Hike Ghar Gumba - Lo Manthang

Cloudless morning sky and clear air – Himalayan giants tower on the southern horizon behind groups of chortens. 

We are going down to the fierce waters of the river Charang Khola and then ascent in steep bank of the river bed.

We pass three ruined chortens above the village of Marang. On the southern horizon again emerge sharply cut tops of seven and eight-thousand high mountains.

This mountain towering in the east from Jomsom accompanies us all the way. Now it is quite far away, but we have a technique to see it in detail.

The path from the river Charang Khola first rises relatively slowly. But it then slits into the gutter and it is sufficiently steep that we need to adapt our pace. We enjoy stopping and turning back – the view is more and more fascinating.

Finally at the top. After overcoming roughly 400 vertical meters we find ourselves on the highest point of our todays and overall journey, which is called Mustang trek. Pass Marang La is in 4 230 m asl.

We are finally saying goodbye to the views of Nilgiri and ridge of Annapurnas in the south. The landscape of Upper Mustang with its area called Lo-Manthang opens before us. Do not forget to bypass mani walls in a clockwise direction, i.e. from the left.

Early in the afternoon we are approaching today's desti­nation. The green colored irrigated fields surrounded by dry rugged landscape are a definite sign that we are approaching human settlements.

This is not a mustang, it's Mustang…

Now it is only about 15 minutes to the royal town. Medieval residence surrounded by walls, it's Lo Manthang.