Ganesh Himal Trek

Altitude above sea level: (1,302 m)

Accommodation: ***Hotel Tibet or similar

On arrival at Tribhuvan International airport, our representative will be awaiting you to cordially welcome you with great hospitality. The representative will be displaying the “Nepal Sanctuary Treks” placard outside the airport terminal. You will be then escorted and transferred to the hotel in our private vehicle.

Further, you will be given a brief description of the activities that will take place during the upcoming trip and a preliminary briefing on hygiene and safety by our representative.

Altitude above sea level: 1,302 m

Tour Duration:  Approx. 8 hours

Accommodation: ***Hotel Tibet or similar

Meal: Breakfast

9:00 AM: After breakfast, we start our guided cultural tour around Kathmandu Valley. On this cultural tour, you will experience the numerous colors, sounds, and tastes of authentic Kathmandu and its surroundings. Our experienced tour guides will tell you all you need to know and answer all your curiosities regarding those sites.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

You will head towards Kathmandu Durbar Square, also called Hanuman Dhoka Durbar. This ancient site used to be the residence of the Nepali royal family and administrators. It incorporates an architecturally extraordinary complex of ancient palaces, temples, courtyards, and shrines dating from the 15th to the 18th century.

The prominent sites of Kathmandu Durbar Square are Kumari Ghar or the house of the living goddess.  Kasthamandap is a huge rest house that is said to have been built with the wood from a single tree and is the source of which Kathmandu valley got its name. Other sites around Kathmandu Square are the ferocious Kal Bhairab – the red monkey God- Hanuman, hundreds of erotic carvings, temples, and statues dedicated to different deities.

Swayambhunath:

Swayambhunath (monkey temple), is the magnificent ancient religious architecture and center of faith of Hinduism and Buddhism. Its lofty white dome and dazzling golden spire are visible from far and wide. Swayambhunath is the ideal place to observe the religious harmony in Nepal. In the shadows of the imposing structure and besides the integrated architecture can be found the daily surge of devotees faithfully offering their prayers to the gods. Upon arriving at the top, you can hear the Buddhist song “Om Mani Padme Hum” resounds everywhere. The candles and the aromatic fragrance of incense that burns constantly create a serene vibe and enormous prayer wheels which encircle the stupa.

PM: Boudhanath

Then we drive towards Boudhanath.  From the moment you step into the sanctuary, you’ll immediately feel the spiritual energy that comes from the place. Boudhanath is one of the biggest stupas in Nepal, built in the 5^th century and listed on the world heritage list by UNESCO in 1979. The surrounding area is a central spiritual hub of Tibetan life and culture in Nepal. You can see the beautiful dome-shaped structure stupa surrounded by brilliant colorful prayer flags. It is believed that prayer flags convey mantras and prayers into the universe while fluttering in the wind. The Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha.

You can witness monks draped in maroon robes rolling the prayer wheels, burning incense, and flickering butter candles. Moreover, it’s fascinating to see the people feeding grains and maize to hundreds of pigeons around stupa areas. The devotees turn the prayer wheels & chant, which is humbling to see such dedication to their beliefs.

Delight in the serenity as you hear the Buddhist mantra ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ being chanted by devotees, alongside the echo of music streaming out from the nearby shops.

Pashupatinath

Moving on, you will visit the Pashupatinath temple, a Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva located on the bank of the Bagmati River. The word Pashupati means “the king of animals” and the temple is famous for its monkeys. You will be visiting the Pashupatinath area to indulge in a spiritual journey.

Pashupatinath is more than just a religious destination. It is a combination of religion, art, and culture. The temple, spread across 246 hectares of land, abounds in temples and monuments. Hundreds of rituals are performed here every day. You will get to witness people performing the religious ritual and funeral pyres burning at open-air cremation. Also witness elaborately dressed holy men meditating outside the temple and pilgrims placing offerings at the shrines. After touring around prominent sites, you will be transferred safely back to your hotel.

Altitude above sea level: (1,420 m) Syabru Besi

Driving duration: 7-8 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Camping 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After a hearty breakfast, you take a scenic, long drive to Syabrubesi. With a beautiful drive, the roads twist and turn along the high hills as we pass through many remote villages and get to see the villagers working in their fields. You will get wonderful views of the Annapurna Himalayas in the west, to Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, and the peaks of the Langtang region ahead.

Further, you drive through the Trishuli  Bazaar before climbing towards Dunche and the Langtang National Park. After the town of Dunche it is another hour downhill to Syabru Besi.

Altitude above sea level: (2,240 m) Parvati Kunda

Hiking duration: 6-7 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Camping 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After a hearty breakfast, you take a steep trail for a couple of hours to reach Bahundanda. The gentle trail takes you through terraced farming fields, picturesque villages, rhododendron and bamboo forests, grassy meadows, soaring mountain views, and incredible landscapes all the way to Gatlang village

Gatlang is a beautiful village on the hillside with traditional stone houses. On a clear day, Langtang Lirung Peak is visible on the eastern side. From Ghatlang, you walk on a flat trail and, take a steady ascent for 40 minutes that takes you to the lake of Parvati Kunda. The Kunda is of religious importance, as local people gather every year to perform rituals during Janai Purnima.

Altitude above sea level: (3,271 m) Somdang,  Khurpa Pass (3,610m) 

Hiking duration: 6-7 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Camping 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After a hearty breakfast, you hike up through the lovely forest of pine and oak trees to Yurikharka. Then the trail heads uphill to Khurpu Danda (Pass) 3,610 m. From the pass, there are wonderful views of Annapurna and Langtang. Further, you follow a steep descent to the Somdang River. You will soon find yourselves in a picturesque valley. The trail passes by the awe-inspiring Chukarma Waterfall from here. You will reach Somdang in the afternoon.

Altitude above sea level: (3,200 m) Marmilung Kharka, (3,850 m) Pangsa La Pass

Hiking duration: 5-6 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Camping 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After a hearty breakfast, you follow an ascent trail through more picturesque terrain with dense forest on the way up to a meadow called Pangsang Kharka.  It is a vantage point that provides a commanding view over the broad landscape in all directions, comprising the soaring peaks of Manaslu and the Ganesh Himal Range. The region around the pass is famous for medicinal herbs. In ancient times, people from the surrounding area used to collect the herbs and take them for trade to Tibet. They used to exchange the herbs for salt, clothing items, and food. After savoring the view, the trail heads descending trail through the pine forest to Marmilung Kharka.

Altitude above sea level: (2,500 m)

Hiking duration: 3-4 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Camping 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After having breakfast, you head towards a beautiful Tipling village.  It is an old Tamang Village dominated by Shamanism and Tantrism.  Spend your leisure afternoon visiting two Tibetan Gompas, and Catholic Churches. People celebrate Mane Jatra during winter, which has been followed for generations. Likewise, Jhakri or Bombo (Witch doctors) can be seen performing during the Janai Purnima festival.

Accommodation: Camping 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After breakfast, we can either take a rest or explore Tipling village. You can also stroll through the villages of diverse ethnic groups.

Altitude above sea level: (2,220 m) 

Hiking duration: 6-7 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Camping 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After having breakfast, the trail head downhill to Chalish village. On the way, you can visit Tin Kanya Hindu temple. Then pass through a picturesque village and continue to trek to Khar Khola. Further, you take a gradual ascent to Pasabar danda. From here, you can enjoy spectacular vistas of the holy Tribeni River (river confluence). Continue trekking gently uphill to reach Kalbarang and trek through dense forest. Then you pass Hindung Tamang village and trek down to Hundung Khola. Further, the trail heads uphill all the way to Neber village.

Altitude above sea level: (2,900 m) Timla Pass

Hiking duration: 5 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Camping 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After breakfast, you set off on today’s trek to Kapurgaon. From Neber the trail takes you through dense forest where you may see  before reaching the ridge at Timla Danda. From here you get a wonderful view of the Himalayan range and enormous deep valley.  From the ridge, the trail goes downhill to Kapurgaon.

Altitude above sea level: (2,025 m) Khading

Hiking duration: 5-6 hrs. approx.

Accommodation: Camping 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After breakfast, you start trekking on a gentle descending trail to a small river and cross the suspension bridge. Further, the trail heads uphill all the way to Lapchet. Continue descending and cross the river. Then take an ascending trail to Lapagaun and further gradual uphill takes you to Khading.

Altitude above sea level: Nauban Kharka (2,800 m),  Myangal Bhanjyang. (2,975 m)

Hiking duration: 5-6 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Camping 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After breakfast, you take an ascending trail and walk through the forest up to Myangal Bhanjyang. The trails have several ups and downs to Magne Goth. After crossing a small pass, you will reach Nauban Kharka. From here, you can see a superb views of Himal Chuli and Bauddha Himal within Manaslu range of mountains.

Altitude above sea level: (2,200 m)  Lamo Dhunga

Hiking duration: 5-6 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Camping 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After breakfast, the trail heads to descending and zigzag path all the way to Lamo Dhunga.

Altitude above sea level: (1,300 m) 

Hiking duration: 5-6 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: Camping 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After a hearty breakfast, you take a downhill and enter the village called Dhunchet. This is the oldest village in the Tamang and Gurung settlement. Further, continue to take downhill and hike through the off-the-beaten trail to Manabu.  Manbu village offers superb views of Himal Chuli and Bouddha Himal.

Altitude above sea level: (605 m) Arughat

Hiking duration: 4 hrs. approx.

Accommodation: Camping 

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After breakfast, you descend to the river called Budi Gandaki. After crossing the suspension bridge over Budi Gandaki River, you connect to the main road of Arughat Bazaar. Finally, continue to follow the motorway all the way to Arughat.

Altitude above sea level: (1,302 m) Kathmandu

Driving duration: 8 hrs. Approx.

Accommodation: ***Hotel Tibet or similar

Meal: Breakfast, and Lunch

After breakfast, you take a long scenic drive back to Kathmandu.

Meal: Breakfast

It is time to fly back home, keeping all the wonderful experiences of Nepal in mind. The representative from Nepal Sanctuary Treks will transfer you to TIA airport, where you should check-in 3 hours prior to your scheduled flight.