Secrets of the Solu Khumbu
- A trek into the Sherpa homeland with panoramic mountain views
- See Mount Everest and other Khumbu peaks from the top of Pikey Peak
- Hike up to the pilgrimage site of Dudh Kund
- Meet the friendly Sherpa people
- A short trekking holiday in a rarely visited part of Nepal
South of the high valleys leading to Mount Everest, the Solu Khumbu district is the traditional homeland of the Sherpa People. Situated at elevations of between 2000 and 4000 metres, with rugged ridge and valley scenery, this is a beautiful part of Nepal and this new trekking holiday makes the most of it. Flying in to Phaplu, from Kathmandu gives us speedy access to a surprising remote area, which see relatively few trekking groups. Our circuit trek takes us through timeless Sherpa villages and up to the amazing viewpoint known as Pikey Peak (4065m), where the incredible panorama includes the relatively nearby peaks of Numbur (6958m) and Karyolung, as well as a slightly more distant perspective on Mount Everest and Makalu. It is even possible to see the Annapurnas, way off towards the west. Continuing our trek by way of Thupten Choling Monastery, we head north through pine, oak and rhododendron forest to the holy lake of Dudh Kund, which is tucked right up under the flanks of Karyolung. At just over 4500 metres, this is an impressive and inspiring place, visited by few people other than Hindu pilgrims, who believe that to take a dip in the frigid waters will take away the sins of a lifetime. Flying back to Kathmandu, we have included a day to enjoy the Nepalese capital. A perfect holiday for those looking for a first taste of this most charming of Himalayan kingdoms.
Is this holiday for you?
Starting out at Phaplu, at around 2400 metres, this new trekking holiday gains height gradually, hiking for an average of around 6 hours each day. This is a camping trek, as the lodges in this region are few and far between. The itinerary has been arranged to allow everyone to acclimatise easily, although you will find walking at these elevations to be a little tougher than at sea-level. For the first part of the trek, we are following good tracks and trails between the many Sherpa villages. On the approach to Dudh Kund, we will encounter narrower forest tracks, but nowhere are the conditions underfoot difficult. The nature of the landscape in this area means that there is a fair amount of ascent and descent and for this reason we have placed this trek in the middle of our MODERATE grade.
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