Paldor Peak Climbing

You will meet a representative from Himalaya Guide after landing at the Tribhuwan International Airport. A Nepali-style welcome with garlands and Dosalla will soon follow. After that, our representative will escort you to a hotel in Thamel. You can ask some more Do’s and Don’ts during the drive, which might be helpful during your journey. Rest for the day after reaching the hotel. In your spare time, you can stroll and taste the local market. Overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.

You have a whole day today to prepare the necessary gear and climbing equipment for the Paldor Peak Climb. First, you will visit our office with your guide for the orientation session of the climb. We will debrief you about the routes, major places, and points you will visit during the journey. After that, you will receive some tips from professional peak climbing experts for the climb.

Next, your guide will help you with the preparation. The guide will also take you to the gear shop if you need to purchase additional gear/supplies. With everything taken care of, our guide will drop you off at your hotel. Overnight at Kathmandu.

With an early breakfast at your hotel, start your journey towards the Langtang region. Your guide will meet you outside the hotel to pick you up. From here, you will take a cab to the local bus station. From the bus park, you will travel on a bus to Syabrubesi. In the higher hills near the Himalayas, this drive is eventful. The drive takes you through winding roads that follow the Pasang Lhamu Highway, which connects to Dhunche and then descends towards Syabrubesi.

While the initial phase of the drive is relatively smooth with blacktopped roads, once you enter the Trishuli–Dhunche section, the road becomes narrower, winding, and sometimes bumpy. Despite these challenges, the journey is beautiful, with views of rivers, cascading waterfalls, and distant Himalayan peaks like Ganesh Himal and Langtang Lirung on clear days. After reaching Syabrubesi, we will check into the lodge and spend the night there, enjoying dinner.

From the fourth day, your trek to the Paldor Peak Climbing route officially begins. You’ll wake up with the sound of birds chirping and start your day with a warm cup of tea along with a hearty morning meal. The day takes you to Gatlang from Syabrubesi, which marks the first walk through the Tamang Heritage Trail. Leaving Syabrubesi, the trek follows the Bhote Koshi River before climbing uphill toward Chawatar. The walkway to Chawatar is steady but not too demanding.

Along the way, you’ll notice small hamlets where locals tend to fields of maize, millet, and potatoes. Also, you’ll see women in traditional Tamang dress and prayer flags fluttering on rooftops. After Chawatar, the Paldor Peak Climbing trail continues on a ridge line where you can get mesmerizing views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung, and Shishapangma (in Tibet) on clear days. The route then slowly descends and climbs again through rhododendron and pine forests, before reaching Ghatlang. The day’s overnight and dinner are at the lodge of Gatlang.

The fifth day starts in Gatlang’s lodge, where you stayed last night. You’ll freshen up and have breakfast at Gatlang, then pack your backpack and begin your day’s trek. The trek starts with a gradual climb through stone houses and terraced fields, then enters a dense forest of pine and rhododendron. The ascent is steady but pleasant, with the sound of birds accompanying you.

After a few hours of climbing, you reach the sacred Parvati Kund (lake) at 2,650 m. It is a small but beautiful alpine lake surrounded by forest, and also an important pilgrimage site for local communities, especially during the Janai Purnima festival.

Beyond Parvati Kund, the route ascends toward the Khurpudanda Pass (3,620 m), the highest point of the day. From the pass, the trek descends through alpine pastures and forested paths that lead you down to Somdang village, your day’s overnight point.

You will have your first rest day today on the Paldor Peak Climbing Itinerary. As you are already above 3,000 m, you must acclimate to make sure your body gets proper rest and doesn’t overexert itself. Somdang village is in a perfect location for acclimatization. The villages also offer a panoramic view of the surrounding peaks of the Ganesh and Jugal Himal ranges.

On this rest day, you can explore the pastoral landscape, where villagers tend yaks, sheep, and goats on high pastures. Also, you have an option to visit the Lari mine areas. Likewise, a short hike up the valley for closer views of the surrounding ridges and glaciers is also an option.

Moreover, you can spend time with the Tamang community, learning about their customs, architecture, and daily lifestyle. Wherever you choose to visit on this day is your personal choice. However, you’ll return to Somdang for your night’s stay.

On the seventh day, you’ll leave Somdang village with the fresh energy from yesterday’s acclimatization. Leaving Somdang, the route of Paldor Peak climbing takes you through birch, pine, and rhododendron forests, following narrow paths that slowly open into high meadows. If you trek in spring, you can witness the red and pink hillside with a blossom of rhododendron, and if you are in autumn, the forests provide a crisp and golden feel.

As you gain elevation, the route crosses alpine pastures where herders bring livestock during the summer months. The higher you climb, the more the Ganesh Himal range is visible along with Paldor Peak (5,896 m). You will also pass by Jasta Khani (zinc mine) on the way.

Following a rocky glacier section, you will reach the base camp in the late afternoon. Our climbing team will set up a camp at Paldor base camp, where you can sit and enjoy a beautiful sunset view. Overnight and dinner at a tented camp in Paldor Base Camp.

Day eight starts with a hearty breakfast at the Paldor Base Camp. After the morning meal, you’ll pack your belongings and make your way towards Paldor Peak High Camp. The route is steady and exciting, taking you deeper into the alpine world. The walk begins with a gradual ascent across lateral moraines, where loose rocks and boulders require careful walking. As you climb, the views back down to the Somdang Valley become amazing while the mighty summit of Paldor Peak (5,896 m) looms closer above you.

The final section to High Camp involves a steeper climb on rocky ground that narrows into a small ridge. The area has no vegetation, with barren and stark landscapes along with just rock, ice, and sky. Upon reaching High Camp, our climbing team will set up the tent. You’ll have dinner and stay in a tented camp overnight.

Day nine is your most-awaited day, as on this day, you’ll summit one of the lesser-known but rewarding peak climbing in Nepal, Paldor Peak. The day’s climbing expedition begins very early, around 2:00–3:00 AM. You’ll leave base camp and make your way towards your ultimate destination with a headlamp, a packed lunch, and climbing gear. Don’t worry, your climbing guide will be with you every step of the way, guiding you.

The initial phase of the climb is over rocky ground and moraine, which is steep but not too difficult. After that, the route takes you onto snow and ice, where you should put on your crampons and rope up with your guide and team. The slope gradually becomes steeper, featuring sections with an incline of 40–50 degrees. Likewise, be prepared to use an ice axe for balance in certain areas.

The final section of the summit is the most challenging one due to the narrow snow ridge. The ridge is steep, and every step feels heavy due to the thin air. Also, the wind adds to the climb’s difficulty. However, the difficulty is worth it as you get to the summit of 5,896 m above sea level.

Standing at the summit of Paldor provides you with a real sense of achievement. After hours of climbing in the cold and dark, standing on top brings relief, pride, and happiness. By the time you reach the summit, sunrise will be breaking, offering a surreal view of the mountain peaks of Ganesh Himal, Langtang range, Manaslu, and Shishapangma in Tibet with its golden hues.

After appreciating yourself and spending some time at the summit, you’ll descend to base camp following the same route. By late morning or early afternoon, you return to the base camp of Paldor Peak and take a rest, particularly knowing that you completed your goal. The day’s overnight and dinner will be in the Paldor Base Camp’s tent.

This day is an extra day kept in the itinerary as a backup. In the Himalayas, things don’t always go as planned. Bad weather, heavy snowfall, and strong winds can delay the summit attempt. Thus, this extra day allows you not to miss your summit but provides you with a second chance for your climb.

The entire climbing procedure will be completed today, in case any unpredictable or unavoidable circumstances arise. Otherwise, you will rest and explore the area in Paldor High Camp. Overnight at a tented camp.

Wake up, get fresh, and have your breakfast at Paldor Base Camp. The eleventh day of the journey to Paldor Peak Climbing takes you to Pangsang Pass this day. Departing base camp, you’ll also leave the rocky and snowy surroundings, following a path that drops down into green valleys. Along the way, you pass through yak pastures, small streams, and open meadows. As you continue walking, the landscape changes from alpine rocks and glaciers to forests of rhododendron and pine.

As you get closer to Pangsang Pass, the trail climbs slowly. Although not among the high Himalayan passes, the Pangsang pass is definitely among the most scenic ones. The view from the pass is amazing, with the panorama of Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, and even parts of the Annapurna range. Our team will fix a tented camp there for your day’s dinner and overnight stay.

The day starts with one of the scenic views of the sunrise from Pangsang. Enjoying the sunrise, you will have breakfast at Pangsang. After the morning meal, you’ll make your way towards Chalish. The trek begins with a steady descent along forested ridges. As you descend, you pass through open meadows and scattered yak huts before entering Tipling village.

You’ll have a lunch stop in the Tipling. In this Tamang village, you can visit the two Buddhist monasteries and both Catholic and Protestant churches. Continuing the trek, you will walk past terraced farmlands and reach the Chalish village in the afternoon. Rest for the day after reaching Chalish. Overnight at a lodge in Chalish.

Today is your well-deserved rest day in the Chalish village. After a long descent, you must rest and replenish your energy before continuing the journey. On this day, you can explore the Chalish and visit some nearby attractions. The hot springs in the village are one such attraction, which is about a 3-4 Hours trek from the village, where you can go and take a bath to recover your muscles.

Furthermore, try some local cuisine and share your stories with the people on this day. Similarly, you can interact with the area’s culture and tradition. The day’s accommodation point is the same as yesterday’s lodge.

Day fourteen marks the last day of the Paldor Peak expedition. As usual, the day begins with a warm cup of tea along with a hearty breakfast. After the morning meal, you’ll leave Chalish, making your way towards Sertung. You pass through terraced farmlands, small streams, and Tamang and Gurung houses. As you get to Sertung village, you’ll take a rest and have lunch. Afterward, you’ll take a jeep to Dhading Besi.

As you get to Dhading Besi, you’ll take a bus to return to Kathmandu, which is short and scenic with a view of Nepal’s countryside. The road first winds through hilly villages and terraced landscapes, then slowly joins the main highway. By late afternoon or evening, you reach Kathmandu. Our representative will pick you up and take you to your hotel from the bus park. You experience the nightlife of Thamel on this day. The day’s overnight is at the hotel in Kathmandu.