Dhorpatan Trek with Gurja Khani (Hidden Village)

Flying to Kathmandu is thrilling with the views of snow-capped mountain peaks sprawling down below you are almost delighted, beginning a whole chain of memorable experiences that stay with you for a long, long time. Upon arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu at any time you will be welcomed by our representative and transfer to hotel. Our representative will also explain the program in detail. You can relax at the hotel since we do not have any plan for this day. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After hot breakfast drive 200km to Pokhara and it takes about 6-7 hours from Kathmandu by tourist bus. It is an exciting and romantic drive that we can enjoy the beautiful scenic view of terraced rice field, eye-catching landscape, Trisuli and Marsyangdi Rivers and spectacular panoramic view of Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Lamjung Himal and most of Annapurna Himalayan Range are seen. The tourist coach stops for breakfast at 09:00 am and at around 12:00 for lunch on the way to Pokhara.

From Pokhara take a Bus/Car to Beni (3 hours) on the Kali Gandaki/Jomosom road. From Beni, we will a Taxi to Darbang (2 hours). This is a bumpy dusty ride. In Darbang there are several basic hotels such as the Thakhali Guest House. Cross the suspension bridge over the Myagdi Khola and follow the jeep track northwards along the right bank of the river. After half an hour cross a side tributary on a suspension bridge and rejoin the jeep track. After the second hairpin bend, take the old footpath on the right which zigzags steeply up a pine-clad spur overlooking the river below. Higher up the footpath rejoins the jeep track and continues to climb until the attractive village of Dharapani (1500 m). Ethnic groups here are largely Chhettri and Magar with a few Dalit households. There are small teashops we spend the night at Dharapani.

Continue on the jeep track – it is dusty or muddy in a few places but little traffic except
for mule trains and there are stunning views of the Dhaulagiri range to compensate. It passes through woodland interspersed with terraced fields, where you will see villagers busy with different tasks depending on the agricultural season – ploughing, planting, harvesting, or threshing. In about an hour you arrive at the even more picturesque village of Takam – slate roofs, stone walls, front façades of white and ochre mud plaster, and a small pagoda temple sitting on a wide crescent of rice fields with an unbelievable backdrop of snowy mountains. Just before Takam, take the lower right fork in the track (shorter, and less dusty) which leads past a stone Dhara water spout. Homestay accommodation is available here as well as teashop lodges. Continuing, follow the jeep track as it climbs to negotiate a landslide-prone cliff section and winds around to reach Sibang (1790 m) in 30 minutes.
From Phaegaon the path descends gently (passing below the village of Muna) to reach a bridge across the Dar Khola (a tributary of the Myagdi) in less than an hour. Looking westwards upstream the villages die out and the mountains rise higher and steeper, the ridges intersecting each other like a fat braid of mountains. Across the river, there is a single teashop (cannot be relied upon to be open – and it is a longish climb to the next teashop at Lulang). Just past the teashop, there is a choice of trails. The lower (left) trail keeps closer to the river and climbs gently to reach Lumsung village (in Lulang VDC) while the upper right trail climbs steadily to the large and fascinating village of Lulang.

Follow footpath up through Lulang to reach the main trail which emerges from the village on the upper left side as you look uphill. It is a pleasant climb through oak-rhododendron forest – not too steep except for the final section. The branches and trunks are almost hidden by a thick cloak of moss, ferns, and orchids. Follow the only path down the north slope of the ridge. A landslide in the monsoon of 2014 felled many of the majestic Himalayan cedar trees and destroyed sections of the path. The path has been repaired and the landslide opened up views of Gurja Himal which can be enjoyed much of the way down. In December and January you may encounter snow on this section. After descending moderately steeply, the gradient lessens as the path heads in a more Lulang Village. Lulang is an unusual village because all of its 200 households belong to the Dalit caste of metal-workers (Kami). Fanned around a steep stadium of terraced fields, the village is colourful with marigold flowers, rows of pumpkins and maize drying on roofs and verandahs, the houses decorated with splashes and stripes of red, white and black muds. It is, however, a very poor and neglected village, with a high rate of absentee men who have gone to seek their fortune in the Gulf countries. westerly direction for the final hour of the descent to the bridge over the Dhaula Khola. On the opposite side, you will see fields and temporary dwellings of the Gurja people, who descend to live in these when snow falls up in the village.

Accomodation:

Lodging will be in simple family-based ‘homestays’ or basic ‘tea-shop’ lodges which exist to serve the local population. There are no tourist lodges such as you find on the Annapurna circuit, except in Baglung and Beni. In the teashop lodges you are most likely to be given a simple private room though you might have to share a common room. Mattresses may be nothing more than two rice-straw mats covered by a blanket. There will be no glass in the windows and the shutters are unlikely to be a tight fit. Warm bedding in the form of heavy cotton-filled seracs (like a duvet) or blankets will be provided, but you may not be the first person to have slept in those sheets and covers! Toilet facilities will be a pit latrine in the courtyard with a bucket of water. But what these lodges lack in facilities they generally make up for in the friendliness of their personnel.

Early in the morning, we will start our trekking follow the main path heading west from the village. Shortly afterwards take the left fork which leads down to the Dhaula river where there is a temporary bridge in the dry season. Cross and climb the limy-white landslide scree. Follow the path upwards for 30 minutes or so until it reaches a ridge and emerges into open fields with temporary shelters. Continue up past the shelters. Beyond these, the path passes through the dense vegetation of canes and trees, dipping up and down. At times it follows the precipitous route above cliffs and waterfalls. The feeling of exposure is lessened by the dense vegetation, but the sense of safety is an illusion and feet must be carefully placed. In rain this path becomes a treacherous mud-slide – canes make strong hand-holds if needed. From time to time the path descends to the stream bed and follows the gully upwards. There are no bridges for the multiple crossings of the stream, and if the water is high one has to wade. After about 4 hours, the path leaves the gully for good, and the really steep climb begins. It is challenging because there are hardly any spots where one can place two feet flat on the ground and no chautara for a rest stop. The rewards, however, are the amazing views that develop behind one. Finally, the path crests the Pass. There is a perfect picnic spot on a wide grassy meadow with a chautara. Alpine flowers abound in season. But it can be cold. Rugachaur means “the meadow where you catch a cold”! There are breath-stopping views (if you have any left) of Pyutar, Churen, and Gurja Himal with many of the other Dhaulagiri peaks also visible. Follow the broad grassy meadow gently downhill, keeping the small stream on your right. Pass a single isolated hut on your left. Continue to descend passing more huts on your left. Where the stream bed flattens, cross it to the right bank, and continue downstream. The path rises slightly above the stream bed and contours around before descending to cross a side tributary on a log bridge. This occurs approximately one hour or so from the Pass. Continue to follow the path downstream on the right bank. The stream drops steeply but the path continues more or less level, leaving it some distance above the river. After a further hour, the path descends to rejoin the river (locals know a dry season short-cut through the brush and your guide may lead you that alternative route). The path crosses the river to the left bank and shifts back and forth. After a further hour or so the path descends some steep stone steps and enters the broad flat valley of the Uttar Ganga river. Turn left (east) and in a short, while the settlement of Gurja Ghat is reached.

Cross over from Myagdi to Baglung and into the former Tibetian refugee camp, there is the entrance to Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve. The valley is almost flat and the village of Dhorpatan lies a gentle couple of hour walk downstream. Although the high Himalayas are not visible (except for the tip of Annapurna), the Dhorpatan valley is reminiscent of an alpine valley with stands of conifers, rushing rivers, rocky crags, clear mountain air, and a rich silence broken only by bird song.

Exploration around and Spotting animals etc. And trek to Phagune Dhuri (pass) 4,493m, 4~5 hours. The trail ascends steeply up revel in the stunning scenery of the mountains, inexperienced jungle and landscape. The reserve includes several villages, humans with the aid of hill tribes in addition to people of Tibetan descent who supplement farming with trade and animal husbandry. We also can see Monastery, Chortens and nearby marketplace. Wooden roofs are any other enchantment of trekkers. We can also learn a typical existence style of people on this location.

Early in the morning, we drive from Burtibang to Pokhara along the way of Baglung. It takes 7 to 8 hours to reach Pokhara. Overnight in Pokhara.

We drive to Kathmandu in the morning by tourist bus. After arriving in Kathmandu, we leave for our hotel. We enjoy the day leisurely or catch up on some last minute shopping or explore any landmarks we missed during our first day in Kathmandu.Overnight in Kathmandu.