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Rolwaling Trek

Rolwaling is a wild and little-frequented East - West valley located in the East of Nepal, just south of the Tibetan border, below Gauri Shankar (7145m). Our journey begins with a scenic drive on the Katmandu - Lhasa highway to the ancient trading town of Dolakha. The trek leads through one of most remote and beautiful parts of Nepal, past picturesque Sherpa, Tamang and Chetri villages with their typical terraced fields, through dense, gloomy primeval forests and over broad ridges with wonderful views. It is a palpitating adventure over dizzy suspension bridges, impressive gorges and steep paths. We reach the Tashi Lapsa pass (5755m), in the glaciated wilderness of the very heart of the Himalayas. The mountain scenery is stunning: Tengi Ragi Tau (6943m), Bisphero Go Shar (6729m), Dragkar Go (6793m) and countless snowy peaks. After Tashi Lapsa we enter the Khumbu valley, land of the Sherpas. This trek is strenuous and requires fitness and basic mountaineering skills.
 
Day to Day Itinerary
Day - 01 Katmandu - Dolakha (1650m) by bus
Day - 02 Dolakha - Shigati (1020m).
Our trek starts with a long descent to the river, through scattered villages and terraces. Afterwards, we head up, crossing many tributaries of the Thamba Khosi river. This is a pleasant walk as we gently gain height, following the course of the river.
Day - 03 Shigati - Gongar (1350m).
We carry on along the Bhote Kosi river north, along the bottom of its deep valley which gradually becomesmore gorge-like. We crisscross the hectic river on picturesque suspension bridges and pass a few hamlets and villages. The forest sometimes will give way to nice views of the Gaurishankar (7145m). This area is still Hindu although signs of Buddhism, with prayer flags and chortens, begin to mark the route.
Day - 04 Gongar - Simigaon (2020m).
Short stage. After a 2-hour walk, we leave the valley to continue east. The path slowly gains altitude on an impressive slope, and later crosses terraces. Simigaon is a Sherpa village, marked by its Tibetan monastery, perched above the houses on top of the hill.
Day - 05 Simigaon – Donga (2800m).
We now enter the Rolwaling valley. Through a gorgeous rhododendron forest, the path steadily climbs towards Gyalche. Eventually, we descend back down to the river and establish the campsite on the Rolwaling Khola bank, beside a few teahouses.
Day - 06 Donga - Beding (3690m).
We gradually climb the forested valley, with superb mountain scenery surrounding us. Arriving at Beding, we can glance at the Melungtse (7181m), Rolwaling’s highest summit. Tibetan-like people who rarely see visitors inhabit this remote village. They will probably invite you to sample their chang (barley beer) or yak butter tea.
Day - 07 Beding - Na (4180m).
A short walk will take us to Na. A tiny alpine hamlet only inhabited during summer months. Na is situated in a beautiful valley overlooked by some very impressive peaks with Chobutse (6685m) and Chugimago (6259m).
Day - 08 Na. Acclimatization day.
We can either take a rest or organize an excursion towards the Yalung La pass. We climb steadily, the path taking us to a vast amphitheatre at 4900m, situated just below the pass, and furrowed with streams. In every direction we get a stunning view: eastwards the Yalung Glacier, south the Ramdung Peak (5930m), westwards the Yalung Ri (5630m) and to the north the summits of the Tibetan boarder.
Day - 09 Na – Nyiduk Kongma (4750m).
We climb up to the dam that holds back the Tsho Rolpa lake. A Dutch team is actually in charge of the dam work, necessary to prevent the lake splitting the thin moraine and flow down the valley. We progress along the south bank. The ancient route, marked on all maps, following the northern bank and passing through Chobu, no longer exists. In fact, the moraines boarding the lake have all collapsed into it. After a 300m climb, we come across a chaotic moraine area and scramble down the height we walked up. We establish our campsite in a sandy amphitheatre on the border, between the Tsho Rolpa and the Trakarding glaciers.
Day - 10 Nyiduk Kongma – Drolumbau Glacier (5200m).
The path plunges towards the Trakarding glacier. This is an impressive and vast rocky area that gives way, from time to time, to large sections of bluish ice. We struggle on towards a rocky spur, just beneath the Dolumbau glacier. It is now quite a venture to access the glacier. We need to climb up a rock face and to set a rope for the porters, helping them to scramble up the 160m before accessing the campsite area. This provides a fantastic panorama with the Trakarding glacier below and the great glacial wall of the Drolumbau glacier to the north. An incredible spot, we are in an ideal position for the permanent spectacle of countless streams running down the glacier, falling rocks and collapsing seracs.
Day - 11 Drolumbau Glacier - Tashi Lapsa (5755m) - Camp at 5200m.
The only route to get a foothold onto the Drolumbau glacier is tricky and fairly steep. Our effort is rewarded by a unique view towards Tengi Ragi Tau (6943m), Bigphero-Go Shar (6729m), Dragkar-Go (6793m), and a background of myriad peaks towards the Tibetan boarder. We progress steadily through moraines and gentle slopes, crossing, from time to time, some glacial areas. We establish our campsite about 100m below the Tashi Lapsa pass, just underneath an impressive rocky section coming down from the Tengi Ragi Tau.
Day - 12 Camp at 5200m - Thame (3800m).
An easy and pleasant descent. Just before arriving in the tiny Sherpa village of Thame, we can visit its picturesque monastery perched on the hillside.
Day - 13 Thame - Namche Bazar (3440m).
This is a short and relaxing day. Many of the typical mani walls and prayer wheels are spread on the trail to Namche, the Sherpa capital. We have plenty of time to explore the bustling local market and admire the beautiful vistas of Thamserku (6608m), Everest (8848m) and Lhotse (8511m).
Day - 14 Namche Bazar - Lukla (2800m).
We descend through the forest and continue along the Dudh Kosi banks. A short climb takes us to Lukla.
Day - 15 Lukla – Katmandu by plane.
 

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