The actual beauty of Nepal lies in the far western development region. Having said that, the Karnali Corridor trek is one of the most underrated treks in Nepal.
With the raw beauty along with the remoteness, a lot of the tourists haven’t explored the actual side of the Karnali corridor trek. The Trek Nepal would love to shed light on what you have been missing in the remote parts of Nepal.
From the likes of Rara Lake to the dense forest and the great mountain views, there is much more to appreciate, explore, and fall in love with. Karnali Corridor trek, in particular, feels like going back in time.
Highlights of Karnali Corridor Trek
- Explore the beauty of Rara Lake, covered in dense conifer forests
- Understand the rich history of the Sinja Valley with the remains of the Malla kingdom
- Visit places like Shey Phoksundo Lake, Humla, Jumla, and Dolpa
- View the remoteness of the Karnali River along with deep mid hills valley and commercial trekking crowds.
Route Options for Karnali Corridor Trek
As the Karnali Corridor trek remains in focus, it follows the longest river through the remote far western Himalayas.
There is a varied option whether you want to follow the rapidly growing riverside jeep tracks or follow history with the ancient trade routes.
Just to be clear, these higher routes never touch the grounds of jeeps, and you can connect with deep gorges, Tibetan-influenced cultural villages and much more.
Based on the duration and focus, the route options can be categorised into different headings.
- Full Karnali Corridor and Humla Trek
- Limi Valley Circuit focusing on Upper Karnali
- Rara Lake and the Trans-Himalayan Route
- Karnali River Rafting Expedition
Best Time to Perform Karnali Corridor Trek
There are a lot of readers who might think that the Karnali corridor trek can be done all year. But it is key to find the right moment.
When we focus on the best time to perform the Karnali corridor trek, it is during the months of April to May and October to November. It is during this period that Rara Lake is in full flow, with the wild flowers covering the forest.
Monsoon in the far west region, and especially in Karnali, is unpredictable. As a result of that, being safe is key. Some years you might have heavy rainfall leading to flooding, and some years there may be drought.
Therefore, The Trek Nepal would suggest you choose either spring or autumn for this trek. The teahouse, along with the food, will also be easily available during the peak season.
Best Trails for Karnali Corridor Trek
You might be thinking, if Karnali is remote, what is the point of trekking to the region? Well, the beauty lies in the remoteness of the place.
Nepal Tourism Board has also made it its sole mission to focus on the tourism of the Far Western region in the tourism year. There are plenty of trails that can be explored during the Karnali Corridor trek.
They are:
Rara to Simikot Route
One of the key trails that makes the Karnali corridor trek is the Rara-Simikot route. It will take you less than 2 weeks to complete this trek.
Located within an accessible range, you will start the journey from Gamgadhi. Moving along, we will also visit the likes of Rara Lake and finish at Simikot.
From deep pine forests to panoramas of mountains and understanding the Tibetan Buddhist culture, there is much more to explore.
Ancient Karnali Salt Trail
During ancient times, the Karnali region was used as a trading route, and the trails are still present. In the Karnali salt trail, you will understand how trade happened between the two countries.
This particular trail will take you around 4 days to complete. Starting off from the Karnali River at Kawadi village, you will trek back to Kawadi Khola valley and later to Saina base camp.
Although the overall trail feels remote, you will be closer to history. The historic trade corridor, along with the caravans of sheep and goats, will take you back in time.
Simikot to Limi Valley Trek
The last and the longest trail in the Karnali corridor trek is the Simikot to Limi valley trek. This is also one of the most popular treks in the region.
On average, a trekker will spend more than 3 weeks to complete this trek. Starting out from the Karnali corridor, this journey ends right at Simikot.
But first, you will go through the remote valley of Limi and towards the border. There is plenty of historic and cultural beauty to explore.
From the likes of ancient monasteries to hot springs, views of the Saipal range, and crossing Nara La Pass, there is hardly a single opportunity for you to be bored.
Who Can Perform Karnali Corridor Trek?
One of the most asked questions is who can perform the Karnali Corridor trek. Well, the answer is simple. If you have enough experience and are active hikers, Karnali Corridor treks can be done.
The Trek Nepal would suggest you be actively involved in trekking and hiking before signing up for this. It is a long-distance trek with rugged trails and remoteness.
Meanwhile, all you get in the tough terrains are basic teahouses and camping stays. So being able to spend more than 2 weeks in the remoteness can be tough.
Most of the time, experienced trekkers sign up with The Trek Nepal for Karnali Corridor trek. If you are interested and want to know more, contact The Trek Nepal, as we will help you through.
Permits Needed For Karnali Corridor Trek
There is only selected amount of treks that take place at the Karnali corridor trek. As a result of that, a lot of trekkers might not be aware of the permits that will be needed to complete this journey.
Being in the restricted region, you will need special permits to complete the trek. The Trek Nepal, being your trekking agency, will help you get all the permits.
Still, for the solo trekkers, permits needed for the Karnali corridor trek include:
- Restricted Area Permit
- Shey Phoksundo National Park Permit
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit
- Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) Card