Rolwaling Valley Trek with Yalung Ri Base Camp

Your journey to Rolwaling Valley with Yalung Ri Base Camp starts from Kathmandu and follows the Araniko Highway before connecting with the Lamosangu-Ramechhap Road. The road passes towns like Charikot and Singati, and is fully paved up to Singati, then turns into a rough road toward Chhechhet. On the way, you’ll follow the Tamakoshi River, which plays an important role in local hydropower and farming.

From Chhechhet, you will start walking. You’ll cross the bridge over the Tamakoshi River and then climb upward towards Simi Gaun. The climb gains around 600 to 700 m (1,969 to 2,297 ft) in elevation within a short time. The trail is full of stone steps until you reach Simi Gaun. This village is home to the Sherpa and Tamang communities and is well known for its Mount Gaurishankar views. Houses here are built with stone and wood to handle cold weather and winds.

The day begins with a climb to the top of the Simi Gaun ridge. From here, you get a fantastic view of Gaurishankar (7,134 m), which holds strong religious value in Nepal and is protected from climbing. The Rolwaling Valley Trek trail then descends to the Rolwaling River and enter forest zone of rhododendron, bamboo, and pine. During the spring season, this area is in full bloom with rhododendron.

As you follow the Rolwaling Chu (river) upstream, the terrain becomes more stable and easier to walk. Since you’re in the early phase of the altitude gain, regular hydration is important even when the air feels cool under the forest cover. During wet months, the forest can have leeches, which are common in this ecosystem, so wear long socks and carry a bit of salt.

Around 3:00 to 4:00 PM you’ll reach Dongang. It is located right on the bank of the river and has limited teahouses (very basic compared to Everest or Annapurna).

After having breakfast, you’ll head towards Rolwaling Chu to cross the suspension bridge that connects both sides of the Rolwaling valley. The rhododendron and bamboo forests slowly give way to coniferous trees (juniper and pine) and eventually open alpine shrubs.

As the trail progresses, the twin peaks of Gaurishnkar, Dorje Lakpa, and Yalung Ri become much more noticeable. You will encounter long walls of prayer-carved stones (Mani walls) and Buddhist prayer flags, reflecting the presence of Buddhist traditions.

Soon, Beding will arrive. It is the largest Sherpa settlement in the Rolwaling Valley. You can rest here or take an optional visit to a beautiful Buddhist monastery (Beding Gompa) situated right in the center of the village.

The route becomes more open and less steep compared to earlier days today. You’ll see a clear U-shaped glacial form near Na Gaun, which indicates long-term ice movement in this region. Na is not that far from Beding, it is just 2-3 hours of trek away. This village is a seasonal summer settlement used by Sherpas for grazing yaks and growing potatoes. It feels extremely remote, but the view of Chobutse (6,685 m / 21,935 ft) and Kang Nachugo (6,735 m / 22,100 ft) is worth capturing.

You’ll drop your bags and have an early lunch here before heading for the side trip to Tsho Rolpa (4,500 m / 14,764 ft). It takes 3 to 4 hours round-trip from Na to reach Tso Rolpa, one of the largest glacial lakes in Nepal. It is fed by the Trakarding Glacier and its water has a milky color due to glacial sediments. The lake is monitored for GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) risks as well, so you will see some technical monitoring equipment near the dam. 

Unlike the flat landscape toward Tsho Rolpa Lake, this trail heads southward and upward from Na Gaun. It is a zig-zag climb that will challenge your breathing. As you go higher, you’ll see Na Gaun from above, along with the Tsho Rolpa Lake shining far away.

After 5-6 hours of trek, you’ll reach Yalung Ri Base Camp 4,900 m (16,076 ft). It is a high, rocky plateau and a starting point for climbers aiming for the Yalung Ri Summit (5,630 m / 18,468 ft). From the Base Camp, you can see the north face of Gauri Shankar, Mount Menlungtse across the border in Tibet, and the pyramid of Chobutse.

You’ll spend an hour here taking photos and having a packed lunch before descending back to the Na Gaun. You are nearing 5,000 m (16,404 ft), so even in the sun, the temperature can be near freezing. Down jackets, gloves, and beanies are mandatory. If you feel a pounding headache, nausea, or dizziness during the ascent, do not push to the Base Camp. Stop, rest, and if symptoms don’t improve, we’ll take you back down to Na immediately.

Following the Rolwaling Valley Trek with Yalung Ri Base Camp itinerary, on day 6, you will cover the ground you trekked over two days (Beding and Na) in a single day. Gravity is on your side, but the steep sections can put pressure on your knees, so be careful. As you leave Beding, the Gauri Shankar Himal slowly disappears behind the valley.

Somewhere between Beding and Dongang, you’ll feel the air get thicker and more humid as you re-enter the pine and rhododendron forests. Soon after crossing the rhododendron forest, you’ll reach Dongang again. It is the perfect place to soak your feet in the cold glacial water nearby or just relax in a teahouse after a long day of downhill walking.

You will have a good breakfast and then trek down for the last time through dense bamboo and rhododendron forests towards Simi Gaun. Keep an eye out for langur monkeys that are spotted in this section. You can stop at Simi Gaun for a final “mountain lunch” with a view of Gauri Shankar before the big drop, or else you can continue forward.

From there, the route is totally steep. You have to descend about 3,000 steep steps that lead down toward the river. The trail ends after crossing a suspension bridge over the Tamakoshi River and reaching Chhechhet. This point is the end of the trekking section and the return to road access. A short farewell gathering can be arranged here or later in Kathmandu, based on your preference.

The journey back begins from Chhechhet, where the bus stop is located close to the suspension bridge over the Tamakoshi River. Public buses leave early in the morning between 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM, though the exact timing can change. Our team will confirm the schedule a day before with locals or teahouse staff in Simi Gaun or nearby stops. Tickets are simple to manage and are purchased directly from the conductor or small roadside counters around Gonggar Khola. This mode of travel is budget-friendly and widely used by both locals and trekkers.

The drive covers roughly 185 to 200 km (115 to 124 mi) and follows the Charikot-Lamabagar Road before joining the Araniko Highway. The route passes through towns like Charikot, Dolalghat, and Dhulikhel before reaching Kathmandu. Your wonderful journey to the Rolwaling Valley concludes upon arrival in Kathmandu.

We hope to see you travel with us again soon!