Rolwaling valley Trek

Rolwaling Valley Trek is in a wild remote mountain valley and magically nestled in the lap of Gaurishankar Himal (7134M). Rolwaling Valley is filled with pristine lakes and magnificent virgin snow-capped mountains ideal for climbing with the best quality ice in the world.

Less explored than most of Nepal’s other treks, this amazing Rolwaling Valley is in the Dolakha District in the northeast of Kathmandu bordering the Khumbu region to the east and Tibet to the north.

Rolwaling Valley lies in the Gaurishankar conservation area which was established in 2010 covering an area of 2,179 square kilometers with diverse species of flora and fauna.

The main ethnic group in this valley is the Sherpas renowned for their high-altitude climbing wherein they follow Tibetan Buddhism.

Rolwaling valley is also considered a “Beyul’’ (sacred valley), a valley kept hidden by Padmasambhava (a prominent figure in Tibetan Buddhism) for his followers. This sacred valley is believed to be an abode of Shiva and Parvati known as Mount Gaurishanker or “Tseringma'', a Sherpa’s goddess of vast spiritual power where you can feel the overwhelming presence of spirituality!

So, why wait for another trek? Enjoy your pristine journey to the crowd-less trekking trial experience the Sherpa hospitality and explore the hidden valley of the Himalayas in a short period.

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Itinerary

Day 1:Arrival Kathmandu.

Accommodation 3-Star Category Hotel
Maximum Altitude1350m/4429ft

Our representative from Discover Altitude receives you on your arrival at Kathmandu airport and escort you back to check in the hotel. Later we talk about our trip and preparation and will have a short session with your guide and other trekking members.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 2:Sightseeing around Kathmandu.

Accommodation 3-Star Category Hotel
MealsBreakfast
Time3-4 Hours
Maximum Altitude1350m/4429ft

Our professional cultural guide takes you to show around Kathmandu UNESCO world heritage sites after your morning breakfast.

This includes Swyambhunath Stupa (monkey temple), Patan Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, and the largest Bouddhanath Stupa. During this tour, you get to learn more about the history and culture of Nepal.

Overnight in Kathmandu

Day 3:Drive to Dolakha and to Chetchet

Accommodation Lodge | Tea-House
MealsBreakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Time10 Hours Drive.
Maximum Altitude1500m

Today we will head towards our trekking starting point for which we have a long scenic drive along the "Araniko highway" to Chetchet which is about 200km and takes about 10 hours.

This will be a scenic drive from the city towards the hills, with magnificent views of the Himalayas, valleys, rivers, farmland, and rural life of Nepal.

overnight inChetchet.

Day 4:Trek to Simigaun

Accommodation Lodge | Tea-House
MealsBreakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Time3-4 Hours
Maximum Altitude2036m/6680ft

Today is a short trek that starts off with crossing a suspension bridge shortly over BhoteKoshi river then climbs up mostly to Simigaun. It's a beautiful place with local terrace-like fields and an amazing view of the green valley.

Overnight at Simigaun.

Day 5:Trekking to Kyalche

Accommodation Lodge | Tea-House
MealsBreakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Time5-6 Hours
Maximum Altitude2760m/9055ft

The first leg of the trek today descends through the forest along the Rolwaling river and eventually, we cross the suspension bridge over Rolwalingkhola (river) and get to a tea shop.

From here on the trail climbs up to Surmuche (2470m) for a lunch stop via Sisters. Then leaving Surmuche after lunch our trek climbs up to our night camp Kyalche.

Overnight in Kyalche.

Day 6:Trek to Beding

Accommodation Lodge | Tea-House
MealsBreakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Time7-8 Hours.
Maximum Altitude3740m/12270ft

Today our trek starts off with an easy walk to Dongang (2800m) where some trekkers push their walk all the way here the previous night. Then the trek continues through the forest along the Rolwaling river.

Undulating for a while to ThandingKharka for lunch. After lunch, our trek climbs gradually all the way up to a beautiful Sherpa village of Bedding.

Overnight in Beding.

Day 7:Acclimatization at Beding

Accommodation Lodge | Tea-House
MealsBreakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Maximum Altitude3740m/12270ft

Today is our acclimatization day, this will help us to acclimatize our body and also to explore the ancient lifestyle of the local settlers along with some monastery.

So, we hike up the hill which provides a great view and we also visit an ancient monastery. We will be back in the afternoon and relax.

Overnight in Bedding.

Day 8:Beding to Na village

Accommodation Lodge | Tea-House
MealsBreakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Time4 Hours
Maximum Altitude4180m/13714ft

Our trek today goes to Na village which is mostly a gradual climb along the Rolwaling river. In the meantime, we will be surrounded by beautiful snow-capped mountains along the way.

Na village is the last Sherpa village in the valley and around 20 households make the whole locality of the village.

overnight in Na.

Day 9:Detour to Tsho-Rolpa Lake

Accommodation Lodge | Tea-House
MealsBreakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Time4-5 Hours
Maximum Altitude4540m/14895ft

Today we hike to the final destination of our trek which is Tsho-Rolpa Lake. It is about a 2-3 hours hike to reach the lake and about one hour to return. Tsho-Rolpa lake is expanding gradually due to global warming as the level of snow in the Himalayas is in melting rapidly.

Overnight in Na village. (We can descend to Bedding as well if you want)

Day 10:Na to Dongang

Accommodation Lodge | Tea-House
MealsBreakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Time7-8 Hours
Maximum Altitude2790m/9154

After reaching the final destination of our trek, we now go down retracing the same way we came up. It is mostly a downhill walk to reach the beautiful place Dongang which is just by the Rolwalingkhola.

Overnight in Dongyang

Day 11:Dongang to Chetchet.

Accommodation Lodge | Tea-House
MealsBreakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Time8 Hours
Maximum Altitude1500m/4921ft

Our last day of mountain trekking finishes descending down to Chetchet, a beautiful place nearby the Tamakoshi River.

As we descend to the lower altitude, we will encounter the rural lifestyle, valley, village, and daily activities.

overnight at Chetchet.

Day 12:Drive back to Kathmandu.

Accommodation 3-Star Category Hotel
MealsBreakfast | Lunch | Farewell Dinner
Time10 Hours
Maximum Altitude1350m/4429ft

Today we drive again through the same highway with beautiful landscapes and river views enjoying along the way. This evening we take you to a typical Nepalese restaurant where you can enjoy the Nepalese dance and food.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 13:Your final departure.

MealsBreakfast

Today representative from Discover Altitude will escort you all the way to the international airport for your journey back home according to your scheduled time of flight.

We wish you a happy and safe journey back home.

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Cost Details

Included

Airport transfers with private vehicles include pick-up from the airport and drop-off.
Deluxe room in Kathmandu in a three-star category hotel on a BB basis.
Sightseeing around Kathmandu by private vehicles.
Professional and experienced guide for city tours
Ground transportation by bus to Chetchet. (A private jeep can be arranged on your request)
All-night accommodation during the trek.
Meals three times which are breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the entire trek
Authorized and professional trekking guide and porters during the trek.
Guide and porter's allowance, accommodation, food, and insurance.

Excluded

International airfare
Entrance fees for entering UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kathmandu.
Bottled water, bar-bills, and cold drinks.
Your travel and trekking insurance
Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu, apart from farewell dinner
Gratitude for the guide and porters
Anything that is not mentioned in the include section.

Risk free booking & Free Cancellation.

Useful Info

How to Get to the Trailhead of Rolwaling?

There is a regular bus service from the old bus bark (near Ratna Park) which only takes place early in the morning. The bus ride goes along the Araniko highway via Dolalghat and Charikot then to Chetchet from where you can begin your trek to Rolwaling Valley.

The ride is about an 8-10 hours drive which is about 200km in distance. Or private jeep also can be hired which is a more comfortable and pleasant ride saving a sufficient amount of time with frequent stops for the snapshot.

The major attraction of the Rolwaling trek

Tsho –Rolpa Lake

One of the highlights of the Rolwaling trek is Tso-Rolpa Lake which is in the Sherpa language. “Tso” means water and “Rolpa '' is the name of a valley. Tsho-Rolpa is a pristine glacial lake up in the valley, considered one of the biggest glacial lakes in Nepal.

This lake is with an average length of 3.45 km and 0.5 km in width at an altitude of 4,580 meters above sea level. It was once a yak herding place for the locals. This lake has risen considerably over the last five decades from the melted glacier in the Himalayas and is a constant threat to the locals. A recent major engineering project aiming to drain water from the lake has significantly relieved anxiety among the locals.

Apart from the lake, trekkers can explore the hidden valley, the Sherpa hospitality, diverse vegetation, age-old culture, etc. This will be a magnificent journey without any flight connection driving through the hills into the Himalayas.

Permits and fees for the Rolwaling valley trek

To trek to Rolwaling Valley, you need 2 different permits which are a "TIMS card"(trekking information management system) that costs USD 20 for an independent trekker per person and USD 10 for an organized trekker per person. Another one is the "Gaurishankar conservation area" entrance fee which cost 2000 Nepali rupees.

Trip Reviews

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5based on 56 reviews

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency.

I had the incredible opportunity to complete 4 different treks with Discover Altitude: Three Passes, ABC, Annapurna Circuit and Langtang. Each time, the experience exceeded my expectations! The owners, Kumar and Santosh, along with their guides are exceptionally professional, knowledgeable and attentive to every detail. Everything was very well planned for all treks, and I felt safe even at the highest altitudes, thanks to their friendly and supportive guides.

There are many agencies to choose from, and I visited many, but when I met Kumar and Santosh the quality of their personalities quickly became evident. They treated me as a friend they genuinely wanted to support, not just a client, caring only about the money. Even if I hadn’t signed up, they would have treated me the same, not as potential or lost business. This authenticity is why I chose them! This was the only agency where I had that gut feeling, which turned out to be correct. They always went the extra mile. Before each trek, they spent a lot of time going through all the details with me to ensure I had everything I needed and was ready to go. They also checked up on me along the way. During all these times, they truly became my friends!

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency. They are also very competitively priced for both solo and group trips! I cannot recommend them highly enough!

Mustang - Kagbeni, Muktinath 6-day tour

We chose a 6-day course that tours Kagbeni and Muktinath, the gateway to Mustang from Kathmandu. It takes 3 days to actually walk, so it's a safe course even for beginners.

Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom (30-minute flight), then hike 3 hours to Kagbeni. Hike 5-6 hours to Muktinath. Return to Jomsom via a different route. Take a lunch break at Rupna on the way. Fly to Pokhara. Fly back to Kathmandu.

It was late May before the rainy season, but we were blessed with clear skies and were able to see the beautiful mountain ranges of Nilgiri and Annapurna. The desolate landscape of Mustang was very beautiful, and it was a very interesting experience to get a glimpse of the life of the villagers in Kagbeni.

It was quite hot during the daytime walks in late May. Short sleeves are fine. If you don't want to get sunburned, wear thin long sleeves. Since it gets cold in the mornings and evenings in Muktinath, I wore a light down jacket, but if you layer up a warm long sleeve jacket, you can wear a hiking jacket instead of a down jacket.

Our trekking guide, Amar, was very kind and not only guided us on hiking but also carefully explained the history and people's lives. (In English) He always took care to make the trek comfortable, and the walking pace was adjusted to suit our physical strength, so we were able to enjoy it without any strain.

Kumar handled advance reservations and questions, and he responded to emails very quickly. After arriving in Kathmandu, I visited the office and Kumar gave me a brief explanation of the schedule. In Kathmandu, Santosh handled my communications and accompanied me to the transfer between the hotel and the airport. Both of them were cheerful and kind.
During the tour, I asked to change my plan to stay in Pokhara for two nights after the trek (of course, the additional hotel fee was at my own expense), and I am grateful that he quickly and readily responded to my request, such as changing my flight on the return trip.

A short walk from Jomsom to Muktinath.

We had great dealings with Kumar and the team at Discover Altitude. Kumar was our initial contact, and Santosh was our day to day contact on-the-ground. Their communication was great, and everything went smoothly.

Before departing for Nepal, we emailed Kumar about what we had in mind, and he presented us with different options. We settled on a short trip from Jomsom to Muktinath - flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara and on to Jomsom the next day to commence our hike. (We took the same air-route in reverse on our way back.) In total, the trip was six or seven days, with three days hiking. (This worked out well due to our schedule, but next time we might spend a few more days walking.)

Our guide on the trip was Amar Magar. We really recommend him. (Ask for him by name!) He was thoughtful, organised, and provided clear information on what we were doing each day. His patience and pleasant manner made the trip really enjoyable.

The hike itself was good. The area from Jomsom to Kagbeni (where we stopped for the first night) was primarily along the road and the riverbed, and the scenery was primarily the dry and desolate scenery one might expect of the Mustang area. Kagbeni was a nice village to rest. (There are a number of tea houses, and an interesting temple where one of the monks showed us around.) The walk up to Muktinath the next day was a little bit tough - being a climb of about 1,000 meters. (Not 'technically' tough; more of a challenge due to low fitness levels!) After resting, we visited the Hindu pilgrimage site, which was quite an interesting experience as it attracts a lot of visitors. We stayed the night at a tea house in Muktinath, and then walked back to Jomsom via a different route, stopping at a village called Lupna on the way back. The route from Muktinath to Lupna was probably the highlight of our trip, with much more diverse terrain, including great alpine scenery, fantastic rocky cliffs and forests, and the picturesque village of Lupna itself, with a very old temple and some caves used for solitary retreats.

If you have limited time, then I would recommend the approach we took. It provides a glimpse of the Mustang region (without getting in to the Upper Mustang region, which requires more time and an expensive permit), and a taste of walking in the region. On our walk, we met a number of people who had walked the Annapurna Circuit, taking around two weeks. We might plan better and aim to do that next time!

In terms of practical considerations, noting it was mid-May, we found that we were able to walk in t-shirts and long pants. We carried a lot of warm clothing with us, but didn't need really it. (We were a bit cold briefly after arriving at Muktinath, but generally we didn't use our warm clothing. It would be smart to take something - but no need to take too much.) The bedding provided in the rooms was more than adequate, and we didn't need our own sleeping bags. (Taking a sleeping bag liner might suffice from a cleanliness perspective if this is a concern.)

A Once-in-a-lifetime EBC Trekking Trip

What a once-in-a-lifetime trek to EBC! Waking up at midnight to dogs barking or in the morning to birds chirping and singing and the sound of rushing river, looking out the window and seeing the mountain so close as if within reach, roaming around Namche Bazaar and checking out the local markets, setting off in the sound of school children's morning drill, crossing rivers and valleys over the suspension bridges, passing the mani stones in the villages and the stupas on the trail, watching porters with oversized load strapped on their heads stepping to the lively beat of loud Nepali songs, navigating rocks uphill inside the dark clouds and white-out snow, trekking on the winding trail through dusty forests, misty mountain passes, wide open scrub land, and rugged and rocky barren land, with the famous and mysterious mountain peaks seemingly around every corner or suddenly elusive behind the wandering clouds, and flying down in helicopter provided every moment to admire the mountainous landscape and appreciate local life in this harsh environment. It’s been almost two weeks since I came back yet the sceneries and sounds on the trail still linger.

The EBC trek was also grueling - the long distance, the high elevation, the thin air at times mixed with dust or animal smell, the coldness at night, the completely unpredictable weather that could change by the minute – and every little inconvenience could pile on the exhaustion from a long day of trekking, but the thoughtful services by my guide Krishna made all these bearable. Every day after arriving at the tea house he made sure food was ordered and I had a spot to sit next to the stove to warm up. Every morning before we leave the tea house, he made sure bill was paid and everything was packed and ready. On the trail he was patient, watchful, and protective when the yaks and horses approaching. My tour company Discover Altitude was very flexible and allowed me to change my trekking schedule on the fly, including booking tea houses during peak season and securing single room occupancy. In fact, the three unplanned tea houses in Jorsalle, Phungi Thenga, and Dughla, allowed me to enjoy the real serenity near nature and away from crowds. The company also booked a helicopter, outside of my original plan, to fly me out back in Kathmandu in time. Their flexibility was crucial for me to have a successful and enjoyable EBC trekking trip.

Thank you Krishna for your kind-hearted service.

And thank you Santosh for showing me the street food, the hidden temples, and the vibrant life around the old town of Kathmadu.

EBC with Amar, the best guide!!

I did the Everest Base Camp trek (8 days to reach EBC, Day 9 was to Kala Patthar). Started at the end of April and finished in May. We had great weather that time of year. The early days in the trek were warm enough for leggings and a lightweight shirt. A few people were in shorts. Day 7 was the first day I needed to wear down clothing items, gloves or a warm hat. Other days could be done with a baseball cap and a few layers - started the day with a windwall jacket and would switch to a vest or just my long sleeve dry fit top while trekking. The cardio keeps you pretty warm. Taking altitude sickness medication is key. Start taking it a day before you leave. We had no issue with altitude sickness but several people at the tea houses were not as lucky.

Kumar, the owner of Discover Altitude, organized everything for us and it was planned perfectly. He booked the best tea houses for us and everything was so well-organized that all we had to think about was making it to the top. Amar was our AMAZING guide. His brother Shukla was the porter. They were the nicest, most professional duo. Amar took very good care of us and it was obvious that he was one of the most well-respected guides on the trail. He knew everyone and was so experienced that we had a lot of tips and guidance that I don’t feel everyone else had on the mountain. Definitely request amar as your guide. We quickly realized how important the planning is and who your guide is for success on this trek.

Great experience and recommend doing Kala Patthar early the next morning for sunrise views of Everest!

Awesome 10 day EBC trekking experience

I’m towards the tail end of my 10 day EBC trek arranged by Discover Altitude. Overall, I’ve been very happy with the trip so far. Santosh did his best to make sure my trip went according to plan. He was also extremely accommodating to my request for alterations to itinerary during the trip. Always ready to help, no questions asked.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank my guide, Sandip Lama. He is an energetic and hardworking young man that went above and beyond to make me trip as comfortable as possible. He’s also flexible in accommodating my last minute change request. For example, when I saw Ama Dablam for the first time, I was blown by its beauty and came up with the idea of doing a side trip to its base camp. It’s require at least half a days time. Sandip agreed without any hesitation and helped with the trip planning. In the end, the side trip didn’t happen simply because I ran out of steam. As a guide, Sandip’s main responsibility is leading me with the trip. But he also offered to carry my bag when I got very tired. This is what I call above and beyond. Again, thank you Sandip and I hope we’ll embark on my adventures in the future!

Discover Altitude is the best!

Discover Altitude is the best trekking guide / tour operator in Nepal. Two days ago my friend and I reached Everest Base Camp on May 4th (trekking day 8).

On day 9, helicopter picked us up at Gorakshep - last tea house before EBC. Helicopter transported us back to Kathmandu via Lukla — 2.5 hour stop for refueling and other logistics. Hiking back down 3 extra days is not for everyone.

Reaching EBC was a small miracle for me. I was the biggest person (XXL) trekking. I trained for over a year… lost significant amount of weight to even attempt EBC. Everything had to go perfectly and it did. Planning was key. Some days were incredibly challenging and required very-very slow / steady pace.

At every step my guide was right there to support as needed. On some hills my guide was 12 inches behind me in case I lost balance from exhaustion.

We were blessed to have Amar as our guide and his younger brother, Shukla, as porter. They did everything for us … from finding bathrooms, ordering meals, dealing with hotels, first aid, and fun to talk with too. Multiple times during the trek other guides whispered to us that Amar is one of the best guides in the region.

We opted for the luxury tour with nicer hotels + helicopter ride to Lukla to start + helicopter return from the top. Paying extra for luxury tour is worth every penny. We met some hikers not having a good experience. Painfully obvious they chose the wrong guide / tour operator.

If you are in perfect shape and you’ve trekked Nepal many times before- maybe having the best guide isn’t as critical. But for us we relied on our guides for every decision … even down to what to eat and drink at different altitudes.

TIPS:

1- take diamox right from the start (1 day before starting the trek)

2- take helicopter to/from Lukla. If you don’t take helicopter, be prepared to sit around for days waiting on weather to clear for airplane flight. People stuck at the airport waiting multiple days to get out aren’t having a good time.

3- go vegetarian. You’ll love ra-ra noodle vegetable soup

4- bring tons of electrolyte packets and drink 5 liters/day

5- pack for very cold days at the end (EBC). Both outer-wear gear and warm jackets for nights at the hotel. Be prepared for extremely dry air at night. Bring nasal spray to help breath through your nose.

6- get plenty NPR cash in Lukla or Kathmandu. In a pinch, tea house hotels can run your CC to give you NPR cash… will cost 10% extra charge.

7- tip your guides as generously as you can

8- don’t bring huge camera unless you are ok lugging the extra weight. Newer iPhone or Android do fantastic job.

9- go slow. Don’t skip rest (acclimatizing) days.

10- Book your trip with Discover Altitude. Kumar will email you immediately with details to help you customize your trip. He will work through every question / idea with patience. We had at least a dozen unusual requests including special activities in Kathmandu after the trek. Kumar and our guides made them all happen. Remember to request booking at nicer hotels.

11- go with friend or family you really enjoy being with for two weeks. Having someone to motivate you and just hang out together makes the trip so much better.

12- day 2 to Namche might be your hardest day, particularly after Hillary Bridge… 1-2 hours straight uphill at the end. Don’t give up. Go slow and ask for help (horse available if can’t make it up that hill).

Great Service from begining to end!

We reached out to a number of treking companies, quite last minute when the opportunity came up to go to Nepal. We got a lot of responses but in the end, Discover Altitude had exactly what we were looking for and very helpful along the way. When we arrived in Kathmandu we met at their office and they went into detail about what we could expect and answered all our weird questions!!(first timers!)
We were picked up by an excellent driver, met our guide ahead of time( that was the only confusion was if we were getting a guide/ a guide/porter or a guide and porter, it all worked out very well despite zero training on our part. On the last day we hiked up out of Namche,to the helicopter that took us over base camp with a short landing on Kala Patthar before returning back to Lukla and then Kathmandu where Discover Altitude picked us up and generally looked after us from start to finish including a couple of day tours around Kathmandu. It was spectacular , Santosh and Kumar were very caring and you could tell how proud they were of their company and employees.

FAQs

Q1. How difficult is Ruby Valley trek?

Ruby valley trek involves ups and downs which is physically demanding so, you need to

be fit to do this trek this involves a continuous hike for around 6-7 hours per day.

Q2. Can I do a solo Ruby Valley trek?

Yes, but this is literally one of the remote and isolated areas. There is a high chance of losing the path and getting lost in the wild as it happened in the past. It is not advisable at all to trek alone without a guide.

Q3. Is there risk of altitude sickness in Ruby Valley trek

Not at all, as the trek is moderate in terms of its difficulty. Trekkers will be camping at Somdang(3271m), this is a normal height far away from any altitude difficulty. Although trekkers will be at Pangsang pass (3800m) and Pangsang viewpoint (4250m), this will be only a day tour.

Q4. Is there any option of flight other than drive in the Ruby Valley Trek?

There is no alternative flight route in the Ruby Valley trek, trekkers need to drive through the road to reach the starting point of the Ruby Valley trek which is Syabrubesi, and drive back to Kathmandu from Beshi Sahar to Kathmandu at the end.

Trip Facts

Duration13 Days
DestinationNepal
Difficulty LevelModerate
Max Altitude4540m/14895ft

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