The overland Mustang tour is one of the emerging tours in Nepal. Mustang overland tour includes the most isolated hills and mountains of Mustang district between Dhaulagiri (8167m) and Annapurna (8091m), Tilicho Peak, Thorung Peak, Tukuche Peak, Nilgiri, Annapurna I, Damodar Kunda preserved by natural difficulty. It is considered the barred kingdom behind the shadow of the Himalayas by locals and trekking experts.
The journey begins with a jeep ride to Pokhara from Kathmandu. Then, from Pokhara, we will head to Jomsom. Jomsom is the headquarters of Mustang, the face of the Mustang region and its tourism. You are seated in an overland jeep safari which will navigate you to the different cultural and historical villages of Mustang before reaching the Kingdom of Upper Mustang," Lo Manthang ''. The jeep safari will introduce the cultural and natural richness of Mustang with a full-day experience of the culture, traditions, and lifestyle of the ancient city. The drive will continue towards the Muktinath, which is another highlight of the trip.
The upper Mustang follows the way of the Kaligandaki gorge, the deepest gorge in the world, to Kagbeni by jeep. On the way, we pass different natural attractions like Tatopani-Natural hot spring, Beautiful Marpha Village which is famously known as “The Apple Garden”, and Kagbeni the famous religious site, and pilgrimage before entering the gateway of Lo Manthang. Lo Manthang is the windy valley that blows upside down from the hill i.e. South to North towards the Tibetan border. The local people in the majority follow the belief of Buddhism and speak the semi-Tibetan language themselves. The beautiful landscape of this area is widely occupied by the restricted area of the Annapurna conservation area and the Upper Mustang District.
This tour is not only a recreational tour but a very efficient way of understanding the lifestyle of the people residing in the area. The local culture of Thakalis, Gurung, and Tibetians is multidimensional and it is the art of living in itself. We get to know about the artistic view of the Upper Mustang region and the multidimensional cultural diversity of local people in one trip to the site.
In hindsight, the insightful and artistic view of the tour is filled with the scintillating view of rivers, mountains, streams, forests, old stone monuments, and houses, full of marvelous landscapes which represent the beauty of Northern Nepal.
The Mustang Overland Tour will take you to the highest altitude of 4660 meters, you should not be worried about altitude sickness but you have to be mentally prepared for the difficulties of the tour. However, there will be a medical team to assist you in need. This tour is a low-risk adventure that can be done all year round by tourists of all ages.
The major attractions of the Overland Mustang Tour:
Jomsom
Jomsom is the tourism hub of Mustang which is rich in its tradition, culture, and food. It is also the gateway of the Mustang region. It is captivated by the mystic views of the Himalayas and the splendid natural diversity of the Mustang. The landscape is decorated by woods of pine with the decoration of insightful views of hills and mountains. The majority of the population is influenced by Buddhism and follows Buddhist rituals. There are many stone temples and goombas around this place. Jomsom is a combination of natural and cultural diversity.
Kaligandaki River and Shaligram
Kaligandaki River, which is famous for its uniqueness and beauty has the most distinct feature of having Shaligram(a golden black stone, which is only found here). Shaligram is considered to the part of Lord Bishnu according to Hindu Mythology and is very important in Hindu culture. Shaligram is one of the most holy stones in Hindu mythology and is worshipped as Lord Vishnu. It is believed that worshipping Shaligram gives you the power to fight the evil inside you and give immense peace within you.
Lo Manthang
Lo Manthang is an ancient kingdom of Mustang, and very much isolated from the outside world It was also the ancient capital of Mustang. This mysterious place is unrecognized and still far away from reaching modern tourism. Because of its mystery, very few people come here to visit. It wasn't opened for foreigners till very late but it has emerged as a top destination for tourists in the last few years.
A visit to the royal palace of Lo Manthang provides you with a guide of wisdom about the culture and tradition followed by the ancient tribes who lived at Lo. Besides, the archaeologists have found partially mummified bodies from several hundred years and also discovered ancient paintings, monuments, stone arts, and manuscripts from the ancient kingdom which is a pinnacle move to attract modern tourists who want to see and study the ancient history and culture.
Tiji Festival
The Tiji festival is the most auspicious festival in the Upper Mustang and is rated very highly among the local tribes. Tiji is celebrated to mark the success of good over evil. It is believed that the Mustang region was in trouble and was being destroyed by the demon who was spreading disease which was taking the lives of innocent and taking away the water. Dorje Jono fought with this demon and defeated him to take all the water back and save Mustang from being lifeless. To remember and celebrate that historic day, Tiji is celebrated with prayer chants and colorful dances. Since Tiji is a lunar festival dates of the festival are variable in different years.
Muktinath Temple
Muktinath, the god for both Hindus and Buddhists is visited throughout the year. It is one of the four most powerful religious sites in the country. It is one of the most important religious places in the country and is visited by hundreds of thousands of domestic and international tourists throughout the year. In the Buddhist temple, there is an everlightening candle (akhanda diyo) which is believed to be a sign of peace and harmony. It is believed that visiting this place at least once in a lifetime can give you liberation from worldly pain and suffering. It is one of the eight holy religious places of Nepal.
Astonishing views of Himalayas and Landscapes
From the beginning of the tour from Pokhara, you will be sighted the most fascinating and mystic views of several mountains of the Himalayas. You would see Annapurna, Fishtail, Tukuche Peak, Thorung Peak, Annapurna I, Nilgiri, and Dhaulagiri mountains along with the scenic landscape view of the Chure range and Kaligandaki flowing in between. Meanwhile, in the backdrop, you will have an incredible view of high cliffs, and rock formations surrounding the valley. Annapurna conservation area will offer the opportunity to enjoy the mystic geographical mysticism of the Mustang region which will be a lifetime opportunity for tourists.
Road to Upper Mustang
Overland Mustang tour allows you to cover the distance in hours which would take days if you are trekking without missing the handful of natural beauty and diversity of the region. You can experience the dramatic beauty of lush hills, Himalayas, valleys, gorges, cliffs, rivers, and streams. You will even get the chance to travel between the gorges of Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri and discover the lost Tibetian Kingdom of Mustang. However, the roads there are mostly unpaved with potholes in between although most sections are graveled and consistently maintained, driving a tour of Upper Mustang is risk-free, adventurous, and yet worth visiting. It will give you the unleashed vibe of cheerfulness and euphoria during the visit.
People and Culture
People residing in the Mustang region have their distinct living ideologies and standards from the modern world. Their living is mainly based on tourism, animal rearing, and trade. Most people believe in Buddhism and speak the Tibetan language. The ethnic group of people is known as Thakalis and is widely famous for its unique culture, tradition, and food. Thakali food is talked about within the tourism fraternity and is liked by most of the tourists visiting that region.
It is believed that Upper Mustang’s residents have not modernized their culture after being familiar with the modern world apart from a few communication modes and the development of physical infrastructures. This place is gradually getting opportunities for exposure and becoming a favorite tourist destination among foreigners.
What Makes Nepal Nirvana Trails Unique?
Any type of tourist plan includes unseen risks unforeseen. Nepal Nirvana Trails has experienced and well-trained personnel to help you out throughout the trip. They will carry out all the responsibilities from the start to the end of the journey that you may need. You will be experiencing the beauty of traveling to tribal Nepal in a new and innovative way.
You will be taking the trip with a team of veteran professionals who have excelled in taking tourists to that particular region so you will get as much information about the place as you want. Our more than two-decade veterans in the Himalayas make us a reliable and trustworthy tour partner.
We invite all the visitors to visit the magical place of Upper Mustang and booking is open throughout the year. You can choose your preferred time of the year to visit the place.
You can also check more information about other similar tour and trekking packages and directly contact us for inquiries or bookings.
