Ruby Valley Trek - 7 Days

You will arrive in Kathmandu at Tribhuvan International Airport. You need to stay in a hotel in Kathmandu for at least one night, but this package does not include the hotel costs. On the trip departure date, we will take a local bus or a jeep to Syabrubesi, where the trek starts. 

We provide free airport arrival and departure transfer for valuable clients who have booked the Ruby Valley Trek package with us. Our representative will be at the airport holding a pamphlet with your name as well as our company name on it. They will welcome you with either a khada or a marigold garland and take you to your hotel in a private vehicle.

Ruby Valley package includes six nights of homestay/ local lodge-to-lodge stays at mountain regions in a homely environment filled with warm hospitality. You will require at least two nights of hotel stay in Kathmandu before and after the trek. Since the hotel preferences of all individuals are different, this package does not cover hotel stays in Kathmandu. 

Ruby Valley trek takes place in higher elevations, which means you need enough nutritious food. We will provide you with plenty of nutrient-rich, hygienic, and tasty food during the trek. 

We will be providing you with seven breakfasts, seven lunches, and six dinners during the trek.

We have designed this trek for cultural explorations as well, so it takes place in a homely environment, and you will mostly stay in homestays. You will be eating the same food that locals eat. The food will be fresh, hygienic, tasty, and nutritious. 

We recommend you take enough liquids, green tea, lemon tea, hot lemon, ginger tea, and garlic soup (must) at high altitudes. Similarly, fresh vegetables are great for high-elevation treks.

Though plenty of non-veg items are available in trek regions, we do not recommend them because you can never be sure about the meat quality. Experts also suggest high-altitude trekkers avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks, hot chocolate, and dairy items.

You must consider the weather while deciding when to hike to Ruby Valley. For the best trek experience, choose the spring and autumn seasons. The trails are a little slippery and wet in summer due to the monsoon, and the winters are cold. However, we conduct Ruby Valley Trek throughout the year. As the trek region is near Kathmandu, this trek is very accessible. 

January – February

January and February are the coldest months, especially from early January to early February. Though the days may be warm and admirable with clear skies, the nights are frigid. 

March – April

This is the best season to trek in the Ruby Valley, as you will get stunning views of the central Himalayan ranges. Temperatures start rising from the mid of March, and with clear skies, snow mountains look their best. Trekkers hiking in March-April will find rhododendron flowers welcoming them.

May – June

It is also a great time to trek, right before the rainfall. It starts raining from the end of June till mid-August in trek regions. The overlapping of spring and summer makes the trek much more enjoyable during these months.

July – August

The rainfall hits its peak during these months. The rainfall makes the trails get wet and slippery, making treks challenging. Trek paths mainly at ridges and descents require great attention. 

September – October

It is also one of the perfect seasons for the Ruby Valley trek. For this reason, most tourists take a hike to Ruby Valley during these months. As the monsoon retreats, a perfect trekking climate sets in. The temperature goes up to 20 degrees during the day and falls to 5 degrees during the night. The clear skies and amazing views of the mountains allure most trekkers to Ruby Valley. We recommend you trek to Ruby Valley from mid-September to the end of October. If you hike during these months, you will also witness the two great Nepali festivals - Dashain and Tihar. 

November – December

As winter slowly begins, snowfalls begin in the Ruby Valley regions, and it eventually gets tough to trek. Nights start to get colder. However, November treks are also popular due to sparkling days and stable temperatures. From December, the temperature drops and it begins to snow.

Ruby Valley trek includes a few days' hikes at over 3500m. So there is a small chance of altitude sickness. We have designed trip itineraries that allow slow and steady ascending so the body can adapt. 

All our trekking leaders and guide have completed extensive first-aid training and are well-experienced in the Himalayas. If you notice any signs of altitude sickness, please inform your group leader/guide.

Moreover, your trek leader will also suggest ways to prevent altitude sickness. You can lessen the chances of altitude sickness by taking time while ascending and drinking plenty of water (more than 4 liters) every day.

The only cure for severe altitude sickness is to descend immediately. Please note that your group leader has the authority to decide whether to stop the ascent immediately, based on the condition of the team members. It is essential to understand that some persons are more vulnerable to altitude sickness than others. 

The Ruby Valley is an easy and rewarding trek. Depending on the day's destination and the nature of the walk, you will be hiking for 4-6 hours a day, but we will be taking regular breaks to admire the mountain views. The trek routes involve long climbs, steep descents, and forward trails in rocky regions and forests. The fitter you are, the more comfortable and enjoyable your journey will be. Trek experience may be advantageous, but you do not require it. However, before booking the trek, contact us if you suffer from sensitive medical conditions, such as heart or lung diseases.

We organize a group as well as private treks. If you have your group, you will be eligible for discounts. However, you will not get discounts for groups we assemble. Each group will have a trekking guide, and a porter for every two trekkers. Further, we can handle all group sizes and add an assistant trek guide for groups with 12 or more members. 

Each day you will be rewarded with a unique trek experience providing you the opportunity to enjoy the scenery, take photos, explore the local village, and interact with the villagers. During the trek, our experienced, expert guides along with porters carrying your baggage will accompany you. However, you will be carrying a small regular day pack for your valuables. 

The day starts with an early morning cup of tea. Each morning after packing our bags and having a wholesome breakfast, we set off on that day’s walk at around 7 am to 8 am, depending on the duration and nature of the trek. 

After trekking for 3 to 4 hours, we will serve you lunch around midday on the route to the next destination. Then we rest for about an hour before restarting the trek. 

The afternoon walk is generally shorter and lasts only 2 to 3 hours. When we reach our overnight lodge, we snack on the prepared extra dietary snacks. Before dinner, you will have free time to explore nearby places. You will be having dinner between 6 to 7 pm. 

In the evening, before going to bed, we discuss each other's hiking experiences. Your guide will brief the next day's plan. After completing the trip briefing and before going to bed, you can enjoy yourself however you like. You can read books, watch mountaineering videos or play cards. Most foreigners also indulge in learning a few common Nepali words. 

During the trek, you can use internet services through 4G data packages at lodges/homestays you will be staying in, paying a small service charge. Once we reach high altitudes, we will communicate through phones. 

Discovery World Trekking office communicates with all trek groups through trek leaders at least once a day. We want to ensure that all treks are going fine. If you wish, you can buy a local sim in Kathmandu. However, based on the network you use, the mobile signals may not be strong enough. 

Meals and accommodations in Kathmandu are up to our valuable clients themselves. You can choose to stay in luxury or budget hotels/lodges. Moreover, trekkers will need money for various purposes - including visa processing, travel insurance policy, snacks, hot (tea/coffee), cold and alcoholic drinks, tips to the trekking crew members, souvenirs, etc.

We recommend bringing cash (major currencies) and exchanging them for Nepali Rupees in Kathmandu. Trek regions only accept Nepali Rupees. 

Throughout the lodges/homestays in Ruby Valley trek regions, electricity for the camera and mobile recharge is available by paying a small price at lodges/homestays. 

Water during the trek, you can buy either packed mineral water from shops or fill your water bottle with boiled/filtered water in local lodges/homestays. We suggest you use water purification tablets before drinking water.

Trekking in the Ruby Valley requires preparedness. Like other high mountain treks, this trek also comes with slight risks - including high-altitude sickness. So, travel insurance is compulsory for the Ruby Valley trek. 

At a minimum, you require a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers medical and emergency repatriation - including helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses at altitudes up to 4000m. 

We can recommend insurance companies based on our clients' previous experiences, but we do not sell insurance policies. 

We kindly request you send your detailed insurance information once you book the trek. In emergencies, we will use your insurance policy and other informational documents you sent us to arrange a quick and effective rescue operation. Ensure that your insurance policy covers the cost incurred for mountain rescue service at the highest trek elevations. 

All foreigners except Indian nationals need a valid visa to enter Nepal. Visa is available on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport upon entry in Kathmandu, Nepal, and at immigration checkpoints along India and Tibet borders. 

Citizens of China, and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC) countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), get a free visa. 

A visa application requires a passport with at least 6 months of validity, one passport-size photo, and visa fees. The current visa cost for 30 days is USD 50 (to be paid in cash). Children under 10 get free visas. 

Citizens from certain countries - Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Swaziland, Cameroon, Liberia, Somalia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan may not receive on-arrival visas. So if you are a citizen of any of these countries, you need to contact your local Nepalese embassy.

The government can change immigration rules without notice, so please visit  https://www.immigration.gov.np/ for the latest information. 

We recommend you add 1-2 extra days for the trip so that you will not miss your international flight back home in case of trek delays. If there is no delay, we can arrange fun activities during this time. 

Currency exchange
Nepali Rupees (NPR) is the local currency.
(1 USD = ~ Rs.130 NPR).

You can exchange major foreign currencies through local banks and legitimate money exchanges in Kathmandu and all over Thamel. 

Legitimate money exchanges display their current exchange rates visibly. Please remember that only Indian Rupee notes of 100 and 2,000 are legal in Nepal. 

Though traveler's cheques are more secure, we recommend you bring cash to avoid lengthy processes and high bank commissions. You can also withdraw cash in Rupees from ATMs in Kathmandu and Thamel itself. Several of these ATMs are open around the clock. The maximum ATM withdrawal amount is 35,000 Rupees for a 500 Rupees processing fee using your foreign card.

If you use the money exchange facilities at banks and financial institutions, they will charge a service fee of 4% or more. 

There are no banks and money exchange services in trek regions. So you should exchange your money in Kathmandu, depending on how much personal expense you require.

The luggage weight limit is 9 kg per trekker. We assign one porter for every two trekkers, and they will not carry more than 18kg of combined weight. We also expect you to carry a backpack for your valuables. Please bring only the essentials. You can store your excess luggage at the Discovery World Trekking store for free. 

Client safety is our first priority. To ensure safety, we will be carrying all the necessary gear, equipment, first aid kits to face any situation. Our trek leaders/guides have completed extensive first aid training. If a trekker falls sick during the trek, the trek leader has the authority to decide whether to descend immediately or to continue forward. 

In an emergency, a rescue helicopter, funded by insurance, will bring you back to safety from the higher elevation. We will trek as a group for safety.