Our Journey to Tsho Rolpa Lake started with a long drive from Kathmandu to Charikot and then a Four Wheel Drive from Charikot to Chet Chet village. We started a bit late, 7:30 am from Kathmandu, and reached Charikot around 1 pm, had lunch, and did other things that took us around 1 and a half hours, so around 2:30 we started our journey to Chet Chet.
Along the way at Singati again, we had to stop for a Gaurishankar Conservation Area permit, and it took us around 20 minutes to complete the process. Ultimately, we reached Chet Chet at 5:40 pm as per our plan to reach Simigaun, and immediately we started our trek.
Note: Many people take a direct bus from Kathmandu to Chet Chet as well to do the Tsho Rolpa Trek. The bus will leave every day at 5:30 from Kathmandu to ChetChet from Jadibudi Kathmandu to make a journey to Tsho Rolpa Lake.
First, we walked down to the river and crossed a suspension bridge, and then we climbed steeply up to Simigaun. When we reached Simigaun around 7:30, it was already dark, and we stayed at Manidanda just at the beginning of the village, as there was a small family-run guest house. Everyone had Dalbhat and had a good night’s sleep.
At Simigaun, there are a couple of guest houses, at the beginning of the village, one where we stayed, and at the end of the village 3 lodges. Viewwise, the last one or at the end of the village was better, from where you can have the view of Mount Gaurishankar, the village, and the monastery.
Trail – Mostly up, stone steps, through the jungle
Our second day’s journey to Tsho Rolpa Lake began with a delicious breakfast, a pancake with an omelet. Walking through the village was so gorgeous, with typical houses, barely any potato farmland, and small Buddhist shrines. When we got to the end of the village, we had a stunning glimpse of the Gaurishankar Peak. Then we entered the wild or jungle, where rhododendron flowers are blooming, peaceful trails, the sound of birds, the river, and beautiful waterfalls. While doing ups and downs inside the jungle after a couple of hours’ walk, we reached a place called Uttise, where we had a cup of black tea and took some rest.
After tea, we started to climb up to Surmuche for lunch, which was a steep up and a killer trail; it took us around two and a half hours to reach Surmuche. After lunch, we continued our trek to Donggang, as it was our destination today, before Donggang we stopped at Kyalche. From Kyalche, we descended to Dongang, and at 5 PM, we arrived there. At Dongang, there is only one lodge run by Gumba. Dongang and the surrounding is not covered by mobile reception.
Trai – First steps up to the end of the village, then walk through the jungle up and down to reach Dongang.
The third day of our journey to the Tsho Rolpa Trek began after breakfast at Dongang. We followed the Rolwaling River, walking on the bank of the river. Because of the landslide, the old and proper walking trail has vanished, but a new trail, which has more ups and downs. Walking inside the rain forest gave us peace and calm, the sound of the various birds and the raging noise of the river encouraged us to walk continuously.
After walking around for three hours, we crossed a wooden bridge that was newly built and looked beautiful. Then we climbed up to the lunch place, Thang Dhingma, through the captivating rhododendron forest. Walking through the colourful rhododendron forest with the view of the mighty snowy peaks allows me to enjoy the beauty of the Rolwalling region. As usual, we ate Dal Bhat for lunch, which was okay, not as good as the lower part of the region.
From Thang Dhingma, we started to walk to Beding, today’s last destination. The walking trail was smooth and easy to navigate. While we walked, I showed some small villages where most of the houses were ruined and no more anyone living. A place called Chinmu, there we found a small tea shop, a monastic school, and a couple of households. From Chinmu, it took around 25 minutes to reach Beding, known as the Beyul -The Sacred Land, where Guru Padmashavava did meditation.
Beding is a beautiful Sherpa village, which was one of the biggest villages I found during the journey to Tsho Rolpa Lake after the Simigaun.
Trail. Mostly walk through the Jungle and ups and downs.
The fourth day of your trek to Tsho Rolpa Trek began after breakfast at Beding, the weather was clear, enclosing views were spectacular. After walking for sometime we enjoyed the glimpse of the Mount Gaurishankar again. The trekking path was smooth and easy to follow, because we followed the Rolwalling river to reach Na village. Near the Na Village, there is a gate, and a number of prayer flags indicate that you are near a village. But it will surprise you because the village is still around 30 minutes further from there. It took us around three hours to reach Na village – another hidden village inside the Rolwalling region.
We had lunch here before embarking on the Tsho Rolpa Lake. The first part of the trail is easy, just walking on the flat land (Nepali Flat), following the river. After crossing the second bridge, we ascended slowly and slowly to reach Tsho Rolpa Lake. While climbing up to the lake, it suddenly started to snowy and we walked for almost one hour in cold and snow. When we reached there, as the weather was not clear, we drank a cup of black tea and waited for clear weather. Luckily, the weather got a bit clear weather took some photos and videos before descending to Na village. It took us around two hours and fifteen minutes to get back to Na Village.
Trail. gradually up to Na village, and after Na also Nepali flat all the way to the second bridge, and then up to Tsho Rolpa Lake.
On the fifth day, our plan was to hike up to Dhud Kunda Lake. Unfortunately, two of our team members got cold, and we changed our plan. Then, we hiked down to Beding, and in the afternoon, we visited Gompa and Guru Padmashamvaba Cave. As the weather was also very bad, we made the good decision not to trek up to Dhud Kunda Lake and trekked down to Beding.
Our 6th day journey was from Beding to Simigaun, which was a bit of a long journey, but it was comparatively easy to walk down, then walk up. As per our plan to walk up to Bigu Gompa, we continue our trek from Simigaun to Bigu Gompa after the completion of the Journey to Tsho Rolpa Lake.
Things to remember while trekking to Tsho Rolpa Lake
Tsho Rolpa Trek is not an easy trek; you need to be at almost 4600m above sea level and need to climb a lot from the beginning. Most of the time need to walk inside the jungle and on the edge of the Rolwalling River. During the trek, there are not many hotels and Guest houses before the Beding and Na Village. Places like Surmuche, Uttise Kyalche, Dongang, and Thang Dhingma have only one tea house and lodge; their capacity is not big.
During the journey to Tsho Rolpa Lake, you need to walk between two big hills and Mountains; there is a very high risk to walk because of the rockfall, especially when you walk from Beding to Na Village.
Trekking to Tsho Rolpa Lake is not only walking into the Himalayas. The Rolwalling valley is known as the Byuel – The Sacred Valley, here every stone is sacred, every cave is religiously significant (Where Guru Padmasamvava meditated and got Enlightenment) the lakes are taken care of as created by God and local people are deeply devoted to Buddhism.
As the number of visitors every year increases, litter along the trail is also increasing, which is an environmentally very serious matter, and every trekker should be aware of it. As there are places to throw and put the trash, everyone who travels that region should put trash in the proper place. And the local government or the Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project should take action to manage the collected trash at the bins.
And one important notice for trekking guides and porters, if you are going there as a guide and porter, you have to pay for your food at the tourist price. For Dal Bhat, 500 to 600 rupees. This is my experience as a trekking guide; your experience may be different. Please write down in the comment section.
How to get there?
We used private transportation (Scorpio Jeep) from Kathmandu to Chet Chet because the last few kilometers of the road are a rough road, which requires four-wheel drive. You can go by motorbike as well if you like biking.
If you are travelling in a private vehicle, you can drive to Chet Chet via Dolalghat, Mude, Kharidhunga, Charikot, Singati, Jagat, Gongor Khola, and then Chet Chet. And if you are taking a local bus, the local bus will leave from Chabahil and Jadibudi in Kathmandu. Be sure to be at the Jadibudi bus park at 5 am. The bus will drop you at Chet Chet, and you can start your journey to Tsho Rolpa Lake.
Hotels and Guest Houses during the Tsho Rolpa Trek
Simigaun
- Mane Danda Hotel and Lodge 9860601631 (at the beginning of the village)
- Gumba Danda – Mitini Lodge & Hotel 9843459334 / 9844467101 / 9741727634
- (Gaurishankar View Point Hotel and Lodge 9861652534 / 9843928683 / 9844234926 at the end of the village, best for view.
- White Yak Hotel – 9849446498 / 9849309919
Uttise – 9869097671 A couple of rooms and a very basic place.
Surmuche (Surnuche Hotel) 9764039792/ 9844185415 / 9844500669
Kyalche (Kyalche Lodge) 9761268776
Kyalche and Dongang have less coverage and are not even able to connect.
Dongang (Rolwalling Lodge and Restaurant) 9741866172
Thang Dhingma (Rolwaling Lodge) 9864000965
Samdar Tea House after Thang Dhingma 9863018677
Changma Danda (Valley View Guest House) 9748286620 before Beding
Beding
- Na View Point Hotel 9840531500 / 9843813119
- Phurba Josef Lodge 9860751974 / 9860590919 / 9748275502
- Gaurishankar Himalayan Hotel & Lodge 9840200075 / 9848065682
- Rolwalling River Side Hotel 9866419246
Na Village
- Na View Point Hotel 9840531500 / 9843813119
- Phurba Josef Lodge 9860751974 / 9860590919 / 9748275502
- Gaurishankar Himalayan Hotel & Lodge 9840200075 / 9848065682
- Rolwalling River Side Hotel 9866419246
Tsho Rolpa Lake Tea Shop 9866400198
Approximate Time Table
Chet Chet to Simigaun: 2 hours 30 minutes
Simigaun to Uttise: around 2 hours
Uttise to Surmuche: 1 hour 30 minutes
Surmuche to Kyalche: 1 hour 45 minutes
Kyalche to Dongang: 30 minutes
Dongang to Thang Dhingma: 2 hours 30 minutes
Donggang to Samdar: 1 hour
Samder to Changma Danda: 2 hours
Changma Danda to Beding: 30 minutes
Bedding to Na: 3 hours
Na to Tsho Rolpa Lake: 5 hours ups and downs to Na
Na to Dudh Kunda Lake: 8 hours ups and downs
Note: This timing is based on my experience during the Journey to Tsho Rolpa Lake 2026 April with my clients. Timing will vary your walking speed and ability accordingly.
