Saribung Peak and Upper Mustang

Overview

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A journey through Upper Mustang, in remote Western Nepal, culminating in an ascent of the 6,328m Saribung Peak

Introduction

This is an expedition-style journey through Upper Mustang, in Western Nepal, culminating in an ascent of Saribung Peak (6,328m). Jagged Globe MD, Simon Lowe, visited Mustang in 2015 and was captivated by both the landscape and its people. Upper Mustang was a restricted area until 1992, making it one of the most preserved regions in the world. It remains steeped in the traditions of Tibetan culture, yet it is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Simon trekked to Lo Manthang, the red-walled city and capital of the region. From this experience we decided to organise a full reconnaissance of the trek to and climb of, Saribung Peak, which was completed in September 2017. The mountain range which includes Saribung lies beyond Lo Manthang and is one of the most remote in Nepal. It is located in an area far away from the nearest habitation and is not on a trading route, so the paths into the range are rarely walked.

Join us on Saribung Peak and Upper Mustang

• An expedition-style journey through the ancient Tibetan culture of Upper Mustang.
• Support from Jagged Globe Sherpas (some of whom will have climbed Saribung before), cook team and porters.

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Experience Required

To join the Saribung Peak and Upper Mustang expedition and have a good chance of success, you need:

• A clean bill of health.
• Experience of previous expeditions above 5,500m.
• Scrambling experience to Grade 2.
• Scottish grade I/Alpine F mountaineering experience.

Our Scottish Winter Courses and our Alpine Courses provide good skills preparation for an expedition.

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the expedition or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Dates & Prices

Date	With Flight	or Meeting in	Availability
Thu 2 Oct – Sat 25 Oct 2025	UK	Kathmandu	Available Book now »
2 more required Expedition Leader: Simon Lowe	£6,795	£5,395

This expedition is available to book in GBP, USD and EUR.
Click to Change currency for prices on this site.

Group size: 5 – 12 people.

Single room supplement: £250

For comparison, this expedition starts from £235 (GBP) per day (price Without Flights).

With Flight pricing

Our 'With Flight' price includes an Economy class return airfare from the UK. The cost is based on a group fare that we have already reserved, or individual seats that we have budgeted for. Note that in some circumstances, the earlier you book, the less expensive the airfare and the 'With Flight' price.

Know Before You Go

Jagged Globe supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) 'Know Before You Go' campaign. We recommend that you read the FCDO Travel Advice for Nepal on the FCDO Website.

What the price includes

• Economy class return airfares from the UK (unless Land Only).
• UK airport taxes.
• One in-country flight between Kathmandu and Pokhara by scheduled, fixed-wing aircraft.
• One in-country flight between Pokhara and Jomsom by scheduled, fixed-wing aircraft.
• Two return transfers between the airport and the hotel (one on arrival and departure of your international flight and one for departure and arrival of your in-country flight).
• 2 nights' bed and breakfast accommodation at a 4-star Hotel in Kathmandu on a twin-sharing basis.
• 1 nights' full-board hotel accommodation in Pokhara on a twin-sharing basis.
• 6 nights' full-board lodge ("Tea House") acccomodation whilst on trek.
• 13 nights' full board accommodation in tents on a twin-sharing basis.
• All road transport by private vehicles.
• All porterage costs.
• All costs for Jagged Globe leader.
• Nepalese climbing sherpas and local helpers.
• Special permits required for Mustang and Upper Mustang
• Jagged Globe kitbag or fleece.

What the price does not include

• Visa fees.
• Overseas airports taxes not paid in advance through the international airline ticket.
• Bar bills and laundry.
• Travel insurance.
• Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu.
• Optional trips and sightseeing tours.
• Tips.

Tailor-made option

We can organise this expedition on a ‘tailor-made’ private basis for groups of friends, families, clubs, charities or any other group. Depending on your mountaineering experience, you may want a Jagged Globe leader or go ‘self-led’ with the assistance of local guides. The cost of going private can be surprisingly reasonable, particularly if you take the self-led option. Please contact us to discuss the itinerary and your preferred dates. We will then send you a quote, with no obligation.

Insurance

You will need a travel insurance policy that caters for the activities you will undertake on your trip with Jagged Globe. It is a requirement of our booking conditions that you have such a policy. For a list of insurers who specialise in mountaineering, trekking and skiing, please see our Travel Insurance page »

Itinerary

Here is an outline itinerary for this trip. A more detailed day-to-day itinerary is available as a downloadable PDF »

Outline Itinerary

Day 1:	Fly to Kathmandu
Day 2:	Arrive Kathmandu Anyone traveling "land-only", should also arrive today no later than 1630 (or earlier). Transfer to the hotel in Thamel. Kit check and shopping in Thamel. Overnight hotel.
Day 3:	Fly to Pokhara (822m) Overnight hotel: Twin-Sharing/B&B
Day 4:	Fly to Jomsom, drive to Kagbeni (2,800m) and trek to Chussung (2,980m) Transfer to the airport, for an early morning flight to Pokhara. Sort out equipment before driving to Kagbeni, where we enter Upper Mustang and walk to Chussung, spending the night in a local lodge. Overnight Lodge DBB. Distance: Drive 10Km, Trek 12Km / Height Gain: 205m, 432m / Loss: 104m, 326m / Duration: 1.5hrs drive, 3 - 4hrs trek
Day 5:	Trek Chussung to Samar (3,620m). Trekking today for 4 hours A short day, but through spectacular scenery and a chance to visit the Chele where Buddhist texts hidden there by Guru Rinpoche were found. Samar survives by irrigation, so the village is often ablaze with flowers. It is a delightful place to spend the afternoon and evening, enjoying dinner, bed and breakfast in a local lodge. Overnight Lodge DBB Distance: Trek 10Km / Height Gain: 863m / Loss: 212m / Duration: 4hrs
Day 6:	Trek Samar to Gelling (3,570m). Trekking today for 4.5 hours Today, we can follow a path away from the road to visit a secluded Buddhist shrine, built within a cave. Overnight Lodge DBB. Distance: Trek 13Km / Height Gain: 683m / Loss: 697m / Duration: 4.5hrs
Day 7:	Trek Gelling to Dhakmar (3,820m). Trekking today for 5 hours We cross two passes the Nyi La at 4,020m (1.5 to 2hrs and the Ghami La at 3,765m), before descending to Ghami. After lunch in this delightful village, we have an hour-long climb up to a cairn and prayer flags before a steady walk down to Dhakmar. Overnight Lodge DBB. Distance: Trek 16Km / Height Gain: 852m / Loss: 586m / Duration: 5hrs
Day 8:	Trek to Lo Manthang (3,840m). Trekking today for 7 hours Today's trek is tough but terrific - taking us high and away from all habitation, via the monastery at Ghar Gumba. After lunch, we go over the Marang La (4,230m) from where we will see the ethereal city, Lo Manthang in the distance. Overnight Lodge DBB. Distance: Trek 17Km / Height Gain: 841m / Loss: 830m / Duration: 7hrs
Day 9:	Lo Manthang - Sightseeing and Tour of the Walled City In the afternoon, we can ride by horse to visit the caves and gompa at Chosser (or go by car!) Rest, explore the city or take a trip to the caves at Chosser. Overnight Lodge DBB.
Day 10:	Trek from Lo Manthang to Yara (3,550m). Trekking for 4 to 5 hours The route is an easy climb with a steep, but very dusty descent to the village of Dhi before we head up the tributary adjacent to Surkhang. We then arrive at the village of Yara where we camp for the night. Camping and Meals Provided. Distance: Trek 16Km / Height Gain: 680m / Loss: 870m / Duration: 4 - 5hrs
Day 11:	Trek from Yara to Luri Gompa (3,900m). Trekking today for 3 hours A relatively short day to Luri Gompa, but good for acclimatisation. With its small but ancient monasteries, one built into the rocks, Luri Gompa is a beautiful, mystical place to set up camp. Camping and Meals Provided. Distance: Trek 6Km / Height Gain: 288m / Loss: 7m / Duration: 3hrs
Day 12:	Trek from Luri Gompa to Ghuma Thati (4,800m). Trekking 6.5 hours Over the next few days, we can expect some long, hard trekking days, during which we will cross the 5,000m contour several times. There will be some big ascents today so a steady pace is recommended. Camping and Meals Provided. Distance: Trek 9Km / Height Gain: 1006m / Loss: 174m / Duration: 6.5 hrs
Day 13:	Trek Ghuma Thati to Daune Khola (5,100m). Trekking 4 hours. The day starts off with quite a steep walk to get to the pass of Kyumu La (5,300m); fantastic views. We will eventually drop down into a gorge where we will camp for the night. Snow leopards have been spotted here. Camping and Meals Provided. Distance: Trek 7.5Km / Height Gain: 480m / Loss: 295m / Duration: 4hrs
Day 14:	Daune Khola to Damodar Kunda (4,975m). Trekking 5 hours We will pass through high, barren terrain until we get to the descent from Batsyak La (5,450m) and the countryside becomes greener. We can expect several river crossings on the way to the lakes at Damodar Kunda. This is a holy place of pilgrimage. Camping and Meals Provided. Distance: Trek 10Km / Height Gain: 594m / Loss: 539m / Duration: 5hrs
Day 15:	Damodar Kunda to Japanese Base Camp (5,250m). Trekking for 4 hours The path to base camp, at the snout of the glacier follows the valley and is mostly good; in a few a few places it is thin and vertiginous, requiring care. Camping and Meals Provided. Distance: Trek 6Km / Height Gain: 280m / Loss: 0m / Duration: 4hrs
Day 16:	Spare Day/ Acclimatisation in Japanese Base Camp (5,250m) We have set aside a day for rest today, before the climb. Our Sherpas will go on ahead and recce the route to high camp, for us to follow tomorrow.
Day 17:	Move to High Camp (5,750m). Mountaineering for 6 hours We go up to the snout of the glacier and cross the stream that we camped by last night. After this, we climb steeply onto the lateral glacial moraine. There is the possibility of rockfall in places, so helmets should be carried and worn accordingly. The camp is sited on glacial moraine. Camping and Meals Provided. Distance: Climb 5Km / Height Gain: 472m / Loss: 0m / Duration: 6hrs
Day 18:	Climb Saribung Peak (6,328m) and descend to camp. Mountaineering for 12+ hours The Saribung La (6,024m) is reached along the glacier, leaving us with just 300m to climb to the top. Spectacular summit views followed by a long tough descent along moraine. Distance: Climb 13Km / Height Gain: 716m / Loss: 1381m / Duration: 12+hrs
Day 19:	Trek to Phu (4,160m). Trekking 6 hours The route down to Phu is steep and exposed in places. We camp in Phu for the night. Camping and Meals Provided. Distance: Trek 16Km / Height Gain: 371m / Loss: 1397m / Duration: 6hrs
Day 20:	Trek from Phu to Meta (3,800m) via Chyakhu. Trekking 7 to 8 hours We will leave Phu and pass through the deserted village of Kyeng before stopping in Chyakhu, after 4 hours, for lunch. After our refill, and invigorated by the thicker warmer air, we carry on down for 3 or 4 more hours to Meta. Camping and Meals Provided. Distance: Trek 17Km / Height Gain: 649m / Loss: 1038m / Duration: 7 - 8hrs
Day 21:	Trek from Meta to Koto (2,670m). Trekking today for 5 hours Shortly after Meta, our route descends into a spectacular gorge and a terrific walk down. We will pass some hot springs on the way, but we?ll have no time to stop. Instead, there are hot showers waiting for us in Koto. The day ends with a party of traditional Nepali singing and dancing and the Leader handing out of well-earnt tips to the porters and Sherpas. Overnight lodge/local hotel. Twin-Sharing (if available) DBB. Distance: Trek 15Km / Duration: 5hrs
Day 22:	Drive to Besisahar. Driving 5 to 6 hours Overnight lodge/ local hotel. Twin-Sharing (if available) DBB.
Day 23:	Drive back to Kathmandu. Driving 6 to 7 hours Overnight Hotel. Twin-Sharing BB.
Day 24:	Fly home Airport transfer. For those joining "land-only", you should book your flight home today (or later). We can arrange additional hotel nights, or trips and sightseeing for anyone staying longer.

PLEASE NOTE: Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary, but as this is Adventure Travel in a remote mountain region, we cannot guarantee it. Weather conditions, road conditions, vehicle breakdowns, the availability of porters and the health of climbers can all contribute to changes. The Expedition Leader and our local agent will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but an easy going nature will be an asset!

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• Saribung and Upper Mustang

Reports & Reviews

First Expedition: Sep '17
Total: 1 trip

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Team Member Reviews

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Leader Reports

• Saribung Peak and Upper Mustang 2017
  “The first trip by Jagged Globe to the remote Saribung Peak via Upper Mustang has finished successfully with all in the party getting to the top to enjoy some great views of the Himalayas.Jesper from Denmark and I were fortunate to...”
  report added 06/Nov/17