September 17th to October 2nd 2016 Kathmandu to Kathmandu
This trek covers one of the last Shangri-la’s in the Himalaya. A lost kingdom bordering Tibet which has a regulated entry of not more than three thousand visitors per year with magnificent monasteries, frescoes, palaces and a way of life which would soon vanish forever.Sculpted canyons and fantastic rock formations, medieval villages, ruined fortresses, royal palaces, unexplored Neolithic cave complexes, Tibetan Buddhist gompas and snow-peaks characterize this spectacular region, a thumb sticking up into the Tibetan plateau. Upper Mustang and its walled capital, Lo Manthang, is a remote and starkly beautiful region, home to Buddhism as well as the remnants of the older, mystical Bon religion.   

CAUTION: Though the trek to Mustang is below 4000 metres for most of the way, there are numerous ups and downs, mostly crossing canyons in the upper Kali Gandaki valley. Hence, the walking can be hard on some days especially when a long descent to  a bridge is followed by an equally long ascent!

Who should join this trek?
A good choice for regular hill walkers, moderate level of fitness required.
1) Walking times: average 7 to 8 hours walking per day ( some half days as well)
2) Altitude: up to 4250 metres  
3) Terrain: for some of the time following well-travelled trails although also likely to encounter rough and rocky conditions. Some of the walking is also on a rough jeepable dirt track
4) Remoteness: the trek is in a remote mountain area  but there are small villages on the route.


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Day 01 Arrive Kathmandu39aaa
Day 02 Process Permit as original passport and Nepal visa needed
Day 03 Kathmandu to Pokhara ,We take the micro bus from from Kathmandu to Pokhara. The rest of the day is spent in Pokhara relaxing and preparing for our departure the next day.
Day 04 Pokhara to Jomsom (2760m) by flight and walk to Kagbeni. In case flight is cancelled we will take a jeep to Jomsom.
Day 05 Kagbeni to Chele (3100m) 430 m ascent and 170 m descent 4 to 5 hoursWe take a jeep in the morning from Jomsom for Kagbeni and then walk to Chele. The trail leaves Kagbeni and climbs to a ridge with a chorten. After several more ups and downs the trail enters the village of Tangbe (3060m). From Tangbe it is an hour to Chuksang (2980m). Across the Kali Gandaki from Chuksang there are some spectacular looking red and ochre coloured cliffs. After some more ups and downs the trail leaves the Kali Gandaki and climbs to Chele.

Mustang 1Day 06 Chele to Syangmochen (3800m) (6 to 7 hours) From Chele there is a long and relentless slog to the pass of Chele La (3630m). From the pass there is a long and mild descent to Samar (3600m). From Samar the trail climbs to the Bhena La ( 3830m). From the Bhena La there is yet another climb to the Yamdo La (4010m) from where the trail drops to the village of Syangmochen. This is a hard day’s walking.

Day 07 Syangmochen to Ghemi (3510m) (5 to 6 hours)

From Shyangmochen the path descends to the village of Gelling (3570m). From Gelling there is another climb to the pass of Nyi La (4020m) which marks the southern boundary of the kingdom of Lo. The trail then drops steeply to the village of Ghemi.

Day 08 Ghemi to Tsarang (3575m) (4 to 5 hours)

The trail drops from Ghemi crosses a bridge and then passes what is the most spectacular mani wall in Mustang. It then climbs to Choya La (3870m) and descends to the village of Tsarang.

Day 09 Tsarang to Lo Manthang 450 m ascent 200 m descent (3840m)

The path descends about 125m, crosses a stream and enters the Tholung valley. It then climbs gradually to a ridge and a large chorten. From here the trail leads to the Lho La (3950m) from where it drops to the walled city of Lo Manthang

Day 10, 11 and 12   Lo Manthang Mustang 2We spend three days  in and around Lo Manthang exploring the walled city, the monasteries, the palace, frescoes and other sights.

Day 13 – one buffer day on the trek to be utilized as needed

Day 14  Jeep from Lo Manthang to Chuksang and then down to Kagbeni and Jomsom for the night

Day 15  Jomsom to Pokhara by flight

Day 16 Pokhara to Kathmandu by flight.

 Dates : September 17th to October 2nd 2016

 Costs: US$ 2200/- (exclusions apply see details below) please budget USD 400 for meals and other costs en route extra.
The cost is per person for Kathmandu to Kathmandu (16 days ) as per the itinerary given. Days 1 and 2 are in Kathmandu.
Costs given above are at current rates of 2016 and may change without notice. Changes if any will be notified 3 months before the trek.
Costs include:
Mustang Special Restricted area permit @ USD 50 per day is covered.
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit and TIMS permit is covered
All road transfers Kathmandu to Pokhara,; Lo Manthang to Kagbeni mostly by private jeep.
Return flight ticket from Pokhara to Kathmandu and flights from Pokhara to Jomsom and back
Airport tax as applicable
All accommodation on the trek on twin sharing basis.
Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu one night on the way in and two nights accomodation in Pokhara is covered on twin sharing basis.
Cost of porters/guides for the trek. Please note that porters will carry one duffel bag or backpack not exceeding 10 kgs in weight for each trekker comprising of personal items, clothing, sleeping bag etc.
Costs not included
All meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara
Breakfast lunch and dinner on the trek is not included. Desserts, drinks, and exotic items listed in the lodge menus are not included. Alcohol, cold drinks (coca cola, sprite, beer), juices, ice cream etc on the trek and in Lukla.
Client travel and medical insurance of any kind. Emergency evacuation costs if needed.
Video camera fees in National Parks (where applicable).
Bottled drinks; boiled, filtered or bottled water; alcohol; snacks etc
Hot showers (Rs 200-300 per shower);
Personal clothing and equipment; sleeping bag; duvet /down/ goretek jacket, medicines for personal use etc.
Air fare from residence country to Nepal and back
Tips to porters at the end of trek

Estimate of Costs not included

Fooding at lodges en route will be around USD 25 per person per day On an estimate this would be around USD 400 for the entire 14 days. Cost increases as you go higher up the valley and will vary depending on what you eat/drink. Alchohol and soft drinks like Coke etc not covered in this estimate. If you wish to have beer, coles, apple pies, pizza, lasagnia, yak steaks please add another $5 to $10 to this estimate.
Tips to guides /porters can be estimated at USD 50 to USD 60 per person to contribute to the common pool.

 

 ITEMS REMARKS
 Duffle BagAll the equipment listed below other than what you need for the day should be packed into a duffle bag, locked and handed over to the porters in the morning. In case you cannot get a duffle bag in your home country these are available very cheap in Kathmandu and I can help you with this. The duffle bag should not weight more than 10 kgs! 
1Sleeping BagWarm sleeping bag is needed at least three season rated to 15F
2Daypack or Hipbelt To carry water, one jacket some nuts, chocolates, cap, camera to keep with you in the day, maybe gloves and cap as well, hiking poles etc.
3Boots or  Trekking Shoesone pair  
4Slippers or Sandals for camplightweight to wear in the evenings
5warm Socks2 pairs to carry  and one pair to wear
6Glovesone pair 
7Underwear1 to wear and 2 to carry
8Warm Capone- Wool or fleece is usually good
9Heavy jacket the warmest you can get as nights and early mornings are cold - down is usually preferred otherwise a warm synthetic filled jacket.
10Thermal Underwear ( top and bottom) - long johnsinner layer to wear at night and early morning ;  
11Mid LayerUsually a jacket of fleece or wool which can be worn over a thermal layer or by itself while walking 
12T shirts for walkingone to wear and 2 to carry - if the sun is hot you can walk in a T shirt
13Trousers /tights etcone to wear and one to carry light weight preferred
14One Rain Jacket /Wind Jacket/Soft Shell jacket useful in case of wind ... you may need it in light rain though we would usually take shelter and wait for the rain to stop. Our trek is not in  the rainy season though some light rain/snow  in the late afternoon evenings cannot be ruled out. 
15Torch or headlampone small needed  carry one set spare batteries
16Sun blocone small tube should be ok spf 30 or 50
17some essential medicinesvitamins, headache,  fever,  pain killers, diamox for altitude, your own specific medicines  etc
18Hiking polesif you have bad knees then this is recommended especially on the down hills!!
19Water bottle one no 500 ml  or 1 litre is ok you can use the 500 or 600 ml empty coke or pepis bottles
20Sun glassesthe sun is strong in the day
21Cap for the sunditto!
22small towelfor baths and wash up in case you can use the hot shower
23toothbrush, paste, soap, shampoo, vaseline, comband any other toilet items you may need!
24wet tissues - wet ones for bathroomcalled wet ones in India
25some washing powder surf etc smallto wash clothes en route if needed
26Nuts, raisins etc all mixed upcan be divided into small packets for daily use
27Chocolates /Energy Bars/Amul cheese slices/tea bagsCarry some chocolates or energy bars to have on the way. Amul cheese slices are very useful and can be had as snacks when you are tired of sweets!
28Sweetsfor energy
29Volini  gel/ Bengay etc for aches and  painsor any other equivalent
30Iodine or chlorine tablets  for water purificationavailable in Kathmandu- this is important as mineral  water bottles are expensive; for overseas visitors you can get iodine tablets in REI and other large outdoor outlets
31Electral or any other rehydating saltsCarry a few small packets  of electrolyte - useful to have mixed with water if dehydrated
32some spare plastic bags to pack  wet stuff, dirty clothes etc  
33Book in case you want to read on the way and IPOd for music optional!
34Two  small locks one for your duffle bag and one for your room in case the lodge does not have a lock
35Clothes line with hooks on either side in case you want to hang up your wet clothes to dry outside!!
36Super Glue To patch up boots that may give way!
37Face mask For dust, cold winds etc available in kathmandu
38Extra shoe laces one pair
39Binoculars 

Sujoy Das

[email protected]

India: +919831054569; Nepal: +977 9818037020

Lok Silwal

[email protected]

CANCELLATION CHARGES

All trek payments are subject to the following cancellation charges:

0-7 days before the start of the trek =75%

8 -15 days before the start of the trek = 50%

16-30 days before the start of the trek = 35%

31-45 days before the start of the trek = 25%

46 days and above = 20%