Himlung Himal Expedition

Himlung Expedition is a gradual less technical ascent at a height of 7126 meters, making it one of the largest challenges in the Himalayas of Nepal. The Nepal Wilderness Trekking Company is preparing for spring and autumn expeditions to Mount Himlung. If you have some mountaineering experience and are eager to try a high-altitude mountain expedition in Nepal then Himlung Expedition is a perfect peak for you.

Himlung Himal is in the Naar and Phu region, and it is was only opened to tourists in 2001 until now only a few expeditions have been able to discover the majestic Mount Himlung. There is no doubt that this journey is an expedition of stunning scenery, remote, pristine lands, and fascinating cultures. The journey takes you through evergreen forests, waterfalls, and cavernous rocky gorges, all surrounded by high mountains covered in snow and glaciers. The inhabitants of this remote region, which stretches up to the border of Tibet, have retained much of the traditional Tibetan culture and religious beliefs.

As part of the Himlung Himal Expedition, we begin our trek west of Kathmandu at Beshishar, at 840m, and follow the classic Annapurna Circuit Trekking route up the Marshyangdi river valley to the village of Koto before heading southwards into the Phu Valley of the remote Gandaki region. The ancient Tibetan settlements of Naar and Phu lie in the valley below the mighty Himlung Himal, just a short distance from the Tibetan border. It is advisable to take a day to acclimatize and explore this picturesque Buddhist settlement. The Base Camp of Mount Himlung, at 4900 meters above sea level, is located on a grassy meadow high above the village of Phu.

Until we attempt the summit of Mount Himlung, we will set up three more camps, Camp I, Camp II, and Camp III, at 5450m, 6000m, and 6350m respectively. It is our primary goal to reach the summit, however, our Sherpas’ main concern is your comfort and safety. For this reason, the itinerary can be adjusted according to any health problems of the climbers and the weather conditions on the mountain at the time. A professional, experienced, and competent Local Sherpa Guide will lead you through the process of acclimatization by introducing you to a process of properly paced ascents and descents, preparing your body physiologically for the altitude.

Himlung Base Camp 4900M to Camp 1

This new base camp, also known as the ‘French base camp,’ is comfortable, with plenty of water nearby, and has been sheltered from avalanches. It does appear to be a bit challenging to pitch the camp as it seems to be a bit complicated when you pass through the Pangir Glacier on gigantic boulders and the way up the moraine on the right bank is exposed to rock falls.

To Camp 2 from Camp 1

Getting to Himlung Expedition Base Camp from Camp 1 is quite simple and very quick (2 to 3 hours) on fairly easy trekking terrain, with some moraines and small valleys. The snow conditions may alter the progress, of course, but there is no slope on the way up that is prone to avalanches. In order to reach camp 2, you will have to pass across a perched scree slope that leads directly to the side of the glacier. The route follows the glacier side (crevasses and disturbed terrain, rocks, and snow) until the climbers are able to stand on the flatter glacier, with big steps; a few twists and turns are required as well. Depending on the season and the conditions of the snow, this part represents the most intimidating part of the ascent. Our journey up the glacier continues, avoiding a few crevasses along the way. In the ‘Glacier Camp’, we find suitable terrains to set up our camp. The setting is pleasant and spacious enough to accommodate groups of different sizes. The area seems to be subject to little if any, avalanche risk (to be verified depending on the conditions). On the glacier, we climb using ropes attached to each other, which present little danger of falling into crevasses.

The second and third camps

The route from Camp 2 to Camp 3 is quite easy. All we have to do is climb on the icy escarpment up to the last place before the ridge (a few ups and downs along the way). That should take us about 2 – 3 hours from camp 2. As a result, there is little or no risk of avalanches occurring from the slopes above (but should be double-checked under exceptional snow conditions).

Summit – Camp 2 or 1

During the Himlung Expedition, The climb can’t be shortened by adding an additional high camp. The first part of the ascent consists of reaching the pass across snowy slopes that are a bit steep (30°) and exposed. In some cases, fixed ropes are often installed by a lead guide, and once we are past that point, the slopes become less steep, with a few flat sections.

After the crevasse opens, which is generally not a problem, the slope on the side of the ridge becomes steeper. In fact, this is the steepest part of the whole climb: 400 meters at 30/35 degrees. 30/35 degrees. In hard/frozen snow conditions, there is a high risk of falling, so we install fixed ropes on this part as well. The route then reaches a less steep ridge, up to a flatter section before the small final slope. We descend down to camp 2 or camp 1. The following day we head to base camp, pack all our gear, celebrate our summit success, reflect, have a more joyful night, and prepare for the next day’s journey towards Kathmandu, which will conclude our journey.

The itinerary for the Himlung Expedition is 28 days from the date you arrive. Nepal wilderness trekking will take care of everything for Himlung Expedition from permits, fees, as well as all the accommodations on the trail for you. At Nepal wilderness trekking our main concern is always your safety and enjoyment. We are an experienced trekking and climbing company with more than 20 years of experience. We are able to distinguish between a good experience and a great experience. We take pride in our reputation.