Upper Mustang Photography Tour

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 Upper Mustang Photography Tour.

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

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

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

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

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

After a wonderful visit of great Stupa, tour continues towards centre 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, historic seat of past royal, belonging to Malla and Shah Dynasty.Visit Temple of Kumari and holy quadrangle with Buddhist stupa, center form 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 a wood of a single tree called ‘Kastha Mandap.

From here visit Swoyambhunath (Monkey Temple), stands as one of the world’s oldest Buddhist Chaityas and the land mark 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 afternoon free at leisure.

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

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

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

After a 5 hours of drive, we reach a beautiful village of Kalopani, a place with 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 walk leads you past Ekle-bhatti village. And then into an impressive old village at Kagbeni, the door to Upper Mustang and beyond towards Tibet border.

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

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

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

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

Enjoying great scenery descend to Syangboche village another interesting traditional village. With pleasant and wonderful stops drive t0 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 drive past Ghami and Dhakmar villages. Then finally reach nice looking village of Tsarang, an impressive place surrounded by vast fields of buck wheat’s and barley.

Here we visit its old monastery enriched with ancient religious relics and painting on walls and ceiling with 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 actually a large village within the fort and Dzong of Lo-Manthang guarding the villages from invaders.

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

The drive carries a facing views of Nilgiri’s, Tilicho and Bhrikuti 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 nice path to reach at Lo Manthang for  overnight stops.

Today you will be fully engrossed taking pictures around this exciting place within walled town of Lo-Manthang. Exploring narrow neat stone paved alley 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 a special permission to enter King’s palace and visit the interior of the old palace. And to grant audience with late King of Mustang family if possible.

After a most glorious and amazing time within former walled kingdom of Upper Mustang at Lo-Manthang, we take morning drive to the same route. You get more opportunity 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 at holy spot of Muktinath one of the highest place of the trip.

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

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

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

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

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

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 high Annapurna range of peaks with calm lakes of Phewa and Begnas. After reaching the city, you get transfer to hotel by the beautiful Phewa Lake, with time to explore around interesting streets of lake side.

Early morning short drive to Sarankot hill top which is a famous view point for super sunrise views over range of mountains. The range includes from Dhaulagiri-Annapurna to Mt. Manaslu. 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 hotel. After having refreshment, 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.

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