Riding up the Mustang Valley, surrounded by the mighty Himalayas is an experience that can’t be compared to any. From the views, heights, slushy trails to the tiny villages, happy children and simplified lifestyles, this adventure is bound to make one forget about everything’s that’s on their mind!
Planing your ride in the Mustang Valley
Pokhara is an ideal place to begin the riding the mustang Valley, since amenities are easily available and most importantly, it is easier and faster to exit town area. Riding to the Upper Mustang is considered quite adventurous since there are hardly any roads going towards Lo Mathang. Also, since it is close to the borders with Tibet, it is considered a sensitive area. The king and queen still reside in the ancient town of Lo Mathang, so you could imagine the historical significance of the region as well!
Important note: A special permit is required for the Upper Mustang ,TIM/TAM permit for the Annapurna area.
Riders heading up the Upper Mastang Valley The road up the Mustang valley includes treacherous terrains, unpredictable weather conditions that greet you like the local children. Properly adventurous is what I would call this ride. The path takes you through several mountains passes, also called ‘La’s’, and some do get close to 4000 metres! As a result, do expect plenty of hairpin corners on this ride. Riding in a relaxed manner will see you reach Pokhara in about five or seven days, hence consider giving yourself a lot of rest since the body demands higher levels of energy at high altitudes. The Kora La pas lies exactly at the Tibetan border and one needs to ride from Lo Mathang to the summit at 4600 metres. The climb is not what I would call easy since you may have to deal with water crossings, slush and rain. Chinese CCTV cameras guard the border at the top, the point where a U- turn must be made to ride back to Lo Mathang.
Suggested Itinerary for riding the Mustang Valley:
Day 1: Pokhara to Kalopani (approx 125 kilometres, 7 hours)
Day 2: Kalopani to Ghami (approx 8 to 10 hours)
Day 3: Rest at Ghami (visit muktinath if time permits)
Day 4: Ghami to Lo Manthang (approx 6 hours)
Day 5: Explore Lo Manthang
Day 6: Lo Manthang to Kora La and back.
Safety and other considerations
Since this area lies at a high altitude and consists of broken roads, unpredictable weather, physical challenges might have to be endured as the body loses energy by a reasonable amount. As a result, the chances of acute mountain sickness setting in are also present, hence every precaution must be taken in the form of timely hydration, enough time to acclimatise to higher altitudes, good amounts of sleep and most importantly- avoid other strenuous activities like running, jogging, etc.
