If you have limited time and want to enjoy that hard-earned break, the Helambu trek can be the perfect place for a short introduction to trekking in Nepal. Besides offering stunning mountain views of the Jugal Himal and Rolwaling ranges, Helambu also allows you to observe Tibetan Buddhism and Sherpa culture in a very short period.
The trek across Helambu never crosses the 3,000-meter mark, which is why you won’t be needing those extra days of acclimatization and previous hiking experience to complete this trip. Your trek starts in Sundarijal, which is only 45 minutes away from Kathmandu. From Sundarijal you’ll follow a trail that passes through forests, suspension bridges, and several peaceful villages as you walk right across Helambu. Among these villages, Tarke Gyang and Sermathang have some very interesting Gompas (monasteries). You can also see the sunrise over the Himalayas from Sermathang and the sunset, when seen from there, is quite extraordinary too. After six days of trekking, this short but adventurous trip comes to an end in Melamchi Bazaar.
Even at the height of the season in October, Helambu will have considerably fewer trekkers than other commercial trekking destinations. If you’re looking for a quiet and crowd-free environment, well, look no further than the Helambu trek.
After your arrival in Kathmandu, our representatives at the airport will transfer you to your hotel and help you in checking i
From Kathmandu we drive for about 45 minutes to Sundarijal. Our trek starts here as we follow a trail through forests of oak and rhododendron to reach Chisopani.
From Chisopani the trail first drops to Pati Bhanjyang and then makes a steep ascent to Chipling. The trail then reaches Thodang Betine after which we descend to the Tamang village of Gul Bhanjyang and make our way to Kutumsang.
From Kutumsang the trail passes through forests of fir and rhododendron as we arrive in Magen Goth (3420m), Panghu, and finally reach Thare Pati.
The trek to Tarke Gyang from Thare Pati is a gentle climb across a school and a meadow.
Today the trail passes through dense forests and crosses a number of streams before we make a gentle climb to the village of Sermathang.
From Sermathang the trail drops as we reach Nigale, Gyalsha, and Raithani Gyang. We finally arrive in Melamchi Bazaar after a downhill hike from the village of Dubha Chaur.
A long bus ride brings us back to Kathmandu from Melamchi Bazaar. Once in Kathmandu, you have the option of being transferred to the airport or staying at a hotel.
Today, you have time till your departure from Kathmandu and can visit the historical city of Kathmandu and tourist places in Thamel.
Water: Mineral waters are available at all stops during tea house treks (paying your own). You can also use tap water if you choose to use water purification tablets.
Medical support: An emergency first aid kit is carried by the support staff at all times.
Food on tea house trek: During tea house treks our guests pay for their own food (breakfast/lunch/dinner) at the lodge. It can be about USD $25 each day per person. You can choose your own meal as a menu in every tea house.
Travel Insurance is mandatory for all clients who choose to trek or climb with us. The insurance should cover you in case of emergencies like accidents, altitude sickness, and ambulance and helicopter rescue charges if required. Please carry a copy of your insurance papers while traveling in Nepal and do send us a copy as well. This will help us in making all the necessary arrangements in case of any sort of emergencies.
The spring season of March/April/May is the best for holidays in the Nepalese Himalayas. The sky and the weather are very clear and sunny in these months and the temperature is warmer. At heights below 3,500 meters, you can expect temperatures of 20 to 25 degrees during the daytime, although these will drop at night. Once above 3,500m, you should expect significant temperature drops at night and early morning, often as low as -15 degrees.
There is some rain in these months, but nothing severe and this really helps to bring out the natural colors in the varied flora and fauna, especially in the national flower of Nepal, the rhododendron.
This is the primary time for tourism in Nepal with trekkers and mountain climbers seen all across the country.
Nepal experiences its monsoon season during June, July, and August, and it can sometimes last until mid-September. Some treks are possible in mid-June before the rains really get heavy, however, visibility can be limited.
The rains bring other challenges and obstacles. Mountain flights are not so frequent, while landslides can block the roads. Trekking in mid-June is still possible but we advise against the classic treks such as Everest due to the risk of long delays at Lukla which could potentially lead to missing international flights. If this is the only season possible for you, then we recommend treks in drier parts of the country such as Upper Mustang or Upper Dolpo. We can also suggest other activities such as white water rafting or visiting the National Parks at Chitwan or Bardia.
With very similar conditions to spring, the autumn season begins in mid-September and runs to mid-December, and is also ideal for trekking. This is a long window of good visibility and so there are a wide variety of trekking options available.
This time of year is also known for its festivals, especially the Dashain festival/Tihar festival and Chhad festival. There are also long national holidays so many people return to their villages to see family, making rural Nepal even more vibrant than normal. There is little rain and the skies are mostly clear with warm weather. This does mean that the trekking routes can be quite crowded in the most popular areas so we advise booking early to avoid the disappointment of full tea houses.
The less popular trekking regions such as Manaslu, Tsum Valley, Upper Dolpo, Mustang, and Naar Phu are great alternatives for those who want to avoid the crowds at this busy time.
December to February is the winter season in Nepal. Trekking at this time is not ideal and we advise against anything that goes into thin air as snowfall is common and temperatures can be extremely low.
Trips that can be done in winter include trekking in the hills around Kathmandu, Ghorepani, Poon Hill, Nagarkot, Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park, or experiencing a homestay in one of the local villages. The biggest positive of this time of year is the excellent sunsets and sunrises which can often be enjoyed in rural areas.
There is something for everyone at any time of year in Nepal and the team at Peace Nepal Treks is happy to advise the most suitable for your needs.
Check-list of personal equipment:
Below is a checklist of equipment that we advise people have with them when visiting Nepal. This is a guideline only and will depend on the type of trip you are undertaking.
While we always suggest bringing your most important equipment from home, it is possible to buy or rent equipment in Kathmandu where almost all products and major brands are available, often at cheaper rates than you might find at home.
This equipment listed is prepared by our long experiences in trekking. During the treks, our porters can carry approximately 20kg in total while we recommend that any trekker carries their own day-pack that weighs between 8-12kgs which would include a camera, snacks, and drinking water for easy access.
Neil B
Sep 21, 2024
Wonderful 3-Day Trek to Sundarijal, Chisapani & Nagarkot with amazing Nepalese guide, Bill My friend and I had a splendid 2 night, 3-day trek with Nir & Peace Nepal Treks. Our guide was named Bill and we became fond of him very quickly. He was extremely friendly and helpful and a blast to spend time with. I highly recommend this company as I've only heard good things and my experience confirmed that. ... + See more ... - See less
Galen
Sep 21, 2024
Amazing Trek in Nepal I'd highly recommend doing a trek with Peace Nepal Treks. My friend and I had an incredible experience doing a 3-day, 2-night trek close to Kathmandu with them. They were organized from the beginning and ended up being extremely accommodating and patient with our change in plans due to travel delays and illness. All three days were perfectly planned and filled with spectacular views. ... + See more ... - See less
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