Most Challenging, Adventurous Rolwaling Valley Trekking

• HB Kham

Rolwaling Valley trekking is one of the most difficult, challenging, exciting and adventurous trekking in Nepal. It calls for different nerves to dare to plunge into this fearless and romantic enterprise.

This is the same place where Tenzing Norgay’s father had seen a “yeti” the abominable creature believed to be living in the Himalaya. This is the place where British climber Eric Shipton had photographed a yeti track in 1951. Even Sir Edmund Hillary on his expedition to this hidden and mystical region in 1960 had sought this mythical creature.

Who knows, you might be the one who will see the real yeti with your wide-open eyes and tell the world that the Yeti in reality exists and it is no more a mythical creature.

The Rolwaling valley was initially named in Sherpa language as “the grave,” which perhaps maybe because of its location, buried deep with steep ice giants. It is also an alternative trail to Everest base camp.

What to watch?

Sandwiched between Langtang and Everest mountain ranges, Rolwaling valley can allow you to vividly see the beautiful snowcapped mountain peaks of Khumbu, Rolwaling valley, hanging glaciers, waterfalls, glacial lakes like Tsho-Rolpa, moraines Langtang, Mt. Gaurishankar, captivating views of Tamang villages, alpine lakes, 16 vegetation, 34 species of mammals, 16 types of fish, 10 types of amphibians, 8 types of lizards, 14 types of snakes and 235 types of birds.

The visible sights of Teshi Lapcha La (5755m), Mt. Melungtse (7181m) from this valley certainly will make your trip not only fruitful but also daring, thrilling and exotic.

From this trek, you may approach Everest Base camp and go back to Lukla airport and fly back to Kathmandu too. The Rolwaling valley trek commences at Dolakha near Charikot which is an 8 hours’ drive from Kathmandu.

The spectacular view of more than 50 mountains peaks from this valley is something unique and mystical and mesmerizing for a traveler who would not see such a beautiful panoramic view of peaks from any other place on earth.

The formidable Gaurishankar peak gets its name after the most venerated Hindu God Lord Shiva (Shankar) and his consort Parvati (Gauri). So, the primitive native tribes of Sherpas believe that this mountain Shankar is very sacred as it is considered to be the manifestation of Lord Shankar and his consort Gauri.

How to get there?

Take a local bus or hire a vehicle from Kathmandu to Singati. You can also take a local bus to Charikot and then catch another bus to reach Singati. Take rest at Singati and catch the bus to Gongkar Khola the next morning. Your trekking begins at Gonghar Khola.

Best time to trek

The best time to trek to this valley can be February-June-September –November.