Overview

Trip introduction

“The wilderness aspect of a place is worthy enough to be traveled upon.”

Located at the northwestern part of Nepal, our Royal Mustang Trek takes you into the luxuriant Annapurna region which is bounded by the Himalaya foothills that run along the Nepal-Tibet border to the north, the Pokhara valley to the south, Marshyangdi River to the east and Kali Gandaki River to the west. Among the popular trekking routes of Annapurna region, Mustang is a less travelled region and lies in the rain shadow of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs. The old ancient trade route between Tibet and Nepal is cited here, therefore, this region comprises a perfect blend of local culture and nature with diverse flora and fauna ecosystem.

Lower Mustang has an isolated and mystical feel to it which inspires visitors to explore & experience this region. Our 19 days luxurious yet ambitious Royal Mustang Trek shall commence with a mesmerizing flight to Jomsom (2,682 m) from Pokhara until we reach the grandiose backdrop of Jomsom. Pre-requisitely we can also provide you with horses to accommodate you entirely during this trek but if you prefer walking then with amazing and out of the world sceneries we shall trek onward to Kagbeni (2,800 m). You can take a walk around and discover the buildings that haven’t substantially changed for hundreds of years such as the Red Monastery which sits at the very entrance to the “Forbidden Kingdom” of Mustang with a sight of eagles soaring in cloudless skies. The valleys here are arid and dry with colorful rock formations containing many cave dwellings high up in the cliffs. Further on we hike up toward Jharkot, another medieval village on the trail to Muktinath. Jharkot is just a smidge with a typical Gompa (monastery) situated on a hill at 3,500 m where you can enjoy your lunch while looking at Nilgiri Peak (7,061 m) across the valley. You can explore the ancient Buddhist monastery with many fascinating Thangka paintings and artifacts. Our trek from here onward goes all the way to Muktinath which is a very religious pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. Normally the Buddhist nuns take care of cultural heritages inside Muktinath temple and most importantly photography/filming of deities inside the temples and monasteries is strictly prohibited. Also, a short tour of 301 caves in Dzong can be a perfect side trip on this day. Dzong is located within a semi-restricted area where part of the Sakya Buddhist tradition, rituals and practices have been kept alive so tourists can travel to the village for a day but are not permitted to spend the night there.

Subsequently, on the next day, we shall trek down an amazing single track passing the mystical Lupra valley, where we will visit a Bonpo monastery. Bonpo is an old pre-Buddhist Tibetan religion so you can wander through the town and learn about the Bonpo religion at the Gompa which is painted in red. Following our planned itinerary we shall head to Thini gaun via Phalyak from Lupra. Here in Thini gaun, you can visit the Dhumba Lake which is situated at around 3,500 meters above sea level along with nature’s charismatic landscape. Now we pass through small and beautiful terrains to reach Thakali village of Chimanggaon where you can get a glimpse of the Tibetan Refugee Camps. Unfortunately, the status of Tibetans in Nepal has grown increasingly unstable as China exerts greater influence on Nepal’s policies towards Tibetans. Going through the trail with the Dhaulagiri Mountain to your left and the Annapurna to your right, you shall pass through waterfall, gorges and forest to reach Kalapani. From Kalapani you shall make a gradual climb which in turn brings you to Titigaun village. Here you are presented with fine views ahead of Mt. Nilgiri and Mt. Annapurna I and along with that you have a spare amount of time to visit the Titi Lake. With the opportunity to get close to the natural wonders of the Annapurna region, we carry on with our trek down to Larjung. Immediately behind Larjung, the Dhaulagiri Icefall is poised like an icy deluge arrested by its own viscosity. Behind it is the even more stupendous hulk of Dhaulagiri, the seventh-highest mountain. Afterwards while moving ahead we pass through villages, Gompa and breathtaking mountain views to reach the all famous village, Marpha (2,680m). Marpha is a village behind a ridge and the apples originally from here are a delicacy which you must try. There are also many comfortable places to sleep with great views. Ultimately, at the end of our trek, we shall head towards Jomsom from Marpha and then take a flight back to Pokhara.

Although Royal Mustang Trek is done throughout the year , in general, this trek is recommended from April to June and September to November as the top finest months for this luxurious trek. And the Royal Mustang Trek can be performed by anyone with a good amount of physical fitness as we shall only walk for about 3 hours per day. So join Nepal Mountain Trekkers now and be a part of this luxurious trek with many cultural experiences along the way with our expert trekking team. We are also offering special discount on Royal Mustang Trek along with our other packages on the 2021 to promote tourism in Nepal which is affected by the global pandemic everyone. 

Overview