Rolwaling and Everest Trek 21 Days

Rolwaling and Everest Trek is an adventurous trekking trip in the Nepal Himalayas. The Rolwaling and Everest Trek involves walking into the depths of the Bhote Koshi River and Ralwaling valleys with a beautiful setting of natural forest and waterfalls fed by a beautiful mountain range. Every night is spent in charming countryside camps, sparsely inhabited typical villages and open meadows surrounded by some of the great mountain masses of the Rolwaling region. The Rolwaling & Everest Trekking crosses over the Tashi Lapcha Pass, the only entrance between Rolwaling and Everest, and reaches Thame village in the Khumbu valley. This trek ends at Lukla after a beautiful circuit of Gokyo Valley, one of the loveliest lake valleys of the Everest Region.

Introduction
Rolwaling Valley is a Beyul, one of the lands hidden by Padmasambhava. Located to the west of Khumbu, it is a very narrow and isolated valley inhabited solely by Sherpas who cultivate barley and potatoes and keep yaks (male) and Naks (female). The main settlements are Beding and Na. To the western edges of the Rolwaling village, about 30 kilometres, lies the famous Mount Gauri Shankar. This beautiful valley is gorged by Rolwaling Chu (River), creating access to the Khumbu region by the Tashi Lapcha pass, a very high and dangerous pass, at 5,755 metres always covered by snow and ice.

Gauri Shankar is the second-highest mountain in the Rolwaling region and the central peak. The mountain’s name comes after the Hindu goddess Gauri, a manifestation of Durga and her consort Shankar. The Tibetan/Sherpa name for the peak is Jomo Tseringma or Tseringma. The Nepal Standard Time, GMT+05:45, is based on the meridian of this mountain peak.

Rolwaling and Everest Trekking Package 2022 and 2023

Tsho Rolpa Lake, above the Rolwaling village, will be seen when going toward Tashi Lapcha is said to be the largest of the Himalayas. This lake, which is now slowly drained to regulate the water density, once threatened to burst and inundate the entire Rolwaling Valley. The trek to Rolwaling, especially the Tashi Lapcha Pass, is challenging, and people interested in it must be well prepared and accompanied by experienced Sherpa guides and assistance. The Rolwaling valley to Khumbu is considered an exciting mountaineering adventure.

To the southeast of the Tashi Lapcha Pass is the famous Phapchermo peak of 6,187 metres, first climbed in 1955. Phapchermo is one of the most preferred trekking peaks is an attractive snowy peak that lies due south of Tashi Lapcha. It is well-defined north by a northwest ridge rising from the crevassed glacier astride the Tashi Lapcha. The face forms a uniform snow slope to the ridge’s west, broken by crevasses and rising from the rocky lower buttresses above the Drolambau glacier. Access to Phapchermo is mainly through the Rolwaling valley. The only route to access the peak is from the Khumbu side via Namche Bazaar and Thame. The journey through Rolwaling enables one to climb one or two trekking peaks and a fascinating crossing of a high glaciated Pass followed by a descent and a return trek through a new valley, the Khumbu or vice versa.

Trip Highlights

Trip Profile

Short Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu (1,350M)

Day 02: Free day / permit day

Day 03: Drive Kathmandu to Gongar Khola 1,400m. A 7 hours drive.

Day 04: Trek to Simigaon 1,900m. A 5 hours trek

Day 05: Trek to Dongang 2,200m. A 5 hours trek

Day 06: Trek to Pheding 3.693m. A 6 hours trek

Day 07: Trek to Na 4,183m. A 3 hours trek

Day 08: Rest and explore Na

Day 09: Trek to Cho Rolpa Lake 4,800m. A 5 hours trek.

Day 10: Trek to Noisy Knob 4,980m. A 6 hours trek.

Day 11: Trek to Tashi Lapcha 5,756m. A 5 hours trek

Day 12: Climb Phapchhermo 6,187m. & trek to Thengpo. A 9-10 hours climb and trek

Day 13: Trek to Thame 3,800m. A 3 hours trek

Day 14: Trek to Lungden 4,300m. A 6 hours trek

Day 15: Trek to Renjo La 5,417m. and to Gokyo 4,750m. A 7 hours trek

Day 16: Excursion to Gokyo Ri 5,483m. and trek to Phortse 3,840M. A 6 hours trek

Day 17: Trek to Khumjung / Namche / Jor Salle. A 5-6 hours trek

Day 18: Trek to Lukla. A 6 hours trek

Day 19: Fly to Kathmandu

Day 20: A free day / optionally take a guided city tour

Day 21: Departure

Detail Itinerary

21 Days Rolwaling & Everest Trekking

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu (1,350M)

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.

• Overnight stay in the Hotel.

Day 02: Free day / permit day

Breakfast at the hotel and enjoy a free day in Kathmandu to prepare for the trek. Please let the Annapurna Treks representative know if you want to join the sightseeing tour around the ancient and historical Kathmandu valley and the famous Hindu temple and Buddhist stupa listed as world heritage sites by UNESCO.

• Breakfast.
• Overnight stay in the Hotel.

Day 03: Drive Kathmandu to Gongar Khola 1,400m. A 7 hours drive.

Today we drive to the trekking starting point. It takes about eight hours to drive to arrive at Gongar Khola. Until Charikot, the official centre of Dolkha district with a small town, the road is comparatively good. After Charikot, the road is rough but takes you through sparse villages with a lovely view of the entire valley.

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Teahouse Lodge.

Day 04: Trek to Simigaon 1,900m. A 5 hours trek

The valley becomes narrow, and the flow of Bot Khola (Tibet River) follows in its most vigorous might. You will cross many beautiful waterfalls until Chhot-Chhot. From Chhot-Chhot, you will climb up for an hour to Simigaon, leaving the Bot Khola. Simigaon is the first Sherpa village to Rolwaling. The people here are comparatively more prosperous than in the down valley because of its fertile land. The meaning of Simigaon is the village of beans. Beyond beans, they grow wheat, Potato, Corn and all kind of vegetables. From Simigaon, one will have a charming view of Mount Gauri Shanker.

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Tented Camp.

Day 05: Trek to Dongang 2,200m. A 5 hours trek

Today, you are entering the main Rolwaling valley; the altitude gains quickly without feeling. The view of Mt. Gaurishanker gives rhythm to your trek. The trail leads through maple, fir, and rhododendron forests with beautiful mountain streams and waterfalls. Our trail passes through several open meadows used for the cow shades, where grazes Naks in winter and cows in summer.

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Tented Camp.

Day 06: Trek to Pheding 3.693m. A 6 hours trek

The trail is pleasant through the Rolwaling River. The trail leads very nearby Mt. Gauringshankar to the winter village of Sherpas of Rolwaling. The valley is narrow, both sides surrounded by giant peaks but beautiful. Pheding (Beding) is the main village of the Sherpas of Rolwaling. The people of this valley own three houses in 3 different parts: one for the summer in Na, one the main home in Pheding and the other for winter in Ngimare, one hour walk down from Pheding village.

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Tented Camp.

Day 07: Trek to Na 4,183m. A 3 hours trek

It is an easy trek through pasture lands until Na village. As we approach Na, the valley opens broader and accordingly, the mountain sceneries, in all directions. Na village is surprisingly seated in the cradle of a giant Mountain. Sometimes you can hear and see active avalanches by the side of the village, but it is safe.

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Tented Camp.

Day 08: Rest and explore Na

Day 08: Rest and explore Na and around

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Tented Camp.

Day 09: Trek to Cho Rolpa Lake 4,800m. A 5 hours trek.

Today we walk up to Cho Rolpa Lake. The entire trail till the Cho-Rolpa offers a beautiful panorama of giant peaks. Time permitting, one can hike up to a sacred lake beyond Lake Cho Rolpa. Cho Rolpa is the name of a lake formed by glacial water. This three kilometres long lake has been declared a danger of possible exploding, and the water from the lake has been regulated at a level.

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Tented Camp.

Day 10: Trek to Noisy Knob 4,980m. A 6 hours trek.

Today we walk along and across the Tsho Rolpa glacier. The path quickly takes us up through rocky and mountainous terrain. We have a beautiful view of the Tsho Rolpa Lake to the West and the Tsho Rolpa glacier to the east. We go down again across boulders, often sliding down, and start crossing the rocky glacier. Sometimes, it is difficult to find the trail if there are no movements. You are entirely inside mountain masses but still could find several dispersed cairns. The name Noisy Knob is very suitable for this campsite. You can hear and see many avalanches and the cracking of ice chunks all day and night. One can experience an authentic mountain atmosphere.

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Tented Camp.

Day 11: Trek to Tashi Lapcha 5,756m. A 5 hours trek

It is not a challenging climb and dangerous to pass Tashi Lapcha. Tashilapcha is the border mountain between Thame/Everest and Rolwaling region. Just on the pass stands the Phapchhermo Peak. The camp is mostly set under a giant rock locally known as Tashi Phuk (Tashi Cave). This site is prone to stones falling from the fragile mountain above us, and one needs to take special care while moving around or out of the campsite. Therefore, the suggestion of the guide must follow strictly. From the saddle, the views toward Thame are open. Overnight stay in a tented camp.

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Tented Camp.

Day 12: Climb Phapchhermo 6,187m. & trek to Thengpo. A 9-10 hours climb and trek

If everything goes well, as planned, we start to climb Phapchhermo early in the morning, and in the afternoon, we trek down to Thengpo. Phapchermo peak of 6,187 metres, first climbed in 1955, is an attractive snowy peak, which lies due south of Tashi Lapcha. It has a well-defined north by a north-west ridge rising from the crevassed glacier astride the Tashi Lapcha. The face forms a uniform snow slope to the west of the ridge, broken by crevasses and seracs rising from the rocky lower buttresses above the Drolambau glacier. The mountain is quite scenic, with Khumbu Mountains including Everest and Rolwaling mountains.

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Tented Camp.

Day 13: Trek to Thame 3,800m. A 3 hours trek

After breakfast, two and a half hours descend to Thame Village. It is easy and scenic trekking down full of sceneries, and we are again back to the human settlement. En route, we visit the Thame Monastery, one of the area's most important and festive monasteries. Visit the monastery and probably get well come with a cup of Sherpa tea (Salted tea). We then further walk down to the Thame village. The trail provides a complete view of Thame and its surroundings. We arrive for lunch, which allows us a relaxing day at our guest house.

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Teahouse Lodge.

Day 14: Trek to Lungden 4,300m. A 6 hours trek

The kitchen staff trek down to Lukla and fly to Kathmandu. The rest of the group extends the trek through Renjo La to Gokyo and descends to Namche via Phortse village, a beautiful and not to miss circuit. From Thame village, the trail follows the entry route to Tibet through Nangpa La, which passes nearby Mount Cho-Oyu 8012m, first summited in 1954. We walk about 4 hours on an old trade route to Tibet with a beautiful landscape to the village of Lungden. The name of the Lodge, Renjo La Support Lodge, is suitably given.

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Teahouse Lodge.

Day 15: Trek to Renjo La 5,417m. and to Gokyo 4,750m. A 7 hours trek

An important day begins with an early start since it is a long walk. The first part of the trail brings us to the top of Renjo La Pass, which is an approximately 4-hour walk. After a photographic stopover, to enjoy the magnificent panorama of the Everest Range and uncountable other summits surrounding us from all directions, we start on the downhill hill for about 3 hours to reach the village of Gokyo. Finally, the trail passes along the beautiful Dudh Kunda (milk lake/Gokyo Lake). The mountain sceneries of the entire day are unforgettable!

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Teahouse Lodge.

Day 16: Excursion to Gokyo Ri 5,483m. and trek to Phortse 3,840M. A 6 hours trek

The foot of Gokyo Ri lies five minutes away from the stream that feeds Gokyo Lake. After an hour of steady and panoramic going up, one reaches the summit of Gokyo Peak. Your effort to get to this summit gets rewarded with Everest (8848m), showing more of its northern flank than from Kalapatthar, Makalu (8475m) further to the east and Cho Oyu (8153m), just in hand reaching distance. After spending a wonderful break at the summit, taking the essential photograph or whatever one wishes, return to Gokyo for a hearty breakfast. Then we continue a pleasant trek to Phortse village. The trail retraces till the first lake and then gradually goes down following the river and traverses to the Phortse village. This part of the trail is less frequented by local trekkers, which provide sanctuary to the wild animals and birds, and we may enjoy seeing some of them. The magnificent mountain sceneries are in every direction. At Phortse village, we check into the Lodge. This village is one of the typical Sherpa villages of the Khumbu region and offers a beautiful panorama containing Mount Amadablam, Kangthega, Thamserku and Kusumkangru and Tengboche Monastery.

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Teahouse Lodge.

Day 17: Trek to Khumjung / Namche / Jor Salle. A 5-6 hours trek

We go down to Phortse Tenga, cross the river that flows from the Gokyo Valley, and then begin a steep climb to the hilltop of Mongla. There we take a tea stop and enjoy the magnificent panorama offered by this beautiful viewpoint. The trail further descends to Khumjung village through a narrow cliff trail. On the way, we see Khumjung and Khunde villages and take a short and panoramic trek down to Namche Bazaar for a lunch stop. The first part of the trail climbs a hill ridge that divides Namche and Khumjung and then takes a scenic path down to Namche Bazaar. Namche Bazaar, surrounded by beautiful mountains from all directions, is the commercial centre of the Khumbu region. If you arrive on Friday, you can view the weekly bazaar the next day, when local people converge together from the surrounding area. In the Khumbu Valley, killing any animal is forbidden, so people from lower valleys come on Saturdays to sell meat and everyday supplies, and the local people and hotel/lodge operators from around buying. From Namche, the trail directly drops to the Dudh Koshi River. You are getting back again to "European" altitudes as we descend towards the entrance to Everest National Park at Jor Salle, a pleasant place to spend a night after several days in the higher altitudes.

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Teahouse Lodge.

Day 18: Trek to Lukla. A 6 hours trek

From Jor Salle, the trail mostly follows the river, retracing through some small Sherpa villages and arriving at Lukla. At Lukla, spend your last night in the Khumbu Valley. This evening is the occasion to enjoy a farewell party with your Sherpa friends who have accompanied you. They depart separately on a one-long-day trek and one-day Jeep ride to Kathmandu or stay at Lukla to continue another trekking back to Everest Base Camp!

• Full board.
• Overnight stay in the Teahouse Lodge.

Day 19: Fly to Kathmandu

Early morning, after breakfast, we walk to the airport for check-in formalities and fly 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 & family as a souvenir from Nepal.

• Breakfast.
• Overnight stay in the Hoel.

Day 20: A free day / optionally take a guided city tour

A free day or optionally take a guided city tour. The trip is over. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner in one of the best local restaurants in Kathmandu.

• Breakfast.
• Accommodation in the Hotel.

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, and you will go through the immigration and departure.

• Breakfast.

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