Barun Valley Makalu
Makalu Varun Valley is located in the eastern part of Nepal. The main focal point of this area is Makalu Barun National Park. This park spreads over the districts of Sankhuwasabha and Solukhumbu in northeast Nepal bordered by the Arun River on the east, Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park on the west, the Nepal-Tibet border on the north and Saune Danda (ridge) to the south. The Park covers 2,330 sq. kms. Within the wide range of altitudes and climates, the Makalu-Barun area contains some of the richest and most diverse pockets of plants and animals in Nepal, elsewhere lost to spreading human habitation. This unique landscape shelters some of the last pristine mountain ecosystems on earth. Rare species of animals and plants flourish in diverse climates and habitats, relatively undisturbed by human kind.
The prime attractions for visitors into the park include experiencing the unique Himalayan bio-diversity. The park possess 47 species of orchids, 67 species of medical herb, 30 varieties of rhododendron, 19 bamboo species, 15 oak species. The park also offers bird watching opportunities with its 400 species of birds. Wildlife includes in this park are endangered red panda, snow leopard, Himalayan balck bear, clouded leopard tops, ghoral, tahr, wild boar, barking deer, langur monkey and serow.
Most trekkers and mountaineers visit the Makalu-Barun area during October-November and March-April when high passes are less likely to be snowed over. Lower elevations are temperate throughout winter and hot during April and May. Heavy monsoon rains occur throughout the region from June through September, with occasional showers during April-May.
Getting There
Fly from Kathmandu to either Lukla, Phaplu, Kamidanda, Bhojpur and Tumlingtar airstrips, and then trek.
Fees and Permits
The Makalu Barun National Park is subject to all the rules relating to national parks including an entrance fee and restrictions on the use of fire hood. For the Foreign Nationals, the entry fee per person per day in the Makalu Barun National Park is around Rs1, 000/-. Entrance fees are not required for children under 10 years).
Dolpa
Dolpa is the remote region, most of which is protected by Shey Phoksumdo National Park. It is bounded in the east and South by the Dhaulagiri and Churen Himal ranges and in the west by Jumla District. The district headquarters is in Dunai. The landscape is characterized by high steep valleys and relatively dry climate. No roads exist; access is by small plane or via many days walking. Trekking into this region offers an unforgettable experience. Walking through Nepal’s Wild West with its strange mixture of ethnic groups. In this region, you will not get the views of High Himalayan peaks, but lots of good altitude scenery can be observed.
In this region, you will come across different tribes of people. The settlement of these people is considered the highest of any living ethnic group in the world. These people live beyond the mountains, west of the Kali Gandaki river valley. These people practice Buddhist customs.
Getting There
Dolpa is connected to Nepalgunj, 155 km to the south west, by air. The nearest road head in Baglung district takes almost a weeks’ walk to the east, but this would not be a possible option for trekkers who would like to spend more time in Dolpa.
The best possible option is the scheduled flight to Juphal airport or a chartered helicopter.
Presently there are four scheduled flights per week by NEPAL AIRLINES to Juphal from Nepalganj through the 18 seater STOL DHC aircraft. Yeti, Skyline and Shangrila are other airlines that have chartered flights, both passenger and cargo, to Juphal.
Entrance/Permit Fee
Entrance fee to Shey Phoksundo National Park: NRs. 1000/-
Entrance fee for SAARC Nationals: NRs. 100/-
The fee must be bought prior to departure from Kathmandu
Permit fee for lower Dolpa costs $10 per week, whereas in Upper Dolpa (Saldang, Vijer, Tinje, Mukot and Chharka) it costs $700.00 for 10 days and each extra day cost $70.00 excluding entry fee of National Park that costs Rs. 1000 extra.
Kanchenjunga Trekking
Mount Kanchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world and second highest in Nepal. Kanchenjunga is translated along the lines of “Five Treasures of the Snow” and the main peak of the Kanchenjunga is 8586m. Kanchenjunga is on the border of Nepal and the Indian state of Sikkim. It is the home of the Limbus. Relatives of Rais, Limbus dominate the region east to the Arun Koshi and few live elsewhere. Trekking into this region, you will have great opportunity to explore as well as have unique experience of remoteness, Himalaya, culture tradition and many more.
Fees and Permits
The immigration office will issue trekking permits for the Kanchenjunga region only to groups and not to individual trekkers. The Kanchenjunga region remains technically restricted, and you can undertake a trek only if you arrange your trekking through a trekking company. Equivalent to US$ 10 per person per week for the first four weeks and US$ 20 per week thereafter.
Accomodation
There are few teahouse in the lowlands but in the high country you must have food and a tents.
Getting There
Taplejung is connected to the rest of Nepal by the 227-km Char Aali-Ilam-Phidim-Taplejung road. There is an air link with Kathmandu and Biratnagar from the STOL airstrip at Suketar. You can also take a bus from Dharan to Dhankuta - Basantapur - Hile and trek from there.
Upper Mustang (Lomanthang)
Mustang is the ancient Himalayan kingdom. The kingdom of Lo is situated along the north central border of the main range of the Himalayas in the upper region of Mustang district. The climate and geography of upper Mustang are nearly identical to those of Western Tibet and as such, they are dramatically different from the temperature and tropical area of the south side of the Himalayas. The dry, wind swept ecology of this Trans-Himalayan region is extremely fragile.
Livestock husbandry combined with agriculture is still the mainstay of the local economy. With the advent of tourism in Lo in 1992, few locals have also started taking up tourism as a new economic profession. Upper Mustang culture is deep rooted in the religious sentiment of its people. Chortens, Mahne-walls and monasteries shows that Buddhism is their main religion. Techi is the most popular festival of Lo-Manthang and is celebrated over three days to mark the killing of a demon by Dorje Sonnu, the demon’s son.
Trekking into this region is difficult because of high altitude, exposed terrain and continual winds. In winter season, most of the people of this region departs from Lo on trading expedition to avoid the cold and snow. Trekking season is from March until early November.
Fees and Permits
ACAP administers trekking in upper Mustang. Trekking permits for Mustang cost a minimum of US$ 700 per person for 10 days. Extra days are US$ 70 each. If you wish to travel north of Lo-Manthang even on a day trip, ACAP requires that you buy a 13 days permit for a total of US$ 910.
In Jomsom, you must register with the police post and also with the ACAP office just north of the airport. Formalities are completed at the ACAP office and police check post at the northern end of Kagbeni. Here they will check your permit and others.
Getting There
There are daily flights from Kathmandu to Jomsom and Pokhara and from Pokhara also there are daily flights to Jomsom. Kagbeni is the starting point to trek to this region.
Manang
Getting there
Yeti Airlines has been operating weekly flights (Kathmandu – Manang – Kathmandu) and also Nepal Airlines has been operating flights (Pokhara – Manang – Pokhara). From Kathmandu, you will drive to Besishar and then on it can be reached approximately by 5 days walking.
People
The people of Manang are called Manang Bas. Their major occupations include trade and business. They have their own language and scripts and maintain their own local religious practice with 12 villages called Bara Gaule-Baragaun. The famous pilgrimage spot on the Annanpurna Circuit, Muktinath, lies in this area. Although Buddhism is part religion, they follow Bon-Po which pre-dates the reign of Buddha.
Occupation
They have agriculture as their foremost recourse of subsistence for living. The harsh and cold climate limits the cultivation to buck wheat, barley, wheat, maize, potatoes and radishes. They also breed sheeps and other cattle. Now days, they are also into trading and other professions.
Rolwaling Trekking
Ensconced in the shadow of the Rolwaling Himal, this remote Himalayan valley lies on east of Dolakha District in Nepal. It is the most popular trekking destination in Nepal between the Everest and Langtang regions of the mid eastern range of the Himalaya. This area is famous for Mount Ghauri Shankar (7134m), Dorje Lakpa and many others. It is the most appealing region of Nepal which provides an experience of the remoteness of this region, romantic mountain views, diverse flora and fauna and rich local cultures. To trek into this area requires a good walking experience and a good physical form. This place is known as the seven hidden valleys in the Himalayas. This is a wild and barely explored district where legendary tales of the abominable snowman, known as the "Yeti", haunt the imagination of climbers. On the slope of Rolwaling Peak itself, the famous British mountaineer, Eric Shipton, first photographed Yeti footprints in 1951.
Trekking to Rolwaling start from Dolakha, near Charikot, an eight-hour drive from Kathmandu. There is also a choice to continue your trek by crossing Tashi Lapcha (5755m). Technical mountaineering skills and equipment are required for this incredible adventure. Trekkers also will be enjoying beauty of Tsho-Rolpa, the largest Glacier Lake in Nepal and can continue on to the Khumbu region, which links to trek routes in the Everest region.
Tilicho Lake Trekking
Tilicho Lake is one of the highest lakes in the world at 4,949 m high. Mountain lakes are known to geographers as tarns if they are caused by glacial activity. The lake is situated at a stunning location in the Annapurna region at an altitude of 5000 metres. When trekking to Tilicho Lake first you will follow a part of the famous Annapurna Circuit trekking, but at Manang, you'll head towards Khangsar and Mesokantu La instead of the famous Thorang-La pass. From Manang, the trek will be a camping trekking until you reach Jomsom. Below you'll find a 12 day itinerary beginning in Kathmandu and ending in Pokhara. For acclimatization purposes and more time to relax, you better add one or two days in the region between Manang and Tilicho Base Camp. Note that this trekking is pretty hard and not comparable with the Annapurna Circuit Trekking. Crossing Mesokunto pass is very difficult and potentially dangerous. Be well prepared and make sure you hire good and experienced staff (guide, cook and porters).staff (guide, cook and porters). Due to the extremely inhospitable surrounding terrain and the difficulties associated with reaching the area, this lake is rarely visited by outsiders
Jumla Rara
Jumla and Rara lies in remote Karnali region, about 375 Kilometers north-west of Kathmandu. The region is made-up of long ridges covered with temperate forests and alpine pastures enclosing high valleys. Rara is a good destination point for trekking in the west. The trail is very much "off the beaten path" and affords glimpses of culture and scenery very different from those in the rest of the country. The most focal point of this area is Rara National Park which offers a representive sample of the region’s flora nd fauna. This park is spread over Mugu and Jumla districts. The most important feature of the park is Lake Rara , the biggest lake of Nepal. The Lake is deep as 167 meters. Rara National Park is covered with coniferous forest while the area is dominated by blue pine. Varieties species of animal are found here.
Summer season is considered as the ideal time for trekking into this area. Winters are cold but autumn season trekking is rewarded with profusion of alpine flowers.
The town of Jumla can be reached by a twin otter flight via Nepalgunj or direct from Kathmandu. Or by bus from Nepalgunj to Surkhet and then further walking. This flight provides a wide panorama of western Nepal landscape.
Ganesh Himal Trekking
This trekking area lies on the central eastern region of Nepal. This region offers spectacular views, untouched natural splendor, wild and friendly inhabitants. The Ganesh Himal is named after the elephant-headed God of Good Fortune. The Ganesh Himal can clearly be seen from Kathmandu Valley. The Ganesh Range Peaks (Ganesh I, Ganesh II, Ganesh III, Ganesh IV) stand out like crystal that is the "Great Himalayan Chain" forming the skyline. This great Himalayan massif is contained between the valley of the Budhi Gandaki in the west and Bhote Koshi in the east, which becomes Trishuli Khola in the lower section.
Trekking into this region, visitors will explore typical Nepalese lifestyles, historical sites, and great scenery of mountains. Walking through the beautiful terrace farmland, you will collect the experience of your lifetime. Sparkling waterfalls and tranquil lake will touch your heart.
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