cultures and cuisines, and we want more of it. 

Slow acclimatisation and regular hydration play vital roles in ensuring our body stay healthy in the high altitudes, and helps to avoid our holiday from being marred by discomforts and uneasiness. “Climb high, sleep low", “Take it slow" and “Drink plenty of fluids" are the secret mantras many have successfully adopted in the Himalaya.

Overnight: Lodge/Teahouse

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner 

After breakfast we leave Samar, gently climbing through a pathways of prayer wheels, taking time to spin each mantra scripted cylinders clock-wise, and make our way to the chorten above the village. The route drops sharply into the rugged canyon of the Samarkyung Khola flowing down from the mountains to our west that fence the magical Dolpo region. Of course, befitting of a quintessential Himalayan trail where sharp drops are, almost always, countered by an equally demanding ascents, we climb right back up and follow that with another drop to the Ihuwa Khola, and climb back again out of the canyon. From here we follow the route to our right, climbing a long steepish trail to the plateau of Chorate and continue ascending at the same gradient for quite some times. This alternative route, though is taxing provides for ‘topside’ scenic views of the surrounding valleys and canyons, from vantage point at around 3,900m/12,795ft. Across the valley to our west, the dirt road and the foot trail to Bhena is seen winding along the canyon. And as our route contours east, the village of Shyangmochen is visible ahead to the north, whilst the collection of knotted peaks of Damodar Himal and Khumjungar Himal rises high to our far east. 

Leaving the enticing panorama behind, we start a long descent with series of sharp but pleasant turns into the amazing depth of a bottomless gorge. The breath-taking path passes sheer vertical red cliffs that guard the entrance to the ghostly chasm. The further we drop, closer the valley walls slide in, as if to discourage unwanted intruders to a hidden treasure. Eventually we arrive at the Shyangmochen  Khola (river) crossing and climb a little to the holy shrine of Chungsi Ranchung Cave (3,425m/11,237ft), where Guru Rinpoche, the Second Buddha, is believed to have had spent time meditating here on his way to Tibet. There are some old and sacred relics, brightly painted images and natural composite formations of prominent Tibetan Buddhist figures and scholars around the darkly lit shrine. The climb back up is just as surreal as the descent, where we escape the walled fortress for the open sky above – just like a suspenseful sequence from an epic adventure fiction. Up and up and up we climb out of the abyss, taking care of our footings, soon nearing the ridge end. The village of Shyangmochen  (3,800m/12,467ft) hides behind a hillock and after passing the settlement, it is only a short climb to the chortens of Shyangmochen  La (3,850m/12,631ft) and a longer descent all the way to Geling (3,570m/11,712ft).  

The quaint hamlet of Geling sits at the foot of a rocky cliff, surrounded by a bed of farm fields. The Geling Gompa, known as Tashi Choling Monastery, was founded in the 15th century and belongs to the Shakya-pa, one of the ancient schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is a worth a visit for its ancient relics and rich history.  

Overnight: Lodge/Teahouse

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

We have a long day ahead of us with a high pass crossing at Nyi La to look forward to. By now, our legs should be well accustomed to the rugged and dry trails of Mustang, negotiating steep ascends and loose descends with relative ease. But it still pays to take care of our footings and our lungs, climbing slowly, acclimatising at a gentle pace and drinking lots of fluids. Our route continues climbing through fields, meadows and patches of odd scrubs, with the pass visibly staying with us all the way this morning. Reaching the summit of Nyi La (4,025m/13,205ft) we are rewarded with scenic views of the Annapurna and Nilgiri to our south and the beautiful colours of Mustang to the north, while admiring the height gained. The descent is enjoyable and joins the dirt road before trailing off to the left over the Ghami La pass (3,765m/12,352ft), and contours over gentle slopes where ruins of an old fortress was lost over time. Years later, the Khampas setup a war camp here and brought new life to Ghami (3,520m/11,548ft) which now boast of picturesque mani walls, colourful chortens and a large prayer wheel among its riches. Just beyond the village, we arrive at one of the longest mani wall in Upper Mustang, about 305 meter/ 1,000 feet, followed by clusters of large chortens blending seamlessly with the jagged cliffs of grey, orche and red in the backdrop. Our route then forks to the left aiming for the dramatic red cliffs of Drakmar, and over the small pass of Choya La (3,870m/12,697ft), passing through prime bluesheep habitat, before dropping down to the historic community of Tsarang (3,560m/11,680ft).

“The city appeared like magic, as if a great artist, tired of this arid land, had decided to paint a fairy artwork on this wild canvas background.” - Michel Peissel, Mustang, A Lost Tibetan Kingdom  

Tsarang was the capital of Mustang during the 14th century, where the king resided at the Samdrup Gedphel Palace, a mud-walled citadel which now house a museum with local interests and icons. The Thubten Shedrup Dhargyeling Gompa at the village centre, is believed to have been constructed in 1385 and belongs to the Ngor Sakya–pa sect. The Gompa and the Palace house the greatest library in Lo, while a micro-hydro plant powers the village. With around 130 homes and busy shops joined by a tunnelled path, Tsarang is the second largest settlement in Upper Mustang.     

Overnight: Lodge/Teahouse

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner 

The medieval walled-city of Lo Manthang and the legends of its cultural riches awaits us at the end of today’s walk. The anticipation and the excitements, alone, surge us through a rollercoaster trail that climbs and drops over deep canyons and ravines, starting with a descend to Charang Khola and following the new dirt road out of Tsarang. The views keep getting better as we climb higher up with Annapurna I (8,091m/26,545ft), Nilgiri North (7,061m/23,166ft) and Tilicho Peak (7,134m/23,405ft) to our south, clusters of Damodar Himal peaks to the southeast, with the rain-shaded desert of bone-dried cliffs and eroded gorges sketching the intense surrounding landscape. After about a couple of hours of walking, we arrive at the impressive site of Garuda Sungda Chorten sitting alone amidst the barren country. The large white and ochre coloured stupa stands out with her intricate designs and eight symbols facing the four directions, like a fabled landmark from a fictional adventure. The trail soon begins to climb, under spectacular sky caves carved on overhanging cliffs before arriving at the small pass of Lho La (3,950m/12,960ft) for our first glimpse of the mythical Lo Manthang – the walled city is a spectacular sight with white houses, red monasteries and a palace. Thinggar and Namgyal Gompa rises over the city with ruined forts of Khacho Dzong and Khartsun Dzong providing foregone securities high above the hill. Over to our northwest, the bright white snowy caps of Manshail South (6,248m/20,499ft) and the satellite peaks of Mustang Himal (massif) crowns the barren hills. Horses roam freely amongst the desolate walls and fields as we circumnutate along the southern walls and cross over a small bridge to the entrance gateway of the legendary Lo Manthang (3,810m/12,500ft), the ‘Plain of Aspiration’. 

The captivating maze of the city hides fascinating secrets ready to be discovered. Getting ourselves lost in the warrens of dirt lanes and narrow alleys that suddenly opens out into pretty courtyards with water wells and colourful chortens are a pleasure. Lhobas gossiping in the shade, going about with daily chores, using medieval tools, sustaining lives, whilst red robed monks stroll pass chanting repetitive mantras, and domesticated beasts wander around unbothered and unimpressed. The four prominent gompas (monasteries) inside the medieval fortress city, have their own interesting history and religious importance. Built in 1387, the red clay washed Jampa Lhakang is the oldest and statues a 15-meter/50-foot Jampa (Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future) sculpted from clay. Construction of the Thupchen Lhakhang Gompa started in 1468, and houses a great assembly hall with wall murals artfully painted during several different periods. The Ngonga Choide Gompa dates back around 1710 and houses impressive deities and images, and the recently constructed Choprang Sakya-Pa Gompa holds artefacts and scriptures from some 3000 years ago. The Raja’s Palace, of course, is the main feature of Lo Manthang. Around the city there are rare Tibetan treasures and artworks on sale, and cups of the infamous Suija (salt butter tea) - all ready to be discovered, to be explored and experienced.  

Overnight: Lodge/Teahouse

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Today, our day at Lo Manthang will be spent exploring the remote tiny villages scattered around the north-western neighbours. Throughout our Upper Mustang journey, we have been able to observe the harsh, almost uninhabitable, lifestyles of the Mustangis and their colourful medieval customs and traditions. But today, with an added benefit of enjoying a leisurely day, we can take in a much closer look at the sturdy communities - families working the eroded sediment filled valley floors, or busy pounding buckwheat, barley and wheat, sustaining lives. Intricate irrigation canals and washing wells gurgling life into the bone dead land. There are remnants of primeval Bon-religion, which is Shamanistic and animistic in nature, mixing with the Shakya-Pa school of ancient Tibetan Buddhism. Many of the Lhobas still practice polyandry marriages and cultures unique to the lost kingdom of the Himalaya. 

A short hike to the western valley leads us to the village of Namgyal (3,910m/12,828ft), where a monastic school of Namgyal Choide Thubten Dhargyeling Gompa (the Monastery of Victory) was rebuilt in 1953 with relatively modern decorations and imageries. Still the Gompa maintains the rustic appearances of a Ngor Shakya-pa monastery. Continuing up north, the king’s summer palace sits among the sprawling village of Thinggar (4025m/13,205ft). Ancient ruins of Tri fortress and gompas can be found amongst the cultivated land of the village. Climbing further north, we arrive at the remote hamlet of Kimaling (4,030m/13,222ft), decorated with typical white-washed houses and fields. From here, we can almost hear Tibet across the border. Interestingly, the Kimaling Gompa lies below the village, perhaps an indication that the monastery could have been built here first and then the village grew above it. On our return trip, we visit Phuwa village and its gompa. 

And as we head back to Lo Manthang, it is hard not to be moved by the surrounding valleys who once saw the boom of the salt trading route to Tibet and Lhasa, and were strategically guarded with several fortresses that have long been lost in ruins. 

Overnight: Lodge/Teahouse

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

After spending two wonderful days at Lo Manthang, we begin our return with a long excursion. The Chogo La pass (4,280m/14,042ft) throws down the first gauntlet of the day, with a long deceptive climb through desolate sceneries. Using the excuse of admiring ‘the last views’ of the walled city, we take frequent breaks, catch our breath and appreciate the captivating surroundings, as we slog up and up and up. Once over the pass, the trail levels off to a surprising meandering path that contours over the gentle slopes of the ridge. The secluded trail is a good spot to observe Trans-Himalayan wildlife and birds scavenging for hunts in the dusty floors and underneath rocky trappings. The elusive Snow Leopards and pesky Grey Wolfs often prey upon the livestock of the villages, while the elegant bluesheeps and Tibetan Gazelles can be seen showcasing cliff-climbing betas even the best of us cannot fathom. But more often it is the unimpressed yaks, scampering Himalayan marmots and soaring majestic eagles that greets us along our Mustang traverse. The descent arrives soon enough with a coarse trail all the way down to a stream, before reaching Gargen Chyoling Gompa or Ghar Gompa (3,950m/12,959ft), an ancient nunnery of Lo Gekar (‘Pure Virtue of Joy’). The monastery is said to be the oldest in Nepal, founded in the 8th century, and is connected to the ubiquitous Guru Rinpoche slaying a troublesome demon at the monastery site. Continuing on from the nunnery, we are back again climbing over the pass at Mui La (4,170m/13,682ft) this time, where the views of the eastern and southern panoramas are enticing, before a spectacular descend down the quiet trail. Negotiating over turrets, gullies, chasms and exposed sections, it is hard not to believe in the folklore that a slayed demon laid here with his blood soaking the cliffs above Drakmar (3,820m/12,533ft). 

“Dhakmar is a site where the landscape and man-made structures illustrate a well-known Tibetan myth. Here Guru Rimpoche eviscerated a huge demoness, the Balmo, her blood and liver dyeing the steep eroded hills in red and purple-grey.” - Rob Powell, Earth Door, Sky Door

Overnight: Lodge/Teahouse

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner 

Our day starts with an easy walk around the bluff below the dauting red cliffs and caves, before arriving at the climb to a small pass, the locals call Deurali La. Despite the climb, this route is much shorter choice than the one that goes along the river and meets the long mani wall we had visited on our way to Tsarang. By the time we reach Ghami (3,520m/11,548ft) we will have dropped considerable elevations, but being this the Great Himalaya, we gain them right back with a climb to Nyi La (4,010m/13,156ft). From the pass we head down the rugged countryside accompanied by spectacular scenery of the baren but beautiful wilderness, passing picturesque chortens and ‘lha tho’, a stone pile on which travellers put juniper branches and prayer flags to seek safe passage from ‘btsan’, an elemental spirit who inhabits the earth. We keep to our left as it brings bad ‘karma’ to walk anti-clockwise while passing through sacred chortens, lha tohs and prayer wheels. The quaint hamlets of Jhaite (3,820m/12,533ft) and Chhunggar (3,750m/12,303ft), where large colourful chortens mark the village ends, arrives first. Then we pass the granite boulders along the lovely trail to reach the village of Tamagaon (3,710m/12,172ft). After a short climb over the Shyangmochen La we drop down to the cosy comforts of our overnight lodge in Shyangmochen (3,800m/12.467ft).

The small hamlet of Shyangmochen was a seasonal ‘kharka’ (yak pastures), and an ideal camping site for trekkers, before teahouses and lodges took over. Local folklore has it that the kharka was named after a girl, ‘Shyangmo’, while ‘che’ means ‘place’ in Tibetan. 

Overnight: Lodge/Teahouse

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner 

From Shyangmochen we follow the dirt road that goes ‘tersai-tersai’ (flat-flat), a Nepali expression for a Himalayan-standard flat. We take on the two low passes of Yamda La and Bhena La (both around 3860m/12,664ft) and drop about 30 meters/ 98 feet to Bhena, between the two passes. Now on the road we had seen from across the canyon on our way to Chungsi Ranchung Cave, we make a steep descent to crossings over intersecting streams, followed by small climbs to the entrance chortens of Samar, and continue on over Dajori La (3,735m/12,254ft). The descent from the pass is wonderful with stunning panorama of Yakawa Kang (6,482m/21,266ft), Thorung Peak (6,144m/20,157ft), Khatung Kang (6,484m/21,273ft), Khangsar Kang (7,485m/24,577ft), Tilicho Peak (7,134m/23,405ft), Annapurna I (8,091m/26,545ft) and the Nilgiri Peaks. Retracing our steps, we arrive at the Gurung village of Gyakar, cross the suspension bridge, and follow the cliff-sided canyon trail down to Tsaile (3,050m/10,007ft). At the rocky Kali Gandaki riverbed, we can look for fossilised ammonites - chambered shell of an extinct squid-like marine animal from the Jurassic period (60 - 400 million years old), which were embedded in sediment of the sea floor that rose to form the Himalaya when the Indian plate collided with Asia. These ammonites are known as ‘saligrams’ in Hindu culture and have a religious value as a non-anthropomorphic representation of Lord Vishnu. Soon, we arrive at the mystifying village of Chukksang (2,980m/9,777ft) and the amazing geography the settlement sits on.

An old salt mine that sustained the village with wealth in the years past is around two hours east, and an impressive cliff-topped fortified village of Tetang (3,040m/9,974ft) is just up the same valley. With its ancient monasteries, chortens and cave homes, Tetang is worth a visit with time in our hand. At Chukssang, the nearby Mentsi Lhakang Cave is negotiated via tricky stone steps and houses a monastery dedicated to holy medicines and Tibetan Buddhist scholars. Of course, it is the stupendous coloured and eroded cliffs across the Kali Gandaki Khola that really steals the show at Chukssang.  

Overnight: Lodge/Teahouse

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner 

Our final day walking on the Jurassic sediments of Upper Mustang arrives with a sense of achievement as well as nostalgic admirations for this magnificent Lost Kingdom and her incredible people. Today’s route is on the familiar road along the Kali Gandaki riverbed, retracing us back to the narrow-cobbled lanes and photogenic houses of Tangbe and onto the distance patchworks of Kagbeni and Nilgiri Peaks down the valley. The picturesque village of Tirigaon (2,815m/9,235ft) sits across the river on the west bank to mark the entrance to Upper Dolpo Valley. At Kagbeni we exit Upper Mustang and join the Annapurna Circuit route to Jomsom (2,720m/8,924ft).

The town of Jomsom, or ‘Dzongsam’ which means ‘New Fort’, is the administrative headquarter of the region and a prime commercial centre bustling with government officials, merchants and tourists rubbing shoulders with each other. With traders selling everything from beautifully woven textiles by traditional hand looms to yak tails for dusting your houses, Jomsom is a shopper’s paradise to find that rustic Tibetan souvenir or a mystifying lucky amulets and charms on your journey forward.  

Overnight: Lodge/Teahouse

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner 

A breath-taking flight down the Kali Gandaki, between the towering Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges is a marvellous way to conclude our Mustang journey. One can’t help, but to be awestruck and inspired by the stupendous sizes of the Himalaya, while our twin-propellor aeroplane scampers like a bug. Landing at Pokhara, we board another aircraft to Kathmandu, for yet another fantastic mountain flight along the face of Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh and Langtang ranges. On arrival at Kathmandu, we will be transferred to our hotel for a well-earned afternoon at leisure.    

Overnight: Four-star Hotel

Meals: Breakfast  

Today we have time at well-deserved leisure. We can take the opportunity to explore Kathmandu on city tour and sightseeing activities of the heritage sites, or perhaps some shopping and souvenir hunting, or simply relax and rest after the demanding trek. 

The Kathmandu valley locates UNESCO World Heritage Listed sites all within short distances of each other. You may want to start by exploring the city’s two most important spiritual sites, the Hindu pilgrimage complex of the holy Pashupatinath Temple and the serene stupa of Boudhanath, the most sacred Tibetan Buddhist shrine outside of Tibet. Alternatively, the Swayambhunath Buddhist Stupa sitting atop a small hill, has fondly earned the nickname of the Monkey Temple and offers spectacular view of the sprawling capital underneath. The museums and ancient royal courtyards at the three Durbar (Palace) Squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, richly transport us to the golden age of Newa cultures and the valley’s rich history. 

Our evening is shared with a one last hurrah. A celebratory farewell dinner in honor of you and the many more adventures to come.  

Overnight: Four-star Hotel

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner  

Here we bid our farewell and wish you a nice flight back home. Our office representative will pick you up at the hotel for your transport to the international airport.