Overview
The Arun Valley Trek is one of those journeys that quietly grows on you. It doesn’t try to impress with dramatic high passes or crowded viewpoints—instead, it pulls you in with its peaceful trails, deep green valleys, and the steady rhythm of village life. Set in eastern Nepal, between the Everest and Makalu regions, this trek follows the Arun River through landscapes that feel alive and untouched. It’s less about chasing big mountain views every day and more about soaking in the journey itself.
The trail takes you through a mix of subtropical forests, terraced farmland, and small hillside settlements where life moves at its own pace. You’ll cross long suspension bridges over the Arun River, walk through bamboo groves, and pass fields where locals are working just as they have for generations. There’s a strong cultural element here—villages of Rai, Limbu, and other communities offer a glimpse into traditions that feel genuine and unfiltered. It’s the kind of trek where simple interactions, a smile, or a shared cup of tea stays with you as much as the scenery.
As the days go on, the landscape slowly begins to open up, and on clear days, you’re rewarded with distant views of towering peaks like Everest and Makalu. But even then, the mountains feel like a backdrop rather than the main focus. The real beauty of Arun Valley lies in its quietness—the absence of crowds, the sound of the river below, and the feeling that you’re walking through a place that hasn’t been changed much by tourism.
This trek is perfect for those who want something a little different—less busy, more grounded, and deeply connected to nature and culture. It’s not the toughest trek in Nepal, but it still has its fair share of ups and downs that keep things interesting. By the end of it, you don’t just feel like you’ve completed a trek—you feel like you’ve experienced a part of Nepal that many travelers miss.
Highlights
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The trek passes through Arun Valley and Makalu Barun National Park, where you can witness the panoramic views of Himalayas.
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You can experience the vibrant culture of Sherpa, Brahmin, and Rai communities.
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You can encounter diverse flora and fauna along the trail.
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You can enjoy the diverse landscapes from lush forests to high-altitude landscapes.
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This is a less crowded trek offering peaceful adventures to you.
Detailed Itinerary
Arrival in Kathmandu
Description
You land at Tribhuvan International Airport and your guide or a company representative will be waiting right outside the arrival gate, holding a sign with your name. The drive to your hotel in Thamel takes about 30 minutes, depending on traffic (and Kathmandu traffic has a personality of its own). Once you've settled in and shaken off the long-haul exhaustion, take a slow walk around Thamel. The streets here are wonderfully chaotic — shops selling trekking poles and down jackets sit right next to small temples and incense sellers. In the evening, your guide will sit down with you over dinner and walk you through the entire plan for the days ahead, weather patterns, packing tips, and what to realistically expect on the trail. Try dal bhat if you haven't already. You will be eating a lot of it over the next two weeks and you will not get tired of it.
Kathmandu Sightseeing
Description
This day is yours to use wisely. The practical reason for it is to sort any last-minute gear, get your permits arranged, and let your body adjust to Nepal's time zone before the serious walking begins. But it also gives you a full day to properly take in Kathmandu, which deserves more than a rushed morning. Start with Pashupatinath Temple on the banks of the Bagmati River, one of the most sacred Hindu shrines in Asia. The atmosphere here is unlike anything else, especially if you arrive in the early morning. Then walk over to Boudhanath Stupa, a massive circular structure with those calm painted eyes gazing out in all directions. On the way back, stop at Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple) perched on a hilltop west of the city for a view over the entire valley. By evening you should have your bags packed and be in bed early. Tomorrow is an early morning.
Fly Kathmandu to Tumlingtar, Trek to Kartike
Description
The flight to Tumlingtar is one of those short hops in a small propeller plane where the mountains feel close enough to touch. As you roll across the Kathmandu Valley and gain altitude, ridgelines appear below you and eventually you spot the braided green threads of the Arun River winding through the hills. The landing strip at Tumlingtar is a simple one, and the town itself is a relaxed little place. From Tumlingtar, you descend gently through terraced farmland and cross a bridge over the Arun River. The trail hugs the east bank, passing through small villages where children will likely stop and stare or shout "Namaste!" with big grins. The air down here is warm and humid, very different from what you'll encounter higher up. You pass through Bheteni and Chyawabesi, good places to stop for a quick bite, before reaching Kartike for the night.
Trek from Kartike to Gothe Bazaar
Description
Today's walk starts getting more interesting. After breakfast, the trail climbs away from the flat riverbank and into Sal tree forests. As you gain height above the Arun Valley, you'll get your first proper view down into the green corridor of the valley. It's worth stopping here and just looking. The scale of it is surprising. You pass through the scattered settlements of Bharta and Nepali Danda before the trail opens up to rice field terraces and banana plantations. Gothe Bazaar is a lively little market town that feels like it has a genuine pulse to it — locals gather here, there are small shops, and the teahouses are welcoming. After several hours of walking through humid jungle and open farmland, arriving in Gothe Bazaar feels like a proper reward.
Trek from Gothe Bazaar to Dobhane
Description
The trail today follows the Likhuwa (Irkhuwa) Khola, a river valley that branches west from the main Arun corridor. This is where the route starts feeling genuinely remote. You leave the main valley behind and enter a narrower, quieter world. The path crosses and recrosses the river on wooden bridges, passes through tiny settlements, and stays generally above the river for good stretches. You'll pass through Chalise and Tabular, both small communities with limited but adequate lodging options. Dobhane, where you'll spend the night, is modest — basic teahouses with simple meals, but the setting more than compensates. By this point, you'll likely have not seen another foreign trekker since Tumlingtar, which is one of the real pleasures of this route.
Trek from Dobhane to Tending
Description
The trail climbs steadily today, moving away from the river and through alternating stretches of dense forest and open hillside. The vegetation starts changing as you gain altitude—tropical plants give way to temperate forest, and on clear days the first white peaks start appearing above the ridgelines ahead of you. Tending is a small settlement sitting at a comfortable altitude, surrounded by fields and forest. The evenings here are cooler than what you've been experiencing down in the valley, and after days of warm, humid trekking, that cool mountain air in the evening feels wonderful. The families running the teahouses here are warm hosts, and these smaller, out-of-the-way guesthouses often serve the best meals on the whole trek.
Trek from Tending to Salpa Phedi
Description
This is a serious day of climbing. The trail gains nearly a thousand meters of elevation as it works its way up through increasingly dramatic terrain toward the base of the Salpa La Pass. Rhododendron and oak forests surround you for most of the morning, and if you're trekking in spring, the rhododendron blooms can be extraordinary—deep reds and pinks against the grey stone. "Salpa Phedi" means "foot of the Salpa Pass," and that is exactly what it is: a cluster of basic lodges sitting at the bottom of the final climb. It can be cold here, especially at night, so have your warmer layers ready. Tomorrow is the highest point of the entire trek, so rest well.
Trek from Salpa Phedi over Salpa La Pass to Sanam
Description
This is the big day. The crossing of Salpa La Pass at 3,415 meters is the highest point of the Arun Valley Trek and the moment where both the effort and the reward feel most clearly matched. The climb from Salpa Phedi is steep and can take 3–4 hours to reach the top. Go slowly, take breaks, and drink water regularly. As you near the pass, the forest thins and rocky slopes open up into wide views. On a clear day, you'll be able to see Chamlang (7,321 m) and Makalu (8,463 m) standing proud to the north. These giants of the Himalaya suddenly feel much less distant from up here. The descent into Sanam on the other side is equally steep but brings you into Sherpa country. The stone houses change in style, prayer flags appear, and the atmosphere shifts noticeably. Sanam is a traditional Sherpa village and a good place to rest your legs and take in the cultural shift.
Trek from Sanam to Gudel
Description
After the exertion of the previous day, today offers a gentler but still beautiful stretch. The trail descends through forested ridgelines with views back toward the pass you crossed yesterday. This section passes through classic Sherpa territory — small monasteries, mani walls lined with carved stones, and yak pastures. Gudel is one of the larger Sherpa villages in this part of eastern Nepal, sitting on a sunny ridge with good views of the surrounding hills. The people here have a reputation for friendliness, and you'll likely be invited in for butter tea or offered local raksi if you look like you need warming up. It's worth walking around the village in the evening before dinner.
Trek from Gudel to Bung
Description
The trail from Gudel drops through a mix of forested slopes and cultivated terraces. This part of the route transitions from Sherpa villages into Rai territory, and the cultural texture changes again. Rai people are one of Nepal's indigenous communities, known for their distinctive traditions, language, and warm hospitality. Bung is a sizable Rai village spread across a hillside, and it's one of the more charming overnight stops on the entire route. The views from Bung look back toward the higher ridges you've crossed and out across the rolling green hills toward the south. There's usually a small bazaar area where local life goes on entirely on its own terms, with or without trekkers passing through.
Trek from Bung to Pangma
Description
Today the trail climbs again, heading northeast through forests and across ridgelines toward the higher terrain around Pangma. This is a longer day with consistent elevation gain, and you'll pass through several smaller settlements along the way. The views improve steadily as you climb. Makalu appears again on the northern horizon, and in clear conditions you can also spot the jagged ridgelines of Mera Peak. The trail here is less used than the routes to Everest Base Camp, so you'll often have it entirely to yourself. That quiet—just the sound of birds, wind, and your own footsteps—is something many trekkers remember long after the details of each day have blurred.
Trek from Pangma to Khiraule
Description
The descent toward Khiraule is a pleasant change after several days of significant climbing. The trail winds through rhododendron and pine forest, offering filtered views of the surrounding mountains before eventually dropping into a broader valley. Khiraule sits in a quieter, more sheltered part of the landscape. Trekking days like this one, without a major dramatic highlight, are often where you find yourself actually looking around and noticing the small things: the light on the hillside in the late afternoon, the sound of a river below, the smell of woodsmoke from a village chimney. Give yourself permission to slow down today.
Trek from Khiraule to Sete
Description
The trail climbs gently toward Sete, passing through mixed forest and a few small settlement clusters. This section connects the deeper trail of the Arun Valley route to the fringes of the Lukla approach, so the path gradually becomes slightly more defined, and the occasional trekking group may begin to appear again. Sete is a quiet overnight stop, often used by trekkers on both the Arun Valley approach and the Jiri to Lukla historic route. It's a good spot to restock any essentials you may be running low on before the final push toward Lukla the next day. The stars on a clear night at this altitude can be something quite special.
Trek from Sete to Lukla via Surke
Description
The final trekking day brings you into Lukla, and the change in atmosphere is immediate and unmistakable. Lukla is the main gateway to the Everest region, and after nearly two weeks of walking through remote valleys with very few outsiders, suddenly arriving here feels like stepping back into a different world. The streets are busier, there are bakeries selling apple pie and espresso, and the sound of small planes coming and going fills the air constantly. Take the afternoon to walk the main street of Lukla at your own pace. Have a celebratory meal, share stories from the trail with your guide, and raise a glass of local tongba or whatever sounds good. You've crossed one of Nepal's deepest valleys, climbed a mountain pass, and walked through communities that most visitors to Nepal will never see. That deserves a proper acknowledgment.
Fly Lukla to Kathmandu, Final Departure
Description
The early morning flight from Lukla is one of the most dramatic short flights anywhere in the world. The runway drops away at the edge of a cliff and the plane climbs steeply into the mountain air, with Himalayan ridges filling the windows on all sides. Within 40 minutes, you're back in Kathmandu. Depending on your onward travel plans, you'll have time to shop for last-minute souvenirs in Thamel, pick up some Nepali tea or spices, or simply find a rooftop cafe and sit quietly with a good coffee watching the city below. If your international flight is later in the evening, your guide can arrange a drop-off at the airport when the time comes. The Arun Valley doesn't feature on most Nepal itineraries, and walking away from it, you'll understand exactly why that should change.
Accommodations
Accommodation along the Arun Valley Trek feels simple, personal, and very close to local life. Most nights are spent in small teahouses or family-run lodges, and in some villages, you might even stay in a homestay. These places aren’t fancy—rooms are basic with wooden beds, simple bedding, and shared bathrooms—but they have a warmth that’s hard to describe. It’s the kind of comfort that comes from being welcomed rather than served. In more remote sections, facilities can be quite minimal, but the genuine hospitality more than makes up for it.
Food on this trek is home-style and nourishing, often prepared with ingredients grown locally. The most common meal you’ll come across is dal bhat—rice, lentil soup, vegetables, and sometimes a bit of pickle or curry. It’s filling, healthy, and exactly what your body needs after long hours of walking. You’ll also find simple options like noodles, fried rice, potatoes, eggs, and occasionally bread or pancakes, especially in slightly larger villages. The meals might not be elaborate, but they’re made with care and always served warm.
One of the nicest parts of this trek is how meals bring people together. Evenings are often spent in a shared dining space, sometimes around a small stove, where trekkers and hosts gather, chat, and unwind. You might find yourself exchanging stories with locals or simply enjoying the quiet after a long day. A cup of hot tea or coffee becomes more than just a drink—it’s a moment to pause and take it all in.
Overall, accommodation and food in the Arun Valley are less about comfort in the modern sense and more about connection. You’re not just passing through; you’re stepping into someone’s home, sharing their food, and experiencing a way of life that feels grounded and real. And somehow, that makes every meal and every night’s stay feel a little more meaningful.
Trip Information
Modern Travel Expectation:
Now trekkers seek balance between adventure and the outside world while on a trek to be connected. Here are some expectations of modern travelers that we try to meet:
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Internet access, such as Wi-Fi, is available at teahouses.
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Comfortable accommodation due to upgraded teahouses and hygiene facilities.
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Available expanded menu of options, including pizza, pancakes, and vegetarian dishes.
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Sustainable and ethical practices of waste management and using renewable energy.
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Services of health support for high-altitude-related issues.
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Customizable trekking experience for solo travelers or groups for more fun in adventure.
Less Crowded Treks in Nepal
Inclusions & Exclusions
✓ Included
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Cost of Domestic flights
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Cost of Makalu Barun National Park and TIMS permits
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Standard meals during the trek
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Accommodation in Teahouses.
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First aid and medical service
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Cost of Guide or porters.
✗ Not Included
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International Airfare
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Nepal Visa Fees
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Cost of Travel Insurance
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Cost of personal expenses
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Extra accommodation in Kathmandu
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Tips for guide or porters
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FAQs
Arun Valley Trek is a remote and adventurous trek that is scenic and culturally rich in eastern Nepal. It passes through Makalu Barun National Park.
The best time to do this trek is in spring and autumn.
It is moderate in difficulty level. It is a mixture of uphill and downhill, which requires a lot of physical fitness.
Yes, you need a TIMS permit and a Makalu Barun National Park permit.
Considering its difficulty level, it is better suited for some experienced trekkers due to high altitude.
The trek usually takes around 12-15 days to complete.
There is availability of tea houses that provide basic comfort rooms. Also sleeping bags are recommended for added comfort.
