Highlights

• Explore the mini Tibet

• Witness the profound and diverse cultural aspects of Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trails

• One should see the unseen pictures of this region

• To experience the traditional food (dal bhaat)

• Have a close look at the Himalayas through the eyes of local people

• Doesn't demand more physical strength as in other treks

• To experience the profound chants of monks and nuns in monasteries

• One of the best landscape photography

The mountains are there as the main reason to travel in Nepal but are you not excited to learn more, to share the experiences of being in different cultures and ethnic groups around the Solukhumbu region! Why should one make only an adventure trip to this Everest region when we offer you both together at the same time? You may have tried different styles and tastes of tea. How about the typical Nepali masala tea? Don’t you want to lay down in warm sunshine of Himalayas and have some chilly times in the nature while sipping the traditional Nepalese masala tea? Butter tea is also very famous in the Himalayas. Trust us when we say so, tea of the lower Solukhumbu region adds more beauty to this trail. Everest is not the only image of this region but also the remoteness and mystical side of this trekking destination.

Solukhumbu region is not just for mountain adventures but the richness of diverse cultures should also be experienced and remembered. It’s really difficult to articulate the richness of this land. Solukhumbu region has many things to offer as you pass through different trails. And there is one, an amazing trek through Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail to give you an opportunity to grasp everything of this region. If you have a good heart it will melt for sure if you would spend just some good moments in this trekking trail.  Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek is an amazing opportunity to witness natural and topographical variation with remarkable and mystical diverse cultural insights of local Sherpas. This Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek lets you, to know the joy of living in the lap of the tallest mountains.

Lower Solukhumbu region is also known as the land of Sherpas. This magnificent Solukhumbu cultural trails will take you through the lesser explored lower regions crossing rhododendron forest, beautiful monasteries and experiencing the diverse ethnic cultural groups. You can’t just believe your eyes once you see the presence of this profound trail. Solukhumbu cultural trek is one of the best examples to show you the unseen glimpse of Everest region. Even though area is very small and rural, the villages lying in this Everest region are culturally and religiously diverse. There are many routes to make this epic journey possible. One of the best ways to make this trek more interesting would be by starting from Jiri (6 to 7 hours of bus ride from Kathmandu) and ending at Phaplu/Salleri. Since Salleri is the administrative headquarter of Solukhumbu region, in case of emergency, this place is good. Small villages will always be waiting for your warm footprints. Villages like Goli situated on the elevation of 3,000 meters will offer you the panoramic views of the mountains including Gauri Shankar, Numbur, Katanga and Karyilung. Not only this, Goli village offers you some significant ancient monasteries including nunneries as well. Solukhumbu cultural trail trek goes around very amazing and historical places such as Bhandar, Goli, Ngaur, Jhapre, etc. If you trek around September to December it will offer you the best views of the entire natural beauty.

Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek Outline Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Hotel

Day 2: Preparation day and sightseeing in Kathmandu, B, Hotel

Day 3: Drive from Kathmandu to Jiri, BLD, Lodge

Day 4: Trek from Jiri to Shivalaya, BLD, Lodge

Day 5: Trek from Shivalaya to Bhandar, BLD, Lodge

Day 6: Trek from Bhandar to Goli, BLD, Camp

Day 7: Trek from Goli to Ngaur, BLD, Camp

Day 8: Trek from Ngaur to Jhapre via Pikey Peak, BLD, Camp

Day 9: Trek from Jhapre to Kerung, BLD, Camp

Day 10: Trek from Kerung to Nele, BLD, Camp

Day 11: Trek from Nele to Phaplu, BLD, Lodge

Day 12: Fly from Phaplu to Kathmandu, BD, Hotel

Day 13: International departure, B, Flight. 

Alternatively,

Day 6: Trek from Bhandar to Junbesi, BLD, Lodge

Day 7: Excursion to Thupten Choling Monastery, BLD, Lodge

Day 8: Trek from Junbesi to Salleri, BLD, Lodge

Day 9: Fly from Phaplu airport, Salleri to Kathmandu BD, Hotel

Day 10: International departure, B, Flight

Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trekking Detailed Itinerary

BLD denotes Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 1:Arrival in Kathmandu, Nepal, Hotel

Warm Namaste and hearty welcome to all the Nature Lovers in the Everest nation Nepal. Your arrival in Nepal is highly appreciated and we cannot wait to receive you in the airport. Hotel transfer is followed.

Day 2:Preparation day and sightseeing in Kathmandu, B, Hotel

A complete final preparation for the upcoming Lower Solukhumbu trek will be done. You can follow your tour guide for the Kathmandu valley sightseeing and get captivated by the ancient structures and the charms of the precious arts and architectures.

Day 3:Drive from Kathmandu to Jiri, BLD, Lodge

The typical Himalayan trail is taken to drive from Kathmandu. Enjoy the panoramic landscapes and observe the local settlements and their ways of living en route to Jiri.

Day 4:Trek from Jiri to Shivalaya, BLD, Lodge

In this short trekking day, we will first cross a stream, leave the main road and start trekking uphill. Once you arrive in Mali Danda, you can enjoy the panoramic view of the peaks close to Rolwaling range. Descend all the way to Shivalaya for the night.

Day 5:Trek from Shivalaya to Bhandar, BLD, Lodge

A beautiful trekking day leads us through the scattered settlements and a pass at 2730m offering you the impressive view of the Likhu valley. Descend down to Bhandar for the overnight rest.

Day 6:Trek from Bhandar to Goli, BLD, Camp

We walk in the typical mountain trail up and down the hills through the lush greenery and the scattered settlements until we arrive in Goli. 

Day 7:Trek from Goli to Ngaur, BLD, Camp

Through the beautiful forests once again we travel deep and just come out to admire the majestic view of Pikey peak. Overnight in the tented camp in Ngaur.

Day 8:Trek from Ngaur to Jhapre via Pikey Peak, BLD, Camp

In this amazing day, we will come across the trending destination Pikey Peak and cross through the peak to come down to Jhapre for the night camp. This day could be one of the best notable achievements of our journey.

Day 9:Trek from Jhapre to Kerung, BLD, Camp

Another wonderful day in exploring the Himalayan trail in Lower Solukhumbu region. We trek across many ethnic settlements including Magar, Newar and Tamang to get to Kerung.

Day 10:Trek from Kerung to Nele, BLD, Camp

While we are coming closer to the end of the trekking, we cross the Solu river early morning first and coming past through many small villages we arrive at Nele for the night camp. Explore the community projects and the village later.

Day 11:Trek from Nele to Phaplu, BLD, Lodge

Continue the easy and steady walk in the last day of your trekking journey in Everest region. We arrive in Phaplu shortly.  In Phaplu, we explore the district headquarter of Solukhumbu which is Salleri and also hike to Ratanange danda 3400m for the breathtaking panorama.

Day 12:Fly from Phaplu to Kathmandu, BD, Hotel

We take a short and scenic flight to Kathmandu in the early morning. Rest in Kathmandu properly before you head out, to stroll in the market.

Day 13:International departure, B, Flight.

It's a goodbye time in Nepal. Haha. We will bid the last farewell in the airport. Come again soon.

Alternatively,

Day 6:Trek from Bhandar to Junbesi, BLD, Lodge

We cross the suspension bridges and go through the winding forest trails to arrive in the Sherpa territory. This is going to be a long and tiring day before we arrive at a beautiful and famous village, Junbesi.

Day 7:Excursion to Thupten Choling Monastery, BLD, Lodge

Thupten Choling is a wonderful Buddhist monastery located in the high and remote mountains of Nepal. Founded by His Holiness Thrulsik Rinpoche in the 1960's after fleeing Tibet, it is an independent and autonomous institution. Consequently, Thupten Choling has been able to remain authentically traditional and hidden from the outside world. Due to its remoteness and increasing population, the 700 resident monks and nuns live with dwindling resources, no public health facilities, and have little chance of sustaining themselves in the long run unless their limited resources are managed wisely. After breakfast, we will take a hike to the Thupten Choling Monastery 3,100 m. Explore the monastery and meditate with nuns. Rest of the day is to on your own to explore.

Day 8:Trek from Junbesi to Salleri, BLD, Lodge

After the morning breakfast, trek for 3 hours to reach Chiwang monastery. Chiwong monastery is built on the cliff of Chiwang hill, about 3 hours of walking distance from Phaplu airport too. At one time, Chiwang Monastery echoed with the prayers and scholastic activities of many monks and nuns who resided here. Chiwang Monastery has the privilege to host the Dza-Rong-Phuk Sangey Ngawang Tenzing Jangpo from 1955-1958. His Holiness Thrulsik Rinpoche has lived in this monastery from 1960-1967. Chiwang monastery celebrates Mani Rimdu festival, full moon of October every year. The Mani Rimdu Festival is a colorful occasion that takes place in the most spectacular of settings in the foothills of the Himalayas. Performed by the monks of Chiwang monasteries, it depicts the victory of Buddhism over the ancient ‘Bon’ religion. There is an airport, hospital and nursery in Phaplu and 8/10 hotels for tourists as well. It is also possible to sightseeing around Salleri Bazaar, headquarter of Solukhumbu district.

Day 9:Fly from Phaplu airport, Salleri to Kathmandu, BD, Hotel

Catch the amazing morning flight to Kathmandu and enjoy the stunning flight over the Himalayas. Farewell dinner is served with cultural performances.

Day 10:International departure, B, Flight.

It's a goodbye time in Nepal. Haha. We will bid the last farewell in the airport. Come again soon.

Cost for 1 PAX: $1190 /-

Cost for 2 or more PAX: $990 per person

Note: Trip cost varies with the group sizes.

Cost Includes

• Airport pick up, drop and other transfers

• Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu on twin sharing basis including bed and breakfast (BB)

• Sightseeing in Kathmandu

• Phaplu to Kathmandu one way flight

• Teahouse lodges and tented camping accommodation during the trek

• Full board meals i.e. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, snacks and hot water during trekking and camping

• Tea / coffee and daily seasonal fruits, salads during trek

• Fully licensed, qualified English speaking trekking guide (leader) and assistant Sherpa as per the group

• Porter services to carry the tent supplies, kitchen supplies and the rest

• All the staff's expenses including flight, salary, food, accommodation, equipment and insurance

• Sagarmatha National Park fee

• Complimentary farewell dinner in a typical Nepali restaurant

• Trekking route maps

• Company T-shirt and certificate of appreciation

• First Aid Medical Kit

• All the government and local taxes

Cost Excludes

• Nepal visa fee and international flight

• Sleeping bag, down jacket, walking sticks, duffel bags (provided on request, to be returned after)

• Extra accommodation and meals behind schedule

• Travel and emergency rescue insurance

• Personal expenses and beverages of any kinds

• Gratuities to the staffs (mandatory)

Lower Solukhumbu 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

Lower Solukhumbu 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 3 star hotel in Kathmandu while in the teahouses or the 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 Lower Solukhumbu 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 Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek.

Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek cost?

The cost of the Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek 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. 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 / climbing permits and you have to arrange the rest by yourselves.

How is the Accommodation during the Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek?

In Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek, we will provide you the teahouse accommodations as per availability in some days but for most of the days, you will be sleeping in the tented camps. 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. Many teahouses are without attached bathrooms and the central heating furnace. Very less teahouses provide the European toilets these days 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 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 Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek?

For Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek, you will need to make two permits: Gaurishankar Conservation Area entry 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 Lower Solukhumbu 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 during Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek?

The charging of your electronic devices can be rarely done in this trek but in some days when you stay in the teahouses you can 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 Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek?

Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek route has decent mobile networks in most of the days. And you can buy one of the NTC or Ncell Sim cards from any local phone shops in Kathmandu which has coverage in most parts of Nepal. It is wiser to buy a sim card with around 4 GB data in Kathmandu and use the mobile data in the trek if available.

When is the best time to trek to Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail?

Lower Solukhumbu 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 Lower Solukhumbu 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 Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek. 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 Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek?

The itinerary of our Lower Solukhumbu 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 Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek.

Do I need to be healthy and physically fit for Lower Solukhumbu 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, Lower Solukhumbu 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 4065m 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, Lower Solukhumbu 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 some 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 Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek.

What kind of food items or meals can I eat on Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek?

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 teahouses or tented camps where you spend the night while the lunch will be served en route towards the next destination of the day. Freshly cooked meals will be served in most of the days and usually the foods are basic and with few choices but they will certainly be healthy and nutritious. During teahouse accommodations, there will be some good choices from Nepali, Tibetan to Continental dishes.

Do I need a travel insurance for Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek?

Travel insurance is a must when you do Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek. 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 Lower Solukhumbu Cultural Trail Trek?

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