Sailung trek | Indigenous people trail | 9 days

Today, you’ll set off with your guide and porter in a private jeep to the starting point of your trek, Dhunge. You’ll travel via Dhulikhel and then through the village of Mude. The journey takes about 4½ hours in total. Today is a short day’s walk. In Dhunge, you’ll begin a short climb towards Thulo Sailung. You then follow the path downhill until you reach the Sherpa village of Khola Kharka, where you will spend the night.

Today you will hike to the summit of Thulo Sailung. At an altitude of around 3,300 metres, Sailung offers impressive views across Kalinchowk towards Annapurna, Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Rolwaling, Everest and Kanchenjunga; to the south, you can see the Mahabharata Hills and the Sun Koshi River, and further down you can even see the lowlands of the Terai! Thulo Sailung is regarded by the indigenous Tamangs (the largest ethnic group in this region) as the abode of the region’s deity, Sailung Phoi Sibda Karpo. The chörten on Sailung Hill is the home of this divine protector, and the Tamang community are regarded as the ‘guardians of the land’. This is a very important – and therefore fascinating for you – place for the indigenous people. Just below the summit of Thulo Sailung lies Gaurighat Cave, regarded as a source of fertility and good health.

On a clear day, you can enjoy a breathtaking sunrise over the Eastern Himalayas here! After breakfast, you’ll follow the path downhill through rhododendrons to the Tashi Namgyal Choeling Monastery in Raj Veer, which was built in 1972 by the Bhutanese Drukpa Kagyu school. Unfortunately, this monastery was severely damaged by the 2015 earthquake. From Raj Veer Monastery, the trail continues downhill. You will no longer be walking through forests, but through green terraced fields. Along the way, you will pass a Sherpa village and a Tamang village. You will walk beneath and alongside prayer flags and past chortens and mani walls. The path continues downhill until you reach the spectacular ‘Thinghare’ waterfall: the water from the 12-metre-high waterfall plunges onto the rocks below. After another short climb, you arrive at the settlement of Surke, surrounded by beautiful terraced fields. You spend the rest of the day in the village. You can walk to the Gaurigaun viewpoint or pay a visit to the Thami community. This indigenous community is happy to show you their culture. There are only 30,000 of them, and the survival of their Tibetan-Burmese community is under threat.

You walk through the Thami settlement before crossing the Doramba Valley. The path leads you over a wooded ridge to the terraced fields of Doramba. Doramba is one of the largest Tamang settlements in Nepal. Did you know that many of the Thangka artists you see at work in Boudha come from this village? The Tamang are very hospitable and also have their own language. Do give it a go with a few sentences!

You leave the Doramba Valley and hike up to the summit of Agleshwari Danda. Here you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Himalayas and the rolling Mahabhata hills below. There’s also a secret Hindu shrine on this hilltop! You descend through a slate mine, then through pine forests until you reach Galpa Bazaar. This village is situated on a pass between two valleys and is the perfect spot for lunch! Khandadevi lies atop a hill at an altitude of 1,977 metres. The village is built around a fascinating Hindu temple complex and is surrounded by ancient stone walls. The Hindu temple is dedicated to the goddess Khada Devi. The surroundings are picturesque! From the rolling, lush green Mahabharat Hills to the snow-capped peaks of Numburchuili and Gaurishankar in the north, with views stretching as far as the plains of the Terai in the south.

As you leave Khandadevi, you follow the path along a long mountain ridge, with views of the subtropical plains of the Terai on one side and the snow-capped Himalayan peaks on the other. Nepalese diversity at its best! The path winds up and down through dense alpine forests before you enter another valley. Before you reach Dhonghme, you’ll pass a huge rock in the middle of the forest on which a small temple dedicated to the god Shiva has been built. Dhonghme is an ancient Yolmo settlement, home to many lamas. The local lama will be happy to show you his extensive collection of Buddhist scriptures. In the evening, you can climb to the summit of Sunapati. The sunset here is spectacular. Being here, surrounded by Buddhist chortens and Hindu temples, makes for a magical experience.

Early in the morning, you’ll enjoy a stunning sunrise. After breakfast, you’ll head down to the village of Lubughat on the famous Sun Koshi River. Here you’ll meet the Majhi community, who are renowned for their expertise in fishing. You’ll see the men, women and children in the river. Ze gooien herhaaldelijk netten in water in de hoop de passerende vissen te vangen.

Today is the last day of your trek. You’ll walk through fields from Lubughat to Thulo Parsel. Thulo Parsel is a sprawling village, with views of the mountains and the river below. It is home to various communities, the majority of whom are Tamang, Brahmin and Chhetri. This is also the home village of Chuda and some of our guides and porters!

The end of the trip has arrived. After breakfast, you’ll set off back to Kathmandu in a private jeep. The first part of the journey is an adventurous drive, passing through villages and offering views of the river. You’ll then drive past Dhulikhel, Banepa and Bhaktapur until you reach Kathmandu.

The Sailung trek is a light to moderately challenging trek. You’ll walk for an average of 4 to 6 hours a day along easily accessible paths. There are a few gentle climbs, but no technical sections. Thanks to the relatively low elevation gain, this can be an excellent option for active travellers aged 55 and over and families with children aged 8 and above

The highest point is at approximately 3,150 meters, at the summit of Sailung. Here, you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view of both the Himalayas and the Terai lowlands. The moderate altitude makes this trek ideal for those prone to altitude sickness.

The best times to visit are spring and fall: March through May and October through November. During these months, the weather is clear and pleasant, and you can enjoy stunning views and blooming rhododendrons. Because of the lower elevations, the hike is also suitable for winter, although it can be a bit chilly then.

To make your stay in the simple homestays and community lodges more comfortable, we recommend that you bring the following:

🛏️ Sheet bag or lightweight sleeping bag – for extra hygiene and warmth

🧦 Warm socks and slippers – the rooms are not heated

💧 Reusable water bottle and water purification tablets or filter – tap water is never safe to drink

🚿 Quick-drying towel and washcloth, or possibly a sari or wrap—for washing at a stream or with a bucket

💡 Headlamp or flashlight – power supply is limited

🚽 Restroom bag with toilet paper and hand sanitizer – toilet paper is rarely available

🔥 Bring warm clothes for the evening—it can get quite chilly, even indoors

🩹 Personal first-aid kit and basic hygiene products – there are no stores nearby

Since the Sailung Trail passes through remote and rarely visited areas, it’s important to be well-prepared before setting out. Be sure to pack the following in your daypack every day:

🎒 Comfortable daypack (20–30 liters) with rain cover

🧥 Windproof and waterproof jacket – the weather can change quickly

🌞 Sun protection – sunscreen, sunglasses, and a cap or hat

🥤 At least 1.5 liters of water—and water purification tablets or a filter, if needed

🧃 Snacks or energy bars – there are few or no stores along the way

🧤 Warm hat and gloves – it can get chilly at high altitudes even during the day

🧦 Extra pair of socks – for wet or cold feet

👟 Broken-in hiking boots with good tread

📸 Camera or smartphone – for the breathtaking views

🗺️ Notebook or small journal – to jot down your thoughts

🧻 Toilet paper and a small trash bag – there are no facilities along the way

🚑 Personal first-aid kit with blister plasters

A frequently asked (and valid) question. During the Sailung trek, you’ll stay with local families in homestays or community lodges. This gives you a unique glimpse into daily life, but it can also make you want to “give something back” or bring a gift.

We recommend approaching this with care and respect. Although well-intentioned, gifts such as candy, money, or random items can encourage begging or exacerbate inequality in the villages—and that is something we want to avoid.

What is appropriate:
🎨 Educational or creative supplies such as colored pencils, notebooks, or balloons, which you can give to the local school or community through your guide.

🧼 Small toiletries (such as a bar of soap or toothbrushes) in consultation with the guide.

📚 Books in English or visual teaching materials – especially welcome at local schools.

🛑 What we prefer not to do: hand out items directly to children or families. Would you still like to contribute? Ask your guide for advice. Often, a genuine interest, a friendly conversation, and respect for their way of life are the best gifts you can give.

During the Sailung trek, you’ll pass through remote villages where Wi-Fi is usually unavailable. If you still want to be reachable along the way or send the occasional message, we recommend purchasing a Nepalese SIM card with data in Kathmandu (e.g., from NTC or Ncell). This will give you coverage in some places along the way, though the signal remains inconsistent. So don’t expect a constant connection—and see it as an opportunity to truly go offline for a while.

You’ll stay in simple homestays and community lodges. These are accommodations run by local families, offering basic amenities and a warm welcome. If there is a bathroom (which isn’t always the case), it’s often located in a separate building. Toilets are usually squat toilets.

You’ll walk through remote villages where tourists are still a rare sight and meet lesser-known ethnic groups such as the Thami and Majhi. The cultural exchange and hospitality you’ll encounter along the way make this a unique and rewarding experience.

Yes, the Sailung Trek is relatively close to Kathmandu, which means you can easily combine this trek with a cultural visit to Bhaktapur or a stay in the spiritual village of Pharping.