Trip Highlights
- Amazing panoramic views of the Annapurna and the Dhaulagiri peaks
- Experience the traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture up close
- Enjoy the wonderful natural beauty of Dolpa
Overview
The 23 days Mukot Himal Peak Climbing is a daring adventure that takes you to the heart of Dolpo Valley. It is a journey that takes you to the summit of the beautiful Mukot Himal, a part of the Dhaulagiri Himal range. Incorporated with all of the best natural and cultural features of rural Nepal, the Mukot Himal Peak Climbing presents a wonderful journey filled with unforgettable sights and cultural treasures. The journey begins with a gorgeous flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, the main gateway to the Upper Dolpa region. The trip then takes you through coruscating trails that weave through the ever-changing landscapes of Dolpa to take you to Mukot Himal base cap finally, and finally to the summit. The trip is an amalgamation of ethnic cultures that have been in practice for thousands of years and a scenic natural beauty that is elevated by the Himalayas that line the horizons. Throughout the journey, you will be presented with amazing Himalayan views that are magnificent. Radiating a majestic allure, the shadow of the peak over the valleys as they rise above the horizon like silver spikes. Paired with the pine and cedar woodlands that are home to many animals and birds, the trekking trip is an adventure that encapsulates all the best essence of a rural hike. The trek also presents you the chance to enjoy the traditional cultures and customs of the ethnic Lobo and Tibetan Buddhist people who reside in the villages. Nepal is a multicultural country, and the display of different cultures comes as an auspicious quintessence of any foreign travel. In addition, the colorful costumes and the daily life of the village people, from terrace farming to cattle herding, add a lovely ambiance to the trip. You will cross many Himalayan streams and rivers all along the journey and go over suspension bridges covered in prayer flags. The trekking trail is also decorated with occasional Mani stone walls and Chortens and small shrines dedicated to the local deities and nature spirits. It truly is a trip that captures Nepal's rural beauty in all its forms. Not to mention, you will also be provided with the best services throughout the journey. From accommodation to food to guide and transportation, all of the services will be taken care of. So you do not have to worry about anything! So join Brown Bear Trail's Mukot Himal Peal climbing journey to undergo a trip that will stay in your mind for years!Itinerary
You may arrive in Kathmandu at any time. Upon your arrival, you will be taken to the hotel. There are no planned activities for the day, so you may check into your hotel and relax. Overnights stay at the hotel.
Early in the morning, you will be taken to the airport for your flight to Nepalgunj. The short flight takes about 45 to 50 minutes, and from the plane- you can enjoy the views of the Himalayas and the changing landscape. Upon landing at Nepalgunj, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnights stay at the hotel in Nepalgunj.
You will have another short from Nepalgunj today to Juphal. It is a small town that lies at the entrance to Upper Mustang. From Juphal, you will begin your trek, making your way to today's destination- Dunai. The flight also presents many amazing views of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Mountain Peaks. The trail from Juphal steeply descends through rolling maize fields and small local villages. Next, you will walk alongside the bank of the Bheri River, passing by Roop Ghar, where you can see a watermill. Finally, you will arrive in Dunai- the administrative capital of Dolpo. Overnights stay in lodge.
Early in the morning, you will begin your trek towards Tarakot, You will pass through wonderful natural terrain filled with terrace farms, and gorges carved deep by the rivers over several hundred years. The trip is filled with the peaceful chirping of the birds and the quiet beauty of nature sounds. Finally, you will arrive at Tarakot- an old fortress town built by the local people as a protective Dzong (fort). The beautiful village stands on a hillock to the south of the Bheri River and features a supervised collection of tolls scattered throughout the village peripheries for the trading caravans. The people of Tarakot speak Kaike, a dialect spoken only in some clusters of this village. The people from other villages do not understand the language. The villagers also strictly follow their social norms here. Overnights stay at Tarakot.
From Tarakot, you will begin your trek to Mushi Khola today, going through the troughs and dips of the valley. You will follow the trail that meanders through the woods and goes under the green canopies of the pine forests. You will cross a suspension bridge along the way as well, and the terrain is dotted with small cattle huts and pastures. Overnights stay at Mushi Khola.
From Mushi Khola, you will begin today's journey to Kakkot. The further along the valley you venture, the fewer huts and villagers you will come by. The terrain from here on out gets dense with the woods and isolated ridges. You might come across one or two villagers who might be going about their day, cutting firewood. The trail is well-walked upon, though, and it cuts through the woods quite starkly. Finally, you will arrive at Kakkot. Because the village is such an isolated space, you will find that the villagers here also speak their dialect and follow a different norm from the other villages of the region. The houses of the village are also small and made of stones with thatch roofs. Overnights stay at the lodge.
Today's journey is filled with wonderful views of the Annapurna and the Dhaulagiri Mountain peaks. You will follow the trail to Pimrigaon, going through the landscape, which starts to become sparser of vegetation the further you enter through the valley. The terrain is mainly just broken gravel and grey slits upon which the villagers have built their small homes of stones. The ethnic people here follow the traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture of Dolpa that has been in practice for thousands of years. Overnights stay at Pimrigaon.
Today, you will follow the trail that is cut alongside the valley hills. The barren hills of the valley make up a dusty and dry landscape, but the horizons are lined with amazing views of the snowy mountain peaks. The village of Terang is also cut alongside the valley ridge, and this gives it a scale of a large terrace village. If you look at the village from a ridge above, it looks like a miniature set of dollhouses stacked neatly on the hillside. Overnights stay at Terang.
From Terang, you will make your way down the valley floor towards the river. Finally, you will cross a suspension bridge over the river and begin an uphill trek once again towards Mukot. The terrain begins to show little bushes here and there, but the landscape is still barren and rock-strewn for the most part. You can also view the wonderful sights of the Dhaulagiri and the Sita Chuchura Himal. Overnights stay at Mukot.
This day is set aside as a rest day for acclimatization. You can spend the day resting in the village and exploring the surroundings. The village has many stone shrines that the locals have built for prayers. The shrines are also lined with colorful prayer flags. The village also features stunning views of the mountain peaks. Overnights stay at the lodge.
Today, you will begin your trek going uphill towards Yak Kharka. It is on today's journey that you will start to notice snow covering the terrain. You will cross many small streams as well as you move along the path. Yak Kharka is a village and a small settlement that the villagers use to strengthen their cattle as they bring the animal herds for pastures during the summer. Overnights stay at Yak Kharka.
You will begin your trek further up the elevation today, making your way towards the base camp. You can get amazing views of the Mukut Himal now. Along with that, you will also get wonderful views of the Pungde, Sita Chuchura, and the Dhaulagiri range. Overnights stay at the base camp.
This is another day set aside for acclimatization. Due to the high elevation, your body needs time to adjust to the high altitude. If proper acclimatization is not done, you can face problems of altitude sickness. However, you can spend the day enjoying the views of the mountains and taking in the beautiful surrounding. Overnights stay at base camp.
This is the big day. You will begin your ascend the peak early in the morning, following your guide. You will also be using your peak climbing equipment, like ice axes and crampons, to make your way to the summit. The journey can be rigorous, but with a steady ascent, you will make it. From the summit, you can get panoramic views of the valley below and the neighboring Annapurna and Dhaulagiri peaks. After that, you will carefully follow your guide back down to the base camp. Overnights stay at base camp.
This day is reserved as a contingency day, as the weather in the mountains can be unpredictable. If you cannot summit on Day 14, you can use this day to complete the journey. If the weather is good, then you will not need this day.
From base camp, you will follow the same trail back towards Yak Kharka. It is the same path; you will see the same mountains on your way back down the elevation. The trek downhill is much easier, though. Overnights stay at Yak Kharka.
From Kharka camp, you will make your way to the Mulung River, trekking on the well-trodden path towards the valley floor. The descent is easy, but then the path rises in altitude again as it ascends the mountain pass. The climb up the pass is filled with small Chortens and shrines, and the panoramic view of the valley and the mountains from the top is breathtaking. Finally, ascending down, you will cross the river and arrive at your destination for the day.
The trail slightly ascends once again today, first to the Niwas La Pass. Crossing that, you will have another mountain pass ahead- the Jungben La. The view of the Thorang La, the Annapurna range, and the Mustang Himal from the top of the pass is quite amazing. Overnights stay at Ghalden Dhuldum.
You will begin today's trek early in the chilly morning, making your way down the valley once again towards Sangta. You can see the Sangta village from the top of the ridge as you begin descending. The path down the hills aren't directly downwards, but spiral round the hills as they get downwards. Then, crossing the river, you will begin a climb up towards the village. Overnights stay at Sangta.
The trekking trail towards Phalyak is where you will start seeing occasional terrace farms. The farms are mainly of barley and buckwheat, and some potato farms as well. The green farms bring a much-needed contrast to the dull rocky terrain. The trek is also mainly downhill today. Overnights stay at Phalyak.
Finally, following a steady trail, you will make your way to Jomsom. The terrain is strewn with small bushes and occasional woods of bamboo. Throughout the trip, you will be greeted with wonderful views of the mountain peaks. Overnights stay at Jomsom
Today, the schedule is mainly filled with airplane flights. You will catch an early flight from Jomsom to Pokhara. Upon landing at the Pokhara airport, you will then catch another flight back to Kathmandu. The short flights provide wonderful views of the mountain peaks and the landscape below. At Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnights stay at the hotel in Kathmandu.
You will be taken to the airport for your final departure today.
Cost Includes
- All arrival and departure from the airport to hotel and back on private cars, coach or buses as per the group size.
- Accommodation in tourist standard or 2-3 star class hotels on bed and breakfast basis as well in twin sharing basis rooms. (For single supplement at extra cost)
- Tour and sightseeing around Kathmandu as per the itinerary chosen with city guides includes all entrance fees at places of interest.
- Domestic air flights as per the itinerary chosen, some with overland drive to reach at the start of treks and on the end, where chartered bus-cars or coach included as per group size.
- Full board on trekking with breakfast-lunch-afternoon refreshment with dinner includes twin sharing rooms in lodge on route treks and long tours.
- Applicable Trekking Information Management Systems permits (TIMS) with Conservation or National Park permits.
- All tour and treks accompanied by guides-staff and porters (either human or pack animals like yaks or mules), all wages, meals, accommodation, transportation facilities with Insurance against medical and accidents.
- In some high altitude treks we provide sleeping bags and down jackets also with comprehensive medical kits carried by our guides and staff.
- Sleeping bags, and down jackets might include depending upon trip cost.
- First Aid and Comprehensive Medical Kit carried by our guides on all treks and climb.
- Special Permits on Restricted Areas Treks.
- If camping on remote areas where all meals included breakfast-lunch-afternoon refreshment with dinner includes twin sharing tents on route treks and climb.
- On climbing peaks, includes peak permits, special summit bonus for guides, with climbing equipment allowance with special insurance for guide only.
Cost Excludes
- International air-fare, Personal medical / travel insurance and Nepal visa fees.
- Expenses of individual nature drinks, laundry, telephone bills, gratitude and meals in city areas Kathmandu and Pokhara as per the itinerary chosen.
- On treks, laundry, recharge of electronic items and hot-showers.
- Personal Trekking-Climbing gear and equipment’s including down jackets-sleeping bags . if not provided by the company as per the trip cost.
- Single Supplement on hotel rooms as well on trek in lodge where clients should inform ahead on booking with extra charge on booking single private rooms where available.
- Emergency evacuation by any means of transportations including immediate Helicopter services if required on accidents, sickness and personal problems.
- Early return from the tour or treks will not be entertainment with refund, where client should borne all the expenses incurred including accompany guide-porters services.
- Gratitude / Tipping at the end of treks and climbs.
FAQ’S (Frequently Asked Questions):
Market Himal is a lesser trekking peak at 6,038 m / 19, 898 feet high. Located on the far eastern corners of the Dolpo district, and quite close to Dhaulagiri Himalaya range. A climb of 6 to 7 hours, from the base camp, where the trek follows back to Tarakot and then to Jhupal. But most trekkers cross the high Mula pass 5,600 m and Niwas-La at 5,120 m with Junben-La at 5,550 m to reach Mustang at Jomsom town to end the adventure.
The climb is straightforward with some technical sections to encounter before the summit of Mukut Himal. The climb leads over a moraine of ice, snow, and rocky ledge till you reach on top, facing spectacular views of Dhaulagiri Himal and of Dolpo's distant peaks. The climbing grade is PD means Per Difficult as listed in French and Swiss Alpine Climbing Classification.
It depends upon Brown Bear Trail's promotion, and how many climbers and trekkers are interested. This trek and climb involve both ways flights due to its remote location. The company runs and manages a minimum of 2-3 people in the group or more. For interested trekkers and climbers who like adventure around remote areas like Dolpo and Mukut Himal. Can contact Brown Bear Trails for further information and details.
isolation from the rest of the human settlements. The first few days spending overnights in the local lodge till Tarakot village, and then on camping for the whole trek till Tarakot or Jomsom is reached. Brown Bear carries all camping equipment and foods with a separate unit of kitchen backed by expert cooks, kitchen staff and climbing guides with porters or mules to carry all the camping gear.
Yes, it is very important when traveling around the high Himalayan country, trekkers need to buy medical and travel insurance. Just in case of emergency health conditions that might need immediate evacuation by any means of transport. The fastest rescue operation is using a helicopter service to bring the patient back to Nepalgunj city hospital or to Kathmandu. For all extra expenses, the client has to bear and claim through your insurance.
