Rolwaling Trek
Rolwaling is a remote mountain valley in northeast Nepal, which lies at an altitude of 4000m, bordering the Everest Region on one side and Tibet on the other.
Know all about Rolwaling Valley
The Rolwaling region, nestled in the lap of Mount Jomo Tseringma (Gaurishankar) and Dolma Kang, the long-life divinities, sacred mountains for Buddhists and Hindus, is a Beyul and holy place visited and blessed by Guru Rinpoche, also called Padmasambhava. Rolwaling is a remote mountain valley in northeast Nepal, which lies at an altitude of 4000 metres, bordering the Everest Region on one side and Tibet on the other. Rolwaling Valley is not only rich in natural resources, but it has Mount Jomo Tseringma (Gaurishankar), several high mountains, including Melungtse (7,181m), unclimbed virgin Peaks and two enormous lakes, the Tso Rolpa and Omi Tso. Fed by the lakes, snow and ice, the valley is crisscrossed by beautiful streams and waterfalls flowing down over steep Rocky Mountains into the Tamakoshi River. The visitors to the Rolwaling are greeted by tall trees draped in hanging moss and a forest of bamboo and rhododendrons along the southern slope and beautiful valleys, lakes and high Himalayan Peaks rimming its horizons. Rolwaling is spectacular and unique; rivers flowing by us and high mountains soaring above us in all directions create a sacred and heavenly landscape and give us a strong spiritual feeling and peace of mind and body. Rolwaling is also the home to some of Nepal’s best Sherpa climbing guides, a small paradise on earth, the land of vast deities of Mount Jomo Tseringma and Dolma Kang and a Beyul, a sacred treasure concealed by Guru Rinpoche.
Arrive in Kathmandu, customs and immigration formalities and claim your baggage, which takes some time. Upon exiting, the arrivals get a traditional welcome from the Happy Feet Nepal representative and transfer to the hotel. Reach the hotel, and the rest of the day is free with the possibility of optional excursions (not included), but you can ask to organize any of the tours or stroll through its vibrant streets.
With three medieval cities, Kathmandu, the capital and heart of the country, symbolizes Nepal’s everything. Having lived through the several ruling dynasties of Buddhists and Hindus, the culture and society of Kathmandu Valley have evolved through time to give it more than a unique feature. Today it is an urban city, and still rapidly increasing, that has its ancient myths and, at the same time, is testimony to the greatness of people who have lived there for time immemorial.
Free day in Kathmandu in preparation for the trek, or one can join in our tour around Kathmandu at places of interest as Kathmandu city and the valley steeped with World Heritage Sites.
A 3-hour drive.
A leisurely morning! Have breakfast and departure by to reach a lodge located near a bungee jumping spot on the Bhote Kosi, one of the major rivers that have its source in Tibet. The road was the only connecting means with Tibet/China for tourism and business. Unfortunately, the 2015 Spring earthquake forced the closure of the Nepal-Tibet Friendship highway and opened a new border from Kyirong, north of Kathmandu and Trisuli and west of Langtang.
Overnight in Lodge
A 5 1/2 hours trek.
The day’s walk starts gently on paved paths and crosses small villages. The morning and afternoon feel hot as we are walking below 2000 metres. In Nepal, the colder atmosphere begins above 2400 metres; less than this altitude falls in mid-hill tropical vegetation. After Mandre village, the trail forks left and hike through a hillside terraced field. From today we start using tented camp, and our first campsite locates on a scenic shoulder between the Khagdal and Ghulche Khola valleys.
Overnight in a tented camp.
The day involves a steep climb in the forest, and there is no water until we reach Jyangdang. We come out on the crest of the Nambarjung Danda all day and reach Tinsang La. The camp sets near a water Spring, halfway to the Tinsang pass.
Overnight in a tented camp.
A 6 hours trek.
The trek continues with the regular up and down and on the hill ridge crossing the Tinsang La and the Kalinchok danda a little above the Tingsang Pass. Then, we continue east on the old path if its viability is still good. Otherwise, we take the downhill trail to the village of Rupthang.
Overnight in the tented camp.
A 5 hours trek
The morning leads an ascent to the nunnery of Bigu Gonpa. Stop here for a visit. The monastery is interesting to visit and see its collections of sculpted figurines and paintings. The trail descends through the terraces, crosses the Amatal River twice, and continues following the left bank through beautifully terraced fields. Finally, we cross several sparse settlements and villages to Chilangka.
Overnight in the tented camp.
Today the trail leads through the hilly countryside of Nepal. As everywhere in the mid-hill of the country, the terraces and tropical vegetation are on the scene the whole day. Today the altitude remains at the same level; however, the trail involves few climbs and descents, which is the natural demand of the Nepal Himalayas. We then enter the Tamakoshi River valley and reach close to Rolwaling, opposite towards the east.
Overnight in the tented camp.
The trail descends towards the Jagat village by taking a small path through the cultivated terraces. The valley is dramatically changed; roads are reached further up to the Tibetan border, and electrical powerhouses are under construction. Due to the movements, the behavioural and linguistic sweetness has been changed, including in the dresses and cultural manners.
From Jagat, the trail crosses the Tamakoshi River and climbs straight up the slope amidst terraced fields, looking lower and across the valley to Tashinam. We camp in the courtyard of the Tashinam Gonpa.
Overnight in the tented camp.
A 5 hours trek.
Today we leave the human settlement, continue climbing through terraces and stairs, and enter the forest of rhododendrons. About 600 metres in altitude, the hill slope steepens to reach a ridge that forks the trail to the right side, passing a wide pass. The trail passes through the sides of boulders blocking the passage and leaves the ridge trail to reach a water spring under a conifer tree, the only site to camp due to the water. The campsite also offers superb sunset views over the Ramechhap district hills, spreading out at our scene on the southern slope.
Overnight in the tented camp.
A 7 hours trek
From Sambur, we ascend the edge of the ridge and follow the main path from Kharka to Kharka towards a rocky peak. We bypass the rocky mountain on its left and enjoy the immense panorama of Lapchi Kang. In a short distance, cross the Daldung La pass and enjoy the views of the Melungtse (The highest of the Rolwaling mountains), the Jomo Tseringma (The Gaurishankar), Dolma Kang, Beding Go, the Chekigo and the Kang Nachugo, which forms the natural border with Tibet. After the Daldung La, cross several large grassy meadows and descend through the right bank of a scree corridor called Dzigri Drangka. The views are impressive through the moss-covered jungle leading eastwards to Rolwaling Chu with almost no loss of altitude, where a narrow wooden bridge leads back to the main path to Rolwaling. Finally, the trail reaches the left bank of the Rolwaling Khola and follows it to the right to Ngimare, the winter village of Rolwaling Sherpas.
A 4 hours trek.
A pleasant ascent to Beding village at 3,600 meters above the river bank, the main village of Rolwaling Sherpas, though made up of a few stone houses, shops, teahouses and a gonpa. Stop at the village and visit its monastery and probably a tea or leisurely lunch stop. The trail toNa continues on the grassy pastures on the left bank of the Rolwaling Chhu with a gradual rise in altitude and opening to the panoramic mountain valley to the north. Na village, traditionally a summer yak pasture, is transforming gradually into a permanent village with Lodges for accommodations and shops. The meadows around Na village, toward the Cho Rolpa and Ramdung, are filled with edelweiss, and the landscape is rimmed with giant mountains surrounding this entire valley is beautiful. The major summits are the theTsoboche, Kang Nachugo, Kang Bamongo, and Chekigo.
There are several options to spend the day. The most recommended is visiting Na and its sacred sites. The whole day trip will be to Omi Tso excursion, requiring an early departure. Omi Tso (Dudh Pokhari), or milky lake, is a place of pilgrimage for the inhabitants of Rolwaling. Strong and courageous people can climb up to 5000 metres of a beautiful ridge and enjoy a panorama. After the tour, we return to Na.
A 5 hours trek.
The morning follows the valley toward the Tso Rolpa (Original name Tso Ralwa = twin lake in Sherpa language), one of the largest glacier lakes in the Himalayas and once predicted to explode anytime and destroy the most extensive parts of the entire lower valley. Currently, the lake’s water is regulated to maintain its water level though it is expanding further north and east, swallowing its surrounding rims. The view from the lake or surroundings is beautiful, with majestic peaks on the skyline and a massive glacier to the north that we need to cross over!
Its ancient route to Tashi Lapcha is from the left bank of the lake, engulfed by the lake and turned into a sheer cliff, but some trekking maps still indicate a route. The current trail to Tashi Lapcha follows a small grassy path just to the right bank of the Cho Rolpa Lake, which will also be engulfed by the lake no later than within the next 30 to 50 years. As we cross through the rocky boulder ridge over the Cho Rolpa, the views of Trakarding glacier, its peripheral summits and Cho Rolpa Lake are superb. The trail descends about a hundred meters and reaches the camp at Khabuk, once a beautiful place out of the glacial rim is now a part of the glacier but still a small sandy plateau to camp, facing the Kang Tsoboche.
A 4 hours trek.
Walking above the glacial boulder and traversing through rocky and icy scree through a vast Himalayan environment is sometimes challenging. The valley is covered with morainic rocks but caught by the underlying ice. A confusing cairn marks the day-changing glacial trails, and most are no longer relevant, requiring some round trips if you don’t follow your guide. A clear day offers a super panorama and the noise of falling ice chunks into glacial ponds and some thundering avalanches in their regular trip down to feed the glacier. The camp gets set near the foot of the glacial, the tongue of the Trolambau glacier.
A 5 hours trek.
The first phase of the walk requires climbing up about 370 meters of a vertical cliff and reaching the snowy-plain foot of the Pharchamo Peak (also called Pharchhermo/Phapchhermo). The views of the Trolambau glacier extending toward the Cho Rolpa are unforgettable, and the mountain ranges, including the Dragkar-Go and the Dragnag-Ri, are impressive. Finally, traverse to Tashi Lapcha pass at the foot of Pharchamo, 6,273 meters peak bordering the Khumbu and Rolwaling valley. The trail just after crossing the pass and beyond is infamous for rock falling, and one must follow the guide’s footsteps.
Cross the Tashi Laptsa, descend on the left bank of the glacier on the east side of Tashi Lapcha and enter the Khumbu region. The trail traverses and crosses over an ice pebble line at the foot of the Tengi Ragi Tau sloping cliff, a beautiful and challenging peak.
This site is the base camp for the ascent of Pharchamo Peak, but some set the base at the pass below Tashi Phuk (Tashi cave). Continue the descending following a rocky ledge to reach on top of a rocky and icy corridor. The view towards Thame Valley, Ama Dablam, Everest, a moraine cordon at the foot of the glacier and our overnight camp Ngole are impressive. Take some rest, photograph and another walk to Ngole.
A 4 hour trek.
The morning requires crossing a moraine section and, finally, a pleasuring grassy ground to reach Tengpo, the yak grazing area with several herders’ yak shades and a good water source. In recent years some Yak shades are now transformed into Lodge for trekkers. The views toward Pharchamo are beautiful; just by the streams, enjoy the lunch stop admiring the views toward Tashi Lapcha and Pharchamo from where we emerged yesterday.
In the afternoon, enjoy a much more relaxing walk down to Thame village, descending on the left bank of the valley. We leave the river bed, walk through the thorn and rhododendron bushes, and reach Thame monastery, surrounded by chörtens and painted mani walls. We stop and pay a visit to the Thame monastery, amongst the three most important and ancient monasteries of the Khumbu region and the only religious and cultural centre for the people of Thame.
After the visit, enjoy an excellent path to Thame village, one of the major and ancient villages of the Sherpa people of the Khumbu region and a strategic village until the business caravan between Nepal and Tibet via the world’s highest pass, Nangpa La lived in practice until 2010. Thame is the village of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, the first Everest Summiteer with Sir Edmund Hillary, and is the village of Apa Sherpa, who earned a record of summiting Mt. Everest 21 times before leaving the country and living in the United States of America. The current record holder Kami Rita Sherpa, 26th time on the summit of Everest, is also born in Thame. From Thame, a trail leads to Gokyo Lake, one of the Everest region’s most beautiful lake valleys; another trail leads to Kwangde, and the main route leads down to Namche and Khumjung. Unfortunately, the ancient caravan path to Tibet is closed.
A 4 hours trek.
Just after leaving the village, the trail crosses the Bhote Koshi River, the river that has the source from Nangpa La and traverses to Thamo. Enjoy a gradual traverse staying high above the left bank of Bhote Koshi and reach Thamo village, the village of Ang Rita Sherpa, who holds the record of climbing Everest 10 times without bottled oxygen and the only human to climb Everest in winter without supplementary oxygen. The views toward the Tashi Lapcha, Kongde, and Kusumkangru are impressively set over the dense forest of Everest National Park.
The afternoon involves a beautiful traverse through sparse settlements and forest lines with fantastic views until we reach Namche Bazaar. Namche Bazaar lies at an altitude of 3500 metres, and it is one of the main junctions, branching trails to Thame, Khumjung and Tengboche. With the demand of the time, the Sherpa town has developed itself as a colourful and divergent market, selling everything, including trekking and mountaineering equipment. In addition, there are hotels, restaurants, pubs, cybercafes, pool houses, Banks, health posts, a monastery, and a Sherpa house museum. Most trekkers rest at Namche while going up and stop here for lunch or refreshments while returning.
A 4 hours.
Today we enjoy one of the most beautiful days of the trek. After breakfast, we make a scenic Namche to Khunde – Khumjung trek. The trail leads through the nose ridge above Namche to Syangboche, a short landing field for Pilatus porter planes. The higher we go, the more scenarios are open. The Dudh Koshi Valley, Kongde Himal, Khumbila, Tawoche, Everest, Ama Dablam, Kangthega, Thamserku and Kusumkangru are some great masses of mountains in the world surrounding us from all directions.
We further continue and cross a beautiful ridge and enter Khunde, the upper section village of the Khumbu. We visit the village, its monastery and a hospital and walk to Khumjung. At Khumjung, we stop for a hearty lunch with beautiful views of Khumbila (the sacred mountain that towers over Khunde and Khumjung village), Ama Dablam and Kangthega.
In the afternoon, we take a short hike to the Everest View Hotel, the only five-star hotel situated at the highest place in the world, at an elevation of 3,880 meters above sea level. The hotel has a spectacular view of Mount Everest, 8,848m., from every room. In addition, the hotel offers a panoramic view of Everest and many other high peaks, including the most imposing Ama Dablam (6,812m.), described by many as the most beautiful mountain they have ever seen. After a tea rest, we descend to Namche and spend another superb evening in the Himalayas.
A 6-hour Trek.
The last day of the trek! The trail descends through a lush forest to Dudh Koshi, crosses a high suspension bridge, traverses through the left bank of the river, and crosses to Jorsalle. Today we require to cross the Dudhkoshi River 5 times! The trail passes through tiny hamlets of Sherpas of Jorsalle, Monjo, Toktok, Phakdingma, Ghat and Choplung and finally to Lukla. The scenery involves mainly the lush Dudh Koshi river valley topped by sheer snowcapped mountains. From Chhoplung, the trail branches to Lukla and Jir; we take the trail to Lukla, which requires a short uphill through a thin forest above the Chaurikharka village. Finally, arrive at Lukla and get checked into a lodge. Trekking is over with a great sense of accomplishment. The evening is an occasion to celebrate and see off to your porters who accompanied you until here. The porters will travel separately to Kathmandu with one long day walk to Kharikhola and another full day drive to Kathmandu or start another trek to Everest basecamp!
A 30-minute flight.
Most flights get operated early in the morning, so we must wake up early. Take an early breakfast while the guide and porters transport your bags to the airport, take a short walk to Tenzing-Hillary airport, get checked in and fly to Kathmandu. A short scenic flight takes you to Kathmandu. Upon landing, the representative of Happy Feet Nepal will welcome you back and transfer you to your hotel. Get distributed to the rooms, and the rest of the day is free.
A reserve day to make sure of a trouble-free itinerary. If all goes well, use the extra day to visit some of the medieval towns of Kathmandu, such as Bhaktapur, Patan, Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath Stupa, some of not to miss sites in the Kathmandu valley when you are already here.
Breakfast and the rest of the day are leisure on your own. The representative of Happy Feet Nepal will arrive at your hotel with transport three hours before your departure flight time. Get escorted from the hotel to the International Departure Terminal, see off formalities, and go through the immigration and departure.
