Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Kathmandu
You'll land at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu where a private vehicle picks you up for the ride to your hotel. Your trek representative will walk through the Lumba Sumba Pass trek program and answer any questions you have about what's ahead.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Airport transfer from Tribhuvan International Airport to hotel
- Trek briefing and gear discussion
Landmarks Tribhuvan International Airport - Day 2
Kathmandu Heritage Sites
Around 10 AM your guide meets you for a city tour of Kathmandu. You'll see Boudhanath in Little Tibet, check out Pashupatinath Temple where cremations happen along the Bagmati River, walk through Kathmandu Durbar Square, and visit Syambhunath Stupa before heading back to the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Kathmandu
- Visit Boudhanath (Boudha)
- Visit Pashupatinath Temple
- Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square
- Visit Syambhunath Stupa
Landmarks Boudhanath Pashupatinath Temple Kathmandu Durbar Square Syambhunath Stupa - Day 3
Kathmandu to Taplejung and Trek to Phoomling
Fly to Fungling at 1777m in Taplejung district. Start trekking through cardamom fields and Alnus trees in Hangdewa VDC where tea shops let you stop for breaks. Trek downhill to Pawa Village for lunch, then follow the Tamor River to Mitlung at 909m for your first night camping.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Flight from Kathmandu to Fungling
- Trek through cardamom fields to Hangdewa VDC
- Trek to Pawa Village
- Trek along Tamor River to Mitlung
Optional Activities
- Homestay accommodation at Asangpati Tole, Gaigode Tole, or Panisar Tole
Landmarks Fungling Taplejung District Tamor River - Day 4
Trek to Mitlung to Chiruwa
Walk 40 minutes along the Tamor River to Furumbu, then climb uphill for 30 minutes before descending through mixed forest to Siwa Bazaar at 950m. After lunch, continue by the Tamor River to Tawa Village. Climb to KCAP Entrance Gate at Thiwa Village (1300m) and drop down to Chiruwa (1246m), a small market town with lodges and camping options.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Mitlung to Furumbu
- Trek to Siwa Bazaar
- Trek along Tamor River
- Trek to KCAP Entrance Gate at Thiwa Village
- Trek to Chiruwa
Optional Activities
- Shopping at Siwa Bazaar for groceries and supplies
Landmarks Tamor River Siwa Bazaar KCAP Entrance Gate - Day 5
Trek to Chiruwa to Lelep
Trek by the Tamor River passing two large stones with religious significance. Move through Ulnus trees, cross a big landslide that takes about 30 minutes, and reach Tapethok (1340m) for lunch. Push through beautiful cardamom gardens to Pembu (1486m), then climb to Lelep (1687m) where KCAP headquarters sits with shops, groceries, and good camping sites.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek along Tamor River
- Trek through Ulnus trees and cardamom gardens
- Cross landslide to Tapethok
- Trek to Pembu
- Trek to Lelep
Landmarks Tamor River Tapethok Lelep - Day 6
Trek from Lelep to Ela Danda
After breakfast, trek along the Tamor River through dense forest watching for wildlife. Cross a suspension bridge and climb through pine forest to a monastery. Drop down to Gowatar at 1800m for lunch. See a viewpoint with 100-meter waterfalls, trek to Phedi, cross the Tamor River, climb 40 minutes to a resting place, then 20 minutes more to Ela Danda (2051m) with snow-capped peak views.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek along Tamor River through dense forest
- Cross suspension bridge
- Trek through pine forest to monastery
- Trek to Gowatar
- View waterfalls (approximately 100 meters tall)
- Trek to Phedi
- Cross Tamor River
- Trek to Ela Danda
Optional Activities
- Wildlife spotting along Tamor River
Landmarks Tamor River Gowatar Ela Danda Small Kasturi Peak - Day 7
Trek to Selep Kharka
Trek through beautiful Ulnus and Rhododendron forests, cross a suspension bridge and walk through dense bamboo groves across 5 hectares where red pandas might show up. Reach Maguwa at 2435m for lunch. Continue through maple and Ulnus forest, cross a big landslide, then arrive at Selep Kharka (2525m) for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek through Ulnus and Rhododendron forest
- Cross suspension bridge
- Trek through bamboo groves
- Trek to Maguwa
- Cross landslide
- Trek to Selep Kharka
Optional Activities
- Red panda wildlife spotting
Landmarks Maguwa Selep Kharka - Day 8
Trek to Walungchung Gola (Olangchung Gola)
Trek along the Tamor River to Jongim (2641m), flat land surrounded by snow-capped hills. Walk 40 minutes through rhododendron forest to a suspension bridge, then climb about an hour to Ramite (2685m) for lunch where you might see a waterfall and red pandas. Trek 45 minutes more to see Olangchung Gola, then climb 40 minutes to the camping site at this 465-year-old Sherpa village.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek along Tamor River to Jongim
- Cross suspension bridge
- Trek to Ramite
- View waterfall and forest
- Trek to Olangchung Gola (Walungchung Gola)
Optional Activities
- Red panda wildlife spotting
Landmarks Tamor River Jongim Ramite Olangchung Gola - Day 9
Trek to Mattiello Langmale (Upper Langmale)
Trek through complete wilderness in pine and rhododendron forests where stone piles mark the way. Reach Jadak (3636m) for lunch, then trek about three hours more through wilderness to Upper Langmale (3893m) for overnight camping.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek through pine and rhododendron forest
- Trek to Jadak
- Trek to Upper Langmale
Landmarks Jadak Upper Langmale - Day 10
Trek to Pass Camp
Trek along the Tamor River with dense rhododendron forest on the opposite bank, an area where snow leopards have been spotted regularly. After about three hours, reach Tangchetar (4203m) for lunch. Continue another three hours to Pass Camp (4747m) for overnight camping.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek along Tamor River
- Trek to Tangchetar
- Trek to Pass Camp
Optional Activities
- Snow leopard wildlife spotting
Landmarks Tamor River Tangchetar Pass Camp - Day 11
Trek to Chaurikharka via Lumba Sumba Peak
This is the hardest and most memorable day of the trek. Start early to tackle the challenging Lumba Sumba Peak at 5200m before afternoon conditions get worse. The trail climbs and descends with no good camping sites nearby, so bring a packed lunch. After about four and a half hours from Pass Camp, reach Lumba Sumba Peak and descend to Chaurikharka (4594m) for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek to Lumba Sumba Peak
- Cross Lumba Sumba Peak (5200m)
- Trek to Chaurikharka
Landmarks Lumba Sumba Peak Chaurikharka - Day 12
Trek to Thudam
Trek downhill from Chaurikharka as you head back toward civilization after three difficult days. After about three and a half hours, reach a junction with two roads leading to Lyasha in Tibet or to Thudam. Prepare lunch here. Trek three hours more to Thudam (3500m), a small village of about 30 Sherpa houses, for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek downhill from Chaurikharka
- Trek to Thudam
Landmarks Thudam - Day 13
Trek to Kharka
Trek along the banks of Chujung Khola with panoramic views of the Makalu range peaks. Pass through small bushes and bamboo groves which are prime red panda habitat. After about six hours from Thudam, reach Kharka (2877m) for overnight stay. Bring a packed lunch because drinking water is hard to find along this trail.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek along Chujung Khola
- Trek through bamboo groves
- Trek to Kharka
Optional Activities
- Red panda wildlife spotting
Landmarks Chujung Khola Makalu Range Kharka - Day 14
Trek to Chyamthang
Trek through dense rhododendron forest with no villages along the way and lots of side trails, so hiring a local guide is recommended to stay on course. After about three hours from Kharka, reach Chaurikharka for lunch where you can see Chyamtang, Arun River, Ridha Village and the road to Kimathanka. Trek downhill three hours to the Arun River, cross a suspension bridge, then climb uphill about an hour to Chyamthang (2229m), a small village with stone houses.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek through rhododendron forest
- Trek to Chaurikharka
- Trek to Arun River
- Cross suspension bridge over Arun River
- Trek to Chyamthang
Optional Activities
- Hire local guide for navigation
Landmarks Arun River Ridha Village Chyamthang - Day 15
Trek to Hatiya
Trek through rhododendron forest with easy walking as you enter Arun Valley, a popular birding area with several species. Listen to the birds and enjoy the refreshing atmosphere. Lunch at Gimber Village offers great views of snowcapped peaks in the Makalu range. After about three hours from Gimber, reach Hatiya (1595m), a small village of Bhote people and entry point to Makalu National Park, for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Spectacular view of Makalu range snowcapped peaks at Gimber Village), Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek through rhododendron forest
- Trek to Gimber Village
- Trek to Hatiya
Optional Activities
- Birding in Arun Valley
- Makalu National Park entry
Landmarks Arun Valley Gimber Village Hatiya Makalu National Park - Day 16
Trek to Gola
Trek along the banks of the Arun River to the confluence where the Arun and Barun rivers meet. Have lunch near the river confluence, then trek about two and a half hours more to Gola, your camping site. Gola is a very small village with only 12 houses where Sherpa, Rai and Tamang people live.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek along Arun River
- Trek to river confluence of Arun and Barun
- Trek to Gola
Landmarks Arun River Barun River Gola - Day 17
Trek to Gadhi
Trek passes through paddy fields with short descents and climbs. Reach Pathibhara (1524m), a small Gurung village with tea shops, groceries and hotels where you can rest. After lunch, trek through agricultural land with plenty of water sources and small settlements. About three hours from Pathibhara, reach Gadhi (1800m), a village with historical significance where the Nepali Army fought Tibetan invaders. Gadhi is a small market with health post, school and police station.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek through paddy fields
- Trek to Pathibhara
- Trek through agricultural land
- Trek to Gadhi
Landmarks Pathibhara Gadhi - Day 18
Trek to Num and Drive to Khandbari or Tumlingtar
Walk about two and a half hours from Gadhi to Num. Trek downhill one hour from Gadhi to the Arun River, cross it, then climb uphill about one and a half hours to Num village (1572m). From Num, which connects via motorable road, hire a vehicle for 4 to 5 hours on dirt road to Khandbari (1022m), headquarters of Sankhuwasabha district. From Khandbari, take buses to Dharan or Biratnagar, or drive to Tumlingtar airstrip to fly back to Kathmandu.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Gadhi to Arun River
- Cross Arun River
- Trek to Num village
Optional Activities
- Vehicle transfer from Num to Khandbari
- Flight from Tumlingtar to Kathmandu
Landmarks Arun River Num Khandbari Tumlingtar - Day 19
Final Departure from Kathmandu
Your final day arrives. A vehicle drops you at Kathmandu International Airport for your onward journey to your next destination. The trek ends here with best wishes for a wonderful journey home.
Included Activities
- Airport transfer to Kathmandu International Airport
Landmarks Tribhuvan International Airport
