Upper Mustang Overland Adventure – 13 Days

On arrival at Kathmandu, Nepal International Airport, check the Nepal Standard Time, which is 5 hours and 45 minutes ahead of GMT. Outside the air terminal, our staff from RP Adventures will greet and receive you for a short drive to your hotel. The hotel is located in the hub of Kathmandu; on arrival, check into your lovely rooms. Then meet with other members of the trek for a briefing regarding the Upper Mustang Overland Adventure. After collecting all the useful information and trip details, a group welcome dinner in nice authentic Nepali restaurants was an introduction to Nepali foods and cultures.

A free day in Kathmandu is preparation for the treks, and you can also enjoy a tour of Kathmandu and Nepal's famous landmarks. Kathmandu Valley and its adjoining cities are steeped with historical monuments listed in World Heritage Sites. Enjoy the tour of Old Durbar Square, the ancient palace and royal courtyard, as well as visiting the oldest Buddhist stupa of Swyambhunath. As well as the famous Hindu temple of Pashupatinath and the large dome stupa of Bouddhanath, and then back to the hotel. After an exciting tour, back to the hotel for the rest of the afternoon preparation for the Upper Mustang Overland Journey.

Morning as options of flying to Pokhara or taking an exciting overland journey of more than 6 hours. Depending on the road condition of the busiest highway in the country, But it is interesting to observe the in-depth nature of Nepalese rural farm life. The drive takes you through many farm villages and towns before heading west to the beautiful city of Pokhara. Blessed with the natural beauty of lakes, rolling hills, and the peaks of the Annapurna Himalayas. The hotels in Pokhara are situated by the famous and serene Phewa Lake, a great place to explore. (Options by air for a 30-minute panoramic flight to Pokhara from Kathmandu).

After a leisurely breakfast, our overland adventure begins in Pokhara on a four-wheel jeep. The best for the mountainous, rough roads of the Nepal Himalayas and Upper Mustang. The first part of the drive was on a smooth highway to Beni, the headquarters town of Mygdi district in the Dhaulagiri zone. The drive continues on the mud and unpaved road following the Kali Gandaki River to Tatopani for an overnight stop. Check into a lodge and explore the village, which has a natural hot spring as the name of Tatopani.

After a refreshing time in Tatopani, the morning starts driving upstream of the Kaligandaki River past farm villages. Then through the world's deepest gorge, Kaligandaki, situated between Mt. Dhaulagiri and Mt. Annapurna-I. From Lete and Kalapani onwards within Mustang District, as the air gets cooler, drive around beautiful woods. Covered in pines and rhododendron trees with views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Nilgiri’s peaks. As the drive heads past Kalapani, a lovely village, reaching arid and barren country with the lovely villages of Tukuche and Marpha, These areas are famous for apple orchards, then drive leads on gradual winding up to Jomsom. The headquarter town of Mustang district stops at Jomsom for a possible lunch break in a nice restaurant. Afternoon: a short drive around the Kali-Gandaki River windswept valley to reach Kagbeni village for overnight. An interesting old village with strong Tibetan culture, the village is also the entry point for Upper Mustang.

From Kagbeni, after checking with the special permits required to enter Upper Mustang, the journey follows towards a wild barren country. On entering Upper Mustang, the drive leads through great canyon walls and towering windblown hills. Heading towards smaller passes and high ridges of Nyi-La Pass at 3,932 m (12,900 feet). After enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding moonscapes with snow-clad peaks downhill, we went to Ghami village for an overnight in a nice guesthouse. One of the major villages of Upper Mustang has an impressive old Gompa monastery. Ghami village is encircled by a wide field of buckwheat and barley, the only existing high-altitude crops.

Finally, our adventure heads towards our final and ultimate destination, the forbidden walled kingdom of Lo-Manthang. The morning drive leads around the prayer monument of the Mani walls to Charang, a nice village facing grand scenery of snow peaks. The drive then climbs to a high ridge with views of Lo-Manthang enclosed by high walls. Journey then heads closer to enter the main gate of Lo-Manthang. An amazing old town in a former forbidden kingdom, this place will take you to the medieval period. On reaching the main square of Lo-Manthang, check into a nice lodge or guest house. Houses are built in a traditional Tibetan style. In the afternoon, explore the streets of Lo Manthang, lined with shops and restaurants.

Enjoy a pleasant rest day for a leisure tour around the interesting old city, like the medieval town of Lo Manthang. Visit the Namgyal Gompa, situated on a hilltop, one of the important monasteries in the Mustang area. The tour leads to nearby Tingkhar village, one of the most the most remote and last villages in Lo country. Time permitting, visit the four-story former King Palace-like fort facing grand views of the majestic Mustang Himal range of snow peaks. Lo-Manthang has more than 150 houses with residents for the monks and lama's/head priests. All houses are neatly linked and attached; the fort palace and monasteries are situated at the bottom sections of vertical ‘L'-shaped houses.

The school, health, and police post, including important religious monuments, are located outside the walled kingdom of Lo Manthang, towards the north gate. The tour extends to four great monasteries: Namgyal Gompa, Champa Lhakhang (God House), Red Thubchen Gompa, Chyodi Gompa, and the Great Entrance Hall. A tour of the historical and cultural center is one of the main attractions and highlights of Lo-Manthang.

After an exciting time at Lo Manthang with a past historical background, I left the former kingdom for a return journey. Heading on the same route through a wide windswept plateau towards the nice village of Chusang.
Enjoy the last overnight stay around Upper Mustang before reaching down to the lower areas of Mustang.

Morning, leaving Chusang village to cross high, winding passes and over the streams. The drive follows the Kaligandaki River downstream through arid country landscapes to reach Kagbeni village. The journey continues, following the Kaligandaki River to Jomsom for a lunch break. Afternoon: drive down to Kalapani, a lovely village, for overnight, and back into green hills and lush vegetation. Located beneath Mt. Dhaulagiri and its massif of ice falls and glaciers, with views of Nilgiri’s and Annapurna's Himal ranges.

From Kalapani, reach Ghasa, the end of Mustang district, as the drive follows high above the river. The rough road passes through beautiful Rupsi water falls to reach Tatopani village. The ride continues to Baglung or Beni towns, then on the main highway with a pleasant drive downhill to Pokhara. Where our adventurous overland journey to the Upper Mustang concludes before heading back to Kathmandu.

Morning after early breakfast, an interesting overland journey to Kathmandu.The drive leads on a busy highway, following the Trisuli River for a few hours, and then the drive climbs on a winding road. Then, reaching the Kathmandu valley and back into the city, after an exciting drive, check into your hotels. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure for individual activities. (Options for a scenic short flight of half an hour to Kathmandu from Pokhara).

On your final day in Kathmandu and Nepal, it's time for your international flight. Our RP Adventures guides and staff will transfer you to the airport, where you'll bid farewell to the guide and staff. Then, you'll enter the airport terminal for your homeward-bound flight, after a memorable adventure on the Upper Mustang Overland Adventure.