Over the years, Keep Walking Nepal has been lending a helping hand to uplift the lives of rural and marginalized communities in Nepal though various community project trips. In 2023, we’ve planned a community trip to Charghare village, a remote mountainous village in the Solukhumbu region, to aid in the construction of an incinerator. The area has only been recently connected by dirt roads. 

Why join the Charghare Community Incinerator Project trip?

Waste management in mountainous region is challenging due to lack of proper facilities. Hence, water resources and forests end up polluted. With an incinerator, landfill sites and local water resources will be saved from being polluted. Plus, this trip provides you with a unique opportunity to trek, explore and engage with the locals.

You will initially embark on the beautiful Pikey peak trek and finish at Charghare where you will volunteer in the construction project for 3 days. All accommodation and food while on the trek and volunteering are included in the program cost (meals in city except for breakfast at hotel and dinner on the first day is at your own expense). On the trek, you will stay in comfortable mountain lodges and in Charghare accommodation will be in tents with support staff.

For more information on this community incinerator program please contact Ang Tshering Sherpa at angsherpa@keepwalkingnepal.com

Trip Highlights

• Scenic flight from Phaplu to Kathmandu
• Superb view of Everest without having to go too high or too far
• Introductory trek requiring only moderate fitness
• Panoramic views of Everest and surrounding peals
• Introduction of the Sherpa people, their culture and way of life at Junbesi
• 3 days community project with locals
• Gain first-hand knowledge in the unique natural systems and cultural practices of the local areas

Trip Grade - Easy

Trip Summary

• Day 1 :Arrival at Kathmandu Airport and transfer to your hotel
• Day 2 :Guided Tours & Preparation
• Day 3 :Drive to Dhap (2,900 m; 240 km - 9 hrs)
• Day 4 :Trek to Japre (2820m; 3-4 hrs)
• Day 5 :Trek to Pikey Peak Base camp (3640m; 6hrs)
• Day 6 :Climb Pikey Peak (4,070m) and descend to Jasmane Bhanjyang (3,550m). Around 4 hours
• Day 7 :Trek to Junbesi (2,700m; 6-7 hrs)
• Day 8 :Excursion to Selo and Junbesi Monastery & Thupten Choling Monasteyr (6hrs)
• Day 9 :Hike to Charghare ( ) and meet the locals
• Day 10-12 :Volunteer at the Charghare Community Incinerator Project
• Day 13 :Hike to Phaplu
• Day 14 :Fly back to Kathmandu (35 min) | Rest of the day at leisure
• Day 15 :Departure

Daily Movements

Day 1: Arrival at Kathmandu Airport and transfer to your hotel

Our representative will pick you up at Kathmandu International Airport and drive you to your hotel. Depending upon what time you arrive, you can enjoy a full day at leisure and go on a welcome dinner with the KEEP WALKING FAMILY.

Look out for the KEEP WALKING NEPAL board behind the railing once you exit the airport terminal.

Overnight in Hotel Tibet (D)

Day 2: Guided Tours & Preparation

You will embark on a guided tour of two UNESCO world heritage sites; Pashupatinath Temple, the temple devoted to Lord Shiva – the god of creation and destruction, and Boudhanath Stupa – a Buddhist shrine worshipped by Hindus & Buddhists alike.

In the afternoon, your trek guide will brief you about the upcoming days and preparation requirements.

Overnight at Hotel Hotel (B)

 

Day 3: Drive to Dhap (2,900 m; 240 km - 9 hrs)

The journey begins with an early morning drive on the newly-constructed B.P. Highway. The first half of the drive, on winding roads with its numerous hairpin turns, and views of paddy fields dotted with small rural houses along the Sunkoshi river, is an adventure in itself; a wonderful insight of what’s to come.

After lunch at Ghurmi (500m / 1640”), we drive across the Sunkoshi river and gradually climb the snaking mountain highway. The terrain changes dramatically; the road ledged on the side of a mountain formed by a deep gorge opens up to a plateau with clusters of small houses. At Changesthan Temple, near the border crossing to Solukhumbu, you will get the first glimpse of the Everest range in full panorama. A further 15 min away lies Pattale, the first major town in the region.

After a quick rest, we hike for about 2hrs, back & forth, to Pattale Danda (3,100m / 10170”), a scenic vantage point with beautiful views of the whole of Mahalangur range, and get back on the road for about 30 minutes to Dhap.

Overnight at local lodge (B, L, D)

 

Day 4: Trek to Japre (2820m; 3-4 hrs)

The first day of the trek begins and you will start early!

You will bypass the usual motorable trail and instead pass through several small villages with gentle undulations. The trail is marked by lush green vegetation with wild orchids and beautiful rhododendron forests. At Japre, a small Sherpa village, magnificent view of the snow-capped Himalayan peaks awaits you; three eight-thousanders like Kanchenjunga in the Far East, Makalu and of course Mount Everest, the tallest of them, offer an incredible backdrop.

After some rest, you can visit the Buddhist monastery at Jhapre.

Overnight at local lodge (B, L, D)

 

Day 5: Trek to Pikey Peak Base camp (3640m; 6hrs)

Today, you will hike above 3,500m.

The trek can be tiresome as you will climb more than 800m to sparse alpine vegetation. The initial portion of the trek (about 3 hours) is an easy hike on an undulating trail through dense pine and rhododendron forest.

After lunch at one of the many unused yak pastures, the trail moderately climbs later rising steeply along a long stretch of Manima through a rhododendron forest to Pikey Peak Camp at 3,640m.

It’s best to sleep early for a pre-dawn summit of Pikey Peak.

Overnight at local lodge (B, L, D)

 

Day 6: Climb Pikey Peak (4,070m) and descend to Jasmane Bhanjyang (3,550m). Around 4 hours

For the highlight of the trek to Pikey Peak, you sill start early. At predawn, after a light breakfast of a cup of tea or coffee, eggs, and some carbs, you will head-out into the dark just in time for the magnificent sunrise over the Himalayas.

With headlamps, you will tackle the steep 1.5hr hike through steep grass and pastureland up to the prayer flag-lined Pikey Peak summit where you will be rewarded with a fantastic sunrise and beautiful views of almost the whole Himalayan range; from Kanchenjunga in the east to Makalu, Lhotse, Mount Everest, the Dudh Kunda massif with its sacred mountains, Numbur, Khatang and Karyolung, Gauri Shankar, Langtang range all the way to Ganesh Himal.

After some rest and picture, you will trek down for about an hour to Jarse Bhanjyang, the last settlement before Taktor. Since, there are no water sources in between, packed lunch at a yak pasture with beautiful views of the mountains in the backdrop is the best option available.

The trail gently now descends as the elevation decreases and enter a dense rhododendron and pine forest lined with mani walls and stone chasms to the lodge at Jasmane Bhanjyang.

Overnight at local lodge (B, L, D)

 

Day 7: Trek to Junbesi (2,700m; 6-7 hrs)

You will descend east into the Taktor Khola Valley where coniferous forest gives way to mixed terraced farmland on the lower slopes.

When flights to Lukla was still in it’s nascent stage, Taktor was frequented by trekkers on the original Everest highway. Even though trekkers now opt for a direct flight to/from Lukla, the original Everest Highway from Jiri with its rolling hills and rivers is more beautiful and better for acclimatization.

A further 1.5 hrs on a gentle descending trail will bring you to Junbesi, your stop for the night. Junbesi, a predominant Buddhist village, has 2 monasteries and, like most Sherpa villages in the Khumbu region, animal butchering is prohibited in the village.

Overnight at local lodge (B, L, D)

 

Day 8: Excursion to Selo and Junbesi Monastery & Thupten Choling Monasteyr (6hrs)

Today, you will have the morning at leisure. After breakfast and some rest, you will visit the 17th century Tashi Thongmen monastery which houses a six meter tall statue of Lord Buddha along with the precious collections of sacred scriptures. You can also visit the Selo monastery which focuses more on teaching children Buddhism than practicing. The relatively new monastery has beautiful frescoes and we can check out their libraries and classrooms as well.

After lunch, you will visit the Thupten Choling Monastery.

The trail passes through fields and houses, and trail gradually ascends into the cool shade of pine and rhododendron forest just above the Junbesi river. After crossing the river on a suspension bridge, the trail further gradually ascends all the way to Thupten Chöling Monastery, the largest in the region where almost 80% are Tibetan refugee monks and nuns.

Overnight at local lodge (B, L, D)

 

Day 9: Hike to Charghare ( ) and meet the locals

Overnight at tented camp (B, L, D)

 

Day 10-12: Volunteer at the Charghare Community Incinerator Project

For 3 days, you will volunteer with the locals and assist to build an incinerator.

Overnight at tented camp (B, L, D)

 

 

Day 13: Hike to Phaplu

You will hike to the Phaplu.

Overnight at local lodge (B, L, D)

 

Day 14: Fly back to Kathmandu (35 min) | Rest of the day at leisure

You will leave the mountains on an early morning flight to Kathmandu. You have the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight at Hotel Tibet (B)

 

Day 15: Departure

A KWN representative will accompany you to the Tribhuwan International Airport for your flight back home.

(B)

 

Cost Includes:

Cost Excludes: