Annapurna Treks & Expeditions presents an excellent adventure trek to “Humla and Limi Valley”, the hidden corners of far-western parts of Nepal, on an old Trans Himalaya Salt trade route between Nepal and Tibet. Humla and Limi Valley truly capture your imagination and dreams of real Himalayan Shangri-la, as the country around Humla and Limi valley remains undisturbed and unspoiled by modernization.

Humla-Limi Valley Trekking is an adventure on the border trails of Nepal and Tibet within the complete wilderness

Besides scenic views, colourful culture and ancient civilization are equally captivating when walking through impressive villages of Kermi, Yalbang, Muchu, Yari, Mane Peme, Halji and Jang, visiting the ancient Buddhist monasteries of great historical and religious significance.

The Humla and Limi Valley trekking starts by taking a scenic flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, a warm low area of Nepal and then connecting with another connecting flight to reach Simikot town, the trek starting and ending point.

From Simikot, our trek begins to the far end of Nepal, close to the Tibet border, countering an interesting circuit through the beautiful Limi valley. The trail ends at Simikot with a fascinating trek through many villages, valleys and scenic mountain passes.

Trip Highlights

Trip Profile

Short Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel

Day 02: Rest and visit UNESCO sites

Day 03: Fly to Nepalgunj (50 mins by air) and transfer to hotel

Day 04: Fly to Simikot 2,370m (40 mins) and transfer into a local lodge

Day 05: Trek to Dharapuri 2,300m

Day 06: Trek to Kermi 2,670m

Day 07: Trek to Yalbang 3,020m

Day 08: Trek to Muchu 3,120m. , 4 hours or Tumkot 3,380m

Day 09: Trek to Yari 3,700m. Or Thado Dunga 3,750m

Day 10: Trek to Hilsa 3,720m. via crossing Nara-La 4,620m

Day 11: Trek to Mane Peme 3,990m

Day 12: Trek to Til 4,000m

Day 13: Trek to Halji 3,660m

Day 14: Trek to Jang 3,930m

Day 15: Trek to Talung 4,370m

Day 16: Trek to Shinjungma 3,620m. via Nyalu La 4,940m

Day 17: Trek from Shinjungma to Kermi 2,670 metres

Day 18: Trek to Simikot 2,950m

Day 19: Fly to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj and transfer to hotel

Day 20: A contingency day

Day 21: Departure

Detail Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel

Our personnel will be waiting at the Kathmandu international airport (TIA) to receive you with a traditional welcome. After checking into the hotel and refreshments, your circuit guide will update you about the necessary formalities for your proposed trek. Then, depending on arrival time, you will have the choice of either nearby visiting shrines or resting back in your room.

Day 02: Rest and visit UNESCO sites

Free day in Kathmandu preparation for the trek, or one can join in our tour around Kathmandu at places of interest as Kathmandu city and the valley steeped with world Heritage Sites.

Day 03: Fly to Nepalgunj (50 mins by air) and transfer to hotel

We take the flight to Nepalgunj in the far west of Nepal. This one-hour flight is remarkable since it traverses the entire length of the Nepal Himalayan west of Kathmandu, with superb views of Langtang, Manaslu, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, finally to Nepalgunj. Nepalgunj is close to the Indian border and quite warm compared to Kathmandu. We check into the hotel, and the rest of the time is free. Nepalgunj city lies on the plain of the Terai belt of Nepal, to the southern border with India, to the north of India's Uttar Pradesh state.

Day 04: Fly to Simikot 2,370m (40 mins) and transfer into a local lodge

Breakfast at the hotel and take a short connecting flight to reach Simikot. Mount Api and Saipal mountains, with other high western Himalayas ranges, are beautifully seen during the flight. Upon reaching Simikot, transfer to a lodge at Simikot, a hill town and headquarter of Humla district within Karnali Zone. In the afternoon, walk around Simikot market and observe and see the daily life of western Nepal.

Simikot and Mugu areas are inhabited by Thakuris, one of the caste groups. Still, they are Hindu practitioners in the Lower Land and Buddhist practitioners in the higher land. Accordingly, the Aryan face to the lowland and Mongolian face to the higher elevation we go. The area is on the trade route with Tibet, and our trekking route falls on the same old Himalayan trade route following the trail along Humla-Karnali close to the border of Tibet at Hilsa (the borderland to the Nepal side).

Day 05: Trek to Dharapuri 2,300m

A 4 hours trek.

The trek begins with a short climb for an hour to a small pass at 3,000 metres, then downhill to reach Dharmapuri. The trail leads above Karnali River into pine forest past farm villages, encountering native Humla carrying loads up the steep trail. Then, walking through beautiful farm fields and terraces to reach our overnight stop at Dharapuri, a small farming village.

Day 06: Trek to Kermi 2,670m

A 4 hours trek.

The trail follows the Karnali River through the riverside. Pass a narrow gorge past high rocky slopes, heading along with the fields of barley, buckwheat, rice, and potatoes to reach Kermi in the afternoon. As the elevation gains, we see the changes of cast and cultural groups to Buddhist influences. At Kermi, those willing to visit monasteries can visit Laikyo Gompa, about 45 minutes walk and Lhundrup Choeling Gompa, which is 30 mins to reach.

Day 07: Trek to Yalbang 3,020m

A 5 hours trek

The trek starts with a gradual climb through fields of barley and buckwheat. After a few hours of walking, the trail crosses a small pass and descends to a suspension bridge over the Sali River. Next, the walk leads into a cool pine forest facing views of Karnali River to reach Yalbang for overnight camp.

At Yalbang a visit to Namkha Khyung Dzong is interesting. The Dzong is the biggest monastery in the region, with about 130 monks. The monastery belongs to the Nyingmapa lineage, the oldest Buddhist sect founded by Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), an important tantric Guru of the 7th century. Inside the monastery is a giant statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. There is also a school and a clinic.

Day 08: Trek to Muchu 3,120m. , 4 hours or Tumkot 3,380m

A 5 hours trek.

Leaving Yalbang, the walk leads high above Karnali River, passing the small village of Yangar. Continue to walk on a beautiful path carved out of rocks as the trail takes you on the three-sided tunnel.

As the walk progresses, one can witness a dramatic change in the environment as the area gets rockier, tall pine trees fade for smaller bushes, and then cross Karnali River over a suspension bridge. Our trail climbs above Karnali River along with the upper side of a deep gorge, along the walk coming across herds of sheep carrying salt, on this old trade route of Nepal with Tibet that still exists. Around the trail, there are many temporary restaurants and shops refreshing stops for tea, noodle soup, or to refill your stock of snacks, like coconut biscuits. Finally, after a few hours of pleasant walking, we are at Muchu village for an overnight stop.

Day 09: Trek to Yari 3,700m. Or Thado Dunga 3,750m

A 5 hours trek

From Muchu, a short walk reaches Tumkot and then climbs a hill leaving Tumkot, observing a landscape change as it gets rocky and desolate. You can witness only low juniper bushes as the walk leads over a dirt trail, which is under construction at present, as the trail leads past a small village of Pani Palwang with a couple of teahouses along the road. Then, with a few pleasant stops and then a few hours walk, it leads to Yari or Thado Dunga, just after Yari, for an overnight camp.

Day 10: Trek to Hilsa 3,720m. via crossing Nara-La 4,620m

A 6 hours trek.

Today's walk leads to a high Nara La pass at 4,620 metres; a long climb compensates you with grand views of Nepal and Tibet's surrounding landscapes and mountains. Our route climbs into deserted terrain where vegetation fades completely. The country looks more like Tibetan dry terrain, coming across big caravans of mules, dzopke or impressive big yaks.

We walk past a few teahouses at Thado Dunga and continue on a steeper trail over Nara La. The views ahead are of the Tibet side and back towards Yari, far below, on the other side of the pass, where areas are similar to the Tibetan landscape surrounded by windswept mountains of brown, copper, ash and dark yellow colours. From Nara La, long descent to Hilsa, close to the border of Tibet, for an overnight stop.

Day 11: Trek to Mane Peme 3,990m

A 5 hours trek.

After Hilsa town/village, cross a big iron bridge to the other side of the river that connects to a broader trail high above on a slope, as walk follows Karnali River towards east till Mane Peme village reached for an overnight camp.

Day 12: Trek to Til 4,000m

A 6 hours trek.

Morning trek leads to climbing as it winds up through high and steep rocks. After a few hours, reach a small path near a levelled ground for a while and then walk to an interesting meditation cave called Ya Yip Phuk. The site is a meditation cave of Lotsawa Rinchen Sangpo (985-1055), a famous translator of Buddhist scriptures, where his activities were crucial to the revival of cultural exchange between Tibet and India, paving the way for the so-called second dissemination of Buddhism in Tibet. The path is surprisingly green at some parts, with few juniper trees and bushes among the bare rock, as the walk climbs for an hour to cross Lamka-La, a pass of above 4,300 metres, after the pass downhill to Til in about two hours). Upon reaching the village, you can find chörtens (stupas) with a white building attached on a high slope, a place with a monastery of Til.

Stones build houses at Til village blend with the surrounding environment where some areas are much greener. The village is surrounded by birch and willow trees with terraced barley fields with views of snow-capped mountains.

Til is an authentic Tibetan village like all villages around Limi Valley, where you can observe villagers in original Tibetan costumes.

Day 13: Trek to Halji 3,660m

A 4 hours trek.

An easy day to Halji allows time to explore villages and visit the monasteries. The walk starts following the Limi River upstream on relatively flat trails. Along the way, there will be chances of spotting some mountain goats and blue sheep! Rarely spotted but existing in the area is also the snow leopard. Enter the village, passing a gate with chörten and a large mani wall with many stones carved with holy mantras and Buddhist deities. There is a monastery, Rinchenling Gonpa at Halji, built in the 14th century and belongs to the Kagyupa lineage. The main Gonpa (monastery of Limi Valley) serves as the religious centre of the area. It has been beautifully restored (with the help of Nepal Trust) and has many exciting parts of visiting.

Day 14: Trek to Jang 3,930m

A 4 hours trek.

Walk on the moderate trail for some hour from Halji to reach Jang, following the Limi Khola (Limi river); Jang is the third and last village within Limi Valley with other tiny villages. It's exceptional to be in such a secluded place where Tibetan culture remains relatively untouched by the modern world; surely soon, it might not be the same.

Day 15: Trek to Talung 4,370m

A 7 hours trek.

On leaving Limi Valley and authentic Tibetan villages, the walk leads through complete desolate landscapes, climbing slowly but steadily to reach the overnight camp at Talung.

Day 16: Trek to Shinjungma 3,620m. via Nyalu La 4,940m

An 8 hours trek.

The morning trail, a steep climb, brings us to the most scenic pass of the trek at Nyalu La, above 4,940 metres. In some sections of the trail, we may encounter some snow, making the climb more challenging and vivid. From the pass, a breath-taking 360° panorama of Humla with Tibetan landscapes including the holy Mt. Kailash of 6,714 metres and Mount Saipal. After the essential photographing stop, we take a steep descent to the Selma Tso (lake) at 4,630 metres. Finally, the trail continues following the Salli River to a campsite at Shinjungma with a view of grand Mount Saipal.

Day 17: Trek from Shinjungma to Kermi 2,670 metres

A 7 hours trek.

Today's walking brings us back to Kermi village. The trail drops below 3,000 metres for the first time after ten days! We enjoy a pleasant walk into the pine and birch forest along Salli Khola (stream), with sheer cliffs towering on both sides of the trail. Finally, the walk meets Karnali River and then heads east towards Kermi village for an overnight stop with time to relax your body in the natural hot spring.

Day 18: Trek to Simikot 2,950m

A 6 hours trek.

The last day of the trek is a long walk to reach Simikot. The trail retraces the Dharapuri and Maj-Gaon and then, on a nice path, take us over a pass at above 3,000 metres elevation. From the top, walk downhill to reach Simikot, where our trekking to Humla and Limi valley ends. After many days in the tented camp, the last day of the trek is spent in a lodge.

Day 19: Fly to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj and transfer to hotel

Early morning, after breakfast, we walk to the airport for check-in formalities and take a short flight to Nepalgunj and a connecting flight back to Kathmandu. Finally, arrive at Kathmandu airport, where a vehicle will be waiting for our arrival and get transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to rest and relax or if you wish, you could stroll around the high street of Kathmandu or spend time doing things of your choice, or you can also go shopping for your friends and family as a souvenir from Nepal.

Day 20: A contingency day

Have breakfast and have some relaxing free time for yourself. Our office representative and vehicle will arrive at your hotel to escort you to the airport at the indicated time. Drive to Kathmandu international airport (TIA); see off formalities, you will go through the immigration and departure.

Day 21: Departure

Have breakfast and have some relaxing free time for yourself. Our office representative and vehicle will arrive at your hotel to escort you to the airport at the indicated time. Drive to Kathmandu international airport (TIA); see off formalities, you will go through the immigration and departure.

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