The Lumba Sumba Pass Trek is a new trekking route defined and researched in 2012 by the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN). A 20-man team headed by Rana Bahadur Khadka, 1st Vice President of the TAAN explores the route in April.
The Lumba Sumba Peak (5177 m) is the main attraction and the highest point on this route. The Lumba Sumba Pass Trek offers you some of the most spectacular landscapes of the Himalayas. This route is home to various ethnic groups such as Limbu, Sherpa, Rai, Gurung, Magar, Newar, and Tamang. Here, hikers can explore traditional farming methods and observe various species of birds and animals, including the two endangered species of snow leopard and red panda.
There are a number of high mountain lakes in Olangchun Gola. On this route, you will explore two of Nepal’s best-preserved nature reserves – the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) and the Makalu Barun National Park in the Eastern Himalayas. The route can be extended and continues to the base camps of Mt. Kangchenjunga and Mt. Makalu.
Likewise, the Tamor and Arun River systems are another attraction for tourists. These two rivers are the major tributaries of the mighty Sapta Koshi River. The route touches alpine meadows, rocky landscape, dense temperate and subtropical forests, and low river valleys. In addition to natural beauty, trekkers can also explore cultural heritage, such as monasteries, chortens, temples, and prayer walls. The taste is rounded off by the colorful festivals of these people.
<p>Welcome at the airport and transfer to the hotel. In the evening welcome dinner. Overnight at the hotel.</p>
<p>You will visit three of the famous World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu. First, you visit the Swayambunath Stupa (Monkey Temple). It is said that Swayambunath is more than 2000 years old, and it symbolizes knowledge. The painted eyes on all four sides represent the omnipotence of the Buddha. It is an important place where Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world come. </p><p></p><p>You will then drive to Boudhanath Stupa in 30 minutes, another important Buddhist pilgrimage site. This old stupa is considered one of the largest in the world. Every morning and evening, many Buddhist devotees come here to pray and circle the stupa. There are many refugee Tibetans living in the area. Visitors can watch religious practices well here. </p><p></p><p>Pashupatinath: One of the holiest Hindu shrines in the world, the fabulous pagoda houses, the linga symbols of God Shiva and bathing people in the Baghmati River with their belief in spiritual self-purification. Many Sadhus or Hindu ascetics, also pilgrims from India live here. The Nepalese ritually burn their dead on the banks of the river on large pieces of wood. During the religious festivals, the Hindus come to offer offerings, and sometimes it is very crowded.</p><p> </p><p>Bhaktapur Durbar Square: The former royal palace complex offers the elegant palace of 55 15th-century windows, artistic courtyards, the Golden Gate (Sun Dhoka). </p><p></p><p>Patan Durbar Square: Patan Durbar Square offers a magical mix of palace buildings, courtyards and pagoda temples and is the center of Patan's religious and social life. Overnight at the hotel.</p>
<p>1 hour flight in the morning from Kathmandu to Biratnagar. 7 hours bus ride to the mountains. Overnight from today in a tent camp with full board.</p>
<p>The first day of your trek begins in Fungling, the capital of the Taplejung district. The Sherpa village is the gateway to your trek. The hike takes you through beautiful cardamom fields and Alnus forests in 2½ hours to the Hangdewa VDC (Village Development Committee). In the village Sawa (1546 m) you will have your lunch. There are small teashops in Aangshyan Pati , which also serve as alternative accommodation since they have homestay facilities. Via Panisar the hike descends to the suspension bridge over Hangdewa Khola, the border between Hangdewa VDC and Furumba VDC, After lunch, the tour continues along the banks of the Tamor Nadi River to Mitlung, a hike lasting around two hours. In Mitlung there are good campsites. Overnight at the camp.</p>
<p>The hike leads along the banks of the Tamor River. It is initially a 40-minute pleasant walk to Furumba. From Furumba, the trail goes uphill for half an hour, then descends through a mixed forest of elms and Shima Wallichii to Sinwa Bazar (980 m) in Linkhim VDC. Sinwa is a good place for lunch and a small market with facilities like pharmacy, grocery, and a police station. After the lynx, the hike along the Tamor River takes you to the village of Tawa (1164 m) with a small teashop. The route climbs uphill until you reach the KCAP entrance gate at 1300 m altitude near Thiwato reach. From here, it gradually goes up to Chiruwa, your destination today. Chiruwa is a small market with some good lodges and campsites and equally a popular stopover for tourists and locals alike. Overnight at the camp.</p>
<p>Also on this day, the hike goes along the mighty Tamor river. In the beginning, you come to two large stones of religious significance. The walk goes under elms until you reach a large landslide, it takes half an hour to cross it. After 2½ hours from Chiruwa you will reach the beautiful cardamom fields Taplethok (1340 m) for lunch, a small market with some teashops and a KCAP checkpoint. After the meal, it is a pleasant walk about an hour to Phembu(1486 m). Shortly after you cross the Khokshwa Khola River. From Pembu it is a strenuous climb of about 2½ hours to Lelep, your destination of the day. Again, a KCAP office, as well as a police station, some tea shops, grocery stores, and small hotels. Overnight at the camp.</p>
<p>After breakfast, the trek along the banks of the Tamor River will lead you through dense forest, which provides a good habitat for various species of animals. You may be lucky enough to see some wildlife. You cross a suspension bridge, followed by a strenuous climb through pine forest for about half an hour until you reach a monastery. From here, the trail descends gradually after another half hour and you reach Gowatar (1805 m) for lunch. Gowatar is a small settlement with a few houses. Near the village, there is a big sacred stone called Halleenedhungaand it is believed that only religious believers are able to move it. After a walk of about half an hour from Gowatar you reach a place that offers a spectacular view of two waterfalls that are about 100 meters high. Another half hour from here you come to Phedi. After crossing the Tamor River, a strenuous ascent of about 40 minutes follows, until you reach a resting place known in the local dialect as Chautaroo. After another 20 minutes, you will reach your campsite Ila Danda. The place offers a beautiful panoramic view of snow-capped peaks, including the small Kasturi Peak and the Tamor River. Overnight at the camp.</p>
<p>The 5th trekking day begins pleasantly, it goes first for about an hour through elm and rhododendron forests until you reach a suspension bridge. After crossing, the walk leads through dense bamboo groves. The place is popular with trekkers as the habitat of the protected small or red panda, also called cat bear. If you are lucky, you can observe these rare animals from the path. After a total of 3½ hours from Ila Danda you will reach Megawa(2435 m) for lunch. The path continues through maple and elm forests. There is a big landslide on the way and you should cross it carefully. After another 1½ hours you reach Selep Kharka, your destination today. Overnight at the camp.</p>
<p>Today's walk continues along the Tamor River in an hour to a place called Jongin (2641 m), a flat piece of land surrounded by snow-capped mountains is surrounded. Another 40 minutes walk through the rhododendron forest of Jongim and reach a suspension bridge. After about an hour's climb you reach Ramite(2685 m) for lunch. At Ramite, you can see mixed forests of Himlaya cedars and rhododendrons. An hour to Ramite you come to a beautiful waterfall. If you are lucky, you will be rewarded with the sight of the Red Panda again. After a 45-minute hike from the waterfall, you can take a first glimpse of Olangchun Gola. Olangchun Gola is a beautiful Sherpa village with around 45 houses, the Dean Chhola Monastry , a 465-year-old monastery with a golden manuscript. There is also a small health post office, elementary school, KCAP office and border police station. In addition, a mobile station. Overnight at the camp.</p>
<p>The tour will take you through the wilderness for the next three days. But stone men as orientation signs along the way show you your direction. The walk leads through pine and rhododendron forests. After about 2½ hours you will reach a place called Jadak (3636 m) for lunch. Another three-hour walk on partially snow-covered trails takes you to your campsite in the Upper Langmale area, which is accessed via the Tamor Bridge. Overnight at the camp.</p>
<p>Today's tour can be interesting, because in this area several snow leopards were spotted. Today the trek goes along the Dingsamba Khola River, the other side of the riverbank is covered by dense rhododendron forest. After about three hours you reach your lunch place Yangetar (4203 m). Another three hours later you will come to your campsite at Pass Camp. Overnight at the camp.</p>
<p>Today's King Stage is the most difficult but most beautiful day tour of this trek. It leads through the Lumbha Sumbha Himal . Here you are only a few kilometers from the Tibetan border. You cross the Lumba Sumba Pass or Peak. The path leads up a little and then down again. It is better to bring a packed lunch and enough water, as there is no water and no good rest and campsites on the way. After about 4½ hours from the pass camp, you will reach Chaurikharka via a descent. Overnight at the camp.</p>
<p>The trek leads from Chaurikharka down in the Lapsi Khola valley, and you come back to civilization after the exhausting last three days. After 3 ½ hours, you will come across two slopes at Miduxchhre (4008 m), one leading from the neighboring Lyasha (Lasa) in the Modek Chheju Khola valley in a northerly direction over the Umbak La Pass (5232 m) to Tibet, the other direction leads to Thudam. We prepared lunch for you at this place. The second half of the day will take you over Samne Kharka in about three hours to Thudam to your campsite. Thudam is a small village with about 30 houses of the Sherpa people. Here is another mobile station. Overnight at the camp.</p>
<p>The eleventh-day trek initially leads along the banks of Modek Chheju Khola. You cross some side valleys, z. For example, the choo cub Khola. The trail offers panoramic views of the peaks of the Makalu region. You cross a short steep area. On the way grow many small bushes and bamboo groves, the best habitat for a Red Panda. If you are lucky, you can see this endangered species here again. It's better to bring a packed lunch, as drinking water along the way is difficult to find. In Chhumjun Khola (2845 m) on Himaloso Dandais your lunch break. After a hike of about six hours from Thudam you will reach your campsite in Yak Kharka for overnight. Overnight at the camp.</p>
<p>The twelfth-day hike leads through dense rhododendrons. There are no villages on your way and there are numerous branches and byways. After about three hours from Kharka you reach a place called Yak Kharka 1 (Chhaurikharka) (2671 m) for lunch. From here you can clearly see your destination today, Chyamtang. You 'll also see the great Arun Nadi River, the village of Ridha, and the dirt road that heads north over the Pisu La Pass ( 2765m ) to Kimathangkaat the Tibet border. You are at your lunch place exactly 5 kilometers as the crow flies from the border to Tibet. After lunch, the trail descends for about three hours down to the Arun River. After crossing the suspension bridge over the Arun, it's about an hour uphill to Chyamthang, your destination for the day. In Chyamthang there are small houses where mainly Sherpas live. Overnight at the camp. </p><p></p><p>Possible trip to Kimathangka to the Tibet border 3-4 days.</p><p></p>
<p>The trail today passes through rhododendron forest. The hike is easy and you feel refreshed by the cheerful chirping of the birds. Crossing the Arun River is one of the most popular bird watching destinations, home to many bird species. After a walk of about 2½ hours from Chyamthang via Linggam (2250 m), above lies Guthigumba (2480 m) with a monastery, and via Chepuwa (2040 m), you will reach the village of Gimbar(2203 m), where you take your lunch. Gimbar Village offers spectacular views of the snowy peaks of the Makalu Mountains. From Gimbar the hike is easy, you cross the Hangdak Khola, come to Hatiya Village View Point lookout point, and after about three hours from Gimbar, you reach your camp in Hatiya after crossing the Sursin Khola. Hatiya, a small village with an old market where people from the Bhote tribe live, is the entrance gate to Makalu National Park with a checkpoint. From here, the Upper Route leads to Makalu Base Camp. Overnight at the camp.</p>
<p>The trek on the 14th day leads down to the banks of the river Arun and runs along its right bank. After a 2½-hour tour of Hatiya, you will reach the confluence of Arun Nadi and Barun Nadi at Barun Dovan (1100 m) . At your lunch place there is a market, the Mahadev Temple and opposite the great Barun Waterfall . From here, the Lower Route leads to Makalu Base Camp. After lunch, continue the trek towards Gola, your destination for the day, which will take you about 2½ hours. Gola is a very small village with 12 houses where Sherpa, Rai and Tamang live. Overnight at the camp.</p>
<p>The hike on the penultimate day of trekking leads over the Wang Khola, then through paddy fields, a sign that you have now arrived in the lowlands. The hike is fun, as the trail runs in easy up and down. After a walk of about 2½ hours from Gola, you will reach the village of Pathibhara via Dharma Dwar and Ekuwa (1330 m) for lunch(1524 m, not to be confused with Pathibhara Temple in Taplejung district). Pathibhara is a small Gurung village with teashops, grocery stores, and some simple hotels. The way to the food goes through agricultural land, you see many water sources and small settlements on the way, like Thorkhola, Simma, and Belgutitar. You reach Gadhi(Fort), your destination for the day, after a three-hour walk from Pathibhara. Gadhi(Fort) is a place of great historical importance because the Nepalese army bravely fought and drove away from the invading Tibetan army. Gadi is a small market village with a health station, a school, and a police station. Overnight at the camp.</p>
<p>Today is the last day of your trek. A walk of about 2½ hours takes you to Num. From Gadi, the tour goes downhill for about an hour via Gadhidanda (1120 m) to the Arun River. After crossing it follows a strenuous climb of about 1½ hour and leads you up to the village Num. Num is the end of a motorable road. You then drive to Khadbari, the capital of the Sankhuwasabha district. The ride on bumpy dirt roads takes about 4-5 hours to Khadbari. Overnight in a guest house with a full board.</p>
<p>In the morning after your breakfast short drive to the airfield in Tumlingtar. They fly back to Kathmandu in an hour. Transfer to your hotel. Free day in Kathmandu to rest, stroll and shop. Overnight at hotel.</p>
<p>The time after breakfast is at your leisure before being taken to the airport for your flight home by private car depending on the time of departure of your plane.</p>