Ruby Valley Trek

• Starting Point: Tribhuvan International Airport
• Ending Point: Kathmandu

Heartily welcome to the Himalayas, Nepal! A representative will pick you up from Tribhuvan International Airport and drop you off at your hotel, which you have booked. After resting for some hours, we will meet and discuss the details of our program.

Then, you can take an optional evening walk around Thamel, a touristy hub of Kathmandu Valley. Here you’ll get your first impressions of Nepal: colorful prayer flags fluttering above narrow alleys and rooftops of the houses, and the lively mix of honking horns, temple bells, and street music. You can see these in every corner. After exploration, have a cup of steaming masala tea (Nepali chiya), Momo, or Dal Bhat as your first taste of the country’s warmth, a relaxed start to your Ruby Valley trek journey.

• Starting Point: Kathmandu
• Ending Point: Syabrubesi

Today, you’ll start the Ruby Valley Homestay Trek with a drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi. The journey goes along a northern highway through Trishuli Bazaar and the high-altitude viewpoint at Dunche Bazaar. You’ll pass the local villages, lush crop fields, and dramatic mountain landscapes with views of Ganesh Himal Range, Manaslu, and the Langtang range on the way to Syabrubesi.

Besides mountain views, you’ll also notice roadside stalls that sell roasted corn, momos, and other local snacks. This ride in a public bus is long, but it will often play Nepali music, and people are friendly too, so you won’t get bored. Then, end the day in this beautiful Tamang village, Syabrubesi, near the Bhote Koshi River, the trailhead for this Ruby Valley trek route.

• Starting Point: Syabrubesi
• Ending Point: Gatlang

On day 3, your Ruby Valley trek begins officially as you leave Syabrubesi and head towards Gatlang. The trail goes west on a steep, challenging climb up to Bahun Dada Pass through forests and open ridges that offer occasional glimpses of distant Langtang Lirung and Ganesh Himal ranges and the valley below. You might even spot birds, wildflowers, and small wildlife along with streams and natural springs on this challenging path.

Then, you’ll take a more gradual hike via Chawatar to the Gatlang, a beautiful small village on the Tamang Heritage Trail. You’ll walk along the beautiful terraced fields and reach the village in the late afternoon. In this village, you can experience the authentic rural hospitality of the Tamang people and see the traditional stone-paved community hall. If you feel like walking more, you can explore the nearby ridges, which will provide you with sweeping views of the valley. Settle in Gatlang for the night after enjoying this highlight of the Ruby Valley trek trail.

• Starting Point: Gatlang
• Ending Point: Somdang

From Gatlang, you’ll trek to your next overnight destination, Somdang. The route is uphill, and within 15 to 25 minutes, you’ll see the sacred Parvati Kunda (2,580 m), named after Goddess Parvati. In the full moon of Janai Purnima (which typically occurs in August), this spot gets crowded. From here, you’ll cross through the pine and rhododendron forests to a high-altitude pasture, Yuri Kharka at 3,710 m. You’ll stop here to have lunch. From there, you’ll continue to Khurphu Bhanjyang and then descend to the Mailung Khola, which borders the Rasuwa and Dhading Districts.

Then, you’ll walk to the north of the river and hike through a green valley to the 200 m Chukarma waterfall. As you continue, you’ll pass by the Paiputang Metal Mine, a fascinating historical site with a 1.4KM tunnel bored into the mountain to extract zinc, copper, tin, crystal, and other valuable minerals. Then, after a final climb, you’ll arrive at Somdang. This village on a hillside offers you a beautiful sunset over the Manaslu range and the Mailung Khola Valley, one of the most photogenic spots on this Ruby Valley trek itinerary. You may even see the distant outlines of the Annapurna and Ganesh Himal ranges if the day is clear.

• Starting Point: Somdang
• Ending Point: Tipling

Today will be the hardest day of the trek. You’ll start climbing up a steep path through rocky and forested terrain towards the Pangsang La Pass. The ascent will be tough, but you’ll be rewarded with 360° panoramas of Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Annapurna, and sweeping valleys. You’ll see alpine flowers, yaks grazing on the meadows, and hear the call of Himalayan monals. Prayer flags flutter in the cool mountain air. Adding to the altitude gain, there’s a long and knee-testing descent that’ll require trekking poles. The Ruby Valley trek difficulty increases in the monsoon due to slippery paths.

After that, you’ll trek down past Marmailung and reach Tipling village by evening. You’ll pass by many mani walls draped with prayer flags that make for perfect photos. You can explore its Buddhist gompas with prayer wheels and even a small Catholic church. During festivals or simple cultural programs, you may witness traditional dances like the Shaman, Horse, Mane, or Lama dances. You’ll have an overnight stay in a homestay.

• Starting Point: Tipling
• Ending Point: Chalish Village

Leaving Tipling, you’ll make your way into Chalish, one of the most welcoming villages of the Ruby Valley. At first, you’ll start with a descent to Kami Gaun, a small settlement tucked into the hillside. From here, you cross the Adha Khola on a new box bridge. Then, the path again climbs gently to Sakpar Danda. After that, you’ll enter the stretches of “Nepali flat” farmland with terraced fields of maize and barley spread across the valley. In clear Ruby Valley weather, you can catch distant glimpses of Ganesh Himal.

Then you’ll reach Sertung, inhabited mainly by Tamang. It carries the old legend of being the “place of gold,” believed to have been founded by two brothers guided here by a dream. Then, you’ll arrive at Chalish Village in the late afternoon. This village is inhabited primarily by Gurung, Ghale, and Kami communities, living a simple but lively life in rustic homes. There’s a Sri Tinkanya Devi Mandir above the village, surrounded by colorful periwinkle flowers. You may join the locals to pray and make wishes here.

• Starting Point: Chalish Village
• Ending Point: Chalish Village

Day 07 is the rest and recovery day on the Ruby Valley trek. Its main purpose is to give your body a break while still enjoying a short hike to the famous Tatopani Hot Spring for a relaxing dip. You’ll follow the Ankhu Khola and cross the old suspension bridge at Khar. From there, it climbs steadily to Tikkas Danda. You can pause here and enjoy glimpses of Ganesh Himal before continuing through shaded jungle paths to reach a natural spring at Tatopani. Nepali people believe the Tatopani dip is healing. In fact, warm waters are medically known to improve circulation, relax muscles, and ease joint stiffness.

After spending some time relaxing, you’ll hike back the same way to Chalish in the afternoon. You may carry a packed lunch or enjoy a simple meal at Tikkas Danda on the way back. Then, the day ends with another night in a Chalish homestay, surrounded by the calm of the village. This day, lighter than others, provides both recovery and cultural depth, making it one of the most memorable parts of the Ruby Valley trek experience.

Quick Insight: During peak trekking season, bring a towel and warm layers, as you can feel cold on the return hike after bathing.

• Starting Point: Chalish Village
• Ending Point: Chalish Village

On day 8, you’ll have an interesting Ruby Valley trek experience: a traditional fishing program at the Ankhu River. For that, you’ll have to descend to the riverside first through the terraced farmlands. Then, you may join the fishing program in fresh running water by using a fishing hook or a fishing net.

The riverbanks make a peaceful place to sit and soak in the valley atmosphere, with dragonflies hovering and the occasional kingfisher darting past you. You can enjoy some hours at the river beach, then go back to Chalish following the same trail. In the evening, you can join in simple Gurung or Tamang cultural dances. This experience combines nature, leisure, and tradition, a perfect way to enjoy the last days of your Ruby Valley trek.

Quick Insight: In warmer months, bring a hat and sandals for comfort at the river. Similarly, in the monsoon, water levels rise quickly, so stay cautious near the banks.

• Starting Point: Chalish Village (1,600 m)
• Ending Point: Kathmandu (1,300 m)

Day 9 is the final Ruby Valley trekking day. You’ll leave Chalish behind and trek through terraced fields and small hamlets, gradually descending toward Borang Village. Along the way, you’ll see locals working in the fields, children heading to school, and the last glimpses of the Ganesh Himal foothills fading into the distance. The trail is gentle and allows you to take in more of the rural lifestyle one last time. Then, you’ll stop the trek at Dhading Besi and take a 5-hour jeep drive to Kathmandu.

Enjoy the ride through hills and valleys, small market towns, and patchwork farmland. By evening, you arrive in the capital, trading the quiet trails of the Ruby Valley for the lively streets of Kathmandu city. Check into your hotel, and you’re free for the rest of the day. We hope you had a nice journey on our Ruby Valley trek itinerary.