Saribung Peak Expedition

Today, we will organize your trekking permits, and our climbing guide will check your gear: is your own in good condition? So you need to hire any? etc. 

• We will brief you on what to expect during this expedition, such as:
• How the weather might affect your summit plans.
• Risks and mitigation of altitude-related problems.
• Techniques and protocols, including safety.
• Roles and responsibilities of your guide, support staff, and team members.
• Communication and emergency procedures.

You will also have the opportunity to ask questions.

This expedition is basically broken down into two sections: when you are trekking and staying in teahouses, and when you are climbing and staying in a tented camp.

A day on the trekking trail:

Breakfast is taken at the teahouse you slept in and you are out and on the trail around 8am. This area is particularly barren, with high cliffs and rocks along the trails and the mountains high overhead. Typically you are walking for 5 to 6 hours a day in dry conditions and at altitudes that will slow your regular hiking pace down. There may be caves to explore, monasteries to visit or high ridges to cross with spectacular views of the mountains.

Lunch is taken on the trail, whether it is in a small eatery or a packed lunch.

On arrival at your next overnight teahouse, you can relax before and during dinner in a warm dining room before heading off early to bed.

A day on the climb:

At base camp staff will set up the tents – sleeping, dining, kitchen and toilet tents.

The chef will be busy preparing your meals while the climbing guide will be ensuring the equipment is in good condition and that you know exactly what to expect on the climb.

If you are acclimatizing, you will get to explore the nearby countryside. If you are climbing you will be paying close attention to the climbing guide’s advice. 

While at Camp I and  on the push to the summit there will be packaged ready meals available. 

Saribung Peak is located in Upper Mustang, more specifically in the Damodar Himalayan mountain range. 

Upper Mustang is often known as the Hidden Kingdom of Lo as it has remained as it was for centuries.  It had its own king until 2008 and its people follow Tibetan Buddhism, having migrated – different groups at different times – from Tibet over the centuries.

Lying close to the Tibetan border, the landscape of this area is very similar to Tibet.  Dry land, high cliffs, strange rock formations – overall dramatic.

It is an area steeped in history and myth.  Guru Rimpoche, it is said, stabbed a ghost here whose blood covered the rocky hills.  Mythology explains this is why the cliffs are red in color today.  It is a fact that Guru Rimpoche (an ancient Tibetan guru who traveled Nepal and Tibet to bring Buddhism to the people), was in this area.  But as for the ghost…

After the climb you are also going to pass through the Nar Phu Valley in Manang district.  Very similar in culture and beliefs to Upper Mustang, this valley is also a hidden away restricted area.

It is highly recommended that you have trekked at high altitude before and that you have basic mountaineering skills before signing up for this climbing expedition.  We would expect you to know how to use an ice axe and crampons at the very least before coming along.  This is for your safety and for the safety of others on the team.

This is not a technically difficult expedition, but it is extreme in that you are trekking in for several days at high altitude in a dry atmosphere and then undertaking two days of climbing: from Base Camp to Camp I,  and Camp I to the summit.

Not as long as some other climbing expeditions, it is still 22 days,  with 20 of these being on the trail.

It is also highly recommended, regardless as to if you have climbing experience, you build on your general fitness before you come.

Physical Fitness – What You Need to Know

We know you would not be reading this if you were not already in extremely good physical shape! 

While this is not like scaling an 8,000er, this is trekking and peak climbing to extreme. You should have a basic knowledge of climbing as well as a good level of fitness and stamina.

The key word here is probably stamina.  Hiking into the Saribung Peak area takes many days over some rough terrain and very high altitudes.  That alone is more than enough stress for the average experienced trekker.  Then you add on time spent at Base Camp, Camp I and summiting the peak and you get the picture.

Even although you feel you are in great shape, unless you are planning to scale some other peaks just before this one, do increase your overall fitness / workout routine before arriving in Nepal.  The fastest marathon runner does not just take a day off from his office job to run 42.19 km / 26.2 miles. He prepares for months ahead of time. You should too.

While on the expedition, it is important not to overdo things. Trekking too fast at altitude is not going to benefit your body, quite the reverse. As a small reminder, you can check out our information on altitude sickness here. 

But as an experienced climber, you know this already and we don’t need to tell you more! 

Questions Answered before You Ask Them

• Yes, we insure all our staff in case of accidents/ illness.
• Yes, Saribung  Peak is high (6,328 m / 20,761 ft), not much less than Mera Peak, the highest trekking peak in Nepal. But no, it is not technically difficult. 
• Yes, some basic climbing skills, using ropes and ice axes, is preferable but there is your  climbing guide there to help you.  Fixed ropes will be in place as well.
• Yes, you will be camping on this expedition.  For six days.
• No, there are no toilet facilities when camping, other than the toilet tent we will bring for you.
• Yes, altitude related problems are real and are something to be aware of at any altitude over 3,000 m / 9,842.5 ft.  You will be at over 4,000 m / 16,404 ft for a good deal of the time so extra care is required.   We do have plenty of acclimatization on this expedition and encourage you to take a slower, steady pace on the trail and stay hydrated.  We would ask you to report any feelings of illness – headache, dizziness etc to the guide.
• Yes, your guide is knowledgeable about what to do should  you require emergency evacuation while on this trip. On this note, please ensure your insurance covers helicopter evacuation.

We have a general list of  trekking equipment/ gear you can look at here.

In addition, we recommend you bring the following equipment with you.  Should you not have this equipment or do not want to buy this equipment for your trip, most of it is available to  buy/ rent in Thamel, Kathmandu when you arrive.

• Trekking equipment (a per our standard list)
• Climbing helmet
• Climbing boots
• Crampons
• Climbing harness
• Ascending device
• Descending device
• Ice axe
• Carabiners
• Prusik loop
• Tape sling
• Gloves
• Down jackets (can be hired in Kathmandu)
• Waterproof jackets and trousers
• Sunglasses
• Bring clothes that you can layer up as it will be extremely cold at higher altitudes but at lower elevations it will be warm.

• Pack light.  Someone is carrying your gear up the mountain.
• Medicines – any you take regularly plus items such as headache tablets, stomach tablets etc.  And a small first aid kit.
• Four-season sleeping bag. This can be rented in Kathmandu.
• Toiletries in small, travel sized containers. 

Additionally, because you will be camping for six nights, we suggest you bring with you the following: 

• Portable solar panel (one which hooks onto your day pack) to recharge equipment.
• Headtorch with batteries and extra batteries.
• And, as always on any trek or expedition, your favorite snacks!

On this expedition you will spend six nights camping.  One night in the valley of Namta Khola, four nights at Base Camp and one night at Camp I.

We will provide you with all the facilities you require to make camping as comfortable as possible. A good two man tent, comfortable sleeping mat, separate communal toilet tent, and a dining tent.  At Camp I and while summiting you will be provided with packaged ready meals for each meal. 

It will be possible to take a hot water shower (in a bucket) at Base Camp and Namta Khola. 

The food will be prepared by a special chef who is used to cooking in these conditions. 

Breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner are provided at the Namta Khola and Base Camp camp sites.  Breakfast will be ready for you when you wake up, and lunch will be taken on the trail when necessary. Dinner will be prepared in the camp site and tea/ coffee is readily available when required during the acclimatization / contingency days.

Because there is no electricity at the camp sites, cooking is done on a kerosene stove. But our marvelous chef will prepare some wonderful, filling,  meals under these harsh conditions. 

You might also want to bring your own snacks for times when you just need something a little different or want a boost of energy.

Menu at Camp Site

• Breakfast may be porridge with bread (probably roti – a Nepali flat bread)
• Lunch and dinner can be pasta, noodles, Nepali vegetable curry and rice, pizza, etc.  
• Snacks may consist of fried potatoes and popcorn.
• We will carry some canned meat and tuna fish for non-vegetarian but do tell us your preference. Vegetarian food is always available and we will try to accommodate vegans as much as is possible.
• Tea/ coffee/ hot water is unlimited.  There will  be powdered milk for the tea/coffee as well as sugar.
• We do not carry alcohol on an expedition as it is not recommended to drink at altitude.  Neither do we carry soft drinks.  Both alcohol and soft drinks are just too bulky to carry.
• You could carry your fruit flavored powders to add to water for something a bit different.

Note: see the section on teahouse accommodation for what to expect in the way of facilities and food in a teahouse (trekking lodge) in this area.

Drinking Water While Camping and in Teahouses

At the camp sites you will be provided with boiled water for drinking.  The alternative is to collect spring water, and add your own sterilizing drops or tablets.  A Lifestraw is also a good investment.

In teahouses, it’s the same: you can use the tap water only after sterilizing it.  If you wish boiled drinking water in the teahouses, you will be expected to pay for it.  

The area where Saribung Peak is located, Upper Mustang district, is rather a remote area with limited land available for cultivation.  Therefore, the villages are fewer and more isolated.  As a result, when there is accommodation for trekkers, it is quite basic.

The average teahouse will provide two beds in the sleeping rooms, simple bedding, and perhaps a chair to put your stuff on.  Not much more.  No towels. In the vast majority, no private bathroom. Bathrooms will be shared with other trekkers. Toilet facilities may even be in another building, outside of the main teahouse.  But since you will be camping for almost a week, we feel this is not a deal breaker for you!

The dining room in a teahouse is the warmest room (apart from the kitchen) and the focus point of socializing.

The menu in the teahouses will be basically Nepali, Chinese, Tibetan and limited Western items.  Sometimes it is better to select what the chef knows well, such as local fare.

In the teahouse that you sleep in you shall be having breakfast and dinner.  Lunch will be taken on the trail.  If there is not anywhere to eat on the trail on a particular day, you will carry a packed lunch.  

Some teahouses may have WiFi access, hot water showers and charging points. Please note you will be expected to pay for these.

Typical Menus in Teahouses in Upper Mustang

Breakfast items:

• Porridge
• Eggs
• Toast
• Tibetan bread
• Buckwheat pancakes
• Rice dishes
• Noodles dishes
• Tea/ coffee

Dinner items:

• Soup
• Thukpa (Tibetan soup with flat noodles)
• Nepali Dal Bhat (vegetable curry and rice)
• Fried rice
• Noodles
• Momos (very popular Nepali steamed dumplings)
• Fried momos (similar to the steamed ones but fried) 

Lunch items:

Quite similar to the dinner items but with a more limited choice in some places.  If it’s a packed lunch it may be bread, boiled eggs, fried potatoes etc.

Drinks:

Tea and coffee are included in the breakfast and dinner.  We suggest Nepali tea is better than the Nescafe you will get!  Tibetan butter tea (which is salted) is an acquired taste but if you think of it as a soup rather than a tea, it can be bearable!

Soft drinks, beer and drinking water are not included and must be paid for yourself directly to the teahouse.

Your First Days in Nepal

We can, if you like, pick you up at the Tribhuvan International Airport.  Just let us know.

Hotels in Kathmandu:

Included in your trek are camping and teahouse stays, plus one night in Pokhara at the start of your trip. 

Booking.com and hostelworld.com both give you a selection of hotels in Kathmandu; we suggest you look at the hotels in Thamel.  Thamel is the tourist hub of Kathmandu with lots of hotels, hostels, cafes, restaurants, bars, and shops.  It also has our office there.

Explore Kathmandu:

Planning to explore Kathmandu before your expedition?  We can organize a half or full day tour for you.  Or you can simply lose yourself in the maze around Thamel, Ason and the Kathmandu Durbar Square.  Or both.

There are many UNESCO Heritage Sites in Kathmandu – the ancient parts of the city have so much heritage and history. 

Visa for Nepal

Visa on arrival is available for people from most countries, via the Immigration Department of Nepal’s on-line site.   Complete the form, print it out and bring it with you.  Bring USD cash (exact money) to make payment on arrival at the airport. 

Visa on arrival is valid for 15 days, 30 days or 3 months and costs: 

• 15 Days – 30 USD
• 30 Days – 50 USD
• 90 Days – 125 USD 

For the Saribung Peak Expedition you need the following permits:-

Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit – USD500 per person for 10 days. USD50 per day for any additional days.

Nar Phu Valley Permit – USD100 per person per week from September to November and USD75 per person per week from  December to August.

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit – USD25 per person for the duration of the trek. 

Climbing Permit  –  a climbing permit is required to climb Saribung Peak.  Issued by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) the cost of the permit depends on the season and team size. 

Note: We will organize all the permits for you.

Why You Need These Permits

Climbing permits: A permit is required to climb any mountain in Nepal. 

These are required to allow the government to regulate climbing activities and ensure no one attempts to climb unprepared.  Permits must be issued through a registered Nepali company.

In addition, controlling the number of climbers protects the unique environment of a mountain, and helps fund conservation efforts in the region.

And finally, when you apply for the permit, the route you are planning to take is noted; helpful if there is any need for search and rescue.

Restricted Area permits: Restricted areas, mainly those being close to the Tibetan border, require a permit as per the government rules.

Annapurna Conservation Area Permit and Nar Phu Permit: The fees from these permits go towards the conservation efforts in these unique areas. 

Landscapes: The countryside starts off quite lush as you drive from Kathmandu along the Trisuli River.  Driving through the foothills you reach Pokhara to see the glittering Fewa Lake which makes Pokhara a fantastic tourist destination, and the start of many of the treks into the Annapurna mountain range. Flying into Jomsom you are now in the heart of the mountains.  The mountains dominate the skyline and the Kali Gandaki river and gorge (one of the deepest gorges in the world) dominate at ground level. 

Entering Upper Mustang at Kagbeni, you are now in a land much less lush but as unique and stunning as any forests, river or lake.  Upper Mustang has a lunar appearance of high rock cliffs, unique rock formations, some cultivated land, mainly for buckwheat, and even a few apple orchards. But overall, it is reminiscent of Tibet in its dry appearance. Even the monsoon rains do not reach here.

Peoples: The people along the trek through Upper Mustang, and then again when you exit through Manang are very much attached to their Tibetan roots.  Having migrated here at different times during the past centuries, they follow Buddhism and each area has its own language and customs.  Lo Manthang is the capital of this area – a walled-city that was the heart of the Lo Kingdom until 2008.

Wildlife: Small mammals  such as Himalayan Tahr (a wild goat), goral (another type of wild goat), pika (a rabbit like rodent), Himalayan marmots, can easily be found in this harsh landscape.  It is fitting there are a great many types of birds of prey since traditional sky burials are still carried out in these dry lands.  As for the larger mammals – you need to be lucky to spot any of them.  Himalayan Black Bear and stunning Snow Leopard are there somewhere hidden in the cliffs and rocks, we believe.

Tips for Safety on the Expedition:

• Trekking poles are great for stability.
• Do not go off on your own at the rest/ overnight stops. without telling your guide.
• Drink at least 4 liters of water per day.
• Eat.  You need the energy.
• Do tell your guide if you feel unwell.  Before it becomes a real problem.
• Have the correct insurance.
• Wear the correct gear.
• Bring your own regular medicines and a medical kit.
• Pay attention to the guide in tricky or dangerous areas, in particular, listen to the climbing guide.

One of the main concerns is altitude related illness. No one yet has discovered why some people suffer more than others. It does not seem to be related to general fitness.  Perhaps in the genes as people such as the Sherpas who have lived at high altitudes for generations, seem to be just fine as they, for example, scaled Everest with no oxygen.

However, most of us need to take care to avoid altitude sickness by staying hydrated, not going too fast and taking acclimatization breaks.  If you do feel unwell, it is important to tell your guide immediately, even if it seems like a simple headache.

Getting lost on a mountain trail can be a safety issue too.  Don’t go off alone, and if you go anywhere, remember  to tell the guide and listen to him if he says you should not attempt to go alone. Be aware at all times of your surroundings.

The days you spend camping, that is from Saribung Peak Base Camp until you reach the village of Phu some 15 days later, there is nothing to spend your money on. 

In the villages where you stay in tea houses you will be tempted by WiFi access, electricity to charge your devices, and maybe a bottle of beer or cold drinks!  On those days you will want to carry Nepali Rupees with you.

You will also require rupees to make donations at monasteries, buy tea on the trail (if available) and maybe even buy a souvenir, again if available.  As a rough estimate, for the days you are not camping, bring around USD12 per day to spend.  Unused money can be spent in Kathmandu.

What is Included and Not Included in the Cost of Your Trek

Transport: Road transport from Kathmandu to Pokhara; flight from Pokhara to Jomsom, and road transport from Dharapani to Kathmandu are included in the cost of the expedition. 

Climbing gear:  

We will supply the group gear such as fixed ropes.  It is expected that you will bring your own personal climbing gear. Please refer to our list under Equipment for Climbing.  Should you not have your own equipment, it can be hired when you arrive in Kathmandu.  Please discuss this with us. 

Accommodation: Tented accommodation is provided where indicated, and teahouse accommodation is also provided where indicated.

Food: When you are camping you will get breakfast, lunch, dinner,  and afternoon snacks made by our chef.  When you are staying in a teahouse you will get dinner and breakfast in the teahouse and lunch will either be a packed lunch or from a smaller establishment on the trail. Should you wish to have more food in the teahouses, or some soft drinks, you will be expected to pay those yourself.

Transport: Transport to the starting point and at the end of the expedition is by public transport.  Should you prefer a private jeep just for your climbing group, please discuss this with us.  There will be an additional charge for this. 

Tips: Tips for your guide and porters are not included in the trek.  Tips can be in Nepali rupees or other currencies.

While the trek porters will carry the camping equipment and climbing gear, they will not carry your personal backpack.  Should you wish a porter to carry your backpack, then let us know and we will arrange for you to hire one for the duration of the expedition. The cost of the porter hire can be divided between you and another climber who would also like to use the services of a porter.  This will be very cost-effective for you.  But remember, if two climbers are sharing one porter, please keep your pack down to 10kg each. 

Tipping the Guide and Porter

Porters will be hired to carry the camping and climbing equipment. This is hard work.  Your guide and/ or  climbing guide are there to keep you safe, as well as show you the way and the ropes! Please show your appreciation for your porters and guides by tipping them. Don’t forget the chef, for without him we cannot climb even the smallest hill!    100% of your tips go to the staff.  We do not deduct anything from them – they work hard and deserve it.

We suggest the following:

It is normal to tip the guide around $250 – $300 on this type of expedition.   This amount is divided by the number of climbers on the expedition. 

Equipment porters should be tipped US100 each.  

nuts etc

The chef should be tipped around US200, again divided by the number of clients on the expedition.  

If you have hired a personal porter, you should tip him around $150.  

Being more generous is always appreciated, especially by the porters, whose work is more seasonal. If you are sharing a porter with another trekker, obviously that amount will be shared between the two of you.

The best time to climb Saribung Peak is during the pre-monsoon spring months (late April to early June) and the post-monsoon autumn months (mid-September to mid-October). These windows offer the most stable weather, clear skies, and safe glacier conditions, which are crucial for a successful and safe ascent of Saribung (6,328 m) and the crossing of Saribung Pass (6,042 m).

May is the best month  to climb Saribung Peak as the weather is good with little or no snowfall and the temperature is not too low at the higher altitudes.  There is less wind at these altitudes during this time of year (spring).   In addition, with clear skies the views are more spectacular! Naturally, we cannot predict the weather, especially in the Himalayas. This is why we have contingency days built in.

In spring, climbers benefit from gradually warming temperatures, firm snow conditions, and reduced wind exposure at higher camps. The visibility is excellent for summit photography and panoramic views of the Damodar Himal, Annapurna, and Mustang. This season also offers a good balance between trail accessibility and fewer crowds in the Nar Phu and Mustang regions.

Autumn is equally favorable, especially from mid-September to mid-October, when the monsoon has cleared the atmosphere, leaving behind crisp skies and dry, grippy trails. Glacial sections are generally stable during this period, making technical sections more manageable with crampons. Autumn also aligns well with clear nights and excellent mountain photography.

On the other hand, monsoon season (June to August) brings heavy rain to the lower regions, slippery trails, and poor visibility, while winter (late November to February) poses risks of deep snow, extreme cold, and avalanche-prone terrain—making these seasons unsuitable for a high-altitude expedition like Saribung.

The Saribung Peak Expedition ventures deep into remote and high-altitude regions of Upper Mustang, the Damodar Himal, and the Nar Phu Valley—areas where standard mobile networks are extremely limited or nonexistent for most of the route. Because of this, communication during the expedition requires advance planning and specialized tools.

Mobile Network Coverage

• Nepal Telecom (NTC) has some signal up to Kagbeni and Jomsom, but beyond these villages, mobile coverage is unreliable or unavailable.
• In areas like Lo Manthang, Phu, and Koto, you may occasionally catch a weak NTC signal, but it is not dependable for emergency use.
• Ncell offers even less coverage in these regions.

Satellite Communication

• For high passes and glacier zones (e.g., Ghuma Thanti, Namta Khola, Saribung Base Camp, Camp I), we rely on satellite communication.
• Expedition leaders typically carry satellite phones or Garmin InReach devices for emergency contact, weather updates, and GPS tracking.
• These tools allow real-time communication with Kathmandu support teams, evacuation services, and family back home (SMS/email via satellite).

Guide and Team Coordination

• Our expedition teams use short-range walkie-talkies for internal communication between porters, guides, and the climbing crew—especially important on glacier approaches and summit day.
• Briefings are held daily at camp to align on weather, altitude symptoms, route plans, and communication protocol.

Important Notes

• There is no Wi-Fi beyond Jomsom or occasionally in Lo Manthang.
• Trekkers should inform family or emergency contacts that communication may be unavailable for several consecutive days.
• Bring a power bank or solar charger to keep devices running during the camping phase.
• While on the mountain, it is unlikely there will be any signal for phone or internet. 
• In order to charge your equipment, we suggest you bring a portable solar panel. 
• There will be WiFi/ electricity for charging in most of the teahouses you stay in. You will be expected to pay for that (around USD2-5 per time).