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Upper Mustang trekking

Mission: Trekking Mustang
Location: Base Camp
Date: 2th Oct. 2007
Organiser: everestjourney.com

Photo Courtesy: everestjourney.com

Mustang, a land where the soul of man is still considered to be as real as the feet he walks on: a land said to be "barren as a dead deer" but where beauty and happiness abound in spite of hardship, was a part of the Tibetan Kingdom of Gungthang until 1830's. The wall city of Lo Monthang, unofficial capital of Mustang still remains a kingdom within a kingdom. The early history to Lo Monthang is embellished in myth and legend rather than the recorded fact. Mustang has maintained its status as a separate principality until 1951. The king of Lo Monthang still retains his title and he has been given the honorary rank of Colonel in the Nepal army.

Lying beyond the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massif in central Nepal is the hidden Kingdom of Mustan, an intriguing parched region, forming part of the Tibetan plateau. Untouched by the outside world . , 16th century monasteries remain active, adorned

with unrivalled frescoes, thankas and status of gigantic deities, preserving ancient traditions. Mustang is the land of Barley field's pastures for grazing herds. These upper reaches of the Kali Gandaki river which has tantalized a generation of trekkers - have recently been opened in 1992. Mustang being a restricted area, there are certain formalities required by the government of Nepal in obtaining a special permit. The journey to Mustang begins with a flight to Jomsom via Pokhara. Two days walking from Jomsom we cross the traditional boundary into the wild lunar landscape of Mustang. Our itinerary allows plenty of time to explore the main town of Lo Manthang, the impressive walled capital. Mustang trek is scheduled during the summer months when the people are most active in the fields, villages and monasteries. The trek ends at Jomsom and from here we fly back to Kathmandu via Pokhara

Day 1	Arrival in Kathmandu airport (1345 meters). There you will be met by our Airport Representative and transferred to hotel by private tourist vehicle. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2	Sightseeing around Kathmandu valley. Your sightseeing trip will start at 9AM in the morning after breakfast. We will provide a private vehicle and professional tour guide. We visit Pasupatinath temple, Buddhanath, Monkey temple, Bhaktpur durbar square and Kathmandu durbar square. The afternoon includes a final briefing and preparations for the trek. Overnight at hotel.
Day 3	Drive to Pokhara (900 meters) 7 hours by tourist bus. Trekking staff will come to your Hotel early in the morning at 6:30AM to pick you up and then the bus leaves around 7:30AM to Pokhara. Overnight at hotel.
Day 4	Morning flight to Jomsom and trek to Kagbeni (2800 meters). Early morning we are flying Northwest from Pokhara toward the great portal between the snow covered peaks of Annapurna and Daulagiri. You will enjoy the well-raised massifs of more than 8000 meters, and the deepest gorge on this planet. On arrival to Jomsom you will meet the rest of the trekking staff, there will be a guide with you from Kathmandu, and start the trek to Kagbeni, the main gate to Upper Mustang. Overnight at Tented Camp
Day 5	Trek to Chaile (3050 meters) The trail leads up towards the east bank of the Kaligandaki climbing over many ridges as it heads north and reaches Tangbe village. The town is a labyrinth of narrow alleys amongst white washed houses, fields of buckwheat, barley, wheat and apple orchards. The Nilgiri peak, dominates the southern skyline of Kagbeni, will be enjoyed all the way by different shapes. Beyond Tangbe we reach Chhusang village in about 1/2 hrs trek and crosses the river and continues north climbing up to a huge red chunk of conglomerate that has fallen from the cliff above, forming a tunnel which the Kaligandaki follows. The trek now leaves the Kali Gandaki valley and climbs steeply up a rocky gully to Chaile. From here the culture changes from the Manangi culture to the Tibetan culture of Lo. Overnight at tented camp.
Day 6	Trek to Geling (3500 meters). The climb continues along steep, treeless, waterless terrain, along the side of the spectacular steep canyon to a pass and cairn of rock. Then the trail makes a long gradual descent to some chortens on a ridge, and then descends further on a pleasant trail to Samar village. We climb above Samar to a ridge, then descend into a large gorge which the trail goes into another valley field, crosses a stream and climbs up to a ridge at 3800 meters. The route climbs over yet another pass, follows a ridge and then descends to Shyangmochen. From there we gently climb to a pass at 3770 meters and descend to Geling Village. Overnight at tented camp.
Day 7	Trek to Charang (3620 meters). From Geling village the trail climbs gently up to an interesting pass Nyi La and descends below the blue, gray and red cliffs. After crossing a steel bridge of the Tangmar Chu (river) you will arrive to a Mani Wall perhaps the longest and most spectacular MANI wall in Nepal. Climbing over another pass at 3600meters, the route makes a long gentle descent to Charang village. The huge five-story white Dzong and red Gompa are the main attractions to visit to observe collections of statues and Thankas as well as many large paintings of seated Buddha's. Overnight at tented camp.
Day 8	Trek to Lo Manthang (3840 meters). This is an opportunity to visit two other villages on your trek. The trail climbs steadily until Lo-Gekar. Lo-Gekar Gompa is older than Samye Gompa in Tibet and one of the oldest Gompa of Nepal. After visiting Lo-Gekar continue trek to Lomanthang. The trail until Lo-Manthang is fine with some minor climbing. Finally from a ridge there is a view of the walled city of LO. After a short descent, cross a stream then climb up into the plateau of Lo-Manthang. Overnight at tented camp.
Day 9	Visit Namgyal Gompa and Tingkhar. It takes around 2 hours to Namgyal Gompa. Namgyal Gompa situates on a hilltop, which serves as an important monastery of the local community and also as a local court. After visiting Namgyal Gompa continue the tour to Tingkhar, which is a village of around 40 houses, the last main village to the northwest of Lomanthang. After visiting Namgyal Gompa and Tingkhar return to Lomanthang. Overnight at tented camp.
Day 10	Trek to Dhi (3410 meters). From Lo-Manthang the trail walks straight till Dhi pass 4100meters and descends down to Dhi village. The trek from Lo Manthang to Muktinath is harder, but more rewarding and interesting than the west side of the valley. Dhi village is one of the best villages of whole Lo-mathang and it seems more prosperous and it is settled in a very suitable place. Overnight at tented camp.
Day 11	Trek to Tange (3370 meters). From Dhi the trail goes through the river for around 2 hours and crosses a river from Damodar Kunda, one of the sacred lakes, there is no bridge on the river so we need to walk across in bare feet to cross this river. After crossing the river the trail climbs up till high above a pass of 3850 meters. The trail goes through a grassless, treeless bare hill. After the pass the trail again drops directly to Tangbe village at an elevation of 3370m.Tangbe is a small village of around 30 houses but most of the houses are attached each other. On the rooftops one can see piles of dry woods, which also reflect the prosperity in their society. Overnight at tented camp.
Day 12	Trek to Tetang/Chusang (3022 meters). The trail walks through a steep ridge of hills providing some fine views of wind carved hills. Tetang village is formed between 2 hills; they should have found it a safe place to avoid the strong wind that hits the entire Kaligandaki valley. Tetang is the upper village of the Chuksang, which we visit on the first day entering to Mustang from Kagbeni. Overnight at tented camp.
Day 13	Trek to Jomsom (2713 meters). This is the last day of the trek. The trail goes through the village of Jharkot where one can visit the Jharkot monastery, Tibetan herbal medical center and the old fortress of Jharkot, once served as palace. Continuing the trek towards Jomsom one will enjoy the view of the Kaligandaki valley and Kagbeni village the entry point to Mustang. We get a round trip of our trek in Ekle Bhatti visiting all the surprises of the human effort in this corner of the World of such an isolation and solitude. Arrive to Jomsom, celebrate the last day of the trek will in Jomsom with all the trekking staff. Overnight at tented camp.
Day 14	Morning flight to Pokhara. Today 30 minute morning flight takes us to Pokhara from Jomsom. Once we arrived at Pokhara airport, we then drive to hotel. In the afternoon we will have sightseeing tour around Pokhara valley, which covers Fewa Lake, Devi’s water fall, Museum, Tibetan refugee settlement and Gupteshower cave. Overnight at hotel.
Day 15	Leisure day and Sight in around Pokhara. It's also spare day in case of bad weather in Jomsom. Overnight at hotel.
Day 16	Drive back to Kathmandu (1345 meters). Overnight back at the hotel in Kathmandu. If you are interested in continuing on to the Chitwan Jungle Safari, River Rafting Adventure or any other tours you can start today.
Day 17	Transfer to international airport for your final departure. The trip ends, our Airport Representative will drop you to the Kathmandu International Airport for your final flight departure from Nepal.

How to prepare ?
What you should pack for the trip: Warm jacket ,Pull over,Trek suite, Raincoat, trekking shoes, Sneakers for river crossing, Camp shoes, Gloves, Minimum 2 pairs of warm socks + normal socks, Gaiters (to avoid the snow to enter in shoes) Sunglasses / Spare glasses or contact lenses, Sun hat, Shirts- Loose trousers, Washing kit, toilet kit, A small sewing kit, Safety pins, torch or flash light with spare batteries, Camera with spare films and batteries, day sac, water bottle, If it is early and late season required the pair of gaitters to walk on the soft snow over the passes (in case of bad weather) and walking sticks if one required.

Clothing and the necessary items: Due to wide range of temperature and climate conditions, it is advisable to bring appropriate clothing. For protection against cold a layered clothing is better than a few thick ones, so choose your cloths accordingly. Cloths should be preferable be made from natural materials which allow the body to breath better. You will be offending people if you walk around in skimpy or tight fitting clothes. Although there are normally opportunities to wear shorts, it is strictly forbidden to be with short in any religious places as monasteries and temples. We would advise women to wear shirts or loose trousers, men should not wear singlet.

Fitness and acclimatization: For all adventure trips at least light physical exercise is required however no exercise is necessary for Jeep Safaris and cultural tours in the mountains. As we gain altitude slowly on most of our treks, safaris and tours, acclimatization occurs naturally and for most people the slow ascent to higher altitudes produces negligible effects.

First aid kit: Preparation of relief of sun burn, Lip salve, Anti septic cream, Antihistamine cream (for relief of insect bites), Anti diarrhea (flagyl or any other), Anti headach (diamox, aspirin, paracitamol, zimalgin), Anti vomiting (avomin), For stomachach (baralgan,trigan or other diagnose) Dettol, washproof dettol plaster, Bandage and cotton, Balm, Anti cramp spray, Pills to purify the water, Scisor and knife are must in the medical kit. According to your physical condition you are requested to consult your doctor to complete your medical kit. Apart from that HIMALAYAN FRONTIER also provides an additional medical kit including oxygen cylinder with each group.

Flexibility required: Adventure is an unpredictable activity due to a variety of reasons. So when on your adventure or culture we would request you to be flexible and accommodating in the event of landslides, road blocks, vehicle breakdown, inclement weather and any other unexpected causes. However we always strive to overcome any kind of obstacles and provide the very best of services to the best of our ability and seek immediate alternatives. So when booking a trek or a tour with Himalayan Frontiers we urge you to possess a spirit of adventure, a lot of patience and the capacity for tolerance.

For all treks

Clothing

Down- or fibre-filled jacket for cold seasons (winter treks)

Pile jacket or jumper (sweater)

Hiking shorts (for men) or skirt

Waterproof jacket, poncho or umbrella

Hiking pants

T-shirts or blouses

Underwear

Sun hat

Swimwear (optional)

Footwear

Trekking or running shoes

Camp shoes or thongs

Socks (polypropylene)

Other equipment

Backpack or daypack

Sleeping bag (optional)

Maps, compass & guidebook (optional)

Water bottle

Torch (flashlight) and batteries

Miscellaneous items

Toiletries

Towel

Laundry soap

Toilet paper & cigarette lighter

Pre-moistened towelettes

Sunscreen (SPF 15+)

Small knife

Sewing kit

Iodine, water purification tablets or filter

Medical & first-aid kit *

Duffel bag (if you have a porter)

For treks with longer stay above 4000m

Clothing

Insulated pants

Nylon windbreaker

Nylon wind pants

Long underwear

Woolen hat (or balaclava)

Gloves

Gaiters

Footwear

Mountain trekking boots

Socks (wool) to wear with boots

Socks (light cotton) to wear under wool socks

Down booties (optional)

Miscellaneous items

Goggles or sunglasses

Sunscreen for lips

Optional equipment

Photographic Gear

Camera & lenses

Lens cleaning equipment

Film (about 20 rolls)

Navigation Aids

GPS unit

Altimeter

Thermometer

Miscellaneous Items

Binoculars

Books/magazines

Small duffel bag or suitcase (to leave behind in Kathmandu)

Padlock

Stuff sacks & plastic bags

Many people are concerned about altitude sickness. This problem, often known as acute mountain sickness (AMS), is a particularly important medical consideration while trekking in Nepal and Tibet. AMS rarely occurs lower than 2800 meters (9520ft) and only minor symptoms occur below 3000 meters (9,800ft). AMS occurs when the body does not adapt well to the lack of oxygen present at higher altitudes. At 5490 meters (18,000ft), there is just half the oxygen available as there is at sea level, while there is only a third available at the summit of Mount Everest. The itineraries of the treks of Itreknepal are designed to reduce the risk of altitude sickness as much as possible, although individual susceptibility to altitude sickness seems to be genetically determined. What happens to the body during altitude illness? The body tries to adapt to having less available oxygen by increasing the rate and depth of breathing, as well as the heart rate. Fluids accumulate in between the cells in the brain, the lungs or both, creating mild to severe symptoms. Mild symptoms include headache, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, insomnia and dizziness. These symptoms are usually resolved by spending one or two extra nights at the same altitude. If symptoms worsen, descent to lower altitudes is warranted. If you are resting at the same altitude and your symptoms worsen, then it is also necessary to descend. More serious symptoms of AMS include increased tiredness, severe headaches, vomiting, loss of coordination, shortness of breath and coughing fits. These extremely dangerous symptoms are called high altitude cerebral edema (or HACE). They can lead to unconsciousness and death within 12 hours. Increasing shortness of breath, cough and tiredness may also be signs of high altitude pulmonary edema or HAPE. This condition can rapidly prove to be fatal if ignored. Respiratory depression (the slowing down of breathing) can be caused by various substances, and may be a problem at altitude. The following substances can do this, and should never be used by someone who has symptoms of altitude illness:

Alcohol
Sleeping pills (acetazolamide is the sleeping tablet of choice at altitude)
Narcotic pain medications in more than modest doses

To prevent AMS and respiratory depression, drink at least three liters of liquid a day and avoid getting cold. Altitude sickness can to a certain extent be prevented by acetazolamide (Diamox SR), 750mg per day. Some experts suggest a two-day trial of acetazolamide before the trip. Please seek the advice of your personal physician. Please note that taking Diamox SR does not mean that you can ignore advice about proper acclimatization.

To recap, serious symptoms of altitude sickness include:

A severe, enduring headache, which is not cured by ordinary painkillers
Nausea and repeated vomiting
Irritating dizziness or actual difficulty with balance and direction
Visual disturbances with flickering vision and problems judging distance
Pressure in the chest, rapid breathing and pulse rate,
crackles in breathing and shortness of breath
Swelling beneath the skin (edema), typically around the eyes
Swollen ankles and hands
Confusion
Convulsions

In the presence of these symptoms, medical attention must be sought immediately in conjunction with descent to the lowest possible height. We have guides trained at the High Altitude Medical Training Center. Our staff is very experienced in dealing with the effects of higher altitudes. As they are natives of Nepal, they easily acclimatize and therefore can care for their clients. They are equipped with necessary medical supplies and will assist with basic first aid treatment. We design our tours to ensure clients are ready for high altitude, and arrange alternative itineraries for those at risk. For more information, please contact your doctor or hospital.

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Upper Mustang trekking

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Explore Everest Trekking is Nepal government registered trekking company: Reg no.- 52368/064/065