| Day 01 |
Fly Kathmandu – Biratnagar |
|
A flight to
Biratnagar takes 45 minutes from Kathmandu and transfer to
Hotel in Biratnagar and overnight. |
| Day 02 |
Biratnagar – Taplejung – Lalikharka |
|
To avoid
clouds and wind, Taplejung flights operate early in the
morning, so you can probably accomplish a few hours of
walking in the day you fly in the Airport is on the top of
ridge in SUKETAR village, far above Taplejung. from SUKETAR,
elevation 2300 metres, the trail climbs gradually along a
rhododendron covered ridge. The trail crosses the ridge and
contours past the Deorali river and four more streams to a
pass at 2570 metres. Descend through forests to LALIKHARKA.
Walk approximately 4 hours. |
| Day 03 |
Lalikharka- Shikaicha Bhanjyang (2020 m.) |
|
Trek through
fields to the substantial Lumbu village of THEMBEWA AT 1880
METRES. From Thembewa, the trail ascends a bit to a ridge,
then drops steeply through Shimu and Pokhara villages to a
suspension bridge across the Phawa river at 1430 metres.
There is a good swimming hole here and a possible campsite
near the river. Climb steeply to Khunjari, a Limbu village
at 1700 metres. Turn left just beyond the school and climb
through wheat fields to a sadly. From here, the trail makes
a long, looping traverse to SHIKAICHA BHANJYANG, a Gurung
settlement with several shops, on a pass at 2120 metres.
From here, there are views of Kanchenjunga and Kyabru. |
| Day 04 |
Shikaicha Bhanjyang – Mamamkhe (1810 m.) |
|
The trek has
now entred the Kabeli river valley, but you will spend the
nest two days climbing up and down, in and out of ravines
and over ridges, only to end up in Yamphudin at the botom of
the valley. Turn left from Bhanjyang and head north just
below the top of the ridge, descending to the scatterd
village of Keswa at 1960 m. Pass below waterfalls and cross
several streams and landslide to reach the village of Phun
Phun, which is shown on some maps with the fanciful spelling
fun. Cross a saddle, with a stately Pipal tree offering a
rest in the shade, and traverse a Yangpang, then head
generally upwards through forests past a large waterfall.
Descend throgh a series of side valleys to two shops on a
ridge at 1850 metres, then drop a bit to Phonpe village at
1780 metres. Descend steeply through rice terraces into a
side canyon, crossing a stream on a long suspension bridge
at 1540 metres, then climb back to Mamanke, a prosperous
Limbu village with bhattis, shops and a large school. |
| Day 05 |
Mamamkhe - Yamphudin (1690 m.) |
|
Climb to a
ridge and then descend gradually to the Tenguwa river. Forgo
the decrepit bridge; cross the stream by jumping from stone
to stone. Switchback steeply up to another ridge marked by a
chorten and prayer flags, then descend across rubble and
rock slides and cross another stream. This portion of the
valley is steep, and portions of the trail are on cliffs
high above the river as it makes its way down to the Kabeli
river at 1640 metres. There is a lot of flood damage here,
so it becomes a rockhopping exercise, over boulders, tree
roots and intersecting stream channels as you head upstream.
Stay on the west side of the Kabeli river, climbing gently
to yamphudin at the junction of the Omje river and the
Kabeli river. Yamphudin is a massed community of Sherpas,
Lumbus, rais and Gurungs. Among the corn and rice fields of
the village there is a police post, a school, and some shops
with minimal supplies. The 1989 monsoon produced floods that
washed away portions of the village and many of its fields.
A goat trail leads from Yamphudin up the ridge to the west
to Helok and the tamur kosi Valley. |
| Day 06 |
Yamphudin - Torontan (2990 m.) |
|
Cross the
Omje river on a couple of bamboo poles and follow the Kabeli
river upstream for a short distance, ignoring the suspension
bridge. After you pass behind a ridge out of sight Yamphudin,
cross a small stream and take a trail that heads straight
uphill. Zigzag up through fields of corn and barley to
Darachuk, and keep climbing past meadows to Dubi Bhanjhyang,
a pass at 2540 metres. Cross the stream on a log bridge, and
go a bit further upstream to Omje river. Trek all the way
passing through the villages of Chitre (2920 m.) lamite
Bhanjyang (3410 m.0 then the trail emerges into the open
just above the Simbua river. A 1987 flood washed away large
parts of the trail. Stay above the white silty river and
follow it upstream, on a series of ascents and descents, to
temporary bridge built of stones and logs. There are
campsites near the river, and also in a clearing beyond
Torantan, near a few caves. |
| Day 07 |
Torontan - Tserma (3870 m.)
|
|
The hike
starts in forests of several varieties of rhododendron, then
crosses landslides to Tsento Kang, a goth at 3360 metres.
The deeply forested valley is dotted with clearings, meadows
and streams as it rises to another Goth at Watha. An hour
beyond is Buddhist shrine decorated with rock cairns, prayer
flags and iron, three-pronged trisuls. The shrine is in a
cav that has a streak of dark stone slang it, which is
though to be the image of a snake. This shrine marks the
boundary of a sacred part of the valley, beyond which the
killing of animals is prohibited. Peaks begin to appear in
the distance as you climb further. There is a short stretch
along the gravel bottom of the streambed, then a climb to
Tseram, a large, flat meadow with a single house at 3870
metres. The settlements in this valley are goths used by yak
and cow herders from Gunsa who cross the Mirgin La to graze
their animals during the summer. |
| Day 08 |
Tseram – Ramche (4620 m.) |
|
Climb
through forests to a slide area; the junction of the trail
to Mirgin La is nearby, but trail is hard to find. Stumble
across a stream on a loose, rocky path and climb to some
main walls and a stone house near the tree line at 4040
metres. The peaks of Rathong and Kabru doom at the head of
the valley; it's hard to believe they are both less than
6700 metres high. The trail climbs into the valley alongside
the moraine of the Yalung Glacier. The valley opens up as
you approach Yalung, a pasture full of Yaks at 4260 metres.
Climb alongside the moraine through scrub junipers up a
stream to a lake at Lapsan 4430 metres. here you can see the
start of the route to the Lapsang La headed off over the
moraines in a valley to the north. Keep climbing to another
lake and a big meadow at Ramche. There are two well-built
stone houses here; one of them thinks it is a hotel, but the
owner spends so much time away that it rarely fulfils its
ambitions. The spectacular Rathong peak dominates the view,
elevation 678 metres, situated on the Nepal-India border to
the east. Herds of blue sheep live on the cliffs above. |
| Day 09 |
Ranche - Oktang
(4800 m.) |
| Day 10 |
Oktang - Ramche (4620 m.) |
| Day 11 |
Ramche – Tseram (3870 m.) |
| Day 12 |
Tseram – Ghunsa (3440 m.) |
|
Today, the
trail ascent steeply 1000 metres from Simbua river valley
and cross five passes i.e., unnamed pass of 4724 metres,
Mirgin La 4663 m., Sinion La 4660 m., an unnamed 4115 m. an
a final Tamo La 3900 m. The route enters the Gunsa Village
at 3440 m. Gunsa is slowly developing into a trekking
village and has a few shops and lodges. The prayer flag
bedecked houses of Gunsa (which means "winter
settlement") are on the south side of the river at 3430
metres. The police checkpost in Gunsa take itself very
seriously. |
| Day 13 |
Ghunsa - Kyapra (2730 m.) |
|
The valley
widens as you trek through fields and larch forests to a
Tibetan village PHERA with pleasant Gompas and friendly
monks; you may find a better supply of food, especially
potatoes. Follow along the river through a fir and
rhododendron forest into a side ravine the ascend steeply
towards Kyapra, called Chapla or Gaabla by the Tibetan
inhabitants. |
| Day 14 |
Kyapra – Ghaiya Bari (2530 m.) |
|
From here
climb steeply down to a large waterfall in the Gunsa river.
The trail makes many short climb and descents and passes
several waterfalls and pastures. Trek into lush bamboo, oak
rhododendron forests with views of Nango Ma and the
south-west part of the Kanchenjunga Massif. Descend for 100
metres, to the Tibetan settlement of Amjilassa at 2490
metres. From here the descent becomes gentler to the
settlement of Ghaiya Bari, today's our camping place. |
| Day 15 |
Ghaiya Bari - Chirwa (1190 m.) |
|
Follow the
riverbed for about a km. and descend steeply for 100 metres.
The hike is along a steep, narrow trail up the north bank of
the Ghunsa river. You will have good views of Jannu up the
Ghunsa river valley. The trail makes more ups & downs,
traverses a landslide, crosses the Tamua river on a
suspension bridge above the village of Helok. There is a
teashop near the junction where the trail to the Limbu
village of Helok leaves the main Tamur Kosi route. There is
a bridge across the Tamur that leads to the Chhetri village
of Tapethon and continue to the Chirwa, a pleasant bazaar
with a few shops at 1190 metres. Take a look at the village
water-supply system. It's an elaborate setup of bamboo
chutes, pipes and channels that Rube Goldberg or health
Robinson would have been proud of - if it has not yet been
replaced with plastic pipe. |
| Day 16 |
Chirwa – Gadidanda |
|
Trek all the
way down, passing through scattered villages of Pirke, Tawa
and Siwa. After about 45 minutes cross the river on a bamboo
bridge to reach the ridge of Sisnu walk gentlytowards Gadi
Danda. |
| Day 17 |
Gadidanda – Dhobhan (640 M.) |
|
Today the
trail descends all the way down the Dhoban. Dhoban is a
small, grabby Newar bazaar town with shops selling soap,
tooth paste, thread, sandals, beera and rums. Many Tibetans
live in flimsy bamboo shelters alongside the bazaar, and
sell tongba and weave woolen scarves and aprons. |
| Day 18 |
Dhoban - Taplejung |
|
From here,
trek all the way on the Ilam - Taplejung road leaving the
Basantapur trekking trail on right side. |
| Day 19 |
Fly Taplejung to Biratnagar and connecting flight to
Kathmandu. |
|
After
breakfast, walk to Taplejung Airport to board Biratnagar
flight. Arrival Biratnager Airport again to board Kathmandu
flight. Arrival Kathmandu meet and transfer to hotel. |