Lower Mustang Trek

From Pokhara, catch the early flight to Jomsom, a fabulous place to shop for souvenirs and handicraft items. Then, start your trek to Kagbeni. Just as you leave Jomsom, a new and imposing monastery bids the warm wishes. Within a while, a linear chain of Chortens (little Buddhist Shrines) appears, directing you towards the wonderful town of Kagbeni. Walk until you arrive at the Eklobhatti, and join the trail leading to Kagbeni. Once you reach there, you will feel a completely different environment. There are classic alleys and monasteries to explore, but above all, their Tibetan inspired cultures and traditions are more intriguing.

From Kagbeni, catch a side trip trekking route to Jharkot. Even in this part of the trail, the Chortens and small monasteries are ubiquitous. Sometimes, the Mani walls (prayer inscribed stones) flavor the trip, but it is mostly the prayer flags, wrapped around the houses and pathways, that form a welcoming atmosphere. Once you arrive at Jharkot, explore the local villages and farm fields to experience the unspoiled cultures of ancient times. Plus, don’t miss out the chat with the seniors of the village. This is how you get real-life experiences.

From Jharkot, Muktinath is not very far away. Once you reach there, explore the serene lakes on the side of the temple. They are calm and peaceful. Pilgrimages could be seen diving into these oases by chanting the Mantra of Bishnu. Inside the temple, there are 108 stone taps, where the water naturally comes from the underground, mixed with the natural gas. An eternal flame is the symbol of peace and living cultures of Muktinath. In the core of the temple, a large man-sized golden statue of Lord Vishnu is simply phenomenal. Hindus show deep respect to the temple as it’s believed to be the site of Liberation (Mukti) after death.

From Muktinath, follow the lower route via Ranipauwa towards the village of Lupra. A big Shiva Temple shows you the path to the wonderful monastery of Ranipauwa, which is a colorful and vibrant village. Then, by crossing a bridge, you will walk to the Dhan La. Follow the trail straight to the west until you reach Lupra, a classic Bon settlement of amazing people. The major highlight of this village is the Bonpo Gompa (monastery) and the Thakali village. Unlike other Buddhist dominated regions, Lupra people have their distinct way of living the lifestyle. They are humble and gentle people, who are happy for what they have.

From Lupra, catch the middle way to the village of Phalyak. Once you arrive at the bank of the Kaligandaki river, continue towards the confluence point of the river where several small tributaries fuse to form a rapidly gushing Kaligandaki River. Cross a bridge and then, walk parallel to the Kolungba Khola, originating from the Tashikang peak and its surrounding glaciers. Within a short while, you will be at Phalyak, a rarely explored pristine village of Mustang region. Because of the isolation of the village from the main route, only a few put their eye to it. This place is perfect for enjoying the unblemished Tibetan cultures and rituals.

From Phalyak, catch the side trip trekking route to Jomsom (as highlighted in the Upper & Lower Mustang map of Himalayan Map House). The path is pleasant as the browny mountains keep tracking your footsteps. Still, on this isolated section, you will encounter some Chortens on the way, wrapped by the prayer flags. This shows the influence of Buddhism in higher regions of Nepal. Within a couple of minutes, you will show up at Hadigaon, after crossing a bridge. Then, continue towards the Thinigaon.

Go for an hour of a side trip to Dhumba Tal, the exquisite lake to release all the worldly tension. The water is pristine and looks untouched for centuries. Enjoy the moments at the lake and return to Thinigaon.

From Thinigaon, the route to Chimanggaon goes through the incredible stone settlements. The place is exquisite, and the alleyways are formed by placing the flat stone slabs below. The people of this village are also called Chimba. Most of them are Buddhists, so you may as well catch an insight into their lifestyle and cultures. Young kids of the village will come after you for a photograph and they look amazing ahead of the mountains. Take time out to visit the Tibetan Refugee Camp, where they sell their handmade handicraft items and souvenirs.

From Chimanggaon, descend to the Kalapani. The more you progress on the trail, the better the views become. The snowy pinnacles, rising above the northeastern Himalayas, accompany throughout the trail, particularly the peaks of Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri (meaning Blue Ridge). The path is completely off-the-beaten and leads you through some of the exquisite locations on the planet. Once you arrive at Kalopani, stroll around the villages and monasteries as it is fun doing that.

From Kalapani, Titi Gaon is not very far away. Explore the nearby settlements, and visit the exquisite Titi Lake, perched on the center of snowy pyramids. The lake is turquoise in color, but when you peek into the water closely, you will see the bottom matters distinctly. At a glance, this lake looks typically like the Gokyo lakes in Everest, but this place is much greener and vivid in many ways. Around the periphery of the lake, you can witness several distinct species of insects and birds. For the night, stay in the homestay houses.

From Titi, proceed towards the Larjung along the classic routes. The Larjung is just a couple of Kilometers away from Titi. Upon reaching there, a whole mountain series of Dhaulagiri welcomes you. Larjung is one of the least explored natural sites of the Mustang region, which is pure and aesthetic in its own way. With the charming views of the massive hills and rocky cliffs, Larjung has remained the unspoiled heritage of the upper mustang. People of this region are mostly Buddhists, and mountains inspire their daily living.

Sparing a day at Larjung is worthy of every second. From the incredible Kaligandaki gorge to the unparalleled classic views of Dhaulagiri range, the secrets of the Himalayas are no longer hidden from the charming Larjung village. After having a light breakfast, head towards the icefall point of Dhaulagiri. Seeing the icy structures arranged in such an elegant way, your eyes remain awe-struck. They are simply fabulous spots on Earth.

After creating some of the exquisite and living memories at Larjung, head towards another wonderful village of Marpha. At a glance, Marpha looks like a rainbow, but all of the same colors- black. The houses are stone-made, and the flat slabs, placed on the alleys, create an intriguing atmosphere. From this village, the astounding peak of the Nilgiri dominates the views and they appear simply fabulous. At Marpha, explore the local hamlets and spend some time talking with the locals.

Early in the morning, we will head towards the ancient but culturally rich Jomsom village where the hustle and bustle of the local people are usual throughout the day. There are several souvenir stalls and handicraft vendors if anybody is willing to get some of them for friends and families. Plus, there are many more aesthetic monasteries to visit and learn about the ancient culture of Tibetan people- both Bon and Buddhists.

Catch the early morning flight to Pokhara from Jomsom and spend rest of the time exploring the natural sites of Pokhara. It is a lot of fun doing that.

Return to Kathmandu from Pokhara via the same trail that you have been earlier