The Helambu trek is an ideal short trek near the Kathmandu Valley. Despite its close proximity to Kathmandu, the Helambu region remains relatively un-spoilt, it provides some great days on the trail with fascinating people to meet along the way. If you like nature and wildlife and you are looking for a short trek this is one to consider there is an abundance of wildlife. The trail leads through rhododendron forest alive with colour during the spring. Bamboo forests, majestic waterfalls, and snow-capped Himalayan Mountains also go to make the trek one of most diverse treks near Kathmandu. The people living in the upper reaches of the trail and into the highlands of the Langtang region are descendants of Tibetan tribes that migrated south many years ago.
We start with a drive to Sundarijal which is an hour from Kathmandu. From here we trek up to enter Shivapuri National Park. Continuing along the trail via the villages of Chisopani, Kutumsang, Thadepati and Sermathang, the trek ends at Melamchi Pul.
Beautiful lush green rice terraces, thick mountain forests with great Himalayan views splendid Buddhist monasteries to explore along with a fascinating Buddhist culture all go to make this trek a very rewarding experience.
<ul>
<li>Beautiful rural life to explore</li>
<li>Nature at its best</li>
<li>Fabulous mountain views</li>
<li>Heritage tour of the Kathmandu Valley included</li>
<li>Ancient Monasteries.</li>
</ul>
<p>A Himalaya Heart representative will welcome you at the airport and take you to the hotel where we will talk about the trip in more detail. This is an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have. The rest of the day is free to relax and explore</p><p></p>
<p>We explore three culturally diverse and visually stunning temples around Kathmandu We begin. High on a hilltop above Kathmandu at the magnificent Swayambutinath (“Monkey Temple”), used by both Hindus and Buddhists, and known for its many holy monkeys! Along the banks of the Bagmati River lies Pashupatinath, a temple devoted to Lord Shiva. It is the most important Hindu site in Nepal and pilgrims from all over the world come to show their faith.Away from the city centre is the peaceful and impressive Bodhnath Stupa. Every day thousands of people descend daily to show their devotion and respect.</p>
<p>Day 03: Drive to Sundarijal & trek to Chisapani (2300m/7544 ft): Drive 1 hour, Trek: 4 hours</p><p>Today, we make an hour's drive to Sundarijal (1350m), our trek start point. From Sundarijal, trek to Chisopani (2300m). We begin our trek along a small hydroelectric plant. The trail then enters through into the Shivapuri National Park. The first settlement we come across is Mulkharka mostly inhabited by the Tamang people. Then we walk along the ridge through a forest of oaks and rhododendron to Chisopani.</p><p>Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner</p>
<p>After taking our morning breakfast, we head for a journey to Kutumsang. Our today's trek starts with a decent crossing meadows and fields. Enjoy the magnificent views of the Langtang mountains. Thus we arrive at Pathi Bhanjyang and Gul Bhanjyang. From Gul Bhanjyang, the trail climbs the ridge to another pass. Another downhill trek from the pass takes us to Kutumsang.</p>
<p>We climb above Kutumsang on a steep trail mostly through fir and rhododendron forest where there are no permanent settlements. The trek continues to Yurin Danda with magnificent views of the Himalayas. Finally, we arrive at Tharepati for our overnight stay.</p>
<p>Today we head for Tarkeghyang. During early part of the trek, the trail descends until we cross the Melamchi Khola. Then we trek up to Tarkeghyang passing through Sherpa settlements. Enjoy the Himalayan peaks ofter appear before you glistening in the sunshine. Discover the village and its monastery which is one of the oldest and biggest monasteries in the region. The village is more popularly known as Helambu, since most of the inhabitants belong to the Helmu caste.</p>
<p>Since, we do not gain altitude that much today, it's going to be comparatively easy walk . We trek through forests over streams, and past cascading waterfalls. The trail makes a sweep around the wide valley end between Parachin and the Sherpa village of Gangyul. From Gangyul, we arrive at Sermathang. Time to relax and discover the village. There is a Buddhist monastery at the highest point of the village.</p>
<p>On our final day of the trek, we walk down to Malemchi Pul Bazaar. The village is mostly inhabited by the Sherpa, but there are also people of other ethnicities. From the Bazaar, we catch a bus to Katmandu. After reaching Kathmandu we have the rest of the day off to rest or do some souvenir shopping. To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will have a farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight in Kathmandu.</p>
<p>Today its time to move on we hope you have had a great time with us and we would like to meet again in the future. If you are flying today.we will drop you at the airport as per your flight schedule or assist you with any other move.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Today its time to move on we hope you have had a great time with us and we would like to meet again in the future. If you are flying today.we will drop you at the airport as per your flight schedule or assist you with any other move.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Today its time to move on we hope you have had a great time with us and we would like to meet again in the future. If you are flying today.we will drop you at the airport as per your flight schedule or assist you with any other move.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Today its time to move on we hope you have had a great time with us and we would like to meet again in the future. If you are flying today.we will drop you at the airport as per your flight schedule or assist you with any other move.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Today its time to move on we hope you have had a great time with us and we would like to meet again in the future. If you are flying today.we will drop you at the airport as per your flight schedule or assist you with any other move.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>
Includes
- All airport/hotel transfers
- 3 nights in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu
- All accommodation and meals during the trek
- An experienced English-speaking trek leader (trekking guide)Sherpa porters to carry luggage (2 trekkers:1 porter) all staff insurance.
- All necessary paperwork and permits
- A comprehensive medical kit
- All government and local taxes
- A full day sightseeing tour in Kathmandu valley including tour guide and entrance fees
Excludes
- Nepal Visa fee (bring accurate USD cash and two passport photographs obtained at Kathmandu Airport on arrival )
- International airfare to and from Kathmandu
- Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottled or boiled water, shower etc)
- Travel and rescue insurance (please check our booking conditions)
- Tips for guides and porters
When’s the best time to visit Nepal?
The main seasons for trekking are the spring (Mar to May) and autumn (Sep to Nov) when you’ll have clear skies and superb mountain views. The winter (Dec to Feb) is also a great time to visit— these months offer a unique experience and fewer crowds but lower altitude treks are better at this time of year as its cold at night.
What is it like during the monsoon season?
(Jun to Aug), Most of Nepal experiences heavy rain for a few hours each day. It’s humid, wet, and the trails in the lower regions (Ghorepani, Ghandruk, Langtang, etc) can be quite muddy. If you don’t mind the rain you’ll have the trails to yourself, the skies often clear up in the morning, and certain treks offer stone-paved trails that drain the rain and make for easy trekking. Also, certain regions, like Mustang and the upper reaches of Everest, lie in the rainshadow of the Himalaya and receive little rain but views however are still likely to be restricted.
showers.
Is Wi Fi available on treks:
The main trekking regions of Everest / Annapurna / Langtang have Wi Fi facilities on the major trekking routes. There will be times when trekking in remote areas when it is not available.
What is Altitude Sickness?
Many sites on Google speak about 2.500 meters as when problems may arise. In our experience this is misleading you may feel a slight headache but rarely anything more that a painkiller won’t relieve. If we are talking about the possibility of contracting a more severe form of altitude sickness it is likely to occur over 4.000 meters and once again rare and easily resolved by descending to a lower altitude. Altitude sickness describes several symptoms that happen to your body when you’re exposed to a higher elevation within a short period of time. When people are traveling or either climbing to a higher elevation quickly. The higher you climb, the lower the air pressure and oxygen levels get. Our bodies can handle the shift, but they need time to gradually adjust. Himalaya Heart carefully designs treks to minimise any risk.Having said that genrally people will experience the following to a lesser or higher degree.
Lack of appetite/ nausea /Fatigue/ Shortness of breath
Money and payment in Nepal.
Payment in hotels, trekking/travel agencies, and airlines are made in foreign exchange. Most of the International Cards including Visa Card, Master Card, JCB, Maestro, Americal Express etc. are widely accepted by hotels, restaurants and leading travel/trekking agents. The receipts may be needed to change left-over Nepalese Rupees into hard currency before leaving the country. However, only 10 percent of the total amount may be converted by the bank. ATM and Debit cards are widely in use in major cities of Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini and others.
Nepalese Rupees are found in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. One rupee equals 100 paisa. The rate regularly fluctuates and is fixed and published by Nepal Rastra Bank every other day.
What’s the difference between private and group tours?
Private tours are tailor-made itineraries built by us around your travel dates and personal interests, whereas group trips are pre-packaged and depart on specific dates. Group trips are also open for others to join, whereas private trips are just for you. You will find a list of fixed departure dates on our website.
How do I get my visa for Nepal?
For most nationalities visa can be obtained on arrival in Kathmandu. It takes around 45 minutes and is the most convenient way to get your visa you will need passport size photos.. You can also apply for a visa in advance from a local Nepali consulate in your country if you’d like to have everything arranged in advance. Cost15 Days – 25 USD / 30 Days – 40 USD / 90 Days – 100 USD
How much luggage can I take on domestic flights?
For mountain flights, you’re allowed 5 kg. carry-on to the plane and 10 kg. for checked-in luggage. For non-mountain sector flights, the check-in allowance increases to 20-25 kg.
Are hotels included in the tour price?
Himalaya Heart organise complete tours, meaning everything is taken care of from the moment you arrive in Nepal to the moment you leave, including all of your accommodation in a three star Hotel. If you require better accommodation please let us know and we can arrange this and adjust the tour cost accordingly. Each of our tour pages shows clearly what is and what is not included in the tour price.
Are there any extra expenses not included in my tour price?
Personal expenses (tips, soft drinks, bar bills, laundry, telephone calls, donations, and extra snacks, etc) are not included in your tour price. When checking a particular trek page on our website we have clearly stated what is and what is not included. If you’re going trekking, the only things you’ll need to pay for out of pocket are wifi and battery charging (when available), extra meals outside of what’s included, alcohol, and soft drinks and perhaps hot
.