GHT Mugu Wild *exploratory

We break trail MAKING the Great Himalaya Trail high route

We explore a high and wild route between Simikot and Mugu as an alternative to the lower middle hills route. The lower route is more direct but middle hills trekking, rather than a traverse of the high and wild mountain areas to the north, so we will find a route through.

We start in traditional villages then head up valley to the high alpine area to find a pass across the range to remote Nepka village, then follow a trade route over another extensive range to remote Mugu. We verbally researched this route in 2011, got lost in 2012 on further exploration and so this time we succeed.

This is amazing, wild high country exploration that we are unlikely to repeat. Talk with us, join in!

** We trekked and explored this route in 2015 with great success, finding an adventurous pass across one range, another rarely used although more straightforward pass across the next, and solved mysteries crossing the last range to Jumla, so all in all, a very successful trek. An e-guide to the region is on it way. Contact me for more info. **

Highlights

+ remote, untrekked route

+ true exploration

+ avoids all peak season crowds

+ glorious camping

+ villages that don't see trekkers

+ ancient forests

+ tempting alpine terrain

Grading

3x high passes

max pass altitude ~5300m

occasionally challenging trails

extremely remote

Our service includes

airport transfers

2/3 star hotel in Kathmandu, single with breakfast

domestic flights as needed, local departure tax

group transportation by private vehicle

entrance fees and permits as needed

expedition-style trek:

all meals and hot drinks on trek

roomy single tent on trek

Our service excludes

insurance, Nepal visa, meals in Kathmandu

international flights, equipment rental, alcohol, bottled water and soft drinks, laundry, tipping and other items of a personal nature

Day 0 - early arrival

This is the best arrival day as you have a day in Kathmandu for shopping and recovering.

Day 1 - arrive Kathmandu 1350m

Look for the Project Himalaya signboard. We recover and prepare today.

2 - fly Nepalgunj

We fly in the afternoon to this hot Tarai town stuck in a time warp, all permits in hand, and stay at the best hotel.

3 - fly Simikot, trek near Takla

With a morning flight dependent on good visibility, we meet the crew and rest of the team in Simikot and get on the trail, dropping to a warm camp by a river.

4 - trek Lurupya

Leaving villages behind after lunch, we trek up this beautiful forested valley.

5 - trek valley exploration camp

Continuing up, we spend the next few days crossing the ridge to Nepka, the village on the other side.

6 - acclimatization camp

We have a short day or rest day to acclimatize and explore our pass route.

7 - kharka camp via a pass

We cross the ridge over a pass perhaps ~4800m high and camp somewhere on the other side.

8 - reach Nepka village

It will probably take half a day to reach this remote village, the last in this long valley of the Loti Karnali river. Virtually no trekkers ever venture here, and last time we had a wonderful cultural experience.

9-16 trek Mugu

We have roughly a week to traverse up the long valley that the locals use to trade with Tibet, and find a way over the range to Mugu. They have two routes and we explore this high country grazing area dotted with lakes and mountains.

17-22 - trek Gamgadhi or Jumla

We have a choice of two different routes out, depending on ambitions, conditions and the days available. We can either end in Gamgadhi and take a rough jeep/bus ride to Jumla or there is the old traditional trail through another mountain range direct to Jumla.

23 - fly Kathmandu

We fly via Nepalgunj to Kathmandu.

Day 24 - trip ends

The Jumla-Nepalgunj domestic flight is a fine weather flight only, although rarely delayed, however it is still safer to either fly out after 8pm tonight or stay an extra day and leave Kathmandu tomorrow.