- Length
- 18 days
- Highest point
- 5,160 m
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Starts
- Taplejung (fly via Bhadrapur)
- Group size
- 2–10 People
- Sleeping
- Tea House / Camp
A remote Great Himalaya Trail traverse linking the Kanchenjunga and Makalu regions over the 5,160 m Lumba Sumba Pass, through Limbu and Sherpa villages, Tamur and Arun valleys.
- Cross the remote 5,160 m Lumba Sumba Pass on the Great Himalaya Trail
- Link two of Nepal's greatest sanctuaries: Kanchenjunga and Makalu Barun
- Panoramas of Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Lhotse and Cho Oyu from the pass
- Visit the ancient Tibetan-Buddhist trading village of Olangchung Gola
- Trek through pristine red panda and snow leopard habitat
- Follow the wild Tamur and Arun river valleys far off the tourist trail
- Authentic Limbu, Sherpa and Bhote cultural encounters
- A genuine camping expedition with almost no other foreign trekkers
The climb, day by day
Day 1Arrive Kathmandu (1,400 m)1,400 m
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer to your hotel in Kathmandu. Trek briefing, gear check and permit formalities with your guide in the evening.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- –
- Meals
- –
- Night
- Hotel
Day 2Kathmandu sightseeing & trek preparation (1,400 m)1,400 m
Guided sightseeing of UNESCO World Heritage sites and final preparations. Restricted-area permits, KCAP and Makalu Barun permits are arranged today.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- –
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Night
- Hotel
Day 3Fly to Bhadrapur, drive to Taplejung (1,442 m)1,442 m
Early flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur (or Suketar), then a long scenic drive through tea-garden hills to Taplejung, gateway to the Kanchenjunga region.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- Flight + 7–8 hr drive
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Guesthouse
Day 4Drive to Tapethok, trek to Lelep (1,687 m)1,687 m
Drive to the trailhead at Tapethok and register restricted-area permits, then trek along the Tamur River through Limbu villages to Lelep.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- 4–5 hr
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House / Camp
Day 5Lelep to Ela Danda (2,051 m)2,051 m
Follow the Tamur valley through forest and terraced farmland, climbing steadily to the ridge camp at Ela Danda.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- ~5 hr
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Camp
Day 6Ela Danda to Selep Kharka (2,525 m)2,525 m
Trek through dense rhododendron and fir forest, crossing streams to the grazing pastures of Selep Kharka.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- ~5 hr
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Camp
Day 7Selep Kharka to Olangchung Gola (3,208 m)3,208 m
Climb to the atmospheric Tibetan-Buddhist trading village of Olangchung Gola, with its centuries-old monastery and stone houses.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- ~6 hr
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House / Camp
Day 8Acclimatisation day at Olangchung Gola (3,208 m)3,208 m
Rest and acclimatise. Visit the gompa and take a short hike up the valley to aid altitude adaptation before the high crossing.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- 2–3 hr
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House / Camp
Day 9Olangchung Gola to Upper Langmale (3,893 m)3,893 m
Ascend above the treeline along moraine and alpine meadow to the high camp at Upper Langmale beneath the pass.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- ~6 hr
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Camp
Day 10Upper Langmale to Pass Base Camp (4,747 m)4,747 m
A short but demanding day climbing over glacial terrain to the exposed Pass Base Camp. Early rest in preparation for the pre-dawn crossing.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- ~6 hr
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Camp
Day 11Cross Lumba Sumba Pass (5,160 m) to Chaurikharka (4,594 m)5,160 m
The big day. A pre-dawn start for the climb to the 5,160 m Lumba Sumba Pass, with sweeping views of Kanchenjunga, Makalu and surrounding glaciers, then a long descent into the Arun watershed to camp at Chaurikharka.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- 8–10 hr
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Camp
Day 12Chaurikharka to Thudam (3,500 m)3,500 m
Descend through high pasture and forest into the Makalu Barun side to the remote herders settlement of Thudam.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- ~6 hr
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Camp
Day 13Thudam to Kharka (2,877 m)2,877 m
Continue down the valley through pristine forest, following the upper Arun tributaries to a riverside kharka camp.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- ~6 hr
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Camp
Day 14Kharka to Chyamthang (2,229 m)2,229 m
Trek to the Sherpa and Bhote village of Chyamthang, the first sizeable settlement on the Makalu side.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- ~6 hr
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House / Camp
Day 15Chyamthang to Hatiya (1,595 m)1,595 m
Long descent along the Arun River through mixed forest and farmland to the village of Hatiya.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- ~7 hr
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House / Camp
Day 16Hatiya to Gola (1,128 m)1,128 m
Follow the warm lower Arun valley through subtropical terraces and villages to Gola.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- ~6 hr
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House / Camp
Day 17Gola to Tumlingtar, fly to Kathmandu (1,400 m)1,400 m
Drive to Tumlingtar and take the scenic flight back to Kathmandu. Evening at leisure with a farewell dinner.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- Drive + flight
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Night
- Hotel
Day 18Departure from Nepal1,400 m
Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward flight, or extend your stay in Nepal.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- –
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Night
- –
The price includes
- Airport transfers in Kathmandu on a private vehicle
- 2 nights hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast
- Kathmandu–Bhadrapur and Tumlingtar–Kathmandu domestic flights
- Ground transport Bhadrapur–Taplejung–Tapethok and Tumlingtar transfer
- Kanchenjunga Restricted Area Permit, KCAP and Makalu Barun National Park permits
- Government-licensed, experienced trekking guide and required staff
- Porters to carry trekking gear and camping equipment
- Full camping setup: tents, kitchen, dining and toilet tents
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) on the trek with hot drinks
- Tea house and homestay accommodation where available, camping elsewhere
- First-aid kit, oximeter and staff insurance
- All government taxes and service charges
You pay separately
- International airfare to and from Nepal
- Nepal entry visa fee
- Travel and high-altitude rescue insurance (mandatory)
- Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu
- Personal trekking gear and clothing
- Drinks, bottled water, hot showers and battery charging where chargeable
- Tips for guide, porters and crew
- Personal expenses and any costs from early descent or itinerary changes due to weather
The Lumba Sumba Pass Trek is one of eastern Nepal's last true wilderness journeys, a high traverse along the Great Himalaya Trail that links the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area with Makalu Barun National Park over the wind-scoured 5,160 m Lumba Sumba Pass. This is camping country for much of the route, far from the lodge circuits, where the trail threads through Limbu farming hamlets, the Tibetan-Buddhist village of Olangchung Gola, and the deep gorges of the Tamur and Arun rivers.
From the pass, weather permitting, the panorama sweeps across the Kanchenjunga massif, Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and a wall of unnamed glaciated summits. The lower valleys are corridors for red panda and snow leopard, and the forests shelter rhododendron, fir and a rich birdlife. Because the route crosses restricted territory and demands strong fitness at altitude, every group travels with a licensed guide and full logistical support.
Why this trek
You will walk for days without seeing another foreign trekker, sleep under canvas beside glacial streams, and cross a genuine Himalayan pass that connects two of Nepal's greatest mountain sanctuaries. It rewards experienced trekkers who want solitude, cultural depth and a real expedition feel rather than tea-house comfort.
Best time to go
Spring (March to May) brings rhododendron blooms and stable weather, while autumn (September to November) offers the clearest mountain views and crisp, dry trails. The pass can hold snow into early spring and after autumn, so timing and acclimatisation are essential.