Upper Dolpo Trek

Day to Day Itinerary

• Day 1 Fly to Nepalgunj (150 m) with 55 mins flight then transfer to hotel

  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.

• Day 2 Morning flight to Jhupal (2,475 m) drive to Dunai (2,140 m) - 03 hrs.

  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.

• Day 3 Trek to Chepka (2,838 m) - 06 hrs

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

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

• Day 4 Trek to Samdua village (2,960m) -06 hrs

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

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

• Day 5 Trek to Phoksundo Lake (3,630 m) - 06 hrs

  Walk today leads to our first highlight of the adventure heading into Phoksundo Lake after Pungmo Khola valley, with descend to reach 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 short walk to Phoksumdo Lake for overnight camp near Phoksumdo Lake

• Day 6 Rest day at Phoksundo Lake for local excursion

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

• Day 7 Trek to Phoksundo-Khola (3,750 m) - 05 hrs.

  From here on the trail to Upper Dolpo as walk follows contouring rocky ledge high over a river bank in between unsteady path.

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

• Day 8 Trek to Phoksundo Bhanjyang (4,717 m) - 04 hrs

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

• Day 9 Cross Kang -La (5,350 m) and Trek to Shey Gompa (4,160 m) -06 hrs

  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 Crystal Mountain of shrot 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 include as far to Mt. Dhaulagiri.

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

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

• Day 10 Rest day at Shey Gompa around Crystal 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 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) 

• Day 11 Trek to Namgung (4,608 m) via Sela (Gela) La (5,094 m)

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

• Day 12 Trek to Saldang (3,770 m) - 05 hours.

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

  An impressive and large village of the region situated on high side of a huge plateau like of Far South Western Tibet. 

• Day 13 Trek to Cha-Gaon (4,910 m) - 05 hrs.

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

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

• Day 14 Trek to Dachu Khola Camp at (4,700 m) - 06 hrs

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

• Day 15 Cross Jyanta-La at (5,220 m) and walk to Phedi (4,900 m) - 06 hrs

  From this pleasant camp 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.

• Day 16 Trek to Tokyu Gaon (4,209 m) via Jeng La (5,090m) -06 hrs

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

• Day 17 Trek to Dho Tarap (3, 944 m) - 05 hrs

  After Tokyu Gaon, on downhill trail towards Tarap Chu as 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 walk continues to our overnight camp at Dho Tarap, another interesting village with mix tribes of Tibetans origin as well Magar of western mid hills.

• Day 18 Trek to Ghyamgar (3,759 m) - 07 hrs

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

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

• Day 19 Trek to Tarap Khola (3,652 m) via Chhyugar (3,440 m) - 06 hrs

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

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

• Day 20 Trek to Tarakot (2,540 m) - 06 hrs

  Morning walk begins heading into small wooded area, following a river all the way at Tarakot, one of the large and interesting village of inner Dolpo with an old history as a fort village guarding on 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 where for overnight camp is set.

• Day 21 Trek to Dunai - 05 hrs then drive to Jhupal - 02 hr jeep ride

  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 short climb with downhill towards 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.

• Day 22 Morning flight to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj and transfer to hotels

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

  At Nepalgunj with time to get refreshed in hotels before connecting flight back to Kathmandu, on reach at Kathmandu airport transfer back to your respective hotels.