Gurja Khani Homestay Trek - 12 Days

Dhorpatan · 12 Days

Gurja Khani Homestay Trek - 12 Days

· Moderate · Max altitude 3,500m (11,483 ft) on Gurja Himal viewpoint side hike · Max group 2-12 people

Duration

12 Days

Max Altitude

3,500m (11,483 ft) on Gurja Himal viewpoint side hike

Grade

Moderate

Lodging

Homestay / Hotel

Overview

The Gurja Khani Homestay Trek is the shorter, more village-centric cousin of the Dhorpatan circuit. Instead of looping over three passes, this 12-day version pushes in to Gurja Khani village - the highest permanent Magar settlement on the southern Dhaulagiri foothills - spends two nights there and returns the same way. The focus is community immersion rather than mileage: you stay with the same family for two nights, eat dal-bhat in their kitchen and have time for a base-camp viewpoint side hike.

Gurja Khani sits at 2,650m at the head of a copper-mining valley that has been worked since the early 19th century. The village runs a community homestay rotation and a hydropower-heated bathhouse - the unexpected hot shower at the end of a long walking day. Mountain views include Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Gurja Himal (7,193m) and Putha Himal (7,246m). This trek suits travellers who want a real cultural arc without the pass crossings or the budget of a full circuit.

Highlights

  • Two-night homestay with a Magar family in remote Gurja Khani
  • Side hike to a 3,500m viewpoint above the village for Dhaulagiri-Gurja Himal panorama
  • Bathe in the community hydropower-heated bathhouse
  • Walk through Lulang and Dharapani Magar settlements
  • Explore the abandoned 19th-century copper mine tunnels
  • Hot springs stop at Singa on the return drive
  • Lake-side rest day in Pokhara
  • Low altitude profile (sleeps under 2,700m) - minimal AMS risk
  • Direct support to a community-run tourism cooperative
  • No flights required - all road access

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300m)

🍽 None included

Welcome at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer to your hotel.

Day 2

Kathmandu sightseeing

🍽 Breakfast

Half-day heritage tour. Trek briefing in the afternoon.

Day 3

Drive Kathmandu to Pokhara (850m)

⏱ 6-7 hours 🍽 Breakfast

Tourist bus along the Prithvi Highway with mountain views from Mugling.

Day 4

Drive Pokhara to Dharapani (1,560m)

⏱ 6-7 hours 🍽 Breakfast

Jeep transfer west to the trailhead.

Day 5

Trek Dharapani to Lulang (2,450m)

⏱ 6-7 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

First walking day through Magar terraces and oak forest.

Day 6

Trek Lulang to Gurja Khani (2,650m) via Gurja Pass (3,250m)

⏱ 7-8 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cross the Gurja La and drop into the cultural heart of the trek. Homestay welcome.

Day 7

Rest day with base camp viewpoint hike

⏱ 5-6 hours optional 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Optional half-day to the 3,500m viewpoint. Afternoon at the bathhouse and copper-mine tunnels.

Day 8

Trek Gurja Khani to Lulang (2,450m)

⏱ 6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Re-cross the Gurja La and descend.

Day 9

Trek Lulang to Darbang, drive to Singa hot springs (899m)

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Final walking section then jeep transfer to natural hot springs. Soak before dinner.

Day 10

Drive Singa to Pokhara

⏱ 4 hours 🍽 Breakfast

Jeep transfer back to Pokhara. Afternoon boating on Phewa Lake.

Day 11

Drive Pokhara to Kathmandu

⏱ 6-7 hours 🍽 Breakfast

Tourist bus back to Kathmandu. Farewell dinner.

Day 12

Departure

🍽 Breakfast

Airport transfer for your onward flight.

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What's included

Included

  • Tourist bus or private jeep transfer Kathmandu-Pokhara and return
  • Airport pickups and drops in Kathmandu
  • 3 nights twin-share 3-star hotel in Kathmandu
  • 2 nights twin-share hotel in Pokhara (lake view)
  • Homestay accommodation in the trekking villages
  • All three meals per day during the trek
  • Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve permit and TIMS card
  • Licensed English-speaking trek leader
  • 1 porter per 2 trekkers (insured)
  • Half-day Kathmandu heritage tour with guide
  • All applicable taxes and service charges
  • HHT company duffel bag

Not included

  • International airfare
  • Nepal visa fee
  • Travel and medical insurance (mandatory)
  • Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu and Pokhara
  • Bottled drinks, alcohol, hot showers (extra fee)
  • Personal trekking gear
  • Tips for guide and porters

Trek guide

A Working Mountain Village

Gurja Khani is not a tourist village dressed up for trekkers. It runs on agriculture (potato, buckwheat, millet), seasonal yak grazing on the high pastures and a small flow of homestay income. The village school has roughly 40 children. Phone signal is intermittent. Electric power comes from a 22kW community micro-hydro turbine on the stream below the village.

The Copper Mine

A British surveyor noted the copper deposit in the 1840s; small-scale mining ran intermittently until the 1950s. The collapsed tunnels and slag heaps are a 30-minute walk above the village. A local guide can show you the entrances - do not enter unaccompanied.

Base Camp Viewpoint

The rest-day option is a 5-6 hour return hike to a 3,500m grassy ridge above Gurja Khani that opens the full Gurja Himal south face. This is not technically Gurja Himal Base Camp (which is a multi-day mountaineering approach) but a photographer's viewpoint that mimics the base-camp panorama.

Acclimatisation

Maximum sleeping altitude is 2,650m. The 3,500m side hike on the rest day is a true sleep-low-climb-high day. AMS is extremely unlikely on this itinerary.

Permits

  • Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Permit
  • TIMS card

Best Season

  • March-May: Rhododendrons, mild temperatures, clear mornings
  • September-November: Best mountain visibility
  • Trek is feasible December-February at lower altitudes but cold at night
  • Avoid July-August (monsoon)

Fitness

Moderate. Daily walking 5-7 hours with a porter carrying the duffel. Suitable for first-time multi-day trekkers with good general cardio.

Packing list

Clothing: Light down jacket, fleece, waterproof shell, 3 trekking shirts, 2 trousers, thermals (one set), 4 pairs socks, beanie, sun hat, gloves

Footwear: Mid-cut waterproof boots, camp shoes

Accessories: 30L daypack, 60L duffel for porter, light sleeping bag (-5C), trekking poles, headlamp, sunglasses, 2L water, purification, power bank

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

Medical: Painkillers, blister care, SPF 50+, lip balm

Frequently asked questions

Is this suitable for first-time trekkers?
Yes - the altitude profile is forgiving and walking days are manageable.

Can vegetarians eat in homestays?
Easily. Dal-bhat is the staple and meat is rare at this altitude.

How does the bathhouse work?
The village hydro turbine heats water for a tiled wet room shared by villagers and trekkers. A small per-shower fee goes to the cooperative.

Is the side hike compulsory?
No - you can spend the rest day in the village if preferred. The viewpoint is the main reason most trekkers add the optional hike.

Will I see Dhaulagiri up close?
Yes - the village faces directly onto the Dhaulagiri massif's southern slopes. The viewpoint hike adds Gurja Himal at almost eye level.

Phone signal?
Patchy in Gurja Khani; intermittent NTC line. Wi-Fi is non-existent.

How are the homestay toilets?
Squat toilets in a separate outhouse. Some hosts have added a Western-style seat as of 2024.

Is there any vehicle access closer to Gurja Khani?
A rough new track now reaches Lulang in dry season, but walking from Dharapani is the planned itinerary for the cultural arc.

When is the best month for Dhaulagiri visibility?
October-November mornings give the most consistent clear-mountain windows.

Are children welcome at the homestay?
Yes - the host families enjoy the visits. Children 10+ generally manage the walking days fine.

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 $925

per person

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