Indigenous People Trek
About this tour
During the Indiginous people trek you experience Nepal's diverse cultural areas and will meet at least six indigenous communities. Chuda and a lot of our guides and porters originate from this region! Besides the trails you will encounter hardworking farmers, picturesque villages, clear rivers, terraced rice fields, and breath-taking views of the Himalayas' eastern peaks. Besides absorbing the purity of the culture, people, and landscape, you make a positive contribution to the survival and development of the mountain people from less-known areas.
Grab this opportunity to discover all the beauty Nepal has to offer. Nepal is so much more than just the Himalayas. Our goal is to provide you a real Nepali experience, by avoiding the mainstream trekking trails. If you want to make changes to this itinerary, please get in touch!
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Kathmandu, Nepal
One of our employees will welcome you at the airport. Our staff is there to accompany and assist you with the check-in procedures at your hotel in Kathmandu. A short meet & greet with Maaike and/or Chuda will take place. You will receive tips, answers to all your questions, and a trek briefing. The rest of the day you can discover the small streets of the old city part of Kathmandu. You will spend the night in a standard hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 2: Kathmandu, Nepal to Khola Kharka, Dadhuwa, Nepal
You will leave Kathmandu with a private drive after breakfast. After about a 4.5 hours' drive, you reach Dhunge, the starting point of the trekking. Start your trek of about 3 hours with a short climb towards Thulo Sailing. Afterwards, you follow the path down to the Sherpa village of Khola Kharka, which will lead you to the community lodge of your overnight stay.
Day 3: Khola Kharka, Dadhuwa, Nepal to Sailungeshwor, Nepal
After about a 4 to 5 hours walk; you will reach the top of Thulo Sailing. At an altitude of 3300 meters, Sailung offers a fantastic viewpoint over Annapurna, Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Rolwaling, Everest, and Kanchenjunga. Also, to the south, you see the Mahabarta hills and the Sun Koshi River. More down, you are even able to see the lowlands of Terai. You will spend the night in a community lodge in Thulo Sailung.
Day 4: Sailungeshwor, Nepal to Surke, Jiri, Nepal
Clear weather conditions allow you to enjoy a beautiful sunrise of the Eastern Himalayas. You start your trekking day by following a downhill path through the woods, which will lead you to the Tashi Namgyal Chöling Monastery in Raj Veer. Your journey continues to go downhill through green terraced fields. On your way, you pass both a Sherpa and a Tamang village. The path continues to go downhill until you reach the Thinghare, a spectacular, 12-meter-high waterfall. Afterward, a short climb leads you to Surke, a village surrounded by magnificent terraced fields. Enjoy your time in de village by walking to the viewpoint of Gaurigaun or visiting the indigenous community Thami. You will spend the night in a homestay in Surke.
Day 5: Surke, Jiri, Nepal to Doramba, Nepal
Today you walk through a Thami village before crossing the Doramba Valley. Your path leads you over a wooded ridge to Doramba's terraced fields. Did you know that Doramba is one of the largest Tamang settlements in Nepal? Experience the Tamang hospitality during your night in a homestay in Doramba.
Day 6: Doramba, Nepal to Khadadevi, Nepal
Walk up to the top of Agleshwari and reward yourself with stunning views of the Himalaya and the rolling Mahabhata hills below. Moreover, the hilltop a secret Hindu sanctuary. Descending through a slate mine and pine forest, you will reach Galpa Bazaar, a village located between valleys. On top of a hill, at an altitude of 1977 meters, Khandadevi is situated. In the north, surroundings vary from the lush green Mahabhata Mountains to the snowy peaks of Numbruchiuli and Gaurishankar. In the south, you have a beautiful view of the Terai. You will spend the night in a homestay in Khandadevi.
Day 7: Khadadevi, Nepal to Sunapati Rural Municipality सुनापती गाउँपालिका, Hiledevi, Nepal
Today's walk allows you to experience the Nepalese diversity at its finest. Following the path, on one side, you view the Terai's subtropical plains, and on the other side, you see the snowy Himalayan peaks. The path goes up and down through the dense alpine forest. You pass a temple made for the god Shiva before arriving in Dhongme, an old Yolmo village which is home to many Lamas. Later that day, you can climb the top of the Sunapati and enjoy a beautiful sunset. You will spend the night in a homestay in Sunapati.
Day 8: Sunapati Rural Municipality सुनापती गाउँपालिका, Hiledevi, Nepal
Start your day with a spectacular sunrise early in the morning. Today you descend to Lubughat, a village on the famous Sun Koshi River, which allows you to meet the Majhi community. They are well known for their fishing expertise. You will spend the night in a homestay in Lubughat.
Day 9: Sunapati Rural Municipality सुनापती गाउँपालिका, Hiledevi, Nepal to Thulo Parsel, Nepal
The trekking has almost come to an end. On the last trekking day, you walk through the fields from Lubughat to Thulo Parsel, a village that overlooks the mountains and the river below. Thulo Parsel is home to multiple communities, many of them originating from the Tamang, Brahman, and Chhetri's communities. You will spend the night in a homestay in Thulo Parsel.
Day 10: Thulo Parsel, Nepal to Kathmandu, Nepal
A private jeep will drive you back to Kathmandu after breakfast. The first part of the ride is quite an adventurous one. You will pass villages and overlook the river. Upon arrival, you have free time to go out and explore all the beauty Kathmandu has to offer. In case you prefer to spend your time to relax, we recommend to go and get a massage at Seeing Hand, an enterprise that trains blind people to become a masseur. Moreover, you can visit the Garden of Dreams, a historical garden located in Kathmandu's city centre. You will spend the night in a standard hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 11: Kathmandu, Nepal
Today you can take your time exploring the highlights of Kathmandu. Did you know that Kathmandu counts multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites? You will find the beautiful temple complex of Swayambunath on a green hill on the city's western side. The complex is also known as the monkey temple. You can already guess which animal you are likely to spot. On the other side of the city, you can visit Boudhanath, the Tibetan Buddhist heart of Kathmandu. Lastly, you can have a lovely walk to Pashupatinath, a sanctuary for Hindus located along the Bagmati river. Here you observe ritual cremations and you can see the holy men who live around the temple, also known as Saddhu's. If you want to do a guided visit of these highlights, or an alternative activity, please get in touch with us and we can add it. You will spend the night in a standard hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 12: Kathmandu, Nepal to Tribhuvan International airport, Kathmandu, Nepal
All good things must come to an end. We hope you had as great an experience as we had to welcome you to Nepal! May your memories of this journey last a lifetime. Depending on your departure time, you can spend your remaining time in Kathamandu shopping for souvenirs. There are several great fair-trade shops and social enterprises with beautiful handmade goods made by marginalized women. In case you want to give something back to Nepal, talk to us about it! We have several reliable NGO’s and projects we work together with, and can direct you towards them to sponsor, donate or volunteer. At least 3 hours before your flight's departure time, our driver will pick you up at your hotel's reception.
What's included
> Welcome package (map of Kathmandu, textile mouth mask, etc.) > Only during the trekking lunch and dinner are included, not in Kathmandu > During trek: one porter per 2 persons who carries your luggage up to a maximum of 18 kg > Only a guide during the trekking: English speaking licensed trekking guide > All necessary trekking documents > All transportation is done by a private car or jeep
> No lunch and dinner in Kathmandu > Personal expenses > Beverages > Visa fee > International flight tickets to Nepal > Tips for drivers, guide, porters, etc. (about 70 USD per person) > Any entry fees for a cultural visit during your stay in Kathmandu
What to know
Please get in touch with us for the latest info regarding entering in Nepal in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Traveling to Nepal is possible (dec. ‘20) but there are strict conditions that need to be followed.
Route & locations
Kathmandu, Nepal