Numbur Cheese Circuit Trek - 13 Days

The journey to witness the virgin nature and the astounding lakes in Numbur Cheese Circuit starts with the drive on the winding road Kathmandu to the shivalaya. The vehicle approximately takes 9 hours to take you to Shivalaya; gateway to Numbur circuit trek. The well paved Road takes you through many small settlements near highway and the rest through the jungles. During the drive you will be pass many hills and cross many rivers. On the way from Ahal Danda, you can observe the beautiful Himalaya range along with the cluster of the 100 small hills known as Sailung danda. You can explore the sailing danda during Indigenous people trekking. One of the stopovers of the Everest base camp trekking; the shivalaya is located alongside breezy and sparkling Khimti River. There you’ll find numbers of guest houses and basic shops. This is the last town on the route where you can buy foods, clothes and other basic goods so don’t forget to check your bag pack before heading to Khahare which is the next destination. Overnight at the local Lodge

Cold breeze and warm sunrise of shivalaya will wake you up. After having breakfast, you will be heading towards Khahare; the small Sherpa settlement through the river valley “Garjang”. Though you have option to take a vehicle from shivalaya to khahare, it is recommended to walk on you own foot as the easy hike in the plain land will warms up you.
It will take approximately 4 hours of easy hike to reach Khahare, a village comprising not more than 10 houses. The village is resided only on winter and they move up with their cattle on summer for grazing yaks in the pasture land. Accommodation will be in local lodge.

Today the steep trail takes you up by approx. 1000 meter height from the plain land of khahare. The stony trail leads you towards the Panipakha; first campsite on the trail route up-through the jungle and crossing the suspension ridge. Panipakha has few small meadows with the yak sheds and the sloped grassy land with the towering alpine vegetation. The Camp site on the panipakha where the Small wooden house has been constructed for the camping purpose faces the mesmerizing river valley “garjang”. The Campsite also offers the amazing view of roaring Khimti River. The Sunset seen view from middle of the jungle is bonus from the Number Cheese circuit trek. We will rest tonight in tented accommodation.

The trail gradually inclines till the stony trail climbing Manedanda and takes you over the edge to reach the campsite. Throughout the trail you will be passing some small pasture lands in between the dense forest, so for your safety do not go out of the trail leaving the group. The way to manedanda takes you through the eye-catching rhododendron forests and to the fields over the ridge of Maanedanda. If you are lucky to trek in spring season the color of the rhododendron flower will add color to the green jungle and on the summertime the pasture land over the ridge will surely magnetize you.
On our way to Manedanda we will pass a tiny Sherpa settlement called Phokte. After walking for around 5 hours we reached Manedanda. Similar to name” Manedanda”, ie. Mane means Chorten and Danda means hilltop, the second stopover of Number cheese circuit is Hilltop. As we reach Manedanda the hardships in climbing the steep trail will have no comparison with the splendid view of landscapes of surrounding area and mountains on a clear day. There are few Yak sheds on the hilltop and the cheese production center approximately 15 minute down the hill. Recently in year 2019, the Local government has constructed the wooden house for camping purpose where we will be staying tonight. Overnight in the tent

Today will be one of the exciting day of the Number cheese circuit trek as we will be reach the beautiful cluster of 5 lakes called Panchpokhari 4515 meter above the sea level crossing another big holy lake Jatapokhari . Leaving the manedanda the easy trail leads you to Jata Pokhari along the riverside. With the increasing altitude the trail takes you through alpine towering vegetation to small evergreen shrub scientifically known as Rhododendron Anthopogan below the snow line, a rare mountain herb. During the walk between the bushes of the Rhododendron Anthopogan locally known as Sunapati (Golden leaf), the distinct sweet scent enters not only into the nose but also flows over the mind. If you are travelling in late spring and summer you will witness the yellow color flower of the Sunapati coloring the high lands.
Right before you reach Jata Pokhari, you will come across a beautiful waterfall. The beauty of the lake and the origination of Pristine river from the lake is unexplainable in words. The Jatapokhari is also has religious importance for Hindus. This lake (Jata Pokhari) is a popular pilgrimage site of Ramechhap where thousands of pilgrims gather to celebrate holy festival of Janaipurnima during the month of July. Leaving the outstanding lake, the trail climbs up to reach Panchpokhari. There were five small lakes nearing each other. If we face to south keeping the lake in front, the lake seems as if it is in the horizon. Further climb on small hill on the side of the lake will present you the majestic view of the snowcapped Himalayan range and Annapurna South dominating the Western horizon of Panchpokhari. We will stay overnight in a tent.

The sixth day of our trek, we ascended over the pass at the height of 4600m. From there we will trek downhill to reach tare. On our way to tare village, we trek through khola kharka and keep trekking downward passing Nupche river. We reached tare after walking for almost 7 hours. The attraction of today’s trekking is to visit local cheese factory. After trying some freshly made yak cheese and observe the unique process of making cheese in this hidden part if the world we continue to Tare village.
Trekking over the Panchpokhari pass changes the scenery of the entire trekking. Till 7th day of trekking till Panchpokhari we were walking in one side of the jungle whereas, after the pass we will be walking in the natural trail on other side of Hidden lake trail. The difference at this point is the element of attraction as lake earlier and mountains now. Even from the top of Panchpokhari pass we can see Numbur chuli and many other towering snowcapped mountains of Everest and Rolwaling mountain range. As the trail named by yak cheese as Numbur CHEESE circuit; trying local product on the trekking trail will make a lifetime memory. Overnight at tented camp

After breakfast at Tare village, we trek to Linkhu khola valley (hidden river valley). The hike might be challenging but it’s extremely rewarding with the natural scenery and virgin landscape. You’ll have the view of majestic mountains, hills and dwindling rivers. The Mountain View expand from north into Tibet as we moved through the Gyajo La, also known as Thulo Lapcha situated at the altitude of 4880m. This is a path normally used by native Sherpas to get yaks through the peaks to Rakhidanda and Ngeju. But for us this is another pass to trek over and the pass has magnificent view. We continued our trek to Likhu glacier, which led us to Ngeju. Ngeju is nested at the foot of icefall dipping from the peak of Numbur. There we will find antique Buddhist Shrine enclosed by a big arc of tall rock above tree line of the valley at Kau Gumba. There lies also a lake called Dudhkunda. Dudhkuda is famous for its milky color resting in the heart of glacial basin. The lake is surrounded by tumbling glaciers and large moraines. We spent the night at tented camp.

The 8 day of our trek, we headed to Lhachhewar. This village is also known as sewar. Sewar is the most beautiful Sherpa villages in the upper Ramechhap region. Sewar has instinct of the antique feeling of the Sherpa settlement in the Everest region. After this village the trekking trail descended downwards and after walking for approximately 5 hours; we reached Lhachhewar village. The village welcomes us with amazing landscapes, culture and hospitality. Sherpa from Sewar village has still maintained their traditional lifestyle. Their simple life will be rewarding consideration for trekkers. Roaming around the villages gives plenty of opportunity to chat with people, clicked some photos, and explores real Nepal in 16 days trip to Nepal. This village has homestay; this is the accommodation of today. We spend night with the local family. Overnight at the homestay at Sewar village

Trekking is from Lhachhewar to kyama is initial descending through deep forest. Forest of Kyama has eye catching window view of mt Pathibhara and mt Numberchuli. Kyama is famous for potato production. In the local homestay of Kyama village while doing Numbur cheese circuit, you will get potatoes with local yak Cheese. Cheeses you find in the entire trekking destination of Nepal are Yak cheese. On arrival, we can walk around the village kyama and spent the night in a homestay.

After 10 days of trekking in virgin trail number cheese circuit we get out of the wild nature. After breakfast at Kyama we start trekking toward Gumdel. Leaving Kyama village, will goodbye to the shiny mountain the mt Numburchuli. Leaving the mountains behind us and the trail will head to Gumdel. Gumdel is another Sherpa settlement of Numbuchr circuit. Trekking trail slopes downhill across the dense jungles.
Trekking to a tiny hamlet all around a large Buddhist stupa at Gumdel village has stunning view of the valley in the mountain. Mountain valley seen from Gumdel is overwhelming. You’ll be able to be a part of unique Sherpa culture in the midst of mountainous valleys of Gumdel. After Gumdel village of Sherpa trekking continues crossing the thick and beautiful forest to arrive at Serding. It takes around 4 hour to trek from Gumdel to Serding. Beautiful scenery of sub-alpine and temperate forest with the view of mt Gauri Shanker and mt Numburchuli is admiring. You can have some yak cheese and observe the process of making it. Home Stays in Serding offer a traditional Sherpa hospitality.

After breakfast at Serding we started trekking from Serding to Lapchane via route of Thotung. During today’s trekking we will visit Thodung Monastery. To visit this monastery we need to follow the route via Thotung. After visiting centuries old monastery of lower Everest region We descended further to Deurali. Thotung monastery is believed to be a oldest monastery of the region. Breathtaking view of the Gauri Shankar Mountain during our trek from Serding to Lapchane is a great farewell of the trekking, towards the end. It takes us around 6 hour to reach Lapchane. It is a beautiful Newari village in the mountain. We rest for a moment and trek to Tamdanda; which is 30 minutes away from Lapchane. Tamdanda is famous as the tallest hill of Ramechhap. From Tamdanda of Numbur cheese circuit trekking trail, we will be able to see most of the central and eastern Himalayan peaks like; mt Dhalguiri, mt Annapurna, mt Gauri Shanker, mt Numbur, mt Makalu, mt Kanchenjunga and many other. This hilltop offers breathtaking sunrise and sunset views. This tourist spot of Nepal might make us feel heaven in nature. Wide variety of flora and fauna, with 65 species of birds are found here. For the night we can stay at Newari home stay, you can be a part of the renowned Newari culture in the village of Lapchane.

The last day of Numbur cheese circuit trek in Nepal starts after breakfast at Lapchane village. This village is settlement of mixed cast of people and different ethnic groups. Todays, we trek back to Jiri which will take around 4 hours. Jiri is a gateway to Everest Base camp from the history. When Tenjing Norgey and Eudmund Hillary succeeded the summit of Everest, they started the trekking from this rural town of Nepal. Very few people start trekking from this suburb. But, in fact if you do trekking to Everest Base camp starting from Jiri then you will acclimatize properly and get to know most of Nepal in one trekking holiday in Nepal. If you have time and EBC trek is your bucket list then Jiri to Everest Base Camp can be your best suit.

The road condition of jiri to Kathmandu highway is much improved coming to present. The scenery of hills and magnificent view of Mt Gaurishankar Himalaya range is stunning. This hill highway of Nepal is nice with greenery and fresh air. Jiri is compared to Zurich city of Switzerland, landscape wise. Locals of the region believe it is like Zurich, Switzerland. Note: All package of Nepalgram are customizable. Given itinerary for Numbur Cheese Circuit is a general idea for the new trekking routes in Nepal. If you are looking for Charity trekking in Nepal, this route is a perfect one after customization in the existing itinerary.