12th May to 6th June 2024 🇳🇵
A wonderful and adventurous journey from the magnificent Annapurnas to the depths of the still mysterious trans-Himalayan landscape of Mustang. We start by exploring the remote and wild valleys of Naar and Phu, just south of the Tibetan border, before crossing the 5390m Kang La and briefly Mustang is a bastion of pure Tibetan culture where our visits to monasteries and caves will give you a feel for the ancient spirituality of this land. Our journey will take us to the wildest heights, with a few passes over 5000 m, while giving us the opportunity to observe traditional ways of life sharing time with the local people in the villages.
It will be beautiful, rough, and a little hard but certainly unforgettable!
As a supported “fastpack” (see updated definition below!) we’ll carry our own personal gear. We’ll guide you through every step of the way, we’ll organise all transport, food and accommodation, leaving you to focus on your own challenge and your own experience within this shared journey.
This journey offers you a very tangible physical and mental challenge, simply getting from A to B through some of the world’s highest mountains, but in this refuge from your everyday there will also space to reflect. You’ll see things from a different perspective, it will change you!
Mustang is a special place, in fact there’s “no place like it”! It was an ancient (forbidden) kingdom, isolated from the outside world, and foreign tourists were restricted from visiting until 1992. To the north it borders Tibet and it is drained by numerous rivers which combine to form the immense Kali Gandaki, which carves its way through the landscape creating the world’s largest deepest canyon between the magnificent Himalayan giants of Dhaulagiri (8167 m) and Annapurna (8091 m). Geographically Mustang is a high-altitude steppe and part of the Tibetan plateau, a trans-Himalayan region in the rain shadow of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. It is distinguished by eroded canyons, vividly coloured stratified rock formations and barren high-altitude desert – a landscape like no other! Until 2008 the Kingdom of Lo (Mustang) was an ethnic Tibetan kingdom, a tributary kingdom of Nepal. The name Mustang is derived from the Tibetan word meaning “Plain of Aspiration” and maybe our journey through it will appease our yearning to experience the wild beauty of an open sky and a simple age-old way of life.
If you’re interested to have an insight into the old Kingdom of Mustang we recommend reading Michel Peissel’s “Mustang, A lost Tibetan Kingdom“. You’ll able to find secondhand copies this book in Kathmandu, or we have a copy we can loan you during the trip! “In spring of 1964 Michel Peissel led a caravan on a fifteen-day journey to reach Lo Mantang, Mustang’s walled capital, and found himself in a medieval world where the wheel wasn’t used, the earth was believed flat and polyandry was practiced. He visited the great castles, the monasteries, the lonely hermitages and remote villages. He studied the culture, the history, the religion, and he met the people of Mustang, from the King, to Lamas, Dukes, scholars, traders, royal dancers and peasants. This was a journey in time as well as space and a brilliant account of a mysterious and exotic world set against the stunning backcloth of the Himalayas.“
Just click on the links below to jump to that section!
Equipment list and joining info
What’s a “skydance“?
Well, this isn’t a race and this isn’t a traditional trek, it lies somewhere between. Outside of a traditional race format, and as a small group, we have total flexibility over our itinerary, and how far or fast we travel each day, and within the constraints of eventually getting from A to B, we have the freedom to explore. It’s likely we’ll compress several “traditional trekking camps” into one day, but at other times we might decide to stay longer in a village to explore for a day off the main route. We won’t be running but we will be moving fast, with some long days once we are acclimatised. Some might call this fastpacking, but this isn’t quite that either. Jamie McGuiness coined the term “Skypacking”, but it’s something a little different to that too.
And so, it seems, the best way to describe this is as a Skydance. This is how Lizzy termed her original attempt at the Great Himalaya Trail back in 2011. Her intention then was to keep as much as possible to the trails through the highest mountains (a pure route), moving fast and light, with minimal support.
The spirit of our journey is the same, to move fast and light from the Annapurnas to the magnificent trans-Himalayan landscape of Mustang!
This. Whatever else it becomes, it will be a “beautiful, rough, hard and unforgettable journey”. Not sure yet where this will take me. It is not simply about the physical challenge. This is my ‘kora’, a point to point journey across a country, but circling back to where I start, which is here and now. A journey inward to the core, and a journey outward to the edge of what I know.
Lizzy Hawker, in a facebook post before the start of her 2016 journey along the Great Himalaya Trail crossing Nepal from East to West
You love the mountains and wild places. You’re looking for a beautiful experience and magical journey shared with a small group of like-minded souls. You’re comfortable with doing without luxuries for a while, and you’re excited to have an opportunity to experience the ‘real Nepal’ off the beaten track, and to immerse yourself briefly in the traditional culture of some remote and thriving communities. You’re a runner or a hiker or a mountaineer, and to put it simply you love moving on foot through high mountains.
Bring an adventurous spirit, a sense of humour and a willingness to be challenged. This will be a journey of the mind, heart and spirit as well as a journey for your physical body. You’ll experience life from a different perspective. Be prepared to be changed!
Trip leaders
Our journey will be led by Lizzy Hawker. On foot whenever possible, as an elite athlete Lizzy held the world record for 24 hours on the road and won the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc an unprecedented (and unmatched) 5 times. A National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and now race director of the Ultra Tour Monte Rosa her passion for exploring is taking her far beyond competition to high, wild places often alone, and often in Nepal. Lizzy completed the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) from east to west across Nepal in 2016 and 2017. Lizzy knows Mustang well after years of volunteering with the Mustang Trail Race, her feet and heart know the lie of the land so well, she’ll be happy to guide you through these high mountains, to share her experiences, and to create new memories and new dreams with you on this journey.
Our guide will be Laxman Khatri who has spent some years managing the vipassana meditation centre “Dhamma Pokhara” at Begnas Tal and will be happy to support you in the spiritual part of your journey as well the physical!
The organisers
The journey will be organised by our local partner Hidden Trails Adventures and through Kora Explore GmbH (organiser of the Ultra Tour Monte Rosa and the Kora Explore training camps / running tours). Hidden Trails Adventure is a Nepal based travel company and notably a pioneer of tourism in the Manaslu region. The Hidden Trails team has successfully organised the Manaslu Trail Race since November 2012 and the Mustang Trail Race since April 2013. The team has a wealth of experience in creating beautiful experiences in the high mountains of Nepal and enabling guests to realise their dream journey.
Contact Lizzy directly by email info@koraexplore.com or whatsapp (link below)!
Basic cost: 3580 CHF
Group size: minimum of 2, maximum of 4-6. This small group size means that we can offer you a beautiful and personal experience.
The basic trip is from Sunday 15th November 2026 (arriving Kathmandu) until Wednesday 9th December (departure from Kathmandu). For anyone participating in the Manaslu Trail Race first we’ll meet you at the end of your race on Wednesday 18th November! We’ll spend the night of Monday 7th December in Pokhara and return to Kathmandu on Tuesday 8th December. We have contingency time, so you can safely book an international flight for Wednesday 9th December. If you have extra time before you need to leave we will be more than happy to suggest or organise another tour/excursion for you!
Cost includes everything from leaving Kathmandu to arriving back in Kathmandu: welcome dinner in Kathmandu on Wednesday 21st May, Mustang & Naar / Phu & ACAP permits (650 USD per person), all domestic transport (flight and jeep), accommodation and food (lodges, homestays) for 21 nights on the trail, insurance and salary for our guide(s) and any other support.
Cost excludes: International Flights, Medical and Travel Insurance, Nepal Visa, Helicopter evacuation (should be covered by individual medical insurance), while on trek; additional meals, alcohol and bottled drinks, while in Kathmandu; all meals, drinks additional to those provided, monastery donations, equipment rental, tips.
Extras: We will of course arrange for your accommodation in Kathmandu but we leave this as a supplementary cost depending on the number of nights you would like and if you prefer single or shared accommodation etc. Where possible we will book you into the beautiful family run Karwaan Bed and Breakfast who will look after you very well. Just let us know what you need!
Support: Through Kora Explore we already support some families in Nepal with educational costs. The concept of sponsorship raises so many questions, but at the same time in certain circumstances a small financial contribution can make a huge difference to a child’s life. If, after your journey, you find you feel moved to help in some way then let us know and we can try to work out what could have the most lasting impact for a child/family/community. On a material level, good shoes and warm clothing (eg duvet jackets) are always in short supply, and if you have anything to bring or leave behind we’ll make sure it gets to someone who can use it!
Once you register we’ll send you a full list of gear/equipment that you will need to bring. We will also send you the “joining info” which will explain exactly how everything works once you reach Kathmandu airport, including orientating yourself to the craziness of Kathmandu, what happens while we are out in the mountains, and any useful tips that we can think of to tell you in advance!
You must have a travel or medical insurance that covers you fully against the costs of helicopter evacuation, hospitalisation, repatriation as required in case of injury or sickness. We will need a copy of your insurance details before you arrive in Kathmandu. Please make sure your policy covers you for trekking up to altitudes of 5600m. Thank you!
Please do also take out a trip cancellation policy in case of injury or illness before our departure. We are keeping costs for you to the minimum which means we have a big loss if one participant is unable to come at short notice. We will ask you for a 800 USD deposit. The balance is due 4 weeks before departure.
Thursday 20th May (for those arriving from outside Nepal)
Arrival in Kathmandu. We will meet you from the airport and provide transport to your accommodation in Kathmandu. See the “joining” info on how to orientate yourself to the craziness of Kathmandu. We’ll meet for a group dinner to welcome you and answer any questions or concerns! Lodging: Hotel / Bed and Breakfast
Friday 21st May
We’ll meet after breakfast for a briefing on the adventure ahead and to check kit, answer questions etc. This is mandatory even if you are only joining us in Kathmandu, so that we can make sure we carry only (and all) that is necessary for the journey! Following this you are free to enjoy the day! We’ll give you some suggestions of how you might like to spend the day, whether that’s gear shopping in Thamel, enjoying a spa or massage, or exploring some of the heritage sites of Pashupatinath, Durbar Square and Swayambunath. We’ll suggest a group visit to Boudhanath in the early evening to make a few koras, set some intentions for the journey ahead, and enjoy a good meal together. Lodging: Hotel or own accommodation as required
Saturday 22nd May
We’ll take an early morning flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara (822m). After breakfast on the shores of Phewa Lake we’ll take a jeep to reach Kagbeni, said to be one of the oldest villages in the Himalayas (2800m). Lodging: Teahouse
Sunday 23rd May
Kagbeni to Chele (3050m). We’ll take the old village trail on the west side of the Kali Ghandaki (river) to avoid the new road connecting Tibet to Lo Manthang and the rest of Nepal. Lodging: Teahouse
~ 15 km
Monday 24th May
Chele to Ghemi (3520m). We may shorten this day by taking a jeep until the village of Samar. Lodging: Teahouse
27.5 km & 2200m ascent, via Chungsi Monastery Cave
Tuesday 25th May
Ghemi to Lo Manthang (3810m). Today has several highlights including the incredible red cliffs of Drakmar, a visit to the oldest monastery in the region, Ghar Gompa, and an incredible descent leading us to the ancient walled ‘city’ of Lo Manthang. Lodging: Teahouse
21 km & 1100m ascent via the Mui La (4170m), Ghar Gomba and the Chago La (4280m)
Wednesday 26th May
Lo Manthang (3810m). Today is the last day of the Tiji festival, so we’ll combine a rest day with experiencing the last day of this 3-day festival to mark the battle between good and evil. The monks of the Chhode monastery will be performing masked dances and chanting prayers. It is a very special opportunity to witness part of this unique festival. There are several small hills very close to Lo Manthang if we feel like taking a small walk
Thursday 27th May
Lo Manthang to Chumjung (4100m). Today we will drive to Chumjung just to the north of Lo Manthang and take a walk towards the Base Camp of Manshail tucked up against the Tibetan border. Lodging: Homestay
Chumjung to Druk (~4000m). A short day allowing us to explore this incredible landscape north of Lo Manthang, visiting the specacular 5-story cave system of Jhong, reputed to be 2500 years old. We’ll also visit the very special Konchok Ling Sky Cave, where the landscape and feeling are otherworldly. Lodging: Teahouse
Wednesday 28th May
Druk to Lo Manthang (3944m). We’ll take a detour today to visit the remote village of Sam Dzong, a beautiful traditional village nestled into the rough cliffs. This is one of the most important cave burial sites, we’ll talk to the local villagers and learn more about this! The last few days we’ve been making a “kora” around Lo Manthang, and we return to the “city” for tonight, it’s just a sublime and timeless place to sit and wonder about life. Lodging: Teahouse
Thursday 29th May
Lo Manthang to Yara (3650m). Today’s route includes the most spectacular descent through a canyon, you’ll get so dusty, but we promise it’s worth it! Yara is a wonderful village full of life situated opposite striking cliffs. We’ll take a walk from Yara up a the dry Puyung Khola river bed, full of shaligrams (ammonite fossils), to visit the ancient Tashi Kabum cave. Experiencing the harsh beauty of this land and witnessing the effort people made to pay homage to their spirituality gives us an opportunity to think hard and reflect on our place in this world. Lodging: Teahouse / homestay
16 km & 650m ascent
Friday 30th May
Yara to Tanggye (3340m). Fantastical landscapes lead us onwards to the beautiful village of Tanggye with its long mani wall, magnificent chortens and traditional village houses and fields of barley! Lodging: Teahouse / homestay
18.3 km & 780m ascent
Saturday 31st May
Tanggye to Pass Camp. Today we’ll start towards the wild Teri La and make our Lodging: wild camp
Friday 24th May
Saldang to Bhijer (3850m). Lodging: homestay
via Nengla La (5368m)
Saturday 25th May
Bhijer to Kuwagaon. Lodging: homestay
via Yambur La (4813m)
Sunday 26th May
Kuwagaon to Pho. Lodging: homestay
Monday 27th May
Pho to Chyandi Khola (4830m). Lodging: wild camp
via Nyingma Gyanzen La (5563m), Ridge Pass (5450m), Yala La (5415m)
Tuesday 28th May
Chyandi Khola to Thajuchaur (4040m). Lodging: wild camp
via Chyargo La (5150m)
Wednesday 29th May
Thajuchaur to Shilenchaura Kharka (2945m). Lodging: Teahouse
Thursday 30th May
Shilenchaura Kharka to Mangri (1950m). Lodging: teahouse
Friday 31st May
Mangri to Rara Lake (3010m). Lodging: teahouse
Saturday 1st June
A day for exploration at Rara Lake. Lodging: teahouse
Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd June
We’ll keep these days “in hand” on the trail giving us the freedom to explore, rest or so that we have the option to split a longer day into two.
Tuesday 4th June
Travel back to Kathmandu. We are hoping this will be a morning flight from Gamgadhi to Nepalgunj, followed by an afternoon flight from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu. But we have to wait for the domestic flight routes for the spring season to be confirmed! Otherwise it will be a jeep ride followed by a flight to Kathmandu.
Wednesday 5th June (for those departing Nepal)
It’s always best to keep an extra “free” day in Kathmandu at the end of your trip in case of domestic flight delays or cancellations.
Wednesday 6th June (for those departing Nepal)
International departures.
