Trek through the eastern Himalaya to reach the blessed earthly hidden valley of Pemako and complete a kora around the five sacred lakes of Danakosha along the path to Buddhist enlightenment.
Trek through this least explored quarter of the eastern Himalaya, tucked away in a remote corner of India’s least explored state, Arunachal Pradesh, to reach the blessed earthly hidden valley (Bayul) of Pemako. Accompany Buddhist pilgrims on a kora around the five sacred lakes of Danakosha, close to the Tibetan border, on the path to enlightenment.
India
Arunachal Pradesh
Duration
26 days
Mountain Trek
Buddhist Pilgrimage
Extreme
TREK TO THE BEYUL OF PEMAKO INTRO
Trek through this least explored quarter of the eastern Himalaya, tucked away in a remote corner of India’s least explored state, Arunachal Pradesh, to reach the blessed earthly hidden valley (Bayul) of Pemako. Accompany Buddhist pilgrims on a kora around the five sacred lakes of Danakosha, close to the Tibetan border, on the path to enlightenment.
Beyuls are reached by undertaking arduous journeys to outer worldly places by those who seek the Buddhist path to enlightenment. This tough trek is no exception, leading through an exceptionally remote and challenging landscape. Blessed by the eighth century Buddhist Master, Guru Rinpoche, according to the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, the Bayul of Pemako is sanctified as the female divinity of Dorje Phagmo.
Please understand that this trek is not for the faint hearted. Furthermore, it is the sole exception to our mantra, “If we haven’t done it ourselves, we don’t offer it”. Let us be clear that we have never completed this trek ourselves: indeed, it seems that very few people ever have, other than a number of devout Buddhist pilgrims, having only recently been opened to outsiders. We are planning this trip as a research expedition to discover this remote region for ourselves, If, however, you feel that you are crazy enough to join us, please get in touch for more details.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Drive across the mighty Brahmaputra River via Bogibeel Bridge, the longest road-rail bridge in India
- 6 days of driving through the jungle-clad mountains of Arunachal Pradesh
- 18 days of trekking through the most remote and pristine parts of the Eastern Himalayas
- Panoramic views across the Himalayas, into Tibet and over to the holy mountain of Kundu Dorsempotrang
- Complete a kora of the five sacred lakes of Danakosha
- Visit the sacred monastery at Payengdam
- Abundant exotic wildlife with chances of seeing Musk Deer, Ibex, Takin, Mountain Goat, Red Panda and many species of birds.
PLACES TO BE VISITED
- Dibrugarh – Pasighat – Jennging – Tuting – Kuging – Mabi – Lama Tukut – Kanebenga – Pao Lipik – Danakosha – Wangchen Phukpa – Dungchen Droma – Tashi Droma – Tashigang – Dewakota – Payengdam – Dibrugarh
KEY INFORMATION
- We have set departure dates for this tour although they have not yet been chosen. Please see ‘Dates’ section for more information
- In exceptional circumstances, local conditions may require the route to be altered in your interests at short notice
- 18 days of trekking including four rest days on the trail
- 6 days of driving
- 8 nights sleeping in mostly simple accommodation
- 17 nights camping
- Maximum altitude – 4031m (13,225ft)
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Reception: airport or station reception and transfer upon your arrival in North-East India & final drop-off at the end of your trek or tour as per the standard itinerary. (For clients arriving earlier and or departing later, special arrangements can be made for accommodation and/or airport transfers if required or requested – additional charges will be calculated for this.)
- Full escort: our treks and tours are fully escorted by an official, local, English-speaking guide; all our treks are fully escorted by a cook, ponies and pony boys and/or porters as appropriate
- Accommodation: all accommodation (25 nights), including 17 nights camping
- Meals: all meals (26 days) including 18 days prepared on the trail by your trek cook
- Equipment: Tent, sleeping mat, kitchen equipment
- Transport: all transport throughout your tour in a comfortable, modern vehicle equipped with air-conditioning and seat belts, with a professional driver
- Permits: all restricted area permits as required
- Entrance fees: all entrance fees to sites & parks
- Activity fees: all fees for activities included in your itinerary
- Documentation: provided documents include a personalised itinerary for your tour, a full risk assessment of your route, a bespoke equipment list and facts about the country.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Visas
- Sleeping bags, other equipment not detailed above (‘What’s Included’) and specialist trekking clothing
- Tips
- Soft drinks & items of a personal nature
- Camera fees
DATES
Forthcoming set group trek dates (maximum 8 pax):
Dates have not yet been set for this trek. Please contact us for further details.
PRICES
PRICE PER PERSON
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT*
£3750
from £400
*THE SINGLE SUPPLEMENT CHARGE IS ONLY REQUIRED FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS WHO CHOOSE NOT TO SHARE A ROOM WITH ANOTHER SUITABLE TRAVELLER. IF WILLING TO SHARE, THE SUPPLEMENT WILL NOT BE CHARGED.
Other tours you might be interested in:
You might also want to consider The Yak Herders’ Trail.
Our tours have been designed to fit together like a hand in a glove.
DAY 1
Arrive in Dibrugarh
Arrive at Dibrugarh Airport. Meet your driver and transfer to town for an overnight stay in a comfortable hotel. The rest of the day will be free for you to explore the town, known for its riverside location and tea plantations, at your own leisure. You might choose to stroll around the upbeat market area or perhaps eat at a good restaurant.
DAY 2
Drive from Dibrugarh to Pasighat
We drive across the mighty Brahmaputra River via the newly built Bogibeel Bridge. At 4.94km, it is the longest road-rail bridge in India. We then head though beautiful Assamese countryside and onwards, up into Arunachal Pradesh and the mountains of the Eastern Himalayas. We sleep in a simple, local hotel.
6 hours driving
Drive from Pasighat to Jennging
We drive to Jengging (820m). The drive will be along bad roads, but the presence the breath-taking valleys of the Siang River will make the journey worthwhile. We will visit an authentic Adi tribe village and walk across bamboo hanging bridges. We sleep in a simple, local hotel or government guesthouse.
7 hours driving
Drive from Jennging to Tuting
We drive through a pristine landscape to reach Tuting (592m), the last motorable town on our journey, as we get ever-closer to India’s border with south Tibet. We sleep in a simple, local hotel or government guesthouse.
9 hours driving
Trek from Tuting to Kuging
Today we begin our trek. After breakfast, we walk to Kuging village (849m), crossing the Siang River via a suspension bridge and through simple Adi tribe villages. We work around terraced fields and along the Yangsang Chu River. Finally, we climb up to Kuging village itself, the last village we will encounter for the next ten days. We sleep in tents near the village.
5 hours walking
Trek from Kuging to Mabi
After breakfast, we trek to Mabi (2196m). The vegetation will change from tropical and semi-tropical and eventually to alpine sanctuaries. The climb is moderate through forests of rhododendrons and pine, though care should be taken against leeches. On clear days, the icy peaks of Namcha Barwa are visible, the “left breast” of the almighty Goddess Dorje Pagmo. We sleep in tents.
6 hours walking
Trek from Mabi to Lama Tukut
Today is but a short trek from Mabi to Lama Tukut. The trail includes a few uphill sections along ridges, though forests and rhododendron, with breath-taking views of the remote eastern Himalayas and into southern Tiber. We sleep in tents.
Spend the day at Lama Tukut
Today we take our first rest day.
Trek from Lama Tukut to Kanebenga
Today we trek to our camping spot at Kanebenga (3290m). The hike will be mostly along ridges and through pine forests with rhododendrons aplenty. Eventually, the terrain changes, becoming barren and then rocky as the trail undulates up and down. The surrounding views across the Himalayas are breath-taking and, once again, we will see villages across the border in southern Tibet. We sleep in tents.
5 hours walking
DAY 10
Trek from Kanebenga to Pao Lipik
Today we trek to Pao Lipik (3645m), leaving alpine forests behind and entering a barren landscape punctuated by beautiful, high altitude lakes. The hike will be moderate with both uphill and downhill sections, but can be quite challenging on account of the altitude. On clear days, the peak of Namcha Barwa is visible. We sleep in tents.
6 hours walking
DAY 11
Spend the day at Pao Lipik
Today we take our second rest day.
Trek from Pao Lipik to Danakosha
Today we reach Danakosha (4000m), the sacred lake at the centre of which is the tseta island, so-called because of its resemblance to a heart. The trek itself will be along a barren ridge of rhododendron scrub until we take a steep climb onto a higher ridge which will reward us with magnificent views of the holy Titapori Mountain. The landscape here is in the form of a fully opened lotus. Each year Buddhist pilgrims visit these high isolated ranges to pray at the “heart” lake as, according to Buddhist Pemako texts, merely by seeing this place, a pilgrim opens his consciousness to unlimited knowledge and his karma is purified. We sleep in tents at a beautiful camping spot.
5 hours walking
Complete a kora around the lakes of Danakosha
Today, we will complete a kora (circumbulation) around five sacred lakes of Danakosha, out of a total of 118 lakes which are believed to occupy this region. These lakes are believed to bless one with tantric powers. On a clear day, the very holy mountain of Kundu Dorsempotrang is visible, which is ‘All Gathering Palace of Vajrasattva’, a tantric deity symbolizing pristine, unobstructed awareness. Seeing this mountain liberates a person instantly. Sleep in tents for a second night at Danakosha.
Trek from Danakosha to Wangchen Phukpa
Today we trek to Wangchen Phukpa (4031m) heading up and down ridges, crossing Titapori, where it is believed that Padmasambhava has hidden many treasures and scrolls. The campsite of Wangchen Phukpa gives a feeling of being on top of the world. The area abounds with exotic wildlife and there is a chance of seeing Musk Deer, Ibex, Takin, Mountain Goat, Red Panda and many species of birds. A tailless rat, locally called assaray, is also commonly found. We sleep in tents.
7 hours walking
DAY 15
Spend the day in Wangchen Phukpa
Today we take our third rest day.
DAY 16
Trek from Wangchen Phukpa to Dungchen Droma
Today we trek to Dungchen Droma (3810m). Initially crossing huge boulders brought down the mountains by snow, we continue through pine and rhododendron forests until we follow a trail covered with thick bamboo downhill to our camping spot. If we have a clear day, we will once again have magnificent views across the eastern Himalayas. We sleep in tents.
3 hours walking
DAY 17
Trek from Dungchen Droma to Tashi Droma
We make an early start for a long day’s trek to Tashi Droma (1421m). We begin with a steep descent through forests blessed with orchids, bamboos and wild flowers. The vegetation will be thick due to the direct sunlight, and we should take care when crossing the wet slippery ground. The hike will end at the Jiang-chu River at which point we will cross a cane bridge to arrive at our camping spot. A swim in the river soothe our aching limbs and comes highly recommended. We sleep in tents.
8 hours walking
DAY 18
Trek from Tashi Droma to Tashigang
Today we reach Tashigang village (1149m), the first village we will have seen in ten days. The hike will be along the Jiang-chu River, the trail slippery underfoot, with moderate uphill and downhill stretches. Once again, precautions need to be taken here against the menacing leeches. The hike ends at Tashigang, a beautiful and quaint little village where 200 people live in just 16 houses. We sleep in tents.
4 hours walking
DAY 19
Spend the day in Tashigang
Today we take our fourth and final rest day.
DAY 20
Trek from Tashigang to Dewakota
We begin the day by visiting the holy site of Dewakota where we complete a kora around it. Legends say that Dewakota Mountain is where Padmasambhava hid many treasures and scrolls, and that enlightened persons hold the key to finding them. This hike will be a steep descent through huge boulders, eventually crossing a cane bridge and then climbing steps to reach Dewakota temple. After completing a kora, we hike onwards to the village of Mankota where we sleep in tents.
DAY 21
Trek from Dewakota to Payengdam
Today we trek to Payengdam (1224m), a village located spectacularly on a hilltop from where we gain excellent views across the surrounding mountains. The hike will be gradual with only moderate ascents. Along with a monastery, a very impressive community centre is established here for Tibetan refugees. We sleep in tents.
5 hours walking
DAY 22
Trek from Payengdam to Tuting
Today we complete the trek back to Tuting (592m) by descending along the banks of the Yangsang River. The way is steep, through tropical forest, until it meets the trail that we followed upwards on our first day of trekking. At this point, we will have completed one kora of the remote sanctuaries of the Bayul. We continue to Tuting where we sleep the night in a simple local hotel or government guesthouse.
DAY 23
Drive from Tuting to Jengging
Today we complete the return drive from Tuting to Jengging (820m) where we sleep in a simple, local hotel or government guesthouse.
7 hours driving
DAY 24
Drive from Jengging to Pasighat
Today we drive from Jengging back to Pasighat. We sleep in a simple local hotel or guesthouse.
7 to 8 hours driving
DAY 25
Drive from Pasighat to the Brahmaputra River and sail to Dibrugarh
We drive from Pasighat to Dibrugarh, back across the Bogibeel Bridge, where we sleep in a local hotel with standard amenities.
DAY 26
Transfer to Dibrugarh Airport
Finally, we transfer to Dibrugarh Airport in good time for our return flight home.
Our Trek to the Beyul of Pemako
With ADD-ONS
Our Trek to the Beyul of Pemako is also available with add-ons – which include:
- Additional accommodation can be organised for anyone wanting to extend their stay in Dibrugarh, either at the beginning or end of your trip. Please discuss this with us at the time of making your booking.
PRICES
with add-ons
SOLO TRAVELLER (PRIVATE TREK)
PRIVATE GROUP BOOKING (2-3 PAX)
PRIVATE GROUP BOOKING (4-6 PAX)
PRIVATE GROUP BOOKING (7-12 PAX)
£TBC
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