Drive by jeep from Kathmandu to Ringmu, about ten hours to Salleri and about an hour more up the hill, according to the Kathmandu Post. The road crosses several ridges and can be slowed by landslides in the monsoon. Ringmu, at about 2,800 m, is known for houses painted blue and white, and the Post's writer slept in a hotel with a wooden interior. Settle in, buy any snacks you need, and check with your guide how many days you will spend above 4,000 m. The next day is short, which helps you acclimatise.
Dudh Kunda Trek
A six-day trek from Ringmu in Solu over Taksindu to Sano Beni and the sacred lake of Dudh Kunda at about 4,560 m below Numbur Himal, with a road start and finish.
- Days6
- Max altitude4,561 m
- Distance37.7 km
- Ascent2,439 m
- DifficultyHard
- Best monthsMar–May, Sep–Nov
- Permits3
Photo: Chandra Chakradhar · CC BY-SA 4.0
This itinerary is a draft and hasn't been verified yet. Always confirm stages with your guide.
Written by FindTrekkingPartner teamReviewed by FindTrekkingPartner teamHow we reviewFindTrekkingPartner
Dudh Kunda Trek is a 6-day trek in the Solu region of Nepal that climbs to 4,561 m. Foreign trekkers can find a partner for it on FindTrekkingPartner by posting a trip with their dates, budget and pace. Matches stay private until both trekkers agree, and the service is free. At mid-range rates a licensed guide costs about USD 56 per person over 6 days when four trekkers share, against USD 224 for one trekker alone. The best seasons are Mar–May, Sep–Nov. A licensed guide is required in practice here: the Nepal Tourism Board April 2023 rule is reported by 2026 operators to be enforced at checkpoints in national parks and conservation areas, with Langtang the strictest and Annapurna checking too (checked 19 October 2026). Hire a guide through a registered agency and confirm with them. Last verified: October 19, 2026. Sources: Nepal Tourism Board, DNPWC, Department of Immigration.
Sources:Department of Immigration, NepalNepal Tourism BoardDepartment of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation
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Overview
Starts from Kathmandu6 days · max 4,561 m
Best seasons: Mar–May, Sep–Nov · Permits: No restricted-area permit, Outside Sagarmatha National Park, Ask your agency about any local trek card
The Dudh Kunda trek is a six-day walk from the village of Ringmu, above Salleri in Solukhumbu, to a high glacial lake at about 4,560 m under Numbur Himal that is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists. A jeep takes you from Kathmandu to Ringmu in about ten to eleven hours, the trail climbs through Taksindu to the inn at Sano Beni at about 4,000 m, and a day trip reaches the lake and returns. The walk back to Ringmu and a drive to Kathmandu finish the trip. It covers about 38 km with 2,440 m of climbing, and it is harder than the distances suggest, because two nights are at about 4,000 m and the stage from Taksindu to Sano Beni climbs 1,300 m. It needs no flight and no restricted-area permit, and warm clothing and a good sleeping bag matter more than technical gear.
The plan follows the Kathmandu Post's account of its Dudh Kunda walk, which uses the same stops, and an operator's day-by-day notes that route through Taksindu and Sano Beni; Alpine Adventure Club sells a longer cultural trail through Taksindu and Nunthala. Lodging is thin at Sano Beni, and the Post's writer found only a roughly built house, so carry a good sleeping bag, check with your agency, and allow time to acclimatise. The best months are March to May and September to November, and pilgrims come in the August full-moon week.
Difficulty and fitness
The trek is hard for its length. Sano Beni and the lake are at about 4,000 m and 4,560 m, you sleep at 4,000 m on two nights, and the climb from Taksindu is about 1,300 m in one day. It suits fit trekkers who have spent time above 3,500 m before, and the rest day at Sano Beni is part of the acclimatisation, not a spare day.
Budget notes
The Kathmandu Post gives NPR 13,000 per person for its own trip. Our estimate on the costs section uses Nepal-wide lodge and meal ranges with a guide, a porter and road transport, and shows the jeep fare as a line to check. Allow for a good sleeping bag and for a guide who knows the Taksindu to Sano Beni ridge.
What to pack
A warm sleeping bag rated well below freezing, a down jacket, gloves, a hat, waterproofs, a headlamp and snacks. Do not rely on finding food or rooms at Sano Beni without confirming first.
Highlights
- Dudh Kunda, a pilgrimage lake at about 4,560 m below Numbur Himal
- The Kamidanda viewpoint, with Everest and Kanchenjunga on a clear day
- Taksindu monastery and the Taksindu La kani gate
- Quiet trails, with almost no other trekkers outside August
- A pilgrim festival in the full-moon week of August
Route map
Route data from OpenStreetMap, not yet checked by our team. Use it for planning, not navigation.
Day by day
A short walk of about 2.2 km and 250 m, one to two hours by our estimate, takes you from Ringmu to Taksindu, at about 2,925 m, along a marked path with views back to the valley. Taksindu has a Sherpa monastery below Taksindu La, a pass at about 3,070 m on OpenStreetMap, where a Buddhist gate stands. Visit the monastery and the pass in the afternoon. The easy day is deliberate: tomorrow is long and climbs a long way, so rest, drink water and sleep as well as you can.
A long day of about 12 km and 1,310 m of climbing, seven to eight hours by our estimate, leads from Taksindu to Sano Beni. The path is marked, with rhododendron forest below and open pasture above, and the operator notes mention the Kamu Dada hotel and Aakhey Pokhari lakes as stops. Sano Beni is at about 4,010 m on the elevation model, and the inn there is basic. The Post's writer found lodging a hardship, so confirm your arrangements first. You gain a great deal of altitude today, so go slowly and watch for headache.
A day out and back from Sano Beni to Dudh Kunda: about 10.5 km round trip, with 660 m of climbing and descent, six to seven hours in all. The Post's writer climbed for about three hours to reach the lake at 4,561 m under Numbur Himal, which is held sacred, and returned to Sano Beni the same day. The weather often turns, so start early and turn back if it does. Walk quietly, do not disturb offerings, and avoid swimming. The night at Sano Beni gives you a second night at about 4,000 m before you descend.
A downhill day of about 12.8 km, 1,410 m of descent, five to six hours by our estimate, takes you from Sano Beni back along the ridge to Taksindu and on to Ringmu. The air thickens and the forest returns as you descend, and your knees will feel the drop. Kamidanda, the viewpoint above Ringmu, shows Everest and Kanchenjunga on a clear day, according to the Post, and new homestays were being built there. The hotel at Ringmu feels luxurious after Sano Beni.
Drive from Ringmu to Kathmandu, about an hour to Salleri and ten hours onward, according to the Post and Nepal Traveller, who give eight to twelve hours depending on conditions. Leave early, because daylight matters on the mountain road. Bring snacks, and allow a spare day before an international flight, as landslides can close the road. If you are connecting to a flight, you may prefer to fly from Phaplu, but flights depend on weather.
What it costs
Estimated all-in cost per person: lodge and food by altitude, transport, permits, and the guide and porters. The more trekkers share a guide and porters, the less each person pays. As of October 2026.
| Style | 1 trekker | 2 trekkers sharing | 4 trekkers sharing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $130–$210* | $130–$210* | $130–$210* |
| Mid-range | $390–$600* | $280–$440* | $240–$380* |
| Comfort | $440–$670* | $370–$560* | $330–$510* |
Share a guide, save money
At mid-range, a solo trekker pays about $390–$600; four trekkers sharing one guide and two porters pay about $240–$380 each (37% less at the top of the range).
Breakdown for 2 trekkers sharing
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodge and food | $130–$210 | $170–$280 | $230–$350 |
| Guide | — | $70–$120 | $70–$120 |
| Porters | — | $30–$60 | $60–$110 |
Budget uses public transport and no porter; mid-range shares one porter between two trekkers and a private vehicle; comfort gives each trekker a porter. A guide is included where one is required or the style is mid-range or comfort.
Nightly lodge and food (room and a dal bhat meal)
3 nights 2,500 to 3,800 m: room $4–$11, dal bhat $5–$11 · 2 nights Above 3,800 m: room $7–$19, dal bhat $8–$13
Not included
No published price found for: Kathmandu to Ringmu by road (return). Totals marked * leave these out; ask your agency. Lodging at Sano Beni is thin, so confirm rooms or carry tents. The Kathmandu Post gives NPR 13,000 per person for its own five-day trip.
Cost sources
- PriceNepal: Nepal Travel Cost Guide 2026 (2026-05-14)
- Third Rock Adventures: Nepal trek budget planner (2026-05-09)
- Himalayan Partner: Guide and porter price in Nepal 2026 (2026-02-10)
- Shikhar Adventure: Annapurna Circuit trek cost (2026-02-03)
- Nepal Tourism Board: Trekking Permit (2026-10-18)
Estimates from operator guides, not quotes. Tips, insurance, gear and Kathmandu hotels are not included; USD at the platform exchange rate.
Photos
Frequently asked questions
This plan takes six days from Kathmandu to Kathmandu, with three days of walking up and one day of walking down plus a lake day. The Kathmandu Post describes a five-day trip, and operator plans range from seven to sixteen days with Pikey, Junbesi and Nunthala added.
The Kathmandu Post gives 4,561 m, and our elevation model gives about 4,630 m, so we quote about 4,560 m. The inn at Sano Beni, where you sleep, is at about 4,000 m.
No. There is another Dudhkunda in the Gaurishankar area of Dolakha, which is a different lake. This route goes to the one in Solukhumbu, below Numbur Himal.
In the full-moon week of August, according to the Kathmandu Post, when locals and pilgrims gather at the lake. At other times you are unlikely to meet anyone there, but the weather is wet in August.
No restricted-area permit is needed. The route is outside Sagarmatha National Park, so its entry permit does not apply. Ask your agency whether the local municipality collects a fee.
Sources
Along the trail
Stays, medical help, water and sights on each day of the route.
1. Kathmandu → Ringmu
- Tribhuvan International Airport · Airports & transport · 1,340 m
2. Ringmu → Taksindu
- Hotel Yak&Nak · Stays · 2,770 m
- Quite view · Stays · 2,835 m
- Taksindu Lodge · Stays · 2,945 m
- Takassindu Resort · Stays · 2,900 m
Show all 5 places
- Hotel Yak&Nak · Stays · 2,770 m
- Quite view · Stays · 2,835 m
- Hiltop Guest House · Stays · 3,070 m
- Taksindu Lodge · Stays · 2,945 m
- Takassindu Resort · Stays · 2,900 m
3. Taksindu → Sano Beni
- Mountain View Lodge · Stays · 2,908 m
- Panorama Guest House · Stays · 2,946 m
- Lodges · Stays · 2,962 m
- Taksindu La · Nature · 3,071 m
4. Sano Beni
- Numbur Guest House · Stays · 4,022 m
- Dudhkunda · Nature · 4,606 m
5. Sano Beni → Ringmu
- Viewpoint · Viewpoints · 3,073 m
- Sherpa Fast Food Lodge · Stays · 2,848 m
6. Ringmu → Kathmandu
Nothing mapped for this day yet.Nothing mapped for this day yet.
Last verified on Oct 19, 2026Report outdated info