Get Into A Whole Different World During Your Trek To Upper Mustang

The Upper Mustang trek brings tourists into the concealed sphere of the ancient Buddhist monarch of Mustang, also known as Lo. Lo happen to be a part of the Tibetan kingdom and is thus closely united to Tibet in language, geography and culture.

The provinces remoteness from the outer globe has contributed significantly to an exceedingly sustained Tibetan custom and undamaged nature. Mustang lies in the rain shadows of the Dhaulagiri rock developing a ruggedly dry land enclosed by rocks in all sorts of colors and striking formations. This desert land is speckled with settlements of barley fields, white-washed homes and chortens decorated with prayer flags that incorporate a dash of colors to the scenery. When it comes to trekking in Nepal you certainly can’t resist the lure of trekking the Upper Mustang. Let’s find out why?

The path pursues the old salt caravan trail via which the folks of Mustang traded Tibetan salt for grain from the valleys. The objective of the Upper Mustang trek is to see Lo Manthang – the capital of the Upper Mustang. From the pass Lo La (3950 m) you can see the walled medieval capital in the distance, the white-washed 6-meter tall wall sticking out in sharp contrast to the infertile landscape.

Getting into Lo Manthang via the town gate is like entering into a completely different world. A sphere of slender alley routes, concealed chortens, long walls of lovely prayer wheels & stocks of farming animals ambling in from the grazing area in the afternoon to delay to their sheds in the city.

The most suitable way to arrive at Upper Mustang is to take a flight from Pokhra to Jomsom and begin the hike from there. The flight will be adventurous while flying through the deepest valley in the globe, the Kali Gandaki, which runs amid the Dhaulagiri & the Nilgiri mountains.

Upper Mustang is a restricted area and up till 1992 it was forbidden for foreign visitors to enter the kingdom. Nowadays foreigners are welcome to Upper Mustang for a permit fee of US$ 500 (to be arranged through a trekking agency and valid for 10 days, each additional day costs US$ 50).

Nowadays lodging in the guesthouses is feasible along the entire trek. Trekking in Mustang is an excellent choice throughout the Monsoon season (June to August) as the province is in the rain shadow. Nevertheless, it’s best to incorporate a day or two on each side of your travel schedule for tour disturbances because of poor weather in the plains. You can also ask your tour operator to add Manaslu trek with Upper Mustang trek for more adventure.

Difference Between Everest Base camp & Annapurna Base Camp

Wondering whether to go for Everest Base Camp trek (EBC) or Annapurna base camp trek (ABC)? Let me guide you through as I have concurred Everest Base Camp before and recently returned from Annapurna Base Camp. Therefore, I believe I’ve acquired a firm grip on the advantages & disadvantages, similarities and dissimilarities between both treks.

If you’re in Nepal for just 2 weeks and planning about doing either Everest Base camp trek or Annapurna base camp trek, I’d suggest due to the variety in landscape. The EBC trek starts and concludes at such a lofty elevation that the landscape remains considerably consistent all through the hike. The ABC trek starts outside of Pokhra where it’s hot and dry. The route pursues a river and at the starting my mate and I were able to swim around in cascades & swimming holes due to the scorching sun. We strolled through lots of trees & Rhododendron forests enclosed the route. But this scenic and warm landscape immediately transformed as soon as we got near to base camp. The day before we arrived at the base-camp we got trapped in a snowstorm. The next morning we strolled to Annapurna Base Camp from Machhapuchhare Base Camp during sunrise where we had to hike through the snow. Though in some ways the Everest was more classic due to the cruel conditions & the exhilaration of being able to witness the highest mountain in the globe, Annapurna displayed the diversity & spectacle of the Grand Himalayas.

Another huge difference amid the 2 treks was during Everest Base Camp I had a porter and guide, and for Annapurna Base Camp trek I went with a mate and we carried our own luggage and had no tour guide. However, for the Everest base camp trek, I’d certainly suggest having a guide and porter. Due to the height, I felt eased out to have somebody carrying my baggage. It made the entire experience much more enviable.

Another big difference amid the 2 treks is that Annapurna circuit trek is less crowded compared to Everest Base Camp. I personally didn’t experience this because I went to Everest Base Camp at the starting of the hiking season and it wasn’t that swarmed, but I heard that during the middle of the trekking season, it can be really wild in terms of tourist influx. If you are planning for EBC trekking, I’d suggest going at the starting of the trek season to avoid yourself from the heavy crowd. However, the Annapurna Circuit remains less crowded compared to the EBC.

Overall, I’d say that both of the treks are unbelievable, but they’re certainly different experience and it relies on what you’re looking for. Wish you a happier and safer trekking experience!