Lapchi Kang and Milarepa Cave Trek Nepal. A trek to give a full experience of this visually extraordinary and geographically isolated area, hugely rich in flora, wildlife and folklore, yet almost never visited by tourists or scientists. Lapchi Kang is a small Himalayan range lying like a twisted backbone jammed between the road to Tibet and the huge himalayan valley of Rowaling Himal. It is restricted and tucked away enough to be ignored by the tourists and yet not high enough to entice mountaineers. At Lapchi Monastery, in this isolated wilderness, Milarepa-an ancient Tibetan magician, went into retreat, lived in a cave, ate stinging nettles and slowly turned green!
The maze of twisted hills, rock spires and sheer cliffs that make the landscape from Ama Bamare Himal to Lapchi Kang snow Mountain gives the snow leopard a perfect habitat for survival. This trek follows the high forest route from Lamaabagar where we turn off the main trail and head up through dense bamboo and cloud forest to an isolated pocket of Lapchi Kang under the 6000m rock spire of Ama Bamare and the awesome rock face of Kookur Raja Darra ( King Dog Ridge ). This Lapchi Kang Trek is unique !
Itinerary
Day 01. Kathmandu – Lamabagar (1991m) by public bus, 10 hours driving, and stay in a tea house. If you drive by private car or jeep, the charge is additional Euro 150 / jeep or car.
Day 02. Lamabagar – Lumnan 2 hrs. by Jeep. Trekking to Thasang.
Day 03. Thasang to Lapchi Lapchi Monastery. (3004m) 5/6 hours.
As we leave the forest, we get spectacular views of Lapchi Kang Snow Mountain, the retreat center and the actual monastery. Musk deer, Himalayan Thar and Jarrel are abundant here. We camp outside the monastery and can have a visit inside. Great views of Choba Bamarie, the highest peak in the area at just over 6000m.
Day 04-06: Meditation at the monastery (3 Days)
Day 07: Visit the Lapchi village and Milarepa cave
Dudul Cave, Milarepa’s Footprint, Mountain Spring (4200m) and Retreat Centre. 4 hours.
We visit Dudul Cave, where Milarepa spent many years in retreat. then a steeped hike up the mountain, visiting the Retreat Centre, viewing Milarepa’s footprint in the Gompa, before ascending to the final height to a small Gompa with splendid views of the Lapchi river valley clearly showing the meeting of the upper Lapchi river and the Nylam river.
On the mountain slopes are 42 retreat houses for upto 3-year retreats. There are 4 Gompa houses in total, the one down at the monastery is called Duedul Pug, Choera Gompa is the next, in the middle temple, Rechen Gompa, are the footprints of Milarepa on the ceiling. Blue Sheep visit this area, and the highest temple, Ze Pug, where there is a water well – the water started flowing when Milarepa struck his staff to the rocks, and then he flew to Mt.Kailash. On the way up is a footprint of a Dakini, one of the Tseringma sisters, a long-time cohort of Milarepa.
Day 08-09: Trekking down to Lamabagaar
Day 10: Drive to Kathmandu
PRICE: € 1100 / PERSON (Need at least 2 persons in a team)
It includes:
- Special Trekking Permit, Gaurisankar Conservation Area Entry Permit – Lapchi Kang Permit, TIMS (Trekking Information Management System) Card.
- Food and accommodation (in tent and teahouses)
- Staffs (Guide and Porters) and their all expenses their including insurance.
- Transport by local bus (additional charge if by car or jeep)
- Government taxes
TREK WITHOUT MEDITATION – 8 DAYS
PRICE: € 700 / PERSON (Need at least 2 persons in a team)
