Pattale Dhap – Demba – Peekye – Junbesi Trek

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, visit Swayambhunath, located on a lovely little hill to the northwest city centre, the most sacred site for Buddhists. The self-originated shrine is believed to have been built in its current form around 250 B.C. The stupa, painted with a pair of the Buddha’s all-seeing eyes, stands on a lotus mandala base on all four sides. The site offers a complete view of Kathmandu valley, its surroundings, and the northeast’s Himalayas.

In continuity, drive to Patan, one of the three medieval cities of Kathmandu valley and one of the World Heritage sites among the seven World Heritage sites of Kathmandu valley, located 7-kilometres south-west of Kathmandu. The city known by Lalitpur, the City of Arts, was a renowned Buddhist centre in Asia has four Ashok built Stupas and a multitude of miniature stupas, monasteries, viharas and temples. At Patan, we visit its Durbar Square, the Golden Temple, Thousand Buddha, and its museum, among other sites, which explains Buddhism and Hinduism in extensive labels within the living traditions and context.

In the evening, visit the Durbar Square of Kathmandu, an example of the urban architecture of the Malla dynasty with 19 storey buildings, temples and palaces, and resident of living goddess Kumari. Kathmandu Durbar Square, the old palace complex that exhibits a mass of temples and palaces, including the Gaddi Baithak Durbar, constructed in 1908, the Basantapur Durbar, or the old Royal Palace, and the Kumari Chowk or the residence of the Living Goddess. Basantapur is amongst the most attractive sites in the bustling centre of Kathmandu, and a western traveller around two hundred years ago wrote that there were more temples than houses and idols than people in its city. Lying in the heart of Kathmandu, the Durbar Square is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and not to miss sites. The individual building, palaces, and temples have intricately carved doors, lattice windows, and struts full of mythic and erotic figures.

We finalise with the tour and ride a rickshaw and roll through its old city market centre, the Ason Bazaar, seeing what the Nepalese people buy and sell in their daily run.

An 8 hours drive

We make a long travel day of approximately 8 hours. It is long not because of the distance but because the road conditions do not allow the Jeep to roll faster. The road to our destination passes through a beautiful river valley and a ridge line through Okhaldhunga Hill with beautiful sceneries of lower valleys and horizon. Today we stay at Pattale Dhap, 240 kilometers east of Kathmandu, the starting point of the trek. There are fine views of the Himalayas to the northeast, including Karylung, Khatanga, Dudh Kunda, Thamserku, Makalu and Everest. The first overnight stop at Pattale is rewarded with several beautiful views of Everest, including sunset and sunrise. The areas are home to the Sherpa and Magar communities.

A 4 hours trekking

Weather permitting, before breakfast, we take a short hike to visit the Changesthan Temple on the Dhap, the highest point in the region with fantastic views. Pattale has one of the best, simply unparalleled, views of Mount Everest. Retun to hotel, have breakfast and start the first day of the walk.

The first day of trekking mostly goes through a ridgeline, the borderline dividing the Okhaldung and Solukhumbu districts, the views are incredible. For lunch, we arrive at Singane with eight houses, the main old village of Singane is further 30 minutes down to the east from the new Singane Village. The newly constructed motor road has destroyed many sections of the ancient trail and requires you to walk on them, but only the occasional Jeep may be seen. The east and west of the ridgeline are the Sherpa villages of Kerung, Dalda Kharka, Gora Khani, Garma, Chyangba and Salleri. The new Singane village is developing for teahouse business for tourists and local passers-by. After Singane, the trail climbs gently north and arrives at Tadapani at 2900m, another best viewpoint ridgeline to enjoy the Himalayan scenery. After Tadapani, it is another 20-minute walk to the village of Japre, a tiny village with a small monastery, mani-wall and a stupa at an elevation of 2920 metres. Japre lies above a deep valley with lovely views of Mount Everest and Mount Numbur range, where we will spend our overnight.

A 5 hours trekking

From Japre, the trail enters into tall pine and rhododendron tree and climbs up through a grassy ridge until Rakhop Dalda at 3,372 metres above sea level, a beautiful open view towards Mount Everest, including Makalu and Kanchenjunga and Karylung range. From here, a trail splits to Tolaka Monastery to the west in a distance of 40 minutes walk through a beautiful rhododendron forest. Further continuing, about an hour, we reach Bulbule at 3500 metres with a single basic lodge. Most of the path offers an excellent view of the Mount Everest range, better than many vantage points of the Everest region trek. Just after leaving Bulbule, the trail splits to Taklung and Peekye. We turn right to Taklung through a small gorge dense with rhododendron. As soon as we take the trail to Taklung, the views toward the east disappear, and the view toward Taklung, Dembala and Patle extends in front with beautiful views of a dense forest of Himalayan Pine. We cross a recently opened dirt road,  cross the road further down and meet an ancient trail to Taklung; the rest of the 20 minutes’ walk is pleasantly through a lovely forest. Taklung is situated on a hill saddle and is a traditional Yak grazing meadow with three mani-walls. Currently, a basic accommodation facility is promoted by a Sherpa family, who also has a herd of Dzom (Nak, Yak and Dzom are from the same family). From Taklung, the views toward the east are panoramic with Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Langtang, Ganesh, the most imposing Jomo Tseringma, Chobuche, Teri Kang, Karilung, Dudhkunda and Khatanga and off course the Peekye Peak and beautiful ridge that extends from Bulbule to Wajang-Ri. Wajang-Ri is the viewpoint to the northeast above the Taklung, which takes an hour to reach. The views of the lower valley include the villages of Golla, Gepchuka, Bhandar, Kyama, Tyechhema, etcetera. It is a point to enjoy the sunrise and sunset colour on the grand Himalayan chain!

A 3 ½ hours’ trekking.

The morning starts gently toward the south through the ridge with open views. The trail traverses a high ridge through the rhododendron and Himalayan Pine Forest. The trail descends for about 30 minutes to Goanding, with a lonely monastery in between of nowhere. The atmosphere is beautiful, with a meadow facing east, a Buddhist monastery, a stupa and a mani-wall. From Goanding, the trail again takes its height toward the south and traverses a hill ridge facing west with a beautiful Himalayan chain in front. Among them, the most imposing is Jomo Tseringma. The scenery extends with countless hills and dispersed villages. The trail, all the way to Demba, traverses through a dense rhododendron forest with beautiful views to the west and north, including Peekye Peak and the summit of Mount Everest, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga are again in sight. The fascinating villages seen from our walk are the Golla, Gepchuka, Bhandar, Bussinga, Rawadolu, Pulika, Kilkhordingma monastery etc. Arrive at Demba and check into our lodge, lunch and rest.

In the late afternoon, we take a short panoramic tour to Demba La (3360m), the highest point. The trail from our lodge to the Demba La (Demba Peak) is very scenic, with a 360-degree view. The grand views stretch from west to north; the prominent figures in front are Dhaulagiri (very far), Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Jugal Himal, the most imposing Mount Gaurishankar and other mountains of Rolwaling Range, Numbur Himal, Everest, and Makalu Mountain ranges.

At Demba La, there are two distinct summits. The main summit has a concrete pillar placed here for a geographical marking, but locals believe it is the presence of a Gold Mine. The second one has a view tower and is slightly low, which is optional because the natural scenery from the ground is beautiful, and there is nothing more to see from the tower built there. Just below the tower, to the southwest, is a long ancient mani-wall and further down is a recently cement-built colourful Stupa. The views from the entire circuit are beyond description; they are beautiful! We then traverse to our lodge through the ancient forest trail. For the sunset view, walk 5 minutes above the lodge, and you have a breathtaking view of the sunset with all cloud elements and countless hills turning into shades!

Try to wake up early to enjoy the sunrise from the hill ridge above your lodge. There are several small hilltops, and the eastern side is a graveyard. Weather permitting, you can enjoy grand views of the entire atmosphere with changing colours. You can also enjoy Grand views of the lower valley and south and western horizons from the ridge.

Return to the guest house and have a hot coffee followed by breakfast. After a leisurely breakfast, we visit the region’s main monastery amidst forest surroundings. The monastery, which has the name Kilkhordingma, is the largest and most well-known monastery in the Okhaldhunga district. The main Monastery Building was devastated to the ground by the earthquake of April 2015. The stunning-looking new monastery was newly built after the 2015 earthquake and is the monastic school of the region as well. Visit the monastery, chat with the monastic teacher and tiny monks and visit the head monks.

We then return to the lodge for lunch and an hour’s rest. In the afternoon, we traverse the southeastern side of the Demba hill, taking the trail to Chuplung Byanjyang. There are stunning views of the lower valleys, villages and vast horizons. Finally, we reach a trail junction that continues to Chuplung village, which is steeply down, and another trail climbing to Demba La. We fork right and continue hiking up to Demba La, enjoying the. Grand views that open slowly from the west, starting with the views of the Dhaulagiri range (needs a good binocular to recognise correctly). Finally, the trail reaches a newly built Stupa monastery, which we visited yesterday, at Demba La, with grand views stretching from west to north; we probably saw it yesterday, weather permitting. Revisit the colourful stupa in the beautiful mountain backdrop. By the stupa, there is a lodge; if open, have tea and rest, enjoying the grand atmosphere. Then, continue enjoying the views and climb to the newly built view-finding tower we visited yesterday. Walk back to the lodge, enjoying the views with a different perspective of the surrounding landscape, mountain scenery and sunset views with magical colours.

A 6 hours trekking.

Walk on the same trail and return to Taklung, but the natural environment while returning to Taklung is a treat to our eyes. Stop in Taklung for lunch. In the Afternoon, retrace the trail till the trail junction that branches to Pattle, Taklung and Peekye and turn left to Peekye and reach at a giant stupa and mani-wall surrounding the Stupa at Lhamochhe with two teahouses. The views to the east are beautiful, with countless hills, mountains and a beautiful line of forest.

From Lhamochhe, the trail contours a beautiful forest and cliff trail. The view toward the northeast and lower valley filled with Dimbile and Gora Khani villages is open. The trail exits from the pine and rhododendron forest at a big meadow with a long mani-wall and a stupa at Samsingma. If we trek in March-May, the whole area is an open garden with many different kinds of rhododendron in bloom. The rhododendrons in the Peekye region remain in colour from the end of February to September, with different species varying in every slight altitude difference. The highest elevation plant of this species produces a unique scent, and the Sherpas use it as the most sacred incense and the flowers and plants are similar to azaleas. As we come over the forest to Samsingma 3500m, the Peekye is only at a distance of two hours, and the landscapes are stunning as it starts offering views of the western part of the Himalayan range! From our lodge at Peekye, there are fabulous sceneries to enjoy toward the south and west, including the most significant Himalayan chains on the north-western horizon.

The sunset view from the lodge at Peekye has no comparison to Nepal’s other sunset viewpoints since it dips from behind the mountains further west of Kathmandu. However, from the top of Peekye, both sunrise and sunset are truly breathtaking, so one should wake up early in the morning to view the beautiful changing colours on every mountain summit!

Sunrise excursion to Peekye Lookout. The trip begins around 5 a.m. and takes 45 minutes of gradual climb, but the Himalayas’ views to the west are open from the beginning. As the eastern horizon brightens, the first ray of the sun lands on the summit of the Himalayas, changing the colour of the top of Everest from black to gold and silver and continuously on the other giant mountain tops; such as the Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Manaslu, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri! The panorama stretches with countless hills toward the west and south, depicting an invisible horizon, just an amaze and indescribable in words with any effort. Return to the lodge, have breakfast and rest. The views from your lodge are open and no less stunning, including the sunset viewing from your dining!

Therefore, we recommend that the people spend two to three days’ rest or a busy day stroll around Peekye because the natural setting offers great sceneries of dazzling summits extending from Kanchenjunga to the east to the east and Dhaulagiri to the west.

A 3 hours trekking

A leisurely wake-up, have breakfast and continue the trek. The trail descends south through the Himalayan Juniper Forest with great views of the lower valley and reaches Torsa, a small meadow with several Yak Shades. Then the trail traverses west and descends through a lovely pine forest to Ngohur Cheese Production Centre. Visit the cheese production centre; the manager may invite you for a cup of tasty tea. If available, buy a small roll of cheese to enjoy during the rest of the trekking days.

Further, continue crossing a stream and reach Ngohur, once an important religious centre, many ancestors of the Sherpas of Goli and surrounding, including Ramechhap and Okhaldunga, came to meditate in this Peaceful and beautiful place. Unfortunately, most of the meditating hermitages disappeared in the past century, and the only surviving monastery was grounded to rubble by the powerful earthquake of 2015. These days, one can only see the ruins and some of the neighbours living there. Ngohur is situated on the top of a lovely hill, and the view towards Tseringma (Gaurishankar) and Dudh Kunda Himal is spectacular. Visit the ruined site and enjoy the sceneries, stop for lunch and continue the trek to Jasawarngyang.

The trail gradually climbs to the northeast through a dense pine and rhododendron forest and arrives at Menjyang Chhu. Peekye is a sacred mountain deity; therefore, several holy sites and caves exist. At Peekye, there are also two water springs, male and female, called Menjyang Chhu (medicinal water), one just by the Lodge at Peekye (female) and another on our way Jasawarngyang (male). The local visitors collect the water in small bottles and take it to their homes as sacred water and gifts to their elders and loved ones. Next, we cross several Yak Shade meadows, traverse a beautiful forest line, and arrive at Jasawarngyang. Jasawarngyang is a strategic hill saddle between the two valleys with two teahouses.

A 5 hours trekking

From here, a trail gradually climbs to the north through Juniper shrubs and makes a beautiful traverse under a cliff, reaching a lovely meadow at Pambuk. There is an imposing Chorten, Yak huts and superb views of the Himalayas and the valley to the southeast and Peekye. Then descend through lovely tall pine and rhododendron trees to Taktot, a beautiful open area with some basic teahouses. Further, continue to the northeast through the Taktok village with views of Salung, Tumbuk (misspelt to Toamfuk = bear cave) and Chiwang monastery and reach Junbesi.

  Junbesi is one of the ancient settlements of the Sherpa people at an altitude of 2675 metres above sea level. With some Sherpa architectural buildings, a monastery, school, health post, police check-post, and stupa, this village is one of the most preferred resting places for many trekkers. In this pretty valley, there are several monasteries, and the Thupten Chöling is one of the significant and active religious centres.

A 4 hours excursion.

This morning we will visit the monastery of Junbesi, one of the oldest monasteries in the entire region. And also visit the Thubten Chöling monastery, founded by Trulshi Rinpoche.

Trulshik Rinpoche is one of the senior-most masters of the Tibetan Buddhism tradition, the head of the Nyingma schools, and one of the teachers of His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama. Trulshik Rinpoche was also the holder of the Great Perfection (Dzogchen) and the rare teachings he regularly transmitted to the Dalai Lama. Trulshik Rinpoche was born in 1924 in Yardrok Taklung in central Tibet. At a very young age, he gets recognised as the reincarnation of the great tertön Do-ngak Lingpa and regarded as the emanation of other important masters of Tibet and India.

After leaving Tibet in 1959, following the Chinese occupation of Tibet, he founded the Thubten Chöling monastery in the Sherpa Land of Solu Khumbu region in northeastern Nepal and lived most of his time there. The Thubten Chöling is renowned as one of the foremost centres for the monastic traditions of the Nyingma schools.

In 2004, Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche initiated two important projects: a new monastery in the valley of Kathmandu, and a monastic institute in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha.

Kyabjé Trulshik Rinpoche passed away on September 2, 2011, at his monastery in Kathmandu. His enshrined holy body is in the monastic sanctuary of Solu Khumbu at Thubten Chöling and is open to the devotees for homage.

His reincarnation, or Yangsi, Ngawang Tendzin Lodrö Rabsel, was born in Kathmandu on July 25, 2013, and recognised in 2015. He was born in the family of father Lama Ngawang Jigdrel Chokyi Wongchuk Sherpa and mother, Ogyen Drolma Sherpa. The reincarnated Rinpoche’s auspicious hair cutting and enthronement was completed on May 29, 2018, on the full-moon day of Saga Dawa, the month of occurrence of the three most sacred deeds of the Buddha.

Visit the monastery and walk back to Junbesi. Have late lunch and visit its village and school.

A 5 hours of trekking.

Before starting the trek, visit the monastery of Junbesi, one of the oldest monasteries in the entire region, if you did not see it yesterday. Then, cross the river immediately after the village, walk through a pleasant rhododendron and pine forest, and descend through Sherpa villages, following the river downhill to Beni. At Beni, cross a suspension bridge and take a gradual ascent through a sparse forest and villages to Chiwang Monastery for a lunch stop and visit.

Chiwang monastery sits on a sheer cliff enjoying the 360-degree views of the surrounding; the scenery toward Phaplu airport, surrounding villages and Peekye top are lovely. The monastery is the second most active monastery in the region and is a monastic school. We visit the monastery’s surroundings, enjoy the views and take lunch with tiny monks! In the afternoon, a pleasant walk down to Phaplu, the ending point of our trek! Phaplu is the headquarters of the Solukhumbu district. On Saturdays, a significant market takes place at a spot a 30 minutes below it. Phaplu is a small Sherpa town with an airport and a hospital built by Sir Edmund Hillary.

This day if we arrive on the right day, we will dedicate ourselves to seeing the local bazaar, the weekly bazaar, when local people converge from the surrounding area. People from different walks of life come here to sell their products, from grain to milk and vegetable to clothes or let’s say that one may find everything or sell everything. So the young and herders take this day as a holiday to enjoy seeing varieties, including the people.

After visiting the market, take a 35 minutes flight to Kathmandu. Arrival to Kathmandu and the rest of the day remain free.

If we arrive on other days, we take a long but scenic Jeep drive to Kathmandu, completing our circuit at Pattate Dhap. The driving takes 9 hours!

Breakfast and a full day of visits to Kathmandu, starting with Pashupatinath Temple. A pagoda temple with gilt roofs, carved with silver doors dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated at the bank of the holy Bagmati River, and regarded as among the most sacred temples of the Hindu religion, Pashupatinath is the focus of pilgrimages culminating in the day of Shiva Ratri  (the marriage anniversary of Lord Shiva and the goddess Parvati). Pashupati is also the cremation ground in the ghats (cremation group) along the bank of River Bagmati, where the recently deceased Hindus of the Valley are cremated.

After the visit, we take a 13 kilometres drive to Bhaktapur, east of Kathmandu. Its original name is Bhadgaon, or the village of Devotees is one of the living museums of Kathmandu Valley. Bhaktapur is filled with the 55-windowed Royal Palace, the Palace of the Kumari, the temple of Taleju, the temple of Pashupati, the main square of Taumadhi Tole, Nyatapola Temple (the most imposing the tallest such architecture in all of Nepal), the temple of Akash Bhairab (the second most important temple of Bhadgaon), the Dha Hateya and the Square of the Potters. UNESCO recognises Bhaktapur as a World Heritage Site.

In the evening, visit the Boudhanath, the largest Buddhist shrine in South Asia. This ancient Chorten was built in the 5th century A.D. by King Manadeva. A series of three terraces lead up through water, fire and air segments to the pinnacle, symbolic of space and the highest spiritual attainment. The whole is surrounded by a circle of shops that form a small Tibet. Lord Buddha’s four pairs of eyes flash vividly into the cardinal directions, radiating the message of Mahayana Buddhism, known as Lamaism in Sikkim, Ladakh, Bhutan and Tibet.

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.