Saribung Expedition

damodar kund & ascent of saribung (6,346m)

A trek in the arid landscape of Mustang combined with an ascent of a 6000m peak; it’s a package made for the ultimate adventure. Once an independent kingdom, Mustang is an exciting destination and trekking through the Manangi territory of the Narphu Valley adds cultural diversity to this unique adventure.

From Upper Mustang to the Nar Phu Valley

Once a kingdom ruled by a king, Mustang is a mysterious land full of beautiful landscapes: canyons, colourful rock cliffs, troglodyte hermitages, monasteries and a fortified city called Lo Manthang, surrounded by ramparts of the ancient Buddhist kingdom in a semi-desert region. The adventure continues with the crossing of the Damodar Himal glacier through a pass over 6000m and the possibility of climbing Saribung Peak (6,346m), before reaching the isolated Narphu valley and visiting the splendid hilltop village of Phugaon inhabited by Manangis.
This circuit does not pose much technical difficulty, but one must be in excellent physical shape to keep up with the fast pace and the many days spent at high altitudes.

HIGHLIGHTS
- The astounding, colorful landscapes and cultural heritage of the Mustang region.
- The ascent of Saribung, a technically easy 6000m peak.
- The isolated valley of Narphu and the charming hilltop village of Phugaon.
- A Himalayan crossing off the beaten track, and the wilderness between Luri Gompa, Damodar Kund and the Naarphu valley.

We can customize the trip as per your requirement.
Price according to the size of the group.
We can help you to fit in your budget.

Please contact us for further information
info@basecamptrek.com

Gallery

Itinerary

Level of Trek: Very Difficult
Best Period: May - June & September - October
Duration: 28 Days
Number of walking days: 22
Highest Altitude: 6346 Meters
Flights: Pokhara - Jomsom
Accomodation: Hotel in Kathmandu & Lodge/Homestay/Camp during trek

For your next trek with us in the Himalayas, travel light and aware: Base Camp offers you a biodegradable soap made in Nepal, to leave no trace ...

Day

1ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU

Arrive in Kathmandu, check into the hotel, Rest and visit local sights
- Accommodation: Hotel

2FREE DAY IN KATHMANDU

Free day.
- Accommodation : Same hotel

3DRIVE KATHMANDU - POKHARA

Morning drive to Pokhara and late afternoon, free time at Phewa lakeside.
- Accommodation: Hotel

4FLIGHT TO JOMSON / START TREK TO KAGBENI (2 800M)

After a 40 minute flight, we find ourselves at the foot of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. Meet up with our team that will accompany us on this amazing adventure; formalities for entering Mustang and loading of mules. We walk through the valley to reach a village with typical Tibetan architecture, the gateway to the ancient kingdom of Mustang.
- Duration of hike: 3hr
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

5KAGBENI – CHELE (3 075M)

A three-hour hike brings us to Tangbe, a magnificent village with beautiful chortens and a maze of alleys. The surrounding high cliffs are full of caves and overlook the valley with a river known as Mustang Khola. After walking another 1 ½ hours we reach Chhuksang (3000m). We overnight at the next stop which is Chele.
- Duration of hike: 6hr
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

6CHELE – GELING ( 3 560M)

Climb up to a pass at 3,700m from where we see a spectacular village of Gyagar. Descending to Samar (3,600m) we follow the pilgrim’s path, passing close a sacred cave and descend from a canyon. We then climb up another canyon to Shyangmoche (3,800m). We then cross another pass to reach Geling where we set up camp.
Duration of hike: 7hr
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

7GELING – DHAKMAR (3 560M)

From Dhakmar, we hike to the village of Chunkar, crossing a pass that’s over 4,000m high, and descend to Gemi, a remarkable village in a green setting. We then walk along a balcony to reach Dhakmar.
- Duration of hike: 6hr
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

8DHAKMAR – TSARANG (3 595M)

Our hike today leads through the Mui La pass (4,170m) and we cross over to Lo Gekar with its 11th-century monastery of Ghar Gompa. Further on we reach Tsarang in the middle of barley fields, where the king once lived. We visit the monastery.
- Duration of hike 5hr
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

9TSARANG – LO MANTHANG (3 820M)

At the exit of the village, one can see cave dwellings overlooking the valley. We climb up to a beautiful pass at 3,900m which dominates the valley of Lo Manthang, the former fortified capital of the mythical kingdom of Lo. The small city is protected by surrounding walls and access is through one of the two doors that mark the entrance.
- Duration of hike: 4hr
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

10CITY OF LO MANTHANG (3,820M)

The small town of Lo Manthang was founded by Ame Pal in 1380 CE. Rest before visiting the city and its two monasteries: Namgyal Gompa and Tynghar.
- Accommodation: Hotel

11LO MANTHANG – YARA (3 500M)

Climb up and walk above the small town following which a path leads us into the valley to reach Mustang Khola. We encounter some delicate passages. After crossing a steep pass we descend into the middle of the fairy chimneys overlooking the village of Dhie. An enjoyable descent through lunar-like terrain leads us to the hamlet. We cross a tributary of the Kali Gandaki via a suspension bridge and hike up to the village of Yara.
- Duration of hike: 5 ½ hr
- Accommodation: Lodge

12YARA – LURI GOMPA (3 890M)

We leave Yara and hike through a wide gorge with very important cave dwellings that were once used by monks. We go past Gara where we stop and then walk on to the village of Luri Gompa, "Gompa" means monastery in Tibetan.
- Duration of hike: 4 ½ hr
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

13LURI GOMPA – GUMA THANTI (4 750M)

Surrounded by beautiful ridges, we cross a pass at 4,900m and walk through the amazingly beautiful landscapes to the shelter at Ghuma Thanti where we set up camp.
- Duration of hike: 6hr
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

14GUMA THANTI – CAMP IN THE BANK OF RIVER (4 440M)

This is an intermediate step that is ideal for acclimatization.
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

15RIVER CAMP – CAMP NEAR TO THE LAKE OF DAMODAR KUNDA (FRENCH CAMP) (4 890M)

Amidst an arid landscape in high altitude, we cross two passes over 5000m, one at 5,300m and the other at 5,500m, and then make our way through a difficult hike. We enjoy splendid views of the Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and its neighbor, the Tukuche (6,920m). This challenging day is marked by hikes through difficult terrain.
- Duration of hike: 7hr
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

16CAMP NEAR DAMODAR KUND LAKE (FRENCH CAMP) – SARIBUNG BASE CAMP (5 240M)

We pass by Damodar Kund lake, a major pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists. The trails here are not very distinct and we rely on our Sirdar (local guide) to lead us in order to avoid getting into difficult passages. We then follow the course of a torrent that flows down from a glacier. A large Chorten built by a Japanese team sits in the middle of the base camp.
- Duration of hike: 3 ½ hr
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

17DAY FOR ACCLIMATIZATION (5 240M)

We enjoy a relaxed day acclimatizing at base camp before venturing to higher ground.
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

18BASE CAMP - HIGH CAMP (5 700M)

Today we finally reach the exclusive terrain of glaciers and high altitude. We climb up the long moraines and go through a magnificent forest of penitents. We carry all our gear and equipment needed at high altitude. This feels like the end of the world!
- Duration of hike: 5hr
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

19HIGH CAMP – SUMMIT & PASS SARIBUNG (6 328M) – BHRIKUTI BASE CAMP (5 070M)

We climb up the glacier for about two and a half hours to reach the pass. We then go further up to reach the beautiful ridge which leads on to the summit of Saribung. The snow slopes here are at a gradient of 30°. The summit is 6,328m above sea level! When we stand on the top, the panorama is breathtaking.
While we climb up, the rest of the team crosses the pass and sets up camp on the other side of the mountain. We make a gentle descent over a glacier, then negotiate complex and testing moraines to finally join the others at camp.
- Duration of hike: A very long day of about 11-12 hours of walking
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

20BHRIKUTI BASE CAMP – PHU VILLAGE (4 000M)

We make a long descent following rivers flowing down from the surrounding glaciers. We cross many torrents, which means sometimes getting your feet wet. We then go up a path through a moraine which leads to an old, abandoned hamlet of Ngoru (4,400m). Soon after, we reach the beautiful village of Phu. The houses in this Bhotia (Tibetan) village have flat roofs and are arranged in a unique style of their own.
- Duration of hike: 6-7 hr
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

21PHU (4 000M)

Rest day and visit the extraordinary village of Phu!
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

22PHU – META (3 550M)

Descend along the banks of a long river gorge.
- Elevation: + 600m / -1050m
- Duration of hike: 6hr
- Accommodation: Bivouac under tent

23META – KOTO (2 600M)

We make a rather dull descent through a forest to reach Koto.
- Elevation: + 360m / - 1300m
- Duration of hike: 5 ½ hr
- Accommodation: Lodge

24KOTO – DHARAPANI (1 900M)

We descend along the route of the Around Annapurna Trek encountering many villages along the Marsyangdi River.
- Duration of hike: 6 ½ hr
- Accommodation: Lodge

25DHARAPANI – JAGAT (1 050M)

From Dharapani, we walk through beautiful rice fields of the region to reach Gurung country. The valley opens up at the confluence of the two great rivers, Ngadi Khola and the Marsyangdi. The landscape is predominantly agricultural with terraced hillsides that have been tilled by generations of Nepalese farmers over the centuries.
- Duration of hike: 6-7hr
- Accommodation: Lodge

26JAGAT – KATHMANDU

We take a bus ride initially on a dirt track, and then on a paved road to Dumre. We finally return to Kathmandu by private bus. Overnight at the hotel.
- Travel time: 8hr
- Accommodation: Hotel

27FREE DAY IN KATHMANDU

Enjoy your free time in the city.
- Meals on your own
- Accommodation: Hotel

28DEPARTURE

Transfer to TIA (Kathmandu Airport) for your return flight.
End of our services.

What's included

- All transfers by private vehicle according to itinerary
- 4 nights at the Manaslu ** hotel or similar in Kathmandu in BB
- 1 night at Lake Side Retreat in Pokhara in BB
- Trek full board in tented bivouac according to the itinerary
- Camping equipment and collective kitchen for camping parts
- English-speaking high altitude mountain guide for the entire trek and its flight
- 1 altitude Sherpa / Assistant guide
- Trekking team: 1 cook, 2/3 kitchen boy (s), 11/15 porters
- Carrying of luggage up to 15 kg/person during the trek
- ACAP trekking permit
- Staff life insurance ($ 790) and repatriation ($ 250 / Sherpa)
- Staff bonus for the pass
- Team and equipment routing
- Guide equipment, collective climbing equipment
- Hyperbaric chamber or oxygen bottles
- Garbage deposit and administrative procedure
- Domestic airport taxes
- Satellite phone rental (paid communication)
- Pokhara Jomsom flight (110 US $ subject to variation)
- Royalties Saribung Fall season
- Special Narphu permit (90 US $)
- Guide ascent and Sherpa bonus
- Local Jeep privatized from Jagat to Besisahar

What's not included

- Meals in Pokhara and Kathmandu excluding breakfast
- Royalties and special permit to be paid locally
- Domestic flight: price indicated in supplement
- Nepal visa to be obtained at the airport ($ 50 + photos)
- International flight
- Compulsory repatriation insurance
- Tips, personal expenses and equipment, drinks, hot showers, recharging of batteries during the trek, etc.