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The Rolwaling Valley

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Trip Overview

Level 9/20 9 days of trekking at a maximum altitude of 4600m. Average stages of 5 to 6 hours. A trek starting at a lower altitude to reach the pass in 6 days with significant ascents.

This short and easy trip takes you to the Rolwaling Valley, parallel to the border with Tibet to the north. The Rolwaling range, bordering Tibet, is dominated by the twin peaks of Gaurishankar: named after two Hindu deities, Gauri and Shankar. The Rolwaling Valley is carved by the Rolwaling Khola and has a wild appearance. This route is not frequently traveled by trekkers and leads you to the shores of the glacial lake Tsho Rolpa, the highest point of the trip, through dense forests and pastures to the last inhabited village of Na. The trail has developed over the years, and the trek now begins in the market village of Chetchet, whereas in the 1990s, treks started in Malepu and followed the Tama Kosi River upstream. Now, the trail continues along the river. In Chetchet, you turn right to ascend the Rolwaling Khola valley.

Highlights

  • The Rolwaling massif with Gauri Shankar (7135m)
  • Tsho Rolpa glacial lake
  • Rhododendron forests in bloom in spring
  • A less frequented route

Itinerary

1 Arrival in Kathmandu.
After your visa and customs formalities, baggage claim and you will be met at the airport exit by a representative from the agency. Transfer to the hotel.
2. Transfer by bus to Charikot and Chetchet. 8/9 hours, 210km.
The road to the starting point of this trek is long, and you'll need to leave very early in the morning, heading east from the capital along the road that leads to the border with Tibet. From Dolalghat, the road follows the Bhote Kosi River to the Lamosangu Bridge, which you cross before tackling a winding climb to Mude (2540m). The road, built by the Swiss, continues to Charikot before branching off towards Dolakha. The road descends to the banks of the Tama Kosi River, which you then follow upstream through a valley that becomes increasingly narrow from Manthali onwards. Trek 1: Chetchet (1370m) – Simigaon (2030m) 2 hours of walking, DM +700m, DD -35m. Tired from the bus journey, it's time to stretch your legs and head towards Simigaon, the first stop on this trek. Simigaon means "bean village" in Nepali. These two hours of walking are almost entirely uphill, quite steep at the beginning, before arriving at a Buddhist stupa at 1910m. The millet terraces replace the rice terraces of the valley.
3 Simigaon (2030m) – Gyalche (2810m) – Drongkhang (2830m) 6h DM 1270m DD 260m,
After visiting the monastery, the trail continues along a flat path with views of Mount Kugarasi opposite. It then follows the hillside, winding through forests and numerous ascents and descents to avoid rocky outcrops. The path almost reaches river level amidst rhododendrons. Lunch is taken in the forest after crossing a small tributary. The trail then climbs again to reach the Gyalche pasture. The remaining section is a gentle descent to Drongkhang.
4 Drongkhang (2830m) – Beding (3640m) 6h DM 970m DD 80m,
Today there's no village for lunch, so we're taking our picnic. The trail leads to a bridge, which we cross before continuing through a fossil forest. We cross a small tributary and enjoy a magnificent view of Gaurishankar. We stop for lunch by a river. The trail continues, and we catch sight of the first Sherpa villages with their stone houses and terraced potato fields. We cross Nyimare at 3570m and then Gyabrug before arriving in Beding.
Day 5 of acclimatization in Beding (3640m)
To further acclimatize, the day is dedicated to visiting Beding Monastery and its monastic school. This village is teeming with Sherpas who have summited Everest, often multiple times. The village is so poor that young Sherpas, to earn a living, join expeditions at a very young age, working as high-altitude porters. Those who wish can set off on a trek towards the Menlung La pass.
6 Beding (3640m) – Na (4200m) 3h DM 500m DD 60m
Today's stage is short, as it's important not to rush things at this altitude. The ascent is gradual through the pastures. The easy path follows the river and the snow-capped peaks of Tseringma (7135m), Chekigo (6257m), Dorje Phagmo (5618m), Tabayabyum (5545m), and Yalung Ri (5630m). The village of Na, with its stone houses and gardens enclosed by stone walls, is the last inhabited village in the valley, and in winter the residents move down to Beding. The afternoon is spent visiting the monastery and the surrounding area.
7 Na (4200m) – Lake Tsho Rolpa (4800m) – Na (4200m) 4/5h DM 300m DD 300m
Today's stage takes us to the focal point of the trek: the glacial lake of Tshop Rolpa. We need to pack a picnic lunch and don't forget warm clothes. Since fog usually rolls in quite early, we need to set off early to enjoy the view. The path is fairly easy through alpine meadows and among dwarf rhododendrons. The descent follows the same trail.
8 Na (4200m) – Drongkhang (2830m) 6h DM 130m DD 1450m
We begin the first day back by following the same route we took on the way there.
9 Drongkhang (2830m) – Simigaon (2030m) 4/5h DM 250m DD 1270m
Last day of return journey, descending the Rolwaling valley amidst forests and pastures to reach the village of Simigaon.
10 Simion (2030m) – Chercher (1370m) 1h DM 40m DE 700m
A final hour's walk up stairs to reach Chetchet before boarding the bus that will take us back to Kathmandu along the same route we took on the way there.
11 Kathmandu Valley
Today we set off to explore the Kathmandu Valley, starting with the charming city of Bhaktapur, "the city of devotees," the jewel of the valley with its countless temples and scenes of rural life. After lunch, we return to Kathmandu, visiting the Hindu shrine of Pashupatinath, where all Hindus are cremated. Then we continue to the enormous Buddhist stupa of Bodhnath, where Tibetan pilgrims tirelessly circle the stupa, spinning prayer wheels and reciting their rosaries. What an atmosphere!
12 Departure from Kathmandu
Depending on flight times, it will be possible to do some last-minute shopping before heading to the airport for the return flight.

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