Saribung Expedition

Posted on by Nepal Footprint Holiday

Saribung Himal is located between the kingdom of Mustang and Manang border across the holy lake Damodar Kunda. Peak has been newly designated for remote mountaineering and expedition in the Annapurna Conservation Area of ​​the Annapurna region. The Nar Phu Valley is Tibetan Khampa inhabitants on the hidden side of the Annapurna circuit trek route. Saribung Trek is totally wilderness destination for adventure and nature lovers. The Saribung expedition require multiple special permits. The Saribung Route and Tiri La Pass are technically tricky, because of lack of acclimatization, un-sure planning and losing the yak walking trails between Luri Gompa to Nar Phu Village. Mount Saribung is 6,329m high. The Saribung Peak expedition is important among trekkers for its challenging passes and great camping experience.

Main Features of Saribung Expedition are:

  • Discover Upper Mustang and beyond during the Saribung Peak expedition
  • Demanding wild trekking with camping experience
  • Adventurous glacier and snow hikes to the summit

Best Time for Saribung Expedition

The Spring and Autumn seasons are good for speeding up Saribung Peak. During the Autumn season, the weather, scenery, and celerity is gorgeous. The bright peaks, colorful Himalayan rice, friendly and smiling Tibetan Buddhists, and yak caravans around the village are very interesting.

Due to the altitude, climate and remoteness of this area, it requires more training and preparation than other mountain peaks in Nepal. It most often straddled dry, rugged terrain and glacial motion modes, complete with climbing equipment. Required to set up a tall camping tent for mountaineering. From the summit of Saribung, you can cover parts of Peri Himal and Himlung Himal, parts of Mt. Tibet, and the arid landscape of the Kingdom of Mustang. After climbing the summit, you will enter another hidden valley called Nar Phu. A completely secret valley with ancient monasteries, colorful stupas and barley fields.

Mustang Trekking

Posted on by Nepal Footprint Holiday

Mustang is an unofficial Buddhist kingdom of Nepal, known as the lost Tibetan territories lies northwest of Mt. Annapurna and Mt. Dhaulagiri Himalayas.  Upper Mustang trekking is the ultimate open museum and live gallery of old Buddhist kingdom, Tibetan Buddhist Arts, Isolated landscapes, and vivid natural beauties, which is still closely like Tibet.

Upper Mustang is restricted region for foreign travelers and hence the trekkers to Mustang area needed to obtain the special permit. The special permit costs the US $500 for the first ten days and 50 dollars per day for additional days. It caters to the outstanding views of scenic mountains, which have interesting myths attached to their colors. The Mustang trek also offers the unique culture of people of Lo-Manthang (Capital of Upper Mustang).

Main Highlights of Mustang Trekking are:

  • Lo-Manthang is the capital of Upper Mustang (unofficial Buddhist Kingdom)
  • Observe the scenic views of Mountains like Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Annapurna, and Mt. Nilgiri with others
  • Visit monasteries like Chhairo Monastery and Ghar Gompa
  • Muktinath Temple, a sacred place for Hindusm and Buddhism pilgrims
  • Celebrate Tiji festival with the local commune peoples

Mustang Trekking Guide

Mustang Trekking start point is the most popular touristic town of Nepal, Pokhara. The scenic flight from Pokhara takes you to the airstrips of Jomsom from where the real trek begins. Treading along the trails of Lower Mustang in Kali Gandaki Valley, the trek goes through Kagbeni (the borderline from where the restricted region of Upper Mustang begins). As the trek goes beyond Kagbeni, it begins to cater to the landscapes, which are dramatically barren yet so beautiful. As the Mustang trek goes closer towards Lo-Manthang, the trekkers get to see the sky burials in the caves. It represents ancient death rituals of the people of Upper Mustang, who migrated to the region from Tibet centuries ago. At Mustang the ruins of the ancient palaces of the king of Upper Mustang are a primary highlight. The places in close proximity of Lo-Manthang highlight fascinating remote villages and ancient monasteries.

The other adventure of Upper Mustang Trek include the incredible Himalayan panorama of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Annapurna, and Mt. Nilgiri among others. The spirituality of Buddhism can be observed in the monasteries like Chhairo Monastery and Ghar Gompa. Similarly, the trek also caters to the culture of Bons in the Monastery at Lubra Valley as well as Hinduism at the sacred temple of Muktinath.

Upper Mustang Tiji Festival is a 3 days-long festival celebrated in the – Upper Mustang, Lo-Manthang. The mysterious Buddhist festival one of the main celebrations in the upper Mustang. In the year 2023, They celebrate the Tiji festival from 07th May till 10th May. However, day 2nd and 3rd is more colorful with the various mask dance performance by Buddhist monks and lamas. Sign up today if you are interested in this festival trek to Mustang and for detail please Read details/blog about the Tiji festival.

Best Time to Trek Mustang

The Spring and Fall seasons are the busiest times to travel Mustang. We operate the tours for Mustang Trekking from April – October. Even in Monsoon season you can trek Mustang as entire Upper Mustang lies in a rain-shadow area in the trans-Himalayan mountain region. In May, you can observe the Tiji festival celebrated by the Buddhist pilgrims.