Overview

The Himlung Himal Expedition is one of the most rewarding adventures in Nepal. Many climbers are drawn to this adventure as it rewards them with the full thrill of a Himalayan expedition. It is also known for its impressive summit success rate in its category.

This beautiful peak has only been accessible to foreigners since 1992. But it has already gained status as a renowned summit. The journey begins along the popular Annapurna trekking trails and deviates towards the remote Nar Phu Valley, leading into the Manaslu region located to the northeast of Annapurna.

In the trekking phase, you will walk through the picturesque villages along the route and get to experience their ancient customs and monasteries. In addition, you can immerse yourself in the mystical atmosphere of valleys that were closed off to outsiders until only a few decades ago.

The Himlung Himal ascent is wisely structured for proper acclimatization, with three high camps where you have to make rotations before the final summit push. The Himlung Himal Base Camp sits at 4,900 m. From here, the team will establish three higher camps at 5,430m, 6,000m, and 6,350 m.

The carefully structured sequence of ascent gives you plenty of opportunities to acclimatize and make steady progress towards the top. The climb isn’t overly technical. However, thin air, steep terrain and cold conditions demand focus, stamina and determination. Still, with proper preparation and reliable support, you can tackle all difficulties.

Himlung Himal Expedition is ideal for mountaineers wishing to prepare for 8,000 m peaks. It is graded AD+ with a Fitness level of 4. So, it is a demanding adventure and requires solid fitness. But it also offers perfect blend of culture, beautiful scenery and thrilling high altitude experience for those who are well prepared.


Itinerary Overview

  • Day 1 – Kathmandu arrival and hotel transfer

  • Day 2 – Exploration and climb preparation day

  • Day 3 – Kathmandu to Koto drive

  • Day 4 – Koto to Singenge

  • Day 5 – Singenge to Kyang

  • Day 6 – Kyang to Phu trek

  • Day 7 – Acclimatization and exploration day at Phu

  • Day 8 – Phu to Himlung Himal Base Camp

  • Day 9 - Day 19 – Climbing period, summit of Himlung Himal, and return to base camp

  • Day 20 – Trekking back to Phu from Himlung Himal Base Camp

  • Day 21 – Phu to Meta

  • Day 22 – Meta to Koto trek

  • Day 23 – Drive back to Kathmandu From Koto

  • Day 24 – Leisure day at Kathmandu

  • Day 25 – Departure day, drop off at the airport

Detailed Itinerary

During the first day of your Himlung expedition itinerary, upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), our representative will pick you up at the airport terminal. From the airport, you will be transported in a comfortable private vehicle to your hotel, which will be a short drive. After settling in at your hotel and getting refreshed, you can check out the nearby highlights of this vibrant city or just stroll around the streets, checking out cafes and restaurants to shake off the jet lag. You can also visit our office for any kind of assistance; your overall Himlung Himal Expedition briefing will take place tomorrow.

It’s an exciting day’s adventure today; after breakfast, you will set out on a sightseeing tour of this rich cultural, traditional, and spiritual capital of this Himalayan country. Today, you will also explore some of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in Kathmandu (7 out of 10 in the country are inside the capital valley). After the day tour, you will visit our office, and your expedition guide will brief you about the details of the expedition and what you can expect during the adventure. If you haven’t completed your shopping for the equipment yet, you can use Day 1 and Day 2 of your Himlung Himal Expedition to rent or buy mountaineering gear.

The drive from Kathmandu to Koto takes around 10 hours, offering a scenic journey through winding hills, rivers, and rural villages. The route follows the Prithvi Highway, passing through towns like Naubise, Mugling, Damauli, and Besisahar before continuing on the rough off-road trail toward Chamje, Dharapani, and finally Koto. You’ll stop for breakfast at Mugling, a popular highway junction known for its riverside eateries, and later enjoy lunch at Besisahar, the gateway to the Annapurna region. The journey rewards you with changing landscapes—from bustling towns to peaceful mountain valleys—before you reach Koto, entry point of the Himlung Expeditions.

Continuing with your trekking adventure, on Day 6 of your Himlung Himal Expedition, you leave Koto behind and cross a suspension bridge over the Naar Phu River, heading toward Singenge. Then, you will make your way across the deep gorges and canyons as you keep moving further in your trekking route and cross several suspension bridges. Although the trekking on this day is a little bit draining, the incredible views from the top of the hills will certainly be inspiring. During the last part of this day’s trek, you will cross a wooden bridge to follow the inkling trail that stretches all the way to Singenge.

On Day 5 of your Himlung expedition itinerary, during the first part of this day’s trek, you will make your way toward the seasonal settlement of Meta. Your trekking trail on this day’s adventure will be blessed with incredible views of the Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal for the remaining part. Moving further in this day’s trekking route, you will overcome a steep hill to head toward Junam Goth; from here, you will follow the descending trail that drops to the riverbed of the Mruju River, a branch of the Lyapche Glacier. Crossing over the river via a suspension bridge, you will follow another sharp descent toward the moraines of the Kyang. From its vantage point, you will be able to witness the spectacular views of Pisang Peak, Gyaji Kang, Tilche Peak, and Annapurna II.

Moving forward with the trekking route, on Day 6 of your Himlung Himal Expedition, you will first follow the descending route to the banks of the Murju Khola. Moving past the ‘submarine’ rock and potential campsites, you will able to witness the chortens and praying flags that indicate that you have entered the Nar and Phu Valley. Trekking past the small glacial streams along the way, you will cross a bridge over a large glacial stream and switch your trials to the fascinating gorges and canyons of the valley as you push for the Phu Gate. From here you will able to witness the remnants of two of the three forts of Phu from the historic age in ruins but beautifully sited above the plains of the Phu Village.

By Day 7 of your Himlung expedition itinerary, you have ascended over a significant altitude, so today, you will take a break from trekking and rest at Phu Village to acclimatize properly to the high Himlayan altitude. For an effective acclimatization process, you are recommended to do some short hikes around the region. You can do some short hikes in the morning to explore the valley; Samdo Monastery and Cholang Monastery are some of the popular hiking destinations among the trekkers in the Phu Village. In the evening, you can just stroll around this magnificent traditional village, enjoying the spiritual ambiance of Buddhist culture and exploring the local culture, tradition, and lifestyle. Overnight stay at a teahouse in Phu Village.

Finally, the time for you to move toward the main objective of this Himalayan expedition has come forth. On this day’s Himlung expedition itinerary, leaving the Phu Village behind, you will head toward the Himlung Base Camp. It is a short day’s hike; you will follow the ascending trail across moraines and head toward the yak pastures. From here, the uphill route will take you toward the grassy slope moving past the Kari Koblar Base Camp, and you will traverse across the Pangir Glacier following the rugged boulder-strewn route that stretches toward the Himlung Himal Base Camp. Your expedition crew will set up camps at suitable sites and start making preparations for the scaling part.

Day 09- Day 19 in your Himlung Himal Expedition will be the scaling period of your climbing expedition. During this period, you will do some practice climbs and acclimatize properly to the alpine altitude before your push for the summit. During your Himlung Himal Expedition, you will have to overcome the three high camps on the mountain, Camp I (5,450 meters), Camp II (6,000 meters), and Camp III (6,350 meters), before you push all the way to the summit of the mountain at 7,126 meters (23,379 feet). During your scaling period, during the first part, you will climb to Camp I to acclimatize and head back to base camp, then push for Camp II to acclimatize and head back to lower camp. You will repeat the process until you are ready for the summit push, overcoming the steep ice, snow, and technical sections on the mountain, you will push for the top of the mountain following the guidance of your expedition guide on fixed ropes. After a successful summit and enjoying the incredible panoramic views of the Himalayan vistas from the top of the mountain, you will then make your way to the lower camps and finally to the base camp.

After the successful summit of the mountain, on Day 22 of your Himlung Himal Expedition, you will commence your return trip. Traversing across the glacial moraine and boulder-strewn jagged trails, you will make your descent toward the Phu Village. This will be the first day back in the cozy and warm accommodation establishment after long camping nights in the alpine environment. With a heart filled with joy and lifelong memories, you will settle in for the night in a warm teahouse, enjoying a nourishing meal.

On Day 21 of your Himlung expedition itinerary, proceeding further with your descending return trip, you will follow the path across the monasteries and historic monuments heading toward Meta. As it is a descending trail, you will find it a comfortable trekking experience, and you will be able to enjoy the stunning views of the Himalayan peaks like Pisang Peak and Annapurna II as you make your way toward Kyang. During the last part of this day’s trekking adventure, you will cross a suspension bridge moving past Chyaku and arrive at Meta. Overnight stay at a teahouse in Meta.

Leaving behind the trails of this charming village on the Tibetan Plateau on this day’s trekking adventure in your Himlung Himal Expedition, you follow the descending trail through a forested area. After reaching Dharmasala, you will cross suspension bridges over the streams and trek past scenic waterfalls. Then, moving across the lush fir and pine forests, you trek alongside the Soti Khola and finally arrive at Koto.

The drive from Koto to Kathmandu takes around 10 hours, descending from the high mountain valleys of Manang to the bustling capital city. The journey begins on a rugged off-road section, passing through Dharapani, Chamje, and Besisahar, where the road meets the main highway. You’ll stop for breakfast at Besisahar, a lively town at the base of the Annapurna region, and continue the scenic drive along the Marsyangdi and Trishuli rivers, passing through Damauli, Mugling, and Naubise. A lunch break at Mugling offers a relaxing riverside meal before the final stretch toward Kathmandu. The drive showcases beautiful hillside terraces, local settlements, and river valleys as you return to the city’s vibrant atmosphere.

Day 24 in your Himlung Himal Expedition will be a leisure day; you can do some sightseeing tours around Kathmandu on this and explore the remaining UNESCO World Heritage Sites that you couldn’t visit on Day 2. You can also use this day to visit the cultural sites and collect souvenirs as a memoir of your exhilarating Himalayan expedition. In the evening, Peak Climbing Nepal will host a farewell dinner to celebrate your successful summit and our affiliation. After dinner, you will be dropped off at your hotel for an overnight stay.

The time to bid farewell to this Himalayan country has come forth; depending on your flight schedules, our representative will pick you up at the hotel for the airport drop-off and assist with the checkout procedure. Thank you for climbing with Peak Climbing Nepal; we hope to see you again. Have a safe journey!
Himlung Himal Expedition - 25 Days - $7500
Cost Included on the package
  • Hotel Transfers on arrival and departure.
  • 4 star hotel in Kathmandu along with BB Plan.
  • Complete coverage of sightseeing tours in Kathmandu Valley.
  • Essential climbing gear for the expedition
  • Complete Ground Transportation in a Private automobile as stated in Itinerary.
  • All of the necessary land transportation costs throughout the expedition.
  • Climbing permit for Himlung Himal and permits for other restricted areas.
  • The package cost includes the Himlung Himal regular route climbing royalty and the climbing permit issued by the Nepal Government (Department of Tourism).
  • As the expedition takes place in the Narphu and Annapurna regions, this package will also cover the cost of the permit to explore the Annapurna Conservation Area (Largest conservation area in Nepal).
  • Trekkers’ Information Management Systems (TIMS) permit that is required to explore the Narphu Valley and the Annapurna Conservation Area.
  • Teahouse and tented accommodation throughout the trip.
  • Complete meals – Breakfast and Lunch plus Dinner while climbing & trekking duration.
  • Nutritious and healthy delicacies from clean and fresh sources in the lower base camps.
  • Healthy food packages at higher altitudes with modes to heat the food and makes warm beverages.
  • Fee and salary of experienced trekking guides, kitchen staff, and porters.
  • One client = one climbing sherpa guide
  • Food, lodging, and insurance for all of the team members.
  • Complete essential climbing gears.
  • Complete camping equipment – Tent for dining, Latrine tent, Storehouse tent, Furniture for the expedition.
  • Insurance along with whole staff costs, meals, clothing
  • An emergency supply of oxygen masks and regulators.
  • Base camp: Solar panel - Battery Charge & Light.
  • Availability of fuel-powered backup generators to ensure that you can keep your devices fully powered.
  • All of the charges for necessary paperwork throughout the expedition.
  • Cellular Phone (payable as per usage).
  • Guide map in order to familiarize with the surroundings and keep track of the adventure.
  • Kathmandu: Welcome & farewell dinner.
  • Total applicable VAT, TAX & essential documents.
Cost Included from the package
  • Personal Climbing and Trekking gear.
  • Your Travel Insurance.
  • The sum of US$700 as a summit bonus for a Guide.
  • Employment of extra crew members who are not part of the company or selected package.
  • Bar and Beverage Bills.
  • All sorts of Personal expenses.
  • Tips and Donations.
  • Refundable garbage deposit.
  • Any prolongated expenses due to natural phenomena or political environment.