Makalu region
Shiva Dhara Trek
- Trek
- Shiva Dhara Trek
- Duration
- 14 days
- Program starts/ends
- Khandbari
- Trek difficulty
- Strenuous
- Maximum elevation
- 4,310 m
- Walking duration
- 5–6 hours
- Group size
- 1–6 people
- Best season
- Mar–May · Sep–Nov
- Accommodation
- Tea house, home stays and hotel
- Transportation
- Flight, reserved jeep and regular jeep
- Permits
- TIMS card and Makalu Barun National Park Entrance Fee
From $975 for 1–2 People
Book this trekOverview
The Shiva Dhara Trek is a sacred Himalayan journey into the Barun Valley, beneath Mt Makalu (8,463 m), the world’s fifth-highest mountain. It combines a real mountain adventure with one of eastern Nepal’s most important pilgrimage sites.
Shiva Dhara lies at 4,310 m above Yangle Kharka. Here a waterfall about 150 m (500 ft) high pours through a hole in a huge rock cliff. Local people believe this is the bathing place of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and pilgrims come to bathe in the holy water, which is said to wash away sins and heal illness. The sacred site includes the Shiva cave, the Parvati cave (Parbati Gupha) and the abode of Lord Ganesh.
From Khandbari, you drive via Num to Seduwa, then climb through Tashigaon and Khongma, cross the high Shipton La pass and descend into the Barun Valley. After a rest day at Yangle Kharka, you make an early-morning climb to Shiva Dhara and return the same way.
Tea houses now operate along the route. You trek with a licensed guide, as required by Nepal’s trekking rules, and a porter who carries your main luggage, so you only need a daypack. The steep climbs make this a strenuous trek, so good fitness is important.
Other sacred routes in Sankhuwasabha: the Sabha Pokhari Pilgrimage Trek and the Char Dhara Trek. For the terrain below Makalu, read how hard the Makalu Base Camp Trek is.
Highlights
- Bathe at Shiva Dhara (4,310 m), a 150 m sacred waterfall pouring from a hole in a massive cliff
- Visit the sacred caves of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati (Parbati Gupha) and Lord Ganesh
- A pilgrimage for many faiths: honored by Hindu, Buddhist and Kirat devotees
- Cross Shipton La (4,216 m) and Keke La, with views of Chamlang, Baruntse and Peaks 6 and 7
- Explore the Barun Valley and Makalu Barun National Park, far from the crowds
- Trek with purpose: your trip employs a licensed local porter-guide and supports village tea houses and MAST community projects
Itinerary
A. Outline Itinerary
- Day 1 1,036m
- Day 4 3,560m
- Day 7 3,600m
- Day 8 4,310m
- Day 10 3,560m
- Day 13 1,036m
- Day 14 457m
| Day | Description | Altitude (Meters) | Net Gain/Loss (Meters) | Trek Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival in Khandbari | 1036 | 0 | 20 min drive |
| 2 | Drive from Khandbari via Num to Seduwa | 1540 | +504 | 4-5 Hours |
| 3 | Trek from Seduwa to Tashigaon | 2070 | +530 | 4-6 Hours |
| 4 | Trek from Tashigaon to Khongma | 3560 | +1490 | 4-6 Hours |
| 5 | Trek from Khongma to Dobato via Shipton La | 3550 | -10 | 4-5 Hours |
| 6 | Trek from Dobato to Yangle Kharka | 3600 | +50 | 4-5 Hours |
| 7 | Rest day at Yangle Kharka | 3600 | 0 | Rest day |
| 8 | Trek from Yangle Kharka via Nghe Kharka (3,750 m) to Shiva Dhara (4,310 m) and back to Yangle Kharka | 4310 | +710 | Full day |
| 9 | Trek from Yangle Kharka to Dobato | 3550 | -50 | 4-6 Hours |
| 10 | Trek from Dobato to Khongma | 3560 | +10 | 4-6 Hours |
| 11 | Trek from Khongma to Seduwa | 1540 | -2020 | 7-8 Hours |
| 12 | Drive from Seduwa to Khandbari | 1036 | -504 | 5-6 Hours |
| 13 | Free day in Khandbari | 1036 | 0 | Free day |
| 14 | Drive from Khandbari to Tumlingtar, fly to Kathmandu | 457 | -579 | 20 min drive + 30 min flight |
B. Detailed Itinerary
Take the 30-minute Buddha Air flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar. Our team meets you at the airport and drives you about 20 minutes (10 km) to your hotel in Khandbari. Meet your porter-guide, and pack for your 14-day Shiva Dhara trek.
After breakfast (around 7:45 am), a reserved jeep drives about 4–5 hours to Seduwa through Num. Register your TIMS card and pay the Makalu Barun National Park fee (NPR 3,000 per person) at the park office. Overnight in a tea house in Seduwa.
A steady uphill walk of 4–6 hours past Chyaksedanda (1,890 m) and the primary school below Tashigaon. Overnight in a tea house.
Climb to Danda Kharka for lunch, then continue past Chipla (2,520 m) and Unishisha (3,180 m) to Khongma (4–6 hours). You may notice the first signs of altitude, so walk slowly and drink plenty of water.
Cross Ghungru La (4,045 m), Shipton La (4,216 m) and Keke La (4,150 m), with views of Chamlang (7,319 m), Baruntse and Peaks 6 and 7. The walk takes 4–5 hours. Overnight in Dobato.
Descend through forest to Phematang, cross the Barun River on a suspension bridge and continue to Yangle Kharka (4–5 hours).
A day to rest and acclimatize before your climb to Shiva Dhara. Relax and enjoy the beauty of the Barun Valley. Overnight in the same tea house.
Start very early, carrying enough food and water for the day. Walk slowly uphill past Nghe Kharka (3,750 m) and, with your guide, make your way up to Shiva Dhara. Bathe in the sacred waterfall and visit Parbati Gupha, Ama Bhujung and the other holy sites, then return to Yangle Kharka for the night.
Walk back up out of the Barun Valley to Dobato (4–6 hours).
Recross Keke La and Shipton La for a last look at the mountains, then descend to Khongma (4–6 hours).
A long day of descent: walk down to Tashigaon for lunch, then continue to Seduwa (7–8 hours in total). Your last night on the trail.
After breakfast, take a reserved jeep back to Khandbari (5–6 hours). Say goodbye to your porter-guide and review your trek with the MAST team.
Explore Khandbari at your own pace. Visit the market for local products such as allo cloth, rudraksha beads, raw sugar (sakhar) and woollen blankets (radi), or visit a school or project that MAST supports.
After breakfast at the hotel, drive 20 minutes to Tumlingtar for your flight to Kathmandu.
Flights to Tumlingtar are sometimes delayed by weather. We recommend adding 1–2 spare days to your travel plans.
Permits for this trek
- TIMS card (Trekkers’ Information Management System): about NPR 2,000 per person.
- Makalu Barun National Park entry permit: NPR 3,000 per person.
We arrange all your permits through our registered agency (TAAN no. 1597) before the trek. Please send us a copy of your passport and 2 passport-size photos. Fees can change, so we confirm the current amounts when you book. See The Cost Includes for which fees are in your price. Want to know how your price is worked out? See how we price your trek.
How to Get to Shiva Dhara
Shiva Dhara is in the Barun Valley of Makalu Barun National Park, Sankhuwasabha district, eastern Nepal. The trek starts in Khandbari, where our office is.
- Kathmandu to Tumlingtar by plane: 30–40 minutes, daily flights. Tumlingtar to Khandbari is about 10 km, 20 minutes by jeep.
- Kathmandu to Khandbari by bus: an overnight bus ride, about NPR 3,000 per person.
- Dharan or Biratnagar to Khandbari by road: Dharan to Khandbari is about 175 km via Dhankuta and Hile. Use this if your Tumlingtar flight is cancelled.
- Khandbari to Num and Seduwa: 4–6 hours by reserved jeep on a rough mountain road (included in the price). A local bus from Khandbari to Num costs about NPR 500 per person.
- Seduwa to Shiva Dhara on foot: 4 days via Tashigaon, Khongma, Shipton La and Dobato to Yangle Kharka, then a rest day and a full-day climb to Shiva Dhara and back.
Cost and Price Details
The price includes
- A licensed local porter-guide: daily wages, food and accommodation throughout the trek
- Travel insurance for the porter-guide
- Reserved jeep from Khandbari to Seduwa and back
- Airport pick-up and drop-off at Tumlingtar
- Trekking permits: TIMS card for each guest
- National Park entrance fee for each guest
- A contribution to our community projects
- 25% agency service charge, including government tax
The price does not include
- International and domestic flights (Kathmandu–Tumlingtar)
- Nepal visa (currently $30 for 15 days, $50 for 30 days)
- Hotel room reservation in Kathmandu
- Food and accommodation on the trek (paid directly to tea houses)
- Travel and medical insurance for the guest
- Personal expenses: drinks, hot showers, charging, laundry, shopping
- Tips for your porter-guide
- Costs caused by events outside our control, such as flight cancellations, landslides or strikes
Tea houses: pay as you go
Food and accommodation on the trail are not included in our price. You pay family-run tea houses directly, so 100% of that money stays with local families. Budget about NPR 5,000 per person per day for meals, a room and hot drinks (paid in Nepali rupees).
Shiva Dhara Trek Cost: Your Full Budget
Here is a full budget for one person in a group of two, so you know the real total before you book.
| What | Cost per person |
|---|---|
| MAST trek package (local porter-guide, permits, staff insurance, reserved jeep Khandbari–Seduwa and back): US$1,175 shared by 2 | about US$590 |
| Food and tea house rooms on the trek: about NPR 5,000 a day for 10 nights | about US$370 |
| Flight Kathmandu–Tumlingtar and back (US$190 each way) | US$380 |
| Hotel in Khandbari, 3 nights (US$20 per room a night), shared by 2 | US$30 |
| Tips for your porter-guide | about US$80–120 |
| Total for one person (group of 2) | about US$1,450–1,490 |
Trekking alone? The package price is US$975, so your total is about US$1,865–1,905.
Not included in this budget: international flights, Nepal visa, hotels in Kathmandu, and travel insurance with helicopter rescue.
Your Porter-Guide
Your porter-guide comes from Seduwa or the villages along the route and knows the trail, the weather, the tea house families and the holy sites at Shiva Dhara. Your porter-guide is licensed, looks after your safety at altitude and carries up to 15–20 kg of your luggage, so you only need a daypack. Their wages, food, rooms and insurance are included in your trek price.
Altitude and Fitness
This trek reaches 4,310 m and crosses passes above 4,000 m. Expect steep climbs and descents, including one very long day on the way down. You should be fit enough to walk 5–7 hours a day on rough trails. The rest day at Yangle Kharka helps you acclimatize before the climb to Shiva Dhara. Tell your guide straight away if you have a headache, nausea or dizziness. Travel insurance with helicopter rescue is required.
Best Time for the Shiva Dhara Trek
The best time for the Shiva Dhara Trek is autumn (September–November) and spring (March–May).
| Months | What to expect | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Mar–May (spring) | Rhododendrons in bloom, warm days; snow is still possible on Shipton La in March and April | Good time |
| Jun–Aug (monsoon) | Rain, leeches and landslides on the Num road; clouds hide the mountains | Avoid |
| Sep–Nov (autumn) | Clear skies, dry trails, the best mountain views | Best time |
| Dec–Feb (winter) | Deep snow on Shipton La, many tea houses closed | Not recommended |
Shiva Dhara (शिवधारा) for Nepali Pilgrims and Trekkers
Many pilgrims and trekkers from Nepal visit Shiva Dhara (शिवधारा) every year. Here is what you need to know:
- Permits: Nepali citizens don’t need a TIMS card. Bring your citizenship card to the Makalu Barun National Park office in Seduwa.
- Cheapest way to get there: overnight bus from Kathmandu to Khandbari (about NPR 3,000), local bus from Khandbari to Num (about NPR 500), then walk to Seduwa.
- How long: 4 days’ walk from Seduwa to Yangle Kharka, a rest day, a full-day climb to Shiva Dhara and back, and 3 days’ walk back to Seduwa.
- Money: there are no ATMs after Khandbari, so carry enough cash for tea houses and food.
- Safety: above Khongma and over Shipton La the trail is easy to lose in snow or cloud, so go with someone who knows the route. We can arrange a local guide or porter from Seduwa: call or WhatsApp +977 9861714199.
Shiva Dhara Trek Map
FAQs
General
It’s strenuous. You cross passes above 4,000 m (Shipton La and Keke La) and climb to 4,310 m at Shiva Dhara, on steep, remote trails. Good fitness and some trekking experience are recommended
Shiva Dhara at 4,310 m, and Parbati Gupha (the Parvati cave) at 4,316 m
Usually 4–6 hours. The descent from Khongma to Seduwa is a long day of 7–8 hours.
Autumn (September to November) is the best time, with clear skies and dry trails. Spring (March to May) is also good, with rhododendrons in bloom, but snow is still possible on Shipton La in March and April. Avoid the monsoon (June to August) and winter (December to February). See the month-by-month table above.
US$975 for one trekker, or US$1,175 in total for two trekkers. The price includes the reserved jeep from Khandbari to Seduwa and back. With food and tea houses (about NPR 5,000 a day), flights, hotel and tips, the full budget is about US$1,450–1,490 per person for a group of 2. See the full budget table above.
Yes. A licensed guide is now required for trekkers in Nepal’s national parks, including Makalu Barun National Park. This trek includes a licensed local porter-guide.
Yes. Bathing in the holy water is the heart of the pilgrimage. The water is very cold, so keep it brief and bring a towel and warm, dry clothes.
You can charge batteries with solar power at most tea houses (bring your own charger and a power bank). There are no hot showers on this route.
There are no ATMs after Khandbari, so bring enough Nepali rupees for the whole trek. Mobile signal works up to about Shipton La, and there’s no connection beyond.
So your money goes directly to the families who run the tea houses, and so you are free to choose what you eat and where you stay.
Yes. Tell us what you’d like to change and we’ll send you an updated itinerary and cost. Extra days are charged at your porter-guide’s daily rate.
Fly to Biratnagar instead and travel by road via Dharan to Khandbari (6–8 hours). We can reserve a jeep for you.
Shiva Dhara is at 4,310 m (14,140 ft), above Yangle Kharka in the Barun Valley. The highest pass on the way is Shipton La at 4,216 m.
In Makalu Barun National Park, Sankhuwasabha district, Koshi Province, eastern Nepal. It is about 5 days’ walk from Seduwa, the road head above Num.
About 4–6 hours by jeep from Khandbari to Seduwa, then 5 days on foot. The way back takes another 4–5 days, so plan 12–14 days from Khandbari.
Yes. Take the overnight bus from Kathmandu to Khandbari (about NPR 3,000), or come by road from Dharan or Biratnagar. We can meet you at the Khandbari bus park.
Yes, if you are trekking alone. Our package includes a reserved jeep, but a regular (shared) jeep also runs from Khandbari to Seduwa. If it has a free seat, you can travel in it instead. A seat costs about NPR 2,500 each way, instead of about US$100 each way for a reserved jeep, so your total cost goes down. Tell us when you book.
Yes. From Yangle Kharka it is 2–3 more days to Makalu Base Camp (4,870 m). See our Makalu Base Camp Trek.
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