Upper Mustang Photography Tour

• Arrival in Kathmandu
• Overnight: Hotel in Kathmandu

On arrival get received by our staff and guide and transfer to your respective hotels in the hub of Kathmandu. After checking into your lovely rooms, get refreshed from jet-leg. Then join in with other members of the Upper Mustang Photography Tour.

Our guide/leader will brief us with information about the hotels-including detail of trekking regarding the local lodge, walks, views, history, and culture.  Simultaneously, with a few important do’s and don’ts while you are with us have enjoyable times.

The evening includes a nice dinner(with the most popular Nepali foods)  in a pleasant Nepalese restaurant with local cultural programs. Remember the next day morning, we will have a Kathmandu tour.

After breakfast, the interesting tour starts with a short drive to Pashupatinath Temple a holy Hindu Temple. It is situated 5 km east of Kathmandu. It’s the temple of Lord Shiva-Pashupatinath which is famous for its superb architecture with two-tiered golden roofs and silver doors. Visitors can see the temple and activities performed on the temple premises from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River.

Besides Hindu people, others are not allowed to enter the main Temple premises. However, one can witness the religious activities from the other side of the Bagmati River and observe pilgrims in worship. From here a short drive leads to the Bouddhanath northeast of the Pashupatinath area.

The Stupa of Bouddhanath lies 8-km east of Kathmandu. This colossal and ancient stupa is one of the biggest in the world. The area around is known as ‘Little Tibet’ due to the local people of Tibetan origin and culture.

After a wonderful visit to the Great Stupa, the tour continues towards the center of Kathmandu city around its old Durbar Square (palace courtyard) an interesting place full of lively activities.

Tour of Kathmandu Durbar Square (old Palace and courtyard), Akash Bhairab Temple, Hanuman Dhoka, the historic seat of past royal, belonging to the Malla and Shah Dynasty. Visit the Temple of Kumari and the holy quadrangle with a Buddhist stupa, center from the residential quarters of the Chaste Virgin Living Goddess called KUMARI. Kastha Mandap located near the Temple of Kumari a unique type of wooden temple also known as Maru Satal built in 1596 A.D. by King Laxmi Narsingh Malla, where the name Kathmandu derived from a temple built by wood of a single tree called ‘Kastha Mandap.

From here visit Swoyambhunath (Monkey Temple), which stands as one of the world’s oldest Buddhist Chaityas and the landmark of  Nepal. It has a history of more than 25 centuries old. This Great Stupa of Swayambhunath is the wonder and the glory that was Nepal, listed as World Heritage Site.

After a great full-day tour of Kathmandu at place of interest back to hotel with an afternoon free at leisure.

After having a good breakfast, an exciting drive leads to one of the most famous places in all Himalayas picturesque Pokhara. On reaching Pokhara overnights in nice hotels by the serene Phewa Lake.

Afternoon you can have a free walk around the lakeside with interesting shops and stores. The place includes world-class restaurants with close views of the Annapurna mountain range and the stunning peak of Machhapuchare Himal.

With an overnight stop in Pokhara, after breakfast, we take a long scenic drive to Jomsom. On the way, we encounter numerous villages like Beni, Tatopani, Kalopani, and Marpha which is typical to encounter. Jomsom is approximately 157 km far away from Pokhara and 357 km approx. from the capital city of Pokhara.

After 5 hours of driving, we reach the beautiful village of Kalopani, a place with a stunning view of Nilgiri South. Here we take our first Himalayan lunch. Then, the drive continues towards another scenic village of Marpha and then finally to the stunning destination, Jomsom.

From Jomsom, the trail leads along Kaligandaki plains where the walk leads you past Ekle-Bhatti village. And then into an impressive old village at Kagbeni, the door to Upper Mustang and beyond towards the Tibet border.

At Kagbeni, you enjoy time with great photo opportunities taking pictures of local people interwoven with Tibetan Buddhism religion. Also, can enjoy interesting traditional farm life, visiting its monasteries and streets lined with shops and stores with Himalayan views. Then, the drive leads within the towering colorful canyon and highly eroded cliffs to reach at Tiri-Gaon village with well-cultivated farm fields.

The journey leads through beautiful landscapes with short up and downs and on a winding path to reach Tshele village. It is a moderate size village. And from here onward into more Buddhism culture and customs similar to Tibet across the border.

From this nice village of Tsele, continue with some stops for photography and then drive climb to reach Gyakar village. And then step into windswept terrain within the dry country. Finally, we reach Samar village, one of the attractive-looking villages.

With time Samar village continues to reach a small place of Bhena and then a steep climb leads to a ridge on top of Yamda La(3,860 m) pass. It offers stunning views of Upper Mustang landscapes with high snow-capped peaks of Mt. Dhaulagiri and the Mustang Himal range.

Enjoying great scenery descend to Syangboche village another interesting traditional village. With pleasant and wonderful stops drive to Tsarang also spelled “Charang”. Visit its old monastery and witness Buddhist prayer wheels propelled and supported by fast-flowing water. After an interesting tour of the Gompa/monastery continues driving past Ghami and Dhakmar villages. Then finally reach nice looking village of Tsarang, an impressive place surrounded by vast fields of buck wheat and barley.

Here we visit its old monastery enriched with ancient religious relics and painting on walls and ceilings with a great statue of Buddha.

From here our journey leads to our main highlight and goal of the trip at Lo-Manthang. In former times it was known as the walled city. But at present, it’s a large village within the fort and Dzong of Lo-Manthang guarding the villages against invaders.

It is the place, once a former kingdom where the Raja (king) of Mustang ruled over around huge Mustang region, where the drive leads to Marang village. From here climb a ridge top, past corten, and mani stones prayer walls in between Tsarang and Lo Manthang.

The drive carries a facing view of Nilgiri’s, Tilicho, and Bhrikuti's peaks. And then up to Lo La(3,950 m) high offering grand scenery looking down towards Lo Manthang walled village and a fortress. From here descend to the base of a pass then on a nice path to reach Lo Manthang for overnight stops.

Today you will be fully engrossed in taking pictures around this exciting place within the walled town of Lo-Manthang. Exploring narrow neat stone paved alleys within impressive villages and houses with Tibetan design and carving.

Tour around its historical and cultural centers one of the main attractions of Lo-Manthang. Explore four grand monasteries of Namgyal Gompa, Champa Lakhang (God House), Red Thubchen Gompa, Chyodi Gompa, and its Great Entrance Hall.

Take special permission to enter King’s palace and visit the interior of the old palace. And to grant an audience with the late King of the Mustang family if possible.

After a most glorious and amazing time within the former walled kingdom of Upper Mustang at Lo-Manthang, we take a morning drive to the same route. You get more opportunities to photograph the villages-people and beautiful landscapes and slowly reach Kagbeni, the cultural village with a complete Tibetan influence.

Great fun shooting with your camera taking photos of cheerful people of Tibetan origin with wide smile along with views.

Today, the drive leads further up to reach the holy spot of Muktinath one of the highest places on the trip.

Muktinath is located on the route of popular Annapurna Circuit trekking routes of Manang via high Thorang la a high pass. It joins the trail here while coming from the upper Mustang region. On auspicious times the place flooded with pilgrims of both Hindu and Buddhist, a great photography opportunity.

Enjoy views of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri’s peaks where Muktinath history and its temple go back the antiquity of thousands of years. Both Hindus and Buddhists come on the pilgrimage to this sight of natural power.

Visit the Temple of Muktinath and its 108 water spout, one of the sources of the Kaligandaki River. Rest of the afternoon visit the village around Muktinath and immerse in its culture and traditional life.

After enjoying the beautiful time around Muktinath, we take a drive from the holy place of Muktinath to Jomsom town. And then, a further drive takes place to reach the beautiful village of Marpha. It’s a last overnight spot in a nice lodge around the Mustang area.

Jomsom area from Kagbeni to Marpha is famous for delicious apples and products cider, brandy, and juice. Celebrate last night's dinner with staff and other members.

The last day of our Upper Mustang Trek package completes after taking a quite long scenic drive to reach beautiful Pokhara city.

Pokhara is a charming place blessed with a high Annapurna range of peaks with calm lakes of Phewa and Begnas. After reaching the city, you get transferred to the hotel by the beautiful Phewa Lake, with time to explore around interesting streets of the lakeside.

Early morning short drive to Sarankot hilltop which is a famous viewpoint for super sunrise views over a range of mountains. The range includes from Dhaulagiri-Annapurna to Mt. Manaslu. It also, offers an aerial view of Pokhara Valley and Lake Phewa, a popular spot for Para-Gliding as well.

After catching the views of sunrise and mountains, we get back to the hotel. After having refreshments, we take our lunch in Pokhara. And then, we head back to Kathmandu city where on the way you get stunning views of landscapes, rivers, and mountains. Then, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

After enjoying a marvelous time and experience on  Upper Mustang Photography Tour and over the high Larke-La pass it‘s time to return. Morning board in a vehicle for an exciting and interesting overland journey to reach back at Kathmandu for the last moment within amazing Nepal and its Himalayas.