Chulu West Peak Climbing – 21 Days

You will be welcomed by an amazing view of The Himalayas as you approach Kathmandu. At the airport, you will be welcomed by a representative of Alpine Club of Himalaya. In the evening, you will be served excellent authentic Nepalese cuisine which will introduce you to the country’s food culture. Overnight in Kathmandu.

We depart in the morning to the Pashupatinath temple, a famous 5th century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located on the banks of the Bagmati River. We then tour Boudhnath, one of the holiest Buddhist stupas, and the Patan Darbar square that has heritage buildings representing the four kingdoms (Kantipur, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kirtipur) in Nepal. You can do your final preparations for the trek. In the evening, you will be introduced to the rest of the group, get your equipment checked by your climbing leader, and be briefed on the trip by a representative of Alpine Club of Himalaya. Overnight in Kathmandu.

We leave early on a 8-10 hour drive to Syange or Jagat (as per situation) via Besishahar through vast valleys, beautiful mountain ranges, scenic rivers, cattle farms, and lovely villages. Overnight in Syange or Jagat.

We begin a relaxing journey through Manang district after crossing a large bridge near Tal. The trail continues through barley, rice, and potato fields, and pine forests. After passing the village of Kodo, we will reach Dharapani, one of the big villages in Manang Valley. Overnight in Dharapani.

Today, we negotiate a few steep forested ridges, and on the way to Chame, you will encounter spectacular views of Lamjung Himal, Annapurna II, and Annapurna IV (7,525m/24,688ft), and tiny hot springs. Chame is the administrative centre of the Manang District.

Overnight in Chame.

We trek through a steep and narrow trail through a very dense forest, reaching a curved rock face that rises 1500m from the river. As the trail opens up you will be greeted by the surrounding majestic peaks of The Himalayas and find yourselves in a U-shaped valley between two giant snow peaks. We continue trekking to Pisang. Overnight at Lower Pisang.

We trek through the Upper Pisang route via Geru, for outstanding views of the majestic peaks such as the Annapurna, and Pisang. You will notice a change in the landscape and vegetation moving forward; the cold and dry climate creates a harsher environment. We then visit the Barge monastery, the largest monastery in the district of Manang. Overnight in Manang.

We set aside today to help you acclimatize to the altitude, as the next two days include challenging trekking up higher altitudes.

However, since it is always wise to stay active during acclimatization, you can take short walks up to higher altitudes around Manang, visit the

Bhojo Gompa, the Gangapurna Lake, a village called Vraga, a small old village with a monastery and the Himalayan Rescue Association for information on mountain sickness. Overnight in Manang.

From Manang, we continue through alpine landscapes, vegetation, and forests, at a high altitude. A gradual ascent takes us to Yak Kharka and then to our camp for the day. Overnight in Leder camp.

We continue trekking from Leder to the Chulu West Base Camp. You can enjoy panoramic views of the Annapurna and explore the surrounding areas. At this point, we will set up our camp. Overnight in Chulu camp.

From the Chulu Base Camp, we continue hiking towards Camp 1. The route is not that technical but we gain altitude as we climb. At this juncture, we relish the magnificent views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains including Manaslu, Gangapurna, and Lamjung Himal. Overnight in Camp 1.

We set aside today to help you acclimatize to the altitude before summiting to Camp 2. However, since it is always wise to stay active during acclimatization, you may explore the area. Meanwhile, the climbing leaders and other staff will make way to Camp 2 to supply the equipment for the camp and return to Camp 2. Overnight in Camp 1.

We continue climbing up the rock band to Camp 2. The route is not heavily technical but we may have to use ropes, crampon, and ice-axe. We set up Camp II at 5,530m/18,143ft. Overnight in Camp 2.

We begin climbing early today, through the icy high-altitude trail. The hard work will be paid off when you conquer the summit and are welcomed by magnificent views of the icy, snow-capped Himalayan mountain ranges. We return to Camp I. Overnight in Camp 1.

From Camp 1 we descend all the way to Leder. Overnight in Leder camp.

This is an extra buffer day, in cases where our climb earlier is delayed due to weather conditions, altitude sickness, or injuries. If there was no delay, the buffer day can be used to return to Thorong Phedi.

Before we leave the Base Camp, we ensure to clean up the area. At Alpine Club of Himalaya, we are deeply committed to maintaining the ecosystems. We head for Thorong Phedi, which is an easy way to walk downhill. Overnight in Thorong Phedi.

We begin the day by crossing the famous high pass of Thorong La today. When we reach Muktinath, an important pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists, we explore the Vishnu temple and monastery, and enjoy the stunning views of Dhaulagiri peak. From Muktinath, we continue to Jomsom on a local bus. Overnight in Jomsom.

Representatives of Alpine Club of Himalaya will transport you to the airport for a a 30-minute flight to Pokhara, providing views of the two huge mountains, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri.

Representatives of Alpine Club of Himalaya will pick-you up at the Pokhara airport. After check-in, you may rest and relax leisurely the rest of the day amidst the beautiful Pokhara valley. You may boat on the Fewa Lake, one of the biggest lakes in Nepal, and admire the stunning reflection of the Fish Tail Mountain on the lake.You can also visit the World Peace Pagoda. Overnight in Pokhara.

We take a 200-kilometer drive back to Kathmandu from Pokhara, while enjoying the spectacular scenery throughout. In Kathmandu, you may spend the day exploring more of Kathmandu, shop for souvenirs, lovely pashminas, or intricate art work. There will be a farewell dinner in the evening to celebrate your successful summit. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Departure
Representatives of Alpine Club of Himalaya will transport you to the airport.