Khaptad National Park Trek
Also known as Khaptad Baba Ashram Trek (Silgadhi – Jhigrana – Khaptad plateau).
Khaptad National Park Trek is a moderate 6-8-day teahouse/camping mix trek in the Far West region of Nepal, reaching 3,300 m. It starts at Jhigrana (via Silgadhi, Doti) and ends at Jhigrana (via Silgadhi, Doti).
Key facts
- Region
- Far West (Doti, Bajhang, Bajura, Achham)
- Duration
- 6-8 days, 4-6 hours walking per day
- Distance
- 50 km
- Maximum altitude
- 3,300 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate — Low maximum altitude (~3,300 m plateau) and short trekking stages, but sustained forest climbs, very basic facilities, and long far-western road/flight approaches make it more demanding logistically than physically. AMS risk is minimal.
- Trek type
- Teahouse/Camping mix, out-and-back route
- Best season
- Spring (Mar-May, rhododendron and wildflower season) and autumn (Oct-Nov)
- Guide
- Not mandatory
- Restricted area
- No
- Budget cost
- NPR 70,000–110,000
- Comfortable cost
- NPR 110,000–170,000
- Guided cost
- NPR 170,000–365,000
- Getting there
- Kathmandu → Dhangadhi (flight, 1.5h) → Attariya → Silgadhi 1,350 m (bus/jeep, 6-8h on winding hill highway) → Jhigrana park entrance (jeep/walk, 1-2h) → trail to Khaptad HQ. Fully overland alternative: night bus Kathmandu→Dhangadhi/Attariya (14-16h) then as above.
- Altitude sickness
- Minimal — the plateau sits at ~3,000-3,300 m and ascent is gradual from 1,350 m.
Weather
The 3,000 m plateau ('Khaptad Lek') has 22 moorland patoos (meadows) — pleasant in spring/autumn, leech-ridden and cloud-bound in monsoon, snow-covered in winter (Dec-Feb) when the park guesthouse may close. The Ganga Dashahara festival (May/June) draws thousands of Hindu pilgrims.
Permits
- Khaptad National Park Entry Permit — NPR 1,500 for foreigners. Where to get it: Park entrance (Jhigrana) or DNPWC Kathmandu
- TIMS Card — NPR 2,000 for foreigners. Where to get it: NTB Kathmandu via agency
Itinerary
- Day 1: Kathmandu to Dhangadhi, 0 h, 190 m — Flight to the far-western Terai
- Day 2: Dhangadhi to Silgadhi, 0 h, 1,350 m — Winding drive into the Doti hills; Silgadhi bazaar and Saileshwari temple
- Day 3: Silgadhi to Jhigrana, 3-4 h, 2,100 m — Park entry point; permit check
- Day 4: Jhigrana to Bichpani, 4-5 h, 2,550 m — Climb through oak-rhododendron forest; birdlife (over 270 species in the park)
- Day 5: Bichpani to Khaptad HQ (plateau), 3-4 h, 3,050 m — Emerge onto the 22-patan grassland plateau; Khaptad Baba Ashram
- Day 6: Khaptad HQ to Khaptad HQ, 4-6 h, 3,300 m — Exploration: Triveni confluence, Sahasra Linga (highest point ~3,200-3,300 m), Khaptad Daha, Ganesh temple, moorland viewpoints toward Api and Saipal
- Day 7: Khaptad HQ to Jhigrana, 5-6 h, 2,100 m — Retrace through the forest in one long descent
- Day 8: Jhigrana to Dhangadhi, 1-2 h, 190 m — Drive out via Silgadhi; fly to Kathmandu next morning (or same-day if connections allow)