A 28 day circuit exploration including Limi or
A 42 day longer exploration if you have the time!
Our 28 day journey of exploration is one of variety through three distinct landscapes. North of Simikot beyond the villages are the most spectacular mountains everywhere. None are famous 8000m peaks but many are striking. After crossing a 5460m pass (yet to be named correctly on maps!), we transition to what is geographically the Tibetan Plateau (but stay in Nepal) and from a viewpoint, spy holy Mt Kailash/Kang Rinpoche and the impressive 7728m Gurla Mandhata/Naimona'nyi. Continuing, we gently descend into the fabled Limi Valley, including the village of Halji with its 800 year old gompa (which I first experienced while assisting a Nat Geo expedition in 2008). From dusty Hilsa, on the Tibet border, we return back to Simikot using jeeps where we can, now that there is a partial road.
And the 42 day option? This is a two week prologue. I can't help myself, there is another area that I have long been wanting to further explore. The crew drive to roadhead where mules take over and it will take them and the mules three days to meet the trek team who fly into Simikot. However, there is an adventurous alternative route crossing high pastures. So, we fly to Jumla and meet the crew, then overland to the roadhead and meet our mule team. The first couple of warm days are passing through villages along the Karnali River then we branch off and up through forest to their multitude of alpine grazing areas. Under Saipal 7031m, the highest mountain in region, we explore lakes and wide panoramas then cross to known terrain and to perhaps the prettiest lake in Humla and only a day or so from Simikot, where we meet the 28 day trekkers, and continue with them.
I absolutely loved our ground breaking and still unrepeated Wild West-Wild Mugu treks but why haven't we returned until now? Logistics, in a word. Getting a full load of quality trekking supplies to Simikot used to be a challenge bordering on impossible, so instead we walked there from Darchula with Simikot as a half way point then ended in Mugu at a roadhead. However, this time these road tentacles are helping us. We can now jeep in supplies to near Simikot, the last section of road still under construction and taking a few days with mules. This means we can trek in relative comfort in Humla with our good tents and full supplies.
The wilderness is home to kiang, marmots and pikas, and the more rarely seen wolves, snow leopard and even wild yaks. Keep your binoculars handy!
We plan to take some locals familiar with the area and may vary the itinerary with local advice. While I have a 28 day trek plan here, there is more to explore up here if everyone has additional time. The itinerary has flexibility and there are plenty of valleys to explore.
first aid kit including altitude drugs & antibiotics
Our service excludes
insurance, Nepal visa, other meals in Kathmandu
additional hotel nights due to delays
international flights, equipment rental, alcohol, bottled water and soft drinks, laundry,
tipping and other items of a personal nature
Tips & extra cash
allow approx $50 per day for Kathmandu meals
we suggest 5% of the trip cost per trekker for the crew tips pool
Day 0 - early arrival
Arrive a day early to recover from long flights or to go sightseeing. We still arrange the airport transfer and book the hotel for you.
Day 1 - arrive Kathmandu 1350m
Welcome! This is the latest arrival day and it is better to arrive before 2pm. We meet 6pm in the hotel lobby for a briefing and dinner.
2 - fly Nepalgunj
The office processes the permits then we take an afternoon flight to Nepalgunj, staying the best hotel there.
3 - fly Simikot, trek/drive Ghatte Khola
It's an exciting landing. We hit the trail for couple of hours walk through villages, or if the jeep road is functioning, we may jeep then walk.
4 - trek Tsang (Dojam) 2520m
The last village for two weeks!
5 - trek Gyagru 2930m
For the next two weeks, my plan here is conservative, and we should be able to move further some days and therefore have more time to explore, perhaps up to the Chang La (pass to Tibet) or in other areas. We must still acclimatize to altitude though.
6 - trek Syamboyak 3480m
7 - trek Dhyauling 3900m
8 - rest-acclimatize Dhyauling 3900m
9 - trek Lacham 4000m (short)
10 - rest-explore Lacham 4000m
11 - trek Gurukpa 4120m (short)
12 - trek base camp/pass high camp
13 - trek Nyalu Khola via 5460m pass
14 - trek river camp
15 - trek Traktse 4214m
16 - trek Marjunlaya 4860m
17 - rest-explore Marjunlaya 4860m / Lake camp (short)
There are several possible camping spots and viewpoints to see Kailash/Kang Rinpoche in the distance.
18 - rest-explore Marjunlaya 4860m / Lake camp
19 - trek Toling 4152m
20 - trek Halji 3740m
21 - trek Til 3940m (short)
22 - trek Manipadme 3950m
23 - trek Hilsa 3650m
24 - trek Yari 3777m via Nara La 4560m
25 - drive Simikot
26 - fly Simikot-Nepalgunj-Kathmandu
We fly via Nepalgunj and continue to Kathmandu, the same day.
27 - Kathmandu (buffer day)
This is a buffer day in case the Simikot flight is delayed.
Day 28 - depart
The trip ends today and you are free to fly out of Kathmandu. We suggest flying in the evening, giving you an additional day's buffer.
42 day exploratory beginning
This prologue is in short form however there are a few route options that we can discuss and there are a lot of trails around Tharagi Kharka. How we arrange logistics will depend on how many trekkers join.
Day 1 - arrive Kathmandu 1350m
2 - fly Nepalgunj
3 - fly Simikot 2910m, acclimatize
4 - drive Muchu 3068m
5 - trek Purya via Garsa Lagna 3994m
6 - trek Chala 3700m? via Syakup Lagna 4214m
7 - trek Sakya Lagna BC 4300m
8 - trek Tharagi Kharka 3560m via Sakya Lagna 4709m
9 - rest-explore Tharagi Kharka 3560m
10 - rest-explore Tharagi Kharka 3560m
11 - rest-explore Tharagi Kharka 3560m
12 - trek Chyachaur / Lampato 2920m
13 - rest-explore Lampato (spare day)
14 - trek Khada / similar
15 - trek Karanga / similar
16 - trek-drive Simikot 2910m
17 - trek Ghatte Khola
We meet the 28 day trekkers on their day 3 and continue with them.
Jeff in the Far West: look at where we are! - Jamie
Saving data; use your phone in landscape to see the detailed itinerary and more photos.
