Route Overview of Ruby Valley Trek Itinerary
Ruby valley trek follows an itinerary which leads trekkers along the Ganesh Himalayan area, far from all trekking region of Nepal. First, it begins after a drive from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, which is used as entry point for Langtang trek as well.
We start our journey from Syabrubesi to Gatlang, which is a beautiful village of Tamang people stone houses and an old monastery. On these days, you trekking pace will be quite comfortable so that you can get used to high altitude and start preparing for future days.
The path takes us to Parvati Kund, which is a holy lake. From here, you trek further to Somdang via Yuri Kharka. You will be climbing high in this part into a rough terrain, which will prepare you mentally for the difficult part of your journey.
The next stage starts with ascending to Pangsang Pass, which reaches an altitude of 3,850 meter which is the highest and the most difficult point on the whole Ruby Valley Trek Package. Afterward, you will descend to the forests at Tipling.
From here on, the journey becomes significantly easier, taking you through villages of Chalish Gaon and Borang with easy walking days. This is where the last few miles of your hike will take you through Tamang village famous for its ancient monasteries and stone houses. Here, the trekking trails are quite different from the previous one. It is more open with valleys and villages widely.The last trekking day ends at Syabrubesi, a known hiking spot that has connections to Langtang.
From Borang, the last part of the route goes via jeep transport to Dhading Besi, where the trekking ends and you will take another driving transport from Dhading Besi to Kathmandu. Altogether, the Ruby Valley Trek Itinerary combines high mountain passes, tranquil villages, and forest trails to form an integrated trail.
Best Time for Ruby Valley Trek
Selecting an ideal season for this trek is very essential because the experience of your trek depend on it entirely. Below is a brief description of what each of the season can offer to you.
Spring (March to May)
In spring the weather is often pleasant, along with rhododendron in full bloom everywhere along the path. In addition, skies will remain mostly clear for you to have an uninterrupted view of the mountains. However, the clouds in the afternoons can affect the visibility of your views.
Autumn (September to November)
Autumn is regarded as the best time to make Ruby Valley Trek and there are good reasons for this opinion. This is when the air is fresh, skies are clear, and weather conditions are quite pleasant for walking.
Winter (December to February)
Winter comes with peaceful trails and some stunning snow-covered mountains. It gets pretty chilly, particularly in the higher region such as Pangsang Pass, so proper extra preparation is important.
Monsoon (June to August)
Monsoon season comes with rainfall and slippery path, making this the hardest season to go trekking in lower part, the path is full of leeches and clouds mostly cover the visibility which can be very annoying, but the hills become very green.
There are no doubts that spring and autumn are the perfect times to start Ruby Valley Trek. Both periods provide stability as well as clear visibility that allow enjoying the mountains. If you are an experienced hiker, you can try winter, and in case you do not mind the rain and muddiness, monsoon will do just fine.
Ruby Valley Trek Difficulty
Ruby Valley Trek is a moderately to high challenging which lies somewhere in the middle range. It is not extreme at all but does require you to be physically prepared to an extent.
Physical Fitness Level Required
You do not have to have experience of mountaineering. A fair amount of fitness level is enough that can be developed through regular walking ad little bit of cardio exercise. It even better if you have had some previous experience of trekking.
Walking Hour Per Day
Usually, you have walk between 3 to 6 hours on most days, someday you might even need to walk for as long as 7 to 8 hours. These different hours of trekking are the main factor that makes this trek comfortable as you make difficult days followed by the easier ones.
Trail Condition
The trail includes forest trails, stone steps, and also rocky terrain as you advance. There will be some narrow and rough areas along the path, in particular around Pangsang Pass. Weather can affect the trail as well.
Altitude
The highest altitude on this trek is when crossing Pangsang Pass at an altitude of 3,850 meter. Although altitude sickness issues are minimal here, slow but stable progress will be crucial to success. Proper hydration and acclimatization take care of any risks.
We have planned a well-planned Ruby Valley Trek Package takes into account all of the above-mentioned factors, avoiding the difficult days with proper rest. This makes the entire trek a comfortable task, with no sense of hurrying throughout the journey.
Culture and Local communities
The Ruby Valley Trek is not all about viewing mountainous landscape. This trek provides a chance to explore places, which are deeply rooted in their cultural traditions.
The tradition of Tamang community greatly influences the culture of the entire area. You can sense it at every step. Prayer flags sway in the village wind, and Buddhist prayers is heard from the monasteries nearby. A number of people in the villages still practice their ancient traditions, whether agricultural practices or dressing code.
Another rick cultural tradition on this path is the Gurung people and their communities. With a strong connection to the military of Nepal, the Gurungs have their own unique and distinct identity. If lucky, you might even witness some of the folk dances and music during the festivals.
If you Ruby Valley Trek falls within the time of some local festival, then you trek will definitely be much more interesting. Festival such as Lhosar can give you a unique experience, making you see how colorful, musical and entertaining these events are.
People in this area depend on farming, livestock and have strong family values. They wake up early and either go to their fields or take care of animals before sunrise. This lifestyle gives a different experience compared to city living.
These cultural features help to make your journey much more memorable.
Accommodation and Food
The Ruby Valley Trek is quite different from other trekking trails. There will not be any luxury hotel along the way, and you won’t even stay at tea houses regularly, instead you will stay in a homestay which is something much more interesting.
Most of the days you will have the opportunity to stay overnight at houses of local Tamang or Gurung families. Homestay accommodation is an integral part of Ruby valley trek package and give you chance to see how everyday life works. The rooms will be very simple with just basic need like bed, a warm blankets and shared bathrooms.
Some villages like Gatlang and Syabrubesi, provide small tea houses and lodges, where you can enjoy the standard accommodation while trekking. In such places, you will have private rooms, basic toilets and common space to relax.
The food served along the trail would be traditional Dal bhat – the main dish in Nepal and you will soon get used to it. The Dal bhat will be filling enough to provide you energy for the following day. In most of the lodges, noodle, soup and eggs can also be found.
Unfortunately, in the remote area, the bottled water is not always available. Most trekkers drink either the boiled water provided by the lodge or use purification tablets for the water taken from the streams.
Required Permits
The trekking through Ruby Valley needs some valid permits because it passes through some protected and restricted areas.
The trek is located within the conservation area. The entry into this particular conservation area needs some particular permit to ensure protection of wildlife, forest, and environment of the place you are going to walk.
The Tims card is needed for almost all treks and trails of Nepal. The purpose of it is to track all the trekker during the trek and ensure that the trekkers can get quick help in case of any emergency.
Restricted Area Permit
There are some restricted areas in the Ruby Valley Trek, close to Tibet border areas. This permit is very important for safe passage in the restricted areas.
Village Entry Fees
The villages along the route collect small fees for the maintenance of the trails and other community assets. The fees are relatively low, and they contribute to the economy of the region.
Handling permit can be quite confusing, particularly when you visit Nepal for the first time. This is precisely the reason why we at Epic Trek Nepal take care of every permit in your Ruby Valley Trek Package.
We take care of everything, from the paperwork to the processing of permits, and now you can relax and have fun with your Ruby Valley Trek Itinerary.
Safety Information
Safety on the Ruby Valley Trek Itinerary is a crucial aspect because of its remoteness. This is what you should keep in mind when setting out on this journey.
Licensed Guide
All the trek that is located in remote area must include licensed guide who have experience with the terrain. They help navigate the route, recognize the weather pattern and risk associated with altitude. Their presence is extremely necessary, particularly when trekking through challenging areas like Pangsang Pass.
Weather Condition
Weather is mountain is always unpredictable. There would be clear sky in the morning, while in the afternoon, it would become rainy and cold. This happens extremely fast, usually within a few hours. To avoid that check weather report and pack appropriate clothes.
Emergency evacuation
In case of emergencies, helicopters can evacuate you from any accessible locations on the itinerary. The guides have communication devices in order to contact and obtain the required assistance. This plan can bring great peace of mind when passing through the remote and mountainous regions of your Ruby Valley Trek Itinerary.
Travel Insurance
This is one thing you cannot do without in your trek journey. Travel insurance that covers high altitude trekking, medical emergencies and helicopter evacuation is mandatory for this trek. There are no other option and ignoring it would be very risky.
Communication Availability
Mobile network coverage is very limited in this trek and there are some areas where there is no connection at all. Some teahouses provide basic Wi-Fi services although the connectivity is fairly slow and unreliable in most places.
Preparing all these things in advance will make your trek much safer and enjoyable.
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