Upper Mustang and Damodar Kunda trekking is to explore the wonders of the Trans Himalaya region and mystical cultures of Tibet influence Mustang area. Inside the restricted area, this region is less tourist in trekking season. Upper Mustang now is access of gravel road but Damodar Kunda is still not touched with road facility. Damodar Kunda is holy lake for Hindu peoples. Itinerary covering Upper Mustang, Damodar Kunda and Muktinath temple. We do lodge to lodge trek up to Lomanthang and camping trek in Damodar kunda region. If you are willing to make this trek entirely camping, we do arrange accordingly. There should be minimum two trekkers.
Trek starts after flying to Jomsom from Pokhara. Kathmandu to Pokhara is either with flight or drive. First day of trekking is about 3 hours only and stay bit longer time in your first day at altitude (2,800m). Kagbeni village is the doorway of Upper Mustang. We will visit the villages, ancient monastery and have great view of Nilgiri, Tilicho peak and other snowcapped mountains. Another three days trekking to cross Tibetan style villages like Chhusang, Chaile, Shyangbochen, Samar, Tsarang which are the typical villages with some of the great memorial Chortern and oldest monastery. The windy valley is beautiful views of ruins and high mountains from trekking passes.
You can plan to reach Lomanthang during a special festival called Tiji festival. This is a very famous festival in Mustang region. The typical festival is for three days in the month of May. date of the festival is on different days every year and fixed by Lama's head. Festival all about local monk's activities to save Mustang region from the demon. Anyone can enter the festival compound by paying its entrance fees.
Lo-mangthang is the capital of Upper Mustang. 3,860-meter altitude, Lomanthang and we stay one more day to visit villages around. Chhoser, the site of Garphu and Nyaphu Gompas and explore some fascinating caves and monasteries. This was the main trading route to Lhasa Tibet. Local peoples from Lomanthang and around exchange their goods with Tibet but the border between Nepal and Tibet called Kora La is not yet formally open. Once the road in this region gets ready, the famous trading route between Nepal Tibet as well as the Pilgrimage route to Mount Kailash Lake Mansarovar is expected to run via this route.
Damodar Kunda Trekking
After Lomanthang, trek to Damodar Kund and to Muktinath begins. Trekking route to Damodar Kunda is easy but quite long distance that need to be covered. Completely plateau region is no access of water and camping site everywhere. The treks takes you to remote corner of Nepal and one of Holy Lake. The area of Damodar Kunda (lakes) offer magnificent views of Annapurna, Mustang Himal, Muktinath Himal, Bhrikuti peak, Chungian Chanma Himal and Araniko Chuli. Beside that camping around beautiful small Damodar lakes. Three days trekking from capital of Upper Mustang to north east route reach Damodar Kunda and it is much closed to Tibetan border.
Another 5 days trekking via Yara, Tange, Tetang villages reach at Muktinath temple. Muktinath is the famous temples dedicated Bishnu for Hinduism and place of Dakinis (Goddess known as sky dancer) in Buddhism. It is on foot of Annapurna Throrong La mountain pass. You will meet lots of trekkers from Annapurna circuit. Trek down Jomsom to fly back Pokhara. Pokhara is the suitable natural city to get days rest after long trekking of Upper Mustang and Damodar Kund.
22 days Upper Mustang and Damodar Kunda trekking plan can be customized. If you are with limited time and want to make this trek within short days, we can make custom plan and make it as per your timeframe. Upper Mustang region is a facility with road and some of the part in this trek can be made by the vehicle. Another way to visit Damodar Kunda and Muktinath is by Helicopter. A days Helicopter tour to Damodar Kunda can manage from Kathmandu or from Pokhara.
