Rhododendron Trekking

Nepal is one of the best places in the world to view rhododendron. It is from their original home, the Himalaya, that these plants were collected. The Himalaya carve a wide arc across the northern borders of India, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Myanmar and it is in their foothills that the most stunning specimens of the Rhododendron species are to be found. In most parts of the Himalaya, population pressure has led to forest destruction. Rhododendron arboreum (61K) Although it?s beauty is admired by all the mountain people, Rhododendron does not escape as it?s dense wood produces an intensely hot cooking-fire. There are however plenty of places throughout the Himalaya where these magnificent plants survive and thrive. Because of my long familiarity with Nepal and interest in botany I have devised a rhododendron trek to explore these byways during the flowering season. In the alpine areas there are junipers, saxifrages, primulas, rhododendrons, contoneasters and ephedras. In the subtropics flowers bloom as the temperature gets war

The main flower season is March and April when the rhododendrons are in their full glory. The large white magnolias, orchids, lavender primuds, and blue irises. There are also flowers on the bushes.
In western Nepal the best time to see flowers is July and August. It gets less rain than the rest of Nepal, so it is more comfortable to visit during the monsoon than other places. At lower elevation there are orchids, roses, campanlas, impatiens, anemones, corydalis and edelweiss. In the alpine areas there are geraniums, saxifrages proliferate, poppies, larkspurs and sediums.

In the Himalaya area there are astragalus, Ionicera (from honeysuckle family) and caragana.
Just after the monsoon in October and November most of the flowers are gone. Some flowers may be seen in the subtropical areas such as mauve osbeckia, yellow St John’s wort and pink luculia. Also there are reds flowers on barberry bushes, flowers on the cherry trees and the yellow of the withering maples. In the temperate areas there are blue gentians.

Kathmandu, just a six hour drive away is Dhunche at an elevation of 2,000 meters. One can begin a trek here for the upper areas of the Langtang Valley. Nine species of Rhododendron can be seen in this region. The best time is late March to mid June, and in addition to the Rhododendron, spring blooms of wild poppy, magnolia and primrose will make the trek memorable

	Detail itinerary Day 01 Arrival in Kathmandu (1300m) Transfert to Hotel Day 02 free day in Kathmandu Day 03 Drive to Sundarijal & Trek to Chisopani (2300m) Day 04 Gul Bhanjyang (2130m) Day 05 Magen Goth (3150m.) Day 06 Phedi (3500m) Day 07 Laurebina Yak (3950m) Day 08 Dhunche (1950m) Day 09 Dhunche to kathmandu by Bus Day 10 Free day at Kathmandu. Night at hotel Day 11 Transfer to airport 3 hours before your plane leaving.     Want to know more about this trek or tour itinerary? Enquiry us via our email: ecologytreks@gmail.com with the trek or tour you want to know more about. We will reply promptly with program details, cost and other information.