Tsho Rolpa Lake Trek

Camping and hiking at high altitude is not for everyone.  If you are an experienced hiker and camper you will enjoy the challenge of this trek with its many days at high altitude and its demanding trails.  There are enough ‘easier’ days and acclimatization days to allow your body to stay in tip top condition.

For those who are less experienced, you may find this trek hard going with the high altitude, stone steps and long days.

The highest altitude you will reach is  at Tsho Rolpa Phedi, which is  5,682 m / 18,641 ft.   You will be sleeping at altitudes over or around 3,500 m / 11,482.9 ft for 11 nights.  There are three acclimatization days built into the itinerary to give your body time to rest and become used to the thinner air, which should give an indication as to how seriously we take the altitude.

If you have some experience of high altitude trekking and camping in remote areas and can walk for 6 hours plus per day over rough terrain, you can manage this trek and still feel like you have challenged yourself.

This is a trek for those with experience of trekking at altitude.  It is preferable that you have experience of camping at altitude also.  When we provide a camping trek, it often reflects the fact the area is remote and challenging.    

Do remember that camping in the Himalayas is not like camping in an area with campsite facilities.  Here we carry all the ‘facilities’ with us.  And although we do our best to provide you with comfortable tented accommodation, it is basic.

Overall, you should have a good level of fitness, stamina, and be able to persevere in challenging circumstances.  We want you to not only complete, but enjoy, the trek.

Three acclimatization days are built in and on average you are walking 6 hours a day over rough terrain.   On the day you cross the  Tashi Lapcha Pass, you will be trekking for around 9 hours. 

Prepare your body in advance by increasing your exercise regime, particularly working on your leg muscles and cardio.

Do remember there are a number of days where you will be walking and sleeping at altitudes which can potentially cause some people to have altitude related problems.  To combat this, we suggest you hike slowly, take plenty of breaks and stay well hydrated. Always be aware of your body on a trek – alert your guide to any different feelings – headaches, difficulty breathing, dizziness etc. 

You will be woken with a cup of hot tea and a bowl of hot water to wash your hands and face.  Yes, there will be opportunities to shower (in a bucket) but it is not necessary every day.

Your wonderful camping crew will be up preparing for the day before you wake, and breakfast will be soon ready.  The camping chef will also prepare a packed lunch for on the trail and some boiled drinking water for you to carry with you.

Setting off around 8am – unless it is a very long day ahead – is the norm.

In the Rowling Valley, the landscape varies from lush vegetation, alpine vegetation, raging rivers and cascading waterfalls, to grazing pastures, boulder strewn trails and steep uphills. Gaurishankar is the main mountain you will see in this area.  There is wildlife in this area, ranging from monkeys at the lower elevations to snow leopards at the higher elevations.  It may be difficult to spot the rarer mammals but definitely you will see yaks, many of them wild herds, on the hillside. 

You will spend between 4 to 9 hours on the trail daily.  The average day will be more like 6 hours.  Lunch and short rest breaks are taken on the trail.

When you reach the next campsite you will be served snacks and more hot tea while you have a chance to relax before dinner.  As for food, there are always vegetarian options at every meal, and (please request) some canned meat and fish for non-vegetarians.

What you will not see are hundreds of other trekkers on the trail!   Rolwaling is a remote, sparsely populated area and the Rolwaling Valley is nestled in the Gaurishankar Conservation Area.  The settlements you pass through are small and often seasonal. 

Rivers and waterfalls are a feature of the Rolwaling Valley.  Crossing rivers by suspension bridge is thrilling as is hearing the thunder of waterfalls.  You will also be visiting the high altitude glacier lake, Tsho Rolpo, which is in itself a wonderful destination.

The Rolwaling Valley section of this trek is very different from other treks in Nepal – it can be damp and stark, but it is always atmospheric and beautiful in its ruggedness.

Once you cross the Tashi Lapcha Pass you are in the Everest Region.  This area is, of course, home to Mount Everest and is famous among trekkers and mountaineers. 

Here are some reasons to enjoy this trek:-

Tenzing-Hillary Airport: The airstrip at Lukla is one of the highest airports in the world and quite challenging for pilots.  It is an interesting experience to fly in or out of this airport and get views of the mountains from a different angle.  

The Culture: Overall, the people from both sides of the pass follow Buddhism.  On the Rolwaling Valley side, there is a mix of different ethnic groups such as Gurung, Sherpa, Tamang, Chhetri and Brahmin.  Villages are built in traditional style and often surrounded by stone walls to keep out wildlife and the high winds that occur in this area.  When you cross over into the Khumbu (Everest Region) the people are predominantly Sherpa, who also follow Buddhism. 

Flora and Fauna: Among the mammals, you may see Himalayan tahr, musk deer, pika (mouse-hare), and langur monkeys. Among the larger and more rare mammals can be found the red panda, Himalayan black bear, and snow leopard.  You will have to be extremely lucky to see any of the bigger animals.  For those who are interested in birdwatching, some birds include Himalayan griffons, lammergeyers, blood pheasants, impeyan pheasants, and rufous-bellied tits.

The Yeti: In 1951 Eric Shipton, who was part of an expedition to survey routes to the summit of Everest (and whose findings partly enabled Hillary and Tenzing to reach the summit two years later) photographed what was thought to be footprints of the Yeti.  These footprints were found near the Menlung Basin near Mt Melungtse.  Today you can see what is reported to be a yeti skull in a gompa in  Khumjung village, near Namche Bazaar.  We do believe that Hillary examined and debunked that theory, but it makes an interesting visit and story.  Will you see a yeti on your trek?

Gaurishankar Conservation Area: Established in 2010 the conservation area covers 2,179 km² / 841 miles² and is part of the Sacred Himalayan Landscape of WWF. Currently managed  by the National Trust for Nature Conservation, the conservation area links Langtang National Park with Sagarmatha National Park. 

Tsho Rolpa Lake:  You will visit this lake on the Tashi Lapcha Pass Trek.  Its stunning turquoise waters make it quite beautiful.  Surrounded by mountains and rugged landscapes, the lake is the biggest glacial lake in Nepal and is continually expanding due to glacier melt.

Mountains: The Gaurishankar Himal range is the dominant range in the Rolwaling Valley.  Mountains in this range include  Gaurishankar at 7,134 m / 23,405.5 ft , Melungtse 7,181 m /  23,559.7 ft and Dorje Lakpa at 6,966 m /  22,854.3 ft.  Once you cross over into the Khumbu, you will get fantastic views of  Thamserku (6,623 m / 21,729 ft),  Kongde Ri (6,187 m / 20,299 ft), Nuptse (7,861 m / 25,790.68 ft) and of course Mt Everest (8,848.86 m / 29,029 ft) and many more. 

Namche Bazaar: Namche Bazaar was always the market town of the area but is now a bustling center for mountaineers and trekkers.  With its restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels, it is quite different than it was 70 years ago when Hillary visited.  If you have time, it is only a short hike to Khumjung village where Hillary set up a school and hospital for the local Sherpa community.  Other places of interest include the Sherpa Museum in Namche itself.

In this remote area, there are very few teahouses or home stay accommodation; which is why we chose to offer a camping trek.   

At our campsite we will provide you with a comfortable tent and sleeping mat, a toilet tent and dining tent. There is a kitchen tent where the camp chef will make delicious food and boil water for you for drinking.    While we try to make everything as comfortable as possible for you, make no mistake, this is rough camping with no facilities other than what we carry in with us.  If that doesn’t sound like your kind of adventure, we offer plenty of other treks which do not involve camping!  

For those who love camping, read on.

Breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner are made by our lovely camp chef.

While you are getting ready in the morning, breakfast will be prepared.  A packed lunch will be taken on the trail and there will be snacks and tea available at the end of the day while you are waiting for dinner to be prepared.  That chef is a busy man!

As there is no electricity at the campsites the cooking is done on a kerosene stove which the camping crew will bring with them. 

We suggest bringing your own snacks for those moments when you just want a taste of home or a shot of chocolate.  Protein bars, dried fruits and nuts will also give you an energy boost.

Food on the trek will be simple, yet filling and tasty.  We cater to Western tastes as well as to clients who may be from India or other parts of Asia.  We will provide you with food we think you will enjoy!  Do let us know if you have any allergies or simply do not like a certain food.

• Breakfast may be porridge with bread (probably roti – a Nepali flatbread)
• Lunch and dinner can be pasta, noodles, dal bhat (Nepali vegetable curry), pizza, etc.  
• Afternoon snacks may consist of fried potatoes and popcorn.
• We will not attempt to buy fresh meat but will bring some canned meat / tuna fish.  There is no guarantee the meat in remote areas is indeed fresh, which is why we will not buy it.
• There will be vegetarian food available at every meal. 
• Tea/ coffee/ hot water is unlimited. Powdered milk and sugar are available.

We will not carry alcohol as we do not recommend its consumption at altitude. And it’s simply too heavy to carry.  Same with soft drinks – too heavy to carry.  You could bring some flavored powder to add to the water for a different taste.

The kitchen tent will provide you with boiled water for drinking.  If you come across a mountain spring, as long as you add purifying drops or tablets to it you can drink that water.  When in doubt ask the guide.  A Lifestraw will filter out some, not all, larger bacteria so if you have one, bring it along.

What You Need to Bring for a Camping Trek

Take a look at our list of trekking equipment / gear  you need on any trek.  We suggest a few additional items for a camping trek, such as:

• Your favorite snacks.
•  Portable solar panel (one which hooks onto your day pack) to recharge equipment.
• Headtorch with batteries and extra batteries.
• Medicines – any ones you take regularly plus items such as headache tablets, stomach tablets etc.  And a small first aid kit.
• Four-season sleeping bag. This can be rented in Kathmandu.
• Toiletries in small, travel sized containers, and some clothes washing soap.
• Things for blisters and a few bandages in case of sprains.
• Nepali rupees in case there is something you wish to buy on the trek. 

While you should bring enough correct gear to last you the duration of the trek, please be considerate of those who will be actually carrying your bag!

Porters will be carrying the tents, kitchen equipment and food for your camping trek.  They can also carry your pack but please be considerate and keep your gear down to a sensible weight! 

As for many treks in Nepal, the best time to do this trek is during the spring or autumn.

In the spring (March to May)  the rhododendrons will be in bloom at lower altitudes and the skies will be clear.  On the downside, there may be some light rain at times in the Rolwaling Valley.  It will also be very busy on the Everest side of the pass.  On the upside, you may get the opportunity to see mountaineering expeditions heading towards Everest as spring is the main climbing season.

In the autumn (Sept to Nov), the weather is similar to spring in that it is not too warm (at lower altitudes) and not too cold (at higher altitudes). Again, this is an extremely popular time for trekking in the Everest Region.  It is also the time of festivals in Nepal so there may be festival related activities happening.

During the monsoon (June to Sept)  months (June to August) there will be heavy rain making the trails slippery and camping soggy!

Winter (December to March) is not recommended as there is likely to be snowfall on the pass and in other high altitude areas.  The pass may in fact be closed.   It will also be very cold. 

The Ganesh Himal region is located in a remote area between Langtang National Park and the Manaslu Conservation Area.  As you can imagine, the landscape of this little-visited area is quite stunning. 

Being only a day’s drive from the capital city of Kathmandu, you will be trekking through four different districts of Nepal, namely  Gorkha, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Rasuwa, and meeting quite a variety of different peoples. The communities you will pass through on this trek consist of Tamangs, Gurungs and Ghales in the north, all of whom practice Buddhism, and Chhetri, Dalit, Newar and Chepang in the lower south, who are Hindu.

The Ruby Valley itself  falls within Dhading and Rasuwa districts.

You require two permits for this trek:-

Gaurishankar Conservation Area Permit (GCAP)

Cost: USD 30 per person for foreign tourists.  USD10 (Nrs 1,000) for those trekkers from SAARC countries.

Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality (PLRM) Entry Permit:

Cost: USD 20 per person (even for those from SAARC countries)

Why You Need a Permit

The Gaurishankar Conservation Permit enables the fees collected from tourists to be put back into conservation – of the flora and fauna and of cultural heritage.  This is overseen by the Trust for Nature Preservation.

The Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Permit fees go directly towards conservation in the Everest Region and are overseen by the local Rural Municipality.   

It also helps in your safety.  When you pass a checkpoint, your permit  number is noted down and should you go missing, there is a greater chance of the search taking place in the right location.

If you wish, we can meet you at the Tribhuvan International Airport on your arrival, saving you time and effort.  Just let us know on the booking form but please note there is a charge for pick up. 

Altitude: One of the main concerns for a high altitude trek is altitude related illness.  We make recommendations and encourage you to follow our advice on how to mitigate the possibility of altitude illness. No one knows for sure whether they are prone to altitude or not.  Altitude illness is not related to age, fitness or gender.  It does help if you are fit to undertake this trek, but physical fitness does not always equate to a lower risk.  Frustrating, no?

You will see local folks, your porters, Sherpas etc climb mountains with ease.  Their secret?   An ancient inbuilt gene that the Sherpa community has or simply living at high altitude from birth.  The rest of us have to take more care.

The basic guidelines are:

• drink enough water to stay well hydrated,
• go slowly, and
• take lots of breaks.

Our guides are trained in first aid and in recognising signs of altitude so do not hesitate to inform them if you are feeling unwell.

Getting lost: Getting lost is easy in the mountains. Every year someone goes missing through taking a wrong turn.  Even if the route looks straight forward, there is always the possibility of getting turned around and/or confused.  Let your guide know if you are wishing to go explore on your own at any time and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings in the mountains.

Some basic tips on safety are:

• Don’t provoke the animals – including yaks!
• We are not sure of the procedure should you meet a yeti…
• Bring trekking poles for stabilizing yourself on risky/slippery / steep trails.
• Do not go off alone at the rest/ overnight stops without telling your guide.
• Drink at least 4 ltrs of water per day.
• It is important not to skip meals as you need to keep your energy up.  Those energy boosting bars or nuts are handy too.
• Do tell your guide if you feel at all unwell. 
• Have the correct insurance.
• Wear the correct gear. Bring waterproof gear in case of rain or snowfall even when it’s not forecast as the weather is unpredictable in the mountains.
• Bring your own regular medicines and a medical kit.
• Pay attention to the guide in tricky or dangerous areas. 

On a camping trek there really isn’t anywhere to spend your money.  On the Rowaling side of the pass there are few shops, and what is in them is pretty basic.  Over on the Everest side there will be teashops, shops selling snacks, and joy – cafes with real coffee and cakes! You need some money for that part of the trek.

Included in the cost of the trek is the accommodation, the transport (including flight), your guide, your camp chef, the porters and your food.   Nothing else to pay on the trail.

We do request you set aside money to tip the camp crew and guide.  And also, to make donations at any monasteries / gompas you visit.   Details of tips are given below.  For the monasteries – around Nrs200-500 per visit is good.

Souvenirs are few and far between on the first leg of the trek.  Maybe there will be some handwoven rug or similar items.  Again, over on the Everest side there will be items available in Namche to remember your trek by.   

Overall, we suggest you bring Nepali rupees for things like cups of tea or snacks on the trail, coffee and pastries or a beer in Namche, and whatever is on offer in the way of a take home gift/ souvenir.  USD 5 – 10 per day is enough on the  Rolwaling side of the pass, and a bit more on the Everest side – that coffee in Namche is going to cost you around USD5!  You can do the math.

If you wish, we can meet you at the Tribhuvan International Airport on your arrival, saving you time and effort.  Just let us know on the booking form but please note there is a charge for pick up. 

Tips: Tips are not included in the cost of your trek.  Please calculate the tips for your guide and porters.  Tips can be in Nepali rupees or other currencies.

• Transport: Public bus  to Shigati and flight back from Lukla are included. 
• Accommodation: Tents, and sleeping mats are provided.
• Food: At the camp site you will get breakfast, dinner,  and afternoon snacks.  You will also get a packed lunch to eat on the trail.
• Permits: The permits required for this trek are included in the cost of your trip.

• Trekking / camping gear, good  trekking boots.

• Flight ticket, visa fee, and insurance.

Should you wish to hire a private jeep for transport to and from the trekking point, please discuss with us.  There is an additional charge for this.