Upper Mustang Trek

INCLUDES

• All in-country logistics & support
• English speaking trekking guide and climbing guide
• Porters
• Accommodation, meals with a hot drink at lodges during trek
• National Park entry fees / Permit (currently $500pp)
• TIMS card
• Airport transfers x 6
• Staff insurances and food / accommodation
• Internal return flights* to Pokhara, Jomsom and back to Kathmandu (4 flights)

Please note that many companies do not include meals on trek nor the internal flights, which makes a large difference to the price.

EXCLUDES

• Air fare to Kathmandu
• Nepal tourist visa ($50 for 30 days)
• Accommodation in Kathmandu. We can book this for you if required.
• Travel Insurance
• Meals in Kathmandu
• Mineral water, soft / hard drinks or extra drinks, hot showers, charging and personal expenses during trek

A deposit of £200 is required to secure your place and we ask that the remaining balance (trip price minus the deposit) is paid in full 6 weeks prior to your departure. When you book with us you’re given your own secure online account which you can access 24/7. Through this account you can edit your booking, add flight, health, insurance and dietary details and also make interim payments. We make payments as flexible as possible and you can choose, if you wish, to pay a bit off your trip fee whenever it suits you.

Adventure Alternative Nepal is the local provider for this trip and we can vouch for proper staff salaries, insurances, training and equipment. Our company invests heavily in our local companies and you will have full access to the staff handling your trip by email, phone or skype if you wish.

*These flights ‘fly by sight’ so if there is cloud cover or bad weather there can be delays. If necessary we can be flexible and adapt the itinerary to catch up on lost days, but if the planes can’t fly then there is little that we can do except wait. Occasionally the planes can’t fly but helicopters can, if you prefer this option we can organise it but there would be a supplemental charge. This doesn’t happen very often but you should consider possible impacts on your international flights. The good thing about the Upper Mustang trek is that flights are rarely cancelled and if they are, it’s possible to travel by road in the same number of days.

The main itinerary above is approximately 100 kilometres but as mentioned this can also be adapted if you prefer. Each day the trek starts after breakfast at about 8.30am and there are many opportunities to stop, absorb the views, take photos or have a cup of tea along the trail. The pace is slow and the itinerary allows for excellent acclimatisation though the beauty of this trek is that we don’t go to any particular height. Most days trekking are for 6 or 7 hours and generally finished by mid afternoon.

The terrain is along well trodden and defined paths which can be sandy and desert like in places and at other times rocky. There is no need for crampons or any technical equipment or skills, it is purely a trek. The Mustang is un-spoilt with a rich Tibetan culture due to it having been closed to the rest of Nepal and elsewhere until the early 1990’s, however you will find a warm and friendly welcome. The valley is essentially a large dried up ravine which is also in the Himalayan monsoon shadow, so it is possible to visit for most of the year, however we would suggest you avoid mid winter and consider any time from March through to late November.

People who enjoy hill-walking, trekking, stunning scenery, fascinating cultures and who are moderately fit will love this adventure.

Accommodation throughout our trek is in basic but comfortable lodges which are run by local Mustang families. Each lodge has a central communal area with a large stove that provides heat and a cosy atmosphere. The bedrooms are unheated and generally have two beds with mattresses, pillows and a blanket. You will need to bring a sleeping bag (3 season is fine) and we’d recommend a pillow case.

The lodges generally have showers which are powered by gas and they mostly use sit down flush toilets (some lodges do also have squat toilets). Food on the Upper Mustang trek is very good quality and a mixture of local Nepali / Tibetan and western food. A common, tasty and fulfilling local meal is dal bhat with rice. Along the trail it is at times also possible to source other items and here you’ll find a Nepal price guide.

We don’t provide hotels in Kathmandu as there is such a huge range available but of course happy to recommend or book hotels if required. We do provide accommodation in Pokhara and Jomsom on a twin room basis.

Check out our gear recommendations and also our Nepal Trekking Kit List page for information about what gear and clothing we recommend.

The basic idea of the clothing you will take is to keep you warm, dry, protected from the sun, able to move comfortably in the mountains and able to be comfortable in the evenings and night. The main points to cover are as follows:-

• Bags – Rucksack or duffle bag for a porter to carry plus a day pack to be carried by you. Dry bags inside to store clothes.
• Rain protection – Top and bottom waterproofs to keep off wind/rain, also an umbrella
• Layers – Shirts, trousers, shorts, T-shirts, jumpers and jackets, hat and gloves.
• Walking – Comfortable boots with a good sole and ankle support. Lighter footwear to change into in the evenings. Trekking poles
• Sleeping – 3 or 4 season is enough in the lodges where there are beds and mattresses and blankets
• Water – Water bottles should be hard plastic (Nalgene), not throwaway bottles. Water can be boiled or treated.
• Personal hygiene – wash kit, towel, small first aid kit
• Sun protection – sunglasses, sunhat
• Miscellaneous – head torch, camera, books, music, power bank and leads

The Upper Mustang does get cold at night, but not as cold as other regions and by that time you’ll be in your lodge. Overnight temperatures outside of winter in Lo Manthang can drop to -8C and day time can reach 25 – 30C, so you need a range of clothing. Late in the afternoon it can be windy and with the desert environment – dusty, so a buff is glasses are a good idea.

Kathmandu has an area called Thamel which is full of hundreds of equipment shops, each one an emporium of new, used, quality and fake equipment all very reasonably priced for rental and buying. You can buy almost anything needed for any trek. The same can be said in Pokhara where any kit or western treats are in abundance.