Simikot
Simikot, situated at an altitude of 2910 m. (9550 fts.), is the administrative head quarter of the Humla-district of Nepal, which falls within the Karnali Zone. The Northern frontier of this district is connected with ALI prefecture of China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, which is home to Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. Given the proximity of this region to Kailash & Manasarovar, a significant number of trekkers and pilgrims pass through each year.
The region is home to the Nyinpa tribe, whose language and culture are very similar to the Tibetans. They are Buddhist, and practice shamanism, which is related to an 'Ancient Bon-Buddhism.’ The Northern frontier of Humla is occupied by the Nyinpa, whereas the South is home to Hindus ('Khasa').
In general, the climate of Simikot is very pleasant & comfortable. During the winter, there can be a snowfall, but rest of the year the temperature is mild. However, during the monsoon (July, August & mid-Sep), the weather turns unpredictable and stormy, so there can be problems with flights. It is not unusual for planes to be grounded for several days during this season.
There is a STOL airport in Simikot, where there are daily flights from Nepalgunj. The flight generally operates in the morning, as the weather in the morning is often calm & clear. The daytime will be cloudy and windy, so flights cannot be operated.
Only basic accommodation is available in Simikot. There are two hotels available for tourists. The first; Sun Valley Resort, is located above the airport runway. From airport, it is about a 10 minute uphill-trek to reach there. Sun Valley Resort has several of rooms with an attached toilet, while the rest are all dormitory rooms.
The second, Nepal Trust Guesthouse, can accommodate fewere tourists than Sun Valley Resort. All rooms are dormitory-style, with a common bath & toilet. However, it is closer to the airport.
