Rolwaling is a quiet valley east of Langtang and west of Khumbu, under the twin peaks of Gaurishankar. The classic trek goes to Tsho Rolpa glacial lake, and a harder route crosses Tashi Lapcha pass at about 5,755 m to the Everest region.
The hidden valley beside Everest
Rolwaling is a long, steep valley on the border with Tibet, between the Langtang and Khumbu regions. Few trekkers enter it. The valley is dominated by Gaurishankar, a twin-peaked mountain of about 7,100 m that Hindus regard as the home of Shiva and Parvati, and the whole area is protected as the Gaurishankar Conservation Area. Its remoteness is the point: lodges are simple, villages are few and the sense of discovery is real.
Beding and the Sherpa valley
Beding, at roughly 3,700 m, is the main settlement and the place where most itineraries pause. The people here are Sherpas who have farmed and herded in the valley for generations, and the village has a monastery, stone walls, and potato and barley fields. Beyond it lie a handful of yak pastures such as Na, then the high lake.
Tsho Rolpa
Tsho Rolpa, at around 4,540 m, is one of the largest glacial lakes in Nepal. It formed as the Trakarding glacier melted, and the lake has been monitored and partly drained over the years to reduce the danger of an outburst flood. The water is milky blue, ringed by moraine and snow peaks, and standing there you see climate change in the shape of the land.
Tashi Lapcha
The pass at the head of the valley, Tashi Lapcha, is at about 5,755 m and connects Rolwaling to the Khumbu near Thame. It requires ropes, crampons and an ice axe, a good guide team and previous experience of glacier walking. For many trekkers it is the highlight; for others, the valley and the lake are enough.
Two ways to visit
You can walk to Beding and Tsho Rolpa and return to the road, a trip of about ten to twelve days. Or you can continue over the pass to Thame, Namche and Lukla, which makes the full eighteen-day trek. See the itinerary.
Plan it
We build Rolwaling as a custom trip. Read the pass guide before choosing which version suits you.
