Jugal Himal Trek - 16 Days

Flying into Kathmandu on a crystal clear day is itself a truly breathtaking experience. The views of snow-capped mountain peaks sprawling down below you are almost ecstatic, & begin a whole sequence of memorable experiences that stay with you for a real long time. Upon arrival, a representative and driver from our office will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. Our team will assist you with check-in process and provide an orientation about your daily activities. This will be your first overnight stay in the city of temples.

Kathmandu, is the historical heart of Nepal, has been a popular destination for tourists ever since the country opened its borders to outside world. The city presents a wonderful combination of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and Western influence in the Valley. Patan and Bhaktapur, its two prime neighboring cities bear immense historical, cultural and religious significances.

We will arrange a professional tour guide for you and a private tourist vehicle with a driver to explore between monuments. The tour guide will take you to UNESCO World Heritage Sites such Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath and Boudhanath Stupa, the historical and cultural sites you’ll visit today. Offering panoramic views of the valley.

After completion of your day tour, you will be having meeting with your trek guide at our office/hotel. He will brief you about the Trek and all the essentials. The Thamel has many trekking gear shops, where you can buy missing gear in the late evening and get ready for the jeep driving to Chautaara.

Today we will begin our trekking journey drive from Kathmandu to Chautara, the district headquarters of Sindhupalchok. Along the drive we will pass through the terraced hillsides, winding mountain roads, and rural villages, offering scenic views of the surrounding. After sevral hours of driving we arrive at Chautara (1600 m), a large village with a police post, well-stocked shops, and local markets. There is a clinic operated by Save the Children (UK). 

From Chautara, we start our trek to Syaule. The trail gently climbs through the pleasant hill villages, forested paths, and terraced farmlands. After few hours of waliking, we arrive at our destination Syaule. Syaule is a quite village surrounded by green hills. We will stay overnight at a local lodge in Syaule. 

From Syaule the trail rises steadily to Okrin Danda at 2300m. Continue steeply up towards the forested Kamikharka Danda ridge. One hour beyond Okrin Danda is an unusual double Mani wall where there are fine camps sites; there may water in the autumn, but there is no water during the spring. From this point the route ascends steeply through forests full of woodcutters to the ridge crest. 

The route along the Kamikharka Danda is an excellent trail through beautiful oak and rhododendron forest with magnificent views. Water is scarce for much of the way. The trail follows the ridge crest, rising to a large chorten at 3160m, then traverses pasture across the western slopes of Chyochyo Danda where there are many summer pasture shelters. After another descent the trail passes a ruined stone house and a well-used camp site with a good spring a short distance down the western slope. This is the first free water on the ridge.

The trail ascends steepy and steadily across stony, grassy pastures to cross the ridge near some cairns at 3750m.  From the ridge the route descends through forest, crossing gullies with water to reach another crest at Chang Samarphu (3913m). The final descent to Hile Bhanjyang is steep. In spring this can be in deep snow with difficult icy sections in the gullies.

The trail climbs steeply to a hillock at 3980m, and then traverses open ground along a flagstone trail to another crest. The views are wonderful in clear weather. There is a stone house above Nasem Pati (3800m) and well-trodden trails that lead off the ridge crest to both east and west. There is no running water here in the spring. Under good walking conditions Days 4 and 5 could be combined into one day of about six hours walking.

It’s about a four hour climb on a well-defined trail to Pancha Pokhari, five holy lakes at 4050m. There are two metal-roofed huts, a sheet metal-enclosed shrine to Shiva and a pile of cast-iron tridents. During the June/July full moon thousands of Nepalese come to worship. You shouldn’t wash in the holy stream near the temples. There is often snow on this ridge, making the trek more difficult. You can make a day trip to Panch Pokhari from Nasem Pati and avoid camping in the snow.

After breakfast at Panch Pokhari, we continue our trek to Nasem Pati, the trail decends west on a well-defined mountain path. Along the way we passes through scenic forested areas, and several ravines and water sources. providing a refreshing walk through nature. 

As we continue trekking, the landscape gently changes from alpine terrain to greener hills and forests. The route is mostly downhill and relatively easy, making it a pleasant day after the high-altitude Panch Pokhari visit. After a few hours of walking, we arrive at our destination Gai Kharka, a quite small settlement. Stay overnight at local lodge in Gai Kharka.

The descent continues through forest on a track that is sometimes steep and rough, crossing two major watercourses. Pass a few substantial villages, including Yarsa, and then descend a small and very steep trail directly to the bridge over the Panch Pokhari Khola. Climb to hutanbrang, then descend and follow the Larke Khola downstream to the first of the two bridges below Yangri village.

The trail crosses bridges over the Larke and Yangri kholas, and passes through Yangri village climbing rapidly to the west and north. There are lateral trails everywhere. At the stream crossing below and south-west of Dalegaon there is a beautiful lunch or camping site with fine water and big shade trees. The trail continues, often steeply, up through country dotted with villages and fields, scrub hillsides and pleasant forest. The large village between Dalegaon and Gangkharka is called Gangdwang. From Gangkharka, a large trail leads into the next side valley, where camping is possible, then the trail climbs relentlessly for 900m to Laghang gompa. 

It takes just over three hours from Laghang gompa to Tarke Gyang. The trail climbs through beautiful forest, and then enters an area of small pastures, stone houses, scrub growth and cow trails. Be sure to backtrack if you find yourself headed south on the ridge trail to Sermathang. The trail down to Tarke Gyang is very steep, rough and eroded.

You can finish this trek via Tharepati, Khutumsang, Pati Bhanjyang and Sundarijal in another four days. You can also connect to the ridge route south via Sermathang or extend the trek to Gosainkund and Langtang.
The easiest way back to Kathmandu is to follow the Tarke Gyang to Kathmandu via Panchkal route. This would make day 13 from Tarke Gyang to Sermathang; Day 14 from Sermathang to Malemchi; and Day 15 drive from Malemchi to Kathmandu. In the evening, we go for a complimentary dinner to one of the finest local restaurants in town for a delicious Nepali meal; & while enjoying your meal, you will be entertained to a thrilling cultural dance performed by the local belles. This is a complimentary outing on behalf of Higher Limits Trek & Expedition for the good welfare of our guests. Overnight hotel

As we have successfully completed the trip, it is time to return home or embark on your next journey. Even you can join our next adventures trips in the Himalayas if you wish too. If not, our airport team will take care of your airport escort and say you our last goodbye till the next adventure holidays.