Hidden Gem of Western Nepal, one of the must untouched trek to base camp of Api Himal.
Api Himal Base Camp Trek is one of the most remote and least explored journeys in all of Nepal, tucked away in the far-western corner of the country where few trekkers have ever set foot. This is not a trail you stumble upon by accident — it demands commitment, and in return it offers something the popular Himalayan circuits simply cannot: total isolation, untouched wilderness, and villages that have never adjusted themselves for tourists. For those chasing genuine remoteness rather than the idea of it, this 14-day journey is as far off the beaten path as trekking in Nepal gets.
The adventure begins not in the mountains but in the jungle. After flying into Nepalgunj, you drive to Thakurdwara at the edge of Bardiya National Park for two days of wildlife safari, tracking rhinos, elephants, and — if fortune favors you — the elusive Bengal tiger through Nepal's largest and wildest national park. It's an unusual and rewarding way to begin a Himalayan trek, easing you into the trip's rhythm of adventure before the long drive onward to Makarigad, the trailhead itself, set so far from the nation's center that reaching it is an expedition in its own right.
From Makarigad, the trail follows the gorge of the Chamelia River, climbing steadily through forested ridgelines and scattered settlements toward the base of Api Himal. This is Byans and Darchula country, close enough to the Indian and Tibetan borders that the culture here carries a distinct flavor found nowhere else in Nepal — villages that are authentic in the truest sense, with no trace of the tourist infrastructure that has reshaped trails elsewhere in the country. Accommodation along the way stays true to the region's raw character, with basic homestays and small, newly built wooden camps standing in for the teahouses more familiar treks rely on.
The reward for the effort comes as the trail opens into a broad valley high in the Api Himal range, where sweeping grasslands stretch beneath the mountain and two small alpine ponds, Ringdepani and Kalidaha, sit quietly in the landscape. It's a scene few outsiders have ever witnessed, framed by Api Himal itself and the surrounding peaks of the Gurans Himal, remote enough that the silence feels absolute.
The return journey mirrors the sense of discovery that defines the whole trip, retracing the route back toward the lowlands with a stop in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, before the trip concludes in Pokhara. It's a fitting close to a journey that moves through jungle, mountain wilderness, and sacred ground — a trip built for travelers who have already seen Nepal's famous trails and are ready for something the guidebooks haven't caught up with yet
You are looking for a less touristy option
You want more authentic experience
You want a 360 degree mountain view
If you dont like long drives
You want more comfortable accomodations
We start today with a flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. You get picked up from your hotel in Kathmandu to the airport, we take a morning flight to Nepalgunj, which can be around 40-50 minutes. Later, we drive to Thakurdwara, which lies in Bardiya National park and is 71 KM away. It can be one and a half hours drive.
At Thakurdwara, we explore a bit of the local town on our first day and stay overnight at a Homestay.
We go on a jeep safari in the Bardiya National Park Area before heading to the trekking trail. At Bardiya, we can find Royal Bengal Tiger, One Horned Rhinoceros, Gharials, Asian Elephants, Indian Leopard and many other wild animals.
Today, we explore more of the national park with both of walking and jeep safari.
After the exploration at Bardiya National Park, we head off to Makarigad, our trek start point. It is a long drive with 365 KM to cover and can take around 11-12 hrs of drive in a private Jeep. In between, we can have as much breaks as needed for food and washroom stops. The road passes through scenic landscapes of western Nepal and except for the last one hour section, the road is mostly blacktopped.
Today, we finally start our trekking. The initial couple of kilometers is on the road as they recently built the road to the next village. Later we cross the Chamelia river and start the steep uphill climb to Ghusa Village where we stop for lunch. It can take around 3-4 hrs to reach Ghusa. From here on, it goes mostly flat or gradual uphill to Siti village via Arukhod.
At Siti, we stay at a local homestay. The rely on solar power and the homestays are family run with basic facilities.
From Siti, initially we hike down for around 45 minutes to reach the river valley at Khaikot. From here on, we only go up. After 2-3 hrs of uphill hike through the forest, we reach Chhirchire, where we stop for lunch. From Chhirchire, it can take another couple of gradual uphill hike to Shimar.
At Shimar, lies a basic homestay/hotel run by a family. It lies just next to the Chamelia River.
From Shimar, we mostly go by the side of the river for an hour until we cross a small river. From there on, it is a bit steep hike for the next couple of hours till Bhalle Khola which lies at around 3,360m. From Bhalle Khola, it is mostly flat till Dhauli Odhar. We can stop here for lunch as here are a couple of hotels/camps.
From Dhauli Odhar, after gaining another 300m or so in elevation, we reach to Api Himal Base Camp. Here, we stay at a basic Camp/Hotel overnight.
Today, we have an entire day to explore the base camp area. Initially, we can hike upto Kalidaha lake which can take a couple of hours and the later part is steep uphill. From there, we come back to Base Camp for lunch. Later, we trek to base of Api Himal (mountain), where there is the origin of Chameliya river. We can then either continue to Ringdepani Lake or spend more time with the view and then return back to the hotel at Base Camp.
We start hiking down early in the morning. We follow the same trail back and can stop for lunch either at Shimar or Chhirchire. From Khaikot, we have to go up again for an hour or so to reach the homestay at Siti Vilage.
We follow the same trail back to Makarigad via Ghusa Village. Initially, it can be a bit of uphill hike and later, we go a bit flat and then steep downhill after Ghusa. After reaching the river, we go gradual up for a while and then mostly flat before the final downhill to Makarigad.
After reaching Makarigad, we drive for around a couple of hours to reach Gokuleswor, a small happening town of the region.
After finishing the trek, we drive back to Dhangadhi today. We take a private Jeep and the total drive can be of around 10hrs. We will have at least 3 breaks in between for food and washroom. The route is scenic with the hills and river valleys. In the evening, we can
Another day of long drive through the plains of Southern Nepal. The total drive could be in between 10-12hrs. As yesterday, we can have 3 major breaks and additional breaks if needed.
Today, we explore Lumbini region, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. We visit different Stupas in the region and Mayadevi Temple. It will be a whole day exploration.
After the exploration at Lumbini, we finally head off to Pokhara, where we end the trip. The drive can take around 6-7hrs and is another scenic drive through the hills of Nepal.
This is a demanding, remote trek best suited to experienced hikers. There are no teahouse networks or established trail infrastructure like on Nepal's popular circuits, so trekkers need to be comfortable with long walking days, basic accommodation, and a genuine sense of self-sufficiency. Prior trekking experience in Nepal is recommended before attempting this route.
Yes. Because the route passes through Darchula district near the Indian and Tibetan borders, it falls within a restricted area, and permits are required in addition to the standard TIMS card. Our team arranges all necessary permits and paperwork as part of the trip.
Accommodation along the trail is simple and reflects the region's remoteness — basic homestays and small, newly built wooden camps rather than the teahouses found on more established treks. It's a more rustic experience, in keeping with the raw, untouched character of the area.
The pre-monsoon (spring) and post-monsoon (autumn) months offer the most stable weather and clearest mountain views, as with most treks in Nepal. Given how remote and weather-exposed this route is, avoiding the monsoon and deep winter months is especially important.
The trip begins with a flight into Nepalgunj, followed by a drive to Thakurdwara for the Bardiya safari, and then a long overland journey to Makarigad, the actual trailhead. This stretch alone reflects how far the route sits from Nepal's usual trekking hubs, and it's part of what makes the trip an expedition in itself.