Mustang Trek

WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS’ TREKKING PHILOSOPHY

WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS is focusing on group sizes of 4 to 6 participants for this Trekking because our experience has found this to be the best way to have a successful trip while providing excellent services. Furthermore, it creates a pleasant ambiance within the group, including an exchange of cultures and traditions with our team and local guides.

Last but not least, WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS focuses on small groups that permit more flexibility and support to the participants individually.

SAFETY FEATURES

Your safety is of supreme concern while traveling with WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS. In a case of emergency, the Group has a four (4)-litre oxygen bottle with a mask and regulator, along with a first aid kit.

Our Guide is equipped with communication means, only to use in emergencies. WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS also works with the national rescue helicopter airlines.

To minimize risks weather forecasts are provided to the Guide on a regular basis.

Depending on the difficulty of some itineraries, WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS will secure the route using the necessary technical gear, if needed.

Please note that the above-mentioned itinerary information is purely indicative and can likely modify during the trekking by your Guide, who has the authority to make such changes if it is deemed necessary (due to safety concerns, etc.). Every effort will be made to keep to the scheduled itinerary. However, as this is adventure travel in remote mountain regions and at high altitude, we are not able to fully guarantee it as it is necessary to take into consideration each situation as it occurs and consequently to adapt the program in its best way. Elements such as weather conditions, health conditions of a group member, unexpected natural disasters, among others, can all contribute to changes in the scheduled itinerary.

The Guide will try to ensure that the Trekking runs according to the foreseen plan to the benefit of all the participants, but we thank you for being prepared for some flexibility and comprehension if so required.

Please check the degrees of difficulty while choosing a Trekking Trip with WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS. The majority of the itineraries proposed in our Trekking Programs are in remote areas of the Himalaya and at high altitudes, mostly higher than the Alps. A good physical condition is necessary to appreciate the whole richness of this adventure.

OUR WILD YAK TEAM

The success of this Journey depends on both the personal status of each participant and the experience of our Team. WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS’ team carefully selected according to their expertise in a particular environment and individual aptitudes. Our Team is thus highly experienced, skilled, trained, courteous, and supportive.

WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS’ is proud to support our local staff by providing them with a fair salary, encouraging them to take mountaineering workshops, wilderness first aid training, environmental preservation courses, garbage management, team leadership, and language refreshers on a regular basis.

Our Trekking Guide and his role: WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS’ Trekking Guide is a professional government-trained Sherpa guide with experience in directing and trekking around the Himalaya, including first aid training and in-depth knowledge of the local flora, fauna and general environment preservation. Our Guide leads you all the way through the trekking and across the passes while giving you interesting information about the mountains, culture, traditions, and landscapes. He will help as an interpreter with the local populations. He is ensuring your safety and is checking your needs throughout the trail, and to the top of the pass, monitoring symptoms of high altitude sickness. The Guide plays a vital role in taking care of our members’ needs, supervising the team and porters, and assuring the safety requirements. He also makes sure that the rubbish managed, and the trail/campsite is kept clean throughout the whole trekking trip. WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS will frequently be informed about the Group during the entire trekking experience.

Our Assistant Guide: Our Assistant Guide also has a government license but must work as an assistant guide during some time to become a company approved Guide. He assists the Guide with all the essential duties, ensuring the safety and checking that the performance of the Group runs smoothly. He is equipped with an emergency first aid kit and walks along with the members to monitor the Group.

Our Porters: WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS has its own reliable porters. It is their responsibility to carry your luggage during the trekking with proper handling standards.

WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS is very concerned about the porters. We support and respect the porters’ rights and have high standards to make sure that they treated well. We pay them a fair salary, including a bonus and providing them with good food allowances, clothes, shoes, sunglasses, and medical insurances.

ACCOMMODATION & MEALS

Kathmandu & Pokhara: We stay at high standard Hotels (Tibet International, Yak & Yeti, and Glacier Hotel in Pokhara) on a sharing basis, including breakfasts. Depending on availability, single rooms can be booked upon request at an additional cost. All dinners served in excellent restaurants in town where you can enjoy various types of cuisine, from the typical Nepali, Thai, and even steaks and Italian meals. Each restaurant has been screen by WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS representatives to ensure that it is of suitable quality for our guests.

During Trekking: We stay in the lodges (small traditional mountain guesthouses) that are recommended by WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS as per defined itinerary destination. Please be aware that single rooms are not available. Though there are blankets available at the lodges, we recommend bringing your sleeping bag, as the sleeping rooms are not heated, but the dining hall will be heated in most of the lodge every evening. Showers are available at the majority of lodges at an extra cost. Please note that in the majority of the lodges the toilets are common, except in few of a them, where we provide you with attached rooms (if available), in particular at Jomson and Lo Manthang, in order to fully enjoy your rest day with a shower.

Many lodges serve a variety of cuisines such as continental, Indian, Tibetan, and local cooking. Please note that the beverages are on each participant’s charge, except coffee and the selection of teas that are served for breakfast and in the afternoons upon your arrival, as well as some special snacks provided by WILD YAK EXPEDITIONS. Lunch packages might be served on some specific days.

TRANSPORTATION

In Kathmandu, all transportations are by private vehicles.  Flights to Jomsom and back, by new two-engine Twin Otter aircraft and flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara, and back, by Boeing plane.

TYPICAL TREKKING DAY

Mustang trekking paths are broad and well maintained as compared to other parts of Himalayan trekking trails. While we are in trekking, our day starts with a warm wake up tea/coffee. After refreshing ourselves, we pack our luggage and proceed for breakfast. As day sets off, considering the altitude and acclimatization, we walk slowly towards our next destination making frequent rest breaks to take photographs, treasure the landscape, confront the culture and admire the fascinating mountain sceneries.

A 1 to 2 hours relaxing lunch break is taken, except when crossing passes. After the lunch break, we will at least spend 2 to 3 hours more on the trail before reaching the next lodge where you will be welcomed by some warm hot tea/coffee and cookies/biscuits. Our trained Guide will accompany the group for the whole day. Before dinner, we might enjoy a short walk through the village, photographing, or chat with other group members or exceptional staff. After dinner, you will be briefed on the next day’s program.