Foreigners allowed for solo trekking in Upper Mustang

By Hari Krishna Sharma, Mustang, March 23: Foreign tourists will now onwards be allowed to go solo trekking in partially restricted area here.

Earlier, foreign tourists would be allowed for trekking here only in groups of two or more. Now, a single person can get the permission for trekking, but needs to take a guide.

Umesh Paudel, chief of Area Office of Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) in Lomangthang, informed that foreign tourists could go for solo trekking to Baragung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality-3, Chhusang and Lomanghthan and Loghekar Damodar Kund Rural Municipality.

"The new rule is expected to make it easy for solo trekkers and business people as well," said Paudel.

Foreigners trekking to Korala border point from Chhusang-Lomanthang can get permission through online application as the provision of taking permission from the Department of Immigration has been improved.

Instead of previous trekking royalty of USD 500 for 10 days per person in lump-sum, now a tourist can take permission by paying USD 50 per day and make payment on daily basis.

Raju Lalchan, Chairperson of Mustang Chamber of Commerce and Industry, lauded the new provision and expressed hope that it will make easy for tourists and attract more tourists to visit this place.

About a hundred thousand foreign tourists visit lower Mustang while hardly four thousand reach the Upper Mustang in a year. The new provision is expected to increase the number of tourists visiting the upper Mustang.