Arrive in Kathmandu [1400 meters]. Assistance at the airport and transfer to Kathmandu Guest House. Overnight Kathmandu Guest House A/C Deluxe Room. [D] Afternoon Walking Tour of Thamel and welcome dinner at BhojanGriha with cultural program: Thamel is a carnival of sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. Anyone who enters Thamel – tourist of Nepali, young or old – is bombarded by kaleidoscope of sensory experience. Walking into Thamel can feel like entering a cultural wormhole, where all of humanity’s foods and fashions implode into a single space. The neighbourhood is “a jumble, a hive of activity where all the nationalities come across one another and mix”

Optional: Early morning Scenic Everest flight of an hour shared aircraft Breakfast in the Hotel Morning excursion of Bhaktapur and Changu Excursion of Bhaktapur and Changu. Bhaktapur Durbar Square, some 16 KM. east of Kathmandu, is the living heritage of Nepalese art and architecture, which includes the famous Golden Gate, the Lion Gate and the Palace of 55 windows among the other temples of Nepalese Pagoda style and Indian Shikhara structure. Another interesting square in the vicinity of the old Palace is the Taumadhi square with Nyatapola, Nepal’s Tallest Temple with 5 Pagodas and Duttatreya Square, an open museum of ancient wood carving. Changu Narayan, an ancient temple of Lord Vishnu on a hilltop, 13 kilometers east of Kathmandu, has some of the valley’s oldest sculpture, inscription and carvings. Lunch in Boudhanath Stupa Cafe Afternoon excursion of Pashupatinath and Boudhanath Boudhanath, one of the World’s largest Buddhist stupas at Bouddha, is a center for pilgrims, which lies some seven kilometers east of Kathmandu. It is the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Kathmandu. In vicinity of the Grand Stupa there are over 30 Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries. The main stupa is surrounded by the houses lived by Tibetans and Newari business - man. Thus it is one of the best shopping area for Tibetan and Nepalese artifacts such as Thangka painting, singing bowls, Tibetan Woolen carpets, incense sticks etc. Pashupatinath, one of the scared Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, is some 6 kilometers east from the city and on the bank of holy Bagmati River. On the western bank of the river is the platforms known as ghat - the cremation point. This temple is the most important pilgrimage site for all the Hindus of the World Dinner at Hotel

Breakfast in the Hotel We drive west of Kathmandu to Pokhara through the lush mountain valleys. The road winds along scenic valley basin dominated by farming terraces and charming villages connected by suspension bridges. Closer to Pokhara, we will see snow peaks of Annapurna and Manaslu range in the backdrop. Overnight at Sarangkot Mountain Resort in Sarangkot.

Overnight at hotel Kalopani. [B,L,D]. [07 am Breakfast and drive about 5 hours to hot Sprig. Lunch at Tatopani and enjoy Hot Spring and take shower if preferred. After lunch 3 hours]. Enjoy the scrumptious breakfast with in vicinity of Phewa lake and the Himalayas. After breakfast, we set out on our journey to Mustang. We first drive west to the town of Beni and then head upstream Kali Gandaki river. The Kali Gandaki valley at this point becomes the world’s deepest gorge, wedged between Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) and Annapurna I (8,091 m). Kalopani is the most scenic village situated with the view of both Himalayan giants.

07 am breakfast drive to Marpha about one hours and visit Marpha Village and monasteries about 2 hours. Then drive to Muktinath about 2 hours and visit Muktinath temple about 2 hours. Lunch at Muktinath explore Jharkot and drive to Chossar about 3 hour.] We are literally in trans-Himalayan region. The landscape changes from lush green to arid, windy valley after Kalopani village. Kaligandaki snakes along the wide and far reaching valley that have been eroded in thousands of years. The villages of Tukuche, Larjung and Marpha, we pass by are popular for Apple orchard and the brandy and also visit Muktinath Temple. From Kagbeni, we register our permits and literally enter the restricted area of Upper Mustang. Muktinath is a revered shrine for salvation seekers. Mukti mean Salvation and Nath means lord and so it holds great significance for all spiritual people in the South Asian Sub-continent. Muktinath (the provider of salvation) has been one of the famous Himalayan shrines where thousands of devotees flock for attaining the much sought moksha (freedom) from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Enjoy incredible views of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri and Tukuche Peak and local activities.Later drive to Chuksang Chuksang: After a brief Kagbeni visit and registering your permits for Upper Mustang, next stop is Chuksang. Another ancient village with fort like town nearby, on the banks of Kaligandagi River. The landscape here is amazing with surrounding cliffs carved by the river and naturally made caves high above. The reddish color of the cliffs on the background of blue sky gives a great panoramic view of the landscape. Some patches of greeneries mostly wheat fields and small apple trees on the background of above mentioned landscape, gives Chuksang its unique colours. The altitude of Chuksang remains 2900 meters, which further assists you to get acclimatized

07am breakfast and then drive Tetang about 15 minutes and then walk and explore Tetang village and monasteries about 2 hours. Back to road head and again drive to Syangbochen for lunch and drive further about 2 hours and visit Chussi ancient cave and hermitage about 2 hours. Back to road head drive about 1 hour to Ghiling and walking excursion of Ghilng monastery and village and continue to Ghemi.]

5 – 6 hours round trip trekking This is the main trade route to Lhasa, a route that Tucci describes as “used over the centuries by pilgrims and apostles, robbers and invaders.”. The ruins of numerous forts along the trail lend credence to this observation. The dramatic cave village of Chosar and the red monastery of Nyphu set into the rock face, and Gharphu monastery which built out from a vertical rack faces are the main attraction. There are four major places and several other places like the Tall champaLakhang “God house”, the red Thugchen Gompa, Chyodi Gompa and the Entrance Hal which are the main attraction of this town. Another attraction is the four- story building of the Raja’s palace as well as the surrounding panoramic views of the Himalaya. Having seen one, you are exciting to see the others. Besides Lo Manthang there are two other interesting valley worth visiting. The western valley Tingkhar, the sight of Raja’s summer palace, Kimling and Phuwa as active Gompa in Lo. The eastern valley contains the site of a high School, Garphu and Nyphu Gompa and is the main trading route to Lhasa. If we have enough time we can hike surrounded green hills from where we can easily get views of Tibet and Mt. Kailas. Leaving Lo Manthang at the northeast corner by the chorten and new health-post, the trail drops into the small valley north of the town. After crossing the river, the trail climbs out, still going easterly, the contours around north above an area of extensive cultivation which stretches to the Mustang Khola. One hour later a long mani wall and isolated building are reached. At this point the trail seems to disappear. In fact erosion has caused the path to collapse into the river bed and exposed a water pipe. Just before this point a small dry gully on the left leads up on to a high cliff above the eroded area and on to an ancient fort now in ruins. The path is not very clear here but close to the fort it drops very steeply through another gully back to the valley floor. Almost immediately a wide canyon joins the valley from the northwest and there is a rickety wooden bridge across the river. Still following the west bank of the Mustang Khola, the route crosses an area of cultivation above a small village 2 hours walk from Lo Manthang. Ahead to the right can be seen the dramatic cave village Chosar and the red monastery of Nyphu set into the rock face. The trail reaches a chorten and rounds a bend opposite Chosar to display the village and monastery of Gharphu ahead on the est side of the Mustang Khola. This is reached by crossing two bridges close to Gharphu, 3760 m. From Gharphu the path leads round below the cliffs to Nyphu, where the re gompa is build out from a vertical rock face and partly set in a cave behind the walls. On the return route we follow on ill-defined trail leading steeply up a small dry gully near the mani wall. This would be a short cut over to the western valley, and climbed to a col north of the ruined fortress that overlooks Lo Manthang. A

There are two valleys above Lo Manthang. In the western Valleys are Thingkar, the site of the Mustang King’s summer palace, Kimling and Phuwa as well as the gompa of Namgyal (“the monastery of victory”). Namgyal, situated in a spectacular setting atop a desolate ridge, is the newest and most active monastery in Lo. The Naygyal Thupten Dhargyeling Gompa was founded in AD 1310. On the far side of the ridge, a trail leads through the village of Namgyal to Thinker where the King of Mustang had his Summer Palace. Phuwa Gompa can be seen on the far side of the valley, about 30 minutes away Kimling Is 45 minutes from Thingker, and the largest village in the valley. The locals here happily try to sell arts and crafts as well as handmade rugs. From the northerly corner of the wall a track leads west, staying on the south side of the river for about 1 to 2 hour. The trail then drops, becoming quite rocky, to cross the river. There is no bridge here. It climbs again towards the fields and join another path from the east, leading up towards Namgyal monastery, 1 hour. Other trail leads up the valley to Phuwa, 1 to 2 hour, and Tihngkar, 1 hour from here. Overnight at Royal Mustang Resort. [B,L,D]

07am breakfast and drive to Luri Gompa about 3 hours and visit Lurin Gompa. After excursion of Luri Gompa drive to Tsarang for lunch about 2 hours. After lunch drive straight to Kagbeni 3 hours without any stop. Luri Gompa: In the desert east of Lo Monthang, sandstone cliffs and bluffs have been fluted by wind and weather into fantastical formations, like serried, tapered pillars or organ pipes. These cliffs are pitted with caves, and such a cave forms the inner sanctum of Luri Gompa, a small jewel of Buddhist art. The Gompa, covered with a red wash, perched on a ledge on a one hundred-meter high cliff, stands out against the sand and bone-coloured sandstone pillars. The outer chamber, containing a shrine, is painted very crudely, apparently at a later date than the paintings within. This outer chamber leads into the inner room, the cave within the rock. The treasure of Luri is the inner chamber, a rounded space that was hollowed out or enlarged and smoothed within the cave. One small window provides some natural light. In the centre of this chamber is a chorten, six meters high, with painted figures on all sides of its rectangular base, on its dome, and also beneath the ritual parasol atop the dome. The domed ceiling is decorated with eight painted images of Mahasiddhas, circling above the chorten. Along one wall is a set of painted figures, and above them a row of nine small portraits of lamas. Explore the Ghhursanbo cave and the water in the higher reaches of the village and enjoy the view of snow peak. Overnight at Red House Hotel Kagbeni has the look and feel of its northern neighbor Tibet, and is known as the “Gateway to Upper Mustang.” The town of Kagbeni sits at the bottom of Muktinath Valley which is scattered with abandoned settlements and irrigation fields. The centerpiece of Kagbeni is its fortress ruins. In the second half of the 16th century, before the establishment of the village, Muktinath Valley’s king built his son a fortress at the convergence point of four trade routes. This strategic location allowed the king to levy taxes on the commodities and animals that passed through the valley. After lunch enjoy a short hike around Kagbeni: Kagbeni Monastery and Buddhist School, Kaligandaki gorge (world’s deepest gorge), Kaligandaki River, Buddhist monastery in Jharkot.

Afternoon excursion of Kathmandu City and Swyambhu and farewell dinner at Krishnarpan Restaurant at Hotel Dwarikas. After your lunch in the Hotel, you will drive with your guide and drive towards west to Swayambhunath Stupa – the oldest Buddhist monuments of the Kathmandu Valley. This Stupa situated on top of the small hillock gives you a stunning overview of Kathmandu city. Then you continue to the center of old Kathmandu, where we have the Durbar Square of Kathmandu or Hanuman Dhoka Durbar – the Old Palace with its Kumari Ghar, Pagoda Temples, KasthaMandap etc.