Highlights

• Unexplored and newly introduced trail in the Eastern Nepal

• Explore the traditional villages and towns on the trail

• Fabulous vantage points, Tempke Danda and Silichung Peak

• Amazing rhododendron pine and bamboo forests with diverse wild-lives

• Stunning and panoramic views of majestic snowcapped peaks

• Explore the diverse culture and lifestyle of ethnic Kirati groups

• Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trekking

Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek is a newly explored trail in the mid-hill region of eastern Nepal, enriched with natural beauty, cultural beauty and the rich bio-diversity. It is one of the 100 destinations selected for tourism promotion by the government as of late. The trail prominently features Kirati {Rai/Limbu} civilization and their unique culture and heritage. The trail passes through rhododendron, pine and bamboo forests that is home to many rare wild species such as Red panda, Himalayan honk eagle, Bhir mahuri {cliff bee}, etc.

The Kirati {Kirant or Kiranti} people are one of many ethnic groups in Nepal Himalayas living dominantly in the Eastern parts of Nepal whose communities extending even up to Northeast India. They are known as the handsome mountain people and the hunters of the forests. Kiratis have been closely associated with the history of Nepal for the thousands of years.

Mundum trekking trail falls on the border of Bhojpur and Khotang districts. Sherpa, Tamang, Gurung, Brahmin, Chhetri, Magar and Dalit communities are in minority. Temke, Meherung, Maiyung lauri, Salpa Pokhari and Silichung Hills are the ancient points of settlements. Locals consider Salpa Lake 3750m as sacred where they take bath to purify their souls. Silichung peak located at 4155m is another impressive viewpoint. The trail meets Arun valley trek at Kulupankha Bhanjyang Pass 3348m, and follows the romantic trail of lush green forests and wonderful landscape.

Towards the south of Chakhewa pass 2250m, 3 hours of gradual ascent take us to Tempke Danda or hill perched on an altitude of 3010m. The pristine hilltop is perfect for sunrise, sunset and spectacular 180 degree views of Himalayan panorama of Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Manaslu, Langtang, Dorje Lakpa, Numbur, Karyalung, Gaurishankar, Kwangde, Cho Oyu, Kusum Kanguru, Thameserku, Kangtega, Kyasar, Mera peak, Nuptse, Chamlang and Kumbhakarna. The Kirat Rai cultural trail trek is suitable for all age groups and trekking here is possible in all seasons. 

Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek outline itinerary

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel

Day 02: Final trekking preparation and sightseeing in Kathmandu

Day 03: Drive from Kathmandu to Diktel Bazaar 1,650 m 12hrs drive

Day 04: Drive from Diktel Bazaar to Chakhewa Village 2,300 m 5hrs drive, side trip to Temke Danda 3,010m

Day 05: Trek from Chakhewa to Dhotre deurali 2,752 m 5hrs trek

Day 06: Trek from Dhotre deurali to Maiyung 3,122 m 6hrs trek

Day 07: Trek from Maiyung to Rawadhap 3,426 m 6hrs trek

Day 08: Trek from Rawadhap to Salpa/Kulupankha Bhanjyang 3,348 m 6hrs trek

Day 09: Excursion to Silichung Hill 4,155 m and back 5hrs trek

Day 10: Rest and exploration day in Kulupankha/Salpa Bhanjyang

Day 11: Trek from Kulupankha to Hyakule 2,972 m 6hrs trek

Day 12: Trek from Hyakule to Hanspokhari 2,962 m 6hrs trek

Day 13: Trek from Hanspokhari to Bhojpur 1,600 m 6hrs trek

Day 14: Explore Bhojpur and Taksar, rest day in Bhojpur

Day 15: Drive from Bhojpur back to Kathmandu

Day 16: Rest and souvenir shopping day in Kathmandu

Day 17: International departure and farewell from Kathmandu, Nepal

Cost for 1 PAX: $2330 /-

Cost for 2 or more PAX: $2090 per person

Note: Trip cost varies with the group sizes.

Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek Cost Breakdown

Cost Include

• All ground transfers

• Full sightseeing during trekking

• Hotels in Kathmandu on BB basis

• Camping accommodations during trek and teahouses wherever available

• Required camping stuffs, including different tents, other gears and equipment with food supplies

• Full board meals; breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea / coffee and snacks, freshly cooked meals during camping

• Clean drinking water everyday

• Trekking permit

• TIMS Card (Trekkers Information management system)

• An experienced English speaking trekking guide and his expenses, insurance

• Porter service (1 for 2 trekkers) and their expenses, insurances including extra Sherpas for carrying camping stuffs

• First Aid kit Bag

• Company t-shirt/ Certificate of appreciation

• Government tax and Vat

Cost Exclude

• Arrival visa fee and international departure

• Extra drinks as alcoholic and non-alcoholic and other personal expenses

• Meals and sightseeing in Kathmandu

• Extra accommodation and meals behind schedule

• Travel and emergency rescue insurance

• Gratuities to the staffs (mandatory)

• Down jacket, walking stick and duffel bag (provided if required but to be returned after)

Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek Useful Information

Kathmandu airport pick up and drop services

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours’ staffs will pick you up from the airport as per your flight arrival time and similarly drop you off in the airport for international departure according to your flight schedule. During arrival, please don’t forget to look for your name placard hold by the team, outside the airport arrival gate. Our staff will be impatiently waiting for your arrival to greet you and warmly welcome you in Nepal. ‘NAMASTE’ is the foremost and the most commonly used greeting word in Nepal which you will hear from our staff at the very first moment you meet him.

Customized Trips and Trip departure

Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek departs from Kathmandu as per our fixed departure dates. You can join any available fixed departure groups if you are a solo or small group travelers if you wish to, when the trips cannot be customized.

But if you are in a private group, fixed departure dates are not suitable for you and so you need to choose your own dates and packages, when you can customize the trek as per your travel needs. For further information, please kindly contact your own friendly neighbor, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours.

Accommodations in Kathmandu and during trek

You will be staying in the teahouse lodges and tented camps during the trek.

Route Map and Company T-shirt

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours offers you a complimentary trekking map and the company t-shirts.

Safe Drinking Water during Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek

Hydrating yourself is the most important thing to do during the trek. You should drink at least 3 liters of water every day or more. The main reason is to avoid the altitude sickness and to avoid other health issues. Nature Lovers Treks and Tours provides you water purification tablets or liquids to purify the water in the mountains. You can even buy mineral water or boiled water on extra cost.

Your trekking guides and porters

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours has the best guides and porters in the whole tourism industry. We can guarantee you on that. Ask yourselves a question. What do you look for in a guide and a porter? Are they fully insured and are they paid well? Well, they are the staffs of Nature Lovers Treks and Tours so they are hundred percent happy with their treatment by the company. They are experienced, licensed and knowledgeable in the field. They are well paid and fully insured for their journey as well as for the medicals.

Now, let’s talk about our backbones. The leader or a guide should have a significant knowledge in the climbing and trekking so that he can wonderfully and safely lead you, clearing any obstacles on the way. We, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours can proudly say that our guides (climbing, assistant, trekking guide) are highly qualified for the role. They are fully trained, experienced and licensed. They have undergone through a whole lot of training to make themselves useful in various situations and to make your journey a smooth and pleasant one.

Our guide knows the local areas, the cultures, the traditions and the lifestyles much more than anyone do. Some of the things he tells you, might even be hard to find in the travel guide books. Depending upon the situations and weather conditions, the daily plans might change slightly which when happens, he will inform you beforehand. You should always be flexibly ready to accommodate to your guides’ instructions. Let him know if you have any health problems as well since he will act accordingly to the situation. Depending upon the group size, we will also provide you assistant guides and extra Sherpas if needed.

Our porters are always fully equipped with the gears they need and as per the company policy, they are always insured and completely looked after. They are our backbone. We allow maximum weight of 25/30 kg to be carried by one porter. They are the strongest in our group with less communication skills. We also closely work with IPPG {International Porter Protection Group} and follow their ethics and guidelines.

Your safety

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours puts your safety as the top priority. We provide you our own comprehensive first aid medical kit bag along with the professional team of guides and porters. We are always in communication with our field team members to keep track of your safety and concerns. Your entire journey will be monitored by us and we make sure you enjoy your journey in full scale. We are available 24/7 for your health and safety checks during Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek.

Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek cost?

The cost of the Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek varies from $1600-$2600 depending upon the number of days you choose to trek. The longer the trek, more expensive it will become. Similarly, the price will differ with the group sizes. Normally, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours offers a comprehensive package which is inclusive of all the cost and expenses for the entire journey from the moment you land in Nepal till the moment you fly back home. However, you could also choose to buy only service-based package from us when we will be providing you only the supporting field staffs plus trekking permits and you have to arrange the rest by yourselves.

How is the Accommodation during the Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek?

In Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek, we will provide you the teahouses and tented camping accommodations. A teahouse is typically a mountain lodge which is a combination of a lodge or a guest house and a restaurant or a café with basic furniture and interiors suitable for the social hangout. Only few teahouses have attached bathrooms and the central heating furnace. Also few teahouses provide the European toilets while Asian style of toilets are available in every teahouses. Hot showers are available but on extra cost. The same goes with the hot drinking water since they use the gas or solar to boil the water. Sleeping blankets are usually provided but we recommend you to carry your own sleeping bags for the hygienic purpose {can be arranged on request}. At the same time, it’s better to carry your own toiletries including the towels.

During the camping days, you will be sleeping in the camps set up by our field Sherpa staffs. There will be separate kitchen and dining and toilet tents. Your meals will be freshly cooked and you will be served day and nights by our Sherpas. Our staffs will carry the sleeping bags, pillows and mattresses for you to sleep in the tents. Undoubtedly, you will have a perfect camping trek experience with Nature Lovers Treks and Tours.

What are the permits that I need for Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek?

For Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek, you will need to make only one permit: TIMS {Trekkers' Information Management System} card.

How does this tipping system in Nepal work and do I have to tip?

Tipping is not compulsory for Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek however tipping is all about showing your gratitude and appreciation. We care about our staffs in the fields so we expect you to look after them in return for them looking after you throughout your journey. They are your closest friend in the remotest parts and also your protector whenever anything seems to happen to you. So tipping is highly expected and we’ve made it mandatory too. The amount of gratuities can be determined by yourselves. Normally, a guide expects around $5 or more per day per person while a porter expects $4 or more per day per person.

Can I charge my phones, batteries or other electronic devices in Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek?

You can charge your electronic devices during Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek only for few days but also by paying small amount or fees for charging. Don’t forget to buy a plug adapter or socket fittings before you leave Kathmandu.

Is there WiFi and mobile signal on the Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek?

Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek route has poor network coverage most of the days. But you can buy one of the Nepalese Sim cards from any local phone shops in Kathmandu which has coverage mostly all over Nepal. It is wiser to buy a sim card with around 4 GB data in Kathmandu and use the mobile data in the trek whenever available.

WiFi is hardly available during the trek.

When is the best time to trek to Kirat Rai Cultural Trail?

Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek can be done throughout the year. However in average, Spring {March, April and May} and Autumn {September, October and November} are the best times or seasons to trek to Kirat Rai Cultural Trail. Spring and Autumn are known as the Peak season or Busy season in Nepal. It’s because the temperature is moderate during these seasons and the best panoramic mountain views are guaranteed while during other Summer {June, July and August} and Winter {December, January and February} season, the clear weather is not guaranteed. But if you are an explorer, a photographer and a peace lover, less busy season can also be the right time to do Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek.

Do I have to worry about the altitude sickness in Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek?

The itinerary of our Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek is perfectly designed by Nature Lovers Treks and Tours and has separated enough time in the places to let the body acclimatize well in high altitudes. As long as you follow the guide, you should be fine. Altitude sickness in fact can affect anyone regardless of the age or the fitness level, so it is very important to walk slowly and gradually as you go higher. Learn more in details about Altitude Sickness to prepare yourselves for the upcoming Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek.

Do I need to be healthy and physically fit for Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek?

When it comes to trekking in the mountains, health and fitness of a person plays a vital role. If you are a healthy person without any serious medical problems, Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek is for you but if you have any sorts of medical issues, please consult to your doctor before coming to Nepal for the trek. We will be gaining the high altitude of 4155 m above the sea level which is not a joke. People normally start to have breathing problems above 3000 meters from the sea level, if they have pre-existing health conditions.

Now when it comes to the fitness level required, Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek demands moderate physical fitness. The trekking includes daily walks of about 4-8 hours and involves many ascents and descents which means you need lots of practices before you start the trekking journey. You will be traversing through the forests and high hills. If you do not have the previous trekking experience, it's fine but obviously if you have previous experiences, it will be lot easier. For those not having previous trekking experiences, please exercise regularly for at least few weeks prior to your trekking departure. Go for the morning walks, do some jogging as you get time, participate in some cycling activities, etc. This way, you will be good to go for trekking to Kirat Rai Cultural Trail.

What kind of food items or meals can I eat on Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek?

Full meals are included during the trek. Tea and coffee will also be provided during the entire trip. During the trek, you will have your breakfast and dinner in the same teahouse / tented camps where you spend the night while the lunch will be served en route towards the next destination of the day. There are good choices to choose from; Nepalese, Tibetan, Indian, Continental, etc. during teahouse days. Except in camping days, when freshly cooked meals will be served and usually the foods are basic and with few choices but they will certainly be healthy and nutritious. Our Sherpas will make sure that you eat enough food for the trekking journey.

Do I need a travel insurance for Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek?

Travel insurance is a must when you trek to Kirat Rai Cultural Trail. Therefore before you come to Nepal, please make sure you have your insurance documents with you since our insurance companies cannot insure foreign nationals. Because of the reason that they cover all the expenses, if you face some unfortunate happenings and you have to be rescued or medically assisted during the trip or if your belongings are lost or stolen. We strongly advise you to take out an insurance which covers any medical risks up to 4000 meter as well as the medical evacuation from the mountains.

What gears and equipment do I need to pack for Mundum Trek / Kirat Rai Cultural Trail Trek?

Choosing the right gear and equipment is important as well for the successful trek to Kirat Rai Cultural Trail. Pack the right gears and equipment but remember, packing as light as possible is the best way to go when trekking to Kirat Rai Cultural Trail. You should read this What to take for travel to get all the details on what you need to pack or carry.