About Upper Mustang Overland Tour:
Upper Mustang Overland Tour is an extraordinary journey that takes you deep into the heart of the Mustang Region in Nepal, offering a unique combination of natural beauty, cultural richness, and adventure. This remote and mystical region, often referred to as the “Last Forbidden Kingdom,” is nestled in the rain shadow of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges, making it an arid desert-like landscape with stunning vistas of barren cliffs, ancient caves, and dramatic canyons. Upper Mustang Overland Tour allows you to immerse yourself entirely in the history and folklore of the region, its contemporary culture, customs, and ceremonies, which are incredibly rooted in their traditional practices and have been preserved to this day in a stunningly sustainable manner.
Experience an exhilarating adventure in the arid western regions of the Annapurna region with the Upper Mustang Overland Tour. Upper Mustang is a magnificent jewel to add to your travel extravaganza. It is nestled in the alpine valley sculpted by the Kaligandaki River.
Travellers esteem Upper Mustang as the most incredible destination to experience Tibetan-Buddhist customs and traditions. The overland tour takes you to the ancient kingdom of Lo-Manthang, an extended forbidden territory. The people in the region are accustomed to their traditional way of life and are untouched by modern eccentrics. The Upper Mustang District and the restricted part of the Annapurna Conservation Area cover a large portion of Lo Manthang’s stunning ambience.
Upper Mustang Overland Tour Highlights:
- Explore well-known destinations such as Tatopani Hot Springs, Marpha, Jomsom, Kagbeni, Lo Manthang, and Muktinath.
- Enjoy the breathtaking view of Kaligandaki, the deepest gorge in the world.
- Stay in pleasant towns surrounded by Chortens, monasteries, gompas, and religious shrines.
- Drive through the Upper Mustang and Annapurna Conservation Area’s restricted area.
- Explore the Muktinath Temple, its surroundings, and nearby monasteries and gompas.
- Discover more about the La Pa Tibetan ethnic group and the local Tibetan tribe.
- Visit numerous historical sites, including the hidden kingdom of Lo Manthang.
- Beautiful panoramas of mountains like Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Tilicho, and Annapurna I.
- Get to participate in the Tiji Celebration, the most auspicious festival in Upper Mustang.
- Wander through rhododendron, oak, and pine trees with an opportunity to spot various quirky species.
Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu:
You will be picked up at the airport by one of the Tour and Trekking Nepal staff and driven to your Kathmandu host family or a hotel. Here you will be welcomed into the family, be given your own room and be provided with all your meals while in Kathmandu. This will be your home during your orientation and volunteering in Nepal. With easy bus routes into town and the surrounding countryside, this quiet and safe suburb is the perfect base for your time in Nepal. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 02: Kathmandu: Sightseeing and Trek Preparation:
We tour Durbar Square, Pashupatinath temple, Swayambhunath stupa and Bouddhanath stupa which are all world heritage sites. The Durbar Square sheds light on the life of the royals in ancient times. Pashupatinath temple is one of the most important places of pilgrimage for all Hindus. Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple and Baudhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world. At noon, we are introduced to our fellow participants and discuss our trip at the Tour and Trekking Nepal office. Overnight in Kathmandu. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 03: Drive to Pokhara from Kathmandu:
We can enjoy the beautifully terraced farms, little shops by the side of the road and the raging Trishuli River on our drive to Pokhara also referred to as the ‘City of Lakes.’ From the city, we get great views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, and the five peaks of Annapurna. Pokhara is also a tourist destination, so we take some time out in the evening and enjoy! Overnight stay in Pokhara. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 04: Drive from Pokhara to Tatopani:
We will have our breakfast early in the morning and leave for Tatopani. The journey will take us around 5 hours. From this day, we start moving toward the Himalayan region of Nepal. The trip will present you with beautiful mountain sceneries and a touch of culturally rich Himalayan villages. Within a few hours, we reach Beni. From Beni, it will take us some time to reach Tatopani. As the name prescribes, Tatopani is famous for its natural hot spring. We have an overnight stay at Tatopani. Overnight stay in Tatopani. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 05: Drive from Tatopani to Kagbeni:
We have a scenic drive waiting for us early in the morning. As we drive towards Kagbeni, we can observe a vast difference in the landscape scenario. There is a shift from lush green vegetation to desert-like vegetation. The hills are not as forested anymore, and the soil has a desert-like aura. The drive will be smooth until Kagbeni is on the black-topped roads.
After a couple of hours, we will finally reach Kagbeni. Kagbeni is a beautiful village beside the Kaligandaki River and is marked as the entrance to Mustang. Likewise, we can explore the village, visit the Red Monastery or enjoy solitude walking around the town. Overnight stay in Kagbeni. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 06: Drive from Kagbeni to Ghiling:
The journey from Kagbeni to Ghiling reminisces snowy white hills and rocky terrains. The view is unique, and you will enjoy every moment of it! The drive takes you further up in the Himalayan region. After a couple of hours of drive, we finally rich Ghiling. The rest of the day is for you to enjoy. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 07: Drive from Ghiling to Charang via Ghar Gumba:
The drive goes further to around 3900m on this day. Charang, also known as Tsarang, is a small village dotted with many ancient stupas, monasteries, and fortresses called “Dzong”. We take the route of Ghar Gumba before reaching Charang.
You will also explore the village’s monasteries carved with ancient Mandalas. If it interests you, given that we have spare time, we can hike up to Luri cave. The ancient cave is surrounded by sandstone cliffs, meandering with winds forming unique shapes. The journey to the cave is a unique one. Overnight stay in Ghar Gumba. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 08: Drive from Charang to Lo Manthang:
Lo Manthang is the ancient city capital of the Mustang region. Similarly, today’s journey is the much-awaited one. To add more, the geography of this region is remarkably unique and beautiful. After a couple of hours of rocky drive, we finally reach the gateway to Lo Manthang. You have the rest of the day for you to enjoy or to rest. Overnight stay in Lo Manthang. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 09: Explore Lo Manthang Monasteries:
We explore some attractions in Lo Manthang, including the Lo Manthang Monastery. Lo Manthang is teeming with many Tibetan Monasteries and a reminiscence of its Tibetan heritage. Likewise, the village is famous for its white-washed walls and building structures making the village easy on the eyes. We can visit 15th-century Jampa Gompa, Thubchen Gompa, and Choprang Gompa. Similarly, we have many activities packed for the day. We can take this opportunity to hike to Chosar Cave as well. On this day, we reach as high as 4600m. Overnight stay in Lo Manthang. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 10: Drive from Lo Manthang to Marpha:
We swiftly drive too early in the morning to Marpha. We descend to the altitude of 2650m. Thus, you will not feel as uneasy as you did on the previous nights. The journey takes you towards greener vegetation. Likewise, Marpha is a beautiful village surrounded by steep mountains.
Similarly, Marpha apples are extremely popular among travellers. You can also check some apple orchards. After all, Marpha’s orchards are beloved! After a couple of hours of descending drive, we finally reach Marpha. Similarly, you can also visit the famous temple of Muktinath at Kagbeni! While we follow the Upper Mustang, reaching Muktinath temple takes a detour route. However, we can still make it to the temple if we have enough time. Overnight stay in Marpha. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 11: Drive from Marpha to Pokhara:
We drive downwards towards Pokhara. Now, we are closer to the hilly region. The journey from Marpha to Sarangkot is exceptionally delightful. You can enjoy the picturesque blue skies and tantalizing lush green vegetation. We reach Sarangkot after some time. Sarangkot is a popular paragliding spot that caters to local and international visitors. If it interests you, have a go at paragliding. Overnight stay in Pokhara. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 10: Drive back to Kathmandu by Tourist Bus:
We transfer to the Tourist bus station and 06: 30 am drive back to Kathmandu by tourist bus. This scenic drive offers fascinating glimpses of rural Nepal as you pass through Middle Hill scenery along the famous rafting Trishuli River originated from Tibet northeast of Kathmandu. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 11: Farewell friend and departure/Fly back home:
Our journey in Nepal comes to an end today! A Tour and Trekking Nepal representative will drop us off at the airport approximately 3 hours before our scheduled flight. On our way to home, we have plenty of time to plan our next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal.
Service Included:
- Free airport picks upon your arrival and a drop at the end of your trip
- TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management Systems)
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit. (ACAP Permit)
- 2 nights accommodation in Pokhara.
- All necessary ground transportation as per itinerary
- Complete free trekking information before going to trek
- Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) during the trek
- All nights in local teahouses/lodges during trekking
- An experienced licensed holder Trekking Guide
- Foods, transportation, accommodations and local tax for guide and porters
- Medical first aid kit box ( which is carried by your team)
- Down jacket, sleeping bag and all necessary trekking gears are available on a hire
- Trekking Map
Service Excluded:
- Your travel insurance ( Travel insurance is compulsory to take an adventure trip and it must be covered both medical and emergency evacuation with a minimum cost of USD 100, 000.
- Hot shower, WIFI, and any electronic battery charge only in trekking.
- Bottled/alcoholic/cold drinks, room service, and cart meals.
- Extra night accommodation or meals in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure and early return from trekking (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary.
- Tips and gratitude to your guides, porters, and drivers
- Nepal entry visa fees
Note: The above-mentioned program itinerary is a sample. The period and cost of tour, trekking, volunteering or internship can be changed or extended as per travellers or volunteers' availability of duration.
