Trip Facts

  • Duration:15 Days
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Max Altitude:3137 M
  • Min group sizeAny
  • Holiday typeTrekking

About Arun Valley Trek

Arun Valley trek schedule can be made as short and as long as your interest. This trekking route has very basic hotels and constrained facilities - deliberately given up for the sake of adventure. Most nights we spend in tented camps. This program offers a fantastic and excellent combination of ethnic societies and hidden valleys. Arun valley is situated between two popular trekking regions Sagarmatha National Park and Makalu-Barun National Park. Prominent mountains in this region are Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Ama Dablam, and Mt.Thamserku among others. This region is known for more than 650 types of birds, more than 800 types of butterflies, and the endangered panda in Nepal. Orchids and other flowers are in abundance here, all in a gem called Arun Valley in eastern Nepal.

Arun Valley Trek offers a  number of popular places in this region, such as Serpent Col, West Col, Barun La, and so on. We also climb up the Arun River to Sedua and Num, then cross Barun-La at 4,110m for a magnificent view of Mt. Makalu. If you wish, we can travel a bit further to visit the holy Lake Salpa at 3,414 m. Beginning with a flight to Tumlingtar, the week is spent trekking through unexplored lands into the Solukhumbu district before a climb up on the principal Everest trail to Kalapatthar. From here you get to see Mount Everest, Mt. Nuptse, and Mt. Lhotse up close. Before you complete the trek, you travel to Lukla and fly back to Kathmandu. The ethnic Sherpa, Rai, and Limbus mostly inhabit this area. Strolling through beautiful Sherpa towns is one of the better portions of trekking in Arun Valley. The trek requires a certain level of stamina and fitness to completely value the excellence of the region. This trekking is doable in any season, we recommend spring as a good time to visit Arun Valley.

 

Trip Highlights

  • Located between Everest National Park and Makalu-Barun National Park
  • a trek in Arun Valley is an adventure that echoes Himalayan lifestyle in its purest form.

Itinerary

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Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, our representative and driver will meet you at Tribhuvan International Airport and escort you to your hotel. The representative will help you check into your hotel where you will be briefed about your trek.

    Kathmandu valley is the historical and cultural center of Nepal. The valley offers you a wonderful mix of Hinduism, Buddhism and Western influence. After breakfast, you will visit the various UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

      After breakfast, you will board a flight to Tumlingtar in the eastern region of Nepal, the starting point of your trek. Even during the entire flight, you can enjoy panoramic sights of great Himalayas of Nepal including Everest (8,848m), Makalu (8,463m), Cho Oyu (8,153m), Lhotse (8,501m), Lhotse Shar (8,393m), Kanchenjunga, Gaurishankar, Ganesh, Langtang etc. After reaching Tumlingtar, you will trek ahead towards Kartikighat.

        Today you will start your trek by visiting Balwa Besi village, where you will cross Arun and few other rivers and lush tropical forests. The route will further take you towards Marduwa, a small hamlet where you will be walking through terraced fields and clusters of ochre and cream mud-brick houses built in the local style. Finally, you will reach Gothe bazaar after passing Nepali Danda and Irkhuwa River. The village is inhabited by Gurung and Rai communities.

          En route to Salpa Phedi, you will have to pass through several villages such as Lankuwa and Dhobani. Dhobani is renowned as a village of papermakers. Crossing Lankuwa village you will hike uphill for another hour or so, accompanied by undulating grasses, rocks, and fruit trees until you reach the sprawling settlement of Salpa Phedi to stay for the night.

            The trek will continue further uphill through many dwellings of upper Salpa Phedi facing amazing views down the valley. It will take you several hours to reach Jau Bari, a village renowned for best barley in the region and where there is a Sherpa monastery just below a lovely Sherpa-run campsite. Moving ahead, you will walk across the terraced fields and rhododendron forests to Salpa Lake and then to Gurasne.

              Leaving Guranse, you will follow the trail to reach Sanam. On the way, you will come across the Salpa Bhanjyang, which is the border of Solukhumbu. In addition, you will be witnessing wonderful views of snow-capped Karylung Peak, Lidung Khola, and typical Sherpa villages.

                Today you will walk along a high trail with broad views of Durie (Tiu) - a group of simple lodges, Rustic Gompa, and finally you will reach a large bustling Rai village at Guidel.

                  Today you will hike for a longer time in comparison to other days but the effort will be rewarding. Sights of beautiful forests and terraced fields, villages and schools will make the entire journey very interesting. You will then reach Kiraunle where Chamaling Gompa is located.

                    Moving ahead, today you will have another pass to cross, i.e., Surkie La Pass. It will take three hours to reach Sibu from the pass. Better views of Karylung, Khatang and Number mountains can be gained at the sightseeing platform just above the narrow 'pass' ridge. 

                      Yet another fantastic day of the trek because you will be climbing Najina Dingma. The path descends through Gai Kharka, several villages and Imja Khola. On the way to Pangum, you can see Mera Peak looming in front of you. Pangum has few nice lodges, Hillary school, fields marked by wooden fences and a Tibetan Buddhist gompa off to the northern side of the village. Fantastic view of the sunset is visible over the wide-open valley with Karylung rising majestically across the Dudh Koshi River.

                        En route to Painya, you will come across long rows of old Mani walls, hilltop villages of Buspa and Karikhola and Khari la pass. It will take us another good hour and a half of trekking and climbing to cross the pass at 3,075m but the views are amazing from the top. You will also have the first view of the sacred Sherpa peak, Khumbu Yul Lha (Khumbila), Gyachung Kang and Kusum Kangaru just around the corner.

                          After breakfast, you will proceed to Lukla. The route will keep you engaged with beautiful scenery of mountains, hills, forests, rivers and traditional villages.

                            After breakfast, you will check in to Lukla Airport to fly back to Kathmandu. Upon reaching Kathmandu airport, your guide will transfer you to your hotel. In the evening, you have free time for refreshments and shopping.

                              After checking out of the hotel, our representative will take you to the international Airport for your flight towards onward destination.

                                What's included

                                Included

                                • Costs related to all airport and hotel transfers. Domestic flights and airport departure taxes.
                                • 2 nights in a hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast
                                • A full day sightseeing tour in Kathmandu valley including tour guide
                                • 11  nights in local lodges/tea houses during the trek
                                • Welcome and farewell dinners
                                • All accommodation and meals during the trek
                                • Experienced English-speaking trek leader (trekking guide) and Sherpa porter (1 porter for 2 trekkers) including their salary, insurance, equipment, flight, food, and lodging
                                • Down jacket, sleeping bag and all necessary trekking gears (on hire) and trekking map. 
                                • All permits and necessary paperwork (National park permit, TIMS )
                                • First aid kit. 
                                • All taxes, be it local or government.

                                Excluded

                                • Visa fee for Nepal (bring accurate USD cash and 2 passport size photographs)
                                • International airfare to and from Kathmandu
                                • All conservation areas and cultural heritage sites entrance fees
                                • Excess baggage charges
                                • Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, early return from trekking (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
                                • Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu (and also in the case of early return from trekking than the scheduled itinerary)
                                • Travel and rescue insurance
                                • Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower etc)
                                • Tips for guides and porters.

                                Useful Information

                                As a government-registered trekking and travel company, we feel it is in our best interest to offer the best possible services to our national and international customers. While striving to maintain a high quality of service and competitiveness, we have put forward these conditions that will benefit you when you select to travel with us in Nepal. These conditions are applicable when you book with us directly.

                                General

                                For tours within Nepal and Bhutan, you should pay a non-refundable 20% of the total cost at the time of booking. For tours in Tibet, the booking cost is 50%; and the rest can be payed at our office in Nepal before starting the trek.

                                Travel Insurance

                                A travel insurance is mandatory in Nepal. And even if it is not by some authorities, we recommend that you have one. A comprehensive travel insurance package is required to cover medical expenses, emergency evacuations, accidents, cancellations, loss or theft of personal property such as electronic items and luggage, among others. Adventure White Mountain is not liable for the damage and loss of your personal effects.

                                Risk and Liabilities

                                We will notify you of any change in travel regulations in Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet but we cannot be held responsible for unknown restrictions, disasters, adverse political activities, delay, accident and/or sickness. Costs incurred in such circumstances is your liability. A good way to do it is to mention it to your travel insurance company.

                                Change of Price

                                Adventure White Mountain reserves the right to make slight changes in price in terms with foreign currency exchange rates, economic inflation or government actions.

                                Last-minute Booking

                                While last-minute booking is not available for Bhutan and Tibet, we can arrange it for treks in Nepal. With full payment, you can book with us just seven days ahead of the tour date.

                                Tour Cancellation

                                If you want to cancel your trip, you should inform us in writing 14 days ahead of the tour date. The cancellation charge is USD 180; but if you do not wish to pay the cancellation charge, you can transfer the trip to a person of your choice. In case of Bhutan and Tibet, the cancellation charge is 20 to 50 per cent and you should write to us at least 30 days ahead of the tour date.

                                Tours not Completed

                                Adventure White Mountain is not liable for refunds for tours not completed due to personal reasons. However in situations of unforeseen circumstances such as disasters, political blockades and/or adverse weather conditions, we will arrange another trip for you instead.

                                Tour Postponed

                                If you want to postpone your trip, you should inform us in writing at least 30 days ahead of the tour date. The postpone charge is USD 120 and the rest is transferred for a later date. In case of Bhutan and Tibet, the postpone charge is 20 to 50 per cent of the total.

                                Flight Delays & Cancellation

                                In many parts of Nepal flight delays are common; and in really bad weather, the flights are cancelled altogether. For such days, you should carry extra money for accommodation and food.