En route
The numinous Mustang region lies in the rain shadow of two gigantic massifs, Annapurna Massif and Dhaulagiri Massif. Walking along the deepest gorge in the world, the Kali Gandaki Gorge, we step at the dry and barren land of this Forbidden Kingdom bordered by the Tibetan plateau. En route, the trekkers will get accompanied by vivacious hamlets, the astounding panoramas of snowclad mountains and the bravura sunrise and sunset view over them, religious monuments, and diverse ethnic groups and their culture, and the natural blissfulness.
Situated at the northwestern portion of Nepal, our Royal Mustang Trek takes you into the luxuriant Annapurna region which is bounded by the Himalaya foothills that run along the Nepal-Tibet border to the north, the Pokhara valley to the south, Marshyangdi River to the east, and Kali Gandaki River to the west.
The Forbidden Kingdom
Lower Mustang has a secluded and divine sensation to it which provokes tourists to explore and experience the best of this region. Our lavish yet aspiring Royal Mustang Trek shall commence with a mesmerizing flight to Jomsom (2,682 m) from Pokhara until we reach the splendid setting of Jomsom. Pre-requisitely we can also provide you with horses to accommodate you entirely during this trek but if you prefer walking then with amazing and out-of-the-world sceneries, we shall trek onward to Kagbeni (2,800 m). You can take a walk around and discover the buildings that haven’t significantly changed for centuries such as the Red Monastery which sits at the very entrance to the “Forbidden Kingdom” of Mustang with a sight of eagles soaring in cloudless skies. The valleys here are waterless and dry with colorful rock formations containing many cave dwellings high up in the cliffs. Further on we hike up toward Jharkot, another medieval village on the trail to Muktinath. Jharkot is just a smidge with a typical Gompa (monastery) situated on a hill at 3,500 m where you can enjoy your lunch while looking at Nilgiri Peak (7,061 m) across the valley. You can explore the ancient Buddhist monastery with many fascinating Thangka paintings and artifacts.
Muktinath
Our trek from here onward goes all the way to Muktinath which is a very religious pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. Normally the Buddhist nuns take care of cultural heritage inside Muktinath temple and most importantly photography/filming of deities inside the temples and monasteries is strictly prohibited. Also, a short tour of 301 caves in Dzong can be a perfect side trip on this day. Dzong is situated within a semi-restricted area where part of the Sakya Buddhist tradition, rituals, and practices have been kept alive so tourists can travel to the village for a day but are not permitted to spend the night there
Best season and fitness
The Royal Mustang Trek is possible to be organized throughout the year, however, we recommended this trek during the time frame of April to June and September to November. These months are the most excellent months for this luxurious trek. Regardless of previous experience and other criteria, anyone who possesses a good amount of physical fitness can accomplish Royal Mustang Trek successfully.
