Limi Valley Trek

The trip begins with your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). Our company representative will welcome you at the airport. Then, you will be transferred to the hotel in Kathmandu. You can explore the city and prepare for the journey for the rest of the day.

You take an early morning flight from Kathmandu and fly to Nepalgunj. Nepalgunj is one of the biggest city in Nepal and lies on the plains of Terai. Upon arrival, you can explore the town of Nepalgunj and check out the local bazaar. If you need any additional supplies for the trek, you can buy them at the marketplace.

From Nepalgunj, you take a short flight to Simikot, the headquarters of Humla district. You meet the rest of the crew at the airstrip and then make preparations for the trek. Since you will be trekking for many days enjoy the rest in Simikot. You can explore the local market and observe the lifestyle of the people there.

The first day of trekking starts with a hike to a pass and then the trail descends to Dharaphaya. The trek initially goes uphill along the fields of wheat and barley. You pass through the pine forest and follow a rough trail. Later, you enjoy green and lush scenery of Humla Karnali Valley and make your way to Dharapuri.

The trail leaving Dharapuri follows Karnali River for a while through the high slope. You find your way through the narrow gorges and then walk along with the barley, wheat, and potatoes. The trail is pretty level as you pass Kholsi and continue the trek. On the way, you will also pass through Thakuri villages where you will see the last of rice fields on this harsh land. Later, you arrive at two natural hot springs where you can relax. After spending some time here, you take a short walk to reach Kermi.

You pass through barley and buckwheat fields, and pine forest. You cross the bridge over Salli Khola and continue the trek enjoying the green scenery and terraced lands. Passing Guran Tangna, you begin to trek along the Karnali River. The trail then reaches Yulwang where you can visit Namkh Kyung Dzong monastery.

Leaving Yulwang, you follow the trail that goes beyond Karnali River and then passes through the village of Yangar. Few distinct parts of the trail are carved out on rocks as well. You cross Karnali River again to head towards Ig Lagna (3516m). The path climbs high above Karnali River along the upper side of a gorge and passes through Muchu village. You will pass through Mani walls and prayer flags to arrive at Tumkot.

The trail ascends up to a hill on a steep path. The vegetation changes as you climb further up. The landscape gets rockier and you will see low junipers and bushes. The trek continues to the village of Pani Palbang where you stop for lunch. From Pani Palbang, it is a short walk to Yari. You cross the Pani Palbang River and head east along the Yari River on the final parts of the trek.

Today’s trek is a lot harder compared to the previous days. You need to cross the Nara La pass (4560 m) which itself is a big challenge. From the top of Nara La, the views of the surrounding landscapes in both Nepal and Tibet are quite surreal here. A short descent again leads to the ascent of the Chor Lagna Pass (4107m). You descend down from Chor Lagna Pass and walk ahead to Nepal – Tibet border. Hilsa sits at the Nepal-Tibet border and the people here are mostly of Tibetan origin.

You leave Hilsa and cross the iron bridge over Karnali River. Then, you walk on a narrow trail that winds its way up until you connect to the main route on the hill. The trail follows Karnali River and passes through grasslands going uphill towards a glacial moraine. Entering a valley famous for the snow leopard, you follow the trail used by local traders to arrive at Manepeme.

The trail climbs on and winds its way through high, steep rocks. Along the way, you come across an ancient cave where you can make a quick stop for exploration. The trail gradually ascends until Namka La through juniper forests and short bushes. From here, you descend to Tiljung which is a beautiful Tibetan village with many monasteries.

The 12th day of trekking is quiet easy and relatively more fun. The path follows the Limi River upstream. You will walk through the mostly plain level trail. On this route, you might encounter wild animals such as mountain goat and Himalayan sheep. Upon arrival at Halji, you can check out the Rinchenling Gompa. It was built in the 14th century and is a revered religious monument in the area.

Today’s trek is easy and short. The trail goes uphill and downhill along barley fields up until Halji Danda. You will be accompanied by Limi Khola till Jang, which is the last village of the Limi Valley. This is a wonderful place to explore the Tibetan culture which remains completely unspoiled thanks to the region’s isolation from the modern world. The Rinzin Ling Gompa in the village is one of the most important monasteries in the region.

Leaving Jang behind, you walk through a beautiful path with a magnificent view of Saipal Himal (7,031 m) and Mount Kailash (6,636m). There are no settlements on the way till Kermi so it will be a completely isolated experience. The trail at times will get tough and it will pass through the river and streams before taking you to Talung.

On this day, you walk up to the highest point in the entire trekking journey. The trail ascends to the top of Nyalu La (5001 m). From the top, you can relish the overall views of Humla and Tibet. You descend down and pass through the beautiful Selima Tso Lake and continue the trek to Shinjungma. The trek offers plenty of views of the lakes scattered around the region.

You retrace your steps back to Kermi today. This trek to Kermi is downhill. The trail takes you through the pine and birch forests along Salli Khola. You then, follow the Karnali River again and head east to reach Kermi. You drop below 3000 m for the first time after days of travel. Passing Okharthala, you arrive at Kermi.

Today’s trail goes uphill and downhill along a rough rocky road. You will pass through the villages of Dharapuri and Majgaon. After ascending up to the small pass of 3000m, you descend down and trek all the way to Simikot. The Simikot Temple greets you before you reach the village. In Simikot, you can celebrate the completion of one of the most illustrious treks in Nepal.

From Simikot, first, you will take a flight to Nepalgunj. From Nepalgunj, you take a direct flight back to Kathmandu. Both these flights reveal the outstanding geographical diversity in Nepal. After checking into the hotel, you can head out and do some souvenir shopping.

The 19-day trip comes to an end. As you prepare to leave the country, a company representative will accompany you to the airport. Goodbye!