Upper Mustang then a little-known route to Upper Dolpo via a
6000m peak-pass and the HIGH route to Mugu
We link what most Nepal hands agree as the two most scenically
stunning treks in Nepal with some exploration and a 6000m scramble (!!!).
We start with a full Upper Mustang trek to the fabled city of Lo Manthang then head
west into the high country for some mountaineering exploration and then continue
over a high pass to Chharka and stay north for the wild route to Mugu (so no
Shey Gompa). A section
of this trek is seriously exploratory and we will be the first trekking
group to traverse some of this terrain. Seriously off the map, neither are these routes covered in any guide book even.
In 2010 we had the most classic 42 day trek from Upper Mustang across Saribung and summiting the
6328m peak, then through to Nar and Phu and around Manaslu... it was a seriously good trek and we hope this will be just as
amazing!
Logistically
extremely challenging, we will be taking
similar crew to last year.
Outline Itinerary
This is a bit "back of the envelope", but should work! After more research we will end the trek at Talcha Airport near Rara Lake.
I don't fancy walking along the mule track to Jumla (although there is an untrekked back way). Lets see!
2/3 star hotel in Kathmandu, single with breakfast
1 night Nepalgunj hotel, twinshare
domestic flights as per the itinerary
group transportation by private vehicle
entrance fees and permits as needed
Kathmandu group dinner
Expedition-style trek includes
all meals, afternoon tea and hot drinks
roomy single tent / large double for couples
our special comfy dining tent
and more Project Himalaya comforts
porter and horse porterage
very experienced crew
we care for our porters providing:
warm jacket, pants, hat, gloves & sunglasses
warm duvets, mattresses and sleeping tents
Nice touches included
fresh filtered coffee for breakfast
solar charging for cameras, USB devices
filtered drinking water at camp
Our service excludes
insurance, Nepal visa, other meals in Kathmandu
additional hotel nights due to delays
satellite phone however available for rent
international flights, equipment rental, alcohol, bottled water and soft drinks, laundry,
tipping and other items of a personal nature
Tips & extra cash
allow approx $50 per day for Kathmandu meals
allow more if you are a shopaholic
we suggest 5% of the trip cost per trekker for the crew tips pool
Day 1 - arrive Kathmandu 1350m
2 - fly Pokhara
No rest for the wicked, we fly to Pokhara in the afternoon, all permits in hand.
3 - fly Jomsom, trek Kagbeni ~2800m
We fly to Jomsom and start trekking! Kagbeni is a gorgeous village.
4 - trek Chele (Tsaile)
Yay, we are in panoramic Upper Mustang!
5 - trek Shyangboche / Ghiling
6 - trek Lo Gekar / Samduling
We plan to take a different route from last year.
7 - trek Lo Manthang 3800m
8-9 - stay Lo Manthang 3800m
The gompas have to been seen to be believed.
10-15 - trek to BC
Into the unknown! We have time to explore while further acclimatizing. We will have two rest-acclimatization days.
16 - peak climb
The peak can be straightforward. We have a choice of two routes, one on snow and
one a rock scramble.
17-19 - trek Chharka 4780m
On day 17 we say goodbye to the Upper Mustang team, they head back with the climbing gear (and other gear) that we
don't need. Now lighter and leaner we continue exploring!
We cross the Kekyap La, if we haven't already.
20-22 - trek Tinje
We cross the Mo La, 5030m and then continue along the river for a couple of days.
23 - trek Shimen
There is a good chance we can partly resupply here with low quality Chinese rice and rice flour.
24-27 - trek ??
**New. Between Shimen and Pho are two route options, naturally we will take the unknown one!
28 - trek Pho
And another day, another pass, the Yambur La 4813m.
29 - trek Pung Kharka
This is where the remote high route really kicks in. It should be seven days trekking to the next village. Today we
climb and then cross the Nyingma Gyalzen La 5563m/18,250ft.
30 - trek Chyangdi Khola
We cross the Yala La of 5414m/17,750ft.
31 - trek Takla Khola
32 - trek Thajuchaur
33 - trek Shilenchaur /Kharka
Over one more smaller pass we go!
34 - extra day
I hope we can have a rest day somewhere in this section above, lets see how our progress is.
35 - trek Tiyar
I think this is the first village...
36-39 - trek Gamgadhi
It is likely that we reach Gamgadhi, the district headquarters of Mugu, in three days and then we have a couple of
hours walk to Talcha Airport, which itself is only half and hour from Rara Lake.
40 - fly Kathmandu
We will fly via Nepalganj or Surkhet, and then continue to Kathmandu.
41 - Kathmandu spare day
This partially covers possible flight delays.
Day 42 - depart
The harvest in Dolpo - Jamie McGuinness
Saving data; use your phone in landscape to see the detailed itinerary and more photos.
