Trek Difficulty Level

Mustang trek does not go to extremely high altitudes. We attain the maximum altitude of 13035 ft (3975 m) at Nyi La pass, on the way up from Samar to Ghemi. However, cold, dust and inevitable afternoon winds can make the trek uncomfortable. In order to avoid wind and also for lack of water, we usually tend to camp in the village and as the villages are not conveniently spaced, we have some days too short and others too long.
If you are not at the optimal physical condition, its very important that you should start working out at least two months prior departure date, starting slowly at first and then gradually increasing the intensity and the duration. Train may include jogging, cycling, uphill walking, or indoor work out room exercises but do not forget to consult your physician before you start any new fitness program. We will have porters or pack animals to transport gears and supplies as well as our luggage, leaving us free with a light day-pack and enjoy the sceneries. This trip does not require any technical climbing skill or special abilities but optimal physical condition and a spirit of adventures. Our final trip dossier includes extensive pre-departure information that includes passport and visa information, check list, up-to-date health advice etc.

Best time to trek in Mustang

Trekking season for Mustang is from late March until early November. As it lies in rain shadow region of the Trans Himalaya, it rains very little during summer. While most of the trekking routes of Nepal are impossible, we can still trek in Mustang during summer. Because of cold and snow, winter makes life in Mustang very difficult and so most of the population departs from Lo on trading expeditions and so we will also avoid winter for trekking in this route. Many people prefers trekking in Mustang during Tiji Festival, which falls in April or May.

Fully Organized Camping Trip

This will be a fully organized and supported camping trip which is a traditional and in true sense the real way of trekking in Nepal Himalaya. We will have support of Sherpa crews for camping and kitchen arrangement. They set up and breakdown camps for us and cook 3 delicious meals daily. Camping gears include 2-3 people’s tent, dinning tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent, shower tent and dining table and chairs. Shower tent will be set up only if water source is nearby.

Life on the Trail

The day starts with the smile of a Sherpa! That’s true. A Sherpa staffs greets you around 6:30 am with a mug of steaming tea. The crews will provide you with a jug of hot water for washing. We will pack up our bags and enter the dining tent for a hearty breakfast. The breakfast porridge, eggs, and toast. We are expected to be off on the trail by 7:30 or 8:00. The first half day of the trekking would be from 3 to 4 hours long, through villages, forests, with frequent ups and downs, sometime following the streams and sometime on the rocky trail carved into the hills. While we walk on our pace but at the same time we don’t have to create big distance with fellow trekkers. We will have plenty of time to stop at the local inns, take photos and chit chat with the locals or people sharing the trail. We will have lunch break at the trail side around noon to 1 pm. We will recharge ourselves with plentiful of hot meal prepared by our cook and we nap or relax for about half an hour after meal before we are ready to hit the trail again for the second half of the day.
Depending on the itinerary, our second half of the day would be relatively shorter and we should arrive at our camp by 4:00- p.m. We wash up and enjoy tea and snacks. We will have the next few hours free to pursue our own interest.We may want to write journal, read books or magazines, play cards, engage in conversation, walk around the neighborhood or simply relax.
The last meal of the day is a hot, multi-course that often includes local ethnic especialities as well as western favorites. Dal bhat ( a combo of rice, lentil, and curried vegetables), yak cheese pizzas and momo-Tibetan pot-stickers are the local favorites. After dinner, you can still involve in singing and dancing with local Sherpas or slide into your tent and sleep.

Expert Guide and Support Staff

Our trips are led by gifted local guides for whom guiding is a passion rather than a vocation. They would show you the wonder you would never find by yourselves and also ensure that your long planned trip goes smoothly and safely without a glitch.
Highland Asia Guides are well versed in English but please, bear in mind that English is not the first language for them. They are trained by KEEP (Kathmandu Environmental Education Project) on first aid, environment, conservation and biodiversity. As required by law, all our trekking guides are trained and licensed by Tourism Department’s academy. Most importantly, they are professional, helpful and always willing to provide you with personalized care and services.

Your guide escorts you along the trail, selects the lodge for accommodation or camping site and help you choosing your meal and deals with local bureaucracy whenever required. As you pay all trekking charges in advance, the guide will take care of all the purchases or charges on the way. We provide one porter for each two trekkers and he carries 15 kilograms(33 lb). Porters are locally hired at the village where your trek begins from, if not hired from Kathmandu. The guide and porters will have good clothing and boots to survive the harsh weather of the mountains.

Packing List

Note on Itinerary

Although we will do our very best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as listed; it is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.
Booking and Cancellation
When you are sure you are traveling, please don't delay in booking. The internal flights are the key factor in determining whether your trip can be realized or not. A deposit of US$200 on land plus the cost of internal airfares is requested along with complete trip application form and passport copies.Balance payment is due 60 days prior to your departure. Depending on the number of applicants, we may set an early payment date. If balance of payment is not received by the requested date, we reserve the right to cancel your booking without prior notice.
Cancellation
• 90 days prior departure: Administrative fee US$ 50 per person.
• 60-89 day's prior departure: US$ 250 or 25% of the land cost whichever is higher.
• 45 days to 59 days prior departure: US$ 450 or 50% of the land cost whichever is higher.
• 30 days to 44 days prior departure: US$ 600 or 75% of the land cost whichever is higher.
• Less than 30 days: 100%
Some suppliers like airlines may have their own cancellation and refund policies which will supersede Highland Asia Tour’s Cancellation Policy to the extent of their difference.

Nepal Visa

You can obtain Nepal visa beforehand from any Nepali embassies or consulates abroad or wait until you arrive at Kathmandu airport or any other port of entry to Nepal. You will need to complete  visa application form and attach a passport size photograph. Visa fee costs US$ 25 for 15 days and $45 for 30 days multiple entry.

Highland Asia Travel

We are an active adventure travel company, based in Minneapolis, USA with destination management offices in Kathmandu, Thimphu and Lhasa. We are BBB acredited business and an active member of American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). We have set the standard for adventure travel and have a strong reputation for excellence that we do everything we can to maintain. Our managers and guides have more than 15 years of experience in organizing and leading adventure trips in the highlands of Asia. For us travel is not just a business, but a way of life.

Travel Protection Plan

While we plan and do our best to make your trip smooth and seamless, there may be chances of unforeseen events and conditions such as illness, accident, inclement weather, and flight cancellation or missed connection or loss of baggage etc. that may cause interruption or delay or total cancellation of your trip putting your hard earned travel investment in jeopardy. It’s also possible that you may need medical assistance, emergency evacuation or medical transportation when you get ill or involve in an accident when you are traveling in remote areas. Highland Asia’s Tour cost does not cover any of these expenses or losses and so we strongly recommend you that you should protect yourself and your travel investment against those unfavorable conditions.