This enchanting mid-hills trek is located entirely in the Mahabharat Lekh (also known as the Lesser Himalaya, an east-west range of mountains that lie to the south of and run parallel to the Himalaya) with broad, picturesque vantages of the frosty Greater Himalaya along much of the route. It is a culturally diverse trail that has seen few tourists.Ethnicities prevalent along the way include Sherpa, Tamang, Thami, Majhi, Newar, and Yolmo. Among these groups, the Thami and Majhi are rarely encountered on trekking routes. The Thami are unique to this region. With a total Nepalese population of less than 30,000, their culture is considered endangered. The Majhi, with a Nepalese population under 75,000, traditionally make a living near rivers through fishing and as boat people, mostly in the inner Tarai along the southern belt of Nepal bordering India. Along this trail, accommodations will be at community lodges and through home stay, providing closer contact with Nepali hospitality and greater insight into ethnic lifestyles than can be found along the more developed trekking routes where interactions are more commercially oriented.QUICK FACTS AND HIGHLIGHTS,BEST TIME TO VISIT: all season trail; views clearest in autumn, and may be too warm from March through August.ENVIRONMENT: subtropical to high-hills. MAXIMUM ELEVATION: Sailung Peak (10,325 feet, 3147 m).MINIMUM ELEVATION: Lubughat (1755 feet, 535 m).FACILITIES: lodges, home stay, tea houses.DURATION: 5-7 days.DIFFICULTY LEVEL: easy. FORMALITIES: Nepal Visa on arrival ($25 USD for 15 days, $40 USD for 30 days, or $100 USD for 3 months); Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) card currently not needed.FOOD AND LODGING COSTS: minimal.TYPICAL NEPALI DISH: daal-bhat tarakaari (rice, lentil soup and vegetables).TYPICAL DRINK: chiyaa (sweet milk tea). HIGHLIGHTS: Nepali hospitality, Himalayan panoramas, village scenery, Majhi, Thami and mid-hills ethnic groups, cultural interaction, caves, Tiger Rock, medicinal herbs, religious activity (including Animist, Buddhist, Hindu and Shaman).-COMPREHENSIVE, COMPACT AND EASY TO USE-NECESSARY PRACTICAL INFORMATION AND COUNTRY HISTORY-DETAILED ROUTE DESCRIPTIONS-EASY TO USE MAPS FOR KATHMANDU AND ALL NEPAL-VISA, PERMIT, HEALTH, AND GEAR DETAILS PLUS RECOMMENDATIONS-RESPONSIBLE TOURISM GUIDELINES-USEFUL WEB LINKS-COMPLETE TREK PLANNING REFERENCE
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