Flying into Kathmandu is an unforgettable experience with the Himalaya spread out before you. You will be met at the airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel. In the morning of day 2 a half-day city tour will introduce you to some of the highlights of Kathmandu.

Flying into Kathmandu is an unforgettable experience with the Himalaya spread out before you. You will be met at the airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel. In the morning of day 2 a half-day city tour will introduce you to some of the highlights of Kathmandu.

Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara, or you may to fly.

A morning flight to Jomson, renowned for the best apples in Nepal, is followed by a 4-hour walk along the Kali Gandaki to Kagbeni, gateway to Mustang. Here houses are flat-roofed in the Tibetan style and it is uncommon to fine ammonite fossils along the river. Nilgiri peak dominates the skyline.

Depending on the season trek either along the riverbank or follow the high ridge tot trail. Passing the Nyingmapa Gompa Kang reach Tangbe. This is the first of many stunning villages marked by the black, red and white chorten typical of Mustang, and of the Sakya sect to which most belong. Like Kagbeni and other settlements in the area, Tangbe is a labyrinth of narrow alleys among white washed houses surrounded by fields of buckwheat, barley and wheat and apple orchards. The spectacular eroded red cliffs are a mass of inaccessible caves as you climb out of the river valley to Chele. Here you enter the area of Tibetan cultural influence – houses have sheep horns above the doors, amulets to capture evil spirits and ferocious Tibetan mastiffs guarding their property. The predominance of Chinese rather than Indian or Nepalese goods indicates the changed trading patterns – and that traditional trade routes continue to flourish regardless of politics.

After a long steep climb, reach a traditional stopping place for horse caravans, samar, situated amongst a grove of popular trees. Annapurna Himal is still visible to the south. Ridges, gorges and small passes traverse barley fields and juniper groves. Many of the villages have imposing chorten and, crossing the Tangmar Chu River, climb past the longest and most spectacular mani walls at the top of the large Charang Chu canyon. There is a large dzong and a Gompa with a good collection of statues and thankas.

After a long steep climb, reach a traditional stopping place for horse caravans, samar, situated amongst a grove of popular trees. Annapurna Himal is still visible to the south. Ridges, gorges and small passes traverse barley fields and juniper groves. Many of the villages have imposing chorten and, crossing the Tangmar Chu River, climb past the longest and most spectacular mani walls at the top of the large Charang Chu canyon. There is a large dzong and a Gompa with a good collection of statues and thankas.

Entering the Tholung Valley the trail becomes a wide path across a desert like landscape of gray and yellow. Lo Manthang, the capital of Lo, lies within a tall white washed mud bricks wall. Narrow alleys wind between closely packed houses, temples, gompas and the palace. The surrounding fields produce a single annual crop of wheat, barley, peas or mustard. It is a prosperous town whose wealth was built route and many Lobas also travel south to India to trade during winter.

Entering the Tholung Valley the trail becomes a wide path across a desert like landscape of gray and yellow. Lo Manthang, the capital of Lo, lies within a tall white washed mud bricks wall. Narrow alleys wind between closely packed houses, temples, gompas and the palace. The surrounding fields produce a single annual crop of wheat, barley, peas or mustard. It is a prosperous town whose wealth was built route and many Lobas also travel south to India to trade during winter.

Entering the Tholung Valley the trail becomes a wide path across a desert like landscape of gray and yellow. Lo Manthang, the capital of Lo, lies within a tall white washed mud bricks wall. Narrow alleys wind between closely packed houses, temples, gompas and the palace. The surrounding fields produce a single annual crop of wheat, barley, peas or mustard. It is a prosperous town whose wealth was built route and many Lobas also travel south to India to trade during winter.

Follow irrigated fields out of the city, talking a last look back at Manthang from the pass. Ghar Gompa, situated in a grove of trees by a stream, probably dates from the same time as Tibet’s first monastic institution, Samye (built 775-87) and contains a self-eminating statue as well a hundreds of painted carved stones, paintings and several large prayer wheels. Rejoining the trail you trekked in on, continue back to the Kali Gandaki and to Kagbeni.

Follow irrigated fields out of the city, talking a last look back at Manthang from the pass. Ghar Gompa, situated in a grove of trees by a stream, probably dates from the same time as Tibet’s first monastic institution, Samye (built 775-87) and contains a self-eminating statue as well a hundreds of painted carved stones, paintings and several large prayer wheels. Rejoining the trail you trekked in on, continue back to the Kali Gandaki and to Kagbeni.

Follow irrigated fields out of the city, talking a last look back at Manthang from the pass. Ghar Gompa, situated in a grove of trees by a stream, probably dates from the same time as Tibet’s first monastic institution, Samye (built 775-87) and contains a self-eminating statue as well a hundreds of painted carved stones, paintings and several large prayer wheels. Rejoining the trail you trekked in on, continue back to the Kali Gandaki and to Kagbeni.

Follow irrigated fields out of the city, talking a last look back at Manthang from the pass. Ghar Gompa, situated in a grove of trees by a stream, probably dates from the same time as Tibet’s first monastic institution, Samye (built 775-87) and contains a self-eminating statue as well a hundreds of painted carved stones, paintings and several large prayer wheels. Rejoining the trail you trekked in on, continue back to the Kali Gandaki and to Kagbeni.

Follow irrigated fields out of the city, talking a last look back at Manthang from the pass. Ghar Gompa, situated in a grove of trees by a stream, probably dates from the same time as Tibet’s first monastic institution, Samye (built 775-87) and contains a self-eminating statue as well a hundreds of painted carved stones, paintings and several large prayer wheels. Rejoining the trail you trekked in on, continue back to the Kali Gandaki and to Kagbeni.

Fly Jomson-Pokhara. Drive Kathmandu or you may choose to fly.

Departure