Simikot Raling Monastery Cultural Trek - 11 Days

Humla · 11 Days

Simikot Raling Monastery Cultural Trek - 11 Days

· Moderate · Max altitude 3,930m (12,890 ft) at Raling Gompa · Max group 2-12 people

Duration

11 Days

Max Altitude

3,930m (12,890 ft)

at Raling Gompa

Grade

Moderate

Lodging

Tented camping + home-stays + 3-star hotels in cities

Overview

The Simikot Raling Monastery Cultural Trek is a short cultural circuit through the Nhin Valley in Humla district, north-west Nepal. Over 11 days you fly in to Simikot, walk a loop through the Nyinba Buddhist villages and visit Raling Gompa - one of the oldest functioning Buddhist monasteries in the western Himalaya. Maximum altitude is a manageable 3,930m and no high passes are crossed.

This is a soft-camping plus home-stay trek with a strong cultural focus. The Nyinba people are a Tibetan ethnic group practising Nyingmapa Buddhism, polyandry and yak-based agriculture. The trek is short by Humla standards - perfect for trekkers who want the Tibetan border-country feel without the 22-day commitment of Limi. If your departure overlaps with the Saga Dawa festival (Buddha's birthday, fourth Tibetan lunar month) we can time the visit to Raling for the celebrations.

Highlights

  • Visit Raling Gompa - one of the oldest Nyingmapa monasteries in the western Himalaya
  • Trek through the Nyinba villages of the Nhin Valley
  • See Milarepa's Cave - sacred to Tibetan Buddhists
  • Views of Crystal Peak and the Changla Himal range
  • Time your trek to the Saga Dawa festival (May-June) for monastery celebrations
  • Experience Nyinba polyandrous Tibetan-Buddhist culture
  • Walk historic Humla salt-trade routes
  • No high passes, no technical ground - cultural focus throughout
  • Soft camping plus home-stays in traditional Nyinba houses
  • Genuine far-west remoteness with manageable duration

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300m)

🍽 Welcome dinner

Airport pickup, hotel check-in and trek briefing.

Day 2

Kathmandu sightseeing and permit day

🍽 Breakfast

UNESCO heritage sites tour. Final permits issued.

Day 3

Fly Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (150m)

⏱ 1-hour flight 🍽 Breakfast, Dinner

Short flight to the western Terai. Overnight near the airport. If weather allows, same-day connection to Simikot.

Day 4

Fly Nepalgunj to Simikot (3,500m), trek to Buraunse

⏱ 50-minute flight + 3-4 hours trek 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

STOL flight onto Simikot, then a gentle walk to Buraunse.

Day 5

Buraunse to Nimatang

⏱ 4 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Climb through pine forest to the high pasture of Nimatang.

Day 6

Nimatang to Raling Gompa (3,930m)

⏱ 3-4 hours ▲ 3,930m 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Reach the monastery, visit the main temple and rest.

Day 7

Raling Gompa to Bargaun

⏱ 4 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Descend to the Nyinba village of Bargaun. Home-stay night.

Day 8

Bargaun to Karpunath

⏱ 3-4 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Short walk through Nyinba farmland to Karpunath.

Day 9

Karpunath to Simikot

⏱ 5 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Final climb back to the Simikot airstrip.

Day 10

Fly Simikot-Nepalgunj-Kathmandu

⏱ 2 flights 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch

Two connecting flights back to Kathmandu. Farewell dinner.

Day 11

Departure

🍽 Breakfast

Airport transfer for your onward flight.

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What's included

Included

  • Round-trip Kathmandu-Nepalgunj-Simikot flights
  • All airport pickups and drops
  • 3 nights' Kathmandu accommodation (3-star, BB plan)
  • 2 nights Nepalgunj hotel
  • Humla Restricted Area Permit
  • Senior English-speaking guide
  • Full kitchen crew (cook + kitchen helpers)
  • Porters or mules for baggage
  • All camping equipment (tents, sleeping pads, dining tent, toilet tent, kitchen tent)
  • Home-stay nights in Nyinba villages
  • Three meals a day plus tea and snacks throughout
  • Boiled drinking water daily
  • Kathmandu Valley UNESCO sites tour
  • Company duffel bag and first-aid kit
  • All government taxes

Not included

  • Nepal visa fee
  • International airfare
  • Travel insurance with helicopter rescue (recommended)
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
  • Personal trekking equipment
  • Hot showers, charging, sat-phone calls
  • Alcohol and bottled drinks
  • Tips for the camping crew
  • Any cost arising from flight delays or weather

Trek guide

Nhin Valley and the Nyinba

The Nhin Valley is a side valley of Humla running south-east from Simikot. The Nyinba ("inner") people are a small Tibetan ethnic group practising Nyingmapa Buddhism and traditional polyandry (one wife, multiple brother-husbands). The valley has been continuously Buddhist since at least the 8th century.

Raling Gompa

Founded in the 8th century (some sources earlier), Raling Gompa is one of the oldest functioning Nyingmapa monasteries in the western Himalaya. It sits at 3,930m in a side valley above Bargaun. The current main temple was rebuilt in the 16th century.

Saga Dawa Festival

If your trek overlaps with the fourth Tibetan lunar month (typically late May to mid-June), we can time your visit to Raling for the Saga Dawa celebrations - the festival commemorating Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. Monks perform cham masked dances and the community gathers from across the valley.

Milarepa's Cave

A small cave on the trail, said to have been used by the 11th-century Tibetan yogi Milarepa during his pilgrimage to Mt Kailash.

Acclimatisation

Maximum altitude is 3,930m. Standard ascent rules are easily met. The day spent in Simikot on arrival serves as the acclimatisation day.

Permits

  • Humla Restricted Area Permit (USD 50 for the first week)
  • Minimum two trekkers required

We arrange both in advance.

Best Season

  • Spring (April-June): Mild days, Saga Dawa festival window in May-June
  • Summer (July-August): Rain shadow keeps the valley relatively dry
  • Autumn (September-October): Clearest visibility, cold nights

Winter (Nov-Mar) is not possible - Simikot flights become unreliable.

Fitness

Moderate. 11 days total, only 6 days of walking, maximum altitude 3,930m. Suitable for first-time Himalayan trekkers with reasonable hill fitness. 2-3 months of training.

Packing list

Clothing: Down jacket -5C, fleece mid-layer, soft-shell jacket, hard-shell waterproof, soft-shell trousers, 3 trekking shirts, 2 trousers, thermal base layers, 4 pairs socks, beanie, sun hat, neck buff, insulated and liner gloves

Footwear: Waterproof trekking boots, gaiters, camp shoes

Accessories: 30L daypack, 70L duffel for porter, -5C sleeping bag, trekking poles, headlamp + spare batteries, polarised sunglasses, 2L water capacity, water purification, power bank, hand sanitiser

Documents: Passport, Nepal visa, insurance, 4 passport photos, copies of permits

Medical: Diamox 250mg (precautionary), painkillers, antihistamines, ORS, blister care, SPF 50+ sunscreen, lip balm, personal medications

Frequently asked questions

Is this trek as remote as Limi Valley?
Same district (Humla), shorter loop, lower altitude. You still need the restricted-area permit and you will see almost no other foreign trekkers.

When is Saga Dawa?
It varies by lunar calendar - typically late May to mid-June. We can time your booking around it.

Can I combine this with Rara Lake?
Yes - we can extend with a 5-7 day side trek to Rara from Simikot. Total trip becomes 16-18 days.

Do I need prior trekking experience?
No. Maximum altitude is under 4,000m and the daily walking distances are short.

How reliable are the Simikot flights?
Weather-dependent. We always recommend a buffer day at each end. There is no road backup.

Are home-stays clean?
Basic but clean. The Nyinba are house-proud and the kitchens are smoke-free (chimneys).

Can women travel alone on this trek?
Yes - we provide female porters/assistants on request. The Nyinba are matrilineal-friendly.

How cold does it get?
-5C at night at Raling. -5C sleeping bag is sufficient.

Is the monastery photographable?
Exterior yes. Interior shrine rooms require permission from the head lama, usually granted with a small offering.

Are permits hard to get?
Expensive (USD 50 for the first week of Humla restricted-area) but straightforward. We process them.

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 $2400

per person

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