Nyin Valley Cultural Trek

Welcome to Nepal! After landing at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will be received by our Firante Treks & Expeditions team and transferred to your hotel. The capital is a dynamic city where ancient temples, busy markets and colorful prayer flags erects the backdrop of your Himalayan adventure.

The day is mainly for you to rest from your flight. You are free to relax at your hotel or maybe take a peaceful stroll this evening around Thamel, the center of tourism, to shop, eat in a local restaurant, and get a feel for Nepal’s multi-faceted culture.

Today, we will arrange your trek permits so you can concentrate on getting ready for your Nyin Valley Trek. After permits are obtain we will take a private vehicle, to visit some of Kathmandu Valley’s famous world heritage UNESCO sights.

You will start at Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) which sits on a hill and provides magnificent views of the city. Next you will visit Pashupatinath Temple, a famous (Hindu) temple sacred to Lord Shiva, located on the banks of the holy Bagmati river. This is a great place to observe people performing rituals. Lastly you will visit Boudhanath Stupa, Nepal’s largest stupa with an impressive white dome surrounded by colorful prayer flags.

This day supports an instructive introduction to Nepal’s culture, religion, and local life to give you a feel for the trek ahead.

Today you will fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj via domestic airline. If it is a clear day, you will be able to see the Annapurna range and Dhaulagiri Himal as you fly. To get the best seat, sit on the right-hand side of the plane window.
The flight is about 1 hour and takes you from the hills of Kathmandu down to the lowlands of western Nepal. After arriving in Nepalgunj you will be escorted to your hotel for you to rest and prepare for the next day to Simikot, the gateway to Humla.

Today you will fly to Simikot, the headquarters of Humla.The flight from Nepalgunj takes around 45 minutes and is incredibly beautiful, taking you over ridges, deep gorges, and the stunning peaks of the Himalaya. Arriving at Simikot Airport is an adventure in itself.

Once in Simikot, you will start your trek towards Buraunse, steadily uphill in and around this vibrant little town and across some farmland and terraced fields until you arrive at Buraunse Gompa (3,430m), a small Tibetan Buddhist monastery that is sacred to Tibetan Buddhists. After a visit to the Gompa, you’ll head carefully downhill along a narrow and steep path until you arrive at Buraunse village (3,200m), the regional home to the Nyinba.

You will be staying overnight in a local homestay. You can expect a warm welcome and a taste of an authentic lifestyle of a traditional Tibetan-style house.

Leaving Buraunse, you will descend gently toward the Ghatte Khola stream and cross a wooden bridge over the fast-flowing water. From there, the path climbs gradually through terraced hillsides with small stupas and mani walls along the route, emphasizing the Buddhist faith that so many people cherish in this valley.

After approximately two and a half hours, you will arrive at the Kangni (gate stupa), marking the entrance to the village

of Torpa. The village is calm and composed with stone-built houses and prayer flags drooping and dancing in the wind. Beyond the village of Torpa lies the Bhibuck Cave, a simple meditation cave that has been used for generations.

Continuing onwards from Torpa and passing the small settlement of Hutick Village, our last one and a half hours walking brings us to Nimatang (3,325 m). This quiet Nyinba village is a final stop before the sacred Raling Gumba.

You will spend the night at a local homestay, which gives you a genuine flavor of life in the Nyin Valley with welcoming family dynamics and hospitality.

The path leaves Nimatang gently, trailing off into a forest that smells of pine and juniper. After about a half hour, the path drops to Ghatte Khola, where you will cross the river on an old iron bridge, shaking a little beneath us. On the far side of the river, you will begin climbing; a steady, unfaltering pull that lifts us higher through silent trees.

After about an hour and a half, the trees give way, and the land opens out to wide views of the Nyin Valley, with the Changla Himal Range glimmering white against the sky. The path carries us onwards to Tokra, reached in another thirty minutes. This is not just a meadow, but a gathering ground: the Nyinba pitch their tents here every year to celebrate the Saga Dawa Festival. Even when desolate, it has the sensation of being enlivened with memory.

From Tokra, the climb will become longer and more deliberate. For the next two hours you will incline, towards Raling Gompa (3,930 m), one of the holiest pilgrim sites in Humla. Finally, Raling appears, set into a sheer cliff face, with Crystal Mountain beyond, silently keeping watch.

Our team will set up camp close to the Gompa, and follow the local tradition of circling the monastery clockwise before stepping inside. The chants and flicker of butter lamps fill the air with an ancient calm. Before returning to camp, you will also visit the Milarepa Cave, where the great Tibetan saint is said to have meditated.

Leaving Raling Gompa, you will descend a gentle slope, backtracking on our outward route to the iron bridge across the Ghatte Khola, you will reach a junction shortly after you cross the bridge and will go left to continue toward Talki village (just below Nimatang).

The route from Talki gets quite straight and easy-going as you head for Bargaun. On this route, you will pass one or two stone houses occupied by Thehe villagers, cross a tributary stream, and possibly spot several birds flitting about in the trees. The walk time from Talki to Bargaun takes only 1 and half hours so this section is a quiet and unhurried walk along the Nyin Valley trek path.

By early afternoon you will arrive at Bargaun (2,940 m), a typical Nyinba village with many fields and prayer flags.

Today you will descend from Bargaun, walk down through terraced fields to Thehe, one of the largest villages in Humla with around 800 stone houses. This village also offers a glimpse into traditional life in the region with birds’ eye views of the prayer flags high above the village, fields stretching up along the hillsides

Leaving Thehe the trail continues straight down to Gyackru Khola where you will hike downstream. After a gentle hike beside the river, you will arrive at Karpunath, where Gyackru Khola joins the Humla Karnali River. Here, you can stop at a small temple close to the edge of the village and enjoy a brilliant view of Crystal Peak towering high above Raling Gompa. Overnight at a tented camp in Karpunath.

You will begin your trip from Karpunath, a holy place where Lord Shiva is worshiped and we begin making your way back towards Simikot. It is primarily up gradually in the valley.

The route follows the upper Karnali River tracking upstream to the small village of Syamne. After this point, you will begin slightly steeper terrain with a zig zag pattern up the hill until you finish your trek in Simikot (2,980 m) in the afternoon.

Note: There is currently a new jeep route from Karpunath, however, there are very few jeeps actually running on this route.

You will spend the night lodge in Simikot.

You will be taking the morning flight from Simikot to Nepalgunj. You will have beautiful mountain and hill views during the flight. Arriving in Nepalgunj, you will take another flight back to Kathmandu in the afternoon.

When you arrive in Kathmandu, you will be transferred   to your hotel for the evening allowing you to rest after trekking and enjoy the city lifestyle again. Overnight at a 4-star hotel in Kathmandu.

This is the final day of your Nyin Valley Cultural Trek. After the trip through Humla, you will be transferred to Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, for your flight to your next destination.

Remember the remote, isolated Himalayan scenery you have seen, the sacred monasteries, and the unique experiences with the Nyinba culture. Your incredible trek comes to an end here as you begin your travel back home!