Day 01: KathmanduArrival Kathmandu. Met by representative and taken to hotel. Evening cultural dinner and detailed orientation.
Day 02: Kathmandu
We leave this day for orientation and planning for the trip, but secretly it’s also a padding to account for any delays in flights. We make best use of this day by conducting a tour of the city to see the melting pot that is Kathmandu valley. A quick eye-opener on what Kathmandu has to offer.
Day 03: Pokhara
Today we travel to Pokhara, the lake town, set in the foothills of the Annapurna Massif. We can do this either by road transport, slightly greener, but long (6 hours), or flights, where our footprints will be bigger, but it’s short (20 minutes). Overnight at Pokhara.
Day 04: Jomsom – Kagbeni
We fly early to Jomsom, collect our porters and start the short 2.5 hours trek to Kagbeni, at the border of Upper Mustang. We visit the 500+ year old monastery here and start getting a taste of things to come
Day 05: Tsale
Today we check in at the ACAP offices and register our permits for Upper Mustang and start the trek up the Kali Gandaki to Tsaile. Six hours.
Day 06: Syangmochen
This is a uphill day, as we go uphill first to Samar for lunch and then select either the ‘Nepali flat’ way via Bhena or the one via the cave Gompa. Six hours.
Day 07: Tsarang
It’s a long day today, as we go over three mountains passes, two before we reach our lunch location of Ghami, and one when we make the final trek to Tsarang.
Day 08: Lo Manthang
This morning we start a bit late, exploring the Gompa and the Palace at Tsarang first before we do the four hour or so trek to Lo Manthang.
Day 09: Lo Manathang
A day of exploration at Lo Manthang.
Day 10: Lo Manthang
Free day at Lo Manthang to make side excursion on horseback or Chhoser and Chhonup or to just rest and continue the exploration of Lo Manthang.
Day 11: Ghami
Our trudge back comes via another route, the higher one going over two high mountain passes and visiting the 8th Century Mingma sect Gompa at Lo Ghakar.
Day 12: Samar
We retrace our steps, the only new part being to choose the alternative route from Syangmochen to Samar.
Day 13: Chhuksang
A relatively easy day as we come back to the Kali Gandaki river and walk the river bank to Chhuksang.
Day 14: Mukninath an Jharkot
Today we take a diversion and walk uphill to reach the fabled temple of Muktinath, and stay overnight at the lovely village of Jharkot.
Day 15: Jomsom
We slowly retrace our steps to Jomsom. We can also do this with a jeep if we so want.
Day 16: Pokhara
Early morning flight back to Pokhara and rest.
Day 17: Kathmandu
Flight back to Kathmandu and rest. Everning farewell dinner.
Day 18: Departure
Free till departure.
From GBP 1600 onwards( maximum 6 people)
Lo Manthang – the name itself conjures up a sense of mystique, and that is what you get. Trekking in the area, walking in the villages, meeting the inhabitants, savouring the local sights and sounds, is completely magical. It’s the thinner air (aboave 3000 meters), the simple friendly people, the stark mesmerizing moonscape, the deeply pious mystique that emanates from deep rooted Buddhism, or something, but it’s there, and you can feel it.