Best Season
The Upper Mustang Heli Trek provides different experiences in the different seasons. All the times have their own highlights and challenges throughout trek.
Spring is from March to May is the best season for this trek; temperatures are mild and the sky is clear. The reason behind this could be that this season is perfect for relishing the vibrant scenery of landscapes and culture exploration. The bloom of flowers added color to the rugged terrain.
Summer lasts from June to August, which is the time when the temperature gets warmer and the monsoon period starts to set in. It can result in rain and clouds obscuring the views. But often, the Upper Mustang area remains dry.
The best time for Upper Mustang Heli Trek would be in the autumn season, from September to November, with the stableweather, the air crisp, and the views of the Himalayas simply stunning. During this time of the year, the skies are clear with no haze, ideal for trekkers and to enjoy the uninterrupted views from helicopter.
Winter, running from December to February, offers strikingly beautiful snowy landscapes but is obviously cold with strong winds. This is not recommended as it is pretty harsh with respect to weather conditions.
Plan out your Upper Mustang Heli trek adventure in a season of your choice and make the best out of it.
Elevation and Distance
The Upper Mustang Heli Trek encompasses various altitudes and distance from one stop to another.
The trail starts in Kathmandu from an altitude of 1,400 meters and comes up to Lo Manthang at 3,770 meters, which is a length of about 80 kilometers. Major parts of the treks are from Kagbeni at 2,810 meters to Chele at 3,050 meters and from Chele to Syangboche at 3,475 meters; daily treks may reach a duration of 5 to 6 hours.
Upper Mustang Heli Trek, combined with scenic flights, includes a 30-minute Kathmandu to Jomsom flight at 2,713 meters and the helicopter ride from Lo Manthang to Pokhara at 827 meters. It offers a bird’s-eye view of majestic Himalayan landscapes.
Difficulty and Altitude Sickness
The Upper Mustang Heli Trek is tailor-made for easy access into the land of Upper Mustang. Although moderately challenging, the treks themselves become relatively easier with the use of helicopters, but the rough terrain and the high altitude certainly do not allow trekkers to have a really easy time.
These treks entail steep ascents and steep descents that take one to remote villages and historical monasteries.
Even though most treks of the Upper Mustang Heli can be done in less time, altitude sickness can be an issue. Trekkers will be at as high as 4,000 meters, so altitude problems can become prevalent.
Altitude sickness can range from headaches, nausea, or even dizziness. So, one does have to acclimatize, and more importantly, listen to the body since altitude can get to anyone, even on a modified structure of a trek like this one.
Maximum and minimum walk per day
The minimum walk during the Upper Mustang Heli Trek is approximately 3 hours a day, although sometimes this could include walking from 10 to 15 km. The trip represents different landscapes and altitudes, meaning that every day requires a different amount of walking time.
The average walk time is about 5-6 hours per day.
Day four will you have a maximum walk. It will take around 6 hours from Kagbeni to Chele, 15 km.
On the other hand, the shortest walk awaits on day 7—from Ghami to Tsarang. It will take around 4 hours to cover 10.7 km.
This variation will help the diverse conditions adjust to the Upper Mustang Heli Trek.
Accommodation
During the Upper Mustang Heli Trek the accommodation in Kathmandu and Pokhara comes with luxurious overnights at 5-star hotels and lakeside resorts. We have always taken into account comfort, safety, and sustainability when it comes to selecting accommodations for our guests.
During the trekking days of the Upper Mustang Heli Trek, accommodation is provided in well-maintained tourist standard tea houses. Accommodations can be spent comfortably and luxuriously with all basic necessities that may make one’s night pleasant and restful.
These premium category establishments provide a lavish experience with quality service. It is this balance of luxury and comfort that enriches the experience of Upper Mustang Heli Trek.
Foods and Drinks
You will enjoy different traditional food items and beverages in the Upper Mustang Heli Trek. The trek is usually accompanied by traditional food, which includes Dal Bhat, momo, and thukpa.
However, in some shops you may still get options for pizza, pasta, and instant noodles.
You can have various types of beverages like tea, milk tea, butter tea, coffee, and bottled water during the Upper Mustang Heli Tour. The local special drinks are Chang, traditional Tibetan beer produced from barley, and Raksi, locally made spirit from millet or rice.
Three daily meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in the package. All the foods we provide are made in our chosen hotel with organic vegetables ensuring good health and refuel your body for the trek.
The Upper Mustang Heli Trek package includes all meals every day. Extra food items or drinks are charged extra. This gives room for one to purchase what they might like and not included in the package.
Alternative Routes
Many routes create totally different experiences in case someone wants to consider the alternatives to the Upper Mustang Heli Trek.
Upper Mustang Heli Trek can also be substituted with the trek via Jomsom, where the flight originates at Kathmandu or Pokhara to Jomsom. Then take a beautiful trek via the Kali Gandaki Gorge to Lo Manthang, showing dramatic landscapes and Tibetan-style villages for the period of 10–14 days of travel.
Another option could be through the Upper Mustang Heli Trek via Muktinath. Drive by road from Pokhara to Muktinath and then trek via Jomsom to Upper Mustang. Although this is a bit of a long route and full of hassle, it offers a rich cultural experience because of the remoteness of its villages and monasteries.
The Upper Mustang Heli Trek is also doable much more directly from Nepalgunj. A flight to Jomsom from Nepalgunj, then trekking north to Lo Manthang, bypasses more extended overland portions and quickly connects to the trek’s highlights.
Can a beginner join this trek?
Even a beginner can take part in the Upper Mustang Heli Trek with proper preparation. In this regard, even when designed to offer all possible luxury with adventure, it entails high altitude and physically challenging conditions.
The Upper Mustang Heli Trek does strike a delicate balance between luxury and challenge, keeping the trip accessible for beginners who are physically fit and prepared for the altitude change.
The acclimatization days and the helicopter ride make the ascent easier, thus availing the ‘best’ of the trek to even beginners.
With the guided support and comfortable accommodation on the way, the Upper Mustang Heli Trek definitely promises to be an exciting and memorable experience even for a beginner in the world of trekking.
Preparation and Fitness
Upper Mustang Heli Trek requires high-level preparation and physical fitness. Begin by building up your cardio and strength so that you are well-equipped to battle through the different challenges of the trek.
Do some endurance exercises, such as hiking, jogging, or climbing stairs. The practice will acclimatize you properly.
Work out walking with a bag pack to get your condition as it would be through the course of the trek. Making sure you have the right gear and clothes for the different weather conditions is something foremost in consideration for the Upper Mustang Heli Trek.
You are advised to have a pre-trek check-up for your health, which will ensure that you are fit for the adventure. Good preparation will make your experience and responsiveness to the Upper Mustang Heli Trek much better.
Gadget Charging and Internet
During the Upper Mustang Heli Trek, there are very few options available to charge gadgets. Though places like Jomsom have mobile connectivity, most areas have sketchy electricity. It would be a plus point to carry portable or solar chargers that would keep devices in working mode throughout the trek.
There are limited charging facilities on the Upper Mustang Heli Trek, so some of the teahouses may be charging you somewhere between $1 to $5 USD per day for electricity. Do make sure that you take the necessary charging cables and adaptors for your phone and camera with you.
The availability of connectivity and the Internet spares out to almost most of the parts of the trek. Some guesthouses in the larger villages, like Jomsom and Lo Manthang, do offer Wi-Fi at a cost.
No network coverage will be available and can be relied upon—considering that a satellite phone is used for reliable communication and above all in case of emergencies.
Trekking Permits
The Upper Mustang Heli Trek does require special permits. You will need to have an Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit, costing approximately $500 for 10 days, which you can get with the help of a trekking agency or independently from the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu.
The trek also required is a TIMS Card of about $20 per person. Again, this you can get either from your trekking agency or the TAAN office located in Pokhara.
We arrange all the permits for your during your Upper Mustang Heli Trek, and its is included in your package.
Travel insurance
For the Upper Mustang Heli Trek, travel insurance is obligatory. It provides safety against medical emergencies, helicopter evacuation, and trip cancellation.
You should make sure that your policy includes emergency helicopter rescue together with the medical expenses coverage for Upper Mustang Heli Trek.
Be wary of companies that have strict limitations imposed on high-altitude or hazardous travel. All trek activities, including trip cancellation protection, should be covered since all deposits are non-refundable.
Transportation
Upper Mustang Heli Trek includes a smooth transportation package. First, you will be taken for a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara, from which a pretty view of the Himalayas can be seen.
Upon reaching Pokhara, you will board another plane that takes you to Jomsom, thus avoiding rugged land and enduring luxurious travel experiences.
Next, take a helicopter ride from Lo Manthang back to Pokhara, thus ensuring that you experience with ease and in style the dramatic landscapes of Upper Mustang.
The costs for this package will include all the local transfers of Kathmandu and Pokhara, which means airport pick-ups and drop-offs and in between your sightseeing. With this understandable arrangement, you are promised a malady-free and merry Upper Mustang Heli Trek.
What to expect from this trek?
The Upper Mustang Heli Trek is one of the revitalizing tours where adventure will come with luxury. This unique itinerary encompasses helicopter transfers between Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Jomsom. It offers an aerial view of the Himalayas, avoiding rugged terrain.
Expect a hassle-free journey with all transportation, accommodation, and foods and drinks arrangements taken care of, so that you only have to concentrate on the beautiful landscapes and the cultural wonders of Upper Mustang.
The Upper Mustang Heli Trek package includes comfortable and prompt transfers that will help make your trekking experience even better.
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