Highlights

• A hidden gem in a less explored region of Nepal, Ganesh Himal region

• Raw and the pristine nature

• Explore the ethnic Gurung and Tamang communities with their lifestyles and traditions

• Breathtaking and unparalleled views throughout the trek and especially from Pangsang La pass

• Study and research in the valley of rubies

Ganesh Himal Ruby Valley Trekking is a unique and different type of excursion in the Himalayan nation Nepal. Only few trekkers have explored this virtually untouched region, Ruby Valley. This trek goes through the Tamang and Gurung ethnic villages. During the trek, you can enjoy the cultural richness of these communities and also explore the natural sceneries, rhododendron forests and more. Get a new kind of trekking experience in Ganesh Himal region which offers the close views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung, Boudha Himal, Hiunchuli Dorje Lakpa and other peaks.

Ruby Valley lies in the Nepal’s north central region. Though most of the journey lies in the lower altitude, some of the passes and the lakes lie in the alpine region. The trek to Ruby valley begins from Syabrubesi and goes through the Tamang Heritage trail. Pangsang La pass (3900m) is a wonderful place on the trek, which offers the incredible views of the Himalayas, green forests, meadows and the hilly gorges. On the way back, you take a different route via Shertung, Jharlang and Darkha. From the district centre of Dhading you drive back to Kathmandu.

Both teahouse lodges and homestays are available in this Ganesh Himal trekking and the visitors with good physical fitness are mainly recommended. Spring and Autumn are the best times to be in Ganesh Himal region.

Ruby Valley Trekking Outline Itinerary

Day 01:Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel. Hotel

Day 02:Drive to Syabrubesi (1460m). BLD, Lodge / Homestay

Day 03:Trek to Gatlang (2238m). BLD, Lodge / Homestay

Day 04:Trek to Somdang (3271m). BLD, Lodge / Homestay

Day 05:Acclimatization day. BLD, Lodge / Homestay

Day 06:Trek to Tippling via Pangsang La (3842m). BLD, Lodge / Homestay

Day 07:Trek to Shertung (1875m). BLD, Lodge / Homestay

Day 08:Visit Hot Spring (2 ½ hrs) and trek back Chalish Gaon (1674m). BLD, Lodge / Homestay

Day 09:Trek to Jharlang (3000m). BLD, Lodge / Homestay

Day 10:Trek to Darkha Gaon 850m. BLD, Lodge / Homestay

Day 11:Trek to Darkha Phedi and drive to Kathmandu via Dhading Besi. 45mins trek and 6hrs drive, BLD, Lodge / Homestay

Day 12:Final departure. B, Flight

Ruby Valley Trekking Itinerary

BLD denotes Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 01:Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel. Hotel

Namaste and welcome to Nepal. Nature Lovers Treks and Tours heartily welcome you in our wonderful and peaceful nation. Our representative will receive you and transfer you to the hotel. Short briefing regard to the upcoming Ruby Valley trekking will be held over the dinner.

Day 02:Drive to Syabrubesi (1460m). BLD, Lodge / Homestay

After a breakfast we will leave to Syabrubesi. It is a long drive of 7-8 hours from Kathmandu. The way passes through the small cities like Trisuli Bazaar, Ramche Gaun and Dhunche Bazaar. We will take lunch on the way and continue to drive. Before reaching Dhunche, the permits are checked. Then the road descend from Dhunche for a hour and then it takes us to Syabrubesi.

Day 03:Trek to Gatlang (2238m). BLD, Lodge / Homestay

Today is the starting day of our trekking. We will walk through the small settlements and terrace farming enjoying the spectacular views of nature. The trail passes through the small village like Goljung and Chawatar and then to Gatlang village. Gatlang is the peaceful village inhabited with the Gurung and Tamang ethnics. You can take a short visit to cheese production factory and holy pond, Parvati Kund.

Day 04:Trek to Somdang (3271m). BLD, Lodge / Homestay

The trail is ascending from the Gatlang village. We will walk through the pine and rhododendron forest passing by the Parvati Kund. The way leads to the Yuri Kharka and then to the Kurphu Bhanjyang. After that the trail descend to the Somdang River which is also the border of Rasuwa and Dhading district. Crossing the Chukarma waterfall, the way takes to the Somdang village. Up the valley from the village, only few kilometers away, there is a mine which is no longer in operation.

Day 05:Acclimatization day. BLD, Lodge / Homestay

We will spend a day in Somdang village. It is the village of typical settlements living with normal farming life. We will be exploring Lari mine. It is a tunnel bored in the mountain to extract zinc, copper, tin and even the ruby. The village share one of the most beautiful views. Also we will get ready for the Pangsang La pass, the other day. 

Day 06:Trek to Tippling via Pangsang La (3842m). BLD, Lodge / Homestay

Today it is the interesting as well as the longest day of walking. We will be crossing Pangsang La pass. After early morning breakfast we will walk with packed lunch. On the way there is not any accommodation facilities so we need to pack food for lunch. Pangsang La pass is also one of the best view point standing at the height of 3842 meters. It offers the magnificent mountain view of Langtang range, Manaslu, Ganesh himal and some parts of Annapurna ranges. In ancient period, this pass was used as a trading route. We then make our way down through the dense forest all the way to Tipling.

Day 07:Trek to Shertung (1875m). BLD, Lodge / Homestay

The initial part starts with the descending to the Adha Khola River, cross the bridge and again ascend to the sister villages; Shertung and Chalish Gaon. Both village is mostly inhabited with Tamang and Gurung people. It offers the beautiful scenery and lush valley below. In addition with that, it has a lot of spot to explore. It is the short walk day so you can explore the village in free time. 

Day 08:Visit Hot Spring (3 hours) and trek back to Chalish Gaon (1674m). BLD, Lodge / Homestay

Today is the day for rest and relaxation. We will walk nearby hot spring and relax there. Also there is another option, we can hike to the viewpoint which shares the spectacular view of Ganesh Himal. After getting back we will trek to the Chalish Gaon which is few minutes away from the Shertung village.

Day 09:Trek to Jharlang (3000m). BLD, Lodge / Homestay

With the amazing days in the Chalish and Shertung village it’s time to head to Jharlang. The trail follows the dense forest and passes through the Borang village. Walking through the small remote villages, then the route starts to ascend to the Jharlang village. This village shares one of the panoramic views of the mountains. 

Day 10:Trek to Darkha Gaon 850m. BLD, Lodge / Homestay

The trail from the Jharlang to Darkha Gaon is almost descending. It passes through the terraced farming and forest. On the way you can encounter many small villages. You can admire the view of Ankhu Khola River and Ri village on the other side of the village. Darkha Gaon is the village mixed with Brahmin, Magar and Tamang people.

Day 11:Trek to Darkha Phedi 1 hour and drive to Kathmandu via Dhading Besi 5 hours. BLD, Lodge / Homestay

Today we will walk down to Darkha Phedi after having early morning breakfast. Then we will take a jeep from there to the Dhading Besi. It can take 4-5 hours of drive to reach Dhading besi. Then we take another drive to Kathmandu which can take 3-4 hours depending upon the traffic situation. As we reach Kathmandu you will be transferred to the hotel. Farewell dinner is served.

Day 12:Final departure. B, Flight

It's time to bid farewell from Nature Lovers Treks and Tours' team. Hope you had a memorable time and adventure in Ruby Valley. You will be dropped in the airport by our staff. See you.

Cost for 1 PAX: $1099 /-

Cost for 2 or more PAX: $990 per person

Note: Trip cost varies with the group sizes.

Ruby Valley Trekking Cost Breakdown

Cost Include

• Airport pick-up, drop and other ground transfers

• Twin/Double sharing hotel at Kathmandu with breakfast

• Accommodation in teahouse lodges or homestays (depending upon availability) during the trek

• Meals, Full board as breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea/coffee

• Trekking route maps for group

• TIMS and permit

• A licensed English speaking guide and his expenses plus insurance

• One porter between each two members

• All government taxes and VAT

• Complimentary farewell dinner at typical Nepalese restaurant

• Company t-shirt

• Certificate of appreciation

Cost Exclude

• International airfare and Nepal visa

• Tips for the staffs, mandatory

• Medical evacuation in case of emergency

• All personal expenses

• Anything not specified in the Cost Include section

• Sleeping bag, down jacket and duffel bag (provided on request)

Ruby Valley Trekking 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

Ruby Valley Trekking 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 3 star hotel in Kathmandu while in the teahouse lodges or guesthouses and homestays during the trek, depending upon the availability.

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours has the best accommodation arrangement for you from the beginning to the end. We believe after the tough walking day, everyone deserves the proper rest and the right ambience to relax and chill. Therefore, our choice of accommodation is the best when it comes to the trekking days. The rooms will be clean and comfy. Our entire accommodations will be on twin-sharing basis as you can see, so you have to let us know if others; let’s say if you want triple or quadruple sharing or if you want a double bed, etc. There will be extra charge for the single supplement.

If you wish to change the accommodation category to a better one in Kathmandu, please let us know and we can change it for you on added cost.

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 Ruby Valley Trekking

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 Ruby Valley Trekking.

Ruby Valley Trekking Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Ruby Valley Trekking cost?

The cost of the Ruby Valley Trekking varies from $700-$1700 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 also. 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 Ruby Valley Trekking?

In Ruby Valley Trekking, we will provide you the teahouse accommodations as well as homestays. 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. Few teahouses even have attached bathrooms and the central heating furnace. Very few of the 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.

A homestay is typically a local house with addition of some extra beds and minor facilities to welcome the guest. Homestay is where you can stay and experience the local lifestyles and cultures. Most of the homestays have Asian style of toilets and no attached bathrooms. Hot water and hot showers are available on added cost.

What are the permits that I need for Ruby Valley Trekking?

For Ruby Valley Trekking, you will need to make 2 permits: Langtang National Park entrance fee and TIMS Card (Trekkers' Information Management System).

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

Tipping is not compulsory for Ruby Valley Trekking 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 Ruby Valley Trekking?

You can hardly charge your electronic devices during Ruby Valley Trekking but when you can, you have to do so 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 Ruby Valley Trekking?

Ruby Valley Trekking route has poor mobile network coverage but still you can buy one of the Nepali Sim cards from any local phone shops in Kathmandu and use the mobile date during the trek whenever available.

WiFi is hardly available in Ruby Valley Trekking route. When it does, it's expensive to use, the signal varies from place to place and please don’t expect to receive the fast data coverage in the trek.

When is the best time to trek to Ruby Valley?

Ruby Valley Trekking 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 Ruby Valley. 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 Ruby Valley Trekking. The problem is the weather is harsh cold in winter and there’s snow everywhere while the summer has rainfalls and clouds obscuring the mountains and the views are not so great most of the time.

Do I have to worry about the altitude sickness in Ruby Valley Trekking?

The itinerary of our Ruby Valley Trekking 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 Ruby Valley Trekking.

Do I need to be healthy and physically fit for Ruby Valley Trekking?

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, Ruby Valley Trekking 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 3842 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, Ruby Valley Trekking requires high physical fitness. The trekking includes daily walks of about 4-8 hours and involves some ascents and descents which means you need a lot of practices before you start the trekking journey. If you do not have the previous trekking experience, that’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 one month 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 Ruby Valley region.

What kind of food items or meals can I eat on Ruby Valley Trekking?

Only breakfast is included in Kathmandu while full board meals or 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/homestay where you spend the night while the lunch will be served en route towards the next destination of the day. There are limited choices to choose from; Nepalese, Tibetan, Indian, Continental, etc.

The most common and the highly recommended food during the Ruby Valley Trekking is typical Nepali Dal Bhat {rice and lentil}; even better without meat, means Nepali Vegetarian Dal Bhat. You can also eat other food items such as seasonal vegetables, noodles and spaghetti, pastas, pizzas and French fries, soups, etc. depending upon the availability. For the beverage, you can either choose warm, hot or cold beverages; soft drinks, beer and hard drinks. For the breakfast, you can order cereals, breads, noodle soups, egg dishes, etc.

Do I need a travel insurance for Ruby Valley Trekking?

Travel insurance is a must when you trek to Ruby Valley region. 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 Ruby Valley Trekking?

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