Description
Trek itinerary
Day 01. Arrival in Kathmandu (1,350 m)
Upon arrival in Kathmandu, we will be greeted by a representative of Sisne Rover who will drop us off at our hotel. We then check-in at the hotel, freshen up and take rest. You can also visit around Thamel (where our hotel will be located) and shop few items that you have missed to bring with you. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 02. Kathmandu – Permit Preparation
On your second day in Kathmandu, take rest after a long flight from your home country and after breakfast, you can visit around Thamel (where your hotel will be located) and shop few items that you have missed to bring with you. We can add Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing tour on your request. We can have a tour to UNESCO World heritage sites – Durbar Square, Pashupatinath temple, Swoyambhunath stupa and Bouddhanath stupa. In the afternoon, we will have a meeting with your guide and check the final preparation for the trek.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 03. Drive from Kathmandu to Machha Khola (900 m): (9-10 Hrs.)
We set off early today and head towards the village of Soti Khola (710m) along the Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway. This drive will take us through small rural towns and grassy terraces. During the drive, we enjoy views of the Nepalese countryside along with the mountain sceneries. After around 7 hours, we will arrive at Soti Khola in the Budhi Gandaki Valley.
After having some rest in Sotikhola, we will take another transport and continue driving to Machhakhola. It is about 3 hours drive. Overnight in Machhakhola in a lodge.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 04. Trek from Machha Khola to Jagat (1,410 m): (6-7 Hrs.)
The narrow trail makes some minor ups and downs and eventually crosses the Thado Khola and reach Khorlabesi. After a few more ascends and descends we come across a small Hot spring in Tatopani. From the hot spring, we climb over another ridge, then cross the Budhi Gandaki on a suspension bridge. At this juncture, we climb on a wide, well-crafted staircase, then across a landslide and over a ridge to Dobhan. Upon crossing a suspension bridge over the Yaru Khola, we climb stone stairs and then descend to the river and again climb more stone stairs to Tharo Bharyang. Crossing the west bank of the Budhi Gandaki, we climb over a ridge, trek along the river and then climb towards the village of Jagat. Overnight in Jagat.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 05. Trek from Jagat to Lokpa (2,040 m): (5-6 Hrs.)
Today, we begin trek by climbing over a rocky ridge to Salleri, and then descend to Sirdibas. The valley widens a bit as the trail continues up to Ghatta Khola. We further continue walking upstream to a long suspension bridge in Philim, a large Gurung village. The trail turns north just above the lowest house in the village and stays on a fairly level as it crosses millet fields to Ekle Bhatti. The route now enters a steep, uninhabited gorge. At this point, we descend to the grassy land slopes, cross the Budhi Gandaki, then trek along the west bank for a while, then cross to the east bank and then back again. Across the Budhi Gandaki is Himalchuli (7,893 m) above steep cliffs. Walk through a largely intact and peaceful temperate forest into Lokpa surrounded by barley fields.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 06. Trek from Lokpa to Chumling (2,360 m): (3-4 Hrs.)
Descend through beautiful forest, crossing two new bridges, circle under a huge bluff on the river then climb steeply on deteriorating exposed stairs. After about 30mins start to traverse north through pines and rhododendrons, still climbing and with very steep slopes. The hidden valley of Tsum stretches enticingly ahead. Eventually descend to a deserted bhatti, Ghumlong (2130m) on the river. The path straight ahead climbs steeply to Ripchet (2470m) in about 1hr; the path to Chumling (2360m) crosses the Siyar Khola on a wooden bridge and up. Make sure we climb up to Chumling and check out the old Gompa, the traditional houses, orchards, clinic and beautiful stone streets. This is Buddhist agriculture, with conical pine needle haystacks among the prayer flags. From here on trails are lined with artistic Chortens and Mani walls made of thousands of stone slabs carved with deities and prayers.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 07. Trek from Chumling to Chhokang-Paro (3,010 m): (3-4 Hrs.)
Cross the suspension bridge just east of the hotel and traverse through rich farming land of maize and potatoes. The houses are classic Tibetan with barricades of firewood on the roof, but without flat roofs as it rains and snows here. Up the valley to the east are superb views of several of the 7,000 m – 7,400 m Ganesh Himal. Cross the Serpu Khola and climb for over 2hrs on well-graded but exposed track to upper Tsum and the joined villages of Chhokang-Paro (3,010 m), stone houses with a few iron roofs nestled under cliffs. The valley opens here into spacious fields of barley, maize, buckwheat and potato. Herds of thar often graze the wild cliffs to the north, coming right down to the fields. If the air is clear Himalchuli (7,893 m) can be seen down valley.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 08. Trek from Chhokang-Paro to Nile (3,381 m): (3-4 Hrs.)
Take time to explore the village and climb north to a retreat where Lama Kongchog died after 26 years of meditation. Thar are often sighted near here. The friendly people speak Tsumba, related to Tibetan, but often little Nepali and are quite unused to visitors.
Head east through small villages and past a local school, climb over a ridge of Chortens and past Lamagaon (3,202 m) through the flat fields, looking across the extensive crops and river to the huge courtyard of the Rachen Gompa (3,240 m) with excellent pilgrim accommodation. This nunnery is the female equivalent of the main Kathmandu Kopan Monastery.
Cross the Shiyar Khola, pass through hamlets of Phurbe (3,251 m) and Pangdun (3,258 m) and pass an unusual round stupa before reaching the larger village of Chhule (3,347 m) through an impressive entrance gate. The children here all wear the Tibetan dressing gown called chubas and there are many yaks. Head upstream to cross the bridge and climb to Nile (3,361 m). Both villages are in traditional style with inclusion of livestock compounds into the houses and sheltered verandahs for drying crops.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 09. Trek from Nile to Mu Gompa (3,700 m): (2 Hrs.)
We leave our rucksack behind and visit Mu Gompa as a day trip, continuing on to Rachen Gompa or Chhokang-Paro, or stay overnight in Mu Gompa and visit the isolated Dhephu Doma nunnery and gompa and even climb above it for great views.
Make up valley on the west bank, enjoying sunrise on the narrowing valley walls and yaks being put to pasture. The final climb up to the large Mu Gompa (3,700 m) is through dry Tibetan country with rows of Chortens and widening mountain vistas. This is a large monastery with over 100 monks and an ancient Gompa visited by David Snellgrove (Himalayan Pilgrimage) in 1956.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 10. Trek from Mu Gompa to Rachen Gompa (3,240 m): (3-4 Hrs.)
Return down valley through Chhule, collect our rucksack if we left it there, and continue down as far as Phurbe. Stay on the east bank of the Siyar Khola and cross flat boulder-covered plains following the power lines to Rachen Gompa (3,240 m), where it is possible to inspect the ancient Gompa if we want and the many young nuns are very friendly. Families in the Tsum usually have at least one family member as either a monk or a nun.
At Rachen Gompa we can stay in comfortable pilgrim rooms, wash clothes and eat dalbhat in shifts with the nuns, enjoying electric light and maybe a solar hot shower.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 11. Trek from Rachen Gompa to Gumba Lungdang (3,200 m): (5-6 Hrs.)
Continue south until a bridge crosses to the west bank and pass again through Chhokang Paro then drop below on the previous trail towards Chumling. After about 2hrs, see a small white Gompa on the left at Gho (2,485 m). Descend on a narrow trail passing the Gompa on our left and drop to a wooden bridge over the Siyar Khola. Cross the bridge to Domje (2,460 m) which has a Tibetan herbal medicine clinic and school but no food or lodging. The track onwards climbs just behind the clinic.
Climb very steeply through pines and rhododendrons until the track starts traversing at a Mani wall with prayer flags. The track is exposed and narrow. Finally, in the pine forest, take a prayer flag marked uphill trail and make a zigzag climb through huge silver pines to reach Gumba Lungdang (3,200 m), perched on a ridge with small cells for the nuns scattered through the beautiful rhododendrons above. This small Gompa with 40 nuns has an intense and engrossing puja from 6.00-7.30pm each night unless the nuns are on holidays or elsewhere, which is for some months each year. There is no lodge or formal camping area but permission may be obtained for a limited number of people to sleep on the Gompa verandah or to camp in the Gompa forecourt and use their kitchen. There is a toilet although we may have to ask for water. The mountain views in all directions are amazing.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 12. Day trip to Ganesh Himal Base Camp (4,200 m): (7-8 Hrs.)
Circle from the Gompa through a white gateway and below the nuns’ housing, between two houses and traverse down and up through two small valleys, then drop right on dusty or muddy zigzags on a shortcut to regain the lower track and continue up valley through the forest. It takes about 4hrs to reach the Ganesh Himal Base Camp (4,200 m). The map shows another base camp on the east side of the glacier, but there appears to be no obvious track between them, so return to Gumba Lungdang in time for the evening puja by retracing our steps.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 13. Trek from Gomba Lungdang to Lokpa (2,240 m): (7-8 Hrs.)
This can be a taxing day, so start early. Descend to Dumje and Cross the Laudang Khola on a new swing bridge between the two lowest houses in Dumje and stay on the south bank of the Siyar Khola. Cross some very deep gorges on new swing bridges to picturesque Ripchet (2470m.) where there is a homestay and we can get lunch. Take time to look around at this perched fertile valley of barley and buckwheat with evocative Chortens in the fields backed by pine forest. Descend on steep loose stairs to the deserted bhatti Ghumlong (2130m) on the river, which we passed through some days ago. Climb again through the pristine temperature forest to Lokpa (2240m), enjoy a comfortable bed in the lodge there and maybe a bucket bath in the toilet or camping toilet.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 14. Trek from Lokpa to Maccha Khola (900 m): (7-8 Hrs.)
Today is our long day walking. From Lokpa, the trail descends all the way back to Jagat where we will have our lunch then retrace back again to Machha Khola in the same trail that we have done previously. Overnight in Machha Khola.
Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 15. Drive from Maccha Khola to Kathmandu (1,350 m): (7-8 Hrs.)
The drive from Machha Khola to Kathmandu offers an opportunity to enjoy both hill and mountain landscapes. The drive passes by some beautiful villages with farming terraces on both sides of the road. We reach Kathmandu in the late afternoon.
To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will have farewell dinner and share the experiences about our trek.
Day 16. Final departure
Our journey in Nepal comes to an end today. A representative of Sisne Rover will escort us to the airport approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight.
Meals included: Breakfast
We can customize this trip as per your schedule, budget and preferences. If you wish to discuss any aspect of this trip or your suitability for it please contact us.
