Pupal Yarsa Trek

Welcome to Nepal. After completing immigration formalities, meet our representative outside the arrival lounge who will transfer you to your hotel. In the evening, meet your guide and attend trek briefing session.

After breakfast at your hotel, your guide will transfer you to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu airport for a flight to Bhairahawa. The flight takes around half an hour. Bhairahawa is the gateway to Lumbini – the birthplace of Buddha. The government is making in international airport there to welcome more tourists from Buddhist countries. After some refreshments, board a waiting car and start driving toward Liwang. The drive is pleasing as it is initially on the southern plains of Tarai through terraced fields, thick forests and beautiful market areas. Leave the East-West Highway at Bhalubhang and start driving toward Liwang. Liwang is the district headquarters of Rolpa district which used to be hotbed for the Maoists before the guerrillas joined mainstream politics by adhering to democratic norms and values. We stop here for the night.

Today, you will drive to Thawang – the heartland of Maoist guerrillas. The drive is pleasing as you drive through the beautiful countryside. Upon arrival in Thabang, check into a local lodge. After lunch, explore Thabang. It is from this village that Maoist revolution began Nepal. Now, the former rebels have joined mainstream politics. You can visit their commune, a museum dedicated to decade-long Maoist war and other local attractions.

Continue driving today as well. The drive is off-road but pleasing as the country road is in a good shape. A drive of some four hours will take you Taksera. Taksera gets its name from twin villages of Taka and Sera. Houses are stone-roofed and mostly painted white. Taksera is a bustling village of some 500 households. Magars are the major inhabitants here. Continue driving. A drive of around an hour will take you to Pipaltung. Pipaltung is a small village of 100 households. Your camp will be set up near the village.

First trekking day of your trip. Meet your crew who will arrange your loads and continue walking. The trail is leveled and easy till Gara village where your lunch will be served. The walk to Gara will take about four hours. The trail passes through pine and rhododendron forests which bloom red in spring. After lunch at Gara, the trail is easy with minor ups and downs till Hukam. Hukam is a small settlement of Magars with about 100 households. After a walk of about two hours from Hukam, cross Sano Bheri River and climb steeply toward Maikot. The walk takes around an hour. Maikot is a bustling village seated on a ridge top. It is the biggest settlement in northern reaches of Rukum district. Agriculture and animal husbandry is the main occupation of people here. Potato, maize, beans, barley are their major crops. Your camp will be set up near the village.

Continue the walk after having breakfast at your camp. The trail is mostly steep. You can witness change in vegetation as you climb higher. A walk of about half hour will take you to Sirung village. This is the last village on your trek. From here onward, the trail is in complete wilderness. Continue walking till you reach Dule Base Camp. Your lunch will be served here and you will stay here for the night. After lunch, you can explore the surroundings. A hike of about half an hour will take you to a viewpoint which provides you with breathtaking view of mountains in Putha Himal range. Return to the camp and stay for the night.

Today, we will walk to Pupal Phedi. As expected the trail is steep. The landscape looks arid with only small shrubs. During the trek, you can see deer and Blue Sheep, among other wildlife species, if you are lucky. The distance is shorter but you will have difficulty in walking due to lack of oxygen and higher altitude. A walk of about five hours will take you to Pupal Phedi where you will camp for the night. Pupal Phedi sits on the bank of a river that originates in Pupal Lek. It is a beautiful place to camp in.

Today, you will trek to the altitude of 4,550 meters. Walk slowly as it is always difficult to walk in the high altitude. The trail is barren and mostly uphill. You can only see some flowering bushes. A walk of about 4 hours will take you to Pupal Lek. Pupal is a high-altitude pastureland. It provides perfect habitat for the prized Yarsagumba -- half fungus, half caterpillar. There is a small temple dedicated to God Baraha and a pond at Pupal. During Yarsagumba harvesting season, you can see locals busy plucking Yarsagumba – which is prized as an aphrodisiac by the Chinese people – all over the pastureland. They camp here for many days. The entire area wears a festive look during the harvest season.

Today, you take the much-needed rest. Laze around at your campsite or observe the locals harvest yarsagumba. You can interact with them to know how this half fungus, half caterpillar is supporting the local economy. You can also see snow-capped mountains glittering far in the horizon.

You begin your return journey today. Resume walking after having breakfast at your camp. The trail is mostly downhill. First you reach Pupal Phedi and then to Dule Base Camp where your camp will be set up. As you are losing altitudes, small shrubs make way for pine and rhododendron, among other trees. From Dule, you will take a new route to Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve tomorrow.

Resume walk after having breakfast at your camp. The trail is mostly downhill. A walk of about four hours will take you to the Sano Bheri River. There is small settlement on the banks of Sano Bheri. There is also a natural hot spring across the river. You can take a hot bath here while your crew prepares lunch. After crossing the river, the trail climbs up gradually. The trail is in complete wilderness. A walk of some two hours will take you to Pelma. Pelma is a small settlement of about 50 households. It’s a mixed settlement of Magars and Dalits. It is a wonderful place to camp for the night.

After breakfast, continue walking. It is an uphill walk till you reach top of a ridge. It will take about an hour. From here, the trail is mostly leveled with minor ups and downs. The trail is covered by rhododendron and pine forests. Chirping of birds makes your walk enjoyable. A walk of about three hours will take you to Kayam where you will stop for lunch. Kayam is a small settlement with few houses. After lunch, the trail is full of ups and downs until you reach a small brook which takes about two hours. After crossing the brook, a climb of about an hour will take you to Thangkur where you will stop for the night.

This is going to be your last trekking day. As usual, continue your walk after having breakfast at your camp. The trail is easy till Fagune Deurali. You gradually gain altitude, trees make way for small shrubs hinting that you are entering alpine region again. A walk of about 4 hours will take you to Fagune Deurali. It is a small pass with huge pastureland and a small temple. Local people worship at the temple before they resume their journey. You can take rest in the pastureland while your lunch is prepared. After the lunch, start walking toward Dhorpatan. The trail is easy and mostly downhill. A walk of about two and half hours will take you to Dhorpatan – Nepal’s only hunting reserve. Blue sheep are found in abundance here. Licensed hunting of Blue Sheep is allowed in this reserve. Dhorpatan is a sprawling grassland in the shadow of Mt Dhaulagiri. While Dhor stands for god Dhor Baraha, Patan means grassland. You will camp here for the night. As this is the last day of your trek, celebrate the success with your crew members who will bid adieu tomorrow.

Start early today for a long drive to Pokhara. After early breakfast, board a waiting car and start driving toward Pokhara via Burtibang and Baglung. After a drive of some three hours, stop at Burtibang for early lunch. After lunch, start driving toward Baglung Bazaar and then to Pokhara. Upon arrival in Pokhara, check into your hotel.

After leisurely breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival at Kathmandu airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. Rest of the time is free. You can rest in your hotel room, or venture out in the streets to buy souvenirs for your friends and families back home. In the evening, we will host a farewell dinner for you to celebrate the success of your trek.

Your last day in Nepal! Our representative will escort you to the airport for your return flight. While returning home, you can reflect on the amazing time that you had in the mountains.