Upper Dolpo Trek

As flight time for Nepalgunj either morning or afternoon time, transfer to Kathmandu domestic airport for scenic flight to reach Nepal Far South West at Nepalgunj, a city of low and warmer temperatures.

Flying for 55 mins to land at Nepalgunj airport, during air super panorama of Himalayan chain of mountains from Langtang-Ganesh-Manaslu-Annapurna to Dhaulagiri range.

As place lands at Nepalgunj airport, where short drive takes you respective hotels within Nepalgunj city, of strong Indian culture influence due to its closeness with Indian border of UP (Utter Pradesh), afternoon explore the city and catch glimpse of South Western Nepalese local culture and custom.

Morning after early breakfast transfer to Nepalgunj airport for short connecting

Flight in a smaller plane to land at Jhupal in Dolpo, where our other camping staff

and porters receives you.

On reaching Jhupal where short exciting drive leads past farm villages and forest

areas to reach a large settlement and town at Dunai for overnight in local simple

lodge.

Dunai the main center and headquarter of whole Dolpo district with time to

explore around this interesting town with markets to observe Far West

Nepalese people traditional customs and interesting cultures.

Morning walks past Dunai to cross a bridge above the Thulo Bheri River and climb to a ridge, then reach within the Phoksundo River valley, facing views of Kagmara peaks.

From here, the route descends past farm villages within a walnut tree garden and heads close to a stream at Dhera, where a short climb takes you to Raha-Gaon village, populated by Thakuri, a Hindu indigenous tribe of Nepal, Far West, then downhill walk into a forested area to reach the overnight camp at Chepka, a small farm village. 

From Chepka, a morning with a short climb and then descend to a forest near a river, where the climb continues, leaving the forest area, and then downhill starts to cross a small bridge at Ryajik village

Trek further to Samdua for an overnight stop, which is close to the entrance of Phuksumdo National Park.

The walk today leads to our first highlight of the adventure, heading into Phoksundo Lake after Pungmo Khola valley, with a descent to reach the upper side of Phoksundo Khola.

Trek continues towards Ringmo, an interesting village of Tibetan origin with mud plastered chhorten and Mani (prayer) walls, from here a short walk to Phoksumdo Lake for an overnight camp near Phoksumdo Lake

A rest day, and enjoy views of great beautiful landscapes with peaks of Kagmara, visit the nearby Ringmo village of great interest located by the lake side.

From here on, the trail to Upper Dolpo follows a contouring rocky ledge high over a riverbank, between an unsteady path.

As the walk proceeds at the end of a lake past summer grazing fields of yaks and other cattle, walk into a wide valley to reach Phoksundo Khola (stream) for an overnight camp.

Morning walk leads past Phoksundo Khola up on hilly slopes towards the north direction, as the climb leads to a ridge top, enjoy grand views of a green wide valley with Kang-La pass in the far distance, which is on route to Shey Gompa, and then reaching our overnight camp stop around a nice and green summer pasture. 

Morning, a steep climb to the top of Kang-la pass, on the highest spot of the adventure to reach Shey Gompa or Crystal Monastery, which is close to the Crystal Mountain in a short distance.

From Phoksundo Bhanjyang, climb on stone and rocky path to Kang-la pass at above 5,350 m high rewarded with grand views of snow-peaks, including as far as Mt. Dhaulagiri.

After the top of Kang-la, descend to reach the bottom of a hill near a river, then into a remote, isolated area, encountering a Buddhist prayer monument with a Chorten and Mani.

From here, a short walk leads you to our main goal and highlights Shey Gompa situated beneath beautiful looking Crystal Mountain, renowned and respected as a Holy Mountain located close to the monastery.

Rest day at Shey Gompa in a serene environment, completely out of this world, in the harmony of nature. Visit Shey Monastery, also called Crystal Monastery.

Shey Gompa is a great place, which is well described by Peter Matthiessen in his famous classic novel the ‘Snow Leopard’. (Can find in book stores around Kathmandu in Thamel) 

Journey continues to a wall canyon to reach high at Sela, also called Gela-la at 5,094 m high, offering great views of the Mt. Dhaulagiri range of peaks. From here, walk downhill to Namgung Gaon for an overnight stop.

After a marvelous time, the walk leads on a dusty trail within windswept terrain, heading with a steep climb to reach an overnight camp and stop at the nice village of Saldang.

An impressive and large village of the region situated on the high side of a huge plateau in the far southwest of Tibet. 

Morning walk follows Nang Chu River with short ups and downs past Sugu-Gaon and Dechen Lapran, a cattle herder settlement

Head to overnight camp at Chagoan village with the old Rapa Gompa of pre-Buddhist and ancient Bon-Pa culture.

Morning walk heading south to the Tarap valley around Tokyu and Dho Tarap village, then reaching at Dachu Khola and beyond, crossing the river through farm fields, and then into Yak herder areas for overnight camp.

From this pleasant camp, a morning walk follows a river for some time on route encountering yaks and mules laden with caravan heading on route to Tibet.

Trade with Tibet exists since past hundreds of years on this ancient Trans Himalayan Salt and Caravan Trade Route between the two countries of Nepal Far West and Tibet.

From the base at Jyanta-la Pass where walk leads to a steep climb to reach on top of the pass along with views of massive mountain range, and then descend to the base of the pass on route to Tokyu village.

After a steep, tough climb today, an easy walk to reach a large village of Tokyu Gaon for overnight, an interesting and impressive village within the inner Dolpo area the place around consists of more than ten villages with nice tended farm fields, having a few old monasteries. 

After Tokyu Gaon, on the downhill trail towards Tarap Chu, the walk leads on a broad green valley past scenic wide valley coming across Sheppard’s and cattle herders settlements where Yaks and Sheep graze around this lovely valley, as the walk continues to our overnight camp at Dho Tarap, another interesting village with a mix of tribes of Tibetan origin as well as Magar of western mid hills.

Morning descent to Tarap valley, the largest and longest valley of the Dolpo area, covers nearly 20 k.m of distance, stretches from the Tarap Chu River to join the Thuli Bheri River near Tarakot village.

Walk heads to Langa with beautiful cascading waterfalls, then on the south route to Sisaul, a small place of Kesila, to reach our overnight camp at Ghyamgar.

From this nice campsite, the morning starts within a nice valley of Tarap to enter into a narrow gorge with some vegetation of juniper and wild rose bushes.

The walk leads towards a place called Tol-Tol with a large overhanging cave, where the walk continues to reach the confluence of the River Tarap Chu and Lang Khola, overnight camp by the river.

Morning walk begins heading into a small wooded area, following a river all the way to Tarakot, one of the large and interesting villages of inner Dolpo with an old history as a fort village guarding this old Trans Himalaya Salt Trade Route, a place with well-maintained terraced farm fields.

At Tarakot village, visit its old Sandul Gomba (monastery) located on the junction of Barbung Khola and Tarap Chu River.

After Tarakot, last day walk to Dunai, then taking a short drive to reach the end of our adventure at Jhupal for last overnight stop and flight back to Kathmandu.

Morning walk on a wide trail with a short climb with downhill towards the Thuli Bheri River valley to reach Dunai, on reaching at Dunai taking a jeep drive to Jhupal to catch our next morning flight to Nepalgunj.

After a great adventure around Upper Dolpo, where a short walk leads to Jhupal airstrip, board a small aircraft for a scenic short flight to Nepalgunj city.

At Nepalgunj, get refreshed in hotels before the connecting flight back to Kathmandu. On reaching Kathmandu airport, transfer back to your respective hotels.