Trekking in the Easter region of Nepal comprising Ilam, Taplejung and Sankhwasabha districts offers fascinating exploration opportunities with rich culture experiences. As this part of the country does not fall within the mainstream trekking destination and the region is hardly visited by trekkers, much of the areas is undisturbed by outer influence and retains  rich culture with breathtaking scenery. Trekking into the upper reaches of the Arun River offers an insight into the lifestyle of the Lhomi people.  The Lhomi, whose villages are found as far north as where Arun breaches the high Himalaya massif, build themselves houses that ranges from all bamboo and bamboo matting type of structures elevated on stilts of tree trunks or stones, to all stone houses with wooden shingles, or even houses of solid timber. More…..

The Arun River, one of the greatest Himalayan Rivers, originating in Tibet, breaks through the high Himalayan range at an altitude of only little more than 4,000 feet above sea level.  High above its deep gorge, affected significantly by monsoonal rains, are situated the villages of the Lhomi people. The Lhomi villages are compact settlements, sited on broad ledges or on steep slopes. The trek when carried out as roundtrip from Tumlingtar airport is a moderate difficulty trek. It offers fascinating glimpse of the ethnic groups populating this part of Nepal, namely Ancient Nepalese ethnic groups that populate the Eastern Nepal Midlands, namely Rais, who have settled west of the Arun River in altitudes between 4,300 and 7,400 feet above sea level, and the dispersed villages of the Limbus found between altitudes of 2,500 to 5,000 feet above sea level.

For those preferring to add strenuous trekking to virgin parts of the High Himalaya, the upper Arun river trek can also be combined with a traverse to the Tamur river watershed, to Topkegola at approximately 13,000 feet, and from there traverse the isolated Jaljale Himal high ridge, reaching altitudes over 15,000 feet/4800m above sea level, a spectacular traverse in remote Himalayas visited by only a few trekkers, then following the lower Milke Danda ridge and a stop at fine Newari town of Chainpur and returning back to Tumlingtar.

Another trek to consider is the alternative approach from the Arun River watershed to Solukhumbu via Salpa La to Sonam and Gudel to Lukla or to Sallery / Phaplu in Lower Solu. This trek can be designed as standalone trek, as part of a trek in Solukhumbu, or as an extension to Arun River Trek. You may also consider adding a trek to Makalu base camp and the beyul Valley of Barun River during this (Upper Arun River) Trek.

The trek visits the Lhomi villages near Tibetan border where Arun breaches the high Himalaya massif.