Upper Dolpo to Mustang trek

Tour itinerary: Kathmandu → Dolpo Buddha → Kathmandu

Overview-

Upper Dolpo to upper mustang trek is one of the most difficult, longest, and most adventurous treks. This trek takes two remote areas which were only opened to the public recently but still are highly restricted and require a special government permit to visit. The highest altitude you reach in this trek is 5545m. Dolpo lies in Tibetan Plateau and Dhaulagiri Mountain range while the Mustang is located between the rain shadow of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. In this trek, you will be spending most of your days above 4000m, and also some high passes over 5000m. This is why a great deal of extra fitness and physical and mental stability is a very important part of this trek. Combining all the main points of Dolpo and mustang like Shey Phoksundo Lake, Shey monastery, the crystal mountain, Bon Po religion, stupas, and history of the forbidden kingdom of Mustang, Muktinath, and Jomsom this trek is undoubtedly a legendary trek that almost takes 1 month. Both the areas hold historical, religious, and cultural values and have to offer lots of ancient attractions to us. The trail passes through dramatic landscapes, epic valleys, wilderness, and much rare flora and fauna. 

Temperature and weather

The average temperature in the autumn season here is around 10-15 degrees Celsius which is very favorable and good for trekking. The average temperature in spring is 15-23 degrees Celsius in lower altitudes and increases as you approach higher altitudes. In the winter season, the temperature is very low around -14 degrees Celsius. Monsoon also known as the rainy season and receives slight rainfall, especially in the Mustang region since it lies in the rain shadow area. 

Transportation

Airplane- airway transportation is available from Kathmandu- Nepalgunj which takes 55 minutes. From Nepalgunj you can take another flight to Dolpo airport Jhupal) which takes 35 minutes. Or you can also take a flight from Nepalgunj to Jumla which takes 35 minutes and trek from jumla to enter Dolpo and trek further to reach mustang 

Guides and porters 

Both being restricted areas, a professional guide is a must in this trek. A licensed guide with enough knowledge, information, and proper guidance is a part of this trek. They have enough ideas about correct directions, food and accommodations, villages and lifestyles, and many more which makes the journey more interesting. Guides usually charge you around 20-25$ per day. Porters are also very important in this trek. Since this is a long trek, carrying all the heavy stuff by yourself and walking around is next to impossible. They carry all your stuff and help you with this burden. However, they must not exceed 10-15 kilos. Porters usually charge around 10-15$ per day. Don’t forget to be kind to your guides and porters.   

Permits and fees

Shey Phoksundo National park Permit- this permit costs 3000 NRS to every trekker and 1500 NRS to SAARC countries. 

Annapurna Conservation Area- this permit costs 3000 NRS to every trekker and 1500 NRS to SAARC countries. 

Upper mustang restricted area permit- this permit costs 500$ to every trekker. 

Upper Dolpo restricted area permit- this permit too cost 500$ to every trekker. 

Safety and Security

Yes, Upper Dolpo to mustang trek is undoubtedly one of the most challenging and demanding treks. This trek is especially for those who have enough time and wants to explore the remoteness of Nepal. Most of the trails involve crossing a height of 4000m, and a few of them are 5000m, so having good physical fitness and mental preparation is very important. However, the level of difficulty also depends on the season you are traveling. The average walking hour is 6-7 hours per day which is not so difficult for experienced as well as for non-experienced trekkers. But the path becomes very strenuous sometimes so it is better if experienced ones do this trek. You can always practice running, jogging, and light exercises to maintain body strength and stamina. On the other hand, it is very common to face acute mountain sickness. The amount of oxygen in higher elevations is very low which causes symptoms of altitude sickness. some symptoms of altitude sickness are shortness of breath, nausea, fast heartbeat, headache, dizziness, extra tiredness, etc. Staying hydrated throughout the journey, having nutritional food, avoiding alcohol, and meats, and taking the journey slow so that you can adjust to increasing heights, are some of the solutions or precautions for altitude sickness. However, if you ever start experiencing these symptoms you need to immediately talk to your travel guide. There are also some medicines available for altitude sickness. If you decide not to climb the peak you can also enjoy your trek by staying in base camp. 

Other requirements

Insurance policy- high mountains are not the kind of places you want to travel to without an insurance policy. Travel insurance has become part of trekking requirements. If you ever have some medical emergencies your travel insurance will have to bear it and that is why you need to mention the details about the places you are going to and the altitudes you will be reaching.

Valid visas/passports – all foreigners except Indians are required to have valid visas and passports to enter Nepal. The visa application will need the passport having a minimum of 6 months of validation along with your passport-size photo. You will receive your visa upon your arrival at Tribhuvan international airport

Routes and direction