Upper Mustang Trekking is a less crowed hiking area in the Annapurna region. If you are interested in Mountain people and their way of life, the Bon culture, the Khamba history then surely the Upper Mustang trek is the place that you have to visit.
Upper mustang trek is an alternative similar to the Tibetan plateau. It was officially opened in 1992. Particularly limited numbers of trekkers are allowed every year. The capital city is called Lo Manthang at an altitude of 3,840 m. The royalty fee 500 USD is collected from every trekker for the improvement of education, health, and sanitation of local people. Upper Mustang trekking is a Himalayan rain shadow region and the best time of the year from May to September. The rest of the month is cold and harassed weather. The accommodation is well maintained nowadays and served good food. The occupations of locals are husbandry work and harvest some potatoes, wheat, Barley and Horse keeping. Mustang Treks require a minimum of 10 days from Kagbeni until return back to Kagbeni or Muktinath.
Lo Manthang, the old capital, is reached in four days and at least one extra day should be spent here to soak in the sights and sounds of this unique walled settlement. Ponies are available for hire if you so desire. The return trip can either follow the same route as the one you took to enter or take an alternative route along the eastern bank of the Kali Gandaki which Global Adventure Trekking suggests in the itinerary.
Lo Manthang trek starts after taking the short Mountain flight to Jomsom from Pokhara in the morning. Trek through the Kaligandaki-the Holy river where you may find Saligram and fossil along the river bank. Till Kagbeni follow the popular Annapurna Circuit trek and take a left turn from Kagbeni for the Lo Manthang trek. The road service is extended towards Tibet border so Global Adventure is the one who finds the different trek routes to go and back.
