Upper Mustang and Forbidden Kingdom Exploration – 17 Days

Today, you will explore Kathmandu. You will go to many places, a guide will accompany you to all of these places. First, you will see Swayambhunath. People call it the Monkey Temple. It is located on a hill, so from here you will be able to see many old buildings and also monkeys playing around. Then, you will go to Boudhanath. It is a big white dome. Many people walk around it while saying prayers. They turn prayer wheels, which is one of the rituals of praying. Here, you will see many colorful flags that represent the rich culture and tradition of this place. Last, you will go to Pashupatinath. Pashupatinath is a temple by the river, it is visited by many people who follow Hinduism. Here, you will be able to see many holy men, burning fires and incense, and many people praying. Pictures or videos inside the temple are not allowed, so be careful about that. After seeing the temples, you can walk in the city. You can see things made by hand all around. This day is to learn about Nepal. You will see old buildings, learn about the old ways, see how people pray, and how people live. You will learn about the history. This will help you understand Nepal. It will help you get ready to have an even better time in Upper Mustang.

Day three is all about Pokhara and Kagbeni. Two very beautiful places of Nepal. Get yourself ready because you are in for a treat. In the very beginning, you will take a flight to Pokhara. The plane ride is short. You will see beautiful mountains. Pokhara is a wonderful city by a lake called Phewa. After you land, you will drive to Kagbeni by jeep. The drive is long, but in the end, it will be worth it. While travelling, you will see small villages, rivers, mountains, and dry land. Kagbeni is a small village. It is at the start of Upper Mustang. It is by two rivers, the Kali Gandaki and Jhong. Kagbeni is known for its old houses and a monastery. You can walk around and explore this wonderful village. This day is all about travel. At the end of the day, you will spend the night at Kagbeni. You will spend the night in a guest house that is run by locals. The place will be small and humble, but you will have a good night's rest. You will also be able to enjoy some Nepali cuisine. So, take your time to soak into this wonderful village.

Day four is the first day of walking. You will walk from Kagbeni to Chele. The walk is long, and you will walk by the Kali Gandaki River. You will see small villages, and the land will be dry, so make sure to hydrate well. You will see caves made in the rocks; these represent the history of this place. You will see many different colors of rocks. Chele is a small village with old houses. After the walk, you will spend the night in Chele. Today's walk will last for hours, and you will be able to see many new things. The walk will go up and down with mountains all around you. But in the end, it will be all worth it, cause now you are one step closer to Upper Mustang.

Today, you're heading from Chele to Syanbochen. This part of the trek takes you through some deep canyons, and you'll be climbing over passes. You can expect views of the mountains, they're all around. You'll pass through small places where people live, and you might see locals going about their day. Syanbochen is a small spot where you can stop and rest. It's a place to catch your breath. This day's walk is going to be tougher than yesterday's. More ups and downs, steeper climbs. The land changes a lot, so you'll see different views. It's a real adventure, and you'll feel like you're getting deeper into Upper Mustang. As the sun sets, you'll settle into a simple guesthouse in Syanbochen. You'll eat a warm meal, maybe share stories with other trekkers, and then rest up for another day of walking.

Day six, and you're off to Ghami. The walk today shows you more of what Upper Mustang is about. You'll see lands that look dry, but the rocks have colors you won't believe. Red cliffs stand tall, and there's a long wall with stones that people have carved prayers on. The village of Ghami is bigger than where you stayed last night. Ghami has a popular monastery. Here you can experience a lot of the local culture. You'll see how different the land is here. By the time you reach Ghami, you'll be tired. and you will also have experienced some amazing sights. You will get to where you will stay, have dinner, and prepare for the next day's adventure.

Day seven takes you to Tsarang. The trek keeps you in those high-up desert lands. You'll go over passes, and the mountain views keep improving. Tsarang is a village with a story. There's an old palace, and a monastery too. As you explore these places, you will feel the history in these places. The walk is a good challenge, and you'll see more of those amazing landscapes. When you get to Tsarang, you can explore a bit. The old buildings are worth seeing. You'll find a place to sleep, eat some food, and rest. Another day done, another step closer to Lo Manthang.

On day eight, you walk towards Lo Manthang from Tsarang. Lo Manthang is the main city. To get to Lo Manthang, you will have to walk up a hill. You see the city. As you get near Lo Manthang, you will see big old walls. Lo Manthang is the city where the king lived. It has old houses and places to pray. As you walk inside the city, you will see small streets and old buildings. The locals who stay here still live the way they used to. You might see locals wearing traditional clothes. In Lo Manthang, you will see many places with old paintings. The day is all about knowing the history of this wonderful place. At the end of the day, you will reach your guest house, have some warm Nepalese dish, and have a good rest.

Today, you will spend your entire day soaking in the beautiful history of Lo Manthang. You take a walk around the city. Your guide will take you to visit the king's old house. The palace is big and unlike any other palace you have seen in the big cities. You will be able to appreciate many old paintings, you will explore the small streets see many locals going on about their day. The locals here are known for being friendly, so they might tell you some interesting stories. You will learn a lot about the place, the history of the place, and the locals. Take your time and enjoy the day as much as you can.

On day ten, you will explore the caves near Lo Manthang. These caves were once home to many people a long time ago. You will find many caves here which are made in rocks. You have the chance to go into some of these caves. Today, you will have a lot to learn about, including the caves themselves and how people lived in these caves. You will also learn about the past of these people. After a wonderful day of exploration, you will head back to Lo Manthang. After that, you rest for the night and get prepared for your next day's journey.

On the eleventh day, you will walk from Lo Manthang to Dhakmar. Today's walk will be a long one, so make yourself well-prepared for it. You will see many beautiful colored rocks, such as red and orange. You see mountains far away. Dhakmar is a small village with few houses. You stop there at Dhakmar and take a rest. At the end, you will get to your guesthouse and embrace the peace of this wonderful place with some nice food. Take your time to remember your journey so far, and enjoy the moment.

Today's path is going to be a bit more challenging as you walk through deep canyons. The canyons have tall walls. You walk over high passes with great views. You see mountains and valleys. Ghiling is a village which is known for its old historic monastery. The path is going to go up and down, so be prepared to see different lands with different colors. And just like that, your other day will come to an end. You will reach your guesthouse and spend the night there. Rest your body well as it has been a tiring few days, enjoy warm food and get ready for another walk for next day.

Day thirteen is your journey toward Chhusang. The walk goes through high desert and over passes. You will see the Kali Gandaki River. Chhusang is a village at the meeting of two rivers. You will see more views of the mountains. The path is long, and it will take you up and down. You'll reach your guesthouse at the end of the day. You can rest your legs. You'll eat a warm meal. You'll get ready for the walk tomorrow.

On day fourteen, you walk to Jomsom, the last big walk in Upper Mustang. Today's path will take you side by side with the Kali Gandagi river. The path will take you downhill. Jomsom is a big town with an airport, shops, and more people. After a long day of walking, you reach Jomsom. You find a place to stay, rest your legs, and eat a big meal. You think about the walk, Upper Mustang, and the mountains, and you get ready to fly tomorrow.

On day fifteen, you fly to Pokhara. Pokhara is a city by Phewa Lake, as mentioned above. After landing, you can take your time and do as you please in this city. But it's best recommended to take about ride. Make sure to take a walk by the lake during the evening. You can think about the walk, Upper Mustang, and the mountains, and enjoy the lake and the city.

On day sixteen, you drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu. You will drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu in a jeep. The drive will be long. But you will see beautiful views along the way. You will also be able to stop to eat and rest before reaching Kathmandu. You go to your hotel and you can take this day to rest or explore the city if you have enough time. You think about the trip and enjoy your last day in Nepal.

Day seventeen is your last day, and you go to the airport to get on a plane that takes you away from Nepal. You think about your trip, the high mountains you saw, the kind people you met, and Upper Mustang. You think about the long walk, remembering the good times, the old buildings, the colorful flags, the small villages, the quiet and loud places, and the stories. You remember everything, taking these memories with you, and you will think about them for a long time.