Trekking through the undiscovered homeland of the Chepang people

Bite-sized trip

Itinerary:
Kathmandu or Pokhara - Chepang Hills - Chitwan
Duration:
3 days / 2 nights
Price:
from £ 370.- per person (excluding flights)

Experience the undiscovered homeland of the Chepang, an ethnic group who live in the heart of Nepal, during this three-day trek. On your journey from Kathmandu or Pokhara towards Chitwan, you will turn off the main road and drive deeper into the mountains. From here, you will continue on foot. You will trek through the home of the Chepang people on a trekking route that is completely off the beaten path. During the trek you will be the guests of two different families. This way, you're not only supporting the Chepang community but also learning more about their traditional lifestyle and culture. And the scenery is pretty impressive too!

Day 1 – By jeep into the mountains and on foot to the homestay

Travel time: about 3 hours by car and 2 hours trekking

In the morning you will be picked up at your hotel in Kathmandu or Pokhara by a private driver and quickly leave the bustling city behind. After a few hours heading towards Chitwan, you will reach a dirt road where you will swap you mode of transport for a jeep to travel deeper into the mountains. After a stop for lunch in Jaypuri, you will take a short hike to Topang. Here you will stay in a homestay and meet the local Chepang community, who still live in harmony with their natural surroundings. Although they don’t have much, the Chepang have a positive outlook and big hearts and you will be warmly welcomed into their community. You will sleep in the home of one of the families, and have the opportunity to cook and eat with them. It’s an interesting insight into their daily life. As a company we have helped set up these simple, charming homestays for this trekking tour and, by visiting you are also supporting the community.

Day 2 – Hike to Siraichuli viewpoint

Travel time: about 5 hours trekking

After breakfast, say goodbye to your host family and set off on foot to the Siraichuli viewpoint. Once at the top, at 1945 metres above sea level, you will have a magnificent view over the Chepang Mountains. If the weather is good, you’ll be able enjoy panoramic views of the Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal mountain ranges. After lunch at Jyandala, you will trek further to Chaukidada, where you will spend the night in the home of another local Chepang family.

Day 3 – Refresh at the waterfall and arrival in Chitwan

Travel time: about 2 hours trekking and 0.5 hours jeep ride

Today is the last part of your trek through this undiscovered corner of Nepal. After breakfast, you will first hike up to the waterfalls of Sita-Ram Jharana, where you can take a refreshing dip and enjoy a picnic lunch. Following this, you will hike down to the valley where a driver will be waiting to take you to Chitwan National Park. It is quite a large descent of around 1,500 metres in altitude. Alternatively if you prefer, we can arrange a jeep to pick you up in Chaukidada at an additional cost. At Chitwan National Park you can continue your journey with a jungle adventure.