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| Gauri Shankar Himal |
Between the Everest and Langtang regions is the stunning
mid-Eastern range of the Himalayas; the Rolwaling valley. A few miles south of
the Tibetan border it is known as one of the seven hidden valleys in the
Himalayas. Rolwaling Himal includes Melungtse (7,181m) and Melungtse
II (7023m) inside Tibet and Gaurishankar (7,134m) on
the Nepal border with some 50 additional peaks over 6,000m, all
extending from the Nangpa La pass where the Mahalangur section
begins, southwest to the Tama koshi River. Tsho Rolpa (also Chho Rolpa),
one of the biggest glacial lakes in Nepal is located at an altitude of (4,580m)
in the Rolwaling Valley. Though it neighbors the world famous Khumbu Valley,
Rolwaling Valley is explored by very few tourists. The valley is also called
"the grave" by the indigenous Sherpas on account of its location as
it is buried down between steep ice-giants. Because of its geographical
intricacy, the region’s natural as well as cultural beauty has been kept
intact. The valley is abundant with alpine lakes, hanging glaciers, moraines,
high pastures, waterfalls and imminent view of snowy peaks in the backdrop.
Rolwaling trekking leads through the remote and beautiful parts
of Nepal; past picturesque Sherpa, Tamang and Chhetri village with their
typical terraced fields, through dense and gloomy primeval forest with
wonderful views. This is a wild and barely explored district where legendary
tales of the abominable snowman, known as the "Yeti", haunt the
imagination of climbers. On the slope of Rolwaling Peak itself, the famous
British mountaineer, Eric Shipton, first photographed Yeti footprints in 1951.
It is a rugged yet beautiful area rarely visited unlike its neighboring
Himalayas of Khumbu and offers lots of mountaineering challenges to the
adventurer. The trek to Rolwaling involves crossing of high pass Tashi Labtsa
(5,755m) and the climbing of Parcharmo (6,273m) and technical mountaineering
skills and equipment are required for this incredible adventure.
The trek starts from Dolakha, an eight-hour drive from
Kathmandu and it leads up along the Tama Kosi river banks under the shadow of
Mt. Gauri Shanker. From Simigaon, the trail turns right along Rolwaling Khola
running deeply below ahead and parting from the old trade route to Tibet. Views
of Melungtse appear proceeding further through the village of Beding (3,690m). From
Na Gaun, the trail meanders up to Tso Rolpa Lake and up to the lateral moraines
of the Tarkading glacier, climbing steeply up on to the Drolambhu Glacier.
After two days of rugged glacier walking, we reached the high Tashi Labtsa
Pass. From here, the trail drops down into Thame village, from where the route
along Bhote Kosi River leads to Namche Bazaar and onto Lukla for flight to Kathmandu.
Day by day itinerary:
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu. Transfer to hotel.
Day 02: Kathmandu valley sightseeing.
Day 03: Drive from Kathmandu to Dolakha.
Day 04: Drive to Shigati via Piguti.
Day 05: Trek to Jagat.
Day 06: Trek to Simigaon.
Day 07: Trek to Daldung La.
Day 08: Trek to Beding.
Day 09: Acclimatization day at Beding.
Day 10: Trek to Na Gaon.
Day 11: Hike to Yalung glacier.
Day 12: Trek to Tso Rolpa Lake.
Day 13: Trek to Trakarding Glacier.
Day 14: Trek to Tashi Labtse Phedi Camp.
Day 15: Cross Tashi Labtse Pass to Tashi Cape.
Day 16: Trek to Thyomgbo.
Day 17: Trek to Thame.
Day 18: Trek to Namche Bazaar.
Day 19: Trek to Lukla.
Day 20: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu
Day 21: Free day.
Day 22: Final departure. Transfer to the airport.
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