Arun Valley Trek - 16 Days

Eastern Nepal · 16 Days

Arun Valley Trek - 16 Days

· Moderate · Max altitude 3,414m (11,201 ft) at Salpa Pokhari · Max group 2-12 people

Duration

16 Days

Max Altitude

3,414m (11,201 ft)

at Salpa Pokhari

Grade

Moderate

Lodging

Teahouse / Lodge

Overview

The Arun Valley is reputed to be one of the deepest river valleys on earth, cutting between Makalu (8,485m) to the east and the Khumbu (Everest) range to the west. The classic Arun Valley trek walks from Tumlingtar in the eastern lowlands up the valley to Salpa Pokhari, then over the Surke La ridge into the Solu-Khumbu and on to Lukla - a 16-day cultural traverse that crosses from the Rai and Limbu hill villages into Sherpa territory.

This is a moderate trek by altitude - the high point is just over 3,400m - but the cumulative climb is significant and the trail length is real. Unlike most eastern Nepal routes, the Arun Valley sees almost no foreign trekkers (a few hundred per year) despite ending at Lukla. It is the cultural-and-forest counterpart to the more altitude-focused Makalu and Kanchenjunga trails - rhododendron, terraced rice, suspension-bridge gorges, and village life rather than glacial moraine.

Highlights

  • Walk the floor of the Arun Valley - one of the deepest river canyons in the world
  • Visit the sacred Salpa Pokhari lake (3,414m) - pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists
  • Cross Surke La pass (3,085m) with panoramic Everest, Makalu and Ama Dablam views
  • Mixed-ethnic villages: Rai, Limbu, Sherpa, Magar
  • Suspension-bridge canyon crossings of the Arun and its tributaries
  • Cardamom plots, terraced rice and millet farming
  • Forest belts of oak, rhododendron and bamboo
  • Join the classic Khumbu trail at Paiya for a Lukla finish
  • Quiet alternative to the standard EBC approach
  • Both Kathmandu-Tumlingtar and Lukla-Kathmandu flights included

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400m)

🍽 Welcome dinner

Airport pickup, hotel transfer, evening trek briefing.

Day 2

Kathmandu sightseeing

🍽 Breakfast

Half-day guided sightseeing of Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath and Bouddhanath stupas.

Day 3

Fly Kathmandu to Tumlingtar, trek to Chyawabesi (280m)

⏱ 35-min flight + short trek 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning flight east, transfer to trailhead, walk to first night's village.

Day 4

Chyawabesi to Gothe Bazaar (750m)

⏱ 5 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Through terraced rice fields and across tributary streams.

Day 5

Gothe Bazaar to Dhobane (920m)

⏱ 5 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Suspension-bridge crossings of the Arun's tributaries.

Day 6

Dhobane to Phedi (1,680m)

⏱ 5-6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Climb out of the valley through mixed forest.

Day 7

Phedi to Gurase (2,880m)

⏱ 6-7 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Big climb day through oak and rhododendron forest to the high village of Gurase.

Day 8

Gurase to Sanam (2,850m) via Salpa Pokhari (3,414m)

⏱ 6-7 hours ▲ 3,414m 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Climb to the sacred lake at the trek's high point, then descend to Sanam.

Day 9

Sanam to Bung (1,900m)

⏱ 5-6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Long descent through varied terrain to the Rai village of Bung.

Day 10

Bung to Surke La (3,085m)

⏱ 6-7 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Climb to the Surke La ridge - first major Khumbu mountain views: Everest, Makalu, Ama Dablam.

Day 11

Surke La to Gaikharka (2,300m)

⏱ 5 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Steep descent through bamboo forest.

Day 12

Gaikharka to Pangum (3,173m)

⏱ 6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cross a steel cable bridge and climb into the Khumbu approach hills.

Day 13

Pangum to Puiyan (2,680m)

⏱ 5-6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cross the final Arun-Dudh Kosi ridge.

Day 14

Puiyan to Lukla (2,800m)

⏱ 4-5 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Easy day to Lukla. Join the classic Khumbu trail at Paiya for the final stretch.

Day 15

Fly Lukla to Kathmandu

⏱ 35-min flight 🍽 Breakfast

Morning mountain flight back to the capital. Optional farewell dinner in the evening.

Day 16

Final departure

🍽 Breakfast

Airport transfer for international flight home.

Ready to walk this?

Enquire now →

What's included

Included

  • Kathmandu-Tumlingtar flight in
  • Lukla-Kathmandu flight out
  • Private jeep transfers from Tumlingtar
  • 3 nights' Kathmandu accommodation (3-star, BB plan)
  • Half-day Kathmandu sightseeing with guide
  • Twin-share teahouse rooms throughout the trek
  • All meals during the trek
  • Government-licensed English-speaking guide
  • 1 porter for every 2 trekkers (20 kg load limit)
  • Makalu Barun National Park entry permit
  • Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee
  • Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (for the Khumbu section)
  • Group first-aid kit and oximeter
  • HHT company duffel bag
  • All applicable government taxes

Not included

  • Nepal entry visa
  • International airfare
  • Travel insurance covering trekking to 3,500m with helicopter rescue (mandatory)
  • Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu (beyond the BB plan)
  • Hot showers, Wi-Fi and charging in teahouses
  • Bottled water and alcoholic drinks
  • Personal trekking equipment
  • Tips for crew and drivers
  • Costs from weather or flight delays

Trek guide

The Arun Valley

The Arun river originates in Tibet (where it is called the Phung Chu) and cuts south through the Himalaya in one of the deepest valleys anywhere on earth - the vertical distance from the Arun's bed at 400m to Makalu's summit at 8,485m is roughly 8 km in a horizontal distance of 22 km. The valley forms the eastern boundary of the Everest region and the western boundary of Makalu Barun National Park.

Salpa Pokhari

A glacial lake at 3,414m near the high point of the trek, Salpa Pokhari is one of the few sacred sites in Nepal visited by both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims. The annual pilgrimage falls in mid-November and brings several hundred Rai and Sherpa devotees from the surrounding districts.

Ethnic Mosaic

The Arun valley is one of the most culturally diverse trekking regions in Nepal. Within two weeks of walking you pass through:

  • Rai villages of the lower valley (Hindu-animist agriculturalists)
  • Limbu settlements (related to the Rai, distinct language)
  • Magar mid-hill villages
  • Sherpa villages near Surke La and beyond (Tibetan-Buddhist tradition)

Climate Zones

  • Days 3-5: Sub-tropical. Rice terraces, banana, cardamom.
  • Days 6-8: Temperate. Oak, rhododendron, bamboo.
  • Days 9-11: Sub-alpine. Pine, juniper, the Salpa Pokhari ridge.
  • Days 12-14: Re-enter temperate forest and the Khumbu approach.

Acclimatisation

Not a major concern - the high point is 3,414m and the climb profile is gradual. The trek is a good first multi-week Himalayan walk for those who want eastern Nepal cultural depth without the altitude commitment of Makalu or Kanchenjunga.

Permits

Makalu Barun National Park and Sagarmatha National Park permits are required for the respective sections of the trail. Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee on the Khumbu side. We process all three in Kathmandu.

Best Season

  • Spring (March-May): Rhododendrons spectacular in April, valley warm
  • Autumn (September-December): Drier, cooler, clearer mountain views

The Arun trek has a longer operating window than most Nepal treks - the lower altitudes mean it can run into December and start as early as March.

Fitness

Moderate. 5-6 hour days, some long climbs (Gurase, Surke La), but lodges are reliable and the altitude is manageable. Suitable for first-time multi-week trekkers with good general fitness. 3 months of cardio and leg training before departure.

Packing list

Clothing: Down jacket -5C, fleece mid-layer, waterproof shell, soft-shell trousers, 3 trekking shirts, 2 trousers, base layers, 5 pairs hiking socks, beanie, sun hat, buff, light gloves

Footwear: Waterproof high-ankle trekking boots, gaiters, camp shoes

Accessories: 30L daypack, 65L porter duffel, -5C sleeping bag, trekking poles, headlamp + spare batteries, polarised sunglasses, 2L water capacity, water purification, power bank, adapter

Documents: Passport with Nepal visa, insurance certificate, 4 passport photos

Medical: Painkillers, antihistamines, blister care, SPF 50+ sunscreen, lip balm, rehydration salts

Frequently asked questions

How does this compare to Everest Base Camp?
Different in feel - Arun Valley is moderate altitude (3,400m max), forest and village-focused, very quiet. EBC is high altitude (5,545m), mountain-focused, very busy. Arun ends at the same Lukla airport but covers two weeks of trail that almost nobody walks.

How fit do I need to be?
Moderate. 5-6 hour days, some long climbs, but lodges every night and altitude manageable. Good general fitness and 3 months of regular hill walking is enough.

Is altitude sickness a concern?
Not really. The high point is 3,414m and there are no big sleeping-altitude jumps. Mild symptoms possible at Surke La but unusual.

How are the lodges?
Simple. Plywood rooms, foam mattresses, dal-bhat menus. Better in Sherpa villages and Khumbu section, more basic in Rai and Limbu villages. Hot showers occasional below 2,500m.

Is a guide required?
Strongly recommended for navigation and cultural context - this is not a heavily-trekked route and signage is poor in places. We include a licensed guide as standard.

What permits are needed?
Makalu Barun National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality. All arranged in Kathmandu before departure.

Can the trek be customised?
Yes - shorter exit at Tumlingtar is possible (skip the Khumbu section) at around 11 days. We can also add Makalu Base Camp or Khumbu rest days.

Best season?
Spring (March-May, peak rhododendrons in April) and autumn (September-December, drier and clearer). Winter possible at lower altitudes but Surke La can be snowed in.

Is mobile signal available?
Patchy. Reliable in Tumlingtar and Lukla, intermittent in mid-valley villages, none at Surke La.

Are the Tumlingtar and Lukla flights reliable?
Tumlingtar more so than Lukla. Both can be weather-delayed. Buffer days at each end recommended for travellers with onward connections.

Still have questions? Talk to a guide →

Why book this with us

Senior local guides. Small groups. Honest pricing.

  • Departures led by a guide who grew up in the region.
  • Max 8 trekkers per group — no convoys.
  • 100% Nepali-owned. Profit stays in the valleys.
  • Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure.
  • Permits, internal flights and TIMS handled by us.
  • 24/7 in-country support during your trek.

From $1500

per person

WhatsApp Enquire