Trek Guide
Plan the Numbur Cheese Circuit Trek 2026: Gyajo La pass (4,880m), Solu cheese factories, permits, cost, best season and a realistic 11-day route.
By Travel Himalaya Nepal · Jun 14, 2026
The Numbur Cheese Circuit is an off-the-beaten-path loop through Solu and Ramechhap , in the lower Everest region, that almost no foreign trekkers ever see. It crosses Gyajo La (~4,880m) and visits the holy Panch Pokhari (Solu) lakes near 4,600m beneath…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
This is a trek for solitude-seekers. Developed as a community tourism trail and opened by the Nepal Tourism Board in 2009, the circuit was designed to bring income to villages that the Everest boom largely bypassed. The reward for trekkers is a route with…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
The trek takes its name from a real and living tradition. The factory at Thodung is the oldest cheese factory in Nepal, a Swiss-designed operation established in 1957 to turn the milk of the region's yaks and chauris into hard Himalayan cheese. Along the…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Most itineraries run around 11 days on the trail , starting from Shivalaya , the historic old Jiri trailhead reached by a long road drive from Kathmandu via Ramechhap. Here is how the journey typically unfolds: Day 1: Drive Kathmandu to Shivalaya (the…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
We rate the Numbur Cheese Circuit as Challenging , and we do not say that lightly. The daily ascents and descents are long, the trail is rough and at times faint, and the crossing of Gyajo La near 4,880m is a serious high-altitude day. There are no quick…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
The permit situation is refreshingly simple. The entire circuit lies inside the Gaurishankar Conservation Area , so you need a Gaurishankar Conservation Area Permit (GCAP) plus a TIMS card . Crucially, because the route stays west of the Khumbu, you do not…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
The two reliable windows are autumn (October to November) and spring (March to May) . Autumn brings the clearest mountain views and stable weather after the monsoon, with rhododendron-free but crisp trails. Spring is warmer at lower elevations and lights up…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Access is entirely by road, which is part of what keeps the route quiet. From Kathmandu you drive east toward Ramechhap and on to Shivalaya , the trailhead that served as the start of the Everest trek for decades before the Lukla airstrip changed everything…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
This is not a polished teahouse trail like Annapurna or Everest. In the villages you will find basic teahouses and family homestays with simple rooms and shared facilities, and the food is honest dal bhat and local fare rather than a printed tourist menu…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Because nights at altitude are cold and resupply is limited, pack with self-sufficiency in mind. A four-season sleeping bag, proper insulating layers, a waterproof shell, broken-in boots for rough ground, sun protection for the exposed high pastures, and a…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Crossing Gyajo La near 4,880m means real exposure to altitude, and on a remote trail with no road access acclimatisation discipline is non-negotiable. We build in gradual ascent, encourage plenty of fluids, and watch every member of the group for the early…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
The Numbur Cheese Circuit suits experienced, self-reliant trekkers who value solitude and culture over comfort and big-name summits. If your dream is a busy, social trail with cosy lodges and famous viewpoints, the Everest or Annapurna regions will serve you…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
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