Rolwalling 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.
18
Days |
|
Maximum
Altitude : 4750 m |
|
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|