16 Day Horse Riding Tour with Trekking to Upper Mustang in Nepal
Nepal Horseback Riding Tour
Horse riding trek to Upper Mustang is a top-notch tour for travel lovers that entangles the adventure and excitement of horse riding along with the admirable, astounding landscapes and sceneries of Upper Mustang.
Key information
- Rider Weight Limit: 198 pounds / 90 kilograms
- Horse Height Range: 13 to 15 hands
Highlights
- 10 riding days
- Approximate daily riding time: 3 - 7 hours
- Riding through Kali Gandaki valley and local culture
- Visit to Lo Manthang (Forbidden City)
- Exploring caves, monasteries, and Tibetan heritage
- Himalayan views of the Annapurna Range
- 15 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
Types
12 days with instruction in English
Average daily hours of activity: 6
Accommodation
You will stay in various accommodations during the tour.
- Nights 1, 2, and 15: Hotel in Kathmandu
- Nights 3 and 14: Lodge or hotel in Pokhara
- Night 4: Lodge or hotel in Kagbeni
- Night 5: Hotel in Tsaile
- Nights 6 and 11: Hotel in Syanboche
- Night 7: Hotel in Drakmar
- Nights 8 and 9: Hotel in Lo Manthang
- Night 10: Hotel in Tsarang
- Night 12: Hotel in Chhusang
- Night 13: Hotel in Jomsom
Program
Daily itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300 meters / 4,264 feet)
- Tribhuvan International Airport
- Welcoming with a marigold flower garland
- Group photo
- Introduction with group members and trekking crew
- Evening walk in Thamel
- Welcome dinner
Day 2: Trek preparation and Kathmandu sightseeing
- Kathmandu sightseeing
- Equipment checking
- Briefing about the trek
- Introduction with guide
Day 3: Flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara (823 meters / 2,700 feet)
- Duration: 30 minutes of flight
- Scenic flight
- Small settlements
- Unique lifestyle
- Hills
- Fishtail Mountain
Day 4: Flight from Pokhara to Jomsom (2,720 meters / 8,925 feet) + Ride and trek to Kagbeni (2,800 meters / 9,186 feet)
- Duration: 25 minutes of flight and 3 - 4 hours of riding
- Riding distance: 7 - 8 kilometers
- Elevation: 80 meters / 262 feet
It is highly recommended to reach Jomsom before 12:00 p.m. because after 12:00 p.m., the route gets very windy.
- Scenic flight
- Meet the riding team
- Brief introduction plus instruction on riding
- After breakfast, start the ride
- Snow-capped mountain
- Lofty massif of above 8,000 meters
- Kali Gandaki River
- Clustered village
- Ancient monasteries
- Thakali culture
- Salt trade route
Day 5: Ride and trek from Kagbeni to Tsaile (3,100 meters / 10,170 feet)
- Duration: 5 - 6 hours ride
- Distance: 12 - 13 kilometers
- Elevation: 300 meters / 984 feet
- Tibetan culture
- Complex trails
- Whitewashed settlements
- Cultivations
- Apple orchards
- Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri mountain view
- Ride along the Kali Gandaki River Bank
- Fossils
Day 6: Ride and trek from Tsaile to Syanboche (3,800 meters / 12,464 feet) via Rachung Cave (3,842 meters)
- Duration: 6 - 7 hours ride
- Distance: 15 - 16 kilometers
- Elevation: +910 meters / +2,985 feet and -400 meters / -1,312 feet
- Steep ascent westwards
- Deep Crayon
- Gorge
- Rocky Trail
- Steep descent on some sections
- Red Painted Cave Monastery or the Rangchyung Chorten
- Believed to have hosted the famed Buddhist saints Padmasambhava and Atisha centuries ago
- Forests and gouges with high vertical walls
Day 7: Ride and trek from Syanbochen to Drakmar (3,820 meters / 12,532 feet)
- Duration: 6 - 7 hours
- Distance: 15 - 16 kilometers
- Elevation: + 240 meters / +787 feet and -200 meters / -656 feet
- Distinctive Chortens painted with Buddhism’s auspicious symbols
- Downhill to the Settlement of Drakmar
- Villages
- Impressive Old and Ancient Chortens and Monasteries
- Gorgeous Landscapes
- Ghaymi village – the third largest settlement in the Mustang valley
- Visit Mustang’s longest Mani wall
- Adorned with the carvings
- View and Annapurna and Mustang Valley
Day 8: Ride and trek from Drakmar to Lo-Mangthang (3,840 meters / 12,600 feet) via Ghar Gompa (3,920 meters)
- Duration: 5 - 6 hours ride
- Distance: 16 - 17 kilometers
- Elevation: +420 meters / +1,377 feet and -390 meters / -1,280 feet
- Pure virtue of Lo Nyingma Sect Scriptures of Padmasambhava
- Marang Chongo La Pass (4,230 meters / 13,875 feet)
- Colorful Caves
- Wonderful landscapes
- Windy trail
- Spectacular view of the Annapurna ranges and the Mustang valley
- Forbidden City
- Beautiful Rock paintings
- Kingdom of LoManthang
Day 9: Exploration day to the Tibet border area (Chosar village and caves)
- Duration: 6 - 7 hours riding
- Distance: 17 - 18 kilometers
- Elevation: +330 meters / +1,082 feet and -330 meters / -1,082 feet
- Rich culture
- Sound architecture settlement
- Well-preserved legacy since the 14th century
- Walled City
- Four major ancient shrines
- Brick-Red Jampa Lhakhang – the oldest Gompas
- 50-foot large clay statue of Lord Buddha
- 15th-century-old Thubchen Gompa and Choprang Gompa
- Royal Palace of the Mustangi King
- The Tall Champa Lakhang
- Red Thugchen Gompa and Entrance Hall
- Cave Village of Chosar
- Deep Red Nyhu Gompa
- Ancient Cave-Dwelling Sire of Jhong Cave
- White-washed Villages
- Old Fortress
- Ruins of ancient palaces and monuments
Day 10: Ride and trek from Lo-Mangthang to Tsarang (3,560 meters / 11,680 feet)
- Duration: 5 hours ride
- Distance: 9 - 10 kilometers
- Elevation: +130 meters / +426 feet and -390 meters / -1,280 feet
- Famous settlement of LoMangthang
- Ancient palace
- Chorten gate
- Caharang Chu Canyon
- Descend steeply after crossing river
- Palace and Gompas
- Barren land
- Ancient fortress and monasteries
- Windy pass
- Small bridge
Day 11: Ride and trek from Tsarang to Syangboche (3,800 meters / 12,464 feet)
- Duration: 5 - 6 hours ride
- Distance: 13 - 14 kilometers
- Elevation: +460 meters / +1,509 feet and -220 meters / -721feet
- Cultivation fields
- Apple orchards
- Impressive old chortens and monasteries
- Gorgeous landscapes
- Tsarang La pass (3,870 meters / 12,695 feet)
- Panoramic view of the Annapurna ranges
- Meet the same trail you started and observe the same view from another angle
- Sparsely settled village
Day 12: Ride and trek from Syangboche to Chhusang (2,980 meters / 9,776 feet)
- Duration: 6 - 7 hours ride
- Distance: 13 - 14 kilometers
- Elevation: +50 meters / +164 feet and -860 meters / -2,821 feet
- Unique and desert-like landscapes decorated by cultural legacies and glorious mountains
- Breathtaking views of the Himalayas
- Scenic diversity and Interaction with the locals
Day 13: Ride and trek from Chhusang to Jomsom (2,720 meters / 8,924 feet) via Kagbeni
- Duration: 5 hours ride
- Distance: 13 - 14 kilometers
- Elevation: -260 meters / -1,315 feet
- Strenuous physical walking
- Reach the settlement in Kagbeni (special permit exit point)
- Mark the end of the Upper Mustang trail and join the Annapurna Circuit trekking trail
- Historical essence
- Exotic arts and sculpture, which is renowned as the Bamfu culture
- Pony ride
- Farewell with local staffs
Day 14: Fly back to Pokhara and explore
- Duration: 25 minutes flight
- Elevation: 1,877 meters / 6,157 feet
- Scenic flight
- Lake City
- Hotspot for adventurous activities and gateway for several trekking expeditions in and around the Annapurna region
Day 15: Buffer day for flight delay or cancellation
- An afternoon flight back to Kathmandu and farewell dinner
Day 16: Departure day
- Souvenir shopping
- Airport drop with Khata or Khatag as a symbol of wishing a safe journey
- Group photo
About the tour
- Maximum altitude: 4,230 meters / 13,875 feet
- Walking per day: 5 - 6 hours
- Grade: Strenuous
- Best season: Summer, autumn, and spring
This trekking cum horse riding package in Upper Mustang is getting very popular among travel enthusiasts around the globe due to the remarkable experience of horse riding in the desert-like landscape of the Himalayan nation, often considered a cold desert. Horse riding trek to Upper Mustang can be best fitted for travelers looking for adventure and excitement but wanting to escape long hours of walking back-to-back each day. As well as exploring a unique experience combining trekking and horse-riding simultaneously. This horse-riding trek to Upper Mustang commences with a flight or drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara. From Pokhara, you will have a flight to Jomsom, where you shall meet and get introduced to your horse-riding team.
Your riding team will instruct you with a briefing and instructions regarding the horse ride, controlling the horse, gestures, and so on. Nepal Mountain Trekkers highly recommends that your trekkers reach Jomsom before noon, as in the afternoon it gets extremely windy and dusty. The windy valley of Jomsom is also well-known for its mouthwatering apple orchards. During the horse riding trek to Upper Mustang, you can witness an eye-dazzling panorama of Dhaulagiri (8167 meters), Nilgiri (7061 meters), Saribung (6328 meters), Manshail (6235 meters), and other snow-capped mountains. One can closely observe and explore the unique and distinct lifestyle and culture of the locals.
Location
The tour will take place in Nepal.
Upper Mustang
Situated in one of the most isolated and remote areas of the Annapurna region in Nepal, Upper Mustang offers a great opportunity to explore the unique culture, lifestyle, and traditions of the local population, bringing you into the hidden world of the Buddhist Kingdom. It was a restricted location until 1991, after which the government opened it to tourists. Ancient architecture has been well preserved in the area, with monasteries, caves, and the spectacular palace of the ancient king being highlights of the trek.
The region offers the opportunity to see the culture and lifestyle of different tribes in Nepal. It attracts ordinary people who are looking for an exciting trek in the region, as well as archaeologists, geologists, and anthropologists who wish to take in distinct geographical and cultural features.
Cultural importance, Yartung Mela, and Tiji Festival
Beyond the natural gorgeousness, Upper Mustang is also enriched with ancient Buddhist monasteries, Chortens, and Mani walls, and the lifestyle and culture of the indigenous people there, which is highly influenced by Tibetan culture, is adorable and interesting as well. One of the major highlights of this trek is Lo-Manthang, the ancient walled capital of the former Kingdom of Mustang, which is vibrant with colorful deserts and ancient houses of similar patterns. The trek also reaches Rachung Cave, Ghar Gompa, and Dzong Cave, where the trekkers can observe the best-preserved form of Tibetan Buddhism.
Trekking to the restricted areas of the Upper Mustang on a horse's back helps the trekker understand the way of life in the Himalayas. Likewise, the distinct and thought-provoking festival celebrations like Yartung Mela and Tiji Festival in the Upper Mustang make this trip even more noteworthy if the time frame of your trip happens to coincide with the festival dates. To bid farewell to Summer, a celebration with horse races, drinking authentic local wines, singing, and dancing are what the local Gurung and Thakali people of Mustang do. And they call this three-day-long celebration, “Yartung Mela”.
It is celebrated throughout the Mustang’s territory but is exclusive and special at Lo-Manthang and Muktinath during mid-August or September (on the full moon day) every year. It is a three-day celebration and is celebrated with horse races, drinking, and dancing by local Gurung and Thakali people. Throughout the three days of festivities, they have the Local King’s activities taking place on the first, the monks on the second, and the local people on the third. Whereas, the enticing happening of this fair is the horse racing competition by both men and women. This festival can also be celebrated by foreign and local tourists after the indigenous have accomplished the rituals.
Whereas, Tiji is known as the most colorful and important festival in Upper Mustang. The festival marks the victory of good over evil and consists of meditation and dancing. It takes place around mid-May and lasts for three days. Tiji is a mesmerizing annual three-day festival involving Tibetan rituals that celebrate the myth of a son who had to save the Mustang kingdom from destruction. Though it is not related to horse riding like in Yartung, it is also widely appreciated by tourists who have been to Mustang during that time frame.
Best time for the Upper Mustang horse riding
Even during monsoon season, the Upper Mustang region receives much less rainfall than other local areas. Because of this, the Horse riding trek to Upper Mustang can be joined any time during the year. However, August and October are the peak visiting months, with other popular times coinciding with cultural celebrations such as the Tiji festival, which is known as the most colorful and important festival in Upper Mustang. The festival marks the victory of good over evil and consists of meditation and dancing.
Food
You will be served daily breakfast in Kathmandu and Pokhara as well as all meals with tea or coffee and hot or cold filtered water during the trek included in the price.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
What's included
- Horse riding tour
- 15 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Tea or coffee and hot or cold filtered water during the trek
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Domestic flights (Kathmandu-Pokhara, Pokhara-Jomsom, Jomsom-Pokhara, and Pokhara-Kathmandu)
- All required land transportation except for trekking days
- Upper Mustang restricted area special permits (500 USD for 10 days)
- Annapurna conservation area permit and all necessary permits
- 1 experienced, helpful, and friendly guide, porters (1 porter for 2 people), their food, accommodation, salary, equipment, and their insurance
- 1 horse (per rider)
- A horseman including his food, accommodation, salary, and insurance
- First aid medical kit box
- Rescue arrangement service
- Office service charge and government tax
What's not included
- Visa fee to enter Nepal
- International flights
- Extra baggage charges
- Extra nights and meals in Kathmandu due to any change in the scheduled itinerary
- Transportation during the trek
- Travel insurance
- All personal expenses
- Emergency evacuation (helicopter rescue)
- Tip for guides and porters
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer not provided
Tribhuvan International Airport
5 km away from your destination
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
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