Route Overview of Gurja Himal Trek
The Gurja Himal Trek first start with a drive from Kathmandu to Baglung, where you will begin your journey on foot afterwards. After leaving Baglung, the trek takes you up the hills to Okhle and then Nila Jotin Dara all the way to Sipa. Here, you will travel through ridges and valleys which is very common in this region of Dhaulagiri range.
Next the trail passes over Dansi Lekh Pass to Rum, then Sole Lekh to Bonga Khani. This is one of the longest walking sections due to remote hill terrain and not so well-developed village infrastructure on the way. Then the trail climbs over Gurjaghat Pass (3,350 m), entering Gurjaghat at the Dhorpatan Valley, which a rest day is included to visit Chentung monastery for acclimatization for pushing higher.
The highlight of the trek comes when passing the Rugachar Pass (3,900 m), which takes you to Gurja Khani, the village that is closest to Gurja Himal. From there, the trek will continue to Lulang and then to Darbang, which is the final destination of the trek before transferring back to Pokhara in a private vehicle.
Due to the lack of teahouse facilities in the route area as compared to the well-known trekking areas of Nepal, the conditions may differ according to seasons, and it is recommended to get the current information of the route from Epic Trek Nepal.
Gurja Himal Trek Difficulty
The Gurja Himal Trek package is quite a challenging one, which is considered as moderate to difficult. There are days which include 7 to 9 hours of walking, including Bonga Khani to Gurjaghat and Rugachaur Pass which are 8 hours of long walk-through rugged terrain. These days are not going to be easy which involves several ups and downs and the track are also not well maintained.
The altitude also becomes a major factor after passing Gurjaghat Pass, with the higher altitude being 3,900 meters on Rugachaur Pass. Although the altitude is not extremely high, the remote trails, rugged terrain, long walking days and limited facilities creates enough challenges to exhaust trekker during the trek. For this reason, it is important for trekkers to have previous experience with multi-day trekking, and it would be very helpful if you have done something like this remote area trekking before.
Trekkers must be used to trekking for several days straight, carrying a day pack along the trails that could either be muddy, rocky, or narrow, depending on the season. Some of the individuals who can find this trek difficult are first timers without any background of hiking, people with cardiovascular or joint problems and those who expect shorter distances every day in the most famous trails of Nepal and if you are like this trek might not be for you.
Best Time for Gurja Himal Trek
Spring (March to May)
Spring is the most favorable season due to its warm temperatures and comfortable climate. With warmer weather at lower altitudes, the areas covered with forest near Baglung and Okhle witness flowering of rhododendrons while the temperatures on the trail remain comfortable. The higher regions near Gurjaghat Pass and Rugachaur Pass may still contain snow at the beginning of the season.
Autumn (September to November)
After Spring, Autumn is another most suitable period for trekking the area. The trail, temperatures and weather slowly become stable after the heavy monsoon rainfall and the scenery at places such as the peak around Gurja Himal and the Dhorpatan valley will be very clear.
Monsoon (June to August)
The monsoon season is a challenging one for this Gurja Himal Trek. The monsoon rain makes the trail very muddy and slippery. It’s also a season where clouds cover the mountain views and forest are full of leeches.
Winter (December to February)
The winter season bring cold weather and probably snowfall in the passes such as Gurjaghat Pass and Rugachaur Pass. The lower part of the trail is still accessible during winter, but those planning to trek in winter need to prepare for such condition.
Accommodation and Food during Gurja Himal Trek
The accommodation on the Gurja Himal trekking is quite different from the other famous trekking destination in Nepal. The accommodation facilities differ based on various parts of the trekking path. At the lower hills near Baglung and Okhle, there are small teahouses or even small lodges that offers a comfortable room and some basic bedding facilities. Once the trek moves into the valley of Dhorpatan and closer to Gurja Khani, then facilities will get more limited and camping might become an option along the way.
Facilities provided in this accommodation are very basis. There is no guarantee that there will be bathroom attached to the rooms, nor that shower will even provide hot water, especially after you get past lower part of the trail. Most of the bathroom include squat toilets than western style toilet. Due to changing conditions from village to village and from season to season, it is necessary for you to lower your expectation.
The food on Gurja Himal trekking route is mostly the same type of food that will be available in other trekking areas of Nepal. Dal Bhat which consists of rice, lentils and vegetable is the most favored dish which are widely served during the trek. Other types of food available include noodles, soup, and basic rice-based meals. Breakfast usually consists of porridge, eggs, toast, tea and coffee.
There is drinkable water along the trail. However, you should prepare to either purify the water using purification tablets, a water filter system, as bottled water is rarely found in the remote areas of the route.
Safety and Altitude consideration
The highest point in the Gurja Himal Trekking is at Rungachaur Pass which is approximately 3,900 meter and Gurjaghat Pass and an altitude of 3,50 meter. Though these altitudes are relatively moderate when compared to other parts of the Himalaya, they may cause problems for trekkers, which is why there are two rest days at Gurjaghat and Gurja Khani on the itinerary.
It is important for trekkers to be aware of their own well-being during the climb in terms of the altitude, as any unusual symptoms, such as a headache, nausea, and tiredness, should be discussed with their guide.
Hydration becomes important especially if you are going for a long trekking days where you have to walk for 7 to 9 hours daily. Dehydration can affect your body and cause altitude sickness faster than normal. The weather may change anytime during trekking, so carry warm layered clothes to guard against the temperature changes and wind.
It is highly recommended to hire a guide for this journey due to lack of facilities and certain areas where it becomes crucial to have local information about the trails and the means of emergency available, which guides can facilitate you in arranging if required.
Travel Insurance
A travel insurance is a lifesaving thing that should not be ignored when trekking in places like Gurja area. Because of the remoteness of some parts of the trek, the passes above 3,000 m and lack of accessible medical services, having the proper travel insurance coverage before starting the journey becomes more important for this trek than for any other one.
When choosing a travel insurance policy, you need to make sure that your policy includes coverage for trekking at the altitudes covered during the trek. Some insurance companies may require that separate adventure activity coverage is needed for trekking above a certain altitude. The Gurji Himal trekking involves crossing Rugachaur Pass at 3,900m altitude, so you need to verify this aspect directly with your insurance company when choosing the coverage plan.
Another thing that should be included in the coverage plan is the coverage for emergency evacuation from the area. Because the Gurja Himal trek goes through such remote places as Gurjaghat and Gurja Khani, having such a coverage option is vital.
Trip cancellation and trip delay insurance is another area to consider, considering how much the plan depends on weather conditions along the roads and trails used.
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