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Ganesh Himal trekking with Singla Pass -
14 days |
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The Ganesh Himal is named after the
elephant-headed God of Good Fortune. The
Ganesh Himal can clearly be seen from
Kathmandu Valley. The Ganesh Range Peaks
(Ganesh I, Ganesh II, Ganesh III, Ganesh
IV) stand out like crystal, that is the
"Great Himalayan Chain" forming the
skyline. This great Himalayan massif is
contained between the valley of the Buri
Gandaki in the west and Bhote Koshi in
the east, which becomes Trishuli Khola
in the lower section.
Trekking in Ganesh himal region is
enriched with its rich Flora: the
impressive display of berberis, primula,
orchids and a variety of Ferns, the
valleys set ablaze by yellow blossoms of
double Jasmine, the forest dense with
Spanish oak, blue pine, and in spring
time blossoming of the rhododendron set
whole forest alight in spectacular
arrays of color. Another feature
includes the abundance of crystals which
is regarded valuable and precious stone.
The trekking route passes through quite
Tamang villages, hot spas, gorges and
glaciers and magnificent sceneries.
Ganesh Himal Trekking can be organized
only camping.
From the Singla Top the Manaslu massif,
with Manaslu (8163m.) poking up from
behind the Ganesh Himal appears before
you. To the northwest is the Ganesh
Himal and at other side looms Langtang
Himal. Ganesh (7406m.) and her sisters
jut up from the valley below like large
crystals thrust out of the earth,
creating a stunning panorama of
glaciers, peaks, rock, snow, and ice. |
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Facts
OF
TREK |
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Duration: 14 Days
Trek type: Camping |
Minimum Pax: 1 +
Mode of travel: land
Grade: Strenuous |
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Itinerary
In
Details |
Day
01 :
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Drive from Kathmandu to
Sole Bazaar (650m.) via
Betrawati which takes
about seven hours.
Depart Kathmandu early
morning for the 7-hours
drive to the hill town
of Sole Bazaar Today you
trace the route taken by Prithvi Narayan Shah on
his invasion march to
Kathmandu over two
centuries ago. Prithvi
Narayan Shah is
considered the founding
father of modern Nepal,
being the first person
to assemble all the
territories of the
present country of Nepal
under one ruler. En
route you pass through
Trisuli Bazaar, a small
town that was once the
hub for trekking in this
region and is home to a
small but interesting
traditional bazaar. Your
campsite is about 20
minutes outside of Sole
Bazaar, on the bank of
the Trisuli River. This
is a relaxing spot with
wonderful views of farm
fields, small villages,
and terraced slopes set
against a background of
the Ganesh Himal. |
Day
02 :
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Trek from Sole
Bazaar to
Satdobate which
takes about five
hours. You leave
camp by
backtracking
100m to cross
the suspension
bridge over the
Salankhu Khola (Khola
is a Nepalese
word for river,
stream, or
valley) just up
from where it
enters the
Trisuli River.
After the
bridge, you
begin a long,
moderately steep
ascent that
begins to level
off after about
1.5 hours, just
before your
lunch spot in
the small town
of Chapodanda
(870m, 2860ft).
You eat lunch
under a large
Fichus tree with
splendid views
of the terraced
slopes
surrounding you
the activity of
this small
village. From
Chapodanda, the
trail follows
the new, rough
road west for
200m, before
heading uphill
steeply through
a few small
villages,
finally arriving
at a rest spot
next to a small
stupa (a stupa
is a Buddhist
structure that
either marks a
trail or in
remembrance of
an important
person). The
views are nice
here and you can
see Betrawati
far down below
you on the banks
of the Trisuli
River. Take the
left path from
the stupa,
contouring the
hillside. An
hour after the
stupa, you make
your final
ascent up to the
saddle and the
town of Satobate
(“seven trails”,
1250m, 4100ft)
where you camp
for the night.
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Day
03 :
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Trek from
Satobate to
Balche which
takes about five
hours. From
Satobate, follow
the trail
westward along
the ridgeline.
Today’s route is
less steep and
gives us our
last chance to
experience
village life
before you head
into the
uninhabited
jungle tomorrow.
You climb
steadily through
numerous small
villages and
over many
streams before
leaving the
Salankhu Khola
to head up the
Chalakhung Khola.
Along the way,
stay watchful
for people
drying pears or
weaving bamboo
mats and
baskets, as this
area is well
known for these
products. The
numerous small
stone ‘houses’
that you pass
throughout the
day are actually
water driven
grinding mills.
The last
halfmile is
steep uphill as
you climb to our
camp spot in the
town of Balche
(1930m, 6330ft).
Head for the
large poles with
Buddhist prayer
flags on them;
you will camp
just below them.
Balche is a
quaint hill
town, spread out
along tow or
three flat
regions on the
slope. Large
granitic gneiss
spires and domes
stand against
the skyline
above the town,
creating a
stunning sunset.
The women here
all dress
traditionally,
including very
large, heavy
earrings that
are supported
with a thin
string over the
head.
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Day
04 :
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Trek from Balche
to Gonga which
takes about
seven hours.
Today you head
into mostly
uninhabited
territory and
the surrounding
landscape
changes
accordingly,
from terraced
fields to
forest. You head
out of Balche
ascending the
hill behind the
town. The large
grassy area just
northwest of
town is one of
the old grazing
areas for royal
herds of sheep
and goats. After
about 1.5 hours,
the trail begins
to level out and
you enter the
first jungle of
our trek. Here,
it is mostly
rhododendron and
kharsu. Kharsu
leaves are good
feed for cows
and are
subsequently cut
periodically;
creating tall,
thin trees with
few leaves.
During spring
treks, this area
is stunning with
bright red,
white and purple
rhododendron
flowers covering
the
mountainsides.
This is the
forest gathering
area for the
town of Balche.
The sounds of
women cutting
wood, gathering
medicinal plants
and bamboo, and
leading their
livestock to
grazing areas
further up on
the slopes will
fill the first
half of our day.
You stop for
lunch in an
especially
pretty clearing
with views down
to Thulochaur,
400m below us.
The remainder of
the day is
through dense
jungle, to Gonga
(2910m, 9600ft),
a small 5-house
town made
entirely of wood
(a commodity
that is
plentiful in
this sparsely
populated part
of the
Himalaya). The
town is situated
in a pass,
separating the
Nyam valley from
the Saptang
valley.
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Day
05 :
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Rest day for
acclimatization.
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Day
06:
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Trek form Gonga
to Rupchet
Kharka which
takes about five
hours. Your
route today is a
beautiful ascent
through old
growth forests
of rhododendron
and fir. You
head northwest
from Gonga,
slowly ascending
through the
jungle for 25
minutes to the
small 3-house
town of
Mimatashi Karka.
This town is
only a few years
old and is only
seasonally
inhabited.
Continue
ascending for
another hour and
45 minutes
through
impressively
large old growth
fir and
rhododendron
forest (many of
the fir trees
are 1-1.75m in
diameter!). The
route flattens
for an hour as
you contour the
mountain, before
the last ascent
(a very steep
175m) of the day
to the
ridgeline. 20
minutes from the
top you arrive
at Rupchet Karka
(3634m,
11922ft), a
large flat
grassy area with
3 seasonal
grazing huts and
stunning views
of the Central
Himalaya. Across
the Trisuli
River valley to
the northwest is
the Langtang
Himal (7225m,
23703ft) and
Gosainkund. The
sunsets from
here are
unparalleled as
the crystalline
peaks of
Langtang and the
broad highlands
of Gosainkund
sparkle in
yellow and
orange
brilliance.
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Day
07 :
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Trek from
Rupchet Kharka
to Mangchet
Kharka via
Singla Top which
takes about
seven hours. You
head out early
for the climb up
to Singla pass.
There will
likely be snow
up here in the
spring and late
fall, so go
slowly and enjoy
the incredible
scenery along
the way. The
route is steep,
weaving through
large boulders,
spires and
domes. It is
only 300m up,
but the altitude
will make it
feel like more.
As you approach
the final gentle
uphill climb
before the pass,
Langtang looms
overhead to the
north and the
peaks of Ganesh
start to peak
out ahead.
Singla is really
less a pass than
the side of a
peak, the top of
which is only
another 20
meters up a very
gentle slope. On
the pass (4001m,
13125ft), the
world seems to
fall away in
three
directions. To
the west is the
Manaslu massif,
with Manaslu
(8163m, 26780ft)
poking up from
behind the
Ganesh Himal. To
the northwest is
the Ganesh Himal;
Ganesh (7406m,
24296ft) and her
sisters jut up
from the valley
below like large
crystals thrust
out of the
earth, creating
a stunning
panorama of
glaciers, peaks,
rock, snow, and
ice. While
heading from
Singla Top to
Mangchet Kharka,
you will have to
follow the route
with ups and
down. En route
you pass through
forests covered
with
rhododendron,
pine and herbal
medicines and
feel exhilarated
at the panoramic
view of
Annapurna,
Manaslu and
Ganesh Himal.
The surrounded
area is famous
for herbal
medicines and
incense.
Mangchet Kharka
is to be
described as
pasture where
local people
bring their
domestic animals
for grazing. The
national bird of
Nepal, Danfe can
be seen around
here
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Day
08 :
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Trek from
Mangchet Kharka
to Pangsang
Bhanjyang that
takes
approximately
seven hours. The
trails follow
ascent and
descent routes
all the way to
destination.
While trekking,
you can enjoy
the views of
Annapurna,
Manaslu and
Ganesh Himal.
For some
distance you
walk through
forests covered
with herbal
medicines and
incense.
Pangsang
Bhanjyang is
famous as you
are stunned to
see Langtang I,
Langtang II,
Paldor peak and
many Tibetan
mountains.
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Day
09 :
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Trek and climb
Pangsang La
Danda and trek
back to Pangsang
Bhanjyang which
takes about
three hours. The
trail you follow
is steeply up
for two hours.
The Pangsang La
Danda is the
best view point
of this trek.
Here you are
amazed to see at
Langtang, Paldor,
Tibetan
mountains,
Ganesh Himal and
Manaslu. While
trekking back
you climb down
all the way to
Pangsang
Bhanjyang.
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Day 10 :
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Trek from
Pangsang
Bhanjyang to
Sertung or
Chalise that
takes about
seven hours. The
trails you
follow is quite
descent at first
and then it
climbs up for
some distance.
En route, you
cross forests
covered with
bamboo, pine,
rhododendron and
waterfalls.
Tipling is the
first village
you encounter on
this route. It
is a big Tamang
village which is
rich in mixed
culture and has
chorten and
church. The
houses are made
of wood, tin and
stones. People
living here have
their distinct
life style and
they are
involved in
making goods
from bamboo
sticks. You can
see farming
terraces where
farmers grow
potatoes, wheat,
barley, buck
wheat, maize and
green
vegetables. Now
you have to
climb down
steeply until
you cross a
suspension
bridge over
Gorkhen Khola
(stream). After
you cross, the
trails go uphill
upto Sertung
Chalise. It is
also a Gurung
village. People
of this area
welcome the
trekkers with
their local
culture.
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Day
11 :
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Trek from
Sertung or
Chalise to
Jharlang which
takes
approximately
eight hours.
The early part
of your trails
is gently up
until you arrive
at small ridge.
From here, you
can enjoy
spectacular view
of Ganesh Himal
, farming
terraces,
waterfall and
several villages
at a distance.
Now you climb
down the ridge
and cross
farming terraces
and local
villages. After
you take lunch
at Borang, your
trails turn
downhill and
uphill
respectively to
Jharlang. It can
be best
described as
Tamang village
with its mixed
culture.
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Day
12 :
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Trek from
Jharlang to
Darkha and it
takes about
seven hours.
Crossing
landslide nearby
Jharlang, you
begin your trek
through ascent
path with views
of Ganesh Himal,
Manaslu, jungle,
waterfall,
farming terraces
and villages.
Darkha is the
first Brahmin
village on this
trek. From here
you can enjoy
the view of
Aankhu stream at
some distance.
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Day
13 :
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Trek from Darkhu
to Khahare
Bazaar that
takes about
seven hours. The
early part of
your trek is
descent upto
Darkha phedi and
your route moves
along the river
bank until you
reach Khahare.
There is a big
market at
Khahare Bazaar
with lodges, tea
shops, big
school and other
important
buildings. This
place is famous
for magnificent
views of farming
terraces.
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Day
14 :
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Drive from
Khahare Bazaar
to Kathmandu by
bus which takes
approximately
eight hours. The
road till
Dhadingbesi
moves through
unpaved road and
then you drive
along the well
paved road until
you reach
Kathmandu. It
can be best
defined as
scenic journey
due to the
beautiful views
of rivers,
hills, terraces,
forests and
villages.
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Services
Included
National Park
entry permit,
Trekking permit,
Land
transportation
to and fro,
Accommodation in
lodges during
the trek, Food:
three meals a
day, A guide &
required number
of porter (s),
Essential
equipment.
Services
Excluded
Personal
expenses,
Insurance, Tips,
Emergency
evacuation by
Helicopter,
Alternative
transportation
in case of heavy
rain, landslide,
strike, road
blockade etc.
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