Nar Phu Teri La Upper Mustang Trek Highlights
- You will get to cross the popular Trei La pass (5595 meters) which connects Manang with Upper Mustang.
- You will navigate the least explored trails of Nar and Phu valley in the Manag region.
- You can walk through several ancient monasteries, chortens, mani walls, and gompas on the route to Upper Mustang.
- You get to witness the spectacular views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre and Manaslu ranges.
- You will have an amazing encounter with the descendants of the Tibetan people at Lo Manthang.
The Nar Phu Teri La Pass Upper Mustang trek can be done in either direction but for better acclimatisation it is advisable to trek as it says: Manang (where Nar and Phu are located) to Mustang. This trek visits the fort-like village of Phu and its neighbor, Nar; crosses the Teri La Pass (5,595m), and enters the ancient forbidden Kingdom of Lo or Upper Mustang as it is more commonly known. This expedition-style trek takes three weeks, with an average of 5 to 6 hours of walking each day. It passes through areas with no or very little human settlement and requires a high level of fitness and stamina. Previous hiking experience is recommended.
Phu village sits high on a hill at the intersection of many glacier valleys, surrounded by majestic Himalayan peaks. Nar is a slightly more modern village, but both are inhabited by people who are Tibetan-like and in the past would have been traders along the old salt route to Tibet. More Tibetan-like settlements can be seen in Upper Mustang: indeed many of the inhabitants would have come originally from Tibet. In order to get to Upper Mustang, itself situated on the border with Tibet, the trail crosses the Teri La Pass at 5,595m with views of the Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre and Manaslu
The religious and spiritual heart of Upper Mustang is Lo Manthang (4,840m), the ancient centre and home of the King of Lo. The King of Lo ruled until 2008 when the Nepal Government outlawed all monarchies in the country. Being Buddhist people, there are wonderful monasteries, and even ancient sky caves in this area. Some caves are 50m up the cliff face and housed wall paintings, religious texts and human remains when recently discovered. These kinds of findings and the surrounding arid desert-like cliffs give Upper Mustang an almost surreal feeling. Then, continuing down the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world, the trail passes the interesting village of Kagbeni and on to the market town and transportation hub of Jomsom.
On this often an isolated trek, it is not hard to imagine what the traders of old felt when travelling through the rocky river beds, or along high trails overlooking a deep gorge, passing yak pastures and windswept landscapes. And like the traders of old, trekkers should be prepared for strenuous hiking!
| Days | Itinerary | Altitude | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Kathmandu to Khudi (Drive) | 800 m | 8 hr |
| Day 2 | Khudi to Sirung | 2220 m | 6 - 7 hr |
| Day 3 | Sirung to Jagat | 1300 m | 6 - 7 hr |
| Day 4 | Jagat to Dharapani | 1860 m | 7 - 8 hr |
| Day 5 | Dharapani to Koto | 2610 m | 5 - 6 hr |
| Day 6 | Koto to Meta | 3560 m | 7 - 8 hr |
| Day 7 | Meta to Phu Gaon | 4250 m | 7 - 8 hr |
| Day 8 | Acclimatization Day | 4250 m | 2 hr |
| Day 9 | Phu Gaon to Nar | 4110 m | 6 - 7 hr |
| Day 10 | Nar to Yak Kharka | 4400 m | 6 - 7 hr |
| Day 11 | Yak Kharka to Lapse Khola | 4500 m | 7 hr |
| Day 12 | Lapse Khola to High Camp | 4900 m | 5 - 6 hr |
| Day 13 | High Camp to Pasphu Khola Camp via Teri La Pass | 4730 m | 8 - 9 hr |
| Day 14 | Pasphu Khola Camp to Yakpa | 4300 m | 5 - 6 hr |
| Day 15 | Yakpa to Tange | 3300 m | 5 - 6 hr |
| Day 16 | Tange to Yara | 3600 m | 7 hr |
| Day 17 | Yara to Lo Manthang | 3770 m | 6 hr |
| Day 18 | Day trip to Chhoser Cave | 3770 m | 7 - 8 hr |
| Day 19 | Lo Manthang to Drakmar | 3810 m | 6 - 7 hr |
| Day 20 | Drakmar to Ghiling | 3806 m | 5 - 6 hr |
| Day 21 | Ghiling to Chuksang | 3050 m | 5 - 6 hr |
| Day 22 | Chuksang to Jomsom | 2700 m | 6 - 7 hr |
| Day 23 | Jomsom to Pokhara (Flight) | 830 m | 30 min |
| Day 24 | Pokhara to Kathmandu (Drive) | 1380 m | 6 - 7 hr |
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