The Churen Himal, which is part of the Dhaulagiri Range, is home to three significant peaks: the Churen Himal Central (7385m), which is regarded as the main peak; the Churen Himal East (7371m); and the Churen Himal West (7371m). Few trekkers have ventured on the off-the-beaten-path trek to Churen Himal Base Camp.
Churen Himal is located in western Nepal, north of Dhorpatan and west of Dhaulagiri. Myagdi & Dolpo’s border mountain is called Churen. It is a part of the Jaljala region and the ideal location for ardent nature lovers who want to discover the pristine, undiscovered, and unexplored beauty of nature and wildlife as well as the distinctive cultures and ways of life of the isolated Magars, Chhetris, and Chhantyals who live in the wild valleys.
Details of the Churen Base Camp Trek
| Name of the Trek | Churen Himal Base Camp Trek |
| Trekking Region | Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Region in Nepal |
| Trekking Difficulty | Difficult |
| Number of Days | 15 |
| Maximum Elevation | 4160 m |
| Accommodation | Tea Houses, and mostly camping |
| Major Attractions | Churen West(7371m), Churen Central(7375m), and Churen North(7371m) |
Highlights of Churen Base Camp Trek
- Stunning views of Churen Himal I, II, and III, Mt Dhaulagiri, Mt Annapurna, Gurja Himal.
- Take in the secluded pleasure of the remote trails.
- Abundance of hospitality from Magar community and vibrant culture.
- Sight of endangered plants and animals
Detailed Itinerary of Churen Base Camp Trek
Day 1: Drive from Kathmandu to Beni
From Kathmandu, you board an early bus for Beni in the Myagdi district. You will travel over beautiful roads that run beside the banks of several perennial rivers in Nepal, including the Trishuli, Marsyangdi, Madi, Seti, and Kaligandaki. Before reaching Beni, you will also occasionally catch sight of the snow-capped peaks. The region of Josmom, the Mustang, and Muktinath may all be reached from Beni.
Day 2: Drive from Beni to Darbang, Trek to Dharapani
After a 4-hour jeep ride from Beni, you must hike for a further 4-hours to get to Dharapani through Darbang. You have to pass multiple bridges while traveling, and you can see Myagdi Khola. Before turning in for the night in Dharapani, you can observe local culture and go on an exploration.
Day 3: Trek from Dharapani to Lamsung
The comfortable walk from Dharapani offers stunning views of the environs. We explore the wilderness area’s streams and gorges. We arrive in Lamsung, which is located at an elevation of 2,160 meters, after 6-7 hours of walking. Camp in a tent for the night.
Day 4: Trek from Lamsung to Gurjaghat
We shall cross a pass from Lumsang in the direction of Gurjaghat. The ascent is rather difficult. However, when you go through the oak and rhododendron woodland, you will not be troubled with the difficulty of walking with stunning views of Gurja Himal. Gurjaghat is a region that is close to Dhorpatan.
Day 5: Trek from Gurjaghat to Rupachaur Kharka
We will travel to Rupachaur Kharka after breakfast so that we can take in the breathtaking grandeur of the mighty mountains, emerald hills, rivers, and valleys. Finally, we will travel through the lovely woodland (Royal Reserve of Hunting), which is home to Theresa, Castor, and Himalayan bears, among other animals. Kharka, which is Nepali for “grassland,” suggests that the expansive grassland, its vegetation, and its surroundings would completely overwhelm you.
Day 6: Trek from Rupachaur Kharka to Gurjagaon
We shall make our way down to Gurjagaon or Gurja village on this particular day. At the base of the Gurja Himal, there is a sizable Magar settlement called Gurjagaon. The hospitable nature of this village’s residents will delight you. Their hospitality is unmatched, and they revere visitors as traveling saints.
Day 7: Trek from Gurjagaon to Darsinge Kharka
We will depart from the hospitable Magar village today and travel to Darsinge Kharka, another expansive grassland. Walking down the solitary trail, where you are unlikely to see anyone, it takes around six hours to get to Darsinge Kharka. The walk is really serene. Once you get to the grassland, you’ll spend the night on a tented camp.
Day 8: Trek from Darsinge Kharka to Bundzunge Kharka
The trail to Churen Base Camp has a lot of grasslands on it way which we have to pass along. On this day as well, we start from one grassalnd to another called Bundzunge Kharka. It takes arounf five to six hours to reach Bundzunge from Darsinge. We stay in a tented camp here as well.
Day 9: Trek from Bundzunge Kharka to Churen Base Camp
We reach Churen Himal Base Camp, located at an elevation of 4160m on this day. Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Annapurna, and Mt. Churen can all be seen magnificently from the Base Camp. Blue goat herds might be visible while you’re hiking. In comparison to other well-known base camps, this one is less well-equipped. Since the cold can affect you, you spend the night in a tent camp with adequate insulation.
Day 10: Trek from Churen Base Camp to Gurjagaon
Today, we first witness the breathtaking sunrise before making our way back to Gurjagaon. The summits of the nearby mountains take on a golden hue as the sun rises. On a single day, we quickly descend to Gurjagaon because the journey down is speedier but quite jarring on the knees. Therefore, caution is required as you descend. This charming and welcoming village is where we stay the night once more.
Day 11: Trek from Gurjagaon to Lumsang
We will travel via the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, pass the Jaljala Pass, and arrive at Lumsang. The only hunting reserve in Nepal that allows controlled hunting with government verification is Dhorpatan. We can also stay for an extended period of time to explore the hunting reserve’s flora and fauna.
Day 12: Trek from Lumsang to Dharapani, Drive to Darbang
On this particular day, we enjoy a leisurely walk that lasts four hours. To get to Darbang, we then ascend and drop through canyons and forests.
Day 13: Drive Back to Pokhara, explore Pokhara
We catch a bus there and go to Pokhara through the starting point of Beni. We spend the night in Pokhara’s tourist area near the lake and take advantage of the vibrant nightlife.