Rakse Urai Climbing

Welcome to Nepal. After completing customs and immigration formalities at the airport, meet our representative outside arrival terminal. Get transferred to your hotel. Remaining time is free for independent activities. In the evening, meet your guide and attend a trek briefing session.

After breakfast, our representative will transfer you to the domestic terminal for your flight to Dhangadhi. The flight takes around an hour. After early lunch at Dhangadhi, board a waiting car for a drive to Dadeldhura. We drive on the Mahakali Highway which goes northward from the East West Highway. The drive is pleasing as the road passes through beautiful countryside, crossing rivers and rivulets, lush forests and terraced fields. Dadeldhura is a pleasing hilly town with cool weather. It offers breathtaking views of Api and Saipal mountains on a clear day.

Continue your drive today as you gradually gain altitude. Your destination for the day is your trek head start point at Talkot village. The drive is pleasing and on blacktopped road till Chainpur – the district headquarters of Bajhang. Chainpur is a beautiful town located on the banks of the magnificent Seti River. After having lunch, continue your drive toward Talkot. A drive of around two hours on a dirt road will take you to your destination in Talkot. Talkot is a small hilly settlement with 50-60 households. Brahmins and Chhetris are the major inhabitants. The village, however, as a glorious history as it used to be one of the 24 principalities of western Nepal before small princely states were unified into modern Nepal. In the evening, visit the historic Talkot palace.

First day of your trek! After early breakfast, follow the trail on the right bank of Seti River. The trail passes through forests and beautiful terrace. It is almost a leveled trek till your lunchpoint in Sunapani. Sunapani is a small hamlet by the side of a beautiful waterfall. After lunch, the trail to Kuwa is easy with small ups and downs. From Kuwa, however, it makes a descent for about half an hour to the village of Agra. Another downhill from the village will take you to Lisne Gaad river. Cross the river on a suspension bridge and walk uphill for about an hour on a forested trail to Jadlek – your destination of the day. Your camp will be setup in a small grassland surrounded by pine trees.

A little below Jadlek, the trail drops to a river coming from Saipal Base Camp. The trail to Saipal Base Camp goes upstream along the river. Cross the river and follow the trail downstream to reach the village of Kanda. Kanda is a small settlement with basic amenities. Your camp will be set up near the village.

Continue the walk after having breakfast at your camp. A little further, the river that you are following meets the Seti River coming from the Rakse Urai Himal. The trail to the base camp of Rakse Urai goes along this river. The walk is pleasing as the trail goes above Seti River through terraced fields and lush forests. A walk of some 6-7 hours will take you to Dhuligaun.

Continue walking along the river toward Saipal. Saipal is a big pastureland. Sai means sheep and pal means pastureland in Tibetan dialect which means Saipal means a pastureland sheep. According to locals, Tibetans bring their herds for grazing during spring in this pastureland. You cross many rivers and rivulets today. The biggest of them is Syangbang Khola which drains one of the faces of Saipal Himal. Dhaulo Odar lies about two hours walk from Syangbang Khola. If you have energy left, you can press further to Naya Odar where the trail coming from Api Himal meets the Urai La trail.

Today’s trek goes westward initially from Naya Odar to Dhachaur. From Dahchaur, it contours toward north on the north banks of Seti River toward Saipal. Your camp will be set up at this beautiful meadow. The place is flocked by Yarsagumba hunters during spring season. At other times of year, however, you are in complete wilderness.

After early breakfast at your camp, start walking toward Urai La Base Camp. Walk to the top of a small ridge on the right side of the river and continue walking. The trail is mostly leveled with minor ups and downs. After a walk of around three hours, you will come at a place where a small glacier-fed river meets Seti River. Your camp will be set up at the head of Seti River Valley. Continue on the trail along the Rakse Urai Khola. The trail enters into a small gorge and climbs on the side of glacial moraine to the top of Urai La. Urai La sits on the border between Nepal and China. You can see a stone border pillar at the top. Enjoy the view of the vast Tibetan plateau from the pass, take photographs and descend to your camp. This camp will serve as your base camp to cross another high pass tomorrow.

Leave Urai La Pass Base Camp and start walking westward toward Rakse Urai Base Camp. Rakse Urai is an impressive range with different peaks. You will climb the main summit. Rakse Urai range is also the originating point of Seti River which meets Karnali River in the lower plains of Tarai.

Over the next 10 days, you will make multiple trips between camps set up by your Sherpa team. It is necessary to help you acclimatize to higher altitude and get familiar with the route. The summit day will depend on your fitness level, preparation of climbing route by the Sherpas and weather conditions. After the successful summit, walk down to the base camp.

Begin the return leg of your trek today. Come down to the Urai La Base Camp first. From here, an easy walk of couple of hours will take you to the vast meadow of Saipal. Your camp will be set up here.

Continue walking after having breakfast at your camp. The trail, like yesterday, follow the Seti River. In some places, the trail rises above Seti River on high cliffs. After a walk of some three hours, you will see reach Naya Odar where the river coming from Nilatti Pass meets Seti River. Dhaulo Odar is about a couple of hours’ walk from here.

The trail today is mostly leveled and downhill at some places. As you are losing altitude, you can see changes in vegetation. The landscape looks more green now. It will take you 5-6 hours to reach Dhuli. Dhuli is a bustling settlement on the slopes of a hill that rises above Seti River. There are some 15 houses here as well as health post, post office and a police station. Agriculture and sheep farming is the major occupation of the local people. They grow apples, barley, maize, millet, beans and potato, among others. During Yarsaghumba harvesting season, almost everyone climbs up to Tanda and Dhanasera area. Khas people are the major inhabitants here.

The trail is downhill for about an hour until you reach Seti River. After crossing the river, the trail is uphill for about one and half hours. After climbing to the top of a ridge, the trail is leveled and easy. A walk of about an hour will take you to Kada. Kada is a bustling village. There are schools and health post, among other facilities. Your lunch will be served here. After Kada, the trail is leveled until you reach a river named Tharunigaad. After crossing the river, the trail is uphill for about half an hour. Then, the trail is easy and leveled. Cross Ghatkhola river on a footbridge and walk for about an hour to reach Kakarkot

Continue our walk from Kakarkot after having breakfast at our camp. Very soon you will climb to Dhalaun. Continuing further, you will reach Ganai which is a settlement on the banks of Ganaigaad River. Your lunch will be prepared here. After lunch, continue further to reach Jadlek where you will stop for the night.

This will be the last walking day of your trek. After a leisurely breakfast, start walking toward Talkot. A walk of about one and half hours will take you to the beautiful village of Sunapani. You can take a tea break here. A walk of another three hours from here will take you to Talkot which has road access. Lunch will be served here. After lunch, bid adieu to your crew and board a waiting car for a drive of around two hours to Chainpur – the district headquarters of Bajhang. Back to the civilization! You get running hot and cold water, comfortable rooms, Wi-Fi Internet and modern amenities here. As this is the last day of your trek, we will organize a small get together for the amazing crew that remained with us throughout the trek.

After breakfast, start driving toward Dhangadhi. It is going to be a long ride as the narrow road windws through lush forest, terraced vegetation and beautiful forests. After lunch at the picturesque town of Dadeldhura, continue driving to Dhangadhi.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Dhangadhi Airport for a flight to Kathmandu. The flight takes around an hour. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, your guide will transfer you to your hotel. In the evening, we will organize a typical Nepali dinner in your honor to celebrate the success over Rakse Urai peak.

Today, you take a much-earned leisure day. After nearly four weeks in the mountains, enjoy the leisure day unwinding after your long trek. Or you can step out in the hotel neighborhood to buy souvenirs for your friends and family back home. Sightseeing and other activities are option and can be arranged upon request.

Today, you will fly back to your destination. Our representative will drive you to the airport for your return flight. On board the aircraft, you will have plenty of time to reflect on the amazing times that you had in Nepal and plan for your next trip..