Mt. Saribung (6,346m) Expedition exit via Mustang -28 Days

To start trekking/expedition in Nepal, firstly you will have to arrive in Kathmandu. Once you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, the representative of Dream Himalaya Adventures will meet you and drive you to the hotel in a private vehicle, where you will spend the night. Rest for a bit at the hotel. Later on, you will get a briefing on the Saribung Peak Expedition itinerary. Enjoy a welcome dinner in the evening and taste an authentic Nepali dinner.

On Day 2, you will visit our office for your trip paperwork. Here, you will also meet your expedition guides, porters, and the other fellow trekkers joining the expedition. After that, we begin a half-day sightseeing tour in Kathmandu. You will visit the most famous UNESCO Heritage Sites in the city, which are Pashupatinath Temple and either Swayambhunath Stupa or Boudhanath.

Pashupatinath Temple is Nepal’s most sacred Hindu temple. It is built beside the holy Bagmati River. Here, you can see historic temples, shrines, and people performing traditional rituals such as open-air cremation. Likewise, Boudhanath is one of the biggest stupas in the world. It features a large white dome and peaceful prayer wheels. Many Buddhist monks walk around the stupa chanting mantras. Swayambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple) lies on the hilltop of Kathmandu and provides panoramic views of Kathmandu.

After the sightseeing tour, we will return to the hotel. You can rest, pack your bags, and prepare for the day ahead. You can also buy missing gears and equipment at the nearby shops. If you need help, we can assist you on this as well.

Today we will leave Kathmandu early in the morning and drive towards Besisahar. First, the drive takes place on the Prithvi Highway, the main route connecting Kathmandu to the west. This part of the drive goes along the Trishuli River, and you will see green hills and small roadside shops on the way. The drive can feel slow in parts of the road due to traffic, especially near places like Naubise, Mugling, and Damauli. Also, during the monsoon season (June to September), there are high chances of landslides.

After reaching Dumre, the vehicle turns towards the Marsyangdi River valley. This is the road that leads to Besisahar. The road from Dumre to Besisahar is partly paved and partly rough. Some sections can be dusty, bumpy, or muddy after rain, giving an off-road feeling. Even with these rough patches, the drive journey is beautiful. We drive past forests, terraced fields, and river valleys. After 7 hours of driving, we will reach Besisahar, the headquarters of Lamjung district. You will stay overnight in a guesthouse here

From Besisahar, we will take a jeep drive to Koto. We take a jeep ride to save time and energy for the higher parts of the trek. The road follows the main Annapurna Circuit trek trail, so we will get to enjoy the same beautiful landscapes that trekkers use. You should know the road to Koto isn’t paved. It is a muddy, rocky, and bumpy mountain road. So the ride can feel rough at times.

The jeep travels along the Marsyangdi River, which flows below in the valley. As we move higher, we will pass small Gurung and Tibetan-influenced villages, terraced fields, and waterfalls. We will slowly climb into a cooler, high area surrounded by tall cliffs and pine forests. By afternoon, we will reach Koto village. Koto is the main entry point to the Nar Phu Valley, where our adventure into the hidden valleys of the Himalayas will begin.

On this day, the trek begins from Koto and takes deeper into the Nar Phu Valley. We will first cross a river that flows from the high Himalayas into the Nar Phu Valley. The Saribung Expedition trail then follows the forested slopes above the Phu River. The trail continues further along the cave to Dharamsala, used by monks and local herders. Walking along the canyon that opens into alpine pastures, we will reach Methang Pati.

Methang Pati is a small temporary settlement where local shepherds graze yaks in summer. In this remote, quiet place, we can glimpse traditional mountain life. We will stay overnight at a teahouse in Methang Pati, resting and acclimatizing for the higher altitudes ahead.

Leaving Methang Pati, we will follow the trail towards the Nar region. On the way, we will see a temporary winter settlement where the local people keep their yaks. You can also see grazing lazily on Himalayan herbs. Walk through the low shrubs and bushes with scenic mountain views opening on both sides. Soon, we will reach Junam, a semi-permanent settlement used by herders, where “Khampas” from Tibet once resided.

After a short break, we will continue toward Chako, another seasonal, semi-permanent settlement. From here, we can enjoy clear views of nearby glaciers and rocky cliffs. The Saribung Peak expedition trail from Chako winds up and down through open valleys, finally leading us to Kyang. Kyang is a quiet, remote place, set on a broad plain surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. We will stay overnight at a teahouse in Kyang.

As we walk from Kyang to Phu, we will enter deeper into the quiet and beautiful Nar and Phu Valley. Having said that, we will start the day’s walking by walking down to the river and following the path along its banks. Soon, we begin to see the colorful chortens for which this region is famous. These bright Buddhist structures show that we are now entering a very spiritual area.

The walk continues through a mix of canyon walls, rocky cliffs, and glacier streams. You may need to step carefully on stones or cross simple wooden bridges along the way. After a final steeper climb, we will reach a tall rock Phu gate called Pupigyal Kwe. The gate marks the ancient entrance to Phu Valley. This ancient gate also provides an amazing view of the three small villages of Phu, along with the old dzong and two forts, which are now ruined, sitting high above the valley.

From the gate, we will walk past a line of bright chortens and across the river. Finally, after a short climb, we will reach Phu Gaon, one of the most beautiful and untouched Tibetan-influenced settlements in the Himalayas. Stay overnight at Phu.

Day 8 is a much-needed rest and exploration day in Phu. As Phu Gaon sits on a high ridge surrounded by cliffs, chortens, and a sweeping mountain landscape, this place is perfect for acclimatizing and exploring the surroundings. To make the most of the day, you can spend the morning wandering along the village’s narrow stone lanes and watch locals spin yak wool, press mustard seeds for oil, and carry on their day-to-day life. The old dzong and ruins of two fortresses above the village offer beautiful viewpoints and a glimpse into Phu’s history.

Later, in the afternoon, you can take a short hike to the Tashi Lhakhang Gompa. This monastery is one of the most important spiritual sites in the region. It is associated with Lama Karma Sonam Rimpoche, who is a revered trulku (reincarnated lama) who came to Nepal with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1959. He is well known not only as a spiritual teacher, but also as a skilled amchi or Tibetan doctor and a respected artist.

After visiting the monastery, you can spend the rest of the day freely. Spend some time chatting with the locals, sip a cup of warm butter tea, and enjoy the deep blue skies and cool mountain air. And if you love photography, you will surely love the golden light that sweeps across the village in the afternoon, and with a little luck, you may even spot blue sheep grazing on the nearby cliffs. Overnight stay in Phu.

As today’s walk is also quite a long day walk, we will wake up early, have breakfast, pack our bags, and get ready to leave Phu behind. We will follow the trek route towards Damodar Kund and Bhrikuti Base Camp, following the Layju Khola (river). We will also pass through a small settlement called Nagoru. The path is remote, open, and very quiet, with no teahouses along the way.

And since there are no places to buy food on this route, we will carry a packed lunch and eat it during the trek. After lunch, we continue walking. The trail slowly climbs higher into a wide, dry valley where you may see yaks grazing on the rough ground. After walking for 6 hours, we will finally reach Yak Kharka. Once at Yak Kharka, we will set up camp for the night.

Good to know: The name “Yak Kharka” is made up by combining two Nepali words, “Yak” (the long-haired Himalayan bovine) and “Kharka “(which means pasture or grazing field). This way, Yak Kharka means Yak Pasture. The area is a traditional high-altitude grazing land, and it’s common to see yaks peacefully feeding on the alpine meadows throughout the year. This is also why most high camps and rest points in the Himalayas with open grazing grounds are named “Kharka.”

Today’s trek is short, but it is equally demanding, as we need to cross the glacier to reach Bhrikuti Base Camp from Yak Kharka. The trail continues through the lateral moraine, rubble-strewn glacier, and shallow crevasses. The route steadily ascends, with views of surrounding peaks opening up with each step. As we climb higher, the path becomes less distinct.

By midday, we will reach a sheltered basin under the southern face of Bhrikuti Mountain, beside a small frozen lake, where we will set up our camp for an overnight stay. Our team will set up tents on the flattest available ground, and the support crew will prepare meals and hot drinks. We will spend the afternoon resting and acclimatizing. Bhrikuti Base Camp is our launch pad for the higher stages of the Saribung expedition.

This is the preparation day. You will receive technical training at Bhrikuti Base Camp. Our Sherpa crew will explore the glacier to select the safest line and identify the ideal location for High Camp. In the meantime, your climbing guide will conduct a detailed briefing on the Saribung summit strategy, share necessary instructions, and teach you what to do and how to call for help in case of emergency. The Sherpas will also begin setting fixed ropes and establishing parts of the High Camp route.

You will practice glacier climbing techniques, including rope team movement, front-pointing, jumaring, and using safety lines, which are essential for the actual Saribung Peak ascent. After training, we will return to Bhrikuti Base Camp. This day is spent preparing, learning climbing skills, and acclimatizing while also enjoying mountain views and a high-altitude environment. Nonetheless, you also get to observe the Sherpa team in action and gain a deeper appreciation for the logistics and planning behind a high-altitude expedition.

Saribung Climbing officially begins on Day 22. After breakfast, we will pack our things and get ready for the challenging climb. We will walk through the en route glacier, carefully navigating ice, rubble, and snow. As we progress, we will enjoy stunning, close-up views of Khumjunggar Peak (6,959 meters) and Damodar Mountain, which dominate the surrounding skyline.

After walking for 5 to 6 hours, we will reach Interim Camp, perched on a rocky moraine at 5,400 meters. This location offers views of the surrounding high peaks and the glacier below. We will set up camp in sheltered spots on the moraine for the night. For the remaining days, we will enjoy the views and review plans for the next day’s climb.

On day 13, following the Saribung Peak Expedition itinerary, we will leave the Interim Camp and move to the Advance Base Camp at 5,700 meters. We will walk along the broken moraines and glaciers till we reach the point where the glacier separates the two valleys. The right side valley leads to Kunlun Pass (6,035 meters), and the other left side branch leads towards Bharchauk Cwm. We will follow the left side branch into a wide, snow-covered cirque where the surrounding peaks close in and the views become more alpine and committing.

Upon reaching Advance Base Camp, we will set up our tent on the glacier, beneath the towering face of Saribung Mountain. Later, during our free time, we will check the climbing gear and prepare mentally for the summit push. From this camp, we also have a close-up experience of Saribung’s massive summit pyramid.

Day 14 is the climax of the Saribung Expedition. We will reach the summit of the Saribung expedition on this day. We will start much earlier, before sunrise, to take advantage of firmer snow and safer conditions. Although the trail is not much of a slope, we may still need to use ropes and crampons to climb the summit through the crevassed route. We will also cross Saribung Pass.

From the summit, we can see 360° views of the Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu, as well as nearby peaks such as Himlung Himal, Nilgiri Himal, and Lamjung Himal, and the vast Tibetan plateau stretches northward. After spending some minutes in the summit, we will descend via the opposite side of the mountain to reach the Japanese Base Camp. We need to navigate moraines, boulder fields, and glacier sections, with an additional 7-hour trek to reach the camp.

Along the way, we experience close-up views of Saribung, surrounding peaks, and the dramatic alpine terrain, making the descent equally memorable. At Japanese Base Camp, the team sets up tents in a sheltered area amidst high alpine scenery. This camp offers an opportunity to rest, rehydrate, and celebrate the achievement of climbing Saribung Peak. It is named Japanese Base Camp because there is a chorten which was built by Japanese expeditioners.

This day is reserved as a spare day to ensure the expedition stays on schedule. High-altitude mountaineering is highly dependent on weather, glacier conditions, and team readiness, so this buffer day allows for delays due to bad weather, unstable snow, or logistical adjustments.

If Day 14’s summit was successful, Day 15 can be spent descending partway, resting, or exploring the surrounding high-altitude terrain. If the summit was delayed, this day provides a second window to attempt the peak safely. The flexibility ensures that all climbers have sufficient acclimatization and safety margins.

On Day 16, we will descend from the Japanese Base Camp to one of the most sacred high lakes in Upper Mustang, Damodar Kunda. The descent trail follows the riverbed for several hours and passes through high-altitude pastures (kharkas) where yak and sheep graze. Throughout the trek, we also get views of the distant snow peaks and glacial streams. The path is steady rather than steep, but the rocky terrain requires attention.

The surrounding changes to dry, desert-like scenery as we walk. By midday, we arrive at the shores of the Damodar Kunda, a sacred high-altitude lake revered in Tibetan and local Himalayan traditions. After that, we will set up camp and rest for the day. Soak up the peaceful, spiritual atmosphere of this high Himalayan lake.

Day 17 is a flexible rest and contingency day at Damodar Kunda. This day helps our body to recover from the previous summit efforts and provides a buffer in case of delays or inclement weather. With little elevation change, you can move at a relaxed pace, hydrate well, and let the high-altitude environment settle.

Damodar Kunda is a sacred pilgrimage lake revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. There is an ancient Buddhist chorten on the ridge, which marks the holiness of this site. During the day, you can explore the area by walking around the lake, hiking to the chorten viewpoint, taking photographs, or simply sitting in silence and seeing the majestic landscape and the peaceful atmosphere before the trek continues.

After breakfast, we will leave the peaceful Damodar Kunda area and walk towards Barsyo Khola. The trail first climbs slowly through open pastureland. The landscape slowly changes into a dry, desert-like valley. After a few more hours of trekking, we will reach Barsyo Khola. It is a very quiet and remote campsite beside the river. Your guide and porters will help set up the tents and prepare food. With only a few tents around and tall mountains on all sides, the place feels calm, wild, and untouched. We will spend the night here.

Today, we will wake early and walk along the Barsyo River. The trail goes through dry hills, small forests, and narrow stone paths. We may see yaks carrying goods along the way, which is a common sight in this area.

As we continue, you pass a few small settlements with simple houses and prayer flags. The walk is not too steep, but it rises and falls gently. After about six hours, we will reach Yara, a small village on a hill. The village is quiet and friendly, and we will stay here for the night.

We will start the day’s trek by walking downhill from Yara to the river. We will follow the river for a while, then cross a metal bridge to a small village called Dhie. The village has a few houses and fields, and you may see locals working or animals grazing nearby.

After Dhie, the trail goes uphill. The climb is steady but not too hard. As we walk higher, we will begin to see expansive, open views of Mustang’s dry hills and colorful cliffs. The final approach eases onto the windy Lo Pass, and soon we can see Lo Manthang in the distance. Lo Manthang is an old walled town sitting on a high plain. We will walk slowly down toward the town and reach Lo Manthang by afternoon, where we will spend the night.

Today is an acclimatization day at Lo Manthang. We will spend the day exploring Lo Manthang and its attractions. Lo Manthang is the main city of Upper Mustang and is famous for its old walled town with narrow lanes, white houses, and a peaceful atmosphere. While exploring the area, we can enjoy the local life and culture.

There are several intriguing places around Lomanthang that we can visit today. Tingkhar is one of the few remaining villages in Mustang, known as the last village of Mustang. You can also visit old monasteries like Namgyal Gompa, Thugchen Gompa, and Chyodi Gompa, where you can see prayer halls and ancient paintings. The day would not be complete without a visit to the old Lo Manthang Palace, the traditional residence of the local king. After exploring, we will return to our teahouse for another night in Lo Manthang.

On day 22, we will leave the walled city of Lo Manthang behind and trek back onto the wide open trails of Upper Mustang, with a moderately long 13km walk to Charang. We will follow a scenic path that contours across the plateau and offers sweeping views of mountains like Nilgiri, Annapurna, Bhrikuti, and Tilicho.

For a short stretch, the route also drops to the Chharang or Chalang River, and we will walk along its banks before climbing towards Charang. As we approach Charang, we will see the village’s whitewashed houses, red cliff-side gompa, and cultivated fields stand out sharply against the barren hills. This instantly creates the welcome sense of shelter and culture after a day of big horizons. Once in Charang, you can explore the village and see how people live in this peaceful part of the Mustang region. Overnight at a teahouse in Charang.

Leaving Charang, we will trek towards Ghiling village after breakfast. We will cross several Mustang villages and high mountain passes before reaching Ghiling. So, it’s going to be a long, rewarding day. The trail goes through fields and scattered trees, then climbs to Choya La Pass at 3,870 meters. The view opens up to red cliffs and sculpted canyons around Dhakmar, where the landscape is dotted with chortens and ancient cave dwellings.

After Dhakmar, we will descend to cross the Ghami River and walk through Ghami village, famous for its long mani walls and cliff-side monasteries. Next, we climb a little to Nyi La Pass (4,010 meters), then descend gently into the wide valley of Ghiling, a village full of terraced fields, gompas, and Tibetan-style houses. We will spend the night in Ghiling and enjoy the peaceful, high-altitude surroundings.

Today we walk from Ghiling to Chhusang, a riverside village with orchards and caves. The day starts with a gentle climb to Chyangmochen. Then we will cross Yamdo La Pass (3,850 meters), where you can see wide views of the wind‑carved valleys and cliffs of Lower Mustang.

After the pass, the trail descends through a landscape dotted with red-and-yellow-painted chortens, reaching Samar village. From Samar, we will continue toward Chele, and from Chele, we will walk to Chhusang, our overnight stop. Enjoy the peaceful village nestled between cliffs and the Kali Gandaki River as you stay overnight in Chhusang.

Leaving Chuhusang, we will walk down the Kali Gandaki River. We will walk past the tiny and lovely Tangbe village. Along the way, we also catch a glimpse of the huge, snow-covered Nilgiri Peak, shining above the southern horizon. The trail then winds through a dry, open valley until we reach Kagbeni. Kagbeni has a strong Tibetan Buddhist culture. Here, you can see narrow lanes, whitewashed houses, and fields of buchwheat, barley, and apple trees.

Then from Kagbeni, we will take a short jeep ride to Jomsom, the main town of the Mustang District, where we will spend the night. Jomsom is a busy town and an essential base for travel in the region. It is known for its strong winds, Thakali culture and food, and for being the start or end point of many Annapurna and Mustang treks.

We will take a short 20-minute flight from Jomsom to Pokhara, enjoying scenic views of the mountains and valleys. After arriving at Pokhara, you can rest and relax. In Pokhara, there are many nice places to visit, like David Fall, Mahendra Cave, Gupteswor Cave, and the Mountaineering Museum to learn about Nepal’s trekking history.

In the evening, you can enjoy a peaceful walk or boat ride at Phewa Lake, watching the sunset over the Annapurna range. We stay overnight at a hotel in Lakeside Pokhara, surrounded by the beautiful lake and mountains.

In the afternoon, we will drive to Pokhara Airport and take a scenic flight back to Kathmandu. From the flight, you can enjoy views of Pokhara, Phewa Lake, and the surrounding mountains, making for great photo opportunities. After landing in Kathmandu, we will check into the hotel and have time to rest or refresh. This is also a perfect moment to organize your photos, write in your travel journal, or simply relax.

In the evening, we will explore Thamel, the most popular shopping area in Kathmandu, where you can buy souvenirs, handicrafts, and gifts. Later, we will gather for a farewell dinner, sharing stories and memories from your journey. Enjoy traditional Nepali food and cultural ambiance as we celebrate the end of the Saribung Peak Expedition.

Today is your final day in Nepal. After breakfast, we will transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu according to your flight schedule. Say goodbye to Nepal and your trekking team, and board your international flight home with memories of the mountains, valleys, and cultures you explored. Safe journey, and we hope to see you again in Nepal!