Arun Valley Trek 14 Days

Kathmandu is the vibrant capital city of Nepal. You will be welcomed at Tribhuvan International Airport and then transferred to your hotel. This drive gives you a glimpse into Nepal's colorful, busy local life, blending with temples and modernity. The remainder of the day can be spent relaxing in order to recuperate from your travel experience. Depending on your stamina levels, you can either decide to spend your time in the hotel or opt for an exploration tour of the surrounding neighborhood. The town of Kathmandu is a mixture of both craziness and spirituality. It is important to prepare your mind for the journey ahead into the far-flung Arun valley regions.

• Max Elevation: 1,347 m
• Travel Distance: Airport to hotel (short city drive)
• Travel Hours: 20–30 minutes
• Accommodation: 3-star hotel (Kathmandu)

Following breakfast, your guide will collect you from your hotel and will take you for a guided tour of the Kathmandu Valley using private transport. This will give you enough time at all destinations, as this itinerary is well thought out with sufficient time allocated at all places to provide a relaxed and enriching experience for you. Your guide will be there to explain the historical, cultural and religious importance of each location during this excursion, giving you more insight into the rich history of Kathmandu prior to the trek.

During your sightseeing, you’ll be visiting some UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Swayambhunath Stupa or Monkey Temple

It is a historic Buddhist structure located in Nepal. Known as an important site of pilgrimage, the stupa has gained its reputation owing to the presence of monkeys living here. Located on the top of a hillock, it gives a beautiful view of the Kathmandu valley. The stupa is richly ornamented with shrines and Buddha eyes, which represent wisdom and awareness. It is also festooned with prayer flags.

Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath, located on the banks of the Bagmati River, is one of Hinduism's most sacred temple complexes. The temple has traditional pagoda architecture, shrines, and open cremation platforms on which Hindu religious rites take place every day. The area outside of the main temple can be visited by non-Hindus and provides a deep understanding of Nepalese culture and spiritual beliefs.

Boudhanath

Boudhanath is one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world and acts as a center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. It was built in the 5th Century and is known for its huge white dome, as well as the all-seeing eye of Buddha. Around the stupa are monasteries and shops as well as prayer wheels. Monks and pilgrims walk around clockwise, chanting their prayers.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu Durbar Square, a historic royal compound, is filled with ancient palaces and courtyards. It also contains temples and Newari architecture. It used to be the capital of the Malla Kings and currently serves as a museum for the culture and art of Nepal. This square contains some of the most beautiful wood temples and pagoda architecture, which is the embodiment of years and years of tradition and skill.

After the tour, you can spend the rest of the day at your hotel. Take your time and enjoy!

• Max Elevation: 1,450 meters (Swayambhu Stupa, highest point in the Kathmandu sightseeing tour)
• Travel Distance: 25 to 30 kilometers (total driving between sites)
• Travel Hours: 6 to 7 hours
• Accommodation: 3-star hotel
• Meals Included: Breakfast 

Early morning flights from Kathmandu will take you to Tumlingtar. You'll enjoy stunning views of distant Himalayan peaks, rivers and hills. As soon as you land, your trekking adventure begins in the lower Arun Valley region. The trail takes you through rural villages and terraced farms, as well as forested paths, where the pace of life is slow and traditional. Arun River basin is a humid and warm environment. It is a peaceful and green environment with occasional views of the hills. The trail leads you gently towards Kartike village, a peaceful village surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes. This is the first stop of the day on the trail and marks the beginning of the long trek into the remote mountainous regions in eastern Nepal.

• Max Elevation: 523 m (Kartike)
• Travel Distance: Kathmandu to Tumlingtar (flight) + trekking to Kartike
• Travel Hours: Flight + 4–6 hours trek
• Accommodation: Tea house / lodge
• Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The day's trek begins with an ascent through forest and rural villages that dot the countryside. Along the way, there will be bird songs, running rivers and scenes from nearby villages. You will have to traverse terraced farmlands, small hillside dwellings, and locals still engaging in traditional agricultural methods. Vegetation increases as you climb higher, coupled with cooler temperatures. The slope is not too steep, which allows the traveler to explore the Himalayas at their own pace. There are also times when there is a break from the woods, where travelers can catch glimpses of the hills and valleys around them. Upon reaching Gothey, travelers can expect to arrive there in the evening. Gothey is a picturesque spot, bestowed with all that nature has to offer.

• Max Elevation: 1,128 m
• Travel Distance: Approx. 10–12 km
• Travel Hours: 5–6 hours
• Accommodation: Tea house / lodge 

On Day Five, our trek will take us deeper into the woods, where we start climbing into the mountainous terrain. As you walk, you will encounter gentle climbs along narrow ridges with views of distant hills from clearings. As you climb, the environment becomes more remote, and the air gets cooler and fresher. Along the way, small streams and natural water resources appear. They add to the beauty of the landscape. Salpa Phedi is located at the foot of Salpa Pass. It is surrounded by dense forests and mountain silence. This is an ideal place to rest and relax before continuing on your journey.

• Max Elevation: 1,680 m
• Travel Distance: Approx. 10–12 km
• Travel Hours: 5–6 hours
• Accommodation: Tea house / lodge

Today's walk includes a gradual ascent through forests and ridge areas. As one moves up, the challenge level of the path also increases. Nevertheless, it is fascinating to observe how diverse and enchanting nature can be. One will be able to traverse through a rhododendron forest, mossy trees, and sometimes open trails with vistas of the valley below. With an increase in elevation, the climate gets fresher and more pleasant. Nature abounds with the chirping of birds and other forms of wildlife within the forest. The scenery changes significantly as we get closer to our destination of Gurase Bhanjyang.

• Max Elevation: 2,500 m
• Travel Distance: Approx. 10–12 km
• Travel Hours: 5–6 hours
• Accommodation: Tea house / lodge

On this day, the trail will go up through ridges and forests as you proceed further uphill. It is a serene natural hiking experience that takes one through some untouched scenery. You will encounter fields, pasture land and sections of the forest that have Alpine flora, including rhododendron. There is thinner and colder air the higher up you get. There is thinner and colder air as you move uphill. Sanam is an ancient village on the hillsides with mountainous scenery stretching over vast landscapes.

• Max Elevation: 2,850 m
• Travel Distance: Approx. 10–12 km
• Travel Hours: 5–6 hours
• Accommodation: Tea house / lodge 

Today's trek descends from high ridges into a greener and more populated area. The trail descends from the high ridges to a greener, more populated terrain. The air becomes warmer, and the vegetation grows, making it easier to descend. It is a pleasure to pass through small villages where the rural lifestyle is still done in a simple and traditional way. Bung, a bustling town, lies in a farming area, making it very lively. The town offers more vibrancy than the other towns visited, making it a good place to spend a night.

• Max Elevation: 1,900 m
• Travel Distance: Approx. 10–12 km
• Travel Hours: 5–6 hours
• Accommodation: Tea house / lodge

The route is characterized by a gentle ascent through the forests. There are many places along the way that offer spectacular views of the mountain slopes. These can be seen through openings along the way. Along the route, you will find many small streams and water sources. The environment gets cooler as you climb higher. Gai Kharka, a quiet pasture area used by the locals to graze their animals, is often a peaceful place. The area is surrounded by wide open spaces, making it an ideal place to rest or stay overnight.

• Max Elevation: 2,545 m (as per text)
• Travel Distance: Not specified
• Accommodation: Tea house / lodge 

Today's trek involves a steady climb through forested ridges and remote trails. The journey is more remote as the rhododendron forests and landscapes are dominant. You may also see small villages or traditional stone houses, which are a reflection of the mountain lifestyle. As one goes higher, valleys and mountain ranges start becoming apparent. Panggom is a village set on a hill, which has beautiful surroundings along with cultural significance. The village itself is nestled between the hills and provides a view of the Himalayas.

• Max Elevation: 2,850 m
• Travel Distance: Approx. 10–12 km
• Travel Hours: 5–6 hours
• Accommodation: Tea house / lodge 

The trail today is a peaceful path that passes through the forest, with gently ridged hillside. It provides a peaceful trekking experience. The environment is dominated by nature, and it feels unspoiled. You will be walking through a pine and rhododendron forest. You will also pass through small clearings with views of the mountain range. There are very few big settlements, and the walk is very serene. Painya is a quaint settlement situated amidst the mid-hills and forests. This is the ideal location to spend time at after walking all day long in the forests.

• Max Elevation: 2,830 m
• Travel Distance: Approx. 9–11 km
• Travel Hours: 5–6 hours
• Accommodation: Tea house / lodge

On this day, the trek will eventually make its way into the Everest region. The path will take you through quaint villages and forest trails until you reach Lukla. As you approach Lukla, you can expect to feel the energy of the place since Lukla is a very popular place for trekking in Nepal. After many days spent trekking in the wilderness, arriving at Lukla is like reaching civilization. Lukla provides access to the Himalayan trekking regions via an airfield at the top of the mountain.

• Max Elevation: 2,840 m
• Travel Distance: Approx. 8–10 km
• Travel Hours: 4–5 hours
• Accommodation: Tea house / lodge 

Early morning is the best time to fly from Lukla to Kathmandu. This short flight provides stunning aerial views of the Himalayan Mountains, deep valleys, and winding ridgelines. As you descend into the Kathmandu Valley, the landscape quickly changes from mountainous to urban. After a long trek, you are brought to your hotel, where you can rest comfortably. After a long hike in the mountains, you can relax or go shopping. It is easy to return to civilization after a long trek in the mountains.

• Max Elevation: 2,840 m (Lukla)
• Travel Distance: Lukla to Kathmandu (flight)
• Travel Hours: ~30–35 minutes flight
• Accommodation: 3-star hotel (Kathmandu)

The Arun Valley Trek is over today. After breakfast, you will be transferred to Tribhuvan International Airport in order to continue your journey. As you depart Kathmandu, you will carry with you memories of peaceful forest trails, remote villages, river valleys and the gradual transition of lowlands to the Everest region. Even though the trek is over, you will always remember your experience walking along one of Nepal's most peaceful and diverse trekking routes.

• Max Elevation: 1,347 m
• Travel Distance: Hotel to Airport (short drive)
• Travel Hours: 20–30 minutes