Humla Limi Valley Trek

The Limi Valley trek only opened to foreigners in 2002 as this area borders on Tibet in the far west of Nepal. It follows an ancient trading and pilgrim route over challenging trails and high passes. In order to protect the fragile ecosystem of the Limi Valley, only limited permits are issued every year, keeping the number of visitors down, and ensuring the flora and fauna of the area remains intact for generations to come.

This is one of last true wilderness area, tucked away inside Humla District where century old Buddhist traditions still exist and the people of the north-western part of the district are more like their Tibetan neighbour to the north than their Hindu neighbour in the south-east part of the district. On this trek, not only can hikers see the great mountains of Saipal, Byas, Rishi, Api, Kanjirowa, and Kanti in Nepal, but also the revered holy Mount Kailash across the border in Tibet.

The trail goes through yak pastures, cultivated land, along rivers and water falls, down ravines and through interesting villages. At the view point of Yak Kharka (4900 m) there is stunning views of Mount Kailash in Tibet. Until very recently it was possible to continue this trek along the traditional pilgrim trail to Mt Kailash, but this practice has been halted by the Chinese Government. Evidence of the ties between Humla and Tibet can be seen by the prayer flags and mani stones that line the trails as well as the beautiful stone (Tibetan style) villages, and the 1,000 year old Rizing Ling Gompa.

Possible wildlife on view includes marmot, wolf, wild yak, and Himalayan black bears. Of the rare mammals, snow leopards and blue sheep are known to live in this area.

This amazing trek highlights a different side of Nepal than that seen in some of the more usual trekking routes. It also gives a glimpse into the mystical land of Tibet without having to go through the formalities of getting there! The pristine sights and sounds of this trek more than makeup for the challenging hiking with some long days.

Highlights

• Seeing first hand the lowland city of Nepalgunj which is very different from most towns in Nepal.
• Flying through the Himalayas and landing at Simikot in Humla district.
• Trekking through the home of the snow leopard.
• Entering the Limi Valley, so remote there are very few people living there.
• Seeing over into the Tibetan Plateau, particularly Mt Kailash and Lake Manasarovar.
• Crossing mountain passes.
• Having a fantastic camping experience.
• Gazing at the snowy peaks and night sky.
•  Learning about Buddhist culture, architecture and history.
• Meeting the locals.

Humla Limi Valley Trek Outline Itinerary

Includes

Limi Valley Trek Map

 Location of the Humla Limi Valley Trek

Humla district lies in the far north west of Nepal, bordering on Tibet.  Within this district lies the hidden valley of Limi.  With only three settlements and around 1,000 inhabitants, the Limi Valley is an extremely interesting and unique place to visit.

Required Experience for the Humla Limi Valley Trek

This is a strenuous trek; made even more so due to the fact you will be camping throughout 16 days of the trek.  You should have some hiking experience before attempting this trek, and preferably at high altitude.   If you have camped on a trek before, so much the better.

However, if you have a good level of fitness, are enthusiastic about seeing new places and learning about new culture, have a good stamina level to call upon, then you should consider this beautiful adventure.  

You will be reaching an altitude of around 5,000 m  / 16,404 ft and crossing mountain passes, all of which add to the challenge as well as a sense of achievement.   You will be hiking and sleeping at altitudes of around 4,000 m /   13,123.3 ft on the majority of the days and hiking for an average of 6 hours per day.  If this is something you think you can achieve, please sign up!

Physical Fitness – What You Need to Know

This is a trek for those with some trekking experience. You should have a good level of fitness, stamina and be able to persevere regardless of what the day brings.

If you have trekked at high altitude before and keep in mind that camping in the Himalayas is not like camping in an area with facilities like toilet and shower blocks and electricity, and do not mind long days of walking, we have a tent with your name on it.

You should prepare your body in advance by increasing your exercise regime, particularly working on your leg muscles and cardio.  Increasing your cardio ability is important when considering a high altitude trek where the air is thinner.  Altitude related problems are real – and there is no way of knowing who will face this challenge and who will not.  Altitude sickness does not respect age or fitness.  Even the most experienced and fit mountaineers can be affected by altitude.

There are simple steps to follow to avoid altitude complications and your guide is trained to spot any problems.

What to Expect on a Typical Day on the Humla Limi Valley Trek

Your camp crew will be up and busy before you wake and will provide you with a cup of tea and hot water for bathing before you are served a hearty breakfast.

After breakfast, prepared by our great camp chef, you will head out on the trail around 8am.  He will also have prepared drinking water and a packed lunch for you.

Depending on the day’s route you may be walking between 5 to 7 hours per day, but the average will be 6.  The trails in this area are rough, usually yak / mule trails and care should be taken over loose ground.  You may be climbing over a mountain pass, or you may be hiking through forests.

The lunch that was prepared for you in the morning is eating on the trail, and snacks and hot tea will be available at the next camp site.  You can enjoy these while the camp crew sets up your tent and the camp chef prepares dinner.

Bedtime is always early on the trail, as will be waking up time.

What You Will See on This Trek

• The Culture: The locals of the Limi Valley, of which there are only around 1,000, are called Limey and follow the Drikung Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.  Traditionally dependent on agriculture, pastoralism and trade, the valley has close ties with Tibet. 
• Flora and Fauna: This area is home to the rare and shy snow leopard, as well as the Himalayan wolf, Tibetan gazelle, Tibetan fox, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan blue sheep and other smaller mammals.  Wild yaks can also be found here as well as many bird species.  As in many other remote, northern areas of Nepal, there are many plants grown for their medicinal properties. 
• Views of Tibet: From the Lapcha La Pass you get great views on clear days of Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in Tibet.  Indeed, the ancient trading route between Nepal and Tibet goes through this area.
• Mountains:  You will see various mountains on the Nepal side, such as Mendon, Saipal, Byas, Rishi, Api, Kanjirowa, and Kanti.  You can also see the splendidly shaped and holy Mount Kailash in Tibet.

Minimum Number of Trekkers for this Trek

For a camping trek in Nepal, we require a minimum of two (2) trekkers to make it viable. It is also more enjoyable for you if there are more in your group. A minimum of two trekkers is also required to obtain the Restricted Area Permit for this secluded area.

However, if you are one person traveling alone we will endeavor, if possible,  to put you with other trekkers who wish to do this trek.

Camping Trek – Remote and Different 

There is very little commercial or home stay type accommodation in Humla. None in the Limi Valley.  For this reason, we chose to camp in this area. 

At the campsite we will provide you with a comfortable tent and sleeping mat, a toilet tent and dining tent.  Your camp chef will have his own kitchen tent where he will prepare your meals from the food we carry with us.

This is not glamping. This is basic, adventure time camping at its best.

What Will You Eat While Camping

Breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner are provided and prepared by the camp chef.

Breakfast, afternoon snacks and dinner are served at the campsite while lunch will be prepared at the campsite but carried as a packed lunch to eat on the trail.

With no electricity at the campsites the cooking is done on a kerosene stove which the camping crew will bring with them. 

Based on experience, we suggest bringing some snacks from home for those moments when you just need a little home comfort!

Your Possible Menu While Camping:

Breakfast may be porridge with bread (probably roti – a Nepali flatbread or a fried Tibetan bread)

Lunch and dinner can be pasta, noodles, dal bhat (Nepali vegetable curry), pizza, etc.  

Afternoon snacks may consist of fried potatoes and popcorn.

We will not buy fresh meat on the trail as it is not guaranteed to be fresh but will bring some canned meat / tuna fish. 

There will always be vegetarian food available at every meal.  Please advise us of any allergy’s or dislikes.

Tea/ coffee/ hot water is unlimited. There is  powdered milk and sugar for the tea/coffee.

We will not carry alcohol as we do not recommend its consumption at altitude.  Both alcohol and soft drinks are too heavy to carry anyway.  If you like, you could bring some flavored powder to add to the water for a different taste.

Drinking Water While Camping

The kitchen tent will provide you with boiled water for drinking.  If you come across a mountain spring, as long as you add purifying drops or tablets to it you can drink that water.  When in doubt ask your guide.  A Lifestraw will filters out some, not all, larger bacteria so if you have one, bring it along.

What You Need to Bring for a Camping Trek

Take a look at our list of trekking equipment / gear  you need on any trek.  We suggest a few additional items for a camping trek, such as:

• Headtorch with batteries and extra batteries.
• A portable solar panel (one which hooks onto your day pack) to recharge equipment.
• Medicines – any ones you take regularly plus items such as headache tablets, stomach tablets etc.  And a small first aid kit.
• Four-season sleeping bag. This can be rented in Kathmandu.
• Toiletries in small, travel sized containers, and some clothes washing soap.
• Things for blisters and a few bandages in case of sprains.
• Nepali rupees in case there is something you wish to buy on the trek. 
• Your favorite snacks from home or Kathmandu.

Keeping Your Gear to Essentials  for the Porters 

Porters will be carrying the tents, kitchen equipment and food for your camping trek.  It is possible for them to also carry your gear.  But please be considerate and keep your gear down to a sensible weight of essentials!  Note: you will be carrying your own day pack with your water and other essentials for the day.

Best Time to do the Limi Valley Trek

March to May (Spring) and September to early December (Autumn) are the best times to come to the Limi Valley in terms of the vegetation and clear skies.

As the Limi Valley lies in a partial rain-shadow it may be possible to hike in this area during June to August (Monsoon).  Keep in mind air transport can be difficult or halted during the monsoon season.

During the winter we do not recommend any high altitude, remote treks as mountain passes can be closed or blocked, and the trails extremely challenging and under snow.

Before the Trek

Your First Days in Nepal

If you wish, we can meet you at the Tribhuvan International Airport on your arrival, saving you time and effort.  Just let us know on the booking form but please note there is a charge for pick up.  Alternatively, there are pre-paid taxis available at the airport or walk down to the main road and haggle!

Hotels in Kathmandu

Booking.com and hostelworld.com will give you a selection of hotels in Kathmandu, including in the tourist area of Thamel.  We can recommend Thamel for its  cafes, restaurants, bars and shops all geared for tourists. Our office is also located in Thamel. 

Explore Kathmandu

Walk around and lose yourself in the tiny back streets and alleys of Kathmandu.  But there is so much to see that if you have limited time we suggest you take a guided tour with us.

 Highlights  of our tours include Boudhanath (Tibetan area with a huge stupa), Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple (another huge stupa), and Pashupatinath with its ancient Hindu temples and ghats.  Swayambhunath, Boudha, and Pashupatinath are among the seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley. 

 There are many other options on our tours including one (or more) of the three Durbar Squares within the Kathmandu Valley.  These date back to when there were three kingdoms in what is now Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur and are fascinating places with temples and palaces.  

If you wish to see something in particular, do ask us about it. 

Visa for Nepal

Visa on arrival is available for people from most countries, via the Immigration Department of Nepal’s on-line site.   Complete the form, print it out and bring it with you.  Bring USD cash (exact money) to make payment on arrival at the airport. 

• 15 Days – 30 USD
• 30 Days – 50 USD
• 90 Days – 125 USD

Trekking Permits You Need for this Trek  

To trek anywhere in Humla you need a Restricted Area Permit.

Cost: USD50 per person for the first 7 days and USD10 per person per day thereafter.

Minimum No. of Trekkers: two trekkers are required to obtain the permit for Humla

We will organize the permit for you.

Why You Need a Permit

As Humla is a restricted area because of its proximity to Tibet, a restricted area permit is required.  This also applies to other remote areas in the north of Nepal which border on Tibet.

Secondly, when you pass a checkpoint, your permit  number is noted down and should you go missing, there is a greater chance of the search taking place in the right location.  So, it is also there for your safety.

Safety on the Trek 

Altitude: One of the main concerns for a high altitude trek is altitude related illness.  We make recommendations and encourage you to follow our advice on how to mitigate the possibility of altitude illness.  Learn more here.  

The basic guidelines are:

• drink enough water to stay well hydrated,
• going slowly, and
• take lots of short breaks on the trail.

Our guides are trained in first aid and in recognising signs of altitude so do not hesitate to inform them if you are feeling unwell.

Getting lost: Getting lost is very easy in the mountains – distance can be very deceptive. What looks close by could in fact take hours to reach, so it’s easy to get turned around and lost if you wander off alone. It is vital to let your guide know if you wish to explore alone at any point.   And do respect his suggestion if he says it is unwise to go. 

Tips for Safety on the Trek:

Some basic tips on safety are:

• Bring trekking poles for stabilizing yourself on risky /  slippery / steep trails.
• Do not go off on your own at the rest / overnight stops without telling your guide.
• Drink at least 4 ltrs of water per day.
• It is important not to skip meals as you need to keep your energy up. 
• Do tell your guide if you feel at all unwell.  He will then be able to monitor you for potential problems.
• Buy the correct insurance for your trip before leaving your home country.
• Wear the correct gear. Bring waterproof gear in case of rain or snowfall even when it’s not forecast as the weather is unpredictable in the mountains.
• Bring your own regular medicines and a medical kit.
• Pay attention to the guide in tricky or dangerous areas. 
• Don’t provoke the animals – including yaks! Always walk on the mountain side (not the cliff / drop side) when a mule or yak train is passing. 

Expenses You Should Calculate For

Included in the cost of the trek is the accommodation, the transport (including flight), your guide, your camp chef, the porters, and your food. One night’s accommodation and breakfast are included in Nepalgunj, but you are required to pay for your own lunch and dinner.    

On a camping trek there are few places to spend your money. You may find some hand woven rug or a shop selling dried noodles (eaten like chips/ crisps) and soft drinks.  But this will not be a daily event.

There are monasteries  / gompas in this area so you will need some money for a donation at each gompa.  Locals also give a donation.   We suggest between NRs200-500 per monastery is fine.

We do request you set aside money to tip the camp crew and guide; not mandatory but nowadays expected.  And those porters work hard carrying all that gear up and down those mountains!  

Overall, we suggest you bring around the Nepali rupee equivalent to USD5 to 10 per day on this trek – excluding tips.  Maybe around USD50 for Nepalgunj, depending on your restaurant preference.  

 Remember there are plenty of places to spend your left over rupees back in Kathmandu if you don’t spend it on the trail!

What is Included and Not Included in the Cost of Your Trek

Transport: Four domestic flights.

Accommodation: Tents, and sleeping mats are provided.

Food: At the camp site you will get breakfast, dinner,  and afternoon snacks.  You will also get a packed lunch to eat on the trail.

Permits: The permit required for this trek is included in the cost of your trip.

Tips: Tips are not included in the cost of your trek.  Please calculate the tips for your guide and porters.  Tips can be in Nepali rupees or other currencies.

Before you come expenses:  .

• Trekking / camping gear, good  trekking boots.
• Flight ticket, visa fee, and insurance.

Tipping the Guide, Chef and Porters

It is the norm to tip your guide and porters on treks to show your appreciation of the amazing people who help make your trek enjoyable and comfortable. 

Please be aware,  100% of your tips go to the staff. 

We suggest the following:

• Tip the guide 10% of your trip cost. 
• For the porters  it is normal to tip around a total of USD150  for each porter.
• For the chef, please tip USD200.

The tips for the guide and crew members are divided by the number of trekkers on a trip.  

Why Book with Magical Nepal

Diversity – Equality – Inclusion: Keys to a Great Experience

We at Magical Nepal are a team of highly trained travel enthusiasts.  

We started Magical Nepal in 2017 and pride ourselves in growing a great team. From our climbing guides, trek guides, and liaison staff to our camp staff, porters and camp chef, we all love to explore and travel in the Nepal Himalayas. We also love to introduce our beautiful country to our clients.

We are committed to human dignity, security, and safety for all – for our clients and for the communities we visit. We are also committed to the environmental sustainability of the landscapes, flora, and fauna of the Himalayas.

We also pride ourselves on offering great value for money and a price guarantee – if you can find the same trek at a lower price, we will match it – guaranteed.

Please check the reviews from our past clients to see what they say about us.

FAQs For Humla Limi Valley Trek:

Related Trip in Far West Region

Jumla Rara Lake Trek