Raling Gompa-Saipal
Cultural Trek
Come join us for the adventure of a lifetime and a truly authentic cultural
experience! You’ll enjoy trekking off the beaten path through some of the most
remote villages in Nepal, experience Hindu & Buddhist cultures, celebrate the
Saga Dawa Festival at the ancient Raling Gompa (monastery) and camp at the
base of majestic Mt. Saipal (a 25,000+ft snow-covered peak). You will have
the opportunity to learn more about the work that Bodhi Tree Foundation
does in Humla and possibly assist with the distribution of clean birthing kits
and pre/postnatal vitamins to local health posts. Your American guide, Sarah
Ferris, is the Founder/Director of Bodhi Tree Foundation and has been trekking
and working in the Humla district for over 13 years.
June 6 – June 26, 2014
TENTATIVE ITINERARY:
Days 1: Arrive in Kathmandu, group meeting and tour briefing, relax, group dinner
Days 2: Possible early morning Scenic Mtn Flight around Mt.Everest (additional fees apply)
Group sightseeing in the Kathmandu valley.
With a knowledgeable Nepali guide you will visit Bodhanath, Pushnupath and the ancient city of Bhaktapur.
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Boudhanath is the world’s largest Buddhist stupa and one of the holiest places for Buddhists.
Pashupatinath temple is the one of the biggest Hindu temple of Lord Shiva in the world located on the
banks of the Bagmati River in the eastern part of Kathmandu. Only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple
premises. Anyone not born in Nepal or India is considered a non-Hindu by the temple authorities. Non-Hindu
visitors are allowed to look at the temple from the other bank of the Bagmati River. It is regarded as the most
sacred among the temples of Lord Shiva (Pashupati) and is listed as an UNESCO World heritage site.
Bhaktapur is an ancient Newar town in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley. It is the third largest city in
Kathmandu valley and was once the capital of Nepal during the great Malla Kingdom until the second half of
the 15th century. Bhaktapur is listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO for its rich culture, temples, and wood,
metal and stone artwork.
Day 3: Free time in the morning in KTM, last minute organization & packing, then a 1 hour flight to Nepalgunj.
Overnight at the hotel in Nepalgunj.
Nepalgunj is located on the Terai plains near the southern border with India. It is the main transport hub for Nepal's
Mid-Western and Far-Western regions.
Day 4: Up very early for our 1-hour flight to Simikot, the district
headquarters of Humla, situated at approximately 9200ft.
We arrive early enough to spend the day here exploring the town and
learning about Bodhi Tree Foundation’s work. This is also a necessary
acclimatization day.
Day 5: Alternate travel day if problems/weather in Nepalgunj or start or trek
towards Raling Gompa
Day 6: Simikot → Phintaka, a beautiful campsite just past the Nyinba village of Limatang.
Today we begin with an easy start to our trek, heading out of Simikot towards the Nyinba valley. We will stop for tea
in the Buddhist village of Baruntse and see what a traditional Bhoatia home looks like. Total walking time today is
approximately 4 hours with about 2160ft elevation gained and 1360ft lost.
We will camp in a lovely site called Phintaka at 10,010ft.
Nyinba, a Bhotia community (in Nepali; Bara-Thapalya), inhabit this valley. (Humla Bhotia is one of the many
vernacular Tibeto-Burman languages lying on the southern slopes of the Himalayan mountain range. The language
is classified as: “Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Bodic, Bodish, Tibetan, Central.) Nyinba ancestors moved from the
north, into the Himalayas, from their arctic native place, ‘Zhang Zhung’, in the western Tibet, near Holy Mt. Kailash
They moved into Humla, seeking the shelter of the Himalayan gorges. The Nyinba community consists of four
villages; Tangshyod (Buraunse), Barkhang(Baragaon), Todpa(Torpa) and Nyimatang (Limatang), which are all
around half to two hours walk, from the famous pilgrimage site, Raling Gompa."
The attractions are the unique village structure, the houses resembling a Buddhist Mandala and the culture,
practiced within these villages that deeply carry the ancient pre-Buddhist tradition blended with the Buddhist culture
and religion.
Mt Shelmogang (5300m), also known as Mount Crystal Peak, Raling Gompa and the Siddhi caves of Guru Rinpoche
are some of the places to visit.
Day 7: Phintaka → Raling Gompa
Day 8: Saga Dawa Festival (JUNE 13, 2014)
Saga Dawa Festival is observed as one of the most
important festivals in Buddhist society all over the world.
This festival held each year on the full moon day of the
fourth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar. This festival
is celebrated in honor of Sakyamuni's enlightenment
and this auspicious day coincides with three important
events in Buddha's life: birth, nirvana and death.
Day 9: Raling Gompa → Muniya
Today is a BIG downhill! Starting at about 12,500ft and
dropping to the Chuwa Khola at 7340ft. Then we cross
the Chuwa Khola (river) and continue along the banks of
the mighty Karnali River making our way to Muniya (about 6350ft)
Day 10: Muniya → Ripagadh
Approximately 7 hours of walking and nearly 8 miles today to make it to Ripa. Lots of undulating along the banks of
the Karnali until we finally come to the campsite near the Hindu village of Ripa at 5590ft. 1800ft up & 2300ft down.
Day 11: Ripagadh → to remote site (Ripa Phuk)
This morning we head straight uphill out of camp! Up, up, up with a gain of 3500 vertical feet. We stop for lunch at
about 8000ft and in the only spot that has clean flowing water. We continue on after lunch into the forest to find a
campsite. There are no villages today after we leave Ripa, the next village is Chala which we come to after 5 more
days of camping.
Day 12: Remote camp → Kuwadi Khola (up over pass Dhera Pass (3415m/11,269ft & steep down)
The start this morning is lovely through the forest but quickly changes to go straight uphill (2300ft up) to the ridge of
the Dhera La at 11,430ft. The top part of the ascent is so steep you need to hold on to tree branches on the side of
the trail. After a much needed rest on the top of the pass we begin a steep descent. The trail on the other side is
difficult as there are many landslides and it is very steep. After 3000ft of descending we reach our camp along the
Kuwadhi Khola at 8,510ft.
Day 13: Kuwadi Khola camp →To the “big valley” called Ranikurkha (base of Saipal (7035m peak) & summer
pastures for the village of Chala)
Today is a lovely walk through forests and into the big valley that sits below the majestic peak of Saipal. We reach
our camp at 11,000ft after about 6-7 hours of walking.
Day 14: Rest day at Ranikurkha, explore the
summer pastures, meet the villagers, and learn
more about this pastoral culture.
Day 15: Ranikurkha → up over Sankha La
(4375m/14,470ft.) → then down to the river
campsite just below Chala
This is the highest point on our trek with
breathtaking views into Tibet. Today it is a slow
steady pace gaining almost 4000 vertical feet to
the top of the Sankha La followed by another
4000ft down!
Day 16: River camp → Chala → Yalbang HP
Again another fairly big day as we make our way uphill again past
the Buddhist village of Chala and up to a small pass at 13,400ft.
Then it is a big downhill to the Puiya Khola. We then walk along
the river and continue downhill some more until we come to the
bridge below the village of Yalbang. Here we cross the Karnali
river and then after a short uphill we make our way to the campsite
which is next the Yalbang school and just below the monastery. Our camp is at about 9500ft.
Day 17: Yalbang → Kermi , visit monastery
Above the village there is a beautiful monastery, Namkha Khyung Dzong Monastery.
The Namkha Khyung Dzong is the biggest monastery in the region, with around 130
monks living there. It belongs to the Nyingmapa lineage, the oldest Buddhist lineage,
which was founded by Guru Ringpoche, an important magician of the 7th century.
Inside the monastery you can see a large statue of Sakyamuni Buddha and some
smaller ones, among which is a statue of Guru Rinpoche. The monastery has a
school and a clinic, which you can visit as well. There is a usually a daily puja (a
Buddhist prayer ceremony) that you can attend if you like in the morning and the late
afternoon. You can also some time at the Yalbang school with the children.
Today is a beautiful walk along the Karnali river from Yalbang to Kermi. We walk
though forests and drop down to the Salli Khola then a short ½ walk up to a small
pass (Lagna) at 10,280ft. After about 2 more hours we reach Kermi (9,000ft). Once
you reach Kermi you can hilke uphill for 20 minutes or so and soak in the wonderful
hot springs. Today it is about 3 hours of walking.
Day 18: Kermi → Simikot
The last day of our trek and of course there is a big uphill! We leave Kermi and head to Dharapori (approx. 4 hrs).
Then we head out of Dharapori and walk for about 45 minutes before we head up to the pass just above Simikot.
Times will vary on this hill but just remember that there are hot solar showers waiting for you in Simikot! After
reaching the top of the pass it is a short 30-45 minute downhill into Simikot.
Day 19: Fly from Simikot – Nepalgunj – Kathmandu. Final group dinner
Day 20: Possible flight day from Simikot if weather is bad and we are unable to fly on the previous day otherwise
shopping & sightseeing in Kathmandu.
Day 21: Fly Home
*This trek itinerary includes one rest day at the summer pastures near
Mt. Saipal and one full day at the Saga Dawa Festival (at Raling
Gompa)
**Optional extra days: I highly recommend that people allow
themselves an extra day or two at the end of our trek to ensure that
they arrive in KTM in time to make their return flights home. Weather
can be a bit unpredictable in the mountains and flights do not always
fly as scheduled.
REQUIRED FITNESS LEVEL:
This is considered a difficult trek due to the remoteness of the area, lack of infrastructure, and altitude
gained and lost!! Trekking days will vary in length and elevation gained or lost, but on the average they will be 5-8
hours with a lot of up and a lot of down. Humla has very little flat ground!
Porters or horses will carry most of your gear but you will need to be able to carry a small daypack with 2 liters of
water, extra clothing, snacks, sunscreen, hat, and camera. You will need to be in good physical shape in order for
this to be a pleasant and memorable adventure.
PRICE: $4500 per person
*Fees are inclusive of a $500 tax-deductible donation to Bodhi Tree Foundation
**Additional fees will be charged for extra days or added side trips (i.e.- Everest Scenic Mtn Flight, Jungle Safari in
Chitwan National Park, Mountain Biking, River Rafting, etc….)
DEPOSITS: A nonrefundable $500 per person deposit is required by December 1, 2012 to guarantee a place on the
“Raling Gompa-Saipal Cultural Trek”. Space is limited to 10 people.
Full payment is due no later than March 1, 2014, if unpaid at this time deposits will be forfeited.
PAYMENTS:
Personal checks, cashiers checks or money orders can be made out to:
Bodhi Tree Foundation, 12613 Pinnacle Loop, Truckee, CA 96161.
REFUNDS:
In the event that you decide not to go or are unable to go on the trek, the following guidelines will apply:
Prior to April 1, 2014 – 75% refund minus the nonrefundable deposit
Prior to May 1, 2014 – 50% refund minus the nonrefundable deposit
After May 1, 2014 - NO REFUNDS
If the trek ends early due to safety concerns, accidents, illness, weather or any other unforeseen problem there will
be no refunds. If you have not paid in full by March 1, 2013 and you have not contacted us concerning other
payment options, we have the right to schedule someone else in your place. Bodhi Tree Foundation will not be liable
for costs associated with this policy.
IF THE TREK IS CANCELLED: all payments will be refunded
LIABILITY WAIVER: All participants will be required to sign a liability release. This acknowledges that you
understand and accept the risks and hazards associated with trekking and traveling in a foreign country and are
medically fit for the trip.
INSURANCE: All participants are encouraged to have insurance for all medical and hospital costs, including all
associated rescue, evacuation and transportation costs Emergency Medical & Evacuation Insurance is
MANDATORY!!
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
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4 nights accommodation in KTM twin share basis with breakfast included
1 full day of sightseeing in KTM
Transport for 1 sightseeing day
Sightseeing entrance fees
Sightseeing guide for 1 day
Twin share basis in Nepalgunj
Dinner and breakfast for 1 day in Nepalgunj
Guide, cook and kitchen support staff
Mules or porters for luggage on the trek
All meals during trek, Simikot to Simikot
All camping and camping equipment
All camping charges
Clients airfare KTM/Nepalgunj/Simikot and return
Domestic airport taxes
Humla restricted area permit fees
All travel expenses for Nepali staff
All pickup and drop services
DDC tax
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
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International airfare
Nepalese visa (approx. $40) available upon arrival at the Kathmandu airport
Travel Insurance for clients and Emergency Rescue (MANDATORY!!)
Medical expenses
Airport tax upon international departure
Tips for porters/guides/cooks/trek staff
Laundry
Meals in Kathmandu
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Alcohol
Telephone calls/internet service
Domestic access baggage charge (weight limit is 15 kg)
Extra service and nights of accommodation if needed
Anything not mentioned above
A TYPICAL DAY ON THE TREK:
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Early morning wake-up call at your tent with a hot cup of tea.
Pack your sleeping bag, clothes, etc. then head for the dining tent.
Breakfast will vary with muesli, porridge, eggs, chapattis, jam, coffee and tea.
Finish packing up camp and head out on the trail.
Most days we will stop for lunch after about 3-4 hours of trekking.
Lunch varies with soup, noodles, chapattis, biscuits, and tea or a pack lunch with chapatti, boiled egg &
potato
Back on the trail again after lunch for a few more hours.
Usually arrive in camp by late afternoon.
Help set up camp.
Time to rest.
Dinner will be served around 6 – 6:30pm, varying between dal bhat (traditional Nepali meal of lentils and
rice), pasta, other rice dishes and vegetables.
To bed at a decent hour to get some much needed rest!
RECCOMMENDED IMMUNIZATIONS:
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Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Meningococcal Meningitis
Polio
Tetanus Toxoid
Typhoid
Measles, Mumps, Rubella
www.ciwec-clinic.com (good clinic in KTM staffed with Western doctors)
www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/ (excellent place to research Nepal)
Please contact us for more information at:
bodhitreefoundation@yahoo.com or
Call Sarah Ferris at 530-412-0126 or 530-587-9137
Bodhi Tree Foundation is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization in Truckee, CA. Our purpose is to raise funds
that will provide education for Traditional Birth Attendants & Female Community Health Volunteers on safe birthing
practices and newborn baby care; purchase and distribute Nepali-made clean delivery kits; distribute pre/postnatal
vitamins to pregnant & lactating women; provide income generation by employing local Humli’s as trekking staff; and
introduce westerners to the culture and beauty of Nepal while having a fantastic time trekking!
Orientation of Humla in relation to all of Nepal