Api Saipal to Simikot Trek

Your Arrival Time (?) Our office representative will meet and greet you at Kathmandu Airport and transfer you to your hotel in Kathmandu.

At. 06:00 PM: In the evening, our office representative will meet you for a coffee talk and will brief you on the details of your trekking program.

At. 08:30 AM: Have your morning meal and get ready for your cultural tour, you will devote your full day to cultural sightseeing inside Kathmandu valley.

Explore the Pashupatinath Temple devoted to Lord Shiva which is famous for its awe-spiring and astounding pagoda architecture. Visit Boudhanath stupa, where you will be welcomed by the divine smell of incense and the cooing and grunting of pigeons. After arriving at the Boudhanath stupa the divine aura will declare peace among people's souls. You can also enjoy the rooftop view of the entire place while sipping aromatic coffee and yummy food. A few mins from Boudhanath Stupa there is another important Buddhist pilgrimage Kopan Monastery. This tranquil place is perfect for refreshing activities such as meditation.

Pay a visit to the ancient Buddhist complex Swayambhunath stupa also known as the Monkey temple. These are the three prominent Buddhist sites that have immense importance in Buddhist culture. At last, Once sightseeing completes, you will be dropped back at your hotel. Besides sightseeing, you can do the required shopping for your trek if needed.

At. 08:00 AM: You will take a flight from Kathmandu to Dhangadi on the morning of the first day of the Api Saipal to Simikot trek. The administrative center of Nepal's Kailali district is Dhangadhi. If the weather is clear, you can take in the breathtaking aerial views of landscapes while flying. Following a little break and lunch in Dhangadhi, you will continue on to Gokuleshwor, where you will arrive at your day's end destination. Overnight accommodation at tented camps.

At. 08:00 AM: This day, the journey towards the new destination that is Makarighat starts through the drive. The distance from Gokuleshwor to Makarighat is about 40 km and takes around 2 hours to reach. After reaching Makarighat, your trek starts and you will be trekking towards the Ghunsa village. It will take around 4 and a half hours to reach  the Ghunsa village from Makarighat.

In the beginning, the trails are not so much uphill and relatively flat, but half of the trail is steep and uphill and you can also see mules along the way. Upon reaching the village, you will get time to relax and observe the local settlement of the village. Overnight accommodation at tented camps.

At. 08:00 AM: This day, the trails will lead you to another place with sparse settlements which is Khayekot. It will take around 5-6 hours to reach Khayekot from Ghunsa village. The trail is steep in some areas, and you have to walk uphill and downhill simultaneously until you reach Khayekot. Overnight accommodation at tented camps.

At. 07:00 AM: This day, you will be trekking towards Dhaulo Odar leaving the Khayekot. The day will be a steep climb up and down which will be a strenuous trek throughout the day. You will arrive at an open grassland along the route that is bordered by steep mountains, a rhododendron forest, and a few little caves. The night will be spent in a tent camp at Dhaulo Odar where you may take in the stunning surroundings. Overnight accommodation in tented camps.

At. 07:00 AM: This is the day when you will be trekking to the Api base camp. From Dhaulo Odar, it takes about two hours to ascend to the Api Himal base camp. You can take a stroll through the base camp and take in the breathtaking mountain vistas and their unspoiled natural beauty. This day gives you the opportunity to experience the stunning Api base camp's peacefulness firsthand.

You can reach the glacial lake known as Kalidhunga Lake, located at an altitude of 4100m from sea level, after a few hours of hiking from the base camp. One of the most sacred lakes in the area, Lord Shiva is primarily worshiped there. After exploring the Api Base Camp, you will return back to Dhauli Odar after a reminiscing memory for a lifetime.

At. 07:00 AM: After breakfast, you will continue your trek to Ghajir which is a village that will take around 6-8 hours of walk. Upon reaching Ghajir, you will get to explore the ethnicity's living style, cultures, and traditions. Overnight accommodation at the tented camps.

At. 07:00 AM: After breakfast, you will commence your day by bidding farewell to the Ghajir village towards the next stop for the day which is Camp 1. In order to reach Camp 1, you have to walk past no settlement areas and upward trails which is going to be a little strenuous. It will take around 5-6 hours to reach Camp 1 from Ghajir and the distance covered is about 7.5 km. Overnight accommodation at tented camps.

At. 07:00 AM: This day, you will be leaving Camp 1 and moving towards Camp 2. You will have to walk past through up and down trails that are not monotonous. It will be a hectic but enjoyable trek today. Additionally, you also need to cross the pass which is called Pathar Rashi Bhanjyang in order to reach Camp 2. It will take around 7-8 hours of walking to reach camp 2 and the total distance covered is 12.5 Km. Overnight accommodation at tented camps.

At. 07:00 AM: After fueling up yourself, your trek for the day will commence. The final destination for the day will be Camp 3. As the elevation increases, it will be strenuous and adventurous. In order to reach Camp 3, you have to walk past a lake which is in the mid-way of Camp 3. It will be a tiresome yet reminiscing trek towards Camp 3. It will take around 6-7 hours to reach there and the total distance covered is 8km. Overnight accommodation at tented camps near the river.

At 07:00 AM:  After breakfast, your trek will continue towards Camp 4. It is going to be a very long walk today as you have to climb straight uphill, cross one pass, and descend down towards Camp 4.  The trails will be moving up at first and later on, you have to descend down. It will take around 7-8 hours to reach Camp 4 and the total distance covered is 11km. Overnight accommodation at tented camps.

At 07:00 AM: After breakfast, your trek will continue from Camp 4 to Camp 5. This day, the trek will be average i.e. not too strenuous as the previous day. You can reach Camp 5 in about 5-6 hours of medium-pace walk. Overnight accommodation at tented camps. 

At 07:00 AM: After having breakfast, your trek for the day will commence by leaving Camp 5 and moving forward to reach the final stop for the day which is Camp 6. It will also be an elevation gain walk. So, you need to be properly hydrated throughout the trek. It will take around 5-6 hours to reach Camp 6 and the total distance covered is 9km. 

At 07:00 AM: After breakfast, you will trek forward to reach Camp 7 which is the final destination for the day. It is going to be a strenuous and long trek day as you have to climb uphill as well as cross the pass of elevation 5150m. After crossing the pass, you will descend down and finally reach Camp 7. It will take around 7-8 hours to reach Camp 7 and the total distance covered is about 10km. Overnight accommodation at tented camps.

At 07:00 AM: After breakfast, you will trek to Camp 8 today. It will be a simultaneous downhill descent at first and then an uphill ascent for some time. After following these trails, you will finally reach your final destination of the day which is Camp 8. It will take around 8-9 hours to reach camp 8 and the total distance covered is about 12km. Overnight accommodation at tented camps.

At 07:00 AM: After breakfast, you will move towards Camp 9 which can be also called  the Kairang Khola Camp. In order to reach there, you need to ascend a long pass which is of 5330m elevation. You need to walk uphill to cross the pass and then descend down for some time to reach Kairang Khola Camp which is Camp 9. It will take about 7-8 hours to reach the Kairang Khola Camp and the total distance covered is about 12km. Overnight accommodation at tented camps. 

At 07:00 AM: You resume your ascent to the base camp after breakfast. It's crucial to exercise caution and properly abide by the rules because the trail might become icy and steep. You may marvel at the breathtaking views of Saipal (7031m), Api (7132m), Nandadevi (7817m), and the surrounding peaks after you arrive at the base camp. Additionally, the adjacent Phirankoph Chuli (6730m) gives breathtaking Himalayan views. The remainder of the panorama may be seen from the Saipal Base Camp on the Nunekhara Glacier, Saipal Glacier, and Humla Danda. Overnight accommodation at tented camps.

At 07:00 AM: You will explore the area around the Base Camp after breakfast. With the aid of your guide, you can climb to neighbouring vantage spots for even more breathtaking views of the mountain ranges. Because the landscape in this area is frequently covered with snow and ice, you must carefully follow your guide. Overnight accommodation at tented camps.

At 08:00 AM: After breakfast, you will trace your way back to the Chala village. You'll start to descend towards Chala. It is one of the most beautiful sites to take in and watch local culture and learn about their genuine and traditional way of life. Overnight accommodation at tented camps. 

At 08:00 AM: Your journey toward Yalbang continues after breakfast. The journey starts on solitary pathways that provide breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. The route becomes easier as you approach Yalbang. To end the hike for the day, you will stroll alongside the Puiya River on the way. Once you get there, you can look at the village that the Bhotia and Thakuri live in. Overnight accommodation at tented camps.

At 08:00 AM: After breakfast, your trek for the day will start and the destination is Kermi. It will take about 6 hours to reach Kermi from Yalbang. You will mostly be walking along the Karnali River’s bank during the day, the trail is downwards and flat. There are two gompas, Lakyo Gompa and Lhundrup Choeling Gompa, close to the hamlet where you can visit, respect the Buddhist culture and customs, and take in Kermi village's natural beauty. Overnight accommodation at tented camps.

At 08:00 AM: This day, you will trek towards Dharapuri after breakfast. The path gently descends to regions of population and vegetation and you can see the Ghaghara river flowing along the way. Inhabitants of the Bhotia, Jhakri, and Thakuri communities also live in this village. When you've had time to rest, you can explore the distinctive culture. Overnight accommodation at tented camps.

At 08:00 AM: Your trip will continue in the direction of Simikot after breakfast. You go back the same way you arrived. When you get to Simikot, you can stroll around the lovely city. The town is home to numerous monasteries and stupas. The rituals and culture are also unique. Overnight accommodation at the tented camps.

At 08:00 AM: An early-morning 45-minute scenic flight through the foothills of the Himalayas and spectacular views of the snow-capped peaks will take you to Nepalgunj. Depending on the time of the connecting flight to Kathmandu, upon arrival in Nepalgunj, if it's in the afternoon, you'll have a few hours in Nepalgunj for relaxation or refreshment. You will catch a connecting flight back to Kathmandu, where you will be picked up and dropped to your hotel.

At 10:00 AM: After a long and memorable trek to the Api Saipal, this day will be your rest and relaxation day. You can relax with a cup of coffee in your hotel and in the afternoon, you can go for additional sightseeing if you prefer. You can wander around the streets of Kathmandu and buy some souvenirs to take back home in order to reminisce about the memory of Nepal. 

(Have a safe home return!): You will have leisure time in Kathmandu after breakfast at your hotel. Our office representative will escort you to the Kathmandu airport 3 hours before on time to board your flight. It may take 30 minutes to reach the airport from the hotel.