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The far – east region of Nepal provides unique
treks along rarely visited trails. One of the main attractions
is the spectacular scenery of rhododendrons in bloom
on the hills and ridges along the way. Deer and wild
sheep are often spotted in the area and birds are found
in abundance. The region is home to ethnic groups of
Kirant, notably the Rais and Limbus. The popular trekking
areas in this region are Kanchanjunga area, Milke Danda
and Jaljale Himal. In general, the region has not been
developed to cater to independent trekkers so groups
must be fully self sufficient.
Getting there:
The starting points for treks in the Far East are at
Basantapur, Taplejung and Tumlingtar. Basantapur needs
minimum of sixteen – hour drive from Kathmandu.
There are no tourist bus services so trekkers must either
use scheduled bus services or arrange private transport.
Another option is flying to Tumlingtar or Taplejung
from the capital. The flights take approximately forty
–five to fifty minutes from Kathmandu and about
20 minutes from Biratnagar to Taplejung.
Permits and Fees:
Much of the trekking area lies within the Kanchanjunga
Conservation Area and a permit fee is required for entry.
Trekkers arriving via Kakarbitta border point must first
travel to Kathmandu to obtain trekking permits as the
government’s immigration office at Kakarbitta
does not issue the required permit. The best time to
trek in the region is between September and May
The
West
Trek is the west's of Nepal are quite different from
treks in other parts of the country. The region is less
developed and has fewer facilities available for the
visitors. This makes trekking here much more of an exploration
type and intending trekkers must be prepared for some
delays and others hardships. It is also considerably
more expansive to trek in the remote parts of the west.
Ethnic group of people seen in the northern parts of
the area, particularly in Dolpa are of Tibetan origin.
Other groups found here are Magar, Gurung, and the people
of Hindu caste origin. Commonly seen animals are leopard,
Himalayan Tahr and Blue sheep.
Popular trekking areas in this region
are Dolpa, Simikot and Lake Rara. The best time to visit
is the traditional trekking seasons of spring and autumn.
The northern parts are also suitable for summer treks.
The region has not been developed to cater to independent
trekkers, so all groups must be self-sufficient, in
all respect.
Dolpa
Located in the central west of the country, the focal
point of the area is the Shey Phoksundo National Park.
This remote and rugged protected area is both scenically
and culturally attractive. The Lower Dolpa trek circuit
can be completed in eight days from Juphal back to Juphal.
The circuit can be completed either clockwise or anticlockwise,
depending on preference but in both cases the focal
point of the trek are Phoksundo Lake and the Tarap Valley.
In comparison to Lower Dolpa, less
number of trekkers enters the heavily restricted upper
Dolpa section of Shey Phoksundo National Park. The main
attraction of the area is the wild and pristine landscape.
Geographically, it is similar to Tibetan plateau and
is generally dry, cold and sparsely vegetated. The trekking
season for both Upper and Lower Dolpa is generally from
June to September.
Humla and Jumla
The trek from Simikot, the administrative center of
Humla District, to the Tibetan border is usually used
to reach western Tibet, where Mount Kailash is the major
attraction. Tourism related facilities are relatively
undeveloped in this area although several organizations
are working to promote community based tourism opportunities
between Simikot and the Border. The only way to reach
Simikot is to fly from Nepalgunj or trek from Rara Lake
– the largest lake in Nepal. The area surrounding
the lake is Rara National Park. Schedule flights to
Simikot are generally unreliable due to weather conditions
but large groups have the option of chartering flight.
The most common way to get to Rara
is to take a flight from Nepalgunj to Jumla, from where
it is two to three day trek to the park. An alternative
way is to combine a trek to lower Dolpa and a visit
to Rara National Park. By trekking west from Dolpo it
is possible to reach Jumla and the park within a week.
It is advisable to consult government
registered trekking agencies before trekking to this
region. The best way to trek here is in group through
a good trekking agency that can meet the requirements
and the contingencies that come up.
Permit and Fees: ~
Most of the treks described here will require permit
or entry fee.
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