The lower Mustang and Muktinath Area lies behind the Annapurna massif and Dhaulagiri mountains and is also the gateway to forbidden kingdom of Lo Manthang. As it is in the rain shadow area it receives less rain in monsoon time. This trip is not a trek in terms of walking hours, but an easy discovery of the ancient villages and pilgrimage sites of the Hindu and Buddhist belief with splendid mountain views and semi-arid and the wind swept landscapes.
The city of Jomsom is also the administrative district of Mustang district and most of the major government offices are located and a small airport is also located in the shore of Kali Gandaki. The old town of Kagbeni is only a four to five hour walk away, but it is more beautiful and atmospheric. The ruined medieval town, ancient monasteries, traditional mud-walled houses and narrow alleys with Tibetan prayer wheels are the main attractions of this trek.
Muktinath is the sacred place for Hindus and Buddhists and receives thousands of Hindu pilgrims from all over the Indian subcontinent every year. The main villages of this trek are the village of Marpha, Tiri gaon, the village of Lubra, Jhong and the monastery of Jharkot. A day hike to the Gyula 4077m viewpoint gives you a perfect can Himalayan panoramic views of the Annapurnas, Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri Mountains.
The valley is semi-desert and the arid climate and the afternoon winds in Jomsom are very strong. In cooler seasons, they can also be very cold. It is best to plan your days accordingly, avoid the afternoon winds and leave as early as possible.
Arrival in Kathmandu 1360m, reception and transfer to the Hotel. Briefing on the trekking program. Trek preparations (trekking equipment checks, permits etc.)
Depending on the time of arrival, visit the Showyambhunath stupa in the evening.
Early breakfast at your hotel and then transfer to Baudhanath, a district inhabited mainly by Tibetan Buddhists and of Nepalese Tamang ethnicity. Maisonettes and monasteries surround the largest stupa in Nepal.
Visit the Buddhist monasteries then transfer to the Pashupatinath temple, located 1 km south of Baudhanath, the sacred place of the Hindus, its sadhus, cremations along the Bagmati river.
Transfer to Basantapur Durbar Square the former capital of King Malla for lunch. After lunch, we will visit the old palace of Kathmandu, the temple of Taleju which opens only once a year, the temple of Jaganath – quite artistic, the statue of Kaal Bhairab- god of justice with his fierce image and then why not bless by the living goddess of the capital – the Kumari. Visit this city classified as World Heritage by UNESCO then you will be guided to your hotel on foot by crossing the grocery market of Indra Chowk and Ason Tole.
Transfer by Tourist Bus / Coach / Jeep (depending on the number of participants) to Pokhara, the second largest tourist city in Nepal located 200km west of Kathmandu. This hectic route due to the state of the road will give you the opportunity to follow the Trisuli river, which rises at Langtang and Gosaikund.
You will enjoy the magnificent landscapes of rice fields and the view of the Manaslu, Ganesh and Annapurna mountains. Arrival in Pokhara, Lake Side district, bordering Lake Phewa and viewpoint on the Annapurna range.
Pokhara-Jomsom flights by small plane with 12 to 14 seats depart early in the morning at 11:00 am before the wind blows from Jomsom. 20 minutes flight you allow a magnificent view of the landscapes and white mountain and arrival in Jomsom the starting point of trek.
Our first trekking day starts by crossing the Jomsom bridge and following the Muktinath road along the Kaligandaki river, lunch at Ekle Bhatti. After lunch, we will always follow the road to Kagbeni village. Arrival and facilities in the lodge and then small walks in the village.
Second day of trek, after breakfast in the morning in the lodge, we take the direction of the village of Tiri by crossing the Kaligandaki river. You will also admire to try your luck in looking for black fossil ammonites called Shaligram in Nepalese that dates millions of years and this is found here fully in the Kali Gandaki River.
We gradually climb a small moderate climb up to the monastery (Nonnerie) to see the magnificent landscape of the upper Mustang region. There is a real Italiano café open for the benefit of the monastery. We continue on a slightly difficult path towards the village of Tiri. It is a very old village and the peasants are Tibetan. We descend to Kagbeni for lunch and visit the ruined medieval town, ancient monasteries, traditional houses with mud walls and narrow alleys with Tibetan prayer wheels.
Today, we leave the village of Kagbeni after breakfast for the Muktinath. We will follow the path by the northwest crest of Kali gandaki passing by the Jhong monastery. There is a monastery of Shakya-pa denomination located on a fortress. We continue our day until Rani Pauwa where we find lodges. Lunch and installation at your lodge and then afternoon rest.
Today we will visit the two important places of Muktinath. After breakfast, we will visit the Muktinath shrine where we find several Hindu and Buddhist temples with eternal flames. We will also observe the puja of Hindu devotees by accompanying a bath on 108 fountains around the main temple of Muktinath. We will also visit the Chhengar monastery and then return to the hostel for lunch.
Afternoon we will also visit the village of Jharkot with its splendid Shakya-pa monasteries and Center of traditional medicine. Return to the inn.
Day devoted to see the mountains climb the col de Gyu-La, 4077m. It is the day of rest for those who do not want to make a small ascent but for those who are in good shape and interested to climb a small pass to see the snow-capped peaks in 140 ° panoramic view of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Tukuché Himalayas.
Return to the inn.
We will descend by Dhanla Danda located east of Jharkot and join the road from Jomsom to Panda. Arrival in Jomsom, installation at your Lodge and small stroll in the village.
20 minutes flight early in the morning, arrival at Pokhara airport, transfer to the Hotel at Lake Side. Transfer to the international peace stoûpas, visit, lunch on site and descend to Lake Phewa, return by boat to visit the Taal Barahi temple located in the center of the lake. Free afternoons (Souvenir shopping, Ayurvedic massage, boat in the lake, mountain biking, paragliding, ULM, etc. recommended). Restaurant evening accompanied by Nepalese cultural dances.
Breakfast, then drive to the capital. This route will allow you to discover the Pokhara valley: crossing landscapes with multiple rice fields and other cultivated fields. You will enjoy local life along the road and the Trishuli River! A short stop for lunch in Malekhu, then continuation to Kathmandu. Arrival and installation at the hotel. About 5 to 7 hours drive. Free afternoon, rest or the possibility of visiting the tourist district of Thamel Kathésimbu without a guide, also called Mini Swoyambhunath is highly recommended.
According to the schedules of return flights, transfer to the airport.
Flights could be canceled at short notice due to bad weather during the monsoon and winter months and sometimes it will take days to wait. If the bad weather conditions continue, we have to return by bus or Jeep to Pokhara, which takes around 8-9h.
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