Rolwaling Trek 19 days

We start a guided tour to four of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, the Buddhist shrines of Boudhanath and Swayambhu. The day will also be for finalizing official procedure and other necessary arrangements. You will be also briefed on the nature of expedition, equipments and team composition. You can also make your last minute buying of personal items as you will be heading to the Himalayas tomorrow.

From Kathmandu, we head northeast on the Friendship Highway which connects Kathmandu with Lhasa. A Lamosangu, we leave the Friendship Highway and take another way to Jiri. Earlier the motor-able road used to be only upto Dolakha. But nowadays because of the Tamakoshi hydro power construction works, we can drive upto Shigati. From Shigati we trek to Suri Dobhan for our overnight stay.

Trek along the river, and then continue on the flat land. We cross several streams and jungles with varieties of orchid, rhododendron and other vegetation. Cross the suspension bridge to reach Jagat, a small town with people of different ethnicities.

At first, we follow the normal flat path, then & the trail ascends and descends through the jungle. The trail follows the river bank. As the valley narrows, we cross the suspension bridge over the river. A steep climb takes us to the Sherpa village of Simigaon, spread on the terrace of the mountainside. The village is mostly inhabited by Buddhists and there are also a few Hindus.

We pass by a few more Sherpa settlements. On a clear morning the views of Gaurishankar above the Rolwaling Valley is fascinating. From the ridge top at Simigaun , we continue towards the Rolwaling Valley. The trail climbs a rocky, wooded ridge with beautiful pine forests. Descent again to the river of Rolwaling Khola.

Our trail ascends uphill through different varieties of plants and Rhododendron trees. Continue along & left bank of the Rolwaling Khola. Continuing along the deep river valley, we arrive at a tributary river from Gaurishankar. Enjoy the unfolding views of the Gaurishankar. The trail rises further until we come across an easy and relatively flat terrain. Finally, we arrive at the Sherpa village of Beding located by the river.

An easy walk along the norther bank of the Rolwaling River begins our today trek. We pass across the summer village of Beding, several yaks grazing and people busy in their fields of buckwheat and barley. The Cristine formed by the 6000ers such as Chekigo, Bamango, and Konyklemo rise on the immediate left of the village. We arrive at a monastery believed to be a meditative place of the Buddhist Guru Padma Sambhava. Walking along the valley floor, we finally reach the summer village of Na surrounded by potato fields.

At first trek through the leveled plane and gradually ascend to witness the Himalayan Lake filled with the chilling water of the glaciers. The views of Menlung and Tibetan Side Mountains add glory to the unfolding vista. We trek along the right bank of the river and then cross the river to climb up the rocky lateral moraine of the Glacier.  We then walk to Tso Rolpa for the night.

Early morning trek to head toward Trakarding glacier. Walk past the glaciers throughout the day and explore the beauty of the surrounding. The trail will still be ascending through some rock climbing and a gradual walk on the glacier moraine, occasionally passing rocks overhangs.

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. Steady walk leads us to the lowest point of the ice fall and then climbing to the easiest point to gain the Drolambau glacier. Here we will be surrounded by superb high mountain scenery.  Continuing further downhill, we camp at Tashi Lapcha Pedi Camp at the foot of Tashi Lapcha, surrounded by absolutely grandiose mountains over 6000m with 360 degree panorama.

Continue trekking to Trashi Lapcha Pass (5755m). From the pass, the view of senior Khumbu peaks is magnificent. Some hundred meter downhill trek under overhanging rock, we camp at a superb location, with magnificent sunset views.

We climb again to the neck of Trashi Lapcha and from there we start the ascent of Pachermo. The snow slopes lead us to the final ridge, sometimes requiring fixed ropes. From the Pachermo summit, enjoy the fantastic views of the Khumbu peaks including Everest, Makalu among others.  Descend to Col then to Thengpo. The Pachermo ascent takes about 5 to 6 hrs and then another 3 to 4 hrs descend takes us to Thengpo.

There is no such guarantee that we can get quite a favorable weather especially on our planned day for the Parchemo summit, so this day is used as a contingency. If weather became exceptionally unfavorable we wisely have to postpone the program of smiting the peak. Sometimes somebody in the group may get some problems in acclimatizing well enough; then the day can be used in that condition too.

Today you will be experiencing a bit easy walking, the walk from here will be enjoyable most of the way to Thame. A gradual descend brings us to Thame Village, the first hint of civilization since Beding. There is a very old and interesting Monastery at the upper end of the village. Now you have a glimpse of first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu including Mt Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Kusum Kangaru.

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. The trail descends gently at first and then steeply to a bridge over the river Dudh Koshi at Phunki Tenga. Passing by several villages and numerous teashops, the trail ascends steeply to Sanasa where local Sherpa people sell the Tibetan goods. The way from Sanasa to Namche has small ups and downs with view of forests, scenery and mountains.

Breakfast and trek downhill first and then following the Dudhkoshi river on a gently ups and downs trail to Lukla, passing the villages like Monjo, Jorsalle, Phakding.

Take morning flight to Kathmandu and free day on your own for shopping at Thamel market. Join our farewell dinner in the evening.
Day 19: Kathmandu Airport
Final transfer to Kathmandu airport to get your flight back home.