Trip Overview
The Guerrilla Trek has now become a new tourist attraction in Nepal trekking. The trekking route provides one with an opportunity to meet the people who have yet to be affected by commercialization. A lot of ethnicities enrich the route including Brahmin, Chhetri, Dalit, Gurung, Magar, Newar and Thakuri. As the name suggests, the Guerrilla Trek trail follows the footsteps of the Maoist guerrillas during the decade-long insurgency. The route begins in Beni (830 m) of Myagdi district, goes around Baglung and passes through the Dhorepatan Hunting Reserve and goes on to Rukum &Rolpa districts. The route was used by the Maoist insurgents during the decade- long People`s war. Scenic beauty of this region is unmatched. One can have a break taking view of the Dhaulagiri range (1-6 Peaks) & wide meadows with pine forest. The elevation ranges from about 800 m at Chaurijahari to the peak of Pyutha / Putha Himal (7,245 m) above the sea level. This trail has now gained popularity following the publishing of The Guerrilla Trek (Aka, the Shangri-La Trek) with Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve. Penned by Alonzo Lyons, the book can be taken as a guide to the trail as it incorporates the detailed information about the route. This trekking tail offers a marvelous trekking journey through the heartland of the post-conflict areas. As an alternative to several other popular trekking tails, this route can be a pleasure to return visitors and those loving Nepal. The book also provides instructions to enter a newly promoted, magnificent area worth visiting for the natural splendor as well as the hospitable people. However, the infrastructural development in the region is inadequate. Rukum and Rolpa were the homeland of many revolutionaries. The districts were also the epicenter of the Maoist insurgency. It is also challenging to make the locals aware of how they could reap benefits from tourism. Trekkers along this route can retrace the footsteps of the Maoist guerrillas and imagine how they had hiked and fought such hilly terrain. More than 16,000 people had lost their lives in the armed insurgency that started in 1996, February and ended in 2006, November after the signing of the" Comprehensive Peace Accord”. This region is blessed with wide ranging natural resources and bio-diversity. captivating waterfall, rivers, caves and/ Ponds like Kamal Daha (Lotus Pond) & sun Daha (Gold Pond) and high Himalya to the North are some of the main attractions. Kham culture is a unique feature of the northern Rolpa & Eastern Rukum. The Khams are a sub-group of Magar community distinguishing customs and a unique languages of the Tibeto-Burman family. Paddy is cultivated up to the mid- hills and barley, maize millet, wheat and potato as well as apples & apricots are farmed in the upper hills of the region. The area also boasts a lot of wonderful high elevation meadows used for monsoon pastureland of cattle and buffalo and foraging for Yarshagumba, also known as the Himalayan Viagra / Nepalese Viagra in the rugged high land. Depending upon the interest and time of trekkers, trekking companies in Nepal develop suitable itineraries. A 13 days trek itinerary is given below:
Outline Itinerary
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Day 1
Kathmandu (1,350 m) - Beni Bazar (830 m/ 9 hrs by bus driving, O / N at Hotel /Lodge.
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Day 2
Beni to Darbang by Jeep / bus drining, then trek to Takam (1,665 m/ 3+3 = 6 hrs), O/N at Home Stay/Camping. A six hours trek takes to Takam. From the Myagdi discrict headquarter, one has to follow a gravel road for 24 km to Darbang and start walking. Takam is a 3 hours walk away with Gurjal Himal towering overhead.
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Day 3
Trek Takam to Lamsung (2,250 m/ 6 hours), O/N at Home Stay/ Camping.
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Day 4
Trek from Lamsung to Gurjaghat (3,020 m / 7 hrs), O/N at Home Stay/Camping.
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Day 5
Trek from Gurjaghat to Dhorpatan (2,860 m/ 5 hours), O/N at lodge / Home Stay / Camping.
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Day 6
Trek from Dhorpatan to Nisi Dhor (2,620 m/ 5 hours), O/N at Home Stay /Camping.
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Day 7
Trek from Nisi Dhor to Tallo Sera / Lower Sera / 7 hours, O/N at Home Stay / Camping.
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Day 8
Trek from Tallo Sera to Rujhikhola (6 hrs), O / N at Home Stay / Camping.
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Day 9
Trek from Rajhikhola to Thabang village (2,000 m / 5 hrs), O/N at Home Stay / Camping.
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Day 10
Trek from Thabang village to Jaljala (3,107 m /5 hours), O/N at Home Stay / Camping.
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Day 11
Trek from jaljala to Jailbang (6 hrs), O /N at Home Stay / Camping.
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Day 12
Trek from Jailbang to Sulichaur (810 m/5 hrs), O/N at Lodge / Home Stay / Camping.
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Day 13
Bus driving from Sulichaur to Kathmandu (12-13 hours), O/ N at Hotel.
Detailed Itinerary
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Day 1
Kathmandu (1,350 m) - Beni Bazar (830 m/ 9 hrs by bus driving, O / N at Hotel /Lodge.
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Day 2
Beni to Darbang by Jeep / bus drining, then trek to Takam (1,665 m/ 3+3 = 6 hrs), O/N at Home Stay/Camping. A six hours trek takes to Takam. From the Myagdi discrict headquarter, one has to follow a gravel road for 24 km to Darbang and start walking. Takam is a 3 hours walk away with Gurjal Himal towering overhead.
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Day 3
Trek Takam to Lamsung (2,250 m/ 6 hours), O/N at Home Stay/ Camping.
Trek to Lamsung, it takes 6 hours. This is where the scenery starts getting even more dramatic. This is what Nepal used to be like before the trekkers got here. Locals are not used to foreigners and have a lot of stories to tell about the Maoist insurgency. -
Day 4
Trek from Lamsung to Gurjaghat (3,020 m / 7 hrs), O/N at Home Stay/Camping.
Climb through dense pine forest, with Musk deer darting in the undergrouth . The meadows on the ridge offer 180 degree views of the entire Dhaulagiri range in the East up to Churen Himal in the west. It takes about 7 hours to reach Gurjaghat. -
Day 5
Trek from Gurjaghat to Dhorpatan (2,860 m/ 5 hours), O/N at lodge / Home Stay / Camping.
Cross through Myagdi district to Baglung district and into the former" Tibetan Refugee Camp” which was serviced by an airfield built by the Swiss in the 1950s. This is also the an entrance gate to Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve which is the only one Hunting Reserve in Nepal , where one can spot mountain goats & blue sheep. It takes about 5 hours to reach Dhorpatan. -
Day 6
Trek from Dhorpatan to Nisi Dhor (2,620 m/ 5 hours), O/N at Home Stay /Camping.
The five hours trek takes you to Nisi Dhor. It is a paradise for birds. Watch Pheasants and other migratory species. Hard to imagine that people fought a war here. There are cow sheds in the monsoon, but in the winter these high pastures are deserted. -
Day 7
Trek from Nisi Dhor to Tallo Sera / Lower Sera / 7 hours, O/N at Home Stay / Camping.
It takes seven hours to reach Tallo Sera. Cross over from Baglung to Rukum into Magar country and enter the former Maoist base area .There are dense forests all the way, so it must have been easy to hide here from helicopter patrols. The villages are picturesque and there is always some kinds of Magar festival going on. -
Day 8
Trek from Tallo Sera to Rujhikhola (6 hrs), O / N at Home Stay / Camping.
Walk to Lukum in Rukum, a village populated only Magar and Dalits (Low Castes people). This is about as medieval as it gets in Nepal nowadays. It takes six hours to reach there. -
Day 9
Trek from Rajhikhola to Thabang village (2,000 m / 5 hrs), O/N at Home Stay / Camping.
The five hours trek takes you to Thabang village. It is the cradle of the Maoist revolution. It was damaged in army attacks and parts of the town were flattened by "Tora Bora” mortar shells dropped from helicopters. There has been some development of infrastructure after the war ended and the people are eager and friendly. -
Day 10
Trek from Thabang village to Jaljala (3,107 m /5 hours), O/N at Home Stay / Camping.
It takes five hours to reach Jaljala. The highest point in Jaljala is Dharampani (3,900 m) and there is a great view from Api and Saipal in the west to Dhaulagiri in the east. -
Day 11
Trek from jaljala to Jailbang (6 hrs), O /N at Home Stay / Camping.
Trek down to Jelbang. It takes six hours. Move down from the high mountains and the village is ethnically mixed. -
Day 12
Trek from Jailbang to Sulichaur (810 m/5 hrs), O/N at Lodge / Home Stay / Camping.
This is where Rolpa is finally reached. Rolpa was also a rebel base area and for many of the ten years of war under total Maoist control. One can eat at one of the many commune restaurants run by Maoist co-operative, where staffs are relatives of those who were killed in the fighting. -
Day 13
Bus driving from Sulichaur to Kathmandu (12-13 hours), O/ N at Hotel.
Finally, take a bus to Kathmandu from Sulichaur which takes 12-13 hours.
Trip Info
Cost Includes
All surface transportation for all (local staffs + tourists) Kathmandu to Pokhara to Kathmandu ( By comfortable Tourist Bus/Coach), Pokhara- Beni - Darbang then Sulichaur- Beni- Pokhara by Local/ Public bus / Jeep .
2. Home stay /Tent accommodation during trekking
3. Trekking permit / TIMS Card and National parks entry fees
4. Supporting staffs (trekking guide, cook, Sherpa and required no. of porters)
5. Cooking utensil and fuels-
6. Tents and mattresses (all camping gears0
7. Trekking Gears for all Porters (shoes, jacket, trouser, etc)
8. Necessary foods supply for all during trek
9. Insurance /Security for trekking/climbing staffs which is compulsory
10. All government & local taxes
11. All official paper works.
12. First aid kit-box
13. An Emergency or Rescue Evacuation Arrangement & pre-deposit service, payable later on by travel insurance company (porter`s back, horse`s back & helicopter), in case of required or wanted
Cost Excludes
- Personal nature of expenses (bar bill, telephone/ cyber bill, laundry bill, denotation for individual / institutions, battery re-charge fee, etc)
- Bar bills and Beverage
- Nepal visa fee
- Tips for trekking crews
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
- Emergency helicopter rescue in case of needed during the trekking
- Monument / Temples entrance fees in cities as well as in the mountain
- International / domestic flight fares, if applicable
- Others than what are included