Hidden Lower Dolpo to Dhorpatan Journey | Yartsa Gunbu Camping Trek
Great Himalayan Trail (GHT) | Nepal Himalaya Trek
Our Kamzang Journeys guided Himalayan camping trek through the remote valleys of Lower Dolpo, Nepal, was crafted over cups of salt-butter tea with Thinle Lhundop, the beloved Dolpo village chief from Saldang who starred in the movie ‘Himalaya’. Thinle helped us to create our unique, always evolving treks into the culturally Tibetan region of Dolpo which Kim, Lhakpa and the Kamzang team have led for the past 12+ years.
Dolpo is a remote, spectacular region of snow leopards, blue sheep, wolves, yaks, sacred snow peaks, turquoise lakes, crumbling ‘dzongs’ (fortresses), traditional trade routes with Tibet, billowing barley crops, animal husbandry, labor-intensive autumn harvests, and Dolpo-pa on horseback. This Himalayan border region is one of Nepal’s most culturally vibrant regions which still practices traditional Tibetan medicine, and is a bastion of both Tibetan Buddhism and Bon religions. Our trek through Lower Dolpo features our ‘hidden’ valleys and Bon monasteries, as well as the spectacular turquoise Phoksumdo Lake and cultural Dho Tarap valley …
A highlight of this epic trek is a week-long trek through spectacular Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Schaller and Matthiessen’s original route into Upper (Inner) Dolpo, during yartsa gunbu (caterpillar fungus, “the world’s most valuable fungus”) season. Beautiful Dhorpatan, forested with a wide variety of trees and evergreens, is home to rare wildlife such as the red panda, wolf, musk deer, goral, Himalayan thar, and blue sheep, is also a very cultural region of Nepal’s fertile, green Middle Hills. Yartsa gunbu (also known as yarsagumba) season is a fascinating look into the ‘Himalayan Gold Rush’.
Our Dolpo journey begins with a spectacular flight to west Nepal along the Himalayan peaks, to the small mountain airstrip at Juphal. We trek up the dramatic Sulighad River gorge to Ringmo and Phoksumdo Lake; our remote route is that of Peter Matthiessen and George Schaller, featured in their books ‘The Snow Leopard’ and ‘Stones of Silence’ (The New Yorker article on their Himalayan journey). Trekking past Buddhist mani walls and ancient chortens, we reach the fabled Dho Tarap and its incredible Tibetan Buddhist monasteries before starting our week-long journey through wonderful Dhorpatan.
Along with Thinle Lhundop’s nephew Thinle Gyalgen (our local Dolpo guide, who travels with his white horse Guli), we explore spectacular and cultural Lower Dolpo, camping at far-flung Dolpo villages, hiking the shores of turquoise Phoksumdo Lake, crossing high Himalayan passes, visiting ancient Tibetan Buddhist monasteries with Buddhist lamas and gilded rooftops, sharing chaang (barley beer) with the local Dolpo-pa. and searching for wonderful striped Dolpo blankets and textiles. Our journeys always include extensive cultural interactions as we have close relationships with villagers throughout this remote Himalayan region through our years of exploratory treks and the Kamzang Fund.
Dolpo Artist Tenzin Norbu creates wonderful Dolpo paintings, the prints (and some originals) available from our Cafe Caravan at Boudhanath.
Upper Dolpo is susceptible to heavy snows which isolate it from neighboring regions for much of the year; the trekking is challenging, and the rewards immense!
Trek
GHT | Lower Dolpo to Dhorpatan Journey | Yartsa Gunbu Camping Trek – Nepal Himalaya Trekking
Day 1 – Arrive Kathmandu | Transfer Hotel
Day 2 – Kathmandu | Optional Heritage Sightseeing
Day 3 – Fly Nepalgunj
Day 4 – Fly Juphal. Trek Rupgad
Day 5 – Trek Chhepka
Day 6 – Trek Chuniwar | Amchi Gompa
Day 7 – Trek Ringmo | Phoksumdo Lake
Day 8 – Ringmo | Day Hike
Day 9 – Trek Chabluk Phu
Day 10 – Trek Lake Valley Camp
Day 11 – Trek Numa La North High Camp
Day 12 – Trek Tokyo | Cross Numa La North 5143m
Day 13 – Trek Dho Tarap
Day 14 – Dho Tarap | Explore Monasteries
Day 15 – Trek Nawarpani Dovan
Day 16 – Trek Laina Odar
Day 17 – Trek Tarakot
Day 18 – Trek Dunai Valley Camp
Day 19 – Trek Purbang | Cross Jang La 4520 m
Day 20 – Trek Seng Khola (Phuphal Phedi)
Day 21 – Trek Dhule
Day 22 – Trek Tatopani
Day 23 – Trek Thankur
Day 24 – Trek Dhorpatan | Cross Phagune La 4060m
Day 25 – Trek Jalja La Base Camp
Day 26 – Trek Lumsung | Cross Jalja La 3415m
Day 27 – Trek Dharapani
Day 28 – Trek Darbang + Drive Pokhara | Transfer Hotel
Day 29 – Fly Kathmandu | Transfer Hotel
Day 30 – Trip Ends
Travel Advice
+ We strongly recommend keeping an extra day post-trek in Kathmandu in case of trek delays.
+ Purchase travel insurance with helicopter evacuation!
+ Purchase trip cancellation + travel insurance!
Private Trips & Customized Journeys
We’d love to customize a private trip or extension for you according to your dates. We can customize your journey to include more days in the Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan or Bardia National Park, Pokhara, Bhutan, Tibet or elsewhere. Inquire for helicopter tours and travel options!
Nepal Modules
Nepal & Kathmandu Modules | Customize Your Trip!
Kim Bannister Photo Gallery | Trip & Trek Photos
Kim Bannister Photography
Sacred Upper Dolpo to Mustang Photos
Trek Photos 2019
Trek Photos 2018
See Kim’s galleries for more trek photos!
Dhorpatan Gold Rush Photos
Dhorpatan Trek 2013
Chitwan National Park | Maruni Sanctuary Lodge
Amazing Nepal Heritage Tour | Kathmandu, Chitwan, Bandipur & Pokhara
Chitwan & Bardia Luxury Wildlife Safaris | Tiger Tops Lodges
Tiger Tops Wildlife Safaris | Chitwan Tharu Lodge + Bardia Karnali Lodge
Cafe Caravan & Dolpo Gallery
Dolpo Artist Tenzin Norbu creates wonderful Dolpo paintings, the prints (and some originals) available from our Cafe Caravan at Boudhanath Stupa.
Kamzang Journeys Products
Duffel bags, t-shirts, camp towels, buffs, handcrafted leather passport wallets, totes + bags, Himalayan textile pillow covers + more available in Kathmandu!
Kamzang Journeys Products
Kamzang Journeys Products
Duffel bags, t-shirts, camp towels, buffs, handcrafted leather passport wallets, totes + bags, Himalayan textile pillow covers + more available in Kathmandu!
Kamzang Journeys Products
Kamzang Design Etsy Shop (On-Line)
Many of these handcrafted products designed by Kim and local craftspeople are available in Kathmandu, including much of the tribal silver collection …
Kamzang Design Etsy Shop
Client Highlights & Reviews
Travelers’ Comments
Kamzang Journeys Menus
Camp Menus
Itinerary
Great Himalayan Trail | Lower Dolpo to Dhorpatan Journey | The Yertsa Gunbu Trek – Nepal Himalayan Trekking
Day 1 – Arrive Kathmandu 1340m (4395′) | Transfer Kathmandu Guest House
Welcome to Nepal! You will be met at Tribhuvan International Airport by a representative from Kamzang Journeys or Khumbu Adventures (our partners in Kathmandu) Doma, Lhakpa and Nuru Sherpa). Look for a sign with your name on it as you leave the arrival area. We strongly suggest purchasing a NTC (Nepal Telecom) SIM card as you leave the airport if you have an unlocked phone. It’s very useful for data in the remote regions of Nepal. We will transfer you to the Kathmandu Guest House (or see Great Stays tab for luxury, boutique, and other hotel options in the Kathmandu Valley) where your room has been booked for you. Drink plenty of water to hydrate after your flight, and enjoy your first evening in Kathmandu …
We’ll need your travel medical insurance, a copy of your passport and Nepali visa, and one (or more) visa-sized photos (inquire if we need for your trek); please have them ready to give to Lhakpa, Doma or Nuru. And please ask if you need your gear checked, or have shopping or sightseeing questions!
Thamel is a myriad of shops of all imaginable varieties, bakeries, cafes, restaurants, bars, hotels, spas, climbing walls, colorful banners and signs, and eccentrically clad backpackers. Enjoy dinner at Roadhouse Cafe, New Orleans, Yin & Yang, Third Eye, or one of Thamel’s other restaurants … (B)
Day 2 – Kathmandu
Enjoy a free day exploring Kathmandu’s many World Heritage sites or embark on a tour of the beautiful Kathmandu valley, surrounded by Himalayan snow peaks (See Kathmandu Valley Tours for optional tours with a qualified guide, car, and entrance fees included). Or just relax at the hotel, visit the spa, have a massage, wander Kathmandu’s fascinating streets, pop into neighborhood Hindu temples and Newari-styled courtyards, join in on koras of the Buddhist temples. (B)
Cafe Caravan & Dolpo Gallery
Dolpo Artist Tenzin Norbu creates wonderful Dolpo paintings, the prints (and some originals) are available from our Cafe Caravan at Boudhanath Stupa, housed in one of Boudha’s original historic buildings, decorated in a bright, Tibetan style and overlooking the magnificent stupa!
Sightseeing in Kathmandu
Nuru Wangdi Sherpa (Khumbu Adventures & Café Caravan) has his Kathmandu guide license and a large SUV vehicle, and can arrange any sightseeing you might want to do in Kathmandu and the Kathmandu valley. He is often available for guiding your excursions as well. Mobile + WhatsApp: +977 9803633783 (WhatsApp)
Massage in Kathmandu (Ramji of Relieving Hands)
Ramji is a blind masseur trained by Seeing Hands in Kathmandu, who now offers wonderful at home (or hotel) massages, with his own massage table and oil. He is truly a master masseur, a real healer and VERY highly recommended. His prices are extremely reasonable. Let us know if you want help to arrange a massage.
Relieving Hands by Ramji
Kathmandu | World Heritage Sightseeing Tours – Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Durbar Square & Swayambunath
Kathmandu is filled with World Heritage sites and sacred destinations, crowded with traditional neighborhoods and colorful festivals. Spend a few days exploring Nepal’s exotic capital and the history-laden Kathmandu valley. We can arrange sightseeing guides and vehicles as required. See Kathmandu Heritage & Happenings for more details.
We recommend beginning with Pashupatinath in the early morning and moving on to Boudhanath mid-morning. Hindu Pashupatinath on the sacred Bagmati river and its sacred temple complex is one of Nepal’s most important sites, a powerful cremation site, and Nepal’s most important Hindu temple. Here, monkeys run up and down the steps of the burning ghats, and trident-bearing saddhus draped in burnt-orange and saffron sit serenely meditating when they’re not posing for photos-for-rupees. Local guides can explain the significance of the complicated ceremonies. Please be respectful when taking photos.
Boudhanath, in the midst of traditional monasteries (gonpas in Tibetan) and hung with long strings of multi-colored prayer flags, attracts Sherpas, Tibetans, and tourists alike for daily circumambulations (koras) of the iconic stupa. The striking Buddha eyes of Boudhanath Stupa watch over a lively and colorful Tibetan community and attract pilgrims from all over the Himalayan Buddhist realm. There are wonderful spots for lunch at Boudhanath (Roadhouse Cafe has wood-oven pizzas and a breathtaking view of the stupa and colorful Nepals circling it), and it’s a good place to learn the technique of thanka painting and purchase a thanka (Buddhist mural). See also Bhaktapur for more options for shopping for thankas.
Wander through the many temples, pagodas, courtyards, and the museum at Kathmandu Durbar Square, a timeless gathering spot and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Kathmandu Durbar Square, including the old royal palace, is Kathmandu’s ‘Palace Square’, a showcase for the world-renowned artisans and craftsmen of Kathmandu and a synthesis of Hindu and Buddhist palaces, temples, stupas, and statues. The Malla and Shah kings ruled over the Kathmandu Valley during the centuries of the building of the layers of this Durbar Square. Along with their opulent palaces, the square surrounds numerous courtyards and temples, all works of art with intricate and often erotic carvings. Kathmandu Durbar Square is known as Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a name derived from a statue of Hanuman, the monkey devotee of Lord Ram, at the entrance of the palace. The social, religious and urban focal point of the city, Durbar Square is often the site of festivals, marriages, and other ceremonies such as Teej. Some important structures are Hanuman Dhoka Palace, Kumari Ghar (Abode of the Living Goddess), Taleju Temple, built between the 12th and 18th centuries, the 17th century stone inscription set into the wall of the palace with writings in 15 languages.
In the evening (take the interesting back streets from Durbar Square) climb the many steps to the gilded Swayambhunath stupa (known as the monkey temple) which rises from the Kathmandu valley floor at 1420 meters and is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal. Swayambunath, the ‘self-created’ stupa, was founded over 2000 years ago at a time when the Kathmandu valley was filled by a large lake, with a single lotus in the center. Mythology says that Manjusri, a bodhisattva, drained the lake with one cut of his sword and the lotus flower was transformed into the stupa. From its commanding views of Kathmandu, circumambulate Swayambunath’s white-washed stupa, painted with distinctive Buddha eyes, the complex a unique synthesis of Buddhism and Hinduism. Another interesting time to visit Swayambunath is in the mornings when Nepalis visit the temple dedicated to the God of Smallpox with colorful offerings for the goddess.
Stop to photograph reflections in Kathmandu’s many pokharis or ponds, including the beautiful Rani Pokhari (queen’s bath) near New Road, and the Naga Pokhari (pond of the snake gods of the underworld) just beyond the palace gates. The many bathing ghats, square enclosures with steps leading down to water spouts, often decorated with naga heads, are also interesting and colorful gathering spots.
Day 3 – Fly Nepalgunj 150m
We have a scenic morning flight to tropical Nepalgunj in Nepal’s western Terai region. Our flight over the terraced hillsides and thatched villages of Nepal’s green middle hills, and across the western Himalayan peaks. Some of the peaks en route include Everest, Dorje Lhakpa, Shishapangma (Tibet), Gauri Shankar, Boudha Himal, Himal Chuli, Ngadi Chuli, Manaslu, Larkya Peak (in the Manaslu region), Lamjung, Annapurna 2, 4, 3, Mahhchapucchari, Gangapurna, Hiunchuli, Annapurna South, Annapurna 1, Niligiri, Thukuche, Dhampus, Dhalagiri, 2, 5 4, 6, Mukut Himalaya, Daulagiri 2 (Annnapurna region). Finally we head south and descend to Mahendra Airport in Nepalgunj, the largest city in the western Terai. Set in the steamy plains of southern Nepal less than ten kilometers from the border of India, Nepalgunj is a jumping-off point for many flights and buses into western Nepal. The drive to our hotel passes through the main road of this bustling town, a mix of modern and old Nepal, but doesn’t reveal the real Nepalgunj markets in back.
Nepalgunj is incredibly diverse, a mix of hill-Nepalis, Indians, Muslims, Hindus, Christians + Buddhists. For those venturing into Nepalgunj, you should look for the ‘Grasscutter’s Lane’ in the old bazaar, the main vegetable market, sample some street food on Surkhet Road, where you might also find the Kamaiya (bonded labor) camps. Local multi-hued beans exported from Humla are exported from Nepalgunj. Visit one of Nepal’s most sacred, and one of the region’s oldest, Hindu temples in the center of town, Bageshwori Temple, and note the Shiva with a mustache temple also in the complex. This is a Durga temple, so receives many visitors bringing offerings (sacrifices) during Desain and other Hindu holidays.
We stay the night at the air-conditioned Siddhartha Hotel, with a nice pool, a good restaurant and is just a short rickshaw ride from the colorful bazaar of Nepalgunj. Single rooms are an options at Siddharta if confirmed early.
TRAVEL NOTE | Breakfast is included in Nepalgunj. If the group is delayed in Nepalgunj due to cancelled flights, everyone is responsible for any extra nights, as well as lunches and dinners.
Day 4 – Fly Juphal 2490m. Trek Rupgad 2075m
Up early for our 45-minute flight to the small mountain airstrip at Juphal. The exact departure time is determined by the Mahendra Airport in Nepaljung that same morning. We’ll have beautiful views of the wrinkle of green ridges, peppered with small, terraced villages and surrounded by snow-capped peaks, from our small craft as we head north towards Juphal, the main airport of the Dolpo (Dolpa) region. It’s an exciting landing on their newly paved landing strip, built onto a small plateau just above town. Juphal and the surrounding villages, built high above the Thuli Bheri River, are a mix of Hindu and Buddhist inhabitants with many ancient animist and shamanistic elements thrown in, an interesting vignette of the middle hills culture of Nepal. Women wear traditional Nepali dress, sarong-like skirts, and adorn themselves with gold nose-rings and earrings and thick, colorful strands of glass beads.
We’ll have some time to explore this interesting village of wooden and mud white-washed houses while repacking and loading our horses and mules (organized by Nima), which come from Dunai. You can resort your duffels and daypacks at Tarok’s guest house and camp site at the far end of town as we wait. There are a few small Nepali shops where basics like biscuits, sodas, juice, washing powder and rum are available.
Descending steeply out of Juphal through the terraced village of Dhagmara, decorated with frayed pink spots on the white-washed walls and hung with tangerine-colored marigold leis for Desain. The local Hindus are weathered by the harsh mountain sun, slightly resembling and ancient, carved animistic figures on the rooftops. Contouring around the terraced village fields, we pass wooden bridge posts carved with shamanistic faces which connect fields of red sorghum, millet, corn, buckwheat, local rice, vibrant red chilis and other local grains as we drop to the main trail far below. Other ancient customs such as hanging a dead raven on a high post make today’s hike an interesting one.
Once down the steep hill, the last section on a dirt trail, we continue to hike along a wide trail following the western bank of the clear, turquoise Thuli Bheri River. In back of us is Tripurakot village, an important Hindu pilgrimage sight with a tantric Kali temple, perched high on a hillside. Across the river are clusters of local villages, starting to resemble the Tibetan villages that we encounter higher up but with connected terraces. We pass more of the wooden, folk-artsy animistic figures along the trail, a throw-back to pre-Hindu and pre-Buddhist days, still in use, and continue to descend down to the river. After a few hours of easy walking along a newly built road, with the Kanjiroba range behind us, we reach a small, wooden bridge (which we cross) and a few tiny tea-houses of Rapghad and camp at a green clearing on the Rupghad Khola.
At camp we will introduce you to the ‘Kamzang-style’ trekking set-up – our signature Kamzang yellow dining tent, your personal Marmot Thor tents and our top-notch staff. Have a cup of chai, relax and enjoy the afternoon. A great afternoon hike starts across the small bridge, and continues past the local house and up the green hillside for about 200 meters, for incredible views up and down the valley. (2½ hrs )
Distance: 6km
Day 5 – Trek Chhepka 2675m
Leaving camp, we have a short walk to the new suspension bridge, at the confluence of the Thuli Bheri and the Suligad, which leads to the Army post and Upper Dolpo. A short walk up-river along the left bank brings us to a small wooden bridge (washed away in 2010) and a suspension bridge, both leading to the small hamlet of Sulighat, the entrance of Shey Phoksumdo National Park, Nepal’s largest park (3555 square km) established in 1984 (one of Susma’s aunties lives in the first house on the left). Trekking along the clear, blue Suligad River The trail is dusty and hilly, sometimes high above the river and often right along the bank. After two hours cliff-side hiking we reach the small hamlet of Kalarupi, where a friend runs a local shop next door to Susma’s grandmother’s house, always colorful with dried pumpkin, peaches and other local crops. Nearby is a fig tree, and the three-house village of Kageni, and just afterwards crossing the Suligad on a small, wooden bridge we reach the small campsite at Raktang. Continuing along the western (left) bank of the river, we pass several goths (grazing pastures) and the basic stone huts at Jyalhasa, an overgrown (with marijuana trees and spiky green pod weeds) seasonal settlement of the Ringmo inhabitants. A short way past this settlement, past red daisy-like flowers, is a wonderful swimming spot on sculpted rocks. We sometimes have lunch here and cool down in the river on hot hiking days.
Next a gradual climb, hiking through open woods for an hour, to Shyanta where the owners of the small, green campsite and shop keep bee-hives, planted with wonderfully colorful flowers and an extensive garden. (Our second lunch spot). This region belongs to the pre-Cambrian Himal zone in geological terms, and is made up of garnet, schist, mica and quartzite which form talus slopes and make the valley sparkle in the sunlight. After crossing the river again on a metal bridge, it’s just an hour of ascending through a lovely forest of spruce, cedar (which looks like large juniper) and white pine, with mossy, lichen-covered rocks, to reach the grassy campsite at the hamlet of Chhepka, a small Tibetan settlement tucked away amongst the steep hill-sides. These Tibetans arrived here forty or fifty years ago, refugees from Tibet. In the Autumn the Tibetan women, dressed in their striped Tibetan skirts but having adapted a mix of Tibetan and Nepali clothes, will be beating their crop of dried barley with wooden threshing sticks and drying corn for animal fodder.
Head down to the river for a wash or there is a tap next to camp, and cold beers and salt-butter tea are available at the local Tibetan shop owned by the lovely Nyima. Look out for langurs sneaking down to raid the village barley fields from the nearby hillsides. (6½ hrs)
Distance: 12.6km
Day 6 – Trek Chuniwar | Amchi Hospital 3115m
Another wonderful forest day of trekking through steep, dramatic gorges, the landscape reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest. We cross the Suligad numerous times today, crossing four bridges before reaching Rechi, two bridges afterwards, and at least one tributary stream on a smaller wooden bridge. We’ll be trekking through rich forests of spruce (Christmas trees, round pricky needles), white pine, cedar (resembles large juiper, deep striped bark), fir (rounded needles), cyprus, birch and larches (deciduous conifers, turning their Autumn hues), much of the day dwarfed by the steep canyon walls bordering the Suligad. We’ll also pass under massive walnut trees, with the shells of cracked nuts on the side of the trail. We hike on a trail of tangled roots and stones, up stone staircases and through flowering, thick woods of bamboo and these indigenous trees. The gorge is dramatic and deep-sided gorge, and we often hike right by the riverside on flat, stone steps. Bird watchers will love this section of the valley; wag-tails and redstarts flit from rock to rock along the riverbank, and the trees are alive with many other varieties of small birds.
We hike 45-minutes through dense, damp forest to reach the first suspension bridge which we cross high above the river. En route look for the empty shells of cicadas glued to cedar trees.
After approximately two hours of hiking after leaving Chhepka we reach a riverside camp and take a break in the shade of large firs or on the rounded river rocks. From here, we start again with a steep climb of about 150 meters to a viewpoint hewn out between rock and tree-trunk. After admiring the Suligad views, we have a steep descent and a riverside walk on a stone path built right along the river. We’ll stop for lunch at a lovely spot by the river, and then continue for half an hour to the small village of Rechi and its small campsite. From Rechi, we have another hour of hilly trekking to reach camp. We pass a small bridge leading west and then, soon afterwards, reach the confluence of the Pungmo Chu and the Suligad, now known as the Phoksumdo Khola. From the west bank of the river a trail leads northwest towards the Kagmara La (pass) and on to Jumla. Our trail to Phoksumdo Lake the next day follows the west bank of the river, and the trail on the east of the Phoksumdo River branches off to the east and leads to Dho Tarap. Thus the name Sum (three) Duwa (trails).
Dolpo starts to have a real Tibetan feel from now on, the locals dressed in traditional Tibetan garb, and the women adorned in their Tibetan turquoise, coral and amber necklaces. Eventually we reach the lively Tapriza Cultural school and adjoining gompa, attended by children from villages all over lower Dolpo. The school is named after an important master from the ancient Zhang Zhung kingdom in western Tibet who achieved ‘Rainbow Body’, or enlightenment. It’s a good cause if someone is thinking of donating to a school. After visiting the kids we pass through the northern gate door, descend slightly to the river which we cross on a small bridge and then ascend very gradually to camp ten minute further on in the small hamlet of Chinwar. Note the small pikas (mouse hares) peeking out of their holes at camp. (7 hrs)
Distance: 13.7km
Day 7 – Trek Ringmo 3615m
A classic Himalayan trekking day as we ascend towards Phoksumdo Lake and the large village of Ringmo (village at 3652m), the northernmost village in Lower Dolpo and the the gateway to Upper (or Inner) Dolpo. After freshly brewed coffee (the sun hits the campsite late morning) we head up quite steeply through barberry, cotoneaster and juniper for twenty minutes to Polam (3270m), one of the winter doksas of the Ringmo-pa. We ascend steeply for another 45 minutes through juniper to our first viewpoint (and rest-stop), and then another half an hour, switch-backing on a spectacular, dusty, alpine trail to a viewpoint gazebo (3700m) strewn with multicolored Tibetan prayer flags. This gazebo overlooks the magnificent waterfall, 200 meters high, that drain into the Sulighad. A bit further up at another set of prayer flags and we finally view the opaque, turquoise Phoksumdo Lake itself, a magnificent sight. The snow-capped peak to the lower right corner of the lake is Norbung Kang (6085m). We continue along this high, sandy trail, descending slowly through a lovely forest of larches and birch turning their Autumn colors to Phoksumdo Khola (river). Just past a series of entrance chortens we reach atmospheric Ringmo, built right above the banks of Phoksumdo Lake. Legend tells of a demoness that caused this lake to be formed during Guru Rimpoche’s conversion of Dolpo to Buddhism, a perpetual symbol of the struggle between the Bon and Buddhist religions.
This is wild country, a region of alpine meadows, flowered pastures, rivers, natural springs, soaring mountain views. Steve Razzetti, the author of ‘Trekking and Climbing in Nepal’, writes about this region of Lower Dolpo: ‘your heart will sing. This is trekking country to live for!’ Make sure you read Ken Bauer’s ‘High Frontiers‘ for a fascinating look into the quickly changing lives of the Dolpo-pa. We have this wonderful book in our library, of course!
Before reaching our idyllic lake-side campsite, we’ll stop to visit a good friend, the lovely Mingma, the most talented weaver in Ringmo if not all of Upper Dolpo. We camp for the night at a spectacular, grassy campsite below the cluster house in Ringmo, right at the south end of the lake, and will have the afternoon to relax and wash up (next to the yaks, in the river draining the lake as it’s a sacred lake) …
Wander up into town after lunch. Several of the local tea-houses, fast encroaching on this little village, sell colorful, wool Dolpo blankets and a variety of other things, lots of which come from Kathmandu these days. Local Dolpo-pa women will often be weaving their traditionally striped ‘kamlo seta’ and ‘kamlo zangba’, striped white or dark blankets, on wooden looms outside their houses. Tibetan striped blankets are called ‘liu letpa’ in local dialect, and also available along with colorful, locally woven belts and bags. There is always a variety of local beans and legumes drying on colorful, woven blankets throughout the village. Nima’s family has a traditional tea-house at the top of town, not far from our campsite, where you can shop, get a cup of salt-butter tea or a cold beer. Ask to see the yersta gumbu that our friend Nima trades in. (4 hrs)
Distance: 5.8km
Day 8 – Ringmo | Acclimatization + Exploration Day
An acclimatization and exploration day in this picturesque Tibetan village of flat-roofed stone houses, mani walls and Tibetan chortens surrounded by juniper, larch and juniper forests. There is a small gompa in town along with an impressively repainted kane chorten (entrance chorten), one 300 and the other 500 years old. The ancient, white-washed Thasoon Chholing Bon-po Gompa, 500-800 years old, is a twenty minute walk from our campsite along the forested eastern shores of the lake, worth taking a short hike. There are four monks who reside at the Bon Monastery and will give us a tour.
As we’re camped right on the shore of the spectacular Phoksumdo Lake, the deepest lake in Nepal at 650 meters, with nothing living inside it because of the cold and high mineral concentration, take some time to soak in the fabulous surroundings. Remember the harrowing scene in ‘Himalaya’ when Thinle’s yak caravan attempted the ‘Devil’s Trail’? We look out onto this impressive trail from the dining tent. Yak caravans will be heading in and out of Ringmo on their way north towards the border of Tibet, and our most northerly destinations, Saldang, Thinkyu and Tsarka. Gaze back at the snow peaks behind us; the lovely triangular snow-peak to the east is Norbung Kang (6085 m), the same we saw from the gazebo.
Ringmo is part of the Paleozoic geological zone, formed of shallow marine environments. Much of this zone is limestone and quartzite with bands of siltstone and limestone. To the east of Ringmo is the Mesozoic or Tibetan Sedimentary zone (dinosaurs), formed by sandstones, slates, shale and shallow continental platform sediments. In this section many ammonites can be found. Jackels can sometimes be heard howling just outside of the village as well as around other parts of these high Himalayan regions.
Day 9 – Trek Chabluk Phu 3605m
More stunning Himalayan trekking ahead of us as we trek along the western shores of Phoksumdo Lake, ascending on the narrow, cliff-side trail (the ‘devil’s trail’). We head north along this dramatic, precipitous (and slightly exposed) trail high above the lake, the scene of the famous yak scene in ‘Himalaya’. The mountain and lake views are wonderful if you can take your eyes off the trail! Half an hour later, we descend back down to the lake, cross a small stream that passes through a lightly wooded valley, and then climb steeply, much higher this time and along a trail of loose scree and slippery sand. We eventually reach a crest at 3920 meters, followed by another at 4030 meters, the first especially worth a long rest and many photos. Ringmo La is a narrow pass 4090 meters another half an hour of climbing above us. We continue along this spectacular trail, staying high, as the lake opens up in different aspects in front of us, often with Himalayan griffin and lammergeier soaring high above us. Near the northern end of the lake we make a long, gradual descent through a lovely forest of craggy Himalayan birches to reach the scenic and grassy Chabluk Phu, a local grazing area, just where the trail reaches the lakeside. Local Ringmo-pa women have set up their tents as basic teashops, and sell locally woven textiles.
We’ll have lunch by the lake as the staff sets up our camp, and do some shopping with the Ringmo women. Up the valley to the north, with Kanjiroba on our left, is Forest Camp and the route to Upper Dolpo. Local Dolpo-pa will pass through our campsite on their way to or from the doksas or higher up in Dolpo. In the evening, we will collect driftwood for a roaring campfire as we enjoy the sunset. One year our yaks wandered into the lake to cool down, a few still loaded (with Kim’s bags), a fitting ending to a Himalayan trekking day. (4½ hrs)
Distance: 9.7km
Day 10 – Trek Lake Valley Camp
Trekking into George Schaller and Peter Matteissen’s Snow Leopard territory, this route is so little known that we will continue to keep it a secret for the moment …
Day 11 – Trek Numa La North High Camp
We continue to trek through our ‘secret’ snow leopard and blue sheep territory, eventually reaching a scenic but chilly high camp, putting us in a good position for tomorrow’s pass crossing. Enjoy the Himalayan sunset from our elevated vantage point …
Day 12 – Trek Tokyu 4225m | Cross Numa La North 5143m
We’ll have an early(ish) start for the ascent of the formidable Numa La North Pass, where we are treated to spectacular Himalayan views, worth all the effort put into the ascent. Descending, we follow the Choila Khola and enter into the broad Jyanta Khola valley, where we head for a fabulous campsite beside the massive chortens of Tokyu.
Tokyu village, in Lower Dolpo, has well-stocked shops and Tibetan tents fifteen minutes below our campsite, worth a trip out to pick up a few beers! Have a wash as the clear stream and have a rest after many strenuous Dolpo trekking days …
Day 13 – Trek Dho Tarap 4080m
It’s a timeless walk from Tokyu to Dho Tarap, passing villagers in their distinctive Dolpo-striped aprons out threshing the barley with wooden threshers. We’ll have lunch at our campsite in the village, and head to visit several gompas that date from centuries past; Ripuche Gompa, Chamba Gompa, Kakar and the gompa at Dho Tarap called Ribo Bhumpa, rebuilt in 1955. Interestingly, there is a Bon chorten next to the Buddhist gompa, which is said to contain the relics of a demon killed by Guru Rimpoche. Above this gompa is another older Buddhist gompa, Mekyem Gompa. Dho, the name of the village at the south of the region of Tarap (but it the whole extended village is usually referred to as Dho Tarap) is a maze of mud-brick Tibetan houses which was also featured in ‘Himalaya’, the village where Karma and his band of young Dolpo-pa, and Thinle Lhundop and his older group of Dolpo-pa, set off with their salt to trade for barley over the high passes. The movie gives an interesting picture of daily life in the village; the house, the particular dress and jewelry of the Dho inhabitants, the yaks and animals, weaving, dying cloth, making bread and chaang, working in the fields, archery, astrology, Buddhist customs, relationships and the vigor of life in a high, remote and arid Himalayan village. The pass in the movie is directly to the east of Dho; we’re not headed that way.
Day 14 – Dho Tarap | Explore Monasteries
We’ve scheduled a free day in this interesting, very ‘Tibetan’ region of Dho Tarap, a maze of mud-brick Tibetan houses which was also featured in ‘Himalaya’, the village where Karma and his band of young Dolpo-pa, and Thinley and his older group of Dolpo-pa, set off with their salt to trade for barley over the high passes.
We might use Dho Tarap day as an extra trek day if needed.
Day 15 – Trek Nawarpani Dovan 3780m
Leaving Dho Tarap via a wide field to the south of town (where we once almost were hit by a drone), we trek along the traditional trading route, passing many yertsa gunbu hunters en route. Our beautiful and remote trail is undulating though it follows the Tarap Khola all of the day. At Langa camp, we cross the river on a suspension bridge and continue trekking through the forested, steep-sided valley to Sisaul, where we cross a tributary stream. Crossing the Tarap Khola again on a suspension bridge, we reach Ghyamgar camp, crossing again to the opposite side of the river and hiking past Toltol camp. Just before the next suspension bridge, the staff has set up a remote camp for us at Nawarpani Dovan, by the river.
Day 16 – Trek Laina Odar 3370m
From camp, there are two small trails to take this morning, one on either side of the river, across two suspension bridges. We continue to trek south following the Tarap Khola, and passing more yertsa gunbu hunters, with goats to slaughter and sell at the large camps in tow, as well as children, grandparents and pack animals if they are some of the lucky ones. Others carry their supplies for the next few months in baskets (doka), by a strap (namlo) on their foreheads. Passing by Chhungar camp, our trail ascends above the river a bit and after Lamachaur (3600m), descends to our campsite at Laina Odar, another green grazing settlement in the valley.
Day 17 – Trek Tarakot 2600m
We have a climb in the morning, reaching a ridge high above the river valley, from where we descend through forests again towards the river and trek below the village of Khanigaon. We pass by Chhedhul Gonpa Laisicap, where there is a yearly full moon fair, finally crossing the large Thulo Bheri River on a long suspension bridge.
We continue trekking slightly west below the terraced, green village of Kolagaon, cross the Yalankot Khola on another bridge, and look up at Lam Gonpa to our left. Finally, we reach the large village of Tarakot where our staff has set up a lovely campsite for us, and cold beers are available at the many shops!
Day 18 – Trek Dunai Valley Camp 2100m
Passing just south of Dunai, we head south towards the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, on the southern and of Dhaulagiri, with views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna throughout the weeklong trek. Dhorpatan is home to rare bird and wildlife such as the red panda, wolf, musk deer, goral, thar, blue sheep, cheer pheasant as well as a wide variety of colorful plants and flowers.
We trek through forests of hardwood, fir, pine, birch, rhododendron, hemlock, juniper and oak, and cross many ridges and lower passes as we pass through the traditional villages of this scenic and cultural region during yertsa gunbu hunting season. We continue to hike on hilly trails through Sahar Tara (3-4 hrs) and on to Thagi Dhure Danda, camping in the ‘Dunai Valley’ before tomorrow’s Jang La pass.
Day 19 – Trek Phurbang 4065m | Cross Jang La 4520m
We cross the Jang La pass this morning, a wide, flat pass with an entry ‘arch’, officially entering Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, trekking through wild, beautiful and remote country as we head south along the yertsa gunbu trail. We will meet the large, interesting, and sprawling campsites of the yertsa gunbu hunters, massive complexes with everything from thukpa, momo tents, and teahouses to gambling tents, and shops selling a variety of dry goods, washing soap, children’s clothes, warm jackets, Chinese teas and products and watches. After several undulating hours of trekking through this beautiful and interesting region, we descend down the valley to reach our campsite at Phurbang.
Day 20 – Trek Seng Khola Camp (Phuphal Phedi) 3990m
Following the Pani Dhal Khola, we continue trekking to the intersection of the Seng Khola which flows from the northeast. We pass several more large yersta gunbu camps en route, and continue to hike along the undulating trail until we reach camp along the Seng Khola in the early afternoon. (5-6 hrs)
Day 21 – Trek Dhule 3300m
We continue to follow the Seng Khola for much of the day on our remote trail, stopping at more yersta gumbu camps, and finally reachomg our campsite at Dhule early afternoon. (5-6 hrs)
Day 22 – Trek Tatopani 2360m
Leaving camp, we continue along the lovely middle hills trekking route to the intersecting trail heading west just before Dharagaon and Mailkot. Here, we head west, passing Pilamul, Yamakhar and Pelma villages, always with hills, as we trek through Nepal’s cultural middle hills. We soon reach our campsite at Tatopani, where we hope the hot springs are in good working order! (4-5 hrs)
Day 23 – Trek Thankur 3175m
Leaving Tatopani, we trek on a remote trail to Kayam camp on a high trail along the Phorsadeur Danda, contouring as we trek, and drop down to a suspension bridge, which we cross. Trekking another hour, we reach Thankur, where the staf has set up our camp for the night. (6-7 hrs)
Day 24 – Trek Dhorpatan | Cross Phagune La 4060m
We begin the day with an ascent of the Phalgune La, from where we have views of smaller HImalayan peaks. e descend to Bhujekhung, over the smaller Kukur Deurali (3000m) and continue on to Syal Pake. Soon after this small village, we head east at the next intersection, with the wide, beautiful plains and many houses of Dhorpatan spread out scenically below us. We descend to our lively camp at Dhorpatan, where cold beers are available and we will surely have local visitors. (7-8 hrs)
Day 25 – Trek Jalja La Base Camp
Leaving lovely Dhorpatan behind, we trek through typical Nepal middle hills scenery as we follow the Uttar Ganga River past the villages of Chisapani and Chhetung, followed by a Bon Gonpa and Tibetan Medicinal School. We cross the intersecting Gurgad Khola just after the monastery, and reach Gurjaghat, crossing the Simudar Khola on another suspension bridge to reach our campsite at Jalja La Base Camp. We’ve left the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve this afternoon as we head east, in the direction of Beni and Pokhara.
Day 26 – Trek Lumsung 2190m | Cross Jalja La 3415m
Leaving our base camp, we have a quick ascent of the Jalja La pass, hoping for some morning Himalayan views! We descend again into forested hillsides, passing through the village of Moreni en route. We camp at Lumsung, from where there is a trail heading north to Gurjakhani, with a Hindu temple complex at 3060m
Day 27 – Trek Dharapani 1560m
Trekking through very cultural middle hills Nepal landscapes, the day becomes hotter as we descend. Soon after leaving camp at Lumsung, our hilly trail route us past the intersecting trail leading to Dhalagiri Base Camp. Soon afterward, we pass through Muna, Phalegaon, Macchim and Sibang villages, from where we have two trails to continue on to Takam. The southern trail visits the Hindu temple at Mattikanna. From our balmy (or hot) camp at Dharapani, we have views of Gurja Himal (7193) to the northwest, and hopefully, a cool village tap nearby as Dharapani translates as ‘water tap’.
Day 28 – Trek Darbang. Drive Pokhara | Transfer Hotel
We might be able to catch the jeep at Dharapani; otherwise, we’ll have a shorter morning’s hike before reaching teh road-head at Darbang. We board our private jeeps for the long drive through some of Nepal’s beautiful middle hills back to balmy Pokhara. Once in our rooms at the Lakeview Resort, we’ll enjoy hot showers and head out to celebrate our journey through Dolpo and Dhorpatan over dinner, beers and wine at Moondance Cafe!
Day 29 – Fly Kathmandu | Transfer Hotel
We have a morning flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu. Back in Kathmandu, our rooms are waiting for us at the Kathmandu Guest House, hot showers being the first order of the afternoon! We’ll head out to dinner at the Roadhouse later, and celebrate our incredible journey through Dolpo.
Day 30 – Trip Ends | Transfer TIA
Transfer to the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) for your flight home. Namaste and Tashi Delek!
Not Enough of Nepal?
We highly suggest taking advantage of your trip to Nepal, adding on excursions into the Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Bandipur, Gorkha, the Annapurna Foothills, and Chitwan and Bardia National Park. Enjoy heritage tours, mountain biking, Kathmandu valley hiking, Himalayan panoramas with a hike down from the Chandragiri Cable Car, whitewater rafting, yoga and meditation courses, Nepali cooking classes, Buddhist or Hindu retreats, and much more. There are many wonderful, boutique, luxury, and heritage lodges in the Kathmandu Valley, and many options for world heritage sightseeing tours, bicycle trips, hikes, and craft-cuisine tours. Nepal boasts world-class restaurants, chic cafes, timeless alleyways to wander through, countless Hindu and Buddhist festivals, and lots of great shopping.
Don’t miss an Everest sightseeing flight or epic helicopter tour, sightseeing trips to Bhaktapur, Patan, and Panauti (Kathmandu Valley’s other historic and/or capital cities), a weekend at Shivapuri Heights Resort or Dwarikas in Kathmandu, a night at the Fort Hotel in Nagarkot for sunrise and sunset Himalayan panoramas, a spa and wellness getaway at the ultra-luxurious Dwarikas Dhulikhel Resort and visits to ancient temple and monastery complexes such as Namo Buddha, Changu Narayan, and Dakshinkali. Spend a night at The Old Inn in Bandipur or Three Mountain Lodge en route to Pokhara, or The Famous Farm in Nuwakot, and get to know Nepal’s Newar heritage.
Enjoy a luxury 3-6 day trek in the Annapurna Foothills, staying in the wonderful Ker & Downey luxury lodges. Relax in heritage style at Temple Tree Resort in Pokhara for some pampering at the spa and infinity pool, try out paragliding, zip-lining, and enjoy a morning of boating on the lake and the hike to Shanti Stupa. Once refreshed, drive to Chitwan National Park, spending a few nights at Maruni Sanctuary Resort or Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge for wildlife and bird spotting, river trips, and safaris in style. Tiger Tops also owns Karnali Lodge at Bardia National Park, reached by flight from Kathmandu, and there are nearby archeological sites to visit nearby.
Namaste!
Nepal Modules
Nepal & Kathmandu Modules | Customize Your Trip!
Date & Price
Dates
June – July
30 Days
Trek Price
$5680
Hotel & Lodge Upgrades (Camping Trek)
+ Lakeview Resort Single Upgrade A/C Cottage – $50 (Single Room)
+ Hotel Barahi Upgrade – $65 (Per Room)
+ Trekkers Inn Jomsom Single Upgrade – $10
Lodge Room Upgrades (Lodge Trek)
+ Deluxe Upgrade Kathmandu Guest House (3 Nights) – $135
+ Suite Upgrade Kathmandu Guest House (3 Nights) – $225
+ Temple Tree Upgrade – $90 Single & $45 Double (Per Person)
+ Maya’s Heritage Inn – $135 Single & $65 Double (Per Person, Deluxe Room)
+ Royal Mustang Resort Deluxe or Suite Room Upgrade – $165 & $250 Deluxe & Suite (Per Room)
+ Tiji Festival Rates Royal Mustang Resort – $65 Per Room
+ Om’s Home Upgrade – $45 (Per Room)
+ The Moksha Upgrade – $375 Single & $200 Double (Per Person), Lunch $30 Dinner $35 (+ 24% Taxes)
Kathmandu Guest House Single & Double Upgrades
+ Deluxe Upgrade Kathmandu Guest House (3 Nights) – $135
+ Suite Upgrade Kathmandu Guest House (3 Nights) – $225
Kathmandu Guest House | Extra Nights Room Price
Includes Breakfast & Taxes
Standard Single – $55
Standard Double – $65
Deluxe Single – $100
Deluxe Double – $110
Suite Single – $130
Suite Double – $140
Chitwan Extensions | Maruni Sanctuary Lodge, Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge or Barahi Jungle Lodge
$ Inquire
Includes
- Western + Sherpa Guide | Kim + Lhakpa Sherpa
- Upper Mustang Permit
- Annapurna Conservation Area Permit
- Kathmandu Guest House
- Hotels En Route to Trek
- Group Transportation by Private Vehicle
- Airport Transfers
- Domestic Flights + Departure Taxes
- NO Single Supplement on Trek
- Kamzang Journeys Trekking
Marmot, North Face (or similar) expedition tents, gourmet food with seasonal, fresh produce, French Press organic coffee, chai, Kashmiri + herbal teas, Katadyn filtered drinking water, warm washing water, library with regional books, ‘lounge’ with colorful Indian dhurrie rugs, Crazy Creek camp chairs, blankets, occasional tent music in evenings, oxygen & PAC bag (when needed), full medical kit, horses, yaks or porters, Western, Sherpa & local guides (when needed), our 5-star Kamzang team + (of course) our signature yellow Kamzang dining tent (The Yellow Tent of Eternal Happiness). NO single supplement for single tents on our treks!
Safety & Health Precautions
- Thuraya Satellite Phone
- InReach Satellite Messaging System (Free Texts on Trek)
- Updated Route Published on InReach Site
- Helicopter Evacuation Services (excluding cost of evacuation)
- Oxygen Saturation Monitoring System
- PAC Bag (Portable Oxygen Chamber)
- Full Medical Kit + Stretcher
- Kayadyn Filtered Drinking Water
- Safe, sanitary, delicious & plentiful food + drinks
Excludes
- International Flights
- Travel Medical + Travel Insurance (both required)
- Nepal Visa
- Helicopter Evacuation
- Meals (while not on trek)
- Monastery Donations
- Equipment Rental
- Alcohol, Sodas & Packaged Drinks
- Laundry
- Tips
Tips & Extra Cash
Allow approx $250 for meals (while not on trek), drinks (on trek) and tips. We recommend $300 per trekker thrown into the tips pool for the crew.
Map
Highlights & Reviews
Trip Advisor Reviews
Client Highlights & Reviews
Travelers’ Comments
Trek Highlights
- Our Wild + Unique Trekking Route Through Upper Dolpo to Dhorpatan
- The Crystal Mountain Kora (Sister Peak of Mount Kailash)
- A Trek Through ‘Old Tibet’, in the Tibetan Border Region
- Yarsagumbu Season in Dhorptan
- Matthiessen + Schaller’s Traditional Route into Inner Dolpo
- Vignettes from Eric Valli’s movie ‘Himalaya‘
- Turquoise Phoksumdo Lake + the Devil’s Trail
- Bon Thasung Tsholing Gompa (Monastery)
- Shey Gompa + Tsakhang Gompa (Monasteries)
- Tralung Gompa | Artist Tenzin Norbu’s Monastery in Thinkyu
- Traditional Tibetan Villages | Saldang, Khoma, Thinkyu + Tsharka
- Hidden Sangtha Village | Mustang
- Beautiful + Traditional Panzang Valley
- Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries
- High Himalayan Passes en Route to Lower Mustang
- Harvest Season in Upper Dolpo
- Spectacular Himalayan Panoramas + Peaks
- Wild Trekking, Few Other Trekkers + Remote Routes
- Lots of Exploration
- Extra Days for Cultural Village Visits + Day Hikes
- Beautiful Campsites
- Kamzang Journeys Boutique Trekking Style!
Dolpo Prints & Paintings
Dolpo Artist Tenzin Norbu creates wonderful Dolpo paintings, the prints (and some originals) available from our Cafe Caravan at Boudhanath.
Trekkers’ Highlights
“I would recommend Kamzang Journeys and Kim and Lhakpa to anyone contemplating a Himalayan trek! We were well taken care of in every respect and I am planning to come again. Thank you!”
– Fern K (Canada), Sacred Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek 2019
“An amazing trek through Upper Dolpo, ending in Jomson in the Mustang region! When you trek with Kamzang Journeys, you explore villages, high camps, and experience the long term connections that Kim Bannister and Lhakpa Dorji have forged over many years of travel in this region. They continue to fine tune the route and have the skill and experience in Himalayan travel to ensure safety, and a beautiful passage through the sometimes challenging terrain. The Kamzang team is stellar, the food is remarkably creative and healthy and the day-to-day attention to detail and great skill in all the facets of trekking make for a memorable adventure. I have trekked with Kamzang Journeys many times over the years, and every journey has been amazing. Highly Recommended!”
– TripAdvisor Review, Sacred Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek 2019
“Terrific off-the-map trek of Upper Dolpo. Kim and Lhakpa are experienced, professional guides who provide an amazing experience. Quality of planning, team and itinerary simply excellent. I would not travel with anyone else!”
– TripAdvisor Review, Sacred Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek 2019
“Sacred Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek: It is very telling when the returning client rate is so high. You don’t even realize how seamless the entire experience is until you see and hear of other camping groups. The itinerary is well planned, the dining tent is spotless + a great hangout spot stocked with blankets, hand sanitizer, a library of relevant books, snacks, and tea. The tents are high quality and always positioned optimally, and if it’s a washing day, the staff will immediately put up a clothesline. The food is amazing, with great variety and local produce; you will not go hungry! What pleasantly surprised me was the added cultural element you get with Kim and Lhakpa engaging with the locals. Definitely recommend Kamzang and their rockstar staff; it really shows that they have worked together for many years!”
– Tanya C (USA), Sacred Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek 2019
“Attention to safety and well-being of the group was 100%. The staff knew many of the villagers so we were able to interact in a relaxed way, and were lovely people, friendly and attentive. The landscape was wild and beautiful. It is a challenging trek, however Kamzang were able to put me in contact with a local Dolpo pony man so I was able to ride most of the way while my partner walked!”
– Maureen B (Australia), Sacred Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek 2019
“Life is much too short to trek with anyone but Kamzang Journeys! Our Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek was a very remote and challenging trek, extremely rewarding, certainly a lifetime top-10 experience. No one can go on this trek and not come back changed in some significant way. Everyday of the trip was thrilling! There are not enough superlatives to describe the experience, knowledge and competence of the entire Kamzang Journeys team. Over the past 30 years I have traveled, hiked, trekked and climbed mountain ranges in many parts of the world and it is obvious and easy to say that Kim + Lhakpa are the best at what they do. By a wide margin. They are simply in a class of their own. My respect and affection for Kim, Lhakpa + every one of the crew could not be higher. Looking forward to the next one!”
– Mark D (USA), Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek 2018
“Don’t go to Dolpo with anyone else! This trek with Kim and Lhakpa was the best of the 10 or so we have done in the Himalaya. No detail was overlooked, making for a camp that was the envy of other groups! Kim’s ability to engage with local villagers added another dimension to our experience as the locals invited us to join them in their schools, homes and daily tasks. The food was imaginative, well-presented and plentiful, and served with a smile. Kamzang Journeys crew were unfailingly helpful and generous with their time, responding to individual needs as far as possible. An experience not to be missed!”
– Karen D (Australia), GHT | Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek 2014
Upper Dolpo trek, along the Great Himalayan Trail; the perfect combination offered by the Kim + Lhakpa duo, who led this adventure in a very safe, very friendly and very professional manner. Top quality of the trek itineraries (off the beaten tracks with good acclimation to higher elevations), great energetic food, a smart pace for the 28 hiking days. Just perfect, hats off! Thanks Kim, Lhakpa and Kamzang team!
– Jose F (France), Sacred Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek 2018
“Kamzang Journeys & Kim run great treks! Lhakpa and Kim are highly experienced, skilled guides. Kim’s creative finesse makes for truly memorable trekking. A fantastic crew, dedicated & savvy, and a wonderful cook, Junar, are integral to this great team. A passion for the cultures of the Himalaya, a depth of knowledge and understanding, are all a part of what Kim shares, with great generosity and exuberance. Interactions with local villagers, from kids to elders, are a big part of Kamzang style.
I admire Kim’s creativity, deep love and knowledge of this part of the world, which she shares so generously. She is an awesome trek leader. Her incredible strength & athleticism are matched by her truly deep integrity & compassion. I have the utmost respect and admiration for all that she does. One of the great joys of this trip was watching Kim interact with kids + locals. Magical! I am grateful for the skill & great guiding wisdom that Kamzang Journeys exemplifies. Thank you for your kindness, patience and marvelous, positive spirits & good humor. The Upper Dolpo trek of October 2014 was an incredible journey. Highly recommended!”
– Susan L (Canada), GHT | Sacred Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek 2014
“Our Upper Dolpo to Mustang trek was a challenging trek to a fascinating land; anyone wanting to see what Tibet was like before its culture and religion were decimated only needs to take this trek. That is, if you’re a strong trekker and confident that you would perform well at the altitudes involved. If you’re not sure that you meet these criteria, consider one of Kim’s less-demanding treks – she has many from which to choose – and she and her top-notch crew will make your trip as safe and comfortable as possible. I’ve been trekking in the Himalaya 5 times now, and Kim and Kamzang Journeys are the only way to go!”
– Tad H (USA) Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek 2018
“Kamzang Journeys is fantastic! Other hiking groups had to turn back due to heavy snow on passes, Kim, through her extensive local network was able to get us into Upper Dolpo using an alternate route. Her love of Nepal and it’s people is evident in everything she does. She had the best price when you look at what’s included and length of trip. The food on the trek was outstanding. I was so impressed I am doing another 2 treks with Kim this year. Absolutely outstanding!”
– Lorraine H (Australia), GHT | Upper Dolpo to Jomsom 2013
“We had a wonderful time and greatly appreciated you opening our eyes to Dolpo. Your composure and decision making combined with your fun personality make you truly the best trip leader we could imagine. We look forward to many more trips together!”
– Mary, Kathy & Ross M (USA), GHT| Sacred Upper Dolpo to Mustang 2014
“I’ve just returned from my second trek in Nepal with Kamzang Journeys. Once again Kim and Lhakpa made the trek unforgettable. We were confronted with some very difficult situations due to unfortunate weather conditions (cyclone), however, Kim re-routed our course assuring our safety and the safety of her crew. In fact the changed itinerary was brilliant and a photographers dream. Kim and Lhakpa take pride in their treks and bend over backwards to accommodate the differing needs of their clients. Safety is paramount along with fun and a lifetime of memories.”
– Sue W (Australia), GHT | Sacred Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek 2014
“A heartfelt THANK YOU for a wonderful trek and fond memories of special people and their environment, and to you and Lhakpa for your hospitality and having made it possible to live these moments on the High Himalayan trail. I’ll never forget and will always treasure the experience! I read your Kamzang Journeys website regularly and read all the eulogies about your care, support and attention to detail till the last moments of our trek. They all ring true. You are truly a pro and I wanted you to know that it has been greatly appreciated. I consider myself a privileged person to have trekked with you in Nepal!”
– Jan Erik R (Holland, France), GHT | Sacred Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek 2011
Kim Bannister Photo Gallery | Trip & Trek Photos
Kim Bannister Photography
Kamzang Journeys Menus
Camp Menus
Travel Reading | Enhance Your Trip!
Travel Books
Articles, Books, Websites & Movies | Dolpo
Himalaya (Caravan) | Movie – Eric Valli
Eric Valli | Eric Valli Website
The History of Dolpo | Drokpa INGO (Kenneth Bauer)
Yak Girl | Book – Dorje Dolma
The Only Son | Movie Trailer
Peter Matthiessen’s ‘The Snow Leopard’ in the Age of Climate Change | The New Yorker
BBC Human Planet | Mountains – Sky Burial | BBC Earth
Nomads of Dolpo | National Geographic Blog
Yak Herders’ Vanishing Way of Life | NY Times
My Friend Tenzin Norbu | YouTube (Trailer – A film by Alberto Anzani)
The Emperor’s Mighty Brother | The Economist
Peter Matthiessen | Smithsonian
We’re No Tibetans | Kathmandu Post
Forgotten Regime | Kathmandu Post
Bon Voyage | Nepali Times
Articles on Yertsa Gunbu (Yarsagumbu)
Yarsagumba – The Film – Eric Valli
Yarsagumba – Curse of Annapurna Himalayan Region – BBC
Tibet’s Golden Worm | National Geographic
The Gold Rush – Kathmandu Post
Yarsagumba – Biological Gold – The Diplomat
Caterpillar Fungus – The Viagra of the Himalayas – NPR
Harvesting Yartsa Gumbu During the Pandemic – My Republica
Yarsagumba Fungus – Health Problems in the Himalaya Gold Rush – Science Direct
Overharvesting Leaves Himalayan Viagra Fungus Feeling Short – Nature
Gold Rush for Nepal’s Himalayan Viagra – Al Jazeera
The Killing Fields – Outside Magazine
Dolpo Prints & Paintings
Dolpo Artist Tenzin Norbu creates wonderful Dolpo paintings, the prints (and some originals) available from our Cafe Caravan at Boudhanath.
Contact & Details
Guides
Kim + Lhakpa
Guides
Kim & Lhakpa
Kamzang Journeys Contact
Kim Bannister
kim@kamzang.com
kamzangkim@gmail.com
Mobile: +(977) 9803414745 (WhatsApp), 9863196743
WhatsApp: +977) 9803414745 (WhatsApp)
On-Trek Satellite Phone: +88216 21277980 (Nepal)
Kathmandu Contact
Khumbu Adventures
hiking.guide@gmail.com
Lhakpa Dorji Sherpa Mobile: +(977) 9841235461, 9705235461
Doma Sherpa Mobile: +(977) 9841510833, 9705510833
Nuru Wangdi Sherpa Mobile: +977 9803633783 (WhatsApp),
Garmin InReach | Unlimited On-Trek Text Messages & Route Map
We have a Garmin MapShare page and a Garmin InReach satellite messaging device for sending and receiving messages on the treks guided by Kim + Lhakpa. Give the link to people who want to follow or communicate with us and have them send a message. The ‘message’ button is on the top left of the email link that they receive; the sender needs to input an EMAIL address (instead of mobile number) to get a response. You can email them back directly during the trek (the device is linked to my mobile) as much as you’d like. Messages are free, enjoy!
Satellite Phone & On-Trek Communications
Mobile phones + WiFi work throughout many of the remote Himalayan regions these days, and we recommend picking up an NTC or NCell SIM card, or both, at the Kahtmandu airport when you arrive in Nepal. We carry a Thuraya satellite phone with us for emergencies. Send us a free message at the online Thuraya link below. We can call you back or email you back. If you want a return call or email include your contact info. You can send this in two SMSs if needed.
Kim Satellite: +88216 21277980
Lhakpa Satellite: +88216 87710076
Kathmandu Arrival Hotel
Kathmandu Guest House
Nepal Tourist Visas
You can get your Nepal visa at TIA International Airport (or any land border) when you arrive in Nepal, or before you leave home at a Nepali Embassy or Consulate. When you arrive at immigration in Kathmandu, scan your passport at the visa machines (no photo needed) or produce your online, printed visa-on-arrival form, pay the visa fee, and go to the appropriate immigration line.
15 Days – $30
30 Days – $50
90 Days – $125
Tourist Visa Extension (15 days) – $45 (+$3 Additional Day))
Nepal Visa
Nepal Visa Information
Kathmandu Guest House
Ward: 16, Street name: Saatghumti, Area: Thamel, District: Bagmati, City: Kathmandu, Zone: Bagmati, Phone: +977 14700004
Health Information
Nepal Health Information
CDC
We also recommend bringing probiotics with you to help prevent infections while on trek. Doctor’s recommendation!
Travel Medical Insurance
Required for your own safety. We carry a copy of your insurance with all contact, personal and policy information with us on the trek and our office in Kathmandu keeps a copy. Note that we almost always trek over 4000 meters (13,000′) and that we don’t do any technical climbing with ropes, ice axes or crampons.
Global Rescue Rescue Services
We recommend (but don’t require) that our trekkers sign up for Global Rescue services as a supplement to your travel medical insurance. You can book this directly through our Kamzang Journeys site.
Global Rescue
Medical On-Trek
We have a full medical kit with us including Diamox (for acclimatizing), antibiotics, inhalers, bandages, re-hydration, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs and other essentials. Kim has First Aid, CPR and Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certifications as well as many years of experience with altitude in the Himalaya but is NOT a qualified medic or doctor, so please do have a full check-up before leaving home, and inform us of any medical issues. This is for YOUR OWN safety.
DO bring all prescription medications and rehydration powders-electrolytes. We advise bringing your own Diamox, Ciprofloxin, Azithromycin + Augmentin. We do have all of these with us, but the Western versions are generallly more reliable than the Indian equivalents. See Gear List for a full list of recommended medications for the trek.
PAC Bag & Oxygen On-Trek
We carry a Portable Oxygen Chamber (Gamow Bag) with us on many treks, and oxygen with us on all treks. There is no charge for use of the PAC Bag, but the oxygen cost is $300 per canister (which you can pass on to your insurance company).
Travel Reading | Enhance Your Trip!
Travel Books
Not Enough of Nepal?
We highly suggest taking advantage of your trip to Nepal, adding on excursions into the Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Bandipur, Gorkha, the Annapurna Foothills, and Chitwan and Bardia National Park. Enjoy heritage tours, mountain biking, Kathmandu valley hiking, Himalayan panoramas (and a hike down) from the Chandragiri Cable Car, whitewater rafting, yoga and meditation courses, Nepali cooking classes, Buddhist or Hindu retreats, and much more. There are many wonderful, boutique, luxury, and heritage lodges in the Kathmandu Valley, and many options for world heritage sightseeing tours, bicycle trips, hikes, and craft-cuisine tours. Nepal boasts world-class restaurants, chic cafes, timeless alleyways to wander through, countless Hindu and Buddhist festivals, and lots of great shopping.
Don’t miss an Everest sightseeing flight or epic helicopter tour, sightseeing trips to Bhaktapur, Patan, and Panauti (Kathmandu Valley’s other historic and/or capital cities), a weekend at Shivapuri Heights Resort or Dwarikas in Kathmandu, a night at the Fort Hotel in Nagarkot for sunrise and sunset Himalayan panoramas, a spa and wellness getaway at the ultra-luxurious Dwarikas Dhulikhel Resort and visits to ancient temple and monastery complexes such as Namo Buddha, Changu Narayan, and Dakshinkali. Spend a night at The Old Inn in Bandipur or Three Mountain Lodge en route to Pokhara, or The Famous Farm in Nuwakot, and get to know Nepal’s Newar heritage.
Enjoy a luxury 3-6 day trek in the Annapurna Foothills, staying in the wonderful Ker & Downey luxury lodges. Relax in heritage style at Temple Tree Resort in Pokhara for some pampering at the spa and infinity pool, try out paragliding, zip-lining, and enjoy a morning of boating on the lake and the hike to Shanti Stupa. Once refreshed, drive to Chitwan National Park, spending 2 or 3 nights at Maruni Sanctuary Resort or Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge for wildlife and bird spotting, river trips, and safaris in style. Tiger Tops also owns Karnali Lodge at Bardia National Park, reached by flight from Kathmandu, and there are nearby archeological sights to visit nearby.
Nepal Modules
Nepal & Kathmandu Modules | Customize Your Trip!
Notes on Itinerary
Although we try to follow our trek itinerary, it is ONLY a guideline based on years of experience trekking in many Himalayan regions. At times local trail, river or weather conditions may make a deviation necessary; rivers may be impassible, snow blocks passes, and landslides wipe out trails. The trekking itinerary and campsites may also vary slightly depending on the group’s acclimatization rate or sickness, or improved campsites and lodges.
The Himalaya are our passion, and we take our trekking and cycling trips seriously. Although everyone is here on vacation, please come with a dollop of patience and compassion added to your sense of adventure …
Arrival Kathmandu
Arrival in Kathmandu
You will be met at the airport by the Kathmandu Guest House representative. Look for a sign with your name on it as well as the Kathmandu Guest House sign. You will be transferred to the Kathmandu Guest House where your rooms have been pre-booked. Kim will meet you at the Kathmandu Guest House to go over details and get you settled into Kathmandu life … Please hydrate!
If you arrive early and Kim can’t meet you just then, a meeting will be arranged via email. Kim’s mobile (+WhatsApp) number: +977 9803 414745. Skype is Kim Bannister. Call or text if there is any problem with your flight or pick-up, please!
Nepal Tourist Visas
You can get your Nepal visa at TIA International Airport (or any land border) when you arrive in Nepal, or before you leave home at a Nepali Embassy or Consulate. When you arrive at immigration in Kathmandu, scan your passport at the visa machines (no photo needed) or produce your online, printed visa-on-arrival form, pay the visa fee, and go to the appropriate immigration line.
15 Days – $30
30 Days – $50
90 Days – $125
Tourist Visa Extension (15 days) – $45 (+$3 Additional Day))
Nepal Visa
Nepal Visa Information
Kathmandu Guest House
Ward: 16, Street name: Saatghumti, Area: Thamel, District: Bagmati, City: Kathmandu, Zone: Bagmati, Phone: +977 14700004
Arrival Hotel
Kathmandu Guest House
International Medical Center Kathmandu
CIWEC
Nepal Temperatures & Clothing
See Gear tab for trekking and cycling clothing, as well as medical supplies recommendations.
Kathmandu during the spring and autumn trekking seasons is usually quite warm (t-shirt, sandals, light pants or skirts) during the day, and gets chilly (light fleece or jacket) in the late afternoon and evenings. Nights can be cold enough for a sweater and/or jacket, or warm enough for t-shirts. Summer is hotter and wetter, and you’ll need a rain jacket and umbrella. The winter months (late Nov – March) are chilly in the mornings and evenings, cold enough that you might start the day in a down jacket, but often warming up enough to wear a t-shirt by mid-day. Nights get cold enough for a down jacket if you’re sitting outside, although many restaurants have heaters or fire pits. It never snows in Kathmandu. Keens, Chacos or other hiking sandals are great for wandering around Kathmandu, and for trekking in lower altitudes. Crocs are good to have for rooms, showers and at camp when trekking or cycling.
Trekking is a mixed bag of temperatures. LAYERS are the key as hot can change quickly to freezing crossing the passes and snowfalls are common. We often have some rain below 3000 meters in the spring and early autumn, and it can rain hard in the summer. Have a wide range of layer-able trekking clothes for summer to winter temperatures. Keep a lightweight down jacket or synthetic jacket with you at all times, available inexpensively in Kathmandu. A lightweight rain poncho and umbrella for trekking rare ecommended in the spring and summer seasons. Be prepared! See our ‘Gear’ tab for full details on gear, shoes, clothing, electronics and meds for the trek.
There are lots of real gear shops (North Face, Mountain Hardwear, Marmot, Sherpa Gear, OR) and many ‘fake’ and Nepali-made shops in Kathmandu, so if you don’t think you have the right gear starting the trip, it is easy to pick up gear once in Kathmandu. We have sleeping bags to rent, duffel bags, camp towels and buffs to purchase, and you’ll get a FREE Kamzang Journeys t-shirt for the trip!
Dress conservatively in Kathmandu and on the trail as a rule. Shorts are okay if they aren’t too short, short mini skirts aren’t recommended. Sleeveless t-shirts are absolutely fine, but perhaps avoid skimpy tank tops on the trail. Super tight lycra and very skimpy doesn’t go over so well with village elders or remote villagers, and will generally limit your ability to have meaningful interactions with Nepali villagers. Many of the younger generation in Nepal wear modern Indian or Western-influenced clothes but remember that you haven’t signed up for a beach or surf vacation. Use your good judgment, and be an ambassador for western travelers! Please ask Kim or your guide if unsure about appropriate clothing, we’re always happy to advise.
Nepal Cultural Issues
Nepalis are very open and welcoming, but there are a few issues you should be aware of to make your stay in Nepal more fulfilling. Use your right hand to pass things, shake hands or do most anything. Left hands are somewhat taboo. Nepalis often place their left hand on the right forearm when passing things to others, a sign of respect. Best not to pat kids on heads, or point feet ahead of you at monasteries. Don’t walk over someone’s legs or feet, but put your hand down in front of you to signal them to pull their legs to the side. Take off shoes and hats when going into Buddhist monasteries and Hindu temples, don’t use flashes inside monasteries or temples if possible and be respectful when attending pujas (prayer ceremonies). You can talk and move around, all religious are very tolerant, but be aware of your level of voice and where you are walking. Don’t sit on Buddhist monastery benches, they are used as tables. You will often be shown to low, carpeted sitting areas in the back of a monastery. If you’re served tea, it’s fine to accept (in fact, the servers will be happy to give you tea), but also fine to say ‘no thank you’, putting your hand up. If you don’t want more tea, often the salt-butter variety, simply cover your cup with your hand.
Nepalis don’t anger quickly in general, so try not to raise your voice if exasperated or angry as it only will make the situation worse. Do bargain at shops, with taxis and rickshaws, but don’t fleece people as many people are quite poor and need to make a living. Give small donations on the streets if you choose to, but try not to encourage begging and be aware of who you are giving your money to. If you do want to donate to a good cause, ask about our Kamzang Fund or other responsible organizations.
Tips for Staff
We recommend $350 per person to go into the tip pool for the staff, which can be given to Kim in Kathmandu in $US. We also pitch in to buy our incredible staff drinks on the last night, or any other night that you feel like treating them to a bottle of Kukure Rum or a few beers!
Tips in General
Tips are always appreciated but they don’t need to be extravagant. 100-300 NRP to carry bags to/from your room is fine, the women who clean your room will be happy with 200-300 NRP when you leave, and 300-500 NRP is great for your airport transfers. Round-up taxi fares, in general. A larger tip would be expected for a day trip in a private car, perhaps 500 NRP, and a tour guide might get 500-100 NRP. 10% is included in most restaurant and hotel bills in Nepal, and if it’s not included it’s still expected. You can round-up the restaurant bills as well.
Cash, Credit Cards & ATMs
ATMs are available all over Kathmandu, and give up to 25,000 NRP per transaction, in general. You can also change money at the hotel counter (a good rate usually) or just outside the hotel at any of the money changers. They’re quite competitive. You’ll want cash in NRP with you on the trek for local shopping, drinks, beers, snacks, beer, laundry and charging electronics. There are usually local crafts and textiles to buy along the way as well! Credit cards are accepted at hotels, most larger restaurants and cafes, and most of the larger gear, craft and pashmina shops in Kathmandu.
Pampering Yourself & Shopping in Kathmandu
We’re happy to book your rooms before or after the trek at boutique and luxury hotels, resorts and spas in Kathmandu and the Kathmandu Valley. We’re happy to help with advice on where to purchase the most authentic crafts, pashmina or other hand-made Nepali products in Kathmandu. We sell local handicrafts at our Cafe Caravan at Boudha, as well as delicious cakes, coffees, meals and snacks.
Cafe Caravan & Dolpo Prints & Paintings
Dolpo Artist Tenzin Norbu creates wonderful Dolpo paintings, the prints (and some originals) available from our Cafe Caravan at Boudhanath Stupa, and more recently the artist Tenzing Samdup also sells his Dolpo prints at the cafe. We also have an extensive selection of ‘caravan’ handicrafts, coffees, teas, t-shirts, ceramic mugs and Himalayan books for sale …
Kamzang Journeys Products
Kamzang Journeys duffel bags, Kamzang Journeys t-shirts, Kamzang Journeys camp towels, Kamzang Journeys buffs, handcrafted leather passport wallets, totes and bags, handcrafted Himalayan textile pillow covers and more unique, handcrafted tribal silver and Himalayan textiles available from Kim here in Kathmandu.
Kamzang Journeys Products
Kamzang Design Etsy Shop (On-Line)
Many of these handcrafted products designed by Kim and local craftspeople are available in Kathmandu, including much of the tribal silver collection …
Kamzang Design Etsy Shop
Great Stays
See our ‘Great Stays’ tab for our picks of some of the best heritage, boutique or interesting hotels, guest houses, and lodges in the Kathmandu Valley and elsewhere in Nepal.
Not Enough of Nepal?
We highly suggest taking advantage of your trip to Nepal, adding on excursions into the Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Bandipur, Gorkha, the Annapurna Foothills, and Chitwan and Bardia National Park. Enjoy heritage tours, mountain biking, Kathmandu valley hiking, Himalayan panoramas (and a hike down) from the Chandragiri Cable Car, whitewater rafting, yoga and meditation courses, Nepali cooking classes, Buddhist or Hindu retreats, and much more. There are many wonderful, boutique, luxury, and heritage lodges in the Kathmandu Valley, and many options for world heritage sightseeing tours, bicycle trips, hikes, and craft-cuisine tours. Nepal boasts world-class restaurants, chic cafes, timeless alleyways to wander through, countless Hindu and Buddhist festivals, and lots of great shopping.
Don’t miss an Everest sightseeing flight or epic helicopter tour, sightseeing trips to Bhaktapur, Patan, and Panauti (Kathmandu Valley’s other historic and/or capital cities), a weekend at Shivapuri Heights Resort or Dwarikas in Kathmandu, a night at the Fort Hotel in Nagarkot for sunrise and sunset Himalayan panoramas, a spa and wellness getaway at the ultra-luxurious Dwarikas Dhulikhel Resort and visits to ancient temple and monastery complexes such as Namo Buddha, Changu Narayan, and Dakshinkali. Spend a night at The Old Inn in Bandipur or Three Mountain Lodge en route to Pokhara, or The Famous Farm in Nuwakot, and get to know Nepal’s Newar heritage.
Enjoy a luxury 3-6 day trek in the Annapurna Foothills, staying in the wonderful Ker & Downey luxury lodges. Relax in heritage style at Temple Tree Resort in Pokhara for some pampering at the spa and infinity pool, try out paragliding, zip-lining, and enjoy a morning of boating on the lake and the hike to Shanti Stupa. Once refreshed, drive to Chitwan National Park, spending 2 or 3 nights at Maruni Sanctuary Resort or Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge for wildlife and bird spotting, river trips, and safaris in style. Tiger Tops also owns Karnali Lodge at Bardia National Park, reached by flight from Kathmandu, and there are nearby archeological sights to visit nearby.
Nepal Modules
Nepal & Kathmandu Modules | Customize Your Trip!
Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing & Tours
See our Kathmandu Tours tab for lots of idea of how to experience the real Nepal.
Kathmandu & Kathmandu Valley Information
Our ‘Insider’ list of things to do, places to go, what to visit, the most happening restaurants and the best hotels in Kathmandu and the beautiful Kathmandu Valley.
Happenings in Kathmandu
Gear
Kamzang Journeys Products
Kamzang Journeys duffel bags, t-shirts, camp towels and buffs. Handcrafted leather passport wallets, totes and bags, unique Himalayan textile pillow covers, cashmere stoles and more!
Kamzang Journeys Products
Gear List
A guideline, not a bible, for the gear you will (probably) need on the trek. Do ask (or send gear links) if you have questions! Everyone has their own method of gearing-ups for the mountain, so although these suggestions are based on 20+ years in the Himalayan regions, they may not be exactly what you bring on a trek. Layers are essential for trekking, and quality is more important than quantity. It’s worth investing in some new, warm, lightweight trekking gear! Kim will check your gear before the trek, if needed.
One duffel bag per person. The airline regulations in Nepal (not applicable to India) allow 15 kg per person for mountain flights (including your daypack). We find ways to adjust, but be aware of this limitation and try to limit your duffel bag and daypack to 20 kg (50 lbs) total. 20 kg (50 lbs) is also the weight limit for our treks, although we’re a bit flexible.
- Duffel Bag
- Day Pack (30-40 L)
- Sleeping Bag (-20 to 0F/-30C to -20 Recommended)
- Air Mattress
- Trekking Boots, Trekking Shoes &/or Running Shoes
- Hiking Sandals, Water or Running Shoes (REQUIRED for River Crossings. Inquire for Your Trek)
- Crocs (Evenings & Washing)
- Down Jacket(s) &/or Vests (Can be Lightweight Down Jackets. Layering Recommended)
- Wind/Rain Jacket & Pants (Inquire for Your Trek)
- Trekking Pants (2-3)
- T-Shirts (3-4)
- Long-Sleeve Shirts (3-4)
- Technical Jacket (Depending on Other Jackets)
- Thermal Top & Bottom
- Thermal (Lightweight) Top & Bottom
- Evening Thermal Top & Bottom (Synthetic &/or Down Pants Optional)
- Socks (5-6)
- Down Booties (Optional, Recommended)
- Gloves (Lighter Pair & Heavier Pair for Passes)
- Thermal Hat
- Baseball Cap &/or Wide-Brimmed Hat
- Camp Towel
- Inflatable Camp Pillow (Optional)
- Trekking Poles (Recommended &/or Required. Inquire for Your Trek)
- Sunglasses (Extra Recommended)
- Reading Glasses (Extra Recommended)
- Head Lamp (Extra Recommended)
- Water Bottles | Nalgenes (2-3)
- Water Bladder (Optional, Recommended)
- Travel Umbrella (Optional, Recommended)
- Watch (or Alarm)
- Battery Chargers & Extra Batteries
- USB Adapter with Multiple Ports (Recommended)
- Camera or Smart Phone (Optional)
- Small Water Filter, SteriPen +/or Squeeze Filter Bottle Umbrella (Optional, Recommended)
- Camp Washing Bowl (Optional, Collapsible for Clothes)
- Laundry Detergent or Bio-degradable Clothes Soap
- Small Solar Panel (Optional, Recommended for iPods, Phones, Camera Batteries, e-Readers – We Often Have Solar Charging Capacity)
- Book(s) or Kindle &/or Audiobooks
- Zip-Lock | Plastic Bags
- Soft Toilet Paper | Tissues (Optional)
- Toiletries
- SPF Sunscreen & Lip Balm
- Personal Medical Supplies
- Hand Sanitizers (Small)
- Reusable Wipes (Recommended, Not Single Use)
- Rehydration | Electrolytes (Required)
- Snacks (Required)
Dining Tent Note
We have a ‘dress code’ for the evenings in the tent, which essentially means you’ll be changing out of your trekking clothes and into clean, warm evening clothes (which works well for getting into your sleeping bag after dinner). This is to keep the dining tent as clean as possible, as we eat and sit on the ground in Crazy Creek (style) camp chairs …
Suggested Medical Supplies
We have a full medical kit with us including Diamox (for acclimatizing), antibiotics, inhalers, bandages, re-hydration, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs etc. but please bring a supply of all prescription and personal medications. Kim has First Aid, CPR and Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certifications as well as many years of experience with altitude in the Himalaya but is NOT a qualified medic or doctor, so please have a check-up before leaving home, and inform us of any medical issues. This is for YOUR OWN safety!
SUGGESTED MEDS | Dexamethasone, Nifedipine & Diamox (altitude), Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin & Augmentin (antibiotics), blister bandages, Tegaderm &/or bandages, knee & ankle supports/braces (if required), ACE bandage for sprains & strains, cough drops.
Bring whatever pain meds you generally use (Ibuprofen, Paracetamol/Tylenol, Diclofenac), meds for diarrhea (Loperamide/Imodium) and nausea (Ondansetron), antihistamines (non-drowsy & Benadryl is good for a drowsy antihistamine that might help with sleep), as well as any medications that you take regularly or that your doctor prescribes. We recommend picking up a combination Salmeterol & Fluticasone inhaler locally, good for (from a doctor trekking friend) “high altitude cough due to reactive airways, which is kind of like temporary asthma. The ingredients in the inhaler relax the bronchial passages and calm inflammation in the airways.”Stay away from sleeping medications, drugs in the codeine-opiate-narcotic family and other drugs that suppress your breathing (not a good at altitude). And don’t forget electrolytes! Have some with you in your pack (as well as snacks) daily …
We’re happy to take excess medical supplies off your hands when you leave if you won’t need them. We use lots of the large amount we have with us to treat locals, our staff and our trekkers…
Kim’s Gear Suggestions
I generally wear a trekking t-shirt, trekking pants, a mid-weight long-sleeve shirt, a lightweight synthetic jacket (sometimes paired with a vest), often starting the morning in a lightweight pair of long underwear. I carry a lightweight wind-rain jacket and pants, an extra pair of socks, gloves, a baseball cap and hat in my daypack, and on colder days also have a lightweight down jacket with me.
I use a 35 L Osprey daypack with a bladder, and an extra Nalgene to refill water on the trail, and often use trekking poles. I generally trek in running shoes, although I use boots on very cold days and over passes, and sometimes on hot days I also trek in Keen or Chaco sandalas. I often carry Crocs with me in case of river crossings and to give my feet a break at lunch (Tevas, Chacos and Keen sandals take a long time to dry and are relatively heavy), and I carry micro-spikes on pass days. I always have snacks, electrolytes, my camera or iPhone, sunscreen, hand sanitizer and some toilet paper, a small medical kit and a SteriPen.
Good trekking boots or running shoes that you’ve hiked in before the trek are essential. You don’t ever need climbing or plastic boots (for mini-crampons or micro-spikes). Trekking poles are not required but strongly recommended, especially for going down passes which are often steep and icy, and for treks with river crossings and rocky trails. Bring gators if you tend to use them but they’re not required if you don’t own a pair. Micro-spikes (mini-crampons) or YakTrax are useful (or essential) for pass crossings (inquire before the trek). We have an ice ax and rope with us during some treks for pass crossing days, for extra safety.
Good, polarized sunglasses are essential. Do bring an extra pair in case you lose or break them. Don’t forget a sun hat and/or a baseball cap, perhaps an extra headlamp, and have plenty of sunscreen and lip balm with SPF! Don’t get caught with blistered lips that don’t heal at altitude!
Nights are chilly to very cold, so a down jacket(s) and a WARM sleeping bag are essentials. We recommend a down sleeping bag of -10 to -20 F (-18 to -28 C). Mine is -20 F. At lower altitudes I open it and sleep under it like a quilt, and up higher am toasty warm during cold nights. NOTE sleeping bag ratings don’t correspond to how warm they need to be at altitude. Campsites at higher altitudes can be freezing at night and in the morning. The dining tent is a Tibetan style ‘yurt’ with cotton rugs (dhurries), tables and camp chairs on the ground. It warms up in the evenings when everyone is inside having soup, but it is still important to have warm clothes for the evenings. I change into thermals for the evening at camp and to sleep in when we get to camp; stretchy yoga pants over thermal underwear, light down vest and/or jacket over thermal layers. I love my down (or synthetic) booties at night in the tent! We have blankets for everyone if needed, and we even have a small propane heater on some treks …
Bring XL plastic bags or stuff sacks in your daypack in case of rain. The weather is changeable in the Himalaya, so we recommend that everyone has a strong, waterproof duffel bag for the trek. We supply covers that go over the duffel bags to protect them from rain, dirt + rips.
Day Pack
We recommend a 30-45 liter day pack. Better to have it too large than too small as on pass days you’ll need to carry more warm gear, and you can always cinch daypacks down. Many packs come with internal water bladders, or you can purchase them separately; very good for ensuring that you stay hydrated. Make sure your pack fits comfortably when loaded before bringing it trekking!!
In your day pack, you’ll carry your camera or phone, approx 2 liters of water, a jacket, lightweight wind and/or rain pants (often), a thermal hat, a baseball cap or sun hat, a buff (optional, but great to have on dusty trails), gloves, sunscreen, snacks, electrolytes, maybe something to purify water, hand sanitizer, a small bit of medical supplies, a pack-cover and often a lightweight down jacket. I slip my Crocs in for lunchtime stops or unexpected river crossings, and almost always carry a lightweight down jacket!
Tents
Everyone gets their own North Face style dome tent (3-person, large) without paying a single supplement. Couples share the same sized tent.
Drinking Water
We bring KATADYN (or equivalent) expedition-sized water filters along on the trek for fresh drinking water, ecologically the best way to get water in the Himalaya’s fragile trekking regions. Bring your own SteriPen or Sawyer squeeze filter for a back-up filtered water system during the day if you already have one. We bring ours as well, so this is optional. Please bring at least 2 Nalgene or other water bottles in addition to your water bladder.
WATER NOTE | We do not provide boiled water for filling water bottles on our camping treks although there is endless hot water for herbal, black or green teas, hot chocolate, hot lemon as well as delicious Indian chai and Kashmiri tea.
Snacks
You will NEED snacks hiking at altitude, even if you’re not a big snacker. Bring your favorite energy bars, gels, chocolate bars, dried fruit and nuts, jerky or whatever else gives you quick energy. Emergen-C and/or other electrolyte mixes are important in water bottles or before or after the trekking day; it is ESSENTIAL to bring electrolytes with you in your day packs in case you cramp up, get diarrhea or otherwise need them.
You might want to bring something to share in the dining tent. Any sort of cheese (especially from your hometown) is great as a treat on a cheese board before dinner, and something sweet is always appreciated!
Rentals
We have (approximately) 0F super-down sleeping bags to rent for $2.50 per day on our Nepal & Tibet treks. You might want a warmer sleeping bag (I use a -20F); if so, please do bring your own, as we want you to be warm while sleeping at night!
Packing & Extra Gear Storage
It’s easy to pack and unpack from a duffel bag, especially when the temperature drops. It’s a good idea to invest in a strong, waterproof duffel such as a North Face or one of our Kamzang Journeys duffels. You can store extra gear and computers at the hotel while we’re trekking.
Shopping & Snacks in Nepal (& Tibet)
Almost all gear is now available in Kathmandu, from real (North Face, Mountain Hardwear, Sherpa Gear, Marmot or at some shops in Thamel) to inexpensive knock-offs or good Nepali brands. The real gear shops take credit cards. There are many camera and mobile shops, and you can pick up good quality chocolate, snack bars (including gluten free, organic and vegan) and lots of other varieties dried fruits, nuts and snacks in Kathmandu. And, of course, you can shop for pashminas (or cashmere, or fakes, please ask if unsure), good quality silver, handicrafts and locally produced specialty products. We also have a large variety of good quality, unique handicrafts at Café Caravan in Boudhanath.
Our trips to Tibet always start in Kathmandu, so the above advice applies, and you can also pick up interesting Chinese snacks and dried fruits in all of the markets in Lhasa.
Shopping & Snacks in India
You can pick up some trekking gear in Leh, such as trekking poles, sleeping bags (about 0F), lightweight down jackets, duffel bags, some good Western and Chinese or Asian gear, but not shoes or boots. Top up your gear in Leh if you need to, but best not to rely on doing major shopping here although the second hand markets can be a treasure chest of trekking and cycling gear! There is a large variety of good quality dried fruit and nuts available in Leh at the outdoor markets and indoor supermarkets, and you can also pick up good chocolates, snack bars, dried fruit, nuts and seeds, and herbal teas in Leh at Chospa Supermarket.
Dolpo & Yartsa Gunbu
Dolpo
The mystique of remote Upper (Inner) Dolpo, closed to foreigners for decades and still culturally Tibetan, has been enhanced by Matheissen’s ‘The Snow Leopard’, David Snellgrove’s ‘Himalayan Pilgrimage’ and George Schaller’s ‘Stones of Silence’ among many other travel accounts. Legend has it that the ubiquitous Guru Rimpoche, who spread Tibetan Buddhism throughout the Himalayas, discovered this hidden land, a ‘beyul’ or refuge, over 1700 years ago, and it has been inhabited by Tibetan nomads, drokpas in Tibetan, for over a thousand years.
Upper and Lower Dolpo are now part of the Nepali region of Dolpa, but historically came from the Zhangzhung Bon-po kingdom which dominated Western Tibet for over a thousand years, later defeated by the first Tibetan dynasty, Yarlung, between the sixth and eighth centuries. Afterwards, Dolpo was governed by the Kingdom of Lo (now Mustang, formerly part of Tibet) until the Gorkha Kingdom took it over during its consolidation of Nepal a century and a half ago. Since then, it has remained isolated, partly due to its remote location, and partly because of the Khampa guerillas using Mustang and Dolpo as a base during their fight against the Chinese occupation of Tibet after 1959.
Dolpo has only been open for trekking and tourism since 1989, and then only parts of southern Lower Dolpo were opened. There is still a special restricted area permit needed to trek above Phoksumdo Lake in Shey Phoksumdo National Park, Nepal’s largest park, which has only been a viable trekking region since 1999 because of the Maoist activities in this region.
Dolpo has a population of approximately 5000 inhabitants, many of whom head south for the winter, and is home to some of the highest villages on the planet. One of the highest inhabited realms on the planet, Dolpo is still a stronghold of the pre-Buddhist, shamanistic Bon religion as well as several sects of Tibetan Buddhism.
There is a plethora of wildlife in Dolpo, including the snow leopard, blue sheep, musk deer, wolf, marmot, snowy hare, Himalayan thar, goral and more …
The Snow Leopard | A Pictorial Companion – Leo Montejo
Leo Montejo trekked on our GHT | Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek in 2014 and is an avid photographer, and a fan of Peter Matthiessen and George Schaller. All proceeds from the book will go to mHealthKarma to buy medical equipment and or medicine for countries like Nepal.
Yartsa Gunbu (Yersagumba) | The Himalayan Gold Rush
“For the past 500 years, Yarsagumba (Cordyceps Sinensis), has been prized as an aphrodisiac by the Chinese. It can be found in the high pastures of the Himalayas above 3,500m, and is traditionally picked in early spring before the monsoon rains. Each year, hundreds of Tibetan traders cross the border illegally into Nepal to buy Yarsagumba from local villagers and sell it back to China. One kilogram can fetch up to $10,000.
“The medical properties of Yarsagumba are numerous and many,” says Carroll Dunham, a medical anthropologist who has worked in Nepal for the past 25 years. Yarsagumba is known as an immune booster. It’s also known as a great aphrodisiac. It works in a way similar to Viagra. It’s considered to be helpful for impotence in men and it’s considered to be a great stimulant.”
This has meant that Yarsagumba has become the most valuable commodity in this remote region that has few economic opportunities. It has become so lucrative that the district government now operates a permit system for those who want to collect Yarsagumba. In certain areas, the permits are more expensive for people from outside the region. In others, outsiders are completely banned from searching for the drug.
From March, the Yarsagumba picking season will start again and hundreds of locals will scour the mountainsides searching for the valuable drug in the hope that they will make their fortune. But for many who live here, Yarsagumba is not a blessing but a curse. And they remember the old Buddhist saying that it will bring nothing but bad luck.” – BBC
“Yarsagumba is a unique caterpillar-fungus fusion that occurs when parasitic mushroom spores (Ophiocordyceps Sinensis) infect and mummify a ghost moth larva living in the soil. A spindly fungus later sprouts from the dead caterpillar host’s head. Two to six centimeters long, the fungus shoots above the soil, acting as a tiny, finger-shaped flag for harvesters to find. This peculiar hybrid is the world’s most expensive biological resource. Yarsagumba thrives in the picturesque peaks of the Himalayas, at altitudes of between 3000 and 5000 meters, in Nepal, India and Bhutan, and also on the “roof of the world” — the Tibetan Plateau. In Tibet, it’s called “Yartsa gunbu,” which translates to “summer grass winter worm”.
Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for 2000 years, the caterpillar fungus is a highly prized tonic, touted for its ability to increase energy and vitality, strengthen lung and kidneys, treat cancer and asthma, and, perhaps most famously, cure impotence and boost libido — its supposed aphrodisiac effects earning it the nickname “Himalayan Viagra.” A 15th century Tibetan medical text also mentions the “faultless treasure,” which, “removes prana diseases, cures bile diseases, and does not raise the phlegm: a marvelous medicine. In particular, it especially increases semen”.
Locally in Nepal, harvesters get the equivalent of about $18 per gram (a single dried specimen weighs less than half a gram). But by the time yarsagumba is sold in China, the major international trade destination, it’s worth as much as $100 per gram. Gram for gram, that makes it more expensive than gold. The global market value has been assessed at between $5 and $11 billion.”
Nepalese authorities lifted a ban on harvesting and selling yarsagumba in 2001, spurred by the impossibility of preventing its trade in a secluded, mountainous landscape. The nation is now the second-largest supplier to the global market after Tibet, and although much of the trade still occurs secretly, the government collected about 5.1 million rupees in taxes (roughly $52,000) from the industry in 2011-12. Research published in Biological Conservation last year notes that in the late 1980s, caterpillar fungus was traded for cigarettes, noodles and other goods rarely found in remote villages. Between 2001 (when the ban was lifted) and 2011, the local market price of yarsagumba spiked by 2300 percent.
While purchased and consumed by the prosperous, collecting and selling yarsagumba presents a critical income for some of the most impoverished Himalayan highlanders who etch out a living in one of the most extreme environments on earth.
Despite dependence on farming in Dolpa District (Nepal’s mid-west), fewer than 7 percent of people grow enough food for the entire year, making it one of the most food-insecure districts in the country. And while agriculture is the main source of income, growing conditions are far from ideal. Yarsagumba is the second biggest contributor to household income, after farming, with 90 percent of people in the region harvesting the resource. In the 2010 picking season an estimated 50,000 people were involved in the harvest. The study found that caterpillar fungus is the biggest contributor to the cash economy of the poorest people, playing a key role in alleviating poverty by allowing isolated highland families to send their children to school, buy food, and pay off debt.
However, picking yarsagumba in freezing conditions with low oxygen levels is a precarious task, especially given that many harvesters lack proper shoes and have limited protection from the elements while they sleep at camps for the season (which generally runs for six weeks between May and July, weather depending). From cold alone, at least 13 people died in the 2014 picking season. Freezing to death, avalanches, altitude sickness, slipping in the snow, and slicing flesh on sharp rocks are not the only hazards yarsagumba harvesters face. The yarsagumba gold rush has bought a curse of greed and banditry to remote mountain regions. Year after year during harvesting season, the Himalayas are rocked by resource conflict, robberies, and even murders.” – The Diplomat
“(Survey of people) collecting Yarsagumba fungus. They had paid high prices for permits, hoping to recoup the cost and make a profit by selling specimens of Yarsagumba, but the fungus seemed scarce in 2016, resulting in a bleak economic forecast. Most collectors were living in austere conditions, walking long hours to the collection areas early in the morning and returning in the late afternoon. Most were subsisting on 1 daily meal. Health problems, including acute mountain sickness as well as respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, were common. Yarsagumba has become harder to find in recent years, increasing hardships and risk of injury. Medical care was almost nonexistent.
As abundance decreases and demand increases, there is increasing pressure on collectors to find Yarsagumba. The collectors are an economically disadvantaged population who live in austere conditions at high altitude with poor shelter and sanitation, strenuous work, and limited availability of food. Health care resources are very limited. There are significant risks of illness, injury, and death. Targeted efforts by government entities and nongovernmental organizations might be beneficial in meeting the health needs.” – Science Direct
“Native to the meadows of the Himalayas and Tibetan plateau at 3,000–5,000 metres above sea level, yarsagumba (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) is prescribed in traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine for a wide range of conditions including impotence, asthma and cancer.
The peculiar life cycle of the fungus has also earned it the names ‘winter worm, summer grass’ and ‘caterpillar fungus’. In late summer, the fungus spores infect moth larvae that live in the soil. The fungus grows inside the caterpillar, mummifying it and steering it into a position a few centimetres below the soil surface, with the head pointing upwards. Just before winter sets in and the soil freezes, a small bud forms and pushes up out of the caterpillar’s head. The following spring, a brownish fruiting body — a mushroom — emerges from the soil.
If the caterpillar fungus disappears, says Liu, it could lead to an uncontrolled proliferation of the larvae and moths, triggering a series of changes in the fragile mountain ecosystems.
And because hundreds of harvesters typically work in a limited area, they too could damage the ecosystem with their digging tools and by compacting the soil, says Shrestha. Bawa speculates that other factors may also be contributing to the decline of the fungus — in particular, rising temperatures and less snow in the eastern Himalayas as a result of climate change.” – Nature
For more than 500 years, this exotic specimen has been coveted in the Asiatic market due to its aphrodisiac and medicinal properties. “It regulates the normal functioning of various part of the body and strengthens the immune and circulatory system. “It has traditionally been used for impotence, backache and to increase sperm and blood production.
Fungal spores colonise larvae that live in the soil during summer rains and, after mummifying them over winter, a mushroom grows from each caterpillar’s head to emerge from the soil.
The fungus is then harvested before the monsoon season, between May and June, when tens of thousands of tents invade the vast plateau in Rukum and Dolpa, which becomes home to 60,000 harvesters and generates 40 percent of the country’s yarsagumba yield.
The power to boost the libido attributed to the fungus has made it highly prized in the Chinese market and it has become a key source of income for poor Nepalese villages.” – Al Jazeera
“Yartsa gunbu was officially declared a ‘threatened’ species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) last year, citing overharvesting and decline in its availability as the reasons. There is a clear need for Nepal to develop strategies to prevent overharvesting, improve management of the collection sites to minimize the impacts of the seasonal rush, and perhaps even close off heavily impacted sites for some time to allow for regeneration.” – My Republica
Articles on Yertsa Gunbu (Yarsagumbu)
Yarsagumba – The Film – Eric Valli
Yarsagumba – Curse of Annapurna Himalayan Region – BBC
Tibet’s Golden Worm | National Geographic
The Gold Rush – Kathmandu Post
Yarsagumba – Biological Gold – The Diplomat
Caterpillar Fungus – The Viagra of the Himalayas – NPR
Harvesting Yartsa Gumbu During the Pandemic – My Republica
Yarsagumba Fungus – Health Problems in the Himalaya Gold Rush – Science Direct
Overharvesting Leaves Himalayan Viagra Fungus Feeling Short – Nature
Gold Rush for Nepal’s Himalayan Viagra – Al Jazeera
The Killing Fields – Outside Magazine
Kathmandu Tours
Not Enough of Nepal?
We highly suggest taking advantage of your trip to Nepal, adding on excursions into the Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Bandipur, Gorkha, the Annapurna Foothills, and Chitwan and Bardia National Park. Enjoy heritage tours, mountain biking, Kathmandu valley hiking, Himalayan panoramas with a hike down from the Chandragiri Cable Car, whitewater rafting, yoga and meditation courses, Nepali cooking classes, Buddhist or Hindu retreats, and much more. There are many wonderful, boutique, luxury, and heritage lodges in the Kathmandu Valley, and many options for world heritage sightseeing tours, bicycle trips, hikes, and craft-cuisine tours. Nepal boasts world-class restaurants, chic cafes, timeless alleyways to wander through, countless Hindu and Buddhist festivals, and lots of great shopping.
Don’t miss an Everest sightseeing flight or epic helicopter tour, sightseeing trips to Bhaktapur, Patan, and Panauti (Kathmandu Valley’s other historic and/or capital cities), a weekend at Shivapuri Heights Resort or Dwarikas in Kathmandu, a night at the Fort Hotel in Nagarkot for sunrise and sunset Himalayan panoramas, a spa and wellness getaway at the ultra-luxurious Dwarikas Dhulikhel Resort and visits to ancient temple and monastery complexes such as Namo Buddha, Changu Narayan, and Dakshinkali. Spend a night at The Old Inn in Bandipur or Three Mountain Lodge en route to Pokhara, or The Famous Farm in Nuwakot, and get to know Nepal’s Newar heritage.
Enjoy a luxury 3-6 day trek in the Annapurna Foothills, staying in the wonderful Ker & Downey luxury lodges. Relax in heritage style at Temple Tree Resort in Pokhara for some pampering at the spa and infinity pool, try out paragliding, zip-lining, and enjoy a morning of boating on the lake and the hike to Shanti Stupa. Once refreshed, drive to Chitwan National Park, spending a few nights at Maruni Sanctuary Resort or Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge for wildlife and bird spotting, river trips, and safaris in style. Tiger Tops also owns Karnali Lodge at Bardia National Park, reached by flight from Kathmandu, and there are nearby archeological sites to visit nearby.
Namaste!
Nepal Modules
Nepal & Kathmandu Modules | Customize Your Trip!
Kathmandu Valley Guided Sightseeing Day Tours
+ Kathmandu World Heritage Guided Sightseeing Tour (Full Day) | Pashupatinath, Boudhanath & Swayambunath ($125)
+ Kathmandu World Heritage Guided Sightseeing Tour (Half Day) | Pashupatinath & Boudhanath ($75)
+ Kathmandu World Heritage Sightseeing Car – No Guide (Morning or Evening) | Swayambunath ($35)
+ Kathmandu World Heritage Guided Walking Tour (Half Day) | Kathmandu Durbar Square ($50)
+ Kathmandu World Heritage Guided Tour (Half Day) | Patan Durbar Square ($65)
+ Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sightseeing Tour (Full Day) | Bhaktapur & Changu Narayan ($135)
+ Kathmandu Valley Heritage + Craft Tour (Custom Tours)
+ Cycling Trip in Kathmandu Valley (Custom Trips)
+ Everest Express Sightseeing Flight ($225)
+ Everest Sightseeing Helicopter Tour (Custom Tours)
TOUR NOTE | Additional tour member + $30. Entrance fees not included.
Kathmandu Heritage Multi Day Tours & Hikes
Kathmandu Valley | Heritage Treks & Tours – Nepal
Kathmandu | Full Day World Heritage Sightseeing Tour | Boudhanath, Pashupatinath & Swayambunath
Kathmandu is filled with World Heritage sites and sacred destinations, crowded with traditional neighborhoods and colorful festivals. Spend a few days exploring Nepal’s exotic capital and the history-laden Kathmandu valley. We can arrange sightseeing guide, vehicles and guides as required. See Kathmandu Heritage + Happenings for more details.
We recommend beginning with Pashupatinath in the early morning, and moving on to Boudhanath mid-morning. Hindu Pashupatinath on the sacred Bagmati river and its sacred temple complex is one of Nepal’s most important sites, a powerful cremation site and Nepal’s most important Hindu temple. Here, monkeys run up and down the steps of the burning ghats, and trident-bearing saddhus draped in burnt-orange and saffron sit serenely meditating, when they’re not posing for photos-for-rupees. Local guides can explain the significance of the complicated ceremonies. Please be respectful when taking photos.
Boudhanath, in the midst of traditional monasteries (gompas) and hung with long strings of multi-colored prayer flags, attracts Sherpas, Tibetans and tourists alike for daily circumambulations (koras) of the iconic stupa. The striking Buddha eyes of Boudhanath Stupa watch over a lively and colorful Tibetan community and attract pilgrims from all over the Himalayan Buddhist realm. There are wonderful spots for lunch at Boudhanath (Roadhouse Cafe has wood-oven pizzas and a breathtaking view of the stupa and colorful Nepals circling it), and it’s a good place to learn the technique of thanka painting and purchase a thanka (Buddhist mural). See also Bhaktapur for more options for shopping for thankas.
Wander through the many temples, pagodas, courtyards and the museum at Kathmandu Durbar Square, a timeless gathering spot and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Kathmandu Durbar Square, including the old royal palace, is Kathmandu’s ‘Palace Square’, a showcase for the world renown artisans and craftsmen of Kathmandu and a synthesis of Hindu and Buddhist palaces, temples, stupas and statues. The Malla and Shah kings ruled over the Kathmandu Valley during the centuries of the building of the layers of this Durbar Square. Along with their opulent palaces, the square surrounds numerous courtyards and temples, all works of art with intricate and often erotic carvings. Kathmandu Durbar Square is known as Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a name derived from a statue of Hanuman, the monkey devotee of Lord Ram, at the entrance of the palace. The social, religious and urban focal point of the city, Durbar Square is often the site of festivals, marriages and other ceremonies such as Teej. Some important structures are Hanuman Dhoka Palace, Kumari Ghar (Abode of the Living Goddess), Taleju Temple, built between the 12th and 18th centuries, the 17th century stone inscription set into the wall of the palace with writings in 15 languages.
In the evening (take the interesting back streets from Durbar Square) climb the many steps to the gilded Swayambhunath stupa (known as the monkey temple) which rises from the Kathmandu valley floor at 1420 meters and is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal. Swayambunath, the ‘self created’ stupa, was founded over 2000 years ago at a time when the Kathmandu valley was filled by a large lake, with a single lotus in the center. Mythology says that Manjusri, a bodhisvatti, drained the lake with one cut of his sword and the lotus flower was transformed into the stupa. From its commanding views of Kathmandu, circumambulate Swayambunath’s white-washed stupa, painted with distinctive Buddha eyes, the complex a unique synthesis of Buddhism and Hinduism. Another interesting time to visit Swayambunath is in the mornings, when Nepalis visit the temple dedicated to the God of Smallpox to with colorful offerings for the goddess.
Stop to photograph reflections in Kathmandu’s many pokhari’s, or ponds, including the beautiful Rani Pokhari (queen’s bath) near New Road, and the Naga Pokhari (pond of the snake gods of the underworld) just beyond the palace gates. The many bathing ghats, square enclosures with steps leading down to water spouts, often decorated with naga heads, are also interesting and colorful gathering spots.
+Entrance Fees not Included for Single Person
Kathmandu | Half Day World Heritage Patan Durbar Square Sightseeing Tour
Visit the third of Kathmandu’s ancient capitals, known as ‘The City of Fine Arts’, best if you have an extra day in hand as Patan is also rich in cultural heritage, has many lovely roof-top cafes for lunch and world-class museums. Some of the highlights of Patan are its Durbar Square, the Krishna Temple within the palace complex of Patan (entirely made of stone, with 21 distinctive spires), and Hiranya Varna Mahavir, or the Golden Buddha Temple.
+ Entrance Fees not Included for Single Person
Kathmandu Valley | Full Day World Heritage Bhaktapur & Changu Narayan Sightseeing Tour
One more day in Kathmandu, with a sightseeing excursion by private vehicle to Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur which translates as ‘Place of Devotees’ and is also known as Bhadgaon, is an ancient Newar city approximately 15 kilometers east of the Kathmandu Valley. Bhaktapur is one of three ancient capitals of the Kathmandu valley, the capital of the Newar Kingdom and a city of artisans and craftspeople famous for its art and architecture: intricate carvings, sculptures, paintings, thankas, pottery, statues and temples, or pagodas. Bhaktapur has a well-preserved ‘durbar square’, or palace square, and has been named a World Heritage site by UNESCO because of its incredible temples, pagodas, wood carvings, stone carvings and metalwork. Bhaktapur is also famous for its yogurt, called curd in Asia, a taste which hasn’t been duplicated anywhere.
Spend the day exploring Bhaktapur and its rich cultural heritage, where a majority of enthnic Newaris live in traditional ways, and life seems to stand still. There are many great restaurants and cafes to rejuvenate, and it’s possibly the best spot in Kathmandu for purchasing a thanka after watching the technique, as well as shopping for endless other locally produced crafts. Bhaktapur is home to countless local festivals, so if you are lucky and arrive on a festival day, enjoy the timeless and colorful events unfold.
You’ll also visit at Changu Narayan, a few km from Bhaktapur and one of Kathmandu’s oldest Newari temple villages. Legend has it that Changu Narayan was given to the daughter, Champak, of a Kashmiri king of Nepal when she wedded the prince of Bhaktapur. The important Vishnu temple is one of the oldest temples in all of Nepal, and was damaged during the 2015 earthquakes.
+ Entrance Fees not Included for Single Person
Everest Sightseeing Mountain Flight
An hour long extravaganza of the world’s 8000 meter peaks. Airport Transfers not Included. (+$250 or Market Price)
Everest Sightseeing Helicopter Tour
Inquire for prices and options for a once in a lifetime helicopter trip flying right over Everest Base Camp, Kala Pattar, the Khumbu Glacier, plus incredible views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Ama Dablam, Pumori and more! Cost per helicopter, option to stop at Everest View Hotel for an ‘Everest breakfast’. (+$Inquire for Options)
Cycling Trip Kathmandu Valley
Many options for day trips, or extended trips, in the Kathmandu Valley. We can customize a cycling trip for you in partnership with one of our knowledgeable partners in Kathmandu. (+$Inquire for Options)
Shivapuri Heights Cottages
A wonderful get away 20 km north of Kathmandu, Shivapuri Heights Cottages are stylishly designed and personal cottages built around a ‘common house’, where you can breakfast overlooking the stunningly beautiful Kathmandu valley. Massages available on request. (+$Inquire for Options)
Extra Days in Kathmandu | Customize your Journey!
We have plenty of great suggestions for extra days, or weeks, in Nepal! See our Nepal & Kathmandu Modules | Customize Your Trip! for ideas to put together the perfect journey.
We recommend Kathmandu Valley heritage tours to Bhaktapur or Patan (the Kathmandu Valley’s other historic capital cities), mountain biking, river rafting, yoga retreats, get-aways to Gorkha, Bandipur, Panauti or Namo Buddha to visit traditional hill villages, temples, monasteries and fortresses or a tour of the Newari temple of Changu Narayan and a night at the Fort Hotel in Nagarkot for sublime Himalayan panoramas!
Everest sightseeing flight or an epic helicopter tour over Everest Base Camp, a luxurious stay at Temple Tree Resort & Spa in Pokhara or Himalayan Front in Sarangkot, paragliding, hiking or zip-lining over Phewa Lake, a spa + wellness getaway at Dwarikas Resort in Dhulikhel, a relaxing, luxury wildlife excursion to Chitwan National Park staying at Tharu Lodge or Maruni Sanctuary Lodge, a chic wildlife safari in Bardia National Park at Tiger Tops, a weekend of adventure, sauna and pampering at The Last Resort or 5-star treatment in historic Dwarika’s Heritage Hotel in Kathmandu.
Kamzang Journeys can customize any of these wonderful excursions for you!
Everest Heli Tours
Everest Helicopter Tour Kwondge | Dinner Sunset & Sunrise over Everest – Yeti Mountain Home
An epic private helicopter tour for an extra day in the spectacular Khumbu region. Sunset dinner and sunrise breakfast overlooking some of the best Himalayan views on the planet! Board your private helicopter from Namche for the quick flight to Kwongde YMH Lodge, and enjoy lunch overlooking this vast panorama of peaks. Views include some of the highest peaks on the planet, including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Gyajung Khang (the highest peak under 8000m), and the majestic Ama Dambam. From the YMH Lodge, you can look down on Kwonde Lake, generally hidden, and up the awe-inspiring Khumbu valley. The Kwongde YMH (Yeti Mountain Home) is a luxury lodge, one of the world’s highest hotels in one of the Himalaya’s most dramatic locations. Your epic helicopter tour finishes back in Namche Bazaar, but you have the option to charter the helicopter back to Lukla or Kathmandu.
+ Price Per Helicopter – Namche to Namche ($1800)
+ Max 4 Passengers
+ Price Per Person Yeti Mountain Home – Breakfast + Dinner ($175)
+ Single Supplement ($75)
Everest Mountain Helicopter Sightseeing Tour | Namche to Namche | Lukla, Everest Base Camp, Cho La Pass (Gokyo Valley), Renjo La Pass (Thame Valley) & Namche
A once in a lifetime helicopter tour of the Everest region’s spectacular peaks, glaciers, and Himalayan passes! Your private helicopter picks you up in Namche Bazaar, from where you will fly over the Khumbu Glacier and to Everest Base Camp, as well as the incredible Everest icefall. You will have a chance to stop on Kala Pattar for photos of this spectacular setting. Back in your helicopter, your flight path takes you over Dzongla Lake, the glaciated Cho La pass, and into the stunningly beautiful Gokyo valley, flying low over the turquoise Gokyo Lake, with another touch down to splash some sacred lake on yourself before crossing the Renjo La pass to the traditional Thame valley, the old trade route to Tibet. Your epic helicopter tour finishes back in Namche Bazaar, but you have the option to charter the helicopter back to Lukla or Kathmandu.
+ Price Per Helicopter ($2750) – Namche to Namche
+ Max 4 Passengers
Everest Mountain Epic Sightseeing Tour | Kathmandu to Kathmandu | Lukla, Everest Base Camp, Cho La Pass (Gokyo Valley) & Namche
The full helicopter deal, all the way from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp, and much more! A once in a lifetime helicopter tour of the Everest region’s spectacular peaks, glaciers, and Himalayan passes! Your private helicopter picks you up at Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu, from where you will fly up to the fabled Tenzin Norgay airport in Lukla. After a cup of tea in Lukla, you will reboard your helicopter and fly over the Khumbu Glacier and to Everest Base Camp and the sublime Everest icefall. You will have the unique chance to stop at Everest Base camp for photos of this spectacular setting.
Back in the helicopters, your flight path takes you over beautiful Dzongla Lake, the glaciated Cho La pass, and into the stunningly beautiful Gokyo valley, flying low over the turquoise Gokyo Lake and down the Gokyo Valley. Your epic helicopter continues by flying back over Namche Bazaar, and back through Nepal’s lush middle hills to Kathmandu.
+ Price Per Helicopter ($5000) – Kathmandu to Kathmandu
+ Max 4 Passengers
Great Stays
BOUTIQUE & LUXURY HOTELS | KATHMANDU VALLEY
Kathmandu Guest House
Kathmandu Guest House
The Kathmandu Guest House is one of Kathmandu’s first hotels, originally a Rana Palace. Located in the heart of Thamel, the Kathmandu Guest House is a beautiful, lively hotel with a large garden and lovely outdoor cafes, centrally located in Thamel with a wide range of restaurants, cafes, yoga and shopping surrounding it. KGH offers a wide selection of rooms, including their wonderful deluxe rooms.
“Travelers know that the frenetic pace of a crowded city like Kathmandu needs an escape. The Kathmandu Guest House, a converted Rana dynasty mansion with fragrant gardens and airy corridors, has provided the peaceful refuge of choice since 1967. Since the days of being the first and only hotel in Thamel, the packed tourist district of Kathmandu, it’s become something of an institution. It’s close to everywhere and its gate is the meeting point that nobody can mistake. As a guidebook put it, “Kathmandu Guest House acts as a magnet for mountaineers, pop stars, actors and eccentric characters.” Even the Beatles stayed here in 1968. Whether you’re returning from the mountains or arriving from the airport, come and relax at the courtyard restaurant, order a cup of fine Italian coffee or a chilled Gorkha Beer, and escape for a moment in the historic surroundings of Kathmandu’s most loved guesthouse.”
Kathmandu Guest House Timeline
KGH History
Dwarika’s
Dwarika’s Hotel
Dwarika’s, Kathmandu’s premier hotel built and decorated with traditional Kathmandu valley architecture, is an oasis of calm located near the airport, where you can relax by the pool, visit the award-winning spa, enjoy the serene, historic surroundings and dine at one of their world-class restaurants.
“Dwarika’s Hotel was registered in 1977, with the idea of reviving the architectural splendour of the valley. All the terracotta work was made in the valley, using local clay and skills. The couple also incorporated elements of Nepal’s diverse cultural heritage, including those from beyond the valley, when designing the rooms. The furniture was crafted by families of traditional carpenters, and the linen, textiles and embroideries were hand woven and used Nepali patterns. In all purposes, Dwarika Das Shrestha took some of the finest elements of Nepali crafts, and presented them in a way that had not been done before. In explaining his vision, he once stated: “My project is to recreate a 15th-17th century environment where tourist and Nepali alike would have a sensation of the original. The hotel as a commercial enterprise is merely a vehicle to finance and carry my dream forward.”
History of Newari Culture in Kathmandu. Inspiration for the Heritage Architecture of Dwarika’s
Newari History in Kathmandu
History of Dwarika’s
Dwarika’s History
Dwarika’s Resort Dhulikhel
Dwarika’s Resort
A top-notch resort, with a wonderful spa, and wellness, and yoga retreats, on the Kathmandu Valley rim. “With the belief in the need for maintaining harmony between the body, mind, spirit and the planet for a peaceful, healthy and balanced life; the Dwarika’s Resort is built on the philosophy of respecting nature and self. The resort takes its inspiration from ancient Hindu Vedic scriptures (Vedas), Buddhist medicine and traditional Himalayan knowledge. The Himalayan belt has been home to holistic healing and wellbeing for more than three thousand years. The region’s approach to wellbeing, its serene natural beauty and rare medicinal herbs has attracted great sages through time. The Hindu Vedic scriptures describe Ayurveda, the science of life, as a comprehensive approach to wellbeing that encompasses the study of biology, spirituality, psychology, astronomy, nutrition and beauty. Originating from the same roots the Buddhist approaches to wellbeing also follows similar path and views health as harmony between the mind, body, spirit and one’s environment.
The resort has been designed based on the knowledge of these ancient understanding about holistic wellbeing with all the spaces being consecrated and brought to life. The lifestyle spaces within the resort are designed to attract positive energy and keep negative energy at bay. When you go around the resort you can find details we have placed in various spaces to ensure the energy within the resort is as positive as possible. For example, the resort is surrounded by Cactus (Ketuki), which is believed to cleanse the space around it of all the negative energy and attract positive energy instead. Hence, adding to the calm and nurturing environment offered within the resort. The resort also offers various activities within these spaces to enhance and add value to our guests’ experience.”
Yak & Yeti
Yak & Yeti
Yak & Yeti is one of Kathmandu’s historic 5-star hotels, steeped in history, with a lovely pool and garden, located just off Durbar Marg, a tree-lined, upscale road of shops and hotels. ” Yak & Yeti opened in 1977 as a 120 room, 5-star hotel – the first of its kind in Nepal. A new wing of an additional 150 rooms was built in harmony with the architectural features of the old palace, Lal Durbar, bringing the room total to 270. The whole hotel is a sumptuous array of beautiful artifacts, art, and traditionally crafted fixtures. Attention to detail has been meticulously considered throughout, giving the feeling you aren’t just in a hotel as much as an art gallery or museum. Over the years the hotel has been upgraded and extended and now boasts a shopping arcade, a swimming pool, two tennis courts and a state-of-the-art fitness center and luxury spa.”
Hyatt Regency
Hyatt Regency
The Hyatt is a stylish, 5-star hotel located near Boudhanath, with a large pool, a great buffet breakfast, a gym and a mix of Buddhist and Hindu decor in the lobby and rooms. “Hyatt Regency Kathmandu is a five-star luxury hotel and resort in Kathmandu, set on 37 acres of landscaped grounds and created in the traditional Newari style of Nepalese architecture. This beautiful hotel and resort is located on the road to the Boudhanath Stupa: the most holy of all Tibetan Buddhist shrines outside of Tibet and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located within a five-minute walk from the hotel. The hotel is just 4km (2.4m) from the Tribhuvan International Airport and 6 km (3.7m) from the city center of Kathmandu.”
Hotel Tibet
Hotel Tibet
“Since 1998, Hotel Tibet has set the standard for showcasing the warmth of Tibetan hospitality. Newly renovated post-COVID, we have worked towards merging modern elements with traditional Tibetan aesthetic to provide you with the utmost convenience and comfort and to make your stay with us a memorable experience. We have newly-renovated rooms, divided into deluxe, club, and suite categories that combine contemporary and traditional Tibetan designs. Our rooms are especially designed with your comfort in mind, featuring plush bedding, modern furnishings, and elegant decor.”
Dusit Princess
Dusit Princess
Kathmandu’s BEST rooftop bar, restaurant and pool. Brother of the owner of Hotel Tibet, which shares the property. “Make Dusit Princess Kathmandu your base for exploring Nepal’s vibrant capital. Comfort, value and convenience will define your stay, with warm Thai and Nepalese hospitality woven into every moment. Conveniently located in upmarket Lazimpat, the hotel has international restaurants and Narayanhiti Palace Museum on its doorstep.”
Marriott
Marriott
The Marriot was completed in 2020, located just near Nag Pokhari, with Kathmandu’s best buffet! “Retreat to Kathmandu Marriott Hotel, a 214-room contemporary hotel in the capital city of Kathmandu. Settle into spacious, well-appointed rooms and suites, many with views of the Himalayan range. Dine in our hotel restaurants, featuring International cuisine at Thamel Kitchen and Asian cuisine at Edamame. Relax at Raksi Music Bar with delicious food and beverages overlooking our waterfall terrace. Get pampered in our full-service hotel spa and salon, take a dip in our outdoor pool or work out in our 24-hour fitness center.”
Sheraton Hotel
Sheraton Hotel
One of Kathmandu’s great rooftop bars and pools! “Surrounded by the Himalayas, The Sheraton Kathmandu Hotel is conveniently located along the city’s main road, Kantipath. Once the Royal Palace for the kings of Nepal, The Narayanhiti Palace Museum is nearby as are embassies, banks and corporate offices. Tribhuvan International Airport is forty minutes away.
Kathmandu’s most popular tourist area, Thamel is located adjacent to the hotel and is filled with restaurants, bars, cafés and shops. In addition to traditional woolen items, pashmina shawls and scarves, as well as mountaineering equipment, you can savor some delightful Nepalese cuisine, including dumplings called momos, dal, and kwati, a delicious Newari curry soup made with a variety of beans.
This 20,000 SM GFA, 218-key Sheraton Hotel is located on a 6,647 SM site in the center of Kathmandu. The hotel includes food and beverage, a 900 SM banquet hall, meeting rooms, spa and gymnasium facilities and back-of-house areas.”
The Terraces
The Terraces
“The Terraces Resort and Spa is a luxury resort in Nepal, offering stunning views of the Kathmandu Valley and majestic Himalayas located near the border of Bhaktapur with easy access from Lalitpur. We provide the perfect environment to unwind, reconnect with nature and celebrate life’s special moments. Our friendly and professional staff is dedicated to catering to your every need, guiding you to discover the best of Nepal’s culture and nature through bespoke activities and tours. Immerse yourself in the historical sites of Bhaktapur or venture into the scenic landscapes of Lakuri Bhanjyang, creating unforgettable experiences that embrace the essence of Nepal. The Terraces is not just a luxury resort in Kathmandu – it is a destination where you can savor life to the fullest.
The resort, located just 16km from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, fuses international sensibilities with the best of what Nepal has to offer: Stunning mountain views, fresh air, wide open spaces and organic food. Each spacious room or suite comes with a terrace balcony. The only barrier between you and the beautiful world outside is floor-to-ceiling windows.”
BOUTIQUE HOTELS
There are many other boutique and character-filled hotels and guesthouses around the Kathmandu Valley. Just a few that we like listed, but this is not AT ALL an extensive list.
KATHMANDU | THREE CAPITALS
Potala Guesthouse – Thamel
Hotel Roadhouse – Thamel
Kantipur Temple House – Thamel
Nepali Ghar – Thamel
Aloft by Marriot – Thamel
Hotel Mulberry – Thamel (Pool)
1905 Suites – Nag Pokhari
Hotel Manaslu – Lazimpat
Hotel Shambala – Bainsbari – Maharajganj (Pool)
Babar Mahal Vilas – Babar Mahal
Hotel Padma – Boudhanath
Rokpa Guest House – Boudhanath
Hotel Shambaling – Boudhanath
Hotel Tibet International – Boudhanath
Hotel Lotus Gems – Boudhanath (Pool)
Cozy Nepal – Patan
Pahan Chhen – Patan
Traditional Stay Patan – Patan
The Inn Patan – Patan
Traditional Homes | Swota – Patan
Peacock Guest House – Bhaktapur
Hotel Heritage – Bhaktapur
KATHMANDU VALLEY & AROUND
The Fort Resort – Nagarkot
Hotel Mystic Mountain – Nagarkot
Gaia Holiday Home – Dhulikhel
Gokarna Forest Resort – Gokarna
Shivapuri Heights Cottages – Budhanilkanta, Shivapuri
The Old Inn – Bandipur
The Famous Farm – Nuwakot
Gorkha Gaun Resort – Gorkha
Terraces Resort – Lhakuri Bhanjyang Lamatar
Balthali Village Resort – Panauti
Park Village Resort – Budhanilkhanta (Pool)
POKHARA & AROUND
Begnas Lake Resort – Begnas Lake (Pool)
Hotel Karuna – Pokhara
Temple Tree Hotel & Spa – Pokhara (Pool)
Lakeview Resort – Pokhara
Hotel Barahi – Pokhara (Pool)
Summit River Lodge – Kurintar (Kathmandu – Pokhara Highway)
Ghale Gaun Homestay – Ghale Gaun (Near Besi Sahar)
FARMHOUSES & HOMESTAYS
Namo Buddha Resort – Namo Buddha
Herb Nepal – Bhaktapur
Nagarkot Farmhouse – Nagarkot
Srijana Farms – Tansen, Palpa
The Bosan Farmhouse – Bosan Danda
Almost Heaven Farm – Ilam
Barpeepal Bisauni Homestay – Ilam
KATHMANDU POOLS
Hyatt Regency – Boudhanath
Dwarika’s Hotel – Near Airport
Park Village Resort – Budhanilkhanta
Hotel Shanker – Lazimpat
Hotel Shambala – Bainsbari – Maharajganj
Marriott – Nag Pokhari
Yak & Yeti – Durbar Marg
Hotel Mulberry – Thamel
Photos
KIM BANNISTER PHOTOGRAPHY | HIMALAYAN TREKS, CYCLE TRIPS & TRAVELS
Kim Bannister Photography
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The Yellow Tent of Eternal Happiness
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