Chulu Far East Peak Climbing

Our airport agent will be there to meet you as soon as you arrive in Kathmandu. During the time that you are in our care, we will see to it that all of your traveling requirements are met. We will be happy to assist you in checking into the hotel that is most convenient for you given that there are no planned activities for the day. You have the choice of strolling around the neighborhood or relaxing in the rooms you have reserved for yourselves here at the inn.

We will send a private vehicle to pick you up from your hotel in the wee hours of the morning and transport you to Syange, which is located in the Lamjung district. There are multiple car arrangements that need to be established, and it all depends on how many persons there are. After traveling a little distance from Kathmandu, we are able to see Manaslu and Ganesh Himal in the distance as we make our way to Besisahar by following the Trishuli river. As our distance from Lamjung increases, the Lamhing Mountains become increasingly visible to us. The journey to Besisahar is on an acceptable road. We make it to Besisahar, where we have some lunch and then register at the tourist check post. In order to get to Syange from Besisahar, we will need to switch to a jeep and travel in that direction. The winding road takes us past a number of brooks and streams, as well as several local villages and farms, making for an exciting journey. As a means of relieving the tension that has built up during our travels, we can use Syange as a base from which to investigate the adjacent waterfall as well as the neighboring community. We are going to spend the night at Syange.

We will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning and head to Syange in the Lamjung district in a private vehicle. Depending on how many people are going, different vehicle arrangements have to be made. We follow the Trishuli river to get to Besisahar. From Kathmandu, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal can be seen from a distance. As we get closer to Lamjung, we start to see views of the Lamhing mountains. The road to Besisahar is quite nice. When we get to Besisahar, we have lunch and check in at the tourist check post. From Besisahar, we have to switch to a jeep that heads to Syange. Along the narrow road, we see many rivulets, local villages, and farmers, which makes for an exciting drive. At Syange, we can relax by going to the nearby waterfall and walking around the village. We stay the night at Syange.

After consuming breakfast in Dharapani, we proceed to the picturesque town of Chame. We traverse the main road for some distance to reach Danakiu. From Danakiu, we cross a river and ascend the hill via forests and woodlands. We approach the settlement of Timang, from which we can see spectacular views of Manaslu, Lamjung, and Ganesh Himal. We ascend through woodlands filled with fauna and plants to reach our lunch spot. After lunch, we stroll alongside the Marsyangdi on the main road, between two hills. As we make our way along the trail, we pass into Thanchowk. From this point, we may reach the town of Kote, which offers spectacular views of Annapurna II. From the settlement of Kote, the path to the Narkhu valley branches out. From Kote, we travel once more to reach Chame, the district capital of Manang. At Chame, stupas are also seen. At Chame, there is a hot water spring where you can have a warm bath. You can also investigate the local village and customs. We will spend the night at the settlement that contains an army camp and a small clinic, which is located on the banks of the Marsyangdi River.

We cross a little bridge over the Marsyangdi River following an early breakfast. Only mud and wood are used in the construction of the settlements that we pass through. In addition, the communities contain numerous stupas. Views of the Anapurna, Gangapurna, and Pisang mountains may be viewed. Although the route we are traversing is the main road, the road is located within a deep forest. After some walking, we reach Bhraga, where apple orchards abound and a variety of juicily delicious apples can be consumed. After walking, we get to our lunch destination at Dhukkur Pokhari. After leaving the settlement, we quickly reach the point where the trails to the lower and upper Pisang diverge. In the past, travelers stayed in Lower Pisang due to the availability of lodging. However, Upper Pisang is also home to hotels that we highly suggest.

Along the path, we can see Annapurna, Gangapurna, Tilicho Mountain, Pisang peak, and numerous other peaks. As we approach upper Pisang, we visit a monastery where we can take part in the daily ritual ceremony. The houses here are also representative of the inhabitants' hilly lifestyle. We then proceed to our overnight lodging in Upper Pisang. Upper Pisang contains the trailhead for individuals who intend to ascend the Pisang summit.

We are going to ascend up above the river and away from the Annapurna Circuit trail today as we make our way up the slopes of Pisang Peak. We start by making a gradual ascent across the mountain through scrub pine and Juniper before making our way up a steeper part on a zigzagging track to the village of Ghyaru (3673m), which is known for its collection of dry-stone-walled medieval buildings that are stacked on top of one another. Our journey then continues along a wonderful contour track that provides breathtaking panoramas of the Annapurna range until we reach the expansive fields and residences of Ngawal, a settlement that is comparable to Ghyaru but significantly larger. We start our ascent at Ngagwal and make a steady ascent to the small settlement of Chulu, which is home to a wheat mill. Next, we make a roughly 45-minute ascent alongside the stream to reach the Khola, where we will cross it on a wooden bridge. After passing through forests of fir and juniper, the trail eventually leads to a tiny meadow with a herder's cottage and a glimpse of two magnificent waterfalls. If all goes according to plan, we should reach the waterfalls approximately one hour after leaving the bridge.

Acclimatization is highly important for preventing mental and physical sickness and ensuring a successful summit climb of Chulu Far East Peak because we have already reached an altitude of more than 3,500 meters above sea level when we woke up in the lovely meadow. As a result, we are going to take today off so that we can acclimate and go exploring. In addition, Juju Khola has a handful of decent hiking choices, all of which are regarded as being the most effective for acclimatization.

The mountain guides will instruct us in the fundamentals of roped glacier travel and the safe use of fixed lines in the afternoon. The use of these tools will be extremely important as we ascend the massif. 

After spending the better part of a day at Julu Khola to recover and acclimatize, our track consists of a difficult ascent all the way to a nice campsite, where we will set up our Base Camp. Waking up today we prepare for a quite strenuous hike. Our journey takes us over rocky terrain that can be challenging and taxing at times. Therefore, getting some rest every once in a while is a smart idea. After arriving at Base Camp, our team will begin setting up camp and making the necessary preparations for moving camps to higher elevations in advance of attempting the major summit climb of Chulu Far East Peak.

We wake up in the Base Camp early in the morning for out hike to the high amp. There is a well-defined path that leads up the moraine from our base camp. As we crest the summit, we see what appears to be a moonscape made of glacial debris; these are the last vestiges of a glacier that has retreated. We set up our high camp alongside a little glacial lake. The elevation of High Camp is 5255 meters above sea level. Approximately two and a half hours by foot. This day may be spent as a second acclimatization day at base camp, and the next day may be spent ascending to high camp. This decision will be based on the group's ability to handle the altitude. The decision will be made by your trip leader. While we are at the high camp for the night, we will have plenty of time to both relax and prepare our gear and strategies for the following day.

We have a very long and challenging day ahead of us today. The climbing Sherpa will come to wake you up at one in the morning. We have breakfast quite early on in the morning before getting ready to brave the chilly night air and going outside. When we take off the initial slopes toward the prominent peak of Chulu Far East, which we should reach approximately one hour after leaving camp, the dawn will already be well on its way to becoming a reality. Fantastic vistas of the entire Annapurna range, the Manaslu, and the Ganesh Himal to the south, while to the north, we can look across the arid and desolate landscape of Mustang and Tibet. After our fill of the view, we will turn around and climb backward, first to the col and then to high camp. This will give us the opportunity to experience some more thrilling climbing scenarios. After taking a break and getting some refreshments at this location, we will proceed with the descent to Base Camp.

Following a successful ascent of Chulu Far East, we awaken feeling exhausted and filled with a sense of accomplishment. Following breakfast, we will start our day with a descent, beginning with the return to the settlement of Chulu. We continue our descent until we reach the main route coming from Nagwal. This track then makes a bend and continues parallel to the Marsyangdi before falling down to Mungdi, where we have rejoined the trail around the Annapurna Circuit. From Mungdi, it is about one hour up the valley to the busy town of Manang, where we will rest for the day and possibly partake in some celebratory food and drinks.

For our day of exploring Manang, we can choose from a few different hikes. You can either hike to Gangapurna Lake or go to Milarepa Cave. Since the trail to the ice lake is quite long, we recommend only the hike to Gangapurna Lake and the trip to the Milarepa Cave. If we want to go to the Milarepa Cave, we will need to bring our own lunch.

Option 1: Gangapurna Lake with a view of the Manang Valley

We see beautiful views of Gangapurna and Annapurna as we walk through ridges and forests. After a while, we get to the clean Gangapurna lake. From the Gangapurna lake, we head toward the famous Manang Valley Viewpoint. We can see Gangapurna, Annapurna II, Tilicho Peak, Pisang Peak, and Cholu Peak in their entirety from the Viewpoint. If you want, we can keep going to the Milarepa cave.

Option 2: Go through Gangapurna Lake to get to Milarepa Cave

We walk through forests and up ridges to get to the Milarepa Cave, where it is said that the Tibetan Siddha and Tantric master Milarepa meditated. From here, we can also see Gangapurna, Annapurna II, Tilicho Peak, Pisang Peak, and Cholu Peak.

Waking up early in the morning, we grab breakfast. Walking slightly, we see the trails to Tilicho Lake and Yak Kharka separate. Slightly beyond Manang, we reach the village of Tenji. From here we see the best views of the Manang valley as well as Annapurna and Gangapurna. There is an apple farm here also. The trail now consists mainly of short shrubs and thorny bushes. We reach the village of Ghusang from where we can enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains while sipping warm tea. A gradual incline leads up to Yak Kharka where we see flocks of Thar. Just before we reach Yak Kharka we see many teahouses from the trail. After crossing the tea houses, Chulo Far east can be seen as well as Thorong peak which lies just in front of us. After a short duration of walking uphill, we reach the village of Yak Kharka where we grab lunch. Then after lunch, we take a short hike in order to acclimatize and explore the region. After the short walk, we return to our hotel.

After breakfast, we make our way out of Yak Kharka and continue our ascent gradually until we reach the village of Leather, which sits atop a hill with breathtaking vistas of the Manang valley below. After over a suspension bridge, we continue climbing till we come across a couple of teashops, where we stop for a break and have some tea. The path in front of you is extremely hazardous and prone to rockfall. Traverse this slender and relatively hazardous path takes around half an hour.

After a short while of walking, we will arrive in Thorong Phedi. In order to acclimate our bodies to the higher altitude, we stop for lunch at Thorong Phedi and then climb to the High Camp. This is done since it takes some time for the body to adjust to the thinner air. We make our way back to the lodge where we stay for the night. It's possible that some people will have trouble sleeping in addition to experiencing symptoms of altitude sickness. This is perfectly typical.

Our goal for today is to make it over the Thorang La pass. We get an early start on the day by packing our lunch and breakfast and beginning the ascent to Thorang La. We need to proceed with caution and make use of our headlights in order to navigate the route effectively due to the fact that the road is so narrow. Along the walk, there are also some little teahouses that can be observed. We get to watch the sunrise over the mountains for a little while before we reach the Thorang La pass. At the Thorang La, we find ourselves positioned between two enormous peaks. It is a dream come true for many people to make it to and past the Thorang La, and you will have the opportunity to snap some great photographs that will serve as a reminder of your achievement of reaching and passing through this point. On either side of the pass, we can make out the track that leads to Upper Mustang as well as the Annapurna Circuit trail that we hiked earlier.

After passing over the Thorang la, the trail makes a steep descent that is lined with gravel and sometimes even ice in the winter; hence, extreme caution is required so that one does not fall. Along the path, there are a lot of little cottages that people built as protection from the ice storms. Once more, we travel to a new community that is also called as Thorang Phedi, which is where we have lunch. We stay put here for a while and rest. The path ahead of us is going to get much simpler as we drop from here. It is possible to have views of the Dhaulagiri range, as well as Nilgiri, Tukuche, and Thakpa peaks. After a short period of trekking, we arrive at the Muktinath Temple, which features a checkpoint specifically for visitors. The bridge we used was suspended, and we walked through it. We take a tour of the temple complex, which is held in high esteem by followers of both Buddhism and Hinduism. There are 108 water taps, and it is thought that using them will clear your negative karma. In this location, there is a monastery that is home to a natural gas flame that is supposed to never go out. In addition, there is a convent located in this area. Exploring the Muktinath Temple Complex will provide you with a wealth of unique and interesting experiences. Following this, we make it to our hotel where we unpack our bags. The enormous statues of Padmasambhava and the Buddha can be found in this area in Muktinath. Additionally, one can get a view of Aishwarya lake from the complex.

As we make our way away from Muktinath in the wee hours of the morning, we stroll away from the main road and choose trek trails wherever they are accessible. We pass through the traditional Jharkot settlement, which features a monastery in its center. The land in this region is rather arid, and there is very little flora to be found here. Those who are interested in exploring the higher monastery or the upper mustang can stay in a small cluster of buildings known as Eklebhatti. If we are lucky, we can uncover fossils here as we walk through the windy valley that is surrounded by the banks of the Kaligandaki. We finally arrive in Jomsom, which is home to an army camp. To get to Jomsom one can also take an alternate road that goes through Kagbeni, which is a settlement that was constructed in a highly traditional form. Many people regard Kagbeni to be the entrance to higher Mustang. Apple juice, fresh apples, and brandy are all staples in Jomsom's cuisine.

After an early morning meal in Jomsom, we make our way to the airport to catch a flight to Pokhara. Pokhara is a region that is abundantly gifted with stunning natural scenery. You may learn about the history of mountain climbing by seeing the International Mountain Museum, which is located in Whistler, British Columbia. Pokhara is the location of many caves, waterfalls, and the Peace Pagoda. Pokhara is also home to the Mahendra cave and the Bat Cave. The panorama of the Fewa lake and the Kathmandu valley seen from the summit of Peace Pagoda is quite breathtaking.

Following your exploration of Pokhara's various attractions, you can take a stroll and appreciate the nighttime atmosphere in areas such as Lakeside Pokhara. The people who live in the mountains have a totally different way of life than those who live below.

Today, after breakfast, we will begin the trip that will take us back to Kathmandu. The Prithvi highway, which we use to get to Kathmandu, runs parallel to the Trishuli river the entire time. On the way, we stop for lunch either at Malekhu or Muglin, depending on which one is closer. When we finally get to Kathmandu in the evening, after a long day of travel, we will take care of dropping you off at your accommodation.

Today, we will visit Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple, Pashupatinath, one of Nepal's largest temples, and Bouddhanath, a large stupa.

The Pashupatinath Temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is often called the "Lord of All Beings." Lord Shiva is a sign of the destructive side of the universe. The famous Bagmati River flows through the Pashupatinath area. Most Hindus in the Kathmandu Valley hold funeral ceremonies for the dead on the banks of the river.

The Swayambhunath Stupa is one of the most important Buddhist buildings in Nepal. It is thought that the Bodhisattva Manjushri made it when he used his flaming sword to cut a canyon at Chhobhar to drain the water from the huge lake that was once Kathmandu.

The four pairs of Lord Buddha's eyes are placed in the four cardinal directions on top of the Buddhist Bouddhanath stupa in the Valley which is 2,500 years old and was built in the fifth century. This stupa is always watching people and how they act. People who are Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims can be seen spinning prayer wheels as they walk around the stupa.

You can also take a walk through the nearby neighborhoods of Thamel and Asons, which are full of shops selling handmade clothes, crafts, and other items. Ason, the city's oldest market, is only a few hundred meters from your hotel. In this market, you can buy tea, spices, beautiful jars, brass figures, and tea. This day has also been set aside in case there are problems with the trip.

After you finish the Chulu Far East Climbing, it's time to say goodbye to Nepal. You will be driven to the international airport three hours before your international flight to your final destination is scheduled to leave. We really hope that the time you spent with us in the  Himalayas will stay with you forever. You can stay longer if you want to see everything that makes Nepal so interesting. We really hope you'll enjoy our time together and tell your family and friends about us if they want to go trekking in Nepal.