Upper Mustang Trek - 25 Days

Duration: 21 days

Elevation: 5,545 m

Grade: Demanding

Upper Mustang via Nar valley program is a demanding trek that requires good physical fitness and some trekking experience. This trek involves trekking around 5 to 7 hours per day in stretches over a rough, narrow track with steep up-and-down terrain with lot of altitude gain.  It also requires crossing a high snowy pass in different weather conditions.

Altitude Problem:

This trek goes up to an altitude of 4,100 m with side trips reaching up to an elevation of 5,545 m, a zone which is highly susceptible to high altitude problems. Altitude sickness can affect anyone in the elevation beyond the safer limits of 2500m above sea level. As you ascend higher into the atmosphere, the oxygen content of the air decreases, making it more difficult for the body to adapt to the new altitude and perhaps leading to altitude sickness.

Altitude sickness can happen very quickly. It can be lethal if it’s not treated on time. If you have a headache, cough, racing heart or trouble breathing, difficulty in sleeping, weak you might be affected by altitude problems. In such cases you need to consult with your guide and stop ascending to higher elevation. The only remedy for altitude problems is descending to lower elevation immediately.

Prevention: – Allow ample time between trek days to let your body acclimatize well. – Do not increase the altitude by more than 500m per day – Drink plenty of liquid and don’t let your body get dehydrated – Eat plentiful and keep your body fit – Move slowly and don’t stress too much in your body – If you are smoking cut it out. However, even after following the prevention rules if someone is still affected then one needs to DESCENT down to the lower elevation asap as altitude problem can be life threatening.

Who Can Undertake this Trek:

Graded as demanding this trek is ideal for those who are into adventure and have good experience in high altitude trek. For the novice this trek can be difficult but not impossible with good preparation and allowing more time for acclimatization trek can be achievable. This is purely a trek and not a climbing trip, so no rope or climbing is involved. We do not recommend this trek for pregnant women, heart problems or other long health issue. One needs to have a good shape of health for undertaking this trek.

Preparation For the Trek:

Since this trek is graded demanding and reaches up to an altitude of 5,545 m planning needs to be done to have a safe and enjoyable trek.

Mental Preparation: It is important to do the reality check before signing up for the trip:

– First need to question yourself if you are ready for the trek which goes up to an altitude of 5,545 m?

– Your health conditions? Recommends you check with your GP/Doctor

– Meditation practice which will strengthen your brain and might need it during trek in times of difficulties.

Physical Preparation:  It is crucial toning your legs & amp; body muscles, stamina, ready to take up the challenges of the Himalayas. If you are a regular trekker and have already done several treks not much preparation is needed but for a novice it is always good to prepare yourself with proper training as early as possible. As to when you should start training, you would want to begin at least 6 months before your journey. The longer you train, the fitter and stronger you will become and thus, more likely to enjoy the trek without adding any additional stress to your body and helps avoid injury.

– Start hiking covering 9 – 12 kms per day with bit of weight 5-15kg. Try this quite frequently and increase the distance. This will slowly build strong muscles in your legs and body, also help as to how you move on the trail. Practice with the hiking boots that you plan on taking to avoid blisters during the trek.

– Also, you can build up your strength, endurance, stability and self-assurance by doing stair walking. You can start slowly and then gradually prolong it for a bit longer period.

– You can work on a treadmill as it will strengthen your calves and Achilles tendons and improve your cardio and leg endurance. This can be done by increasing the incline each week till you can tolerate 45-60 m at a 15% incline.

– Other fitness activities like swimming, cycling, jogging is all helpful

Season: April and October/mid-November

You really need to have a good weather to enjoy your trek fully – normally the ideal time to undertake this trek is from October till mid-November and in the spring, you can start around end March till end first week of May. But as the weather pattern is changing its hard to be precise.

Access:

Drive to DHARAPANI over rough mountainous road.

Type of Trek:

This is a combination of lodge and Camp trek and supported by a guide, porters, tents, meals and transportation where required.

Lodge: Lodge will be simple basic with common bathroom. During the stay in the lodge our meals will be in the Lodge restaurants.

Camp: We will be carrying two men tents in places where there is no facility of lodges. During camping we will be providing the tents, sleeping mattress, toilet tents, dinning tents. Food is all carried from Kathmandu and prepared by our experience cook during the trek.

Typical Day in The Trek:

Usually, day begins around 6 am with tea or coffee and then washing and shaving.  After you need to get back to your room and pack your gears, followed by breakfast in the restaurant which will be as per your choice. Then we start our trek which will be around 3 hours then have a lunch break – our guide will choose a good place to eat and will see that you get an opportunity to enjoy the view of mountains.  We again start our trek for around three to four hours and then we end our night in the Lodge.  Dinner will be in the restaurant/lodge, and you get a menu to choose your meal.

Meals:

This trip is on a full board basis, which means 3 meals a day are included each day. You can find a wide variety of Nepali, Western, Chinese & Indian cuisine.

Breakfast offerings include muesli, a variety of porridges, pancakes and bread with jam or eggs. For lunch it is worth considering what can be quickly prepared, with veg noodle soup being popular. Pancakes and Tibetan bread are also relatively quick to make. Increasingly toasted sandwiches are on menus too. Apple pie is generally delicious, deep fried in the same way as the spring rolls are. Dinner you can start with soup, then you can choose the main dish either macaroni/ spaghetti/potato/pizza/rice etc. Most meal choices are carbohydrate-heavy; exactly what trekkers require.

All lodges serve tea, coffee, hot chocolate, hot lemon, soft drinks and beer (check its temperature first) and some places even offer wine. Avoid having uncooked food like salads, meat products during the trek or even in Kathmandu.

In the camping trip meals will be prepared by our experience cook providing different kind of dishes Continental, Nepali, Chinese and you have tea, coffee, fruit juice.

Water:

It is recommended to take plenty of water during the trek to avoid dehydration.

Drinking Water Options:

1. Boiled Water: Available at most lodges and teahouses. It may cost extra depending on altitude.
2. Water Purification Tablets or Filters: Carry portable purifiers or tablets like iodine or chlorine dioxide to treat water from streams or taps.
3. Bottled Water: Widely available in lodges but not environmentally friendly as they add to waste issues in the region.

Group Size:

Normally our group size is between 2 to 10 participants – it is always great to have a small group instead of big groups.

Electricity:

Most of the teahouses in this region have electricity or solar power facilities. But as a backup it is always good to carry a power bank or solar charger in case of electricity problem, this trek zone is in the mountainous region of Nepal. Charging electronic devices in some places will cost you extra. Communication: Internet access and mobile connection is available in most of the places but in some region due to mountainous terrain the connection can be poor.

But for around 07 days while in the remote part of this trek electricity is not available. So, you need to charge your electric device before hitting the remote trail.  Power bank is also a wise to carry along with you in the trek.

Staff Support:

You will have the support of a Govt. registered trekking guide who can speak Basic English language and well acquainted with the area. All our Guides have received training in basic skills and knowledge about administering first aid and emergency medication.

We provide porters to carry your personal baggage and gear leaving just the day pack to be carried by yourself.  We provide one porter for every two trekkers and one porter generally carries a baggage weighing not more than 30 Kgs, i.e. 15 Kgs per trekker. So, you will need to pack your baggage accordingly.

Trekking Equipment:

 The weather in the Himalayas is always unpredictable, especially in the upper reaches. Therefore, it is essential to pack all the necessary equipment while trekking in Langtang Valley. Complete list of equipment will be forwarded upon confirmation of the trip.  Most of the gears can either be bought or rented out in a different trekking shop in Kathmandu.

Health, Medical & Vaccinations:

Atleast 08 weeks before you begin your journey have a basic health check-up, consult with your GP/Doctor about your travel plan and the vaccination you might require. But if you have a constant health issue it is wise to talk with your GP/Doctor before signing up for the trip. Also, the dental issue needs to be taken care of before starting for the trip as dental problems can pop up when your body is stressed.

Medical facilities in major cities of Nepal although has improved a lot but still not at par with many countries abroad. Kathmandu has several big hospitals with quite a good medical facility but serious illnesses, however, often require evacuation to the nearest adequate medical facility in a neighbouring country. In the trekking region you have simple basic clinics but limited to only some areas. One needs to be careful with water, we advise you to drink only boiled or bottled water. Also please avoid raw or undercooked food. Infectious diseases such as parasitic, foodborne, and waterborne infections are quite frequent in Nepal. They consist of cholera, hepatitis, and typhoid.

Nepal reported its first dengue case in 2004 since then, dengue has been endemic in Nepal.

First Aid Kit:

It is important to bring your own medication while traveling to Nepal as some of the medication might not be available or match with the one you are taking. While bringing the medication please bring along the prescription and good to check with Nepal Embassy if that medicine is allowed in Nepal or not. Because some of the drugs even though prescribed by the doctor out there might be illegal.

Insurance:

This is a MUST while trekking in any part of the Himalayas during the difficult terrain and gaining altitude. Make sure to choose a policy that covers emergency helicopter evacuation, medical costs, natural disasters, theft, and losses.

Visa Requirements:

All foreigners require a visa for entry into Nepal. You can get from a Nepalese embassy overseas or on arrival in Nepal. Most people will obtain their visa on arrival to Kathmandu airport.  For obtaining the visa your passport should have atleast 6 months validity on the day of departure and the visa fee on US $ cash.

Pre-Application via Embassy or Online:

• Online Application: Fill out the visa application form at the Nepal Immigration Department’s official website.
• Submit your form with the required documents at the embassy/consulate of Nepal in your country or at the visa counter upon arrival.

Visa Fee:

• 15 days USD$ 30 or equivalent convertible currency
• 30 days USD$ 50 or equivalent convertible currency
• 90 days USD$125 or equivalent convertible currency

Trekking Permits:

Permits are mandatory for trekking in the region. You will require three different permits —Restricted Area Permit for Nar, Upper Mustang and Annapurna Park Permit.

1. Nar Restricted area Entry Permit
2. Upper Mustang area Restricted Entry Permit
3. Annapurna Conservation Park Ticket

For organizing these permits initially, we will need to have a digital passport size photograph along with scan copy of passport where all details are mentioned i.e. NAME AS IN THE TRAVELLING PASSPORT, NATIONALITY WITH PASSPORT NO, DATE OF BIRTH, SEX, VALIDITY OF THE PASSPORT)

Later upon your arrival in Kathmandu we will be needing the passport to verify for obtaining the restricted area permit.

About Adventure Travel:

The concept of mountain trekking is ‘adventure traveling’ which can be unpredictable most of the times. While traveling through the remote mountainous regions of Nepal, please do not expect standards you are used to at home, since these areas are still underdeveloped.

The posted trek itinerary should be seen as a guide only. Situations like inclement weather, forces of nature and circumstances beyond our control may convince us to alter the itinerary. Therefore, you are advised to be flexible, positive and eager to take on the challenge if the need arises. In case of uncertainty regarding the suitability of this trek for you, please do speak with your trekking agent.