Explore the New Humla Limi Valley Trek

After breakfast, we board the plane and fly to Simikot Airport. As you step off of the plane, you enter a another world. Simikot is located in the Himalayas and serves as the district headquarters for the Humla region. The Simikot airport also serves as the starting point for the trek/drive to the famous Kailash/Manasarovar.

Your hike today begins with an hour-long ascent to a little pass at just over 9,800 feet (3000 meters). After the pass, there is a long and steep descent to Dharapori. Your hike today will last approximately 4-5 hours and will take you high above the Karnali River, through pine forests, and past a few settlements. Along the trip, you may encounter locals, both Hindu and Buddhist, who are occasionally hauling large burdens all the way up the steep trail. Tonight is your first night camping, and the spot is close the Karnali River.

Your walk today is brief, giving you time to recover. The trail continues to follow the Karnali River, sometimes high on the slope with the river far below, and then dropping back down till the trail is nearly level with the water. This portion of the river winds its way through tight gorges with steep rocky sides. You will go through fields of barley, buckwheat, rice, and potatoes.

In the afternoon, you can unwind at one of the two natural hot springs near the settlement. It’s a 30-minute uphill hike via Kermi village. Kermi, a small farming village, is the first entirely Buddhist settlement on the path (after Kermi, all villages are Buddhist). There are two interesting monasteries near Kermi: Laikyo Gompa, which is several hundred years old, is about 45 minutes away, and Lhundrup Choeling Gompa is about 30 minutes away. Both are rarely frequented by visitors.

The trip starts early in the morning through flat terrain to the barley and buckwheat fields. After 2 hours, you’ll reach a little pass as you go through hard uphill terrain. Shortly after, you’ll descend for 20 minutes till you reach the large iron suspension bridge over the Sali River.

The walk leads through dense pine forest to Yalbang settlement. After 5 hours of hiking, you eventually arrive in Alabang village. The scenery and vegetation here are stunning. Today, you will have plenty of opportunity to see the gorgeous monastery, such as the Namkha Khyung Dzong Monastery, located 3,020 metres above Yalbang village.

You will leave Yalbang village and take the path above the Karnali River. After 20 minutes, you’ll arrive in the little settlement of Yangar. The way ahead winds through a three-sided tunnel as the surrounding environment transitions to rocky terrains.

The walk leads through large pine trees and little bushes to the wooden suspension bridge across the Karnali River. Shortly afterwards, the path ascends along the upper side of a deep valley. After 4 hours, you will arrive at the campsite in Tumkot at 3,380 meters. You will have a good lunch and sleep for the night at camp.

Leaving Tumkot, the trail climbs gradually but steadily, with a few steep sections in between. Soon after leaving the settlement, you will notice that the scenery is becoming increasingly stony and dismal. The few trees remaining are low junipers. Part of the trail crosses a gravel road that is currently being developed.

It is unclear when and if the road will ever be completed. You will pass through the small village of Pani Palwang, which has a couple of teahouses along the road and is a good location to stop for a cup of tea or a lunch break. Thado Dunga is a 1 ½ hour drive from Yari. Your hike today will last 7 hours, and you will camp just past the Yari settlement.

Today you will cross the Nara La pass at 14,000 feet (4,330 meters). The long and strenuous hike is worth it for the breathtaking sights! As the trail climbs, the environment becomes increasingly barren. The trees have vanished altogether, and the terrain resembles Tibet increasingly. You may come across vast caravans of mules or yaks. At Thado Dunga, you’ll pass a few teahouses before the slope turns steeper.

The ascent to the pass still takes two hours, and if there is snow, it will take even longer. Typically, this day’s hike takes 5-6 hours. Around half an hour from the pass, you will come across a few large tents (tent hotels that serve food and drinks). You can see the Nara La pass in the distance, but the altitude makes it a difficult ascent. You’ll know the pass by the pile of stones (adding one gives good luck!) and the strings of Tibetan prayer flags, which are carried far away by the strong winds. You get spectacular vistas into Tibet and back to Yari far below.

On the other side of the pass, it appears you are in Tibet. You are surrounded by barren mountains in shades of brown, copper, ash, and dark yellow. From the pass, it’s a long descend to Hilsa, near the border with Tibet.

Hilsa is Tibet’s nearest port; during the tourist season, thousands of Indian pilgrims cross the border to see Mount Kailash in Tibet. After breakfast, you will cross the Humla Karnali River suspension bridge and immediately head north along the freshly constructed road to Limi Valley, as you are unable to cross the Nepal-Tibet border. This valley is famed for snow leopards and bharal, or Himalayan blue sheep. After trekking for 4-5 hours, you will camp at Manipeme, which is at an elevation of 12,900 feet (3,930 meters). The camp’s name comes from the Mani Mantra inscribed on a big rock.

The trail begins to climb through steep terrain for around 2 hours. You will follow the trail between a tiny path and a steeper path as you pass through the fascinating meditation cave Ya Yip Phuk. From here, you’ll hike the steep climb for around 30 minutes until you reach Lamka La pass at 4,300 meters.

The trek becomes easier as it descends to Til for about an hour and a half. Til, like all of the Limi Valley’s villages, is an authentic Tibetan village surrounded by lush natural greenery. After 6 hours of gradually ascending and descending through Limi valley’s varied sceneries, you arrive at Til 4,000m.

Today’s climb from Halji is easy, with plenty of time to see the villages and monasteries. You will stroll along the flat surface of the Limi River upstream to a gate chorten with a large mani wall engraved with holy mantras. The climb to Halji takes about three hours. Upon arriving, you will come upon Rinchenling Gompa, a 14th-century monastery. This monastery follows the Kagyugpa tradition. Rincheling Gompa is the Lim Valley’s principal religious center. You will spend the night at a tea house in Halji (3,660m).

Today, your destination for the walk ahead is the village of Jangh at 3,930m. Jang is the last valley in the Limi valley and a peaceful, gorgeous place to be. You will trek the trail for an easy four-hour hike along the Limi Khola. Today’s walk is quiet because there are no local hamlet communities along the way. As a result, you will have an unforgettable encounter with the serene natural diversity of the Limi valley. It is a unique adrenaline rush to be in such a peaceful and lonely area of Nepal.

You will leave Jang after breakfast in the morning. The trek begins as you ascend via the steady ascent uphill. At higher elevations, the air becomes thinner, necessitating frequent pauses. You will depart Limi Valley and climb for 8 hours to Talung Village. You will spend the night in Talung village, 4,370m, at a tea house. Because the trail passes through distant landscapes and terrains, the availability of lodging is limited. As a result, you must spend the night in one of several locations.

On this day, you will cross the second pass of the walk; the way ahead is adventurous but also difficult and demanding. However, the ascent to the trek’s highest point, Nyalu La (4,940m), will provide you with amazing views of Humla Bandley and vistas spanning to Tibet.

You will climb down the steep path to Lake Selma 4,630m, with spectacular views of Mount Kailash 6,638m and Mt. Saipahl 7,031m. Further down the trail, you’ll follow the Sali River to today’s campsite at Shinjungma, 3,620 meters. Along the trip, you will see many more stunning vistas of Mount Saipal. After an arduous 8-hour climb and gentle descent, you will rest for the night at the campsite.

Today’s hike takes you back to civilization, to Kermi village. For the first time on your walk, you’ll descend 3,000 meters through pine and birch forests. The hike is a reasonably straightforward walk along the stunning Salli Khola, with cliffs towering on each side of the trail. The trail eventually runs into the Karnali River. The seven-hour trip to Kermi village would undoubtedly fatigue you. As a result, you will be able to relax your tired muscles in the hot springs of Kermi hamlet, located at 2,670 meters. You will have dinner and spend the night in a tea house.

Simikot is a 6-hour journey from the trailhead at Darapuri 2,300m. Eventually, you will continue on a lovely stroll into Majgaon, 2,290m, and begin an arduous ascent for two hours above the Karnali River. Just after crossing a pass of over 3,000 meters, you will be able to appreciate the stunning panorama of Nyinba valley (4,050 meters). You will continue hiking for 30 minutes on the trail until you reach Simikot, where you will spend the night.

Simikot’s tea house offers a stunning view of the morning sunrise. After breakfast, you’ll join a morning flight to Nepalgunj, passing over the Himalayas and snow-capped peaks. Upon arrival at Nepalgunj airport, you will catch a connecting aircraft to the magnificent city of Kathmandu. You will reflect on your great hike as you enjoy the gorgeous mountain flight to Kathmandu.