Pastoralism and Rangeland Management on the Tibetan Plateau in ...

some 20–30 tea-house trekking tourists (who arrange their trek through a travel
agency but stay in local lodges) are reported to have visited Upper Mustang, but
the bulk of the tourists travel in a “package” tour. The package includes comprehensive
camping gear along with guides, cooks <strong>and</strong> porters. Mules are often
used for transport. Exclusive of the entry fee, such an arrangement reportedly
costs USD 600–700 per person for a ten day trek.
4.2 Trekking Routes
The Upper Mustang trek basically consists of a trek to Lo Manthang which
takes about four days through Kagbeni–Tangbe–Tsaile–Samar–Syangmochen–Jhaite/Ghiling–Ghami–Dhakmar–Lo
Gekar/Tsarang–Lo Manthang.
Normally, one or two days are spent in Lo Manthang. While in Lo Manthang,
the trekkers visit the local monasteries <strong>and</strong> may visit places in Chosser <strong>and</strong>
Chhonup VDCs. Staying overnight is not allowed beyond Lo Manthang,
<strong>and</strong> only those with permits mentioning Nyamdo or Thinker are allowed to
visit Chosser <strong>and</strong> Chhonup during the day. Most trekkers return to Kagbeni/
Jomsom by the same route as they came.
4.3 Tourism Infrastructure
Private sector tourism infrastructure, in terms of hotels <strong>and</strong> lodges to cater to the
trekkers, remains limited in Upper Mustang. There is, as yet, no comprehensive
registration of lodges. In 2005, there were a total 37 lodges (32 with campsites)
<strong>and</strong> six campsites in the 21 settlements in the seven VDCs of Upper Mustang.
The lodges benefit from tourism by virtue of campsite fees <strong>and</strong> the lodging
provided to porters <strong>and</strong> guides, but almost all of the lodges are patronized by
Nepali travellers. Over the years the maintenance <strong>and</strong> facilities in the lodges
have improved. However, only a h<strong>and</strong>ful of local households benefit from these
lodges. Most are owned by members of the Mustang aristocracy.
4.4 General Impacts of Tourism
Because of the nature of tourism <strong>and</strong> the fact that almost all of the staff, as
well as consumables, for the trekkers are brought from Kathm<strong>and</strong>u, there is
very little economic impact of tourism in Upper Mustang. Studies of tourist
expenditures in the region are not available. Rough estimates made by Bhattarai
(2002), on the basis of information from key informants, shows that an
average trekker spends 44 USD in the area during the eleven day trek, i.e., an
expenditure of four USD per trekking day. Of the total expenditure 69 % goes
towards costs for the pony or mule <strong>and</strong> feed. Campsite costs accounted for
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