Welcome to Indigenous Peoples Trail

To escape the congestion of commercialized trekking routes and get ‘off-the-beaten track’ to experience the real Nepal, take the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Trail in west Ramechhap district, 130 km east of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. The first of its kind in Nepal, the IP Trail offers unique, living exposure to one of the most culturally diverse areas of Nepal combined with the beautiful natural landscapes. Sailung peak in the north and the golden Sun-Koshi River flowing along the south mark the start and finish point respectively of the IP Trail which offers a unique and natural combination of ethnic cultural diversity coupled with breathtaking Himalayan and mid-hill panoramas.

Lying entirely on the Mahabharat range, the IP Trail offers mainly local Home-stay accommodation experiences offering trekkers a rare opportunity to experience the culture and lifestyles of six different Nepali ethnic groups. This top-down, gentle trek suits all types of trekkers particularly visitors wishing to avoid extreme high altitudes. The week long trail takes visitors from a starting elevation of 3146m at Sailung to 533m at Lubughat by the Sun-Koshi River. The IP Trail package suits both international as well as domestic visitors.

The IP Trail is a memorable blend cultural, Himalayan views and scenic landscapes. The trail boasts spectacular mountain views including the unique Himalayan panoramas from Sailung offering one of the Nepal’s few unimpeded Himalayan panoramas of the entire 400km Himalayan range comprising of the Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh, Langtang, Jugal, Rolwaling, Everest and Kanchenjunga Himal ranges. It is against this magnificent Himalayan backdrop that visitors are welcomed into the culture and lifestyles of indigenous communities including Sherpa, Newar, Thami, Tamang, Yolmo and Majhis. The two predominant Nepali religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, are ever present with a variety of gods and goddess, temples, stupas, monasteries and sacred caves.

The trail passes through the beautifully folded Mahabharat range and rolling terraced farmlands. The virgin forests at Sailung, Rajbheer, Augleshwori, Galba and Khandadevi are the unique habitat for varieties of wildlife including pheasant, deer and lungur monkey, as well as a seasonal blaze of blooming rhododendron.

The beautiful sunset and sunrise view and waterfall along the river at Daduwa, thatched houses and traditional colorful festivals such as Janaipurnima (August), Sora-shraddha (September), Lhosar (February) and Buddha Purnima (May) are also among the special attractions offered on the IP Trail. The final trail destination, Lubughat on the Sun-Koshi River, provides visitors the memorable experiences in river fishing and rafting as well as culture of the host Majhi community, Nepal’s indigenous riverine people.