1. Lukla - Surkya - Puiyan:
Descend steeply on trail beside airstrip. Contour through forests along the valleyside winding in and out of side-valleys. Views down to the Dudh Khola. Climb up to Puiyan.
2. Puiyan - Panguin:
Continue for short distance on main trail before diverting to the left and climbing to a col. Descend through forest into meadows overlooking the Khare Khola Valley. Contour round hillsides and ascend to Panguin.
3. Panguin - Pangkongma La ( 3173 metres ) - Gai Kharka - Najing:
Climb above village to the col and descend into the Lower Hinku Valley. View of Mehra Peak. Steep descent to cross the Hinku Khola followed by steep re-ascent to Gai Kharka. Continue to Najing amid broad, level pastures.
4. Najing - Sipki Pass ( 3085 metres ) - Kiraule:
Climb through forest to col and descend into the Lower Hongu Valley. Continue down through meadows and terraces to reach the Sherpa village of Kiraule.
5. Kiraule - Bung - Guidel:
Continue down valley to Bung with its farmhouses widely scattered over the terraced hillsides. Views of Chamlang. Steep descent to Hongu River followed by steep re-ascent to the Rai village of Guidel.
6. Guidel - Chachalung - Sanam:
Continue through Guidel through small, hill villages in the Lidung Khola Valley on a gradual ascent to reach Sanam.
7. Sanam - Salpa Pass ( 3349 metres ) - Phedi:
Climb beyond Sanam through dark, gloomy forest to large chorten on the col. View of the peaks of the Hinku and Hongu Himal. Long descent over broad ridge then narrow tracks above sheer drops before terraced fields finally lead down to the small settlement of Phedi on the Irkuah Khola.
8. Phedi - Dobhane - Irkua Khola:
Continue down the well-cultivated Irkuah Khola Valley criss-crossing from bank to bank on rudimentary bamboo bridges.
9. Irkua Khola - Arun River:
Climb to the south through terraced fields away from the Irkuah Khola. View of Arun River in its wide valley obtained from crest of ridge. Descend through forests and cross river on long, suspension toll-bridge. Continue down valley on level terrace or pebble flood plain.
10. Arun River - Tumlingtar - Khare:
Continue down valley through simple settlements of thatched-roofed, wickerwork houses and fields of maize and sugar cane.. Proceed through Tumlingtar with its small airstrip.
11. Khare - Mongmaya:
Continue on broad, undulating trail alongside river to reach Mongmaya.
12. Mongmaya - Hille:
Climb away from the river then contour along hillside to reach Hille on the crest of a ridge
13. Hille - Dhankuta - Daran - Kathmandu:
A 22 hour overnight journey by public bus.
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