Upper-Lower Dolpo Trekking

Landing at Kathmandu and Nepal international airport, where our guide or staff receives you for short drive to your respective hotels in the hub of Kathmandu.

After checking into your nice rooms with rest after a jet-lag, and then rendezvous with other group member of Upper and Lower Dolpo Trekking, our guide will brief you with information regarding the treks, about hotels and lodge with Nepalese culture, do’s and don’ts.

Evening enjoy grand welcome dinner in typical Nepalese restaurants with various native cultures as entertainment.

At Kathmandu as free day where one can join in our interesting sightseeing tour as options, as the capital Kathmandu of Nepal steeped with historical and religious monuments of world heritage sites.

Afternoon with for preparation for long journey to Upper and Lower Dolpo Trekking, starting next day for exciting flight to Nepal Far Western areas.

From Kathmandu taking panoramic flight to reach Nepal Far South-West with grand views of Himalayan range of mountains, as flight lands at low warm area at Nepalgunj city airport, an interesting place influenced with much Indian culture due to its close border with India.

Early morning transfer to Nepalgunj airport to connect flight towards Jhupal at Dolpo, on air catch views of Dhaulagiri with Api and Shaipal mountains includes more of western Himalaya range, before landing in Jhupal after 35-40 minutes air journey.

From Jhupal, short drive to Dunai for overnight stop, Dunai headquarter and administrative town of whole Dolpa district, afternoon with time to observe local interesting culture as well its exciting traditions.

After Dunai, morning heads into market place to cross Thulo Bheri River, and then climb starts to reach a high scenic ridge to head into Phoksumdo River valley facing views of Kagmara peak.

On reaching a hill top descend past farm villages an interesting area with farm fields and terraces to reach near a stream of Dhera, a small cattle herder settlements and then short climb to Rahagaon village of Thakuri a Hindu local tribe.

As walk leads to downhill path into forested area to reach our overnight stops at Chhepka a small farm village.

This village Chhepka which is close to Ankhe village, morning with short climbs and then descend back into forest to reach a river bank, and climb again on leaving forested area.

After reaching on a hill top descend into forest that leads you to a small bridge reaching at Ryajik village, as walk heads to Samduwa for overnight stop near the entrance of Phoksumdo National Park.

Today walk takes you to first highlight at Phoksundo Lake morning lead towards Phoksundo Lake after walking past Pungmo Kholas valley to cross few streams, as trail follows to Pungmo Khola on downhill within alpine woodland of pine, oaks and birch trees to reach higher side of Phoksumdo Khola.

After a short refreshing breaks as walk continues towards Ringmo village, an interesting Tibetan origin village adorned with mud plastered Chorten and Mani (prayer) walls.

From here a short walk leads to Phoksundo Lake for overnight by the shore of beautiful turquoise Lake of Phoksundo.

A great place for rest day and to chill with scenic surrounding with enough time to enjoy and marvel beautiful landscapes with peaks of Kagmara, then explore interesting village of Ringmo with age-old heritage and custom.

From here walk to high Upper Dolpo areas and to our major destination of this adventure, as walk follows around rocky ledge high over river bank in between unsteady path.

As walk leads further towards far end of the lake past summer pasture which opens up into a wide valley at Phoksundo Khola (stream) for the overnight stop and camping by the bank of stream.

Morning walk on nice path heading north past Phoksundo Khola and then up on hilly slopes, after a climb reaching a ridge top with grand views of green wide valley as far towards Nagdalo-la or Kang-La pass on-route to Shey Gompa, where overnight camp pitched on a nice green summer pasture at Low Camp.

Morning climb to reach our main destination at Shey Gompa also called Crystal Monastery, as it is close to Crystal Mountain at mere distance.

From Low Camp, walk leads to a climb on stone and rocky path to reach over Nangdo-la also known as Kang-la pass at above 5,350 m high, the highest spot of the adventure.

On the high spot rewards you with great views of landscapes with snow-peaks that include as far to Mt. Dhaulagiri.  From the top of the pass descend to reach the bottom of a hill which leads to a river, and then across heading towards cattle herder camps, after a short break continue walk approaching Buddhist prayer monument with Chorten and Mani.

From this nice spot a short walk to reach at Shey Gompa situated at the bottom of Crystal Mountain regarded as Holy Mountain with an old monastery closeby.

Great spot for rest day around high mountain area, here enjoy the harmony of natural surrounding with and chanting of monks, visit Shey Monastery or Crystal Monastery, the area well described in the novel ‘Snow Leopard’ by American author Peter Matthiessen.

From Shey Gompa journey heads into wall canyon, as path meanders to reach atop Sela or Gela-la at 5,094 m offers beautiful views of landscapes with Mt. Dhaulagiri, then downhill on grazing area with pleasant walk to Namgung Gaon for overnight stop.

After Namgung walk on dusty windswept country to a steep uphill to reach our overnight stop at Saldang, another interesting large village of the region, situated on high side of a dry and arid plateau.

Morning walk follows river Nang Chu all the way with short up and down then past Sugugaon and Dechen Lapran a cattle herder settlement, then to reach our overnight at Yangtsher Gompa near Chagoan village an interesting old Gompa of pre Buddhist and ancient Bon-Pa culture.

Start morning walk towards south at Tarap valley where Tokyu and Dho Tarap villages located, taking south route to reach at the bank of Dachu Khola, after crossing back on same trail following river through farm fields, and then walk into Yak herder areas for overnight at Sibu.

After pleasant stop at summer pasture field walk follows river for short while, and then encounter yaks and mules laden caravan on route to Tibet, trade with Tibet still exists since hundreds of years, and this walking route falls on old Trans Himalayan Caravan Route the reaching our camp at the base of Jeng-la pass.

Head to cross over Jeng-la pass after steep climb reach on top of the pass facing views of Mt. Dhaulagiri range, from here with long descend to the base to reach Tokyu village.

After steep climb of previous day, today an easy walk to reach Tokyu Gaon for overnight, this is one of the most impressive and interesting village of Dolpo area, consist of more than ten villages and nice tended farm fields with old monasteries.

After Tokyu Gaon, morning on downhill to Tarap Chu walk towards wide green valley, one of most scenic and large valley of Dolpo, on walks notice several cattle herder settlements with Yaks and Sheep, as walk continues to our overnight camp at Dho Tarap, another interesting village of mix tribes of Tibetans origin and Magar hill tribe people.

From this village long descend to Tarap valley most of the close to Thuli Bheri River which is near Tarakot village, walk leads past Langa facing beautiful cascading waterfalls then head southward following the trail after Sisaul and Kesila around Yak herder temporary camps to reach overnight stop at Tarap Khola a small place as walk reach on the confluence of River Tarap Chu and Lang Khola for overnight camp by the river after a long day walk of more than six hours.

Walk onward towards scenic valley of Tarap River then enter into a narrow river gorge covered with some green vegetation juniper, wild rose bushes and shrubs.

Our route heads to a nice place of Tol-Tol with large overhanging cave on the side of the trail, with chances of spotting wild animals Naur or Blue Sheep and other mountain animals.

Finally trek ends at a confluence of River Tarap Chu and Lang Khola at Khani Gaun for overnight camp by the side of a raging fast flowing river.

Journey takes you to nice village at Tarakot as walk lead past smaller villages and then entering into small forest area, following a river all the way to Tarakot, this is one of the important and large village of Dolpo with interesting history houses an old historical fortress (Dzong or Kot) to guard the village from outsiders in early days. Tarakot village with famous old Sandul Gompa located at the junction of Barbung Khola and Tarap Chu River.

From Tarakot with interesting time here with last day walk heading towards Dunai, as morning walk leads past scattered farm villages and fields yielding millets, barley and wheat, walking on wide trail with short climb and then following downhill path to reach Thuli Bheri River and then valley to reach Dunai 

Enjoy great time at Dunai one of the interesting place around Nepal Far West where you can witness local people of mix tribes both Hindu, Buddhist as well Bonpa religions.

After a time at Duna drive on nice winding road through farm villages and forested area to reach our last and final overnight stop at Jhupal, before taking a scenic flight back to Kathmandu.

From Jhupal morning as time for the flight walk into airport terminal where short flight to land at Nepalgunj airport, with time here for refreshing stops and continue flight to reach at Kathmandu airport, and then get transferred to your hotels.

A spare and contingency day in Kathmandu reserved as extra day where trekking can be delayed with unfavorable bad weather which leads to flight delay and cancellation sometimes, in the beginning or end of the trek as Himalayan weather can be unpredictable sometimes even in best time of the year.

If all goes well as per our guideline and set itinerary, enjoy the day with individual activities or join in for exciting tour around Kathmandu at places of great interest.

After a wonderful time in Nepal with amazing time in high Himalayan mountains around Nepal Far West 

After an amazing adventure on Upper and Lower Dolpo Trekking, with your last day in the country of 

amazing wide high Himalaya, our staff and guide transfers you to the airport for your flight back home 

or to next port of call.