Today you will arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport, the only international airport in Nepal. A representative will meet you and after welcome, you will be transferred to the hotel. You will have the entire afternoon to yourself today. You can relax in the hotel and relish the exquisite cuisine that Nepal is so famous for. Another option is to stroll around the streets to observe the throbbing nightlife of Kathmandu.

Today, the day will be spent in sightseeing around the architectural haven of Nepal. Kathmandu is home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites. Despite the earthquake that shook the nation on April 2015, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites have managed to maintain all their valor and glory. 

After breakfast, there will firstly be a briefing about the trek that will start off from the very next day. After this, we will move towards the Kathmandu durbar Square. We will pass along the spice market of Ason. With the old temples and palaces, the Kathmandu durbar Square is an epitome of religious and cultural life of the people of Nepal. The Durbar Square is where the kings of Nepal were solemnized and crowned. The interesting areas worth visiting are the Kalbhairav statue, Basantapur Durbar as well as the Temple pod Kumari. Kumari is the only living goddess in the World.

After lunch, we will be transferred to Patan Durbar Square, yet another epitome of architectural spectacle. Situated in the center of the Patan City, the Durbar Square is a species of Newari architecture. The major contrary like the Mulchowk, SundariChowk, and Keshav Narayan Chowk houses the interesting architectural spectacles including the likes of the Golden Temple of Hiranya Varna as well as the Krishna Mandir.

The trek, which starts off today, fills us with excitement and our minds ready for the adventure to follow. The beautiful flight to the Eastern part of Nepal, Bhadrapur is a short one. After the 45 minutes of awesome flight, we continue towards the beautiful tea gardens of Illam.

The drive from Bhadrapur to Illam takes about 3 hours. Illam is aptly known as the tea capital of Nepal. Home to large tea gardens, Illam is where most of the tea exported from Nepal and used within Nepal is grown and manufactured. We reach Illam in the evening and the cool winds blowing up towards the tea gardens makes the excitement of the upcoming trek even more alluring. 45 minutes flight. 3-hours’ drive.

Today, the starting point of the Lumba Sumba trek is reached. We reach Taplejung after a 8-hour drive from Illam through undulating and rounding paths. The path, which takes us through farmlands and forested areas to Taplejung also offers the views of the icy mountain peaks like the Kanchenjunga, Makalu and even the mighty Everest on a clear day.

Taplejung is the hub of this region of Nepal. It is complete with government offices, cobblestone streets, police post and the small hospital. Taplejung is both adequately supplied with modern equipment and has yet retained its age-old natural beauty. The roaring Tamor River diverges out from the southern part of Taplejung. Approximately 8-hours’ drive.

The actual trekking journey of the Lumba Sumba trek starts today. The trek follows a multi track path and takes us up and down through forested ridges today. We descend down from Taplejung to reach the Tamor River first. After crossing the suspension bridge from this point, the route is almost flat. Trekking along the banks of the roaring Tamor Koshi river, through fields of paddy, offers a one-in-a-million experience in itself. We pass jungles of cardamom plants and natural vegetation in order to reach an area where the village can be seen stretching at a far distance.

This village is called Mitlung. Mitlung is home to ethnic inhabitants living in complete harmony with each other. Chettri, Limbu, Bahun and Tamang inhabitants adorn the already beautiful village. The main occupation of these people is the business of cardamom. Approximately 5 to 6 hours trek.

This day too we will follow the edges of the Tamor River all through the day. The path is quite a narrow, descending one today and passes through jungles. The jungles in this area are usually covered with cardamom and other crops. Small gardens of orange are also present along the way.

Through undulating paths and crossing, several streams, we finally reach an area with an easy flat land. Passing through the villages of Sinuwa and the Limbu village of Chirwa we finally reach another large Limbu village of Taplethok.  Approximately 5 to 6 hours trek.

Taplethok is a small market with some tea shops. There is also a KCAP checkpoint in this village. After checking in, we start off with a walk towards the village of Pembu along the bank of the roaring Tamor River. The trail through dense forests continues on an uphill path from Pembu, taking us to the Lelep.  We reach a monastery next, after which the trail drops down to the village of Gowatar. Near to this small settlement with a few houses, is a bug stone considered to be religious by the inhabitants of the village.

After half an hour of walk from Gowatar, we are blessed with the views of two waterfalls, each about 100 meters tall. The wonderful opportunity to click the pictures in front of the waterfall will take us to Phedi. We cross the Tamor River from Phedi and continue upwards to the camping site of Ila Danda.

The Sherpa Village of Ila Danda is home to the panorama of the beautiful mountain peaks that adorn this Eastern region of Nepal. The views of the snowcapped peaks, along with the views of the Kasturi Peak and the Tamor River underneath, calls for a perfect setting to spend the night in peace and tranquility. Approximately 5 to 6 hours of trek.

Today, we embark on a pleasing walk towards Dharamsala. The path is somewhat steep, alternated by easy path and passes through jungles of rhododendron, pine, and bamboo.

The start of the trek occurs with the passage through forests of Ulnus and rhododendron. We reach a suspension bridge now, crossing which we reach the area filled with dense groves of bamboo. This area is known bets for being the habitat of the endangered species of red and, if you are lucky, you might spot one too.

After about three hours walk from Ila Danda, we pass through the village of Maguwa through forests of maple and Ulnus. A big landslide along the path requires the utmost attention for trekkers when crossing it. Apart from that, the path is comparatively easier. Through the Selep Kharkha, we reach Dharmasala, our destination for today. Approximately 6 hours of trek.

The path today will also be passing through areas known to be the suitable habitat spots for the red panda.  We walk along the banks of the roaring Tamor River and reach the Jongim village. This is a flat land, surrounded by the views of the snowcapped peaks. Another walk through rhododendron forests takes us to a suspension bridge, following with we reach the settlement of Ramite. Mixed forests of Deodar and rhododendron take us to a beautiful waterfall where we click pictures.

After some time of marveling at the beauty of the waterfall, we move forward to Olangchung Gola. Olangchung Gola is a beautiful Sherpa village where we spend our night and the next day. Approximately 5 to 6 hours of trek.

Today, we take off a well-earned day to acclimatize to the altitude and explore the beautiful Sherpa village of Olangchung Gola. It consists of 45 houses and a 465-year-old monastery. The monastery has some golden manuscripts in the Buddhist language. Olangchung Gola is also home to KCAP office. A sub-health post and a primary school along with the border police station in Olangchung Gola make it a perfect town. Olangchung Gola consists of rhododendron forests. It is the pathway to Tibet and business between Nepal and Tibet takes place here. This is where herbs are exchanged between Tibet and Nepal. People living in Olangchung Gola have yaks and blue sheep as pets, which assist them with their daily chores.

This day is a perfect opportunity to mix in with the inhabitants of the mid-Kanchenjunga Region and experience their culture and traditions.

The trek along the path in the next three days will pass through areas of complete wilderness and awesome natural beauty. You will not be lost in the mystical wilderness today as there are piles of stones which act as sing posts to show us the direction towards our required destination.

Today, we start off with a gradual uphill walk through forests of rhododendron, above the roaring Tamor River. We reach the village of Jadak for lunch and if lucky, might even get a chance to come across wild animals like snow leopard and musk deer. From here, we walk for some more time along snowy tracks to reach the bridge over the Tamor River.

After crossing the bridge, we come across the village of Langmale. Heading up alongside the riverside, the trail finally brings us to the village of Yangetar, which is our destination for today. Approximately 4 to 5 hours of trek.

This is yet another exciting day in the trek as there have been reported sightings of snow leopards in this track. This day too, we follow the roaring and the mighty Tamor River. We cross the river to a dense rhododendron forest to reach the settlement of Tangchetar. After lunch there, we pass along rocky trails to reach the camping site of Pass Camp.

Pass camp is the base camp of the Lumba Sumba Peak. We walk less on this day, as it is absolutely important to acclimatize with the altitude in order to eliminate the possibility of Acute Mountain Sickness. The day is made more interesting by the views of the small peaks that are visible from the Pass Camp. Approximately 5 to 6 hours of trek.

This day is the highlight of the entire trekking journey as it involves the passage through the Lumba Sumba Peak. Apart from being highly memorable and adorned with beautiful views, the trail today is equally difficult and strenuous today.

We begin the trek with packed lunch and adequate bottles of water. The trail starts off with an upward climb, followed by a downward path. The final step up the Lumba Sumba peak is difficult because of the presence of glacial moraines and snow covered path. The challenging part of the entire trek is today, so it is good to take good care of the footing when passing along the path today. The top of the Lumba Sumba peak offers the most memorable views of the entire trek. The mind-boggling beauty of the excellent mountain peaks like the Jannu, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Khambachen, Baruntse, and Hognku makes the entire passage picture worthy. The slide down to the Yak Kharkha (Chaurikharka) is steep but also offers views of the aforementioned peaks in its full glory. Approximately 6 to 7 hours of trek.

Today, we tread along the right bank of the roaring Lapsi Khola in order to arrive at the destination of Thudam. From Chaurikharka, the path is a downhill one. After a tiring walk, we come back down to civilization. Further along the path, we come across two roads. One road leads to Lyasha in Tibet while the other road carries on towards the Bhotiya village of Thudam.

The path today takes us through forests of juniper and rhododendron. Thudam is a Bhotiya village with inhabitants who are true descendants of Tibet. There are about 30 houses, inhabited by the ethnic Bhotiya people, who are welcoming. People here have adopted animal husbandry as their major profession. Thudam is also considered to be the border to Tibet and has a small school. Approximately 5 to 6 hours of trek.

Today, the trail takes us through the banks of the Chujung Khola on bamboo forests. We descend towards through small bushes and bamboo groves being cheered along by the views of the panoramic Makalu range. Apart from the views of the mind-boggling white peak of Makalu, we might also get an opportunity to come across the endangered species of the red panda. Packed lunch works as our fuel in this grueling path.

Yak Kahrkha is the destination for today. It is where yaks graze. The ethnic inhabitants living here do business with Tibet for a living. The trail to Yak Kharkha is also beautified more by the presence of different types of rhododendron, on a clear day; Everest greets us with its true glory. Approximately 5 to 6 hours of trek.

Like many other days in the trek, we will pass through dense rhododendron forests today as well. There are numerous side trails to follow and we follow the least walked one. From Yak Kharkha, we climb along to another spot called as Chaurikhaka, the best grazing spot for yaks. From here, the Chyamtang village, as well as the Ridha Village, Kimathanka and the Arun River, appear down below. From here, the trial follows a downhill path to the bank of the Arun River.

We cross the suspension bridge over the Arun River and reach the village of Chaymtang after an uphill trek. Further upwards is the Lingam School. Lingam is the settlement of Bhote people, direct descendants of Tibetans. Approximately 5 to 6 hours of trek.

The destination for today is the confluence of the Barun and Arun rivers, called the Barun Dovan. Cheered along with the views of the aforementioned peaks, we follow the path out from Lingam to the Gimber Village. This village is the perfect spot for perfect views of the Makalu range in its full glory. The easy walk that follows, takes us to the settlement of Hatiya, the entry point to the Makalu National Park.

We move further along the banks of the roaring Arun River in order to reach the Barun Dovan. This is the destination for today and we set camp here. Approximately 6 to 7 hours of trek.

We can clearly see that we are in the lowlands a today the trail takes us through lush paddy fields. The pleasing walk offers a short descent, followed by a short climb. After a two and half hour walk from Gola, we reach the village of Pathibhara. This village should not be confused with the Temple Pathaibhara. Pathibhara village is inhabited by Gurung populations and is filled with groceries, tea shops, and hotels.

After this, we pass along cultivable land towards the Hetangu Gadhi. We will find several small settlements and plenty of water resources of our way to Gadhi. Hetnagu Gadhi holds significance in the history of Nepal, as this is where the Nepali Army chased away the Tibetan army during the Nepal- Tibet battle. Hetnagu Gadhi is equipped with a police station, a school, and a small health post. People living here have mixed ethnicity and are living in perfect harmony with each other. Approximately 6 to 7 hours of trek.

The passage from the Hetnagu Gadhi to Num marks the end of the wonderful trek. We start off with a downhill path today, onto the banks of the Arun River. Crossing the river is followed by an uphill climb to the village of Num. Num is linked with motorable roads and we take up this opportunity to drive to the headquarters of the Sankhuwasabha District, Khandbari. The drive takes up about 4 to 5 hours. Tumlingtar is equipped with a small airport.

This day marks the end of our wonderful trekking journey. From Gadi, we descend downwards to Num and then take a drive to Khandbari/Tumlingtar through bumpy roads. Khandbari is the district headquarters of the Sankhuwasabha district. Approximately 3 hours trek. Approximately 5 to 6 hours of drive.

Today, we fly to the capital, leaving behind the scenery of the beautiful Kanchenjunga region. After breakfast, we head straight to the airport and fly back on a 35-minute flight to Kathmandu. In Kathmandu, you have the entire afternoon to yourself, which can be utilized by strolling around to witness the nightlife of the beautiful capital. Buy souvenirs for loved ones back home, or relish the exquisite Nepali cuisine in the comfort of your hotels.

For those interested in taking in the architectural beauty of Kathmandu some more, an optional sightseeing tour will be managed.

Early in the morning, we will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pashupatinath. Pashupatinath is one of the most sacred Hindu pilgrimage sites in the world. The pagoda houses surround the sacred linga or the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva. The temple is an aid to have been made prior to 400 AD. Devotees can be seen taking ritual dips in the holy waters of Bagmati beside the temple premises.

After lunch, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Boudhanath can be visited. Boudhanath is called the Little Tibet. It is one of the largest Stupas in South Asia. The focal point of Buddhism in Nepal, the white mound is thirty-six meters overhead. This Stupa is situated on the ancient trade route to China where Tibetan merchants offered prayers.

In the afternoon, we will visit another UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is called the open museum and is a living heritage full of architectural delights. Countless temples and showpiece adorn the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Some include the Lion Gate, the 55 Windows Palace, other Temples as well as the picture Gallery. The figures of Hanuman, Narasingh Narayan, and Bhairav adorn the entire region.

Today, with hearts delighted over the experience of the past two weeks and our bodies ready for another adventure in Nepal, we depart back to our homelands. It is to be noted that the airport reporting time is 3 hours before the international flight’s time.