North West Nepal

Max altitude: 4950m Grade: Moderate to strenuous Duration: 21 days

The Hidden Valley of Limi.   This trek starts from Simikot which is situated at an elevation of 2910 meters and follows the beautiful Karnali River where the source of this river comes from Tibet Lake Manasoravor (the most holy lake in Tibet) After 4 days of beautiful scenery of the mountain and three different ethnic groups of Nepal, The Chetries, Thakuries and the Lamas that you meet them on the way to Hilsa the last boarder frontier post of Nepal and China. After climbing the first pass Nara – la at 4500 m you descend down to the Hilsa and then head northeast toward the Limi Valley. There are 3 villages to pass by the first one Til, second Hilga and the last one Jang, from here you climbs up to Nyalu La (4950m) a chance to see Mount Kailas (the most holy Mountain in Tibet and drop down to he lake and finally making a loop back to Simikot via Kermi through scenic landscape. This is moderate but rewarding trek offers the opportunity to meet the friendly villagers of upper Humla. Visit the monasteries that are 400-1000 years old and experience the unique culture of the past still in practice. Added to this is scenery of pine-forested Karnali gorge and beautiful Mount Saipal (7200m) and Nalakankad mountain range. The area is untouched by modern changes and believed to be the present form of mythical Shangri-la. It’s truly the last wilderness of Nepal trekking. Limi Valley is the only place, where you can witness the fresh Tibetan culture and costume because their cultural and matrimonial relationship between west and Tibet. Many Tibetan culture and monasteries were destroyed in Cultural Revolution in Tibet, But in Limi Cultural Revolution did not affect valley lying inside Nepal so here the beautiful culture and tradition still continues. It is just like a small Tibet. The Village of Halgi about 500 people lives here in the beautiful meadows where they are surrounded by clean rivers and great background of the local mountains. There is a monastery, which is over 1000 yrs old – Its called Rizing ling Monastery – beautiful artifacts, painting, and relics of the Gergu pa sect. The people of this area are very friendly and happy folks. They grow buckwheat a staple diet of the local Limi people. During June, July, August while monsoon rains are drenching most of the Nepali countryside, the Limi valley, which falls in the rain shadow, is considerably drier. Apart from misty mountain views and lush green vegetation, the valley offers other splendid sights and scents as wild flowers, indigenous herbs and flowering buckwheat, mustard grow with the season. This is an ideal time to visit for travelers who dislike crowds, enjoy solitary walks and want more interactions with local inhabitants. The wild life is also great, you get to see the Blue sheep, Mountain eagles and hope fully if you are very lucky you could see the elusive Snow leopard. The best time to trek here is April and May and then august to early October.

Departure date  spring : April 11 to 02 May 2009

Departure date Autumn : 26 september to 17 Oct 2009

Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu and transfer to  Dwarika Hotel BB Day 02: Day at leisure; This day we make the special permit to enter the Limi Valley. Day 03:    Afternoon transfer to Domestic airport - fly to Nepalgunj – 1 hr – Arrive Nepalgunj and transfer to Batika Hotel. Overnight at Hotel. FB. Day 04: Fly to Simikot, 1 hr flight    2960m You leave the plains of Nepalgunj and start your ascent up to 3500m heading northwest to Simikot. The flight is breathtaking; you get to see the beautiful pine forest and the mountains of the north west of Nepal. Simikot is a big hamlet with 2-3 different ethnic groups of people, like the Chetries, Thakuries and the Buddhist people – The lamas.  If you do get there early morning around about 8 am then you can commence trekking to Dharapuri its about 4-5 hours walk – if you do get there late then Overnight at Guest House at Simikot.Village of Simikot with the view of the run way – photo Tashi Tenzing   Day 05: Trek Dharapori or Yakba Khola (2500m) 270 m ascent, 980 m descent 5 hoursYou start climbing from Simikot airstrip past the wheat and barley fields on a rocky trail. You pass the stone houses of the upper Simikot and the community water supply and turn right 300m pull to the large rock cairn at the top of a forested ridge overlooking the town. The trail from here makes a long, tedious, steep descent through deep forest of pine on a rock – cluttered path with switchbacks. There are a few teashops with very limited stock – you can get a local tea and soft drinks. The view from the trail is spectacular  - villages opposite the Karnali river are Shara.  After your steep descent the trail levels out and a easy traverse passing the village of Tuling (a compact Thakuri Village) very primitive style but beautiful to look at. The campsite is about 45 mins from the village near the Yakba Khola. Lovely spot with the sound of the river. Overnight: Camping   Day 06: Trek to Kermi (2800m) (Hot Spring visit) 5-6 hours, 740 ascents, 230 descents. After a hearty breakfast the trail climbs up to the police check post – Your guide will show the permit for your trek and on to Dharapuri village. From the village it’s a long traverse across a scree slope to a steam. Below the trail a bridge over the Humla Karnali leads to Khangkagaon, a Thakuri village on the opposite side of the river. This is the last Thakuri village and the upper limit of the rice cultivation in the Humla region. Along the way you pass through beautiful waterfalls. The trail climbs steeply through rock cliffs and lunch is at the lonely teashop. After Lunch the trail climbs up to the campsite at Dhara Kermi – The village and the Hot spring is another 30 mins from the campsite. Overnight: Camping   Day 07: Trek Yalbang (3072 m) 6 hours, 300m ascents, 200 descents. This is a fairly easy day with easy climb and great views of the 7000m peak Mount Saipal – You continue to follow the Karnali river through pine forest before you drop from the pass Sali pass at 3113m down to the Chumsa Khola or river where your lunch waits for you. After lunch its an 2 hours walk to the camp site near the Alban School – You could visit the Namka Khyung Zong gimp, it’s a about 50 years old with 70 monks and its very active with monastic life – They also have a Rinpoche there and it’s a Red hat sect (Nyingma Monastery.  Great views from the campsite of the surrounding mountains of the upper Humla area. Overnight: Camping     Day 08: Trek to Tomkot Khola (2900m) 260m ascent, 180m descents. After Breakfast you ascent slowly to the scree slopes and start descending down towards the river – Take care as its scree of loses rocks. You follow the river. The trail wends its way precariously close to the river on a track built up with rocks and wooden props and along a few stretches where the path was blasted out of the cliff. After more then hours of ups and downs you will reach the suspension bridge at 2500m. Cross to the south bank of the Karnali river and climb up to the village of Much. You pass the village and the police check post and in the distance you can see the fort or the Sakya Monastery and the village of Tomcat on the top of the hill. Your campsite is just below the monastery at Tumkot. Great campsite. Overnight: Camping      Day 09: Trek to Tharo Dhunga (4000m) 1180 m ascent, 120 m descent 7-8 hours This is a long day hike but absolutely beautiful day. You leave the Karnali river to your right and start ascending up to the a small pass called La nangla 3310m at It takes about an hour after the pass the trail levels out and u can see the man made mini road to the boarder of Tibet – You come to Pal bang where lunch is waiting for you. After lunch the trails climbs gradually up to he Yari Village. there are 3 villages one is on the road side  and the 2 is down in the valley  surrounded by Barley and millets fields – Its very beautiful scenery – To the west of the village a trail leads to the Sarpa- la a less frequented route to Tibet. This is the trail the Khampa leader Wagdi took in 1975 in an attempt to escape into India after the USA removed its support for the Tibetan resistance. He crossed into Tibet at an unmonitored and isolated corner and re crossed into Nepal via Tinkar Pass south of Taklakot, where the waiting Nepal army ambushed him. From the Yari Village the campsite is about another 1 hour to Tharo Dung beside a large rock at 4000m. Overnight: Camping     Day 10: Trek to Hilda (3700m) 450 ascent, 860 m descent 5 hours You could get snow in the pass so please dress well as it can get very cold .You start climbing up from the camp site to a meadow and stream at 4160m and another meadow, Sipsip, near the foot of the pass. Despite the remote nests of the location, there is a considerable amount of traffic by the traders who are trading from the China boarder bring all sorts of goods to sell down the Humla region. Lot of Yaks, goats and horses carrying Chinese goods.  Finally you come to the top of the pass NARA LANGNA 4580m. If u do get a clear day the views are stunning looking down to the western Humla Mountain ranges.  Take care on our descent, as there could be snow. A short distance below the pass you get to see the vista of the Tibetan plateau, the Humla Karnali river and the green fields of Sher far below. You also can see the trail across the valley towards the northeast the way to Limi Valley.  Try to avoid the short cut to the Hilda village as its very steep and dangerous. Take the road head, which contours around the mountains, and finally heads down to the Hilsa Village. It’s the last frontier of Nepal boarder. There are few stone houses. We camp at a guesthouse back yard. Cross the bridge up 150 m is a Sher Village and the Chinese immigration check post –. Overnight: Camping      Day 11: Trek to Chuk Rangma via Manapame, (4164m) 600m ascent, 950m descent After the police check post at Hilsa you cross the bridge and straight away you start a steeply ascent up the barren slope for an hour where you will meet the main trail which come from Sher to the limi valley. The trail from here we head north east looking down to the humla Karnali river making minor ups and downs, to a rich stone chorten at 4110 m, the views are stunning with lamager mountain eagles flying high in cloud nine. Look out for blue sheep and snow leopards.  This is a well-maintained trail crosses rockslide, and then climbs above a recent landslide. Take the upper new trail over the top of the landslide and drop down to meet the original trail on the opposite side. Lunch at Manepeme 4014 m is behind a rich in a large side canyon near a stream. Manepeme is named after huge stone that is carved with a mantra “Om Mane Padme ome”. After lunch the trail weaves in and out of ravines on the side of the valley, climbing gradually towards the foot of the rock place. Ascend alone the foot of the cliff climbing to a ridge at 4164 m is our camp side. From this camp side there is a great view east looking towards the limi valley to the south the humla Karnali river turns and flows thought a steep gorge towards much. Overnight: Camping      Day 12: Trek to Til Chu (3580m) 610 m ascent, 970 m descent This is an exciting day today as we see the first village in the limi valley. You climb steeply again from the camp side to the pass “Lagna” at 4300 m where there is first view of limi valley and green fields of Halji in the distance. The trail descends to a tiny stream then continues down and cross a slope. Climb over two rocky ridges and make a short descend to two chortens that marks the end of ridge above Til Chu. You get to see the first view of Til Gompa across the valley and the barley fields of the till village. The Village is tuck round the corner so you do need to go bit further up about ten minutes to get the entire view of the village. We descend all the way down to a fantastic campsite at its confluence with Takchi chu and Til chu. Near the camp side there is a snow leopard trap and there is one near each village in limi valley due to snow leopard killing the livestock of the villagers.   Day 13: Trek to Jang Hot spring via Halgi, 6-7 hours (4099m) 440 m ascent, 90 m descend Follow the river of Takchi Chu crossing it on a wooden bridge. After a short walk pass the barley field into halji, 3670 m. You can bypass the village staying near the river in a pleasant plantation of willow trees. Highly recommended to visit the Rijziling gompa in the heart of the Halji village. The Gompa is over 1000 years old and about 30 monks live there. The total population of halji village is around 500 peoples. The people of halji grow barley once a year and they also do trade with china and I think this is one of the most beautiful village surrounded by willow trees and great mountain ranges to the north. Pass the village about half an hour your lunch stop. After lunch you continue on the river and climb steeply to the ridge at 3850m. From there descend to the deserted police check post at sunkhani. The valley becomes more rocky as a trail makes ups and downs. A series of irrigated barley fields mark the beginning of jang village 3930m also called jyanga, and impressive stone village with white gompa. The people of limi make wonderful well finished wooded bowls from pine, birch and maple trees that grow on the south side of the river. You can also buy them from the local people. Surprisingly Limi dominates the entire supply of wooden bowls to Tibet. The demands of the bowel and the less scarcity of the of the maple tree the Limi people has alternative source of supply of wood from Kumaon in the Northern India. Yet the bowls are made in Limi valley. Pass the village and about 45 mins walk p the hill you come to a fantastic camp site with Hot spring that is in perfect temperature for you to have enjoy the hot spring. This is a perfect place to have a rest day and taken as much as you can of the Limi valley. Overnight: Camping     Day 14:  Rest Day: Washing day and also just lying in the hot spring!!!!! Great day for a rest day.   Day 15: Trek to Talung, 450 m ascent 6-7 hours After a good rest day you continue across meadows. Hopping across a few side streams. A short climb takes you over a rocky ridge, but the trail is mostly level and very pleasant. The trailhead north it’s a bit confusing that is because there is a bridge to cross and then head south to Talung .You come to the sand of moraine that forms the lake of Tshom tso.  Below this Plateau was Gumma Yok (4170m) once the most important village of Limi. The village was abandoned many years ago: you can see the remnants of a few building here and there.  You can either cross the river by foot or if you don’t want to get wet you take the alternative route which takes about half an hour to come to meet the short cut trail.  There is little hot spring spring on the way. After the lake you ascent about 1 hour to our camp site at Talung. This area is also used for grazing yaks and cattle’s by the local limi valley in the summer time (June to August). Overnight: Camping     Day 16: Trek to camp Sinjungma via Nyalu Pass (4990m) 610 m ascent, 1140m descent 7 hours You climb to the next valley and cross the meadows to the foot of the pass, the last of the shepherd huts at the foot of the Dimochu, the huge glaciated peak dominating the head of the valley .No w the hard work begins as you head east into a rocky valley at the foot of the climb to the pass. About 2 hours you come to the rock cairns and the pass. On a clear day you can see Mt Kailas – in Tibet the holiest Mountain in Tibet. Spectacular views of the surround Northern Himalaya. Very rewarding ascent to the pass.  Below the pass the trail makes a U – turn and head south, descending along the moraine you pass a small lake and then follow the Salie River all the way down to our campsite Shinjugma Lake. Overnight: Camping     Day 17: Trek to Kermi (3250m) 150m ascent, 1130 m descent 5-6 hours  Descent along the river through the pine forest, lunch at the salie pass where you meet the trail from Simikot that you came from – You have just completed the circuit of the Limi Valley trek  - Congratulation. From here you head to Kermi and camp.    Day 18: Trek to Darapuri (2950m) Camp 4-5 hours and camp   Day 19: Trek to Simikot – Lodge                                  Day 20: Fly Simikot to Nepalgunj & to Kathmandu and transfer Hotel BB   Day 21: Day at leisure in Kathmandu BB   Day 22: Depart Kathmandu.

Please contact us at tashitenzing@mail.com.np or +977-9851033614  for the price.

       Price Includes :

Airport pick up / drop services
Airfare Kathmandu-Nepalgunj-Simikot & return with taxes
Simikot- Limi valley special restricted area trekking permit
Full board camping during trek with quality mattress + down jacket, Toilet seat, mess tents  and Mountain Hard wear or North Face tents for sleeping    
English speaking Nepali guide or Tashi Tenzing
Nepalese staff for Camping
Mule and Yak or porter for carrying luggage
All camping cooking equipment with cook and helpers  
Hotel in Nepalgunj with Dinner and Breakfast.
Accommodation at Summit or Dwarika hotel with breakfast twin share
Welcome dinner
Cargo charges for food and gear from Kathmandu to Simikot return

Price Excludes :

Emergency evacuation if needed
Beverages and personal expenses
Personal equipments
Travel insurance
Tips and local donation