Humla and Limi Circuit Trek
Holiday Itinerary
Day 1: Rendezvous at the group hotel in Kathmandu. Complimentary airport transfers are provided. KE Land Only package services begin with the evening meal.
Day 2: A free day in Kathmandu while the permit arrangements are made by our agent. There is the option for a guided tour of some of the city's most important sights.
Day 3: Today, we take a short flight along the south side of the Nepal Himalaya, with great views of the Annapurnas in particular. Arriving in Nepalgunj, a town in the 'Terrai' on the border with India, we check in at our basic hotel.
Day 4: We have an early morning flight to Simikot, the adminstrative centre of Humla. On arrival, meet our trek crew and porters and walk for around 4 - 5 hours to a camp beside the Yakba Khola.
Day 5: The trail continues to follow the Karnali River through a narrow gorge, with high rocky walls, and then through farmland, with fields of barley, buckwheat, rice and potatoes.to our camp at Kermi.
Day 6: A gradual ascent during the morning, to a low pass, after which it is a steep descend of about 20 minutes to suspension bridge over the Sali River. Continuing through beautiful pine forest, we reach Yalbang at 2890 metres (9482ft).
Day 7: We trek high up above the Karnali again, through Yangar, with some sections carved into the rock. Crossing the Karnali, we look out for flocks of sheep carrying little woven sacks of salt. We reach Muchu after 4 hours and have an easy descent to our camp close to the Sakya monastery at Tumkot.
Day 8: We are starting to leave the trees behind now, as we climb through dwarf junipers to Pani Palwang and then Yari, a fortified village and gompa. Beyond Yari the ascent continues to our camp at Thado Dunga.
Day 9: A longer and tougher day, as we hike up to the prayer flags at the Nara La (4620m/15,157ft). From the pass it's a long descent to Hilsa, close to the border with Tibet, where we camp.
Day 10: We now cross the Karnali and follow the river in the other direction, heading for the entrance to the Limi Valley. Following a scant trail through a bare rock landscape we reach the camping place at Manepeme.
Day 11: On a rocky trail, we ascend to the Lamka La and then descend easily to a camping place below the white houses of the authentic 'Tibetan' village of Til (4000m/13,120ft). Chortens mark the trail on our approach to the village.
Day 12: An easy day allows us time to wander around in the villages and visit the monasteries. We pass a big mani wall on the short and level hike to Halji. The monastery here belongs to the Kagyugpa Buddhist sect and is the main gompa in the Limi Valley.
Day 13: It's an easy 4-hour walk from Halji to Jang, following the Limi Khola. Jang is the third and last village in the Limi Valley and, as with the other villages, it's a magical place to be. We camp close to the village.
Day 14: Setting out into a desolate landscape at the head of the valley, we make our way across a succession of high grazing grounds to the camping place at Talung (4370m/14,337ft) below the Nyalu La.
Day 15: Today, we cross the second high pass of the trip, the Nyalu La (4940m/16,207ft) which is more challenging if there is snow and ice. From the pass there are breathtaking 360 degrees views across Humla and Tibet. We descend via a mountain lake to the campsite at Shinjungma.
Day 16: Descending below 3000 metres (10,000ft) for the first time in 10 days, we have a pleasant walk, through pine and birch forests and alongside the beautiful Salli Khola, to Kermi. A chance to relax your tired muscles in the hot springs.
Day 17: We trek steadily downhill following the fall of the Karnali River. At the Yakba Khola we begin the long climb back towards Simikot, today going as far as Masigoan.
Day 18: The final day's walk to Simikot begins with a climb to the pass above the airstip then a descent to the town. Our last night camping.
Day 19: We take the early flight to Nepalgunj and connect with an onward flight to Kathmandu. We check in at our hotel and look forward to a celebratory evening meal in the city.
Day 20: A free day in Kathmandu (also serves as a contingency day). Time for independent exploration of the fantastically colourful Nepalese capital.
Day 21: KE Land Only package services end with breakfast. Complimentary airport transfers are provided.
Altitude
This holiday involves going to very high altitude. During the course of your trip you will be spending at least one night above 4000 metres and/or trekking to 5000 metres or above. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude.
