Fly from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar (arriving about 10:30 am) and drive 20 minutes to Khandbari. Meet your guide and porter and go through the trek plan. You can also reach Khandbari by road from Dharan (6–8 hours).
Sabha Pokhari Pilgrimage Trek.
12
Days
Overview
Sabha Pokhari is a sacred lake at about 4,200 m in the hills of Sankhuwasabha, eastern Nepal. For Hindus, Buddhists and the Kirat people it is a place of great religious and cultural importance, and every year, between Nag Panchami and Janai Purnima, thousands of pilgrims climb here to bathe in the lake and make offerings. Local tradition links the lake to the sage Vyasa (Byas Rishi).
From Khandbari, MAST’s home town, a jeep takes you to Barabise. You then climb steeply through villages and forest to Phakuwa and Upper Handung, then up onto high open ridges past Bikhbari and Selele to Sabha Pokhari. After a day at the lake, you continue to the group of lakes at Panch Pokhari (about 4,334 m), the highest point of the trek, before descending through Anande Danda and the village of Mangsima to Deurali, where a jeep takes you back to Khandbari.
On clear days the high ridges give wide views of Makalu, Kanchenjunga and the eastern Himalaya. Above Phakuwa there are no villages or tea houses: you stay in simple pilgrim huts and tents This is a remote, physically demanding trek that combines a real pilgrimage with mountain wilderness.
You trek with a licensed guide, as required by Nepal’s trekking rules, and a local porter. Your trek supports the families along the way, and MAST’s profits fund schools and elderly care in the Makalu–Arun region.
Highlights
- Visit Sabha Pokhari, a sacred lake at about 4,200 m, and join the pilgrims at festival time
- Reach Panch Pokhari, a group of five high lakes at about 4,334 m
- See Makalu and Kanchenjunga from high, open ridges
- Walk through rhododendron forest and alpine meadows rich in medicinal herbs
- Trek a remote route that very few foreign trekkers have seen
Festival and Seasons
The main pilgrimage season runs from Nag Panchami to Janai Purnima, usually between late July and August. The exact dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year. Contact us for this year’s dates. This is the most atmospheric time to visit, but it is the monsoon: expect rain, leeches, slippery trails, possible landslides and cloudy views.
For dry trails and clear mountain views, trek in October–November or April–May . The lake is quieter then, and some huts may be closed, so we carry tents.
Itinerary
Outline Itinerary
- Day 1 1,036m
- Day 3 1,696m
- Day 5 3,535m
- Day 7 4,200m
- Day 8 4,334m
- Day 9 3,584m
- Day 11 1,036m
| Day | Description | Altitude (Meters) | Net Gain/Loss | Trek Duration. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khandbari | 1036 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Khandbari to Barabise | 816 | -220 | 5-6 |
| 3 | Barabise to Phakuwa | 1696 | 880 | 4-5 |
| 4 | Phakuwa to Upper Handung | 2847 | 1151 | 4-5 |
| 5 | Upper Handung to Phelele | 3535 | 688 | 4-5 |
| 6 | Phelele to Sabha Pokhari | 4200 | 665 | 0 |
| 7 | Sabha Pokhari Exploration Day | 4200 | 0 | 6 |
| 8 | Sabha Pokhari to Panch Phari | 4334 | 134 | 0 |
| 9 | Panch Pokhari to Anamde Danda | 3584 | -750 | 4-5 |
| 10 | Anande to Mangsima | 2000 | -1584 | 0 |
| 11 | Mangsimam to Deaurali to Khandbari | 1036 | -964 | 0 |
| 12 | Flight to Kathmandu or bus travel to Dharan | 3-5 |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 2 :
Jeep to Barabise (816 m)
A two-hour jeep ride takes you down to Barabise. Check in, prepare supplies for the high days ahead, and enjoy a traditional dal bhat dinner.
Day 3 :
Barabise to Phakuwa (1,696 m)
Start early to avoid the midday heat. The trail climbs steadily but not steeply through villages and farmland to Phakuwa (4–5 hours). Overnight in a tea house or homestay
A hard day with a long, steep climb through forest to the hut at Mathillo (Upper) Handung (4–6 hours). From here on there are no villages, so your team carries food
The steepest section of the trek, up the rock face known as Coeletro Bhir, then over Bikhbari (3,709 m) to the camp at Phelele (5–6 hours)
A long day (about 7 hours) along high ridges through Balaute Danda (3,847 m) and Selele (4,178 m), where there is water, to Sabha Pokhari. Walk slowly and drink plenty: you gain a lot of height in a short time
Day 7 :
Day at Sabha Pokhari
Spend the day at the sacred lake. Watch or join the pilgrims as they bathe and pray, enjoy the views on a clear morning, and rest to help your body adjust to the altitude.
Start early with a light pack and walk to Panch Pokhari, a group of five high lakes and the highest point of the trek (5–6 hours).
Descend after breakfast along the ridge to Anande Danda, arriving in the evening. Overnight in tents.
Day 10 :
Anande Danda to Mangsima (2,000 m)
A long descent through forest back to the villages (4–6 hours). Overnight in a homestay in Mangsima.
Day 11 :
Mangsima to Khandbari (1,036 m)
Walk to Deurali (4–6 hours), where a reserved jeep takes you back to Khandbari (about 2 hours). Celebrate the end of the trek with your guide and porter.
Day 12 :
Return to Kathmandu or Dharan
Drive to Tumlingtar for the flight to Kathmandu, or take the bus or jeep to Dharan.
Cost and Price Details
The prce Includes
- A licensed guide: daily wages, food, accommodation and insurance
- A porter (one porter per 2 guests): daily wages, food, accommodation and insurance
- Shoes, socks and gloves for your guide and porter
- Tents and camping equipment for the high nights
- Food on the camping and hut nights (Days 4–9)
- TIMS card
- Hotel room in Khandbari; jeeps Khandbari – Barabise and Deurali – Khandbari
- MAST service charge and government tax (VAT) 15% is included
- A contribution to our community projects
The price does not include
- International flights
- Nepal visa (currently $30 for 15 days, $50 for 30 days ⚠️ check current fees)
- Flights Kathmandu – Tumlingtar – Kathmandu, or road transport to Dharan
- Hotel and meals in Kathmandu; meals in Khandbari
- Food and accommodation in villages (Barabise, Phakuwa, Mangsima), paid directly
- Warm sleeping bag, rain gear, trekking poles, headlamp and personal first-aid kit
- Travel and medical insurance, including helicopter rescue
- Personal expenses: drinks, snacks, offerings at the lake
- Tips for your guide and porter
- Costs caused by events outside our control, such as flight cancellations, landslides, strikes or road closures
Food and accommodation on the trek
In the villages you stay in simple tea houses or homestays and pay your hosts directly (budget around US$50 per person per day . Above Phakuwa there are no villages or lodges: you sleep in pilgrim huts or tents, and your team carries the food .
Your Guide and Porter
This is a strenuous trek. The climb from Barabise (816 m) to Sabha Pokhari (4,200 m) is steep and long, and you spend four nights above 3,500 m in basic huts or tents. You should be fit, in good health, and ideally have trekking experience. Tell your guide straight away if you have a headache, nausea or dizziness. Travel insurance with helicopter rescue up to 5,000 m is required.
Altitude and Fitness
In the villages you stay in simple tea houses or homestays and pay your hosts directly (budget around US$50 per person per day . Above Phakuwa there are no villages or lodges: you sleep in pilgrim huts or tents, and your team carries the food .
Sabha Pokhari Trek Map
FAQs
General
The pilgrimage season runs from Nag Panchami to Janai Purnima, usually between late July and August. The dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year, so contact us for this year’s dates.
Yes . October–November and April–May give drier trails and clearer views. The lake is quiet then, and we carry tents in case the huts are closed.
Panch Pokhari, at about 4,334 m. Sabha Pokhari itself is at about 4,200 m.
In a hotel in Khandbari, tea houses and homestays in the villages, and pilgrim huts or tents above Phakuwa
Yes. A licensed guide is now required for trekkers in Nepal. On this remote route a guide is also essential for finding the way, water and shelter. All our treks include a licensed guide and a porter.
Only up to Barabise and Phakuwa. Above that there is no electricity, so bring a large power bank or a small solar charger.
There is internet in Khandbari. Mobile signal works in parts of the route, but not everywhere.
Only in Khandbari. Bring enough Nepali rupees for the whole trek.
You can fly to Biratnagar instead (about 40 minutes), go by bus to Dharan, and continue to Khandbari by jeep (6–8 hours). We will help you arrange this.
Yes. We can add an acclimatization day, start or finish via Tehrathum (Chauki, Gupha Pokhari and Milke Danda), or combine it with another trek. Extra days are charged at the daily rate for your guide and porter.
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