Description
ITINERARY
DAY 1 – KATHMANDU (1360m)
Namaste, and welcome to Kathmandu. You will be met at the airport (Please read your pre-departure information for the airport formalities) by your leader, who will take you through the hectic traffic to the Fuji Hotel in Thamel, the popular tourist hub of the city. Kathmandu is an exotic mixture of ancient temples, colourful markets and friendly people. Interestingly, Kathmandu has more World Heritage sites than any other city in the world. Your trek briefing is scheduled for the afternoon.
Meals Included: None
DAY 2 – KATHMANDU (1360m)
Sightseeing for approximately: 4 hours.
In the morning, you explore Kathmandu on an organised sightseeing tour, visiting Boudhanath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world. Here you may observe Buddhist monks in prayer in the monasteries surrounding the Stupa. In addition, you also visit,
Pashupatinath, the country’s most famous Hindu temple, is located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Here you will see Hindu holy men (or Sadhus), pilgrims performing ritual bathing, and occasionally funeral pyres burning on the ghats. In the late afternoon, your trek leader will hand over your trek pack and talk about the following day’s flights and program, followed by your leader taking you out to enjoy a traditional Nepali dinner.
DAY 3 – MANTHALI (RAMECHHAP) (484m)
Drive: 5 hours
After a leisurely breakfast, you will take a private vehicle to drive to Ramechhap. (You can leave your suitcase and anything you don’t want with you on the trek in the Hotel in Kathmandu. Please bring everything to the foyer before departure). The drive takes you out of the valley via the airport, past the medieval town of Bhaktapur and the hill station of Dhulikhel. From Dhulikhel, the road goes past Kavre Bhanjyang and descends to Bhakundabesi. The road undulates through the small settlements of Mangaltar, Nepalthok, to reach Khurkot. From Khurkot, you cross the Sun Kosi River on a Bailey Bridge to drive for another 30 minutes to reach the small settlement of Manthali (Ramechhap).
Accommodation: Local Hotel, Manthali Bazaar (Ramechhap)
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
DAY 4 – Fly LUKLA – PUIYAN (2820m)
Flight: 15 minutes Trekking: approx. 5-6 hours
The early morning flight from Ramechhap to Lukla (2830m is spectacular, with sensational views of the Himalayan range. Sir Edmund Hillary and the Sherpas in the mid-sixties built the Lukla airstrip. After landing, your crew will sort and load your trekking equipment, and you will begin your trek walking past the airport and descending towards the Dudh Kosi River. Soon you join the main trading trail to Namche Bazaar at Surke (2290m). From Surke, the trail climbs up to Pakhepani and onwards to Chutok La (2945m), from where it traverses to Puiyan (2820m).
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 5 – PANGUM (2810m)
Trekking: approx. 7 hours
From Puiyan, you continue to contour through pine forests high above the Dudh Kosi River. After an hour, the trail crosses below Khari La (2900m), where you again enjoy views of the mountains to the west and north. From here, you leave the main trail to descend and climb steadily through woods and terraced fields to Kharte, where you take lunch. In the afternoon, you ascend through the forest for just over three hours to reach Pangum and your lodge. The entrance to this Sherpa village is marked by mani walls and prayer flags and there are fine panoramic views of Numbur (6959m), Khatang Ri (6853m), Karyolung (6681m), Kwangde (6187m) and Teng Kangpoche (6500m).
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 6 -NINGSOW (2860m) or RAMAILO DANDA (3270m)
Trekking: approx. 6 hours
You leave Pangum after breakfast and climb out of the village walking past Pangum Monastery to reach Chatuk La (3170m) to descend past a teahouse at Tho Kharka.
From here, the trail descends and undulates to reach the small settlement of Sibuche. You will have views of the jagged peaks that flank the Hinku Valley on our right and views back towards Trakshindo La, Numbur and the Dudh Kosi on our left. The first view of Mera Peak is also seen as we begin our descent from Chatuk La. From Sibuche, the trail dips and climbs through open woods, crossing a stream and climbing to a pasture. From here, the trail climbs up through open woods of rhododendron and alder to cross a stream to reach the lone teahouse at Ningsow.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 7 – CHHETRA KHOLA (3100m)
Trekking: approx. 5 hours
From Ningsow, you ascend slowly and steadily through rhododendron woods to reach a couple of Teahouses on a ridge at Ramailo Danda (3270m), which offers excellent views of Mera and the Hinku valley (Weather permitting). The trail climbs and undulates through pine forest to a ridge and then descends to cross the Tamba Khola (River). Your trail climbs again through alpine forests with numerous stream crossings to reach a lone basic teahouse at Chhetra Khola just across the river.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 8 – KOTE (3580m)
Trekking: 7-8 hours
You make an early start today. From the lodge, the trail climbs up steadily through rhododendron and fir forest all along.
The walk is demanding, and sometimes the trail can be slippery due to the shaded nature of the route. The trail continues to climb and undulate through alpine forests to reach a lodge at Thakto where you stop for lunch. After lunch, the trail descends through rhododendron forests and traverses above the Hinku Khola to reach an abandoned tea house. The trail now descends to the river and then climbs up following the Hinku upstream. You will reach a small clearing, and from here, the trail climbs up through woods of fir to descend to the settlement of Kote on the banks of the Hinku river.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 9 – THAGNAK (4390m)
From Kote, you walk along the riverbed of the Hinku for a while before climbing onto grassy meadows where the valley widens. The walking is easier than on previous days, only made tiring by the altitude. In the late morning, we reach the yak herders’ settlement of Gondishung, where you can stop for lunch. From here, there are superb views of the steep south face of Mera. In the afternoon, you reach a small gompa, set under a large rock, which houses three statues said to have been found on the eastern side of Mera La. This is particularly an auspicious place, and if the gompa is open, you can visit to seek blessings for a safe journey and climb. From here, it’s a gentler walk on moraines up the valley to the settlement of Thagnak and your camp for the next two days. Thagnak is overlooked by the stunning peak of Charpati Himal (6769m) to the north, Mera to the east and Kusum Kanguru (6379m) to the west.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 10 – THAGNAK (4390m)
Trekking: Acclimatisation walk
You are now getting closer to Base Camp, and acclimatisation is essential. Depending on how you feel, you may take the opportunity of a morning’s acclimatisation to climb in the hills behind Thagnak for good views of Mera La and the trail ahead. At Thagnak you can see where the wall of the Sabai Tsho, a glacial lake, broke after an avalanche from Charpati Himal crashed into the waters, causing the flood that had devastated the lower valley many years ago.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 11 – KHARE (5010m)
Trekking: 5-6 hours
Today is a short but exciting day. You will start by crossing the flood plain of Sabai Tso and climbing the glacial moraines walking past Sabai Tsho, and looking back; you get amazing views of the Hinku valley. You contour around the moraine to reach the Khare Khola, which flows from the glaciers ahead. Around you are the awesome faces of Charpati Himal and the outlying peaks of Mera. You walk for a short while on sandy flats to reach a teahouse at Dig Kharka and then climb a grassy moraine ridge to eventually reach the small settlement of Khare, opposite the northwest face of Mera. From your lodge premises at Khare, Mera La (5415m) and the way up the mountain is clearly visible.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 12 – KHARE- MERA LA (5415m) – BACK Acclimatisation
Your trek leader will plan the day’s activities depending on the weather and the physical condition of the group. These may include an acclimatisation walk towards Mera La (5415m). From Khare to Mera La the return journey involves 5 to 6 hours.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 13 – KHARE
You have an opportunity to walk and explore the Hinku Nup Glacier area. This will be a full day walk, and you can enjoy a packed lunch and hot drinks in this exploratory excursion. However, this day can also be spent relaxing at Khare itself and looking at people attempting to climb Mera Peak. You will have a guide and the support team assisting you and escorting you on your walks.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 14 – KOTE (3610m)
Trekking: approx. 7 hours
After the climb, you will certainly be very tired, and a descent to lower altitudes is a better option. So after a late breakfast, you leave Khare and head downhill to reach Thagnak for lunch late in the morning. In the afternoon, you retrace your steps back to your lodge in Kote.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 15 – THULI KHARKA (4290m)
Trekking: 6-7 hours
You continue to walk back along a familiar trail and begin the steady ascent out of the valley through the forest to reach Thakto. You then climb through rhododendron forests to reach Odar, where there is a basic teahouse next to a huge rock by a small stream where you can take lunch.
In the afternoon, you ascend through more scrubby rhododendron forest to emerge onto open ledges to reach a small pass. From here, you descend and then traverse to your lodge at Thuli Kharka.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 16 – LUKLA (2800M)
Trekking 6 hours
In the morning, you switchback, climbing up a steep trail to Zatrwa La (4610m), the gateway to the Dudh Khosi Valley leading to Lukla. After a well-earned rest, you contour on open slopes to the next pass, Zatra Og (4490m). Both passes are bedecked with prayer flags and stone cairns and have fine views of the Dudh Kosi Valley and the peaks of Cho Oyu (8188m), Karyolung (6511m), Kongde (6187m), Numbur (6958m) and Khatang (6776m). The descent from Zatra Og can be tricky, and if the trail is covered in snow, we will have to fix ropes on the initial steep section. The descent leads you to a small settlement of Kharki Teng, and you walk downhill through rhododendron forests to reach another settlement of Chutenga. In the afternoon, you will continue to descend to Lukla to your lodge close to the airstrip.
Accommodation: Trekking Lodge
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 17 – LUKLA – KATHMANDU
Flight: 15 Mins Drive: 4-5 Hours
After breakfast, you fly to Kathmandu. Due to the air traffic congestion at the Tribhuvan International airport, the flight is routed to Manthali (Ramechhap), so you will be transferred back to Kathmandu via Dhulikhel. (Drive 4-5 Hours)
The rest of the day is free for shopping or further sightseeing.
Accommodation: Hotel Fuji or similar
Meals included: None
DAY 18 – KATHMANDU
We have allowed an additional day in Kathmandu for optional sightseeing, shopping and exploring the bazaars and markets. Located in the south of the city, Patan is also worth a visit, with its own Durbar Square full of historic structures and statues of past kings. Alternatively, a visit to Bhaktapur is also highly recommended. This day also acts as a contingency day in case of Lukla delays.
Accommodation: Hotel Fuji or similar
Meals included: None
DAY 19 – DEPARTURE
After breakfast, you are transferred to the airport for your onward flight. Room checkout time is 11.00 a.m. If you wish or need, to stay longer we can arrange an extra night’s accommodation at the time of booking.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Itinerary disclaimer
Occasionally our itineraries are updated during the year to incorporate improvements deriving from past travellers and local partners’ feedback. The information given in this itinerary may differ slightly due un-foreseen situation or force majeure. Please note that while we operate successful trips in this region, some of the changes that may occur in our itineraries could be due to inclement weather and common seasonal changes to timetables and transportation. This can happen with little notice, so please be prepared for possible modifications to the trip en route.
Jack –
I can’t recommend Falls Creek Guides and Chola Adventures enough! The Hinku Valley is a fantastic trek if you are wanting to experience both the culture and environment of Nepal. Having Macca there made everything super easy and having Nima’s local knowledge and connections made for a great experience. Even when plans changed due to illness the support from Macca and Nima made us feel safe and supported. I highly recommend getting some training in with Macca at Falls Creek beforehand. You get the benefit of getting to know him before you go plus he can give you a hand at making sure you will be able to do the trek comfortably.