Rolwaling Trek

Overview

Rolwaling whose literal meaning is “ a furrow left by a plough”  is the Nepal’s most beautiful mountain valley bordered by Khumbu region in the east, Helambu in the west and the arid Tibetan plateau in the north. Home to some of the most beautiful mountains like Gauri Shankar, Dorje Lakpa and many others Rolwaling valley is rugged yet beautiful, unexplored yet well-known and mysterious yet accessible. Rolwaling is simply called THE GRAVE by the indigenous Sherpa people due to its location deep down between steep ice heaps of the Khumbu glacier. The exceptionally rewarding trail offers the self-enriching mountain vista of Gauri Shankar, Rolwaling Himal, Chobabhamre, Dorje Lakpa, Melungtse, Yalung Ri and Pharchamo which is further adorned by different species of Orchids, more than 250 species of birds, monkeys, musk deer and Himalayan black bear.

Rolwaling trek is challenging as well as rewarding trekking destination in Nepal which starts from Barabise or Dolakha after a drive from Kathmandu. The eye popping factors of the trek are eternal monasteries and exceptional rich bio diversity of the area. Another attraction of the area is Glacial lake of Tso Rolna. The unique environment and friendly people coming on the way makes this place one of the finest tourist destinations. Trekking here does not require any prior experiences just normal walking is enough.

This less explored region keeps the secret of abominable Snowman known as Yeti whose footprints were first photographed here by the British mountaineer Eric Shipton in 1951.

Itinerary Detail

Rolwaling Trek Itinerary

Day 1: Kathmandu Arrival
Our local representative will be receiving you in Tribhuwan International Airport and transfer to the hotel room. Get freshen up in the hotel and come to our office to finalize the formalities. Stay overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing
Today we will visit some of the world heritage site located in Kathmandu which includes Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa and Hindu temple of Pashupatinath. Stay overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Drive to Dolakha(1350m)
Early in the morning drive to Dolakha from Kathmandu via Lamosangu(750m) and Charikot(1980m) by bus.

Day 4: Drive to Shigati(950m); 4hours
Early in the morning catch a ride to Shigati via Piguti(920m). The path winds around through the gravel road passing different villages settled by people belonging to different ethnic community. We will cross several streams and the jungle of Orchids and Rhododendron along with other natural vegetation.

Day 5: Trek to Jagat(1440m); 7hours
We will start the walk through normal flat land along the side of the River. We will pass through rice terrace and small villages on the way settled by people belonging to different ethnic group. Our trail too goes through the dense forest of Rhododendron and Orchid along with other wild vegetation. Before arriving to Jagat we will cross a suspension bridge. Jagat is a small town settled by the people belonging to different ethnic group.

Day 6: Trek to Simigaon(2020m); 7-8hours
Initially the trail from Jagat to Simigaon goes through the flat land and later it ascends and descends through the Jungle. In several places you will cross the suspension bridge with small hamlets settled in the bank of the river. On the way you will find many shops and teahouses where you can relax. After crossing a suspension climb a steep uphill to Simigaon a small village inhibited by Buddhists and Hindu.

Day 7: Trek to Daldung(3967m); 7hours
Today's walk is mostly uphill through the dense forest of Rhododendron accompanied by many other plants. We will continue our trek enjoying the scenic beauty and the unique cultural practices of the local Sherpa people to Daldung for overnight stay.

Day 8: Trek to Beding(3690m); 7-8hours
We will start with a uphill through the dense forest of Rhododendron and varieties of other plants. Walking through the suspension bridge built over some of the deep gorges we will finally arrive to Beding which is a large Sherpa village.

Day 9: Rest day at Beding(3690m)
Today we will rest in Beding so as to adapt in the prevailing environmental circumstances. You can hike around and enjoy the panoramic mountain view of Gauri Shankar along with the mountains in the Tibetan border.

Day 10: Trek to Na(4180m); 4hours
The trek goes downhill through the river bank and opens to the meadow. In the trail you will be greeted by the panoramic view of mountains. We too will come along many Sherpa village ultimately taking us to Na for overnight stay. Today we will explore the upper slopes of the valley for snow partridge or visit the nearby glacier lake.

Day 11: Rest at Na and make preparation for Ramdung Go(5930m)
Today we will rest at Na and adapt ourselves in the high altitude. The place offers the panoramic vista of Gauri Shankar, Menlung, Yalung and many other mountains in the Tibetan border.

Day 12: Trek to Tso Rolpa(4540m)
Today we will trek through the flat land initially and later the trail goes gradually uphill. In the way you will be able to see the natural lake filled with chilling water of the glaciers. The view of Melung range seen in the trail leaves you dumbfounded.

Day 13: Trek to Trakarding Glacier(4800m)
Starting very early in the morning we will trek through the glaciers throughout the whole day which ultimately take us to Trakarding glacier for overnight stay. Today's walk will be completely new experience which will add extra dimensions to your trail.

Day 14: Trek to Tashi Lapcha Phedi Camp(5755m)
Today we will start a uphill walk from Tradarding Glacier through some rock climb and a gradual walk on a glacier to Tashi Lapcha Phedi for overnight stay.

Day 15: Trek to Tashi Lapcha Pass to Tashi Cape We will climb up from Tashi Lapcha Phedi and cross Tashi Lapcha pass and go to Tashi Cape. The whole trail goes through the snow straight up and then goes down to Tashi Cape.

Day 16: Trek to Thyomgbo(4350m)
Today we will walk through the glacier but the walk is comparatively easier from the other days. The trail goes down which ultimately takes to Thyomgbo.

Day 17: Trek to Thame(3820m)
Initially the trail gradually descends and the walk is much easier. Today you will be mesmerized by the topography and scenic beauty you will pass along.

Day 18: Trek to Namche Bazaar(3440m)
The trail gradually descends for one hour to Sanasa(3550m) and offers the very first glimpse of the mountains of Khumbu region including Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam. Thamserku and Kusum Kangaru. Passing several villages and teashops the trail goes downhill steeply to a bridge over Dudh Koshi at Phunki Tenga. Although the path can be exhausting you will not be complaining as the trail has numerous attractions like Rhododendron forests and superb mountain scenery. Passing the manu Sherpa village the trail goes zigzag to Namche Bazaar for overnight stay.

Day 19: Trek to Phakding(2652); 4hours
From Namche the trail steeply goes downhill for one and half hours and goes up to Phakding via Monjoo.

Day 20: Trek to Lukal(2800m); 3hours
This is the last day of our trek and trail follows the Dudh Koshi River back to Lukla. This is the last day in the mountain and the ideal way to say goodbye is having some chhang and enjoy the farewell party with Sherpa, guide and the porters.

Day 21: Fly to Kathmandu
Early in the morning take a flight back to Kathmandu from Lukla. In the airport our representative will receive you and get you transferred to the hotel. You can take a rest a whole day as you have returned from such a strenuous and long trek.

Day 22: Free day at Kathmandu
You too can do some family shopping or roam around the streets of Thamel. In the evening we will offer a farewell dinner accompanied with a cultural show

Day 23: Farewell
Drive to airport at the time of departure for your onward flight.

Cost Info

The Trip Cost Includes:

• All airport/hotel transfers
• Half day Guided tour of Kathmandu valley with private car
• 3 nights accommodation in 3-star hotel in Kathmandu (2 before trek, 1 after trek)
• Camping accommodation 
• Breakfast in Kathmandu
• Full board of meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, tea coffee in Camping)
• Welcome and farewell dinner
• All ground transportation as per the itinerary by Local Bus, Private Car and Flight
• Salary for all trekking staff.
• All necessary paper work, including trekking permits
• Travel and rescue arrangements
• All government and local taxes
• Duffel bag, t-shirt, trekking map

The Trip Cost Does Not Include:

• Nepal Visa fee
• International airfare to and from Kathmandu
• Excess baggage charges (if you have more than 15 kg luggage, cargo charge is around $1.5 per kg)
• Extra nights accommodation in Kathmandu or Lukla
• Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu
• Bottled beverages, including water
• Snacks such as energy bars, candy or chocolate
• Travel and rescue insurance
• Personal expenses such as snacks, laundry, battery recharge, extra porters
• Optional trips and sightseeing
• Tips for guides and porters

Trek Info

Accommodation

Wildpath Adventure Pvt. Ltd has chosen the best accommodation with your comfort and budget in mind. This includes staying in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu and staying in comfortable, well-run lodges along the trekking route.

All accommodation is based on twin sharing but we will provide a single supplement if there is an odd number of participants. If you simply prefer a single room, this is available by paying an additional single supplement.

Meals

One of the joys of travelling abroad and trekking is the wonderful food prepared for you at each meal at the lodges and hotels. From the first tea of the morning to the last meal of the day, you will be treated to meals that are nutritious, healthy, fresh and suitable for a mountain expedition. 

We have chosen lodges and hotels where the food is of the highest quality. Their experienced local cooks will provide meals from a variety of cuisines such as Nepali, Sherpa, Tibetan, Continental, Italian and Indian cuisine. Breakfast and dinner will be taken at the lodges where we are staying, while lunch and tea breaks will be taken at a suitable lodge or teahouse along the day’s route.

Note: Before arriving in Nepal, please advise Wildpath Adventure  if you have any special dietary requirements or restrictions such that we can accommodate your request. 

A Typical Day on the Trek

Days on the trek start early. After dressing, head to the lodge restaurant for a nutritious and appetizing breakfast, along with a steaming mug of tea or coffee. After packing up your bag for the porters and your daypack, you’ll head out for another day’s adventure.  We will trek for a couple of hours, then stop for a welcome tea break at a lodge. Generally we trek for a couple more hours after tea and then we will stop for lunch at a teahouse , often at a scenic spot. You will have plenty of time to relax and take photos as you enjoy the lunch meal.

Throughout the day we will take rest breaks as needed and there will always be time to stop and admire the flowers, the scenery, a village or just to soak in the pleasure of being on an adventure in Nepal.

After lunch, we will usually trek for another 2-3 hours before reaching the village where we will spend the night. On arrival you will have time to rest and enjoy another welcome hot mug of tea, coffee, or one of the trail favorites, hot lemon. There is usually time to explore a village or Gompa or the surrounding neighborhood, write in your journal, take a shower (sometimes hot, sometimes not) or simply relax. After a delicious dinner, there will be a briefing on the next day’s program before you head off to your bed for a warm and snug sleep. You may be surprised to find that you are sleeping 10 to 12 hours per night, but that is normal on a trek

TheTrekking Group

For most treks there will be one guide, one assistant guide per 4 trekkers, one cook, and one Sherpa porter per 2 trekkers. This arrangement ensures that should anybody in the group fall sick, the trip can still go ahead as planned.

The minimum group size is 2 and the maximum is 12. However, if you'd like to make a group booking for more than that, we will be happy to arrange this for you.

What to Know

Fitness Requirements

In order to maximize your enjoyment of this trek, you will need to be in good physical condition and you will need to be prepared for rough conditions.  In general, trekking consists of many days of walking for at least  5-6 hours, some of it on rugged terrain. You should also be very comfortable walking with a small daypack and carrying up to 5kg of weight.

In addition to a good level of fitness, we believe you must possess: a willingness to tolerate difficult conditions, a flexible mindset, a sense of humor and good health.

Health & Safety

Your safety and well-being are of paramount concern to Wildpath Adventure Pvt. Ltd. For that reason, the trek leader has the authority to change or cancel any part of the trek if it is deemed necessary for safety reasons. Wildpath Adventure will make every effort to keep to the planned itinerary; however, we simply cannot guarantee it. Changes to the itinerary can occur due to weather conditions, the health of a team member or unexpected natural disasters. The leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please understand that these events are a possibility.

It is imperative that participants with pre-existing medical problems or conditions make these known to Wildpath Adventure when booking. Medical and evacuation expenses are the responsibility of the participant and must be covered by your personal travel insurance. It is also important that you consult your doctor for vaccinations and other medical requirements for your trip. Wildpath Adventure reserves the right to require a medical certificate prior to booking your trip.

Acclimatization

Any trek to high altitude carries with it the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness, or AMS. This is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness, generally caused by going up too fast. The higher the altitude, the less oxygen there is in the air. For example, at 6500m there is only half the oxygen that there is available at sea level.

Your body needs many days to adapt to this less-oxygen environment. Our itinerary is planned to allow sufficient time for acclimatization, by going up slowly and including acclimatization days as needed. It is not uncommon to experience mild headaches, loss of appetite or nausea when ascending, but these symptoms usually disappear with rest...

Although your appetite may diminish as you trek higher, it is very important to eat enough to maintain a good energy level. Similarly it is extremely important to drink sufficient water to stay hydrated.  The trek leader will advise you on what is sufficient food and water and we ask that you follow his advice.

We also advise anyone with known heart, lungs or blood diseases to consult their doctor before traveling. Our itineraries are designed to prevent AMS as much as possible, but it is important to remember that some people are more vulnerable than others.

Our team will check very carefully to determine if anyone has a serious problem. If anyone is showing signs of AMS, they will not be permitted to trek higher and will be required to descend to a safe altitude with a member of the team.  If the symptoms disappear at the lower altitude, the person may be permitted to rejoin the trek after a suitable rest period.

Please Allow Extra Time

We strongly recommend that you allow a few extra days at either end of your trip. In addition to the reasons mentioned above, flights in Nepal are notorious for being delayed anywhere from a few hours (common) to one week (rare) due to bad weather. This can occur even in the best trekking months.

If all goes well, you will then have extra days to enjoy in Nepal, taking in activities such as sightseeing near Kathmandu , river rafting, or perhaps relaxing at one of the nearby hilltop resorts.

In the event of bad weather, it may be possible to arrange a helicopter evacuation, which can vary in cost from USD $300 to $3500, depending on the demand.

What to Bring

The following list is a guideline of what you should bring with you for the trek. Please note that clothing for Kathmandu and other non-trekking destinations is not included in this list. While you can bring everything from your home country, it is also possible to rent or purchase almost everything in Kathmandu.  Most of the gear for sale in Kathmandu is manufactured locally and thus considerably cheaper. However, it is also possible to buy brand name clothing and equipment at quality and prices that are comparable to home country prices.

At lower elevations on the trek it is likely to be very warm and the lightest of layers can be worn. However, at altitudes above 4000m it may be bitterly cold and windy, particularly after the sun disappears. The secret to staying warm and comfortable is to layer your clothing and to avoid cotton, as it becomes very cold when wet and is slow to dry. Pack with a minimalist view, as the load limit per person for porters and on domestic flights is 15kg.

Treks in Nepal are tough on gear and clothing. We recommend that you bring well-used items that can stand a fair bit of abuse. Many people bring gear that can  be given away at the end of the trek to the porters or guides. Please check with Wildpath Adventure if you are uncertain about what to bring – we will be happy to advise you.

During the trek the porters will be carrying most of your gear. On the trail you can expect to carry in your daypack item such as 1 to 2 liters of  water, your camera, a jacket for rest stops, sunscreen, tissue paper, a route map and binoculars.

CLOTHING

T-shirts – 2 or 3, long-sleeved and short-sleeved, quick-drying

Hiking shorts or capris

Lightweight Long Hiking pants

Lightweight thermal inner layer – top and bottom

Fleece pants and jacket

2 pair inner liner socks

2 pair outer socks, wool,  medium to heavy weight

Shirt with collar

OUTERWEAR

Lightweight gloves

Heavyweight gloves or mittens and waterproof  outer shell

Wind-Stopper jacket (optional)

Waterproof, breathable jacket

Down jacket

Waterproof, breathable  shell pants

Warm hat or balaclava

Gaiters (for high-elevation treks and passes)

FOOTWEAR

Hiking boots

Sneakers or  Teva-like sandals

Down booties (optional, but very nice at high altitude)

MISCELLANEOUS

Camera and extra battery and card

Sun hat or bandana

Sunglasses with UV protection

4 season sleeping bag (rated to -15 to -20 degree centigrade.  Down is preferable)

Sleeping bag liner  (optional, but very useful)

Trekking Bags/Duffel bag *

Headlamp with spare bulbs and batteries

Small lock

Basic First Aid Kit (Wildpath Adventure staff will also carry a team First Aid kit)

Daypack (approximately 2500 to 3000 cubic inches)

Trekking Poles

Water bottles (2) or camel back

Ear Plugs

Sewing and repair kit

Sarong (optional, but very useful when washing)

Energy bars, chocolate, candy

Water-purifying tablets or water filter pump

TOILETRIES

Sunscreen with high UV protection

Lip balm for altitude (e.g. Labazan)

Face and body moisturizer

1 medium sized quick drying towel

Tooth brush/paste (preferably biodegradable)

Multipurpose soap (preferably biodegradable)

Deodorant

Nail clippers

Feminine hygiene products

Small mirror

Wet wipes

Toilet tissue

Ant- bacterial hands wash

FIRST AID AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES

All of the items listed here can be purchased in Kathmandu, however you may prefer to bring trusted brands from home. Note also that Wildpath Adventure will carry an extensive first aid and medical kit, so please bring the minimum required.  There are many good books and websites which carry extensive lists of recommended drugs and medical supplies. We suggest that you review this material before making any purchases.

Plasters/Band aids

Moleskin

General-purpose  antibiotic such as Cipro

Headache medicine –  (not Codein-based)

Anti-inflammatory pills

Antibiotic cream

Eye drops

Rehydration salts such as ORS

Multi-vitamins

Throat lozenges

Anti-diarrheal  medicine

Anti-constipation medicine

And if your pack is still light:

Binoculars

Journal

IPOD (note that recharging may not always be possible)

Reading material

Travel game or cards

Photos from home

Travel Insurance

All participants in a Wildpath Adventure must have travel insurance. This will protect you against the risk of comprehensive expenses which may result due to medical emergencies or accidents. This insurance should include air ambulance, helicopter rescue, and treatment costs.  Please be noted that we don't arrange or sell insurance and it is best to arrange this in your home country.