Dolakha Things to Do

Since the opening of Rolwaling valley some years back, the only restricted areas of this region are the close border areas to Tibet. The region has some traditional trekking routes and a number of interesting new options.

The key route is the old route to Everest from Bharabise on the Kodari Hwy (Kathmandu-Tibet), across the Tinsang La pass, via Bigu, Laduk, Chetchet and Simigaon to Beding in Rolwaling, and from there to Khumbu and the Sagarmatha National Park. The shorter version of this is taking a vehicle as far as it goes via Charikot, up Tamakoshi valley beyond Singati and into Rolwaling from Chetchet.

I want to issue a warning against crossing Trash Labsta pass from Rolwaling to Khumbu on a shoestring. Here you need to go expedition style and be proerly acclimatized. This pass is a killer, with no easy options for immediate rescue or going to lower altitude. However, local outfitters in Beding/Na are equipped to escort you across and will rent out all necessary equipment.

A much used local pilgrimage trail goes from Charikot to Kalinchok mountain (about 3800 m), and continuing in a circuitous manner along the ridge to Tinsang La and beyond, either back to the road at Bharabise or making a circle via Bigu, Alamphu, Laduk and Singati and returning by foot or vehichle to Charikot from there.

From Tinsang La you can trek down to Last rResort on the Kodari Hwy and continue west into Sindhupalock district, the pilgrimage lake Bhairab Kund and skirting the Jugal Himal and choose whether to head into Langtang, make a soutwestern route via Helambu to Kathmandu or simply scramble down to lower elevations and hit the road to Kathmandu.

Based in the Bigu, Kalinchok or Rolwaling areas you can make several interesting day trips and some longer routes. IN Ramechhap and in Siindhupalchok there are similar options, and both the landscapes south of Rolwaling and Jugal Himal are by and large unexplored by trekkers.

The trekking route envisaged by EcoHimal is not yet fully operational after the Maoist time, so tea house/lodge trekking is still only possible along Tamakoshi valley and into Rolwaling. This will change over the next few years as gaurishankar tourism takes shape.