Upper Mustang Trek

Upper Mustang Trek Overview

Trekkers must meet specific conditions to undertake the Upper Mustang Trek, unlike other trekking destinations in Nepal. Earlier, foreigners were not allowed to enter the location. Nowadays, anyone can visit the location only after acquiring a specific permit.

The permit for Upper Mustang Trek must be obtained from a local government-registered. Nepal trekking company. This specific trek requires 3 different permits.

Upper Mustang Trek Permits

Trekkers must meet specific conditions to undertake the Upper Mustang Trek, unlike other trekking destinations in Nepal. Earlier, foreigners were not allowed to enter the location. Nowadays, anyone can visit the location only after acquiring a specific permit.

The permit for Upper Mustang Trek must be obtained from a local government-registered

Nepal trekking company. This specific trek requires 3 different permits. They are:

1) Special Mustang trek permit:

The Upper Mustang region, which includes the RAP check post, is the area above Kagbeni village. It is issued by Nepal’s Department of Immigration, which has offices in Pokhara and Kathmandu. Moreover, it cannot be issued unless the application for at least two foreigners is put in jointly.

2) Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP permit):

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP) is required in order to access the area. Trekkers are free to spend as much time as they like in the ACAP region once they have their ACAP because there is no time limit on this permission.

3) Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) permit:

In addition to helping with movement tracking, the TIMS card gives information regarding the trekker’s safety during the journey. For a cost, you can obtain the TIMS card from TIMS counters situated in trekking zones or from the Nepal Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu or Pokhara; however, you will need to go through a trekking agency.

For a TIMS permit, Group hikers pay $10, while individual trekkers pay $20. Since the tourist passport specifies the validity of the Nepal visa, an original passport is needed when applying for the Mustang trekking permit.

Foods During Upper Mustang Trek

The food is tasty and varied, with a blend of Western, Tibetan, and Nepali dishes. The lodges and guest rooms serve both local and international cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Together with the cheese that is formed from the milk that they generate, the meats that are native to the highlands, such as yak and “chauri”, are delicious and nourishing and are commonly enjoyed by the locals as well as the tourists.

Dhido, a pudding made from buckwheat, maize, or millet that is primarily consumed in the upper regions in place of rice, is one of the most fascinating and nutritious diets you can choose to enjoy.

In colder climates like the Upper Mustang, only Marsi Rice is grown and eaten. There, rotis of several varieties, including Phapar, Kodo, and Gahuko rotis, are rather widespread in addition to Dhido rotis.

To top it off, you can choose from the best beers and rice wines typically produced in Upper Mustang. In the Mustang area, “marpha” is also referred to as the apple brandy of the fruit brandy.

Conventional cuisines like burgers, noodles, soup, salad, eggs, French fries, and more are also offered but with the local Nepali touch of the locally available herbs and fresh foods from their farms. The Upper Mustang trek’s culinary tour is well worth it, as it opens your heart to the sweetness of the various foods you’ll encounter along the way.

Accommodations During Trekking Days

In every village along the walking trail, there are tea houses or simple hotels that offer lodging options. The lodges offer cozy blankets, cozy mattresses, and tidy restrooms. Due to the remote location, high cost of transportation, and low population density, accommodations in Upper Mustang are relatively pricey.

One will be staying in modest but cozy lodges along the trek, owned and operated by local Mustang families. In most cases, the lodges offer gas-powered showers and sit-down flush toilets (but some do have squat toilets as well).

In Jomson and Kagbeni, you may have an attached bathroom with piped hot water. While in Upper Mustang, Gas canisters are brought in from nearby cities and carried to teahouses so you might have to pay for hot showers.

Accommodation in Kathmandu

Kathmandu being the first destination on one’s arrival which is also the heart of Nepal provides one with ample hotels with various facilities. One can choose amongst the multiple hotels based on their level of service and budget.

You are escorted to your designated hotel when you arrive at the airport. One can easily achieve the level of service and facilities during their stay in Kathmandu Valley.

Wifi Access on Upper Mustang Trek

Due to its remoteness, there can be variations in Wi-Fi, mobile networks, and electricity in the region. The internet connection in Upper Mustang is extremely inconsistent and unstable.

Some of the larger settlements along the Upper Mustang Trek have Wi-Fi, however the signal is unreliable. There is little coverage for mobile networks, so expect occasional connectivity.

Tea shops have free wifi, however, service gets irregular after Jomsom and doesn’t reach Muktinath. The Wi-Fi in Muktinath and Kagbeni is marginally better, although it costs USD 1 per hour and is not very reliable.

Altitude Sickness

The Upper Mustang journey is the least likely to cause acute altitude sickness. Marang La, which is 4230 meters above sea level, is the highest peak that can be reached on the Upper Mustang Trek. Below 4000 meters, altitude sickness is not common.

Finding the Hidden Kingdom in Nepal is a safe and moderate trip. To avoid altitude sickness, our Upper Mustang programs are expertly designed. In case of emergency, Diamox and other altitude sickness medicines can be taken and one must descend to a lower altitude.

Increased altitude causes the air’s oxygen content to drop. It takes time for your body to become used to the shift. Preventing altitude sickness requires acclimatization, which is the process of adjusting to the high altitude environment.

Make sure you get adequate rest days, stay hydrated, and avoid alcohol and tobacco use.

Drinking Water

Making sure you have access to clean drinking water is crucial to being ready for a successful and pleasurable trek in Nepal. While climbing in Nepal’s high altitudes, purifying your water is not just an option—it is a requirement.

Consuming unpurified water may lead to various diseases such as giardiasis, dysentery, and cholera. Trekkers can explore the breathtaking Himalayan trails while staying hydrated and healthy with the right information and water purification techniques.

Trekkers must select a dependable purification technique, closely adhere to guidelines, and maintain proper cleanliness to ensure safe water intake and a pleasant, healthy trekking experience. Popular and practical choices that are appropriate for hikes at high altitudes are UV purification equipment, chemical treatment tablets, and filters.

The following purification methods can be used to ensure clean drinking water. They are:

1)Boiling Water:

Boiling is the most reliable way to eradicate pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. At heights higher than 6,500 feet, it is crucial to bring the water to a rolling boil for at least three minutes.

2)Chlorine or Iodine Tablets:

The most efficient way to reduce pathogens in drinking water for use in outdoors or during travel is to employ a mix of filtration and chemical disinfection if boiling water is not an option. Therefore, if you decide to use chlorine or iodine tablets to disinfect your water, it works best if you filter the water first and then add the tablets.

3)Steripens:

Giardia and Cryptosporidium are among the bacteria, viruses, and protozoa that will be destroyed by the UV radiation from the Steripen.

4)Filtration systems:

Larger than 5-micron bacteria and protozoa can be effectively filtered out by the majority of filtration systems. But they seem to be less successful in filtering out germs such as E.Coli., which are around 1 micron. It is recommended to utilize a filtration system in conjunction with either Steripen or a combination of chlorine/iodine tablets.

Communication

Up till Chale and beyond Tsarang, electricity facilities are readily accessible. Although not very dependable, electricity is available in places like Samar, Ghiling, and Syangboche, Ghimi. To meet the trekker’s needs for electricity, they have a backup solar system.

On a clear day, cellular reception is largely available along the Upper Mustang trekking trail, while the Internet is accessible for a modest fee up to Kagbeni and Lo Manthang. You can use Nepal Telecom’s mobile data services up to 3G in select locations and 2G in many others.

Baggage Limits on Flights

To get to Jomsom, the home base of Mustang, you will take a plane from Pokhara. You can see the almost 8,000-meter-tall Dhaulagiri and Annapurna mountains as you climb. Following your arrival in Jomsom, you will walk to Kagbeni, which serves as the entry point to Upper Mustang.

Only 15 kilos per person is permitted due to Jomsom’s distant location. You can store the additional luggage in the Pokhara Hotel, which will offer storage facilities.

Travel Insurance

While most states are not required to have it, having travel insurance can give you peace of mind in the event of an unforeseen incident while you are away from home. For example, your travel insurance coverage may pay for medical expenses if you become ill or are injured while on the road.

We advise you to carefully consider your options for coverage because some insurers have specific exclusions for risky travel. Before buying insurance, make sure your insurer is ready to cover every activity you plan to engage in while traveling and is aware of the upper Mustang trekking schedule you want to follow.

If your vacation is canceled or stopped for unavoidable circumstances, cancellation insurance is a type of coverage that can help you recover your expenses.

If you wish to go mountaineering or mountain climbing in the Himalayas, your insurance policy must cover emergency helicopter rescue and medical expenses.

Tipping

Like in other nations, tips are seen by visitors as a sign of their appreciation and affection. But you are under no pressure to tip your guides; in fact, no one can make you do so.

The length of the journey and the quality of service received will determine how much is tipped, but as a general guideline, tip 10% of the total trip cost. As a gesture of respect, give a tip with your right hand or both hands. A smile and a word of thanks in Nepali, such as “Dhanyabad,” go a long way in communicating your gratitude.

Giving a tip to those who have contributed to your trip’s great experiences in Nepal is a kind and considerate gesture. The most meaningful gratuities are those that are provided with appreciation and respect for the local way of life, even though there are conventional standards.

You may improve your trip to Nepal and create a lasting impression of kindness by adhering to these tipping customs and expressing your gratitude for the services you get.

Currency Exchange

Many of the smaller settlements along the Short Upper Mustang Trek route lack ATMs or have very few of them. On the Upper Mustang trekking trail, there are just two ATM locations: Muktinath and Jomsom.

If you intend to travel higher up, Lo-Manthang has a few private bank branches but no ATMs. As such, it’s wise to keep some cash on hand at all times.

Before beginning your trek, it is advisable to convert your money to Kathmandu or Pokhara. Money exchange services are available in these cities where you may exchange your main international currencies for Nepalese Rupees.

Nevertheless, not all currencies can be exchanged in Nepal, therefore it’s advisable to bring along big currencies like the US dollar and the British pound. There are ATMs, banks, and exchange offices where you can exchange money in Pokhara and Kathmandu.