The land of "Lo". Remote and forbidden to travelers for centuries is now open to trekkers. Your journey begins with a late afternoon flight to Pokhara followed, the next morning, by a flight to Jomsom. From here the trail leads along the left bank of the Kali Gandaki river through the villages of Kagbeni, Chusang, Samochin and Charang to the walled capital of Mustang - Lomanthan.
The Tiji festival which is held in Lo Manthang every year is a three-day ritual known as "The chasing of the Demons" that focuses on the Tiji myth. The myth tells of a deity named Dorje Jono who must battle against his demon father to save the Kingdom of Mustang from destruction. The demon father wreaked havoc on Mustang by bringing a shortage of water (a highly precious resource in this very dry land) and causing many resulting disasters from famine to animal loss. Dorje Jono eventually beats the demon and banishes him from the land. Tiji is a celebration and reaffirmation of this myth and throughout the festival the various scenes of the myth will be enacted. It is of course timed to coincide with the end of the dry winter/spring season and will usher in the wetter monsoon season (the growing season for Mustang). Tiji comes from the word "ten che" meaing 'the hope of Buddha Dharma prevailing in all worlds' and is effectively a spring renewal festival.
This trip also gives you the opportunity to go where few have been before. Most of the trek keeps to arid, high deserts inhabited mostly by people of Tibetan stock. The men folk are either traders or farmers while the women mostly tend the fields. Along with insights into the everyday lives of the people of "Lo" you will have the opportunity to witness their vibrant culture and also a chance to get a look at Lamaist Buddhism little changed by time.
- Day 01 Arrive Kathmandu, Explore Thamel.
- Day 02 Final Preparation - Kathmandu
- Day 03 Fly Kathmandu - Pokhara
- Day 04 Fly Pokhara - Jomsom, trek to Kagbeni
- Day 05 Trek Kagbeni - Chailey
- Day 06 Trek Chailey -Gheling
- Day 07 Trek Gheling - Tsarang
- Day 08 Trek Tsarang - Lo Manthan
- Day 09 Tiji Festival - Lo Manthan
- Day 10 Lo Manthan
- Day 11 Trek Lo Manthan-Ghimi
- Day 12-14 Trek Ghimi - Jomsom
- Day 15 Fly Jomsom-Pokhara-Kathmandu
- Day 16 Kathmandu
- Day 17 Kathmandu - U.S. or extension
Day 01 Arrive Kathmandu, Explore Thamel.
Upon arrival in Kathmandu you will be greeted by a representative of Third Eye Travel and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight Kathmandu.
Day 02 Final Preparation - Kathmandu
Free day in Kathmandu to make final preparations for your trek. If you feel that you are adequately prepared and would like to have an escorted sightseeing tour of Kathmandu city, we will be glad to arrange it for you. Please ask for this service from our representative upon arrival.
Overnight Kathmandu.
Day 03 Fly Kathmandu - Pokhara
Afternoon transfer to airport for the flight to Pokhara., a picturesque town about 125 miles west of Kathmandu.
Overnight Pokhara.
Day 04 Fly Pokhara - Jomsom, trek to Kagbeni
Early morning transfer to the Pokhara airport for the flight to Jomsom. Your crew will meet you in Jomsom where your duffle bags will be divided into loads for porters to carry. The kitchen staff will have your lunch ready at one of the lodges. The lunch will have been prepared by your staff at a "hired" kitchen. After lunch trek along the right bank of the Kali Gandaki river for about 3 hours to the village of Kagbeni (9414 f/ 2870 m). The walk is moderate but the wind may be very strong. Overnight at a lodge in Kagbeni. Overnight at a lodge is preferable to tents here because of the possibilities of very strong winds which have been known to blow tents over.
Overnight lodge.
Day 05 Trek Kagbeni - Chailey
Starting early to avoid the wind, which generally starts up around mid-morning and gets progressively stronger you walk for about three hours, continuing along the east bank to Tambay where lunch will be waiting for you. it is very likely that the village will bear a deserted look in the mid morning during planting and and harvest times. This is because most residents go to the fields to work during the day. After lunch still continuing up the east bank of the Kali Gandaki you reach the village of Chusang after crossing the Narshing Khola (Khola = river). Camp will be at the village of Chailey a short distance from Chusang.
Overnight camping.
Day 06 Trek Chailey -Gheling
Continuing from Chailey you cross the Kali Gandaki river near Ghayakar and then leaving the river climb up to the village of Samar. After lunch, still climbing, you pass through Soya La (La = pass), from where magnificent views of the Dhaulagiri range are available, and carry on to the village of Samochin. From here move steadily uphill to Gheling.
Overnight Camp.
Day 07 Trek Gheling - Tsarang
Continue to Ghimi and climbing still further you reach Tsarang which is the second most popular settlement after Lomanthan. At Tsarang there is an old palace where the piece de resistance is a set of human hands. Said to belong to the master builder of the palace, these were ordered cut off some eight hundered years ago, to stop him from building another palace in the same grandeur.
Overnight camping.
Day 08 Trek Tsarang - Lo Manthan
A casual walk brings you to Lomanthan (12529 f/ 3820m), the ancient walled capital of Mustang and the resident town of the king of Mustang.
Overnight Camping.
Day 09 Tiji Festival - Lo Manthan
Spend a day in Lo Manthan watching colorful dances and horse racing. Thousands of people from local village and surrounding villages gather to take part in the festival. You will see local women in traditional dresses and jewelry.
Overnight Camping.
Day 10 Lo Manthan
Set out from Lomanthan to explore the surrounding area and villages. First on your itinerary is a visit to the Namgyal Gompa (Gompa = Buddhist place of worship). This is one of the most important Gompas in Mustang and houses some very ancient thankas (Tibetan art with religious themes).
Next you visit Tenger, a typical village in these parts and then the gompa at Nymook. Continue to the villages of Shija and Guruk where you will find what are, probably, Nepal's only cave dwellers. You then return to Lomanthan via the village of Dyuk. Since there is a lot to see on this day you will be carrying packed lunches which will be distributed to you after breakfast, before you leave camp.
Day 11 Trek Lo Manthan-Ghimi
Leave Lomanthan and head south west to Ghimi on a route different from the one used on your way in. After about 4 hours of strenuous walking you will reach Ghargomba where lunch will be served. After lunch you trek to Thakmara, literally meaning "place of rest". From Thakmara a casual half hour walk brings you to Ghimi.
Ovenright Ghimi.
Day 12-14 Trek Ghimi - Jomsom
Retrace your way back to Chailey.
Overnight caming
Day 15 Fly Jomsom-Pokhara-Kathmandu
Fly to Pokhara and connect a flght to Kathmandu.
Overnight Kathmandu
Day 16 Kathmandu
At leisure in Kathmandu.
Day 17 Kathmandu - U.S. or extension
Transfer to airport and fly to U.S. or extend you trip to Bhutan, India or Myanmar.