Dudh Kunda Trek

5.0

The Solu and Dudh Kunda Trek reveal Nepal’s lesser-known wonders beyond the busy trails. Walk through lush rhododendron forests, spot local wildlife, and enjoy the warm hospitality of the Sherpa people. With stunning views from Pikey Peak and the Dudh Kunda lakes, this trek provides a unique and memorable adventure.

At a Glance
Location

Solu and Dudh Kunda Lake

Duration

12 Days

Activities

Trekking

Accommodation

Lodges & Camp

Meals

All included except in Kathmandu

Group size

Min 4 Pax.

Best time

Spring and Autumn

Max. Altitude

4600m

The Solu and Dudh Kunda Trek offers a fresh take on trekking in the lower elevations of Nepal’s Everest region, away from the crowded trails of Annapurna and Everest. You’ll travel along narrow ridges, through river valleys, and into vibrant rhododendron forests. You can also encounter wildlife such as leopards, Himalayan Thars, jackals, and pheasants on this journey through Solukhumbu Sherpa country, with its untouched charm.

The trek promises unforgettable hiking experiences across varied landscapes, from rolling pastures to dense forests of rhododendrons and Himalayan pines. One of the trek’s highlights is the opportunity to immerse yourself in Sherpa culture. It includes staying with a local Sherpa family, where you’ll share meals and learn about their daily life. You’ll also spend time at the Thupten Choling Monastery in Junebesi Valley, observing Buddhist practices and enjoying meals with the nuns.

With the easy ascent of Pike Peak, you can see Mount Everest and six other peaks over 8,000 meters high. In the evenings, you will happily share a meal with a family and taste the local alcohol, Chhaang, or rakshi. In the Junebesi Valley, you’ll dine with the nuns of Thupten Choling monastery and spend a night engaged in the monastic life. The trek continues through enchanting forests and alpine meadows to the sacred Dudh Kunda lakes, where you’ll spend three nights camping. Our 12-day adventure concludes with a return through Trakshindo and Phaplu along scenic ridges.

Major Highlights

  • Experience Off the Beaten Path and discover a more authentic side of Nepal.
  • Trek through breathtaking landscapes in the Pikey River Valley.
  • Stay overnight, share meals, and experience traditional Sherpa mountain life with locals.
  •  Enjoy panoramic views of eight 8,000-meter peaks, including Everest, from Pikey Peak.
  • Walk through vibrant forests of blooming rhododendrons in spring.
  • Dine with monks and witness traditional Buddhist ceremonies in a monastery, including chanting and the sounds of conchs and gongs.
  • Reach serene high-altitude Dudh Kunda Lakes surrounded by dramatic peaks.
  • Enjoy nights under the stars while camping in scenic locations.
  • Walk sections of the historic trail Jiri, once the main route to Everest.
Itinerary

We start our trek with an early breakfast in Kathmandu before setting out by jeep for Dhap. The journey, spanning 230 km, will take approximately 7 to 8 hours as you travel the Kathmandu Valley. You’ll pass through Bhaktapur, Banepa, and Dulikhel, enjoying views of lush rice fields and charming villages along the way. You will get to immerse yourself to engage with the locals along the way. On the way, you will see the views of rice fields, mountains, and villages. Upon reaching Dhap at 2,932 meters, soak in the panoramic views of the Himalayan range and unwind from the drive. The route covers 230 km and takes about 9 hours due to the mountainous terrain between Kathmandu and Patale.

Today’s trek begins with a pleasant walk along the ridge of Pokalde, wandering through a coniferous forest. The trail offers beautiful clearings with distant views of snow-capped peaks. Your destination is Jhapre, a Sherpa village sheltered by its monastery. After a 3.5 to 4-hour trek, you will spend the night in a local lodge, experiencing the warmth of Sherpa hospitality.

We will leave the classic Pikey Peak trail to reach the Sherpa village of Dimil. We descend through the villages of Tapting and Solnassa, then follow a trail along the Lumsa river valley before climbing to Dimil at 2,900 meters. You’ll stay with a Jambu Sherpa, a guide and carpenter by trade near the monastery presenting a unique insight into local life. You can expect a 4.5 to 5-hour trek on this day.

After breakfast, we take the steep trail leading through pastures above Dimil. You may spot Nepal’s national bird, the colorful pheasant Daphe, as you enter a forest of Himalayan blue pine and blooming rhododendrons. The trail ascends to a small pass at 3,485 meters, then continues past yak herder huts to a second pass at 3,650 meters. We stop for lunch at the Samsing huts before continuing through pastures, along a long mani wall and stupas.

As you progress, you will see dwarf rhododendrons and junipers replace the forests. In less than an hour, you will reach a second pass at 3,650 meters, followed by a short climb to Pikey Base Camp, which is marked by two lodges and an old dairy. You can enjoy a panorama of the hills and valleys you have traveled. Stay overnight in a lodge after 5 ½ hours of trekking.

After an early breakfast, you will start the ascent of Pikey Peak and the trail is easy and offers beautiful views of the Himalayas. The pastures you cross seem to float in the sky and dominate the valleys below. To the left, you’ll see the snowy mass of Gauri Shanker Himal. As you continue along the pleasant path, the peaks of the Everest region come into view. After an hour of climbing from the Base Camp, you reach the Pikey summit at 4,000 meters. Here, you can see cairns and prayer flags flutter in the wind. On clear days, you can see Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Langtang, Gauri Shanker, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga in the distance. You also get a view of the seventh 8000-meter peak which is visible between Gauri Shanker and Dorjee Lakpa.

After enjoying the exceptional panorama, we begin the long descent and quickly reach forest trails and then the Jasmene Banjyang pass at 3,500 meters. Here, we’ll stop for lunch at a lodge. After lunch, face a steep 150-meter climb through junipers, followed by a gentler slope. Cairns marking small passes brighten the path. Finally, we pass a last cairn at 3,740 meters before descending through a forest of rhododendrons and conifers. In a small clearing, you might see a herd of yaks. The trail continues downhill through the forest before we reach the first houses and then the village of Taktor on the historic Jiri to Everest trail. A final staircase trail leads us to the beautiful Sherpa village of Junebesi, where whitewashed stone houses cluster around a monastery. We’ll spend the night in a cozy lodge after a fulfilling 8 hours of trekking.

Take a serene walk along a beautiful trail by the Junebesi River, passing through Sherpa villages adorned with thick stone walls and colorful wooden windows. When you reach the end of the valley, you’ll find the new Pungmuche Monastery, home to a school for young monks. A short 30-minute climb will then take you to the monastic city of Thupten Chöling. This city became a refuge for the Grand Lama, Tulsi Rimpoche, who fled Tibet in the early 1960s after China’s invasion. Today, hundreds of nuns and monks live here, and you’ll get to experience a slice of their daily lives.

In the kitchens, nuns and monks prepare meals for three hundred people in enormous steaming cauldrons. You’ll enjoy a famous and balanced Tibetan meal with the high-ranking nuns and monks in the steward’s hall. Spend your afternoon visiting the monastery founded by Tulsi Rimpoche, soaking in its peaceful atmosphere as you stroll through the alleys between the nuns’ small houses. Your night will be spent at the monastery guesthouse. The trek takes about two hours.

Begin your trek by climbing through lush forests and along scenic ridges. The trail takes you through alpine pastures where yaks graze freely. After a 5-hour trek, you’ll reach the cheese factory, nestled in the pastures. We will set up camp nearby, surrounded by the tranquil beauty of the high-altitude pastures.

We continue our trekking through the alpine pastures, where you’ll encounter only the occasional shelter of yak herders. The path follows the Beni Khola River, and you’ll set up camp near its banks. It involves 5 hours of trekking to reach Saharsbeni.

We experienced the generous hospitality of locals in their seasonal settlement at Saharsbeni before heading westward across the Numbur Himal. We climb to the serene lakes situated at 4,600 meters, at the foot of the Numbur glacier. We trek along a steep path to reach Dudh Kunda Base Camp. Upon arrival, we explore Dudh Kunda Lake, also known as the “milk pond,” situated at the base of Numbur Himal. It is surrounded by the majestic peaks of Numbur at 6,959 meters and Karyolang at 6,681 meters and the views are breathtaking. After drowning in the natural beauty, return to Beni and set up camp for the night. This trek takes approximately six hours.

Today we descend from Saharsbeni to the village of Trakshindo. There you will get to visit a monastery perched on the mountainside. It took 6-hour of trekking. We stayed overnight in a lodge in Trakshindo.

Today, we will be ascending the Trakshindo Pass, where you will enjoy fabulous views of Mount Thamserku and Kusum Kanguru. This less traveled trail then leads us through a dense forest of pines and rhododendrons, climbing to Kanje at 3,500 meters. Please be mindful of the possibility of encountering bears and staying together as a group. After that, we will descend to Phaplu, where you will spend the night in a lodge after a 7-hour trek.

Today is our last day of the trek. We will conclude the trek with a morning jeep ride or flight back to Kathmandu. Take some time to reflect on the remarkable journey through the Solu and Dudh Kunda lakes and the natural beauty and cultural experiences you have encountered.

Cost Includes
  • English-speaking guide
  • Porters for trekkers
  • Meals and accommodation in tents (cooks and assistants, personal tent, mess tent, toilet tent, mattresses, cooking utensils)
  • Entry fees for National Parks and TIMS registration
  • Insurance for Nepali staff
  • Local airport transfer
  • Private bus from KTM to Shivalya (A/S)
  • Jeep from Phaplu to KTM (A/S)
  • International airport/hotel/international airport transfers
Cost Excludes
  • Personal insurance covering mountain rescue expenses
  • Visa for Nepal
  • Beverages
  • Entry fees for sites
  • Dinner, lunch, and accommodation in Kathmandu
Book your spot

Starting from

€1,033

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No Hidden Costs

Trip Difficulty

Medium

5.0

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FAQs

The best seasons for trekking in Nepal are autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May). During these times, the weather is mostly clear, with moderate temperatures and beautiful views. Spring also offers vibrant flowers and rare animals, making for a pleasant trekking experience.

The trek is considered moderately difficult, as it involves varied terrain and significant altitude gains. Good physical fitness is required, although prior trekking experience is helpful but not essential. Trekking will be easier and smoother for those in good shape.

The trek reaches a maximum altitude of 4,600 meters at the Dudh Kunda lakes. This high elevation can cause altitude sickness, so acclimatization and gradual ascent are essential for safety.

Yes, you will need a TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) card and a permit for the Solukhumbu Restricted Area Permit. You can obtain these permits in Kathmandu before starting the trek.

You must pack essential items such as trekking boots, warm clothing, a sleeping bag, a first aid kit, water purification tablets, and trekking poles. It’s also important to carry enough snacks and personal hygiene items.