Rolwaling Trek - 25 Days

On arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport you will be received by our staff and will escort you to the Hotel, where our AD staff and guide will give you a brief orientation of the Hotel, Kathmandu, Trek/Camping, do’s and don’t and other related information that you might require while in Nepal.

Accommodation : Hotel

After your first night in Kathmandu, you will be well informed on arrival about the time for your half day guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu at places of interest. Sometime, depending upon your flight arrival if it’s late in the night we will do this tour in the afternoon instead of morning to give you a good rest before you set out of the Hotel in our interesting tour.

Accommodation : Hotel

Morning a bus ride from Kathmandu heading towards the Bhote Koshi Valley reaching at Barabise a large village and a bazaar, situated merely 10 km from the Tibetan border, on the only motor able highway that connects to Lhasa, Tibet from Kathmandu. After a short preparation, we start our climb up from the bazaar heading to Simle. First day of walk is always slow to get started, as the porters and staffs have to sort out their loads and the first days of this adventure is always short walk to the overnight camp. Trek climbs above from the busy bazaar of Barabise for an hour then coming on the gradual path till we reach to our night camp between the rural village of Simle and Budipa approx.at 1,130m after nearly 3 hours of good walk.

Accommodation : Camp

Start the walk following the path through number of small farm villages and terraced fields, and small patch of cool forest then gradually climbing and crossing many small streams, until we reach at Dolangsa, a small village on the bottom of the Tinsang-la pass with a primary school yard for camping. People in these villages are of Sherpa tribes and there is a small monastery just above the village. Camp will be on the open clearings in the village itself.

Accommodation : Camp

This route follows above Dolangsa village, starting with a steep climb passing by the Monastery and beyond through prickly-leaved oak woods and rhododendron forest Reaching to a clearing with a small settlement of cattle herders after two hours of steady walk, from here our walk continues further for another 2 hours to Tinsang La. We can notice there is a remarkable change in the vegetations, as the walk gains altitude every hour or so, and then reaching at the top ridge of Tingsang-la. We get excellent views from the Pass looking over towards Gaurishankar and onwards the Tashi Lapcha. After good hard climb to the pass a short descend on the grassy meadow lead us to our overnight camp overlooking grand views of the surrounding landscapes and snow capped peaks, camp is made where there is number of old temporary shade of the Shepard’s as this place happens to be summer pasture. An early morning view from this campsite is well worth the effort of waking up earlier.

Accommodation : Camp

After an early morning view of the grand scenery, journey continues with an hour and half descend to the settlement of Ruphtang situated on a small hill top amongst the terraced fields. After a brief stop here, walk follows on the downhill slope path to a small stream. From here nearly two hours of gradual climb will reach us to our overnight camp on the large grassy field just few minutes away from the Bigu Gomba premises. From the camp we can see large stupas for a nunnery, each stupa which houses about 30 nuns and the nuns are mostly Sherpa women. Here with ample time for a visit to Bigu Gompa, a fine and interesting monastery set among juniper on a terraced hillside. The building which houses a nunnery was built around 1933.

Accommodation : Camp

From here trek leads to a long descend through the terraced fields towards Sangwa khola, which later joins the Tamba khola, coming to the warmer area after a good walk of two hours. The path then gradually climbs after crossing the bridge, the path winds up leading through Lading and continues to Chilangka after 2-3 hours of walks for the overnight camp high above the river. It is a quiet and lovely spot with splendid views across the terraced hillside, and down to Bhote Kosi.

Accommodation : Camp

After Chilangka, journey heads east above the Sangwa khola, crossing several tributary streams the path leads to gradual walk with few ups and downs in between and then coming to Chutara, well decorated with religious paintings. Chautara are interesting structures and are found along trails through out Nepal which is a late form often stepped on which a weary traveler and porters can easily rest their heavy load without having to lower it to the ground. Sometimes found in good spots almost in homage to the landscape, and invariably they are built around two holy trees Pipal (Ficus Relgious) and Bahar (Ficus Bengalise) whose spreading roots cling to the platform. After short rest admiring the surrounding view of the landscapes, our trek from here leads to the winding trail towards the corner of the Gyalsung Danda (ridge) above the river, and then leading downhill towards Bulung for our overnight stop in this widely spread village, Camp is made is near by the school yard of this village Bulung.

Accommodation : Camp

Trek from Bulung village leads to north east along the trail above the Tama Koshi through the village of Yarsa and Warang, walking along the seldom used path at first, but after a an hour of good trek the trail becomes something of a highway, on this broad winding road with excellent views of Mt.Gurishanker. Traversing through intensively terraced farm fields, we then skirt past the village of Orang and coming through few small ridges and finally our route leads to a steep downhill path to the junction of the Gongor Khola and Tama Koshi, and the small settlement of Gongor on the wide valley floor where the path leads to the overnight camp by the river after a good walk of six hours.

Accommodation : Camp

Leaving Gongar, the trail continues along the west bank of the Tama Koshi, which narrows into a gorge then reaching at Chetchet and its beautiful waterfall. Having descended to almost the same height as our starting point after an hour or more walk, the climate here is once again hot and slightly humid. Shortly afterwards we cross the Tama Kosi river and make a steep climb for an hour to the village of Simgaon, after the steep portion the walk leads to gentle up to the village of Simigaon, where we camp beside a Gompa 20 minutes above the main village with more fabulous views of Gaurishanker.

Accommodation : Camp

From Simigaon, our route leads towards north east. Beginning the walk on the gradual uphill slope passing through the thick rhododendron and magnolia forests and pasture with numerous clearing that are used for summer grazing. In this area the change from lush Tama Koshi to the mountain side of Rolwaling Valley is very distinct. Depending upon the season, if the monsoon flood has washed much of the trail which usually happens sometimes in this case, we either take the high path that climbs steeply towards the ridge of the Sambur Danda, crossing the Daldung la at 3,976m. as a safer alternative. Walk continues contouring above the hill side and then descending to the river passing more huts in an area called Gyalche. After reaching the valley floor we cross a small wooden bridge to our camp at Dovan, a small unlikely clearing in the dense forest of the steep valley side.

Accommodation : Camp

Today, crossing the Rolwaling khola we take a path leading through the jungles on the northern side, the walk heading to a gradual climb then coming to a clearing passing along little settlements of Nyimare, Ramding and through the farm fields and reaching at Beding for the overnight stop after a good walk of five hours or more with time to visit Beding village. It is the principal Sherpa village in the Rolwaling area. Situated in a narrow gorge enlivened somewhat by its well-positioned Gompa, comprising about thirty-six houses. There is a Hillary school in Beding.

Accommodation : Camp

From Beding, onwards you can feel the increasing altitude and the cold chill from the surrounding high mountains. Our trek today will be a short walk of three hours or more along the Rolwaling river, taking easy on this high altitude terrain with its impressive scenary of the surrounding high landscapes and the snow capped peaks. Our walk continues slowly in order to acclimatise, just before Na the valley opens out into classic, glaciated in U-shape. On reaching to our overnight camp at Na which is a scattered village and a temporary settlement of the villagers of Beding and beyond, it is a summer yersa (grazing pasture) and potatoes are grown. There is a roughly built monastery here. Our camp is made on this grassy field with time to relax and marvel the surrounding beauty. Ahead, up the valley beyond Na, the majestic summit of Chobutse 6,689m rises above the Tsho Rolpa at the confluence of the Ripimo Shar and Trakarding glaciers.

Accommodation : Camp

Rest day at Na Gaon for acclimatization and local exploration.

After a pleasant time at Na our actual adventure begins from here onwards, morning walk starts crossing the river to the south bank and then following a shallow stream to a crossing point near Yersa at Sangma, the last place of the cattle herders. After the wooden bridge climbing up on moraines, traversing steeply above the main stream until finally we reach the terminal moraine, near behind is the dammed of Tsho Rolpa. The lake sometime known as Cho Pokhari, we will make our campsite on sandy level ground to the south side of the Tsho Rolpa at Kabuk after 4-5 hours of scenic hard walk. From the camp splendid views of the surrounding peaks can be seen including Tsoboje 6,689m. Dragker-Go 6,793m.

Accommodation : Camp

From camp the path traverses the moraine above north side from the lake, continuing right along the moraine, occasionally passing rocks overhangs, as the walk follows high slopes above the glacier to avoid the lower section, but further up we have to trek along the centre on the hard rocky glacier to our camp below the Drolambu ice-fall. As the good steady walk leads us to the lowest point of the icefall and then climbing to the easiest point to gain the Dromlambau glacier. Around this section there is some danger sometime of rock falls. The middle moraine providing a route up the glacier, we then stop for the overnight on finding a suitable campsite where the glacier flattens out, here we will be surrounded by superb high mountain scenery in this wild and impressive place.

Accommodation : Camp

Today is the main high light of this adventure journey, starting well before sunrise following the glacier again for an hour and half, then reaching a spur which gives an easy access to our route to the upper glacier? Here the guide will fix ropes and make steps and ledge for the porters, although the terrain is not so difficult, just a precaution that we must imply in this kind of mountain landscapes. After everything is set for the final climb, a further 3-4 hours climb amidst wild and mind-boggling scenery leads to the top of the pass at our highest point of this trek at Tashi Laptsa pass, where there are Buddhist prayer flags and cairns. This will be the longest day of trek and it’s important to keep up a good pace to make sure that we reach the camp on the other side of the pass well before dark. From the pass along with the magnificent view of the surrounding snow capped peaks our walk follows downhill for another 3-4 hours towards Ngole and further near past the glacial pond of Parchemuche-tsho and just before Tengpo for the overnight camp at around 4,900m.

Accommodation : Camp

Today, we have reserved it as a spare or contingency day, in case we face problem with the weather or delay in our schedule due to unforeseen reason. If all goes well as per the Itinerary days we can have a well earned rest day further down or can be used whenever the situation calls.

From the camp below the Khumbu side of the pass our path follows eastwards over snow slopes the trail from here is well marked and continues its long descent down the upper reaches of the Thame Khola to Thengpo, with excellent views of Mt.Ama Dablam, Mt.Makalu and Lumding Himal above the Thame Khola, after an hour or more arriving at dozen or so shepards huts that makes this place Thengpo with wide pasture field. Another two hours of gradual descend will bring us to our end of our walk for today at Thame Village and our first hint of trekkers civilisation since Beding. There is a very old interesting Monastery at the upper end of the village. At Thame, the old trade route over the Nangpa-la into Tibet branches north following the Bhote Koshi, which incidentally is the 2-3 river so named on this trek.

Accommodation : Camp

Today it is a pleasant walk way down to Namche, an affluent rich Sherpa town and an important trading centre with a weekly Saturday market, fresh foodstuffs are brought up from lower villages to barter or sell. Walk leads east from the camp with a short downhill to the bridge over Bhote Koshi river, from the bridge 20 minutes climb to reach the gradual descend and passing through number of villages, mani, prayer walls and pass into the pine woods on this gentle winding path, after 3-4 hours of pleasant walk, Namche Bazaar comes into view from the top ridge where the trail splits into many direction the north from the mani stupa leads towards Khunde and Khumjung. Our route heads downhill with a view of Namche down below with coloured roofed houses. After a 45 minutes descend reaching Namche for the overnight camp.

Accommodation : Camp

Last day of this great trek will be another good walk to Lukla; you can walk at your own leisurely pace, enjoying the lush green scenery around. An easy day downhill walk today, from Namche an hour walk brings us to the confluence of Bhote Koshi and Imjatse River that makes the Dudh Koshi which we follow most of the way. From here we cross the long suspension bridge with a short climb into the pine woods, the walk will be on the busy path full of trekkers, locals, porters and pack animals, reaching again back to the river bed, the gentle trail follows the river downstream passing through many farm fields and villages then coming at the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park in Monjo village. After Monjo another good walk leads us to camp at Phakding near the river Dudh Koshi with enough time for a walk in the village. Apart from few short uphill the only long climb will be just before Lukla which will take approximately 45 minutes from a place called Chop lung or from the old big oak tree. On reaching Lukla, prepare for the last day great dinner and a party with the fellow Sherpa crew, porters and trekking members.

Accommodation : Tea House/Lodge

The flight time to Kathmandu, are schedule for morning normally, because of the wind in the afternoon, sometime the flight time can be delayed due to bad weather and other reason. After getting the boarding pass depending upon the flight time make way to the terminal for security check, this scenic flight from Lukla takes about 30 minutes to Kathmandu, a panoramic view of the snow capped peaks can be seen from the plane. On reaching at Kathmandu domestic terminal, our AD staff will receive and escort you back to the Hotel.

Accommodation : Hotel

Today as per your international flight time, keep your confirmed air ticket, departure tax (in local currency) and your passport handy. Our staff will take you to the airport for your final departure from this amazing country, Nepal.