Saribung La pass

Tour itinerary: Kathmandu → Kagbeni → Kathmandu

Overview-

Saribung la pass is one of the high passes in Nepal that is located to the north of the Mustang region. Connecting two of the restricted areas, the Upper mustang with quaint Nar Phu valley, the frozen Saribung La (6042m) pass is one of the highest mountain passes in Nepal. The pass is known to be very challenging and technical but offers a magnificent view of Mount Dhaulagiri massif, Annapurna, etc. During your journey to the Saribung La pass, you encounter many beautiful landscapes and the one-of-a-kind culture of the remotest part of Nepal. Even though the route to Saribung La pass is newly discovered in 2006, it has been greatly successful to attract thousands of tourists. Saribung pass trek is possible in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions. The clockwise direction starts from Jomsom following the upper mustang trail and descends to Nar Phu valley which ends at Besishahar. Whereas, the anticlockwise direction starts from Nar Phu ascending towards Saribung La pass and approaching the hidden kingdom of Mustang. The main goal of trekking to this high pass is to climb the Saribung peak (6328m). it is a very technical and adventurous climb. During your journey to Sarbung la pass, you also get to explore the Nar Phu village which has a very different lifestyle and culture. The place, people, and traditions are very similar to Tibet and Tibetans. 

Best season to visit Saribung La pass- 

The best season to trek Saribung pass is the spring and autumn season. These two seasons have a very bearable temperature. The spring season has an average temperature of 16-22C in the daytime and can fall from -2 to -6 in the nighttime. In the autumn season, the average temperature is around 20-33C in the daytime and 0 to -3C in the nighttime. During these seasons you get to see a very clear view of mountains. The atmosphere is very clean and fresh with a crystal blue sky. The winter season is very harsh and windy, especially at a higher altitudes. If you are also planning to climb Saribung peak you need to be well-prepared for some unpredictable weather. 

Food/drinks and accommodation-

Your trek to Saribung La pass and peak must be a teahouse and a camping trek. Because there are teahouses available up to upper Mustang or Yara. Even though teahouses are simple and small they provide necessities like a clean and warm room to spend your night in. They have electricity and internet facility in most of the teahouses. They also provide hot water for the shower. The rooms are small and usually include two beds. You need to share the bedroom with another trekker too. Also, toilets, bathrooms, and dining halls should be shared. You might have a good opportunity to know more about local people and their lifestyles while you are in teahouses. Meanwhile, if you are continuing your journey to peak climbing, then you need to spend a few days in tents. Camping is the only option available at a higher altitude. All the stuff for camping like quality tents, sleeping bags, etc is highly recommended. 

For the food, during your stay at the teahouses, you get enough choices like Dal, Bhat, vegetables, fried rice, eggs, noodles, Tibetan food, etc. They are very healthy and organic. Drinks like tea, coffee, beer, and soda are also available there. During your camping days, you need to prepare your food by yourself or you can ask your travel company to hire a cook for you. They can make some easy food like eggs, bread, noodles, etc. 

Difficulties of Saribung La pass-

Saribung la pass is certainly one of the most difficult, challenging, and technical passes. The altitude, temperature, climate, rugged trails, etc are responsible for its technicality. It is considered moderately difficult. Even though the first few days of the trek are relatively easier, it might get more advanced as you go higher. Additionally, if you plan to climb Saribung peak it can be more challenging. You need a great deal of fitness, mental stability, muscle strength, and concentration for this trek and climb. The unpredictable weather at a higher altitude can be very harsh and extremely cold. The entire pass is forever frozen. The altitude and the sickness it brings can be the next major problem. Remember to take care of yourself and stay hydrated throughout the journey. don’t forget to take proper rest, and acclimatize during the trek. Also, you need to give yourself some time to adjust to the increasing height so it is better if you walk slowly. For strength, you can do light exercise, running, jumping, and jogging before the trek. With the necessary precaution, one can trek the Saribung la pass even during the winter season.   

Permits and fees 

1- TIMS- 1000 NRS (10$) per person 

2- Annapurna Conservation Area

- Non-SAARC countries- 3000 NRS (30$) 

- SAARC countries- 1500 NRS (15$) 

3- Upper mustang permit- 50,000 NRS (500$) and is mandatory for everyone. 

4- Special permit of Nar Phu- 90$ per week/person 

Guides and porters-

Upper Mustang is a restricted area and you need to get a special permit from the government. This requires a professional guide. Trek to Saribung La pass is not possible without a guide. They have very good knowledge about the places and people. Also, if you decide to climb Saribung peak then you need a guide and guidance. They are confident, well-experienced, and know about the risks and directions too. For the porters, you certainly need them to carry all your belongings. If you are headed for peak climbing then you need to carry all the stuff for camping and climbing. It is not possible for us to carry all those and climb. Porters help you with your belongings and you can walk freely. 

Other facilities-

Mustang is very much more developed than any other trekking place. They have proper lodges or teahouses. Those lodges have enough facilities like electricity to charge your phones or cameras. They have mobile coverage for you to talk to your family. Internet facility is available up to Kagbeni and Lo Manthang. Hot water is also available in the teahouses. Again, if you decided to climb the scribing peak, you cannot expect these facilities at higher altitudes. You need to carry extra batteries and power banks for those days. There will be no internet or mobile coverage. Some people however use satellite phones for emergencies. For transportation, there are two options available for you. Bus and a flight. There are flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara which takes around 30 minutes. From Pokhara, you can again take a flight to Jomsom which might take another 25 minutes. If you chose to travel by bus then you can get a bus from Kathmandu to Dharapani which might take around 7-8 hours. From Dharapani you need to start your trek. 

Route and direction