Overview of Churen Himal Expedition
Nepal is more known for the mountains and peaks, but let’s take you to a hidden beauty in Western Nepal called the Churen Himal expedition. The Trek Nepal has opened doors to the Churen Himal expedition, and the response to it has been wonderful.
You will be taking the journey from north of Dhorpatan and west of Dhaulagiri peak to get to Churen Himal. To the enthusiastic climbers and readers, Churen Himal is the remarkable mountain that is the border between the Myagdi and Dolpo districts in the Western region.
Often underrated Churen Himal stands at an altitude of 7385m, as there is the Central, Eastern, Western, and Jaljala areas. Being more than 7000m, the peak offers some beautiful views.
Not only the climbers need to have some experience of climbing peaks. As we know that Churen Himal is less touched, you will also find rare plants and animals in the region.
Besides that, there are also communities with Magar, Chhetris, and Chhantyals present. They live happily and harmoniously in the remote valleys, maintaining their special way of life.
Trip Highlights
- Experience some of the most remote and untouched paths of the Himalayas in the Far West region
- Immerse yourself in the local communities of Magars, Chhetris, and Chhantyals
- View the breathtaking beauty of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve and mountain ranges like Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, etc
- Get habituated with the flora, fauna, glaciers, speedy streams, condensed forest, etc
- Summit the beautiful Churen Himal at the end of the journey
History of the Churen Himal Expedition
Churen Himal might be untouched, but the history of the peak isn’t a new tale. For the very first time, the mountain was climbed by the Academic Alpine Club of Shizuoka.
This climb took place in 1970, and it was a historic chapter in the books of Himalayan mountaineering. Climbers Kr Fukui and K Hasegawa climbed the mountain. To be precise, 24th October, 1970 was the date when the historic feat was achieved.
Before this, human mankind wasn’t sure of what beauty the Churen Himal expedition held for the local communities. This climb by two people opened doors to one of the remotest climbs in the expedition map of Nepal.
Readers might be unaware, but Ryozo Yamamoto and his team also planned the climb in 1963, but were massively unsuccessful. By the end, Fukui and Hasegawa set the bars higher, which will be written in the peak climbing folklore of Nepal.
After 7 years of actual attempt to climb Churen Mountain, the group of Fukui and Hasegawa made things possible. This shows that the Churen Himal expedition isn’t easy, and you need massive planning and strategy. Dont worry, The Trek Nepal is here for that.
Is This Churen Himal Expedition Right For You?
One of the consistent questions that might be revolving around your head is whether the Churen Himel expedition is right for you or not. Well, the question is tough, so is the answer.
As the peak lies above 7000m, the weather is never in your control. Not only that the time of the year for the trek could also play a leading role in the final outcome.
From watching the beautiful scenery to understanding the difficulties of the mountains is also key. There will be 6 hours of walking for the whole trip, which isn’t an easy ask for beginners.
Try and practice some climbing exercises, some mini hikes, and cardiovascular training to make the whole process easier. Not only should climbers have proper experience, as the mountains of more than 7000m. Things can get messy at the top if you don’t have the proper experience.
The higher the altitude, the more the chances of Acute Mountain Sickness, altitude sickness, etc. There could be chances of shortness of breath, mild headache, and tiredness. But with experts from The Trek Nepa,l they will take care of it with ease.
In rarest of cases when the climbers might face issues, the Sherpa guides are experienced to provide first aid and also carry emergency medicines. All of these would help you during times of difficulty.
For the worst-case scenario, there is a helicopter rescue, but it will cost you massively in the budget. If you are someone with climbing experience and want to have a new experience, the Churen Himal expedition is the right option for you, rather than skipping it.
Discovering the Churen Himal Region
Being a remote region, the Churen Himal expedition will throw down various challenges for you. But you will be made ready by the expert The Trek Nepal team.
Talking about the village and culture of Churen, you will find variety in it. Takam village and Lumsang Village are two landmark villages in the region.
Takam village is famous for the Gurung community, who will feed you with great respect and care. You will have a chance to understand their customs, festivals, attire, and a unique way of living.
On the other hand, Lumsang is filled with Magar people. Eventhough they might look similar but their culture, history, and understanding isnt.
Magar community is known for its vibrant color, culture, dance, handicrafts, and whatnot. The horizons for the Magar community are massive. With the team of The Trek Nepal, we will interact with the local people to understand their life more closely.
Best Season for Churen Himal Expedition
As we know, the Churen Himal expedition is an easier climb, and getting to the top is possible all year. Even in the harshest of weather, if you have the right experience, we can help you reach the top.
But even throughout the year, the best season to perform the Churen Himal expedition is during the spring and autumn seasons. Spring falls from March to May, while autumn is all about September to November.
The experts from The Trek Nepal, however, will help you to acclimate well and also complete the trek all year round. Mainly during Autumn and spring, you will find stable weather, less chance of rain, and also the lowest chance of cancellation due to rain.
The seasons of autumn and spring might be perfect, but there are drawbacks, too. Being the peak season, you will find massive crowds during the trek.
What’s even tougher is the fact that the hotels and basic lodges peak in price, and there will be overcrowding even there. You will also face issues of getting permits and bookings. But The Trek Nepal has got you covered on that issue.
The weather at the 7000m mark might be tough during winter and even during the monsoon season. You will have to pack extra clothes and be mentally ready for frequent weather changes. However, what’s known is the fact that the crowd is smaller.
The people on the trail and also the lodges and teahouses are limited. Through this, you can get accomodation at affordable rates. All in all, the best time to make the expedition is during the months March to May or September, October, and November.
Foods and Accommodations during the Churen Himal Expedition
Churen Himal expedition might be one of the easiest climbs, but you will have to adjust to the food and accommodations. As with other treks, the food in Kathmandu is top-notch but basic as we move in and out of tea houses.
There are limited options in food the closer we move towards the Churen Himal expedition. From simple meals like Dal, Bhaat, Dhido, and Momo, you can get noodles as you wish. As famously called Roti, you can also get eggs with it.
The breakfast and dinner will be done at the place of stay, while you will have lunch on the road. The Trek Nepal tries to provide all the guests with carbohydrate-rich food. This allows you to get the best energy to make it through the long treks.
Talking about the accomodation feature, there are basic lodges and teahouses at the top. As we reach the base camp, the Sherpa guides will set up the camps where we will be staying for the full climb.
As wonderful as it might sound, there is a massive amount of struggle in the higher altitude stays. You will be staying with the local communities at their homes. Having said that, the facilities at teahouses are absolutely basic.
You will get the warm beds and blankets, but not the advanced feature. From a hot shower to the internet, you will have to pay a certain amount to use the service. The Trek Nepal, however, assures you that we will provide the best available accomodation for the climbers.
In the end, try and be sure of what you get during the tour. The limited food and minimalistic accomodation needs to be taken into account before choosing the trip.
Make sure you have enough clothes that will keep you warm, and also the food that will keep you in the right shape. Proper planning, strategy, and preparation, however, will make the Churen Himal expedition a major success.
Churen Himal Expedition Permits and Documents
If you are thinking about the Churen Himal expedition, there are some permits and documents that will be required. Either these permits are available at the Nepal Tourism Board or also at the specific location.
If you are doing solo treks, you will have to get it yourself. With The Trek Nepal, we arrange all the permits that will be required for you. The list of permits and documents required includes:
- Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) Card
- Sagarmatha National Park and Makalu Barun National Park Entry Permit
- Climbing Permit from the Ministry of Tourism
Detailed Itinerary For Churen Himal Expedition
Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel
On the very first day of the trek, all the guests will be shown to their hotel. Upon arriving at the airport, it is a 25-minute drive to The Trek Nepal office. You will be briefed and later transferred to your respective hotels.
Day 2: Spend the day in Kathmandu exploring
On the 2nd day, we will have a good breakfast early in the morning. As the day settles in, you will be getting a tour of the cultural sites of Kathmandu. Proper rest and last-minute shopping will be the key for today.
Day 3: Final preparations and a city tour
We will be attending the meetings at the Nepal Tourism Board and will also collect all the permits. The Trek Nepal will help you in the collection of all the permits, as you shouldn’t be worried about it. Likewise, any last-minute shopping will also take place today.
Day 4: Drive from Kathmandu to Beni
After spending 3 days in Kathmandu for the Churen Himal expedition, we move ahead. Today will be filled with 8 hours of driving as we reach Beni. The roads are beautiful with greenery all around. You will witness diverse geography with beautiful landscapes. The team will rest at a lodge in Beni.
Day 5: Drive to Darbang and trek to Dharapani
The early morning will have a healthy breakfast as we get to Darban through a beautiful drive. This will be the first walking experience as we go through thick forest and gentle hills. Slowly, you will see mountains in the distance as we reach Dharapani at the end of the day.
Day 6: Trek from Dharapani to Lumsang
Churen Himal expedition just gets interesting as we move towards Lumsang today. We will be reaching the depths of the Himalayan landscapes today as we move towards Lumsang. 6 hours of trek will finally take us there.
Day 7: Trek from Lumsang to Gurja Gaon
Early morning breakfast will show us the way to Gurja Gaon. Gurja is a locally inhabited village, and you will meet the locals and understand the culture. It will be a relaxing night at the local lodge.
Day 8: Trek from Gurja Gaon to Gorgon
The deep walks into the wilderness can be clearly seen today. We will be touching the 2900m mark as we go closer to the natural splendor. Going through the rough and pristine landscapes, we will be reaching the local lodge in Gorgon.
Day 9: Trek from Gorgon to Darsinge Khark
On the 9th day of the Churen Himal expedition, we will be focusing on the beauty of Darsinge. Traveling through the mountains and natural setting, we will reach Khark by the end of the day. You have the option of overnight camping or staying at the local lodge.
Day 10: Trek from Darsinge Khark to Burjunga Khark
Rough paths, steep climbs, and local wildlife will be all around you for the day. Changes in the views and paths will keep the trek exciting for the day. The Himalayan wilderness and a 5-hour tough trek will take you to Burjunga Khark.
Day 11: Trek from Burjunga Khark to Churen Himal Base Camp
After all these days of struggle, we will finally be able to reach the base camp for Churen Himal. As exciting and interesting as it may sound, the journey will be hard. We will touch 4600m today with amazing mountain views and one eye on the peak. We will rest at the Base Camp for the night.
Day 12-30: Climbing period for Mount Churen Himal
The most beautiful 18 days will be waiting for you. As we reach the base camp, the preparation for the climb will be ready. Churen Himal expedition will take full control now. We will be touching 7371m, and we will practice. From high-quality food to proper skill and training, we will be ready for what is to come.
You will also be provided with essential oxygen, personalized support, along mental and physical strength by all the guides from The Trek Nepal. As we reach towards the peak, you will be seeing the likes of Dhaulagiri I, Putha Hiunchuli, all around you.
Reaching the peak on the 17th day, we will return to the base camp on the 18th day, which is also the 30th day of the Churen Himal expedition. Reaching base camp, you will enjoy your achievements to the core.
Day 31: Trek from base camp to Burjunga Khark
After reaching the peak and achieving what you came for, we will be heading towards Burjunga Khark. The descent might be easier, but you will see different landscapes all around. Towards the end of the day, we will be at the Burjunga Khark enjoying our achievements.
Day 32: Trek from Burjunga Khark to Gurja Gaon
After having proper rest and an early morning breakfast, we are on returning way back to the Churen Himal expedition. We will have a different perspective on Gurja Gaon as we reach the end of the day. The locals will be all prepared to welcome us with the achievements we got.
Day 33: Trek from Gurja Gaon to Lulang Village
Slowly, we are leaving the Churen Himal expedition and moving away. After thanking Guja Gaon, we will head towards Lulang village. A peaceful village Lulang, helps you enjoy the natural beauty and also rest a bit.
Day 34: Trek from Lulang Village to Takum
Tukam is a silent and isolated spot where we set up camp and enjoy our time. Amidst the foothills of the mountains, we will be resting in the camps. It will be a silent and peaceful evening with a good meal.
Day 35: Trek from Takum to Darbang
Darbang is quite an isolated land when we talk about trekking and moving in. The beauty of the place is hard to ignore. 5 5-hour trek overnight from Takum will take you to Darbang. A major village with welcoming people, you will be amazed by the hospitality shown.
Day 36: Trek from Darbang to Beni
The team of The Trek Nepal moves away Churen Himal expedition each passing day. We will be moving ahead with Beni in our sights. Lodges here are more comforting and have more facilities. A sweet spot to stay, Beni will host the stay for the night.
Day 37:Drive from Beni to Kathmandu
Yes, we move towards the capital today. After having the early morning breakfast, we will hop on the road. It will be an 8-hour drive crossing rivers, forests, landscapes, and rugged trails. We will reach Kathmandu by the evening.
Day 38: City tour in Kathmandu
Before all the guests move to their respective homes, we will be up for a city tour. Interested individuals can buy souvenirs for their loved ones back home. We will explore the city and enjoy our time.
Day 39: Departure for the home country
Our journey to the Churen Himal expedition comes to an end. We will be moving to our home country. An experienced member will drop you off at the airport with a promise to meet again for the next tour.
Booking With The Trek Nepal For Churen Himal Expedition
One of the least explored regions of Nepal is the Churen region. Having said that, booking with a trustworthy travel agency is the key.
With The Trek Nepal, you will get the best services. As we have done the Churen Himal expedition with a greater success rate, we could be the right option for you.
You can either call us or visit our website to book your seats. As we only have a limited number of climbers’ slots, be ready with your trekking gear.