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Upper Arun River Trek

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Visit Lhomi villages near Tibetan border where Arun breaches the high Himalaya massif

During Nepal civil war it was not easy to trek in the upper Kosi and Mechi zones of Eastern Nepal as this part of the country was prone to ambushes by bandit groups some of which posed as Maoist rebels or by the rebels themselves selling communist ideology and collecting donations. Either way trekking in districts of Ilam, Taplejung and Sankuwasabha offers number of much overlooked treks. One of those is a trek to the upper villages of the Arun river. The trek when carried out as roundtrip from Tumlingtar airport is a moderate difficulty trek. It offers fascinating glimpse of the ethnic groups populating this part of Nepal, namely Ancient Nepalese ethnic groups that populate the Eastern Nepal Midlands, namely Rais, who have settled west of the Arun River in altitudes between 4,300 and 7,400 feet above sea level, and the dispersed villages of the Limbus found between altitudes of 2,500 to 5,000 feet above sea level.

 

But the highlight are the villages of the Lhomi Bhote in the far north, the Tibetan population group whose villages, Hatia, Chepuwa, Ritak and Thudam, are found as far north as where Arun breaches the high Himalaya. The Lhomi Bhote build themselves interesting houses that range from all bamboo and bamboo matting type of structures elevated on stilts of tree trunks or stones, to all stone houses with wooden shingles, or even houses of solid timber. Trekking in the Eastern Nepal you also encounter fine Newari bazaar villages as well as remote settlements of the Sherpas.

For those preferring to add strenuous trekking to virgin parts of the High Himalaya, the upper Arun river trek can also be combined with a traverse to the Tamur river watershed, to Topkegola at approximately 13,000 feet, and from there traverse the isolated Jaljale Himal high ridge, reaching altitudes over 15,000 feet/4800m above sea level, a spectacular traverse in remote Himalayas visited by only a few trekkers, then following the lower Milke Danda ridge and a stop at fine Newari town of Chainpur return back to Tumlingtar. For ideal flight connections to and within Nepal, search flight comparison websites to find the best deals and cheapest airfares available.

 

Another trek to consider is the alternative approach from the Arun River watershed to Solukhumbu via Salpa La to Sonam and Gudel to Lukla or to Sallery / Phaplu in Lower Solu. This trek can be designed as stand alone trek, as part of a trek in Solukhumbu, or as an extension to Arun River Trek.

 

Upper Arun River Trek

 

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu
Day 02: Kathmandu sightseeing
Day 03: Fly Kathmandu to Tumlingtar, 500m/800 ft above sea level
Day 04: Trek to Bhotebas (1800m)
Day 05: Trek to Num
Day 06: Trek via Hedanga to Lamobagar (1100m)
Day 07: Trek via Sempung (2200m) to Hatia (1800m)

Day 08: Trek via Honggaon to Chepuwa (2500m)

*From Honggaon one can ascent to northwest ridge to Thulo Pokari, some 7 hours from Honggaon, en route to Popti La, offering views into Tibet. From Chepuwa there is a trail to Kimathangka, the last Sankhuwasabha village on the border with Tibet.
Day 09: Trek via Chemthang to Ritak (2800)

*From Ritak there is a route to Rakha La pass leading north into Tibet.
Day 10: Trek to Thudam (3400m)

Day 11: Explore around Thudam, a junction for entering Jaljale Himal and Milke Danda cloud forest above Tamur river to the south, and jump off point for an easterly route into Walungchung Gola in far Eastern Nepal.
Day 12: Trek returning to Honggaon
Day 13: Trek to Hedanga
Day 14: Trek to Bhotebas
Day 15: Trek to Tumlingtar
Day 16: Fly back to Kathmandu
Day 17: Free day in Kathamndu
Day 18: Depart Nepal

 

Upper Arun, Jaljale Himal & Milke Danda Trek

 

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu
Day 02: Kathmandu sightseeing
Day 03: Fly Kathmandu to Tumlingtar, 500m/800 ft above sea level
Day 04: Trek to Bhotebas (1800m)
Day 05: Trek to Num
Day 06: Trek via Hedanga to Lamobagar (1100m)
Day 07: Trek via Sempung (2200m) to Hatia (1800m)

Day 08: Trek via Honggaon (2500m) to Chepuwa (2700m)

*From Honggaon one can ascent to northwest ridge to Thulo Pokari, some 7 hours from Honghaon, en route to Popti La, offering views into Tibet. From Chepuwa there is a trail to Kimathangka, the last Sankhwasabha village on the border with Tibet.
Day 09: Trek via Chemthang to Ritak (2800)

*From Chemthang there is an alternate route to Thudam.
Day 10: Trek to Thudam (3300m)

*Thudam is our junction for entering Jaljale Himal, but also jump off point for a forbidden pass leading into Tibet.
Day 11: Trek to Yala
Day 12: Trek over Kang La to Bhanjyang (4175m)

* An alternate route leads from here into Walungchung Gola in far Eastern Nepal.
Day 13: Trek to Topke Gola
Day 14: Rest day
Day 15: Trek to Panch Pokhari
Day 16: Trek following high ridge of Jaljala Himal (4800m)
Day 17: Follow ridge descending toward Milke Danda cloud forest (3900m)
Day 18: Trekking Milke Danda ridge to Gupha Pokhari (2,800m)
Day 19: Trek to Mywa Gola above Tamur River (1880m)
Day 21: Trek to Chainpur (1200m)
Day 22: Trek to Tumlingtar
Day 23: Fly back to Kathmandu
Day 24: Free day in Kathamndu
Day 25: Depart Nepal

 

Lower Arun River to Solukhumbu

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu
Day 02: Kathmandu sightseeing
Day 03: Fly Kathmandu to Tumlingtar, 500m/800 ft above sea level
Day 04: Trek to Katike Ghat

Day 05: Trek to Gothe Bazaar (2500m)

Day 06: Trek to Salpa Phedi

Day 07: Trek over Salpa La (3350m) /Salpa Banjyang (3750m)

*Visit holy Salpa Pokhari

Day 08: Trek to Sanam (2850m)

Day 09: Trek Surkie La to Gudel 

Day 10: Trek to Bung

Day 11: Trek to Najing Dingma

*Cross Pangkonma La (2900m)

Day 12: Trek Pangaon to Puiyan (2750m)

*From here we can continue to Lukla (2800m, about 4 hours) and on further north to Namche Bazaar and beyond or east to Lower Solu, to Sallery, visit scenic Junbesi and Tragshindo Gompa, and fly back to Kathmandu from Phaplu.

 

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Other treks in Arun river / Makalu - Barun National Park region: Makalu Base Camp, Barun Valley trek

 

DATES

 Private Tours Only
Land Costs
Quote on Request
Difficulty Level

moderate

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