Arun Valley Trek Guide

Overview

The Arun Valley trek follows the course of the mighty Arun river through Sankhuwasabha district in the Koshi province of eastern Nepal, threading along one of the deepest river valleys in the world. The river cuts a vast trench between the high ranges, and the trail climbs steadily from the lowland warmth of Tumlingtar and Khandbari into cooler, forested hill country on the long approach toward the Makalu region. It is a classic walk-in trek of the kind that has grown rare as roads reach deeper into the hills, and it remains one of eastern Nepal's quietest and most culturally rewarding routes.

This is above all a cultural and scenic trek rather than a high-altitude one. The valley is home to a rich mix of peoples, including Rai, Limbu and Sherpa communities, whose villages, terraced fields and forest trails the route passes through day after day. You walk among rice and millet terraces in the lower valley, then through subtropical and rhododendron forest higher up, sleeping in basic teahouses and homestays and sharing the rhythm of farming life along the way.

Most trekkers complete the journey in 10 to 16 days depending on the chosen route, with a high point of around 3,000 m, low enough that altitude is rarely a serious concern. Access usually begins with a flight or long drive to Tumlingtar, the airstrip town in the valley, from where the trail climbs up through Khandbari and the hill villages beyond. Long approach days and limited facilities are part of the character here.

The Arun Valley sits at a crossroads of eastern Nepal's great trekking country. The upper valley feeds toward the Makalu Base Camp region and the high peaks of the Makalu-Barun area, while the trails of the Kanchenjunga region lie farther east. For those who value solitude, deep cultural immersion and lush, living landscapes over headline mountain views, the Arun Valley is one of Nepal's most rewarding off-the-beaten-path choices.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

This is a representative Arun Valley itinerary built around the classic walk-in from Tumlingtar and Khandbari into the hill villages toward the Makalu foothills. The exact route and length vary widely, from a shorter cultural loop of around 10 days to a longer traverse of 14-16 days that pushes deeper toward the Makalu-Barun region. It begins with a flight or drive to Tumlingtar from Kathmandu.

Day 1: Fly or drive Kathmandu to Tumlingtar (410 m)

A short flight from Kathmandu to the airstrip town of Tumlingtar in the Arun valley, or a long road journey east. Tumlingtar sits low and warm beside the river and is the gateway to the whole region. (Flight around 45 minutes, or a full day or more by road.)

Day 2: Tumlingtar to Khandbari (1,040 m)

A gentle climb out of the valley floor to the busy hill bazaar town of Khandbari, the district headquarters of Sankhuwasabha, with its shops, lodges and mix of hill peoples. A good place to stock up and settle into the walking. (4-5 hours.)

Day 3: Khandbari to Chichila (1,830 m)

The trail follows a ridge through farmland and the first stretches of forest, with widening views across the deep valley, to the Sherpa village of Chichila. The air begins to cool as you gain height. (5-6 hours.)

Day 4: Chichila to Num (1,560 m)

A walk through dense rhododendron and oak forest along the ridge before a long descent toward Num, a village perched high above a dramatic bend of the Arun. The forest here is rich and the scenery wild. (5-6 hours.)

Day 5: Num to Seduwa (1,500 m)

A steep descent to the Arun river and a suspension-bridge crossing, then a long climb up the far side to Seduwa, a village set among terraced fields. This is often the point where routes entering the Makalu-Barun National Park require their park permit. (6-7 hours.)

Day 6: Seduwa to Tashigaon (2,070 m)

A steady climb through farmland and forest to Tashigaon, the last permanent Sherpa village on the approach toward the higher Makalu country. Village life, gompas and mountain views fill the day. (4-5 hours.)

Day 7: Explore and acclimatise around the upper villages

A flexible day to rest, explore the upper villages and forest, and take in the surroundings. On a shorter Arun Valley trek this marks the high point of the route, at around 3,000 m on the ridges above, before the return.

Days 8-11: Return through the valley villages

The walk back retraces the high country and then branches through different Rai and Limbu villages and terraced hillsides on the descent toward Tumlingtar, with the deep Arun valley always below. Longer itineraries spend these days exploring side villages and forest trails. (5-7 hours per day.)

Day 12: Return to Tumlingtar and fly or drive to Kathmandu

A final descent to Tumlingtar and the flight or long road journey back to Kathmandu, completing the trek. Longer 14-16 day versions add further days deeper toward the Makalu foothills before returning. (Flight around 45 minutes.)

Difficulty & Fitness

The Arun Valley trek is graded moderate. Its challenge comes not from altitude, which stays low, but from the length of the route, the long approach days and the repeated steep descents to the river and climbs back up the far side.

• Low altitude. The high point is around 3,000 m, so serious altitude sickness is uncommon. This makes the trek accessible to walkers who want a long Himalayan-region journey without the risks of the high passes.
• Steep valley walls. The defining feature is the depth of the Arun valley. Days that cross the river involve long, knee-testing descents followed by sustained climbs, which are tiring even at modest height.
• Long route, basic facilities. With 10-16 days of walking through remote country, teahouses and homestays are simple and sparse, and supplies thin out away from the bazaar towns. Stamina and flexibility matter more than technical skill.
• Warm, humid lower valley. The lower trails can be hot and humid, especially in the shoulder months, which adds to the effort on the climbs.

You should be comfortable walking 5-7 hours a day for many days in a row on uneven hill trails with significant ups and downs. No technical mountaineering skills or prior high-altitude experience are needed, but a solid base of hill-walking fitness built up beforehand will make the long days far more enjoyable.

Permits & Regulations

The Arun Valley trek is not in a restricted area, so you do not normally need a special restricted-area permit. The documents you need are:

• TIMS card (Trekkers' Information Management System), around NPR 2,000 for foreign nationals, arranged through a registered trekking agency.
• Makalu-Barun National Park entry permit, around NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals, required only if your route climbs into the national park toward the Makalu region, typically from around Seduwa and beyond. A purely lower-valley cultural route may not enter the park, so whether you need this depends on the exact itinerary.

Since 2023, Nepal requires trekkers on organised treks to use a licensed guide rather than walking fully independently. Given how remote and lightly travelled the Arun Valley is, with limited signage and a thin scatter of homestays, almost everyone trekking here does so with a guide and a registered agency anyway. Carry your passport and several passport photos, keep permits handy for checkpoints, and, because rules and exact permit requirements for this less-regulated route can change, confirm the current requirements with a registered agency before you travel.

Cost & Budget

The Arun Valley trek is moderately priced for a long eastern Nepal journey. The main variables are the number of days and whether you fly or drive to Tumlingtar.

• Guided package: typically around USD 800-1,500 per person depending on group size and the number of days. This usually covers the guide, porter, permits, transport, accommodation and meals on the trek.
• Transport: a flight to Tumlingtar saves a great deal of time but adds cost, while the long drive east is cheaper but slow. The longer the route toward the Makalu foothills, the higher the overall price.
• Permits: a TIMS card (around NPR 2,000) plus, if your route enters it, the Makalu-Barun National Park entry permit (around NPR 3,000).
• On-trail spending: carry enough Nepali rupees in cash for the whole trek, as there are no ATMs in the hill villages, and budget for extras, homestay purchases and tips.

Smaller groups pay more per head, while larger groups spread the guide and transport costs and bring the price down. A generous tip for guides and porters is customary, and you should budget a small contingency for flight delays, slow roads or extra nights, all of which are common on a long remote trek.

Best Time to Trek

There are two clear trekking seasons for the Arun Valley, and because the lower valley is warm and humid, the choice between them shapes both comfort and views.

• Spring (March-May) brings warm days, blooming rhododendron forest on the higher ridges and generally settled weather. The lower valley can be hot by late spring, but the forest colour and clear mountain air make it a lovely season to walk.
• Autumn (October-November) offers the most stable weather and the clearest views after the monsoon has cleared the air, with firm trails and comfortable temperatures across most of the route. It is the most popular time for this trek.

Avoid the monsoon (June-early September): the deep valley becomes wet, the forest trails turn slippery and thick with leeches, river crossings can be hazardous, and landslides can block roads and paths. Deep winter (December-February) is cold on the higher ridges but the low-altitude valley remains walkable, though hazy. For the best balance of weather, views and comfort, plan for spring or autumn.

Packing, Safety & Tips

Acclimatisation

With a high point of around 3,000 m, altitude sickness is rarely a concern on the Arun Valley trek, which is one of its appeals. The greater physical demand comes from the long days and the steep descents and climbs across the deep valley. Pace yourself, stay hydrated, and watch for the effects of heat and humidity in the lower valley rather than altitude.

Gear & packing

Pack for a long trek that spans warm valley floor and cool forested ridges: lightweight layers for the hot lower trails, a warm fleece or down layer and a sleeping bag for the higher villages (homestay bedding is basic), sturdy broken-in boots, trekking poles for the long descents, sun protection and a headlamp. Bring a reliable water-purification method, snacks, and a first-aid kit with blister care. For the forest in shoulder seasons, pack leech protection and good waterproofs.

Communications & money

Phone signal is patchy across the valley and absent in the remoter and higher sections. There are no ATMs on the route once you leave the bazaar towns, so carry enough cash in Nepali rupees for the whole trek plus a buffer. Homestays and small lodges deal only in cash.

Safety & insurance

Buy comprehensive travel insurance that covers trekking and includes helicopter evacuation. Even though the altitude is low, the Arun Valley is genuinely remote, roads are distant, and a medical evacuation is far easier to arrange with cover in place. Trek with a licensed guide who knows the homestays and the lightly used, poorly signed trails, and take care on the steep river crossings and descents.

Combining with other treks

The Arun Valley is the natural approach to the high Makalu Base Camp region, and trekkers with more time often continue from the upper valley toward the Makalu-Barun country. Farther east lie the trails of the Kanchenjunga region and the long Lumba Sumba Pass, while a gentler eastern add-on is the tea-garden hill station of Ilam. Base yourself in Kathmandu before and after to arrange permits, flights and a guide.