Lapchi Milarepa Cave Tour - 8 days

Welcome to the most sacred tour and trek in Nepal through the untouched path of the Himalayas- the Lapchi Milarepa Cave Tour. This multi-meaningful trip in Nepal’s northeast defines it as a pilgrimage trip, along with the trekking enthusiasm in the Nepal Himalayas. It is an exclusive trip for those who love a peaceful, isolated trail connected with spirituality. Welcome to the Lapchi Milarepa Meditation Trail Tour in Dolakha. 

Lapchi Snow Mountain is a long-term retreat place of Jetsun Milarepa, a famous yogi and poet, who is known for his deep meditation and enlightenment attained through deep spiritual practices. This highly sacred destination is on the top bucket list for pilgrimage, especially for those who follow the Kagyü tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, which Milarepa is closely associated with. This Mountain range is also the sacred speech mandala of Chaksamvara.  

Following the Legacy of Milarepa

Lapchi Kang Milarepa Cave Tour and Trekking follows the path of a famous path of Mahasiddhi Guru Milarepa, who is a prominent figure in Tibetan Buddhism. The trail to Lapchi valley is rugged and off the beaten path. In the recent scenario, major trekking trails are being overtaken by motor roads. Lapchi Valley Milarepa Cave Trekking offers you an experience of the journey through the isolated route, following the poet and rhymes of Milarepa. The journey is truly a spiritual trip in the heart of natural delights. 

Best Time for the Tour/Trek to Lapchi

March to May:

The best time to explore this spiritual destination of Lapchi begins from March and goes up to May, before the rainfall starts. However, there can be occasional rainfall due to climate change. The views will be great, with warm and outstanding daytime weather.  

September to November:

Skipping the rain that lasts up to August, we recommend that you plan the trek to Lapchi Valley, Dolakha, Nepal, from September. The skies are often clear and offer great weather during autumn for a majestic experience. 

Accommodation on the Lapchi Milarepa Cave Trek 

The Lapchi Milarepa Cave Trekking route is pretty much isolated and has only basic accommodation options. Either you should go camping or accept the basic accommodation option. At Lapchi, you will get quite modern accommodation with nice and clean beds, along with locally cooked food. 

Important Caves around Lapchi Monastery:

Milarepa Cave/Rachen Gompa:

Rachen Cave Gompa is at 30 minutes' walk away from Lapchi village. It features the legendary handprint of Milarepa, who is a revered Tibetan Buddhist yogi and poet (Another world-renowned Milarepa cave is in Manang). Visitors pay homage at this site with great respect and also meditate. It is believed that Saint Milarepa meditated in this cave for more than six months, which reflects its significance as a spiritual center for the Buddhist devotees around the globe. 

Lungthen Cave:

The Lungthen Cave is located within a 20-minute walking distance from the village. It is also a meditation cave, which is located in a peaceful and delightful natural setting. It is widely loved for meditation by practitioners.

Youthuk Cave:

Youthuk Cave is a 1.5-hour walk from Lapchi village, which offers a peaceful environment for meditation. You can expect peace and tranquility that connect you to your inner self. 

Shephuk Cave:

Shephuk Cave is located at the top of a hill, which is an excellent viewpoint of Lapchi village and the giant Himalayan boulders. It takes about 2.5 hours to get there. The cave itself is a prime attraction for the pilgrimage seekers, who will be accompanied by the adoring charm of the wonderful setting in the Himalayan terrain. It has a footprint of Mahasiddhi Guru Milarepa that entices the Buddhist devotees. It is said that retreatants who sit in meditation in this isolated cave, where there is no other human companion, may occasionally hear sounds of group chanting along with ritual instruments being played. 

Dudul Cave:

The Dudul Cave is located close to the Lapchi village, just about a 10-minute walk. It is believed that Saint Milarepa meditated in this cave as well, so it holds significance in Tibetan Buddhism. It is known as a site of a six-month winter meditation retreat: Milarepa spent six months meditating here during the winter, making it a revered spot for followers and admirers of his teachings.

Bepa Cave:

About 45 minutes walking distance from Lapchi village, Bepa Cave is another retreat cave, which is a wonderful place with peace and an escape from the crowd in a short time.

Jangchup Stupa: 

Jangchup Stupa is located only about a 5-minute walk from the village. It marks cultural prosperity in the Lapchi valley, which is itself a remarkable place for Tibetan Buddhists and pilgrimage seekers around the world. 

Brief History of the Temple 

The beginning of Lapchi Rechen Shepa Dorje Gonpa (as mentioned in the guidebook of renovation (2020-2024)

In the 11th Century, Yogi Milarepa came here to practice and accomplished many siddhis and even left footprints on the rock in Zephug, Rechen Vajrapani mt. and blessed this place. Since then, the practice in Lapchi started. Dorzin Yakru Paldrak is a significant figure in the Drikung Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He is recognized as one of the many mahasiddhas, or great accomplished masters, who have emerged from the retreat center at the main Drikung Kagyu Seat of Drikung Densa Thil in Tibet. This lineage has a strong emphasis on meditation practice and has produced many accomplished masters for more than 800 years. 

As for his journey to Lapchi, it is known that under the leadership of Dorzin Yakru Paldrak, the third wave of 55,525 disciples were sent to Lapchi in around 1216 A.D., when Lord Jigten Sumgon was around 73 years old. He sent hundreds and thousands of practitioners to the three holy places of Chakrasamvara- Lapchi, Tsari, and Mount Kailash. These places are considered the abodes of the enlightened body, speech, and mind of Chakrasamvara. The tradition of retreats in these holy places continues to this day.

Dorje and important figures have been visiting this sacred pilgrimage abode since Milarepa's time, and even before that to some sources. In the contemporary period, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche meditated here and appointed later Dorzins to guide present yogis to the path of enlightenment. There are many retreat center govern by different teachers. Still, this Lapchi Rechen Shepa Dorje meditation center is directly governed and taken care of by His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon, the Emancipation of Avalokiteshvara himself. Later, Khyunkha Rinpoche, Gelong Yeshe, Dorzin Dhondup Palden Rinpoche, and His Eminence Nubpa Rinpoche guided many to the path. Currently, Dorzin Dhondup Palden Rinpoche and Retreat master Lobsang Janphel are the main teachers here.  

Song of the Cave of Happiness

“In this cave of happiness and ease,
I have found the path to truth.
No thoughts arise, no concepts cling,
In the sky of mind, all clouds dissolve.”

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