Upper Dolpo Trek

On reaching departure air terminal on landing at Kathmandu / international airport. Our staff and guide receives you for short transfer to respective hotels in the heart of Kathmandu city. After checking into your rooms, getting refreshed join with other members of the treks for group briefing. Provided by our guide or trek leader, briefing includes all important subjects related to the treks, includes information of Kathmandu and hotels. Evening a group welcome dinner in an authentic Nepalese restaurants, an introduction to Nepali meals and cultures.

Morning options for half-day sightseeing tour around Kathmandu world heritage sites of great cultural and historical interest. After the tour free for Upper Dolpo trek preparation. 

Get transferred to Kathmandu domestic airport as time of less than an hour flight to land at Nepalgunj city airport. After going through security check then board in a big aircraft, as the plane lifts off. Enjoy panorama of Central and Western Himalayan snow range of peaks, includes Langtang, Ganesh and Manaslu

Himal with Annapurna’s. As far as Mt. Dhaulagiri Himalayas, then landing at low warm sub-tropical in Nepalgunj airport. Located Nepal Far South Mid-West, from the airport a short drive to respective hotels near the big city of Nepalgunj.

The city with more of Indian influence and cultures, as it is situated near the border of Indian state of UP (Utter Pradesh). After checking into a nice hotel rooms, having time to browse around the streets of Nepalgunj city.

Early breakfast and then transfer to Nepalgunj airport for short flight to Jhupal in Dolpo, a scenic flight of 45 minutes. On landing at Jhupal small airstrip join with our trekking guide and camping crews. After getting organized a short walk of few hours leads beyond Jhupal village close en-route to Dunai the headquarters town of Dolpo district. Since the trail to Chepkpa, Phoksundo Lake and Shey Gompa leads before Dunai. We find it best in between of Jhupal and Dunai, to make it easier and shorter for next day walks. The trail follows past farm lands and hamlets to reach a small settlement just on turn off to Chepkpa. Where our tents are set for overnight camping, from here onwards in tented camps most of the treks.

From this small farm areas with first night in tented camp with great meals served by our camping kitchen cook. Enjoy the day, along the classic route towards best part of Dolpo. The walk leads on gradual trail reaching Silu-Ghar check-post, after checking formalities of special trekking permits and park fees. As required for Upper Dolpo and Shey Phoksundo National Park. From here, entering Shey Phoksundo National Park, the largest park in Nepal.

The trail follows along Phoksundo River, as the terrain change dramatically, leading into lush coniferous forest. Walk past Kageni, Jutung and Shangta farm villages to cross a bridge over the confluence of Phoksundo; and Maiba Khola / streams. Then head north towards Chepkpa, where our overnight camp is set on a nice grassy meadow.

The walk today leads famous route of Lower Dolpo Circuit trek towards beautiful Phoksundo Lake and Ringmo village. The trail leads on the opposite side of the river to cross the bridge over Phoksundo River again. Walk leads on tranquil path to Rechi for possible lunch stop, in a nice surrounding.

Having lunch, walk leads along the river side reaching Sulli-Ghat at Dovan, crossing a bridge over the confluence of Phoksundo River and Yulung Khola. Slowly the day ends on arriving Amchi Hospital for overnight camp.

The words ‘Amchi’ comes from Bon sect of pre-Buddhism, means traditional healers or witch doctors, uses medicinal herbs to heal; infections or diseases. Hence, the name derived for the hospital as a treatment center for the local people of Dolpo.

An interesting and exciting day walks towards our first highlight destination to Phoksundo Lake. The path leads on straight route to Phoksundo Lake, a short climb into a pine and cedar forest reaching Palam. A small temporary winter settlement of locals of surrounding villages including Ringmo.

The walk leads to descend and then climb to a ridge top at 3,875 m high.

Rewards with a grand vista of 300 m high cascading waterfalls, one of the highest in Nepal. Includes first glance of Phoksundo Lake, the trail descend through birch woodland reaching upper side Phoksundo Khola. As walk follows to lovely Ringmo village, adorned with mud plastered Buddhist monuments of Chorten and Mani walls. At present Ringmo village equipped with solar panels supporting the quality and upgrading the standard of the villagers. Ringmo village located close to the shores of Phoksundo Lake, where our tented camp is set.

After continues walks of several days, enjoy the rest day to explore around Phoksundo Lake and the Ringmo village. Visit Ringmo village of strong and typical Tibetan style and heritage village. Festooned with unique culture and traditional way of living with impressive customs. Tour of Tshowa, a Bon sect of pre-Buddhism monastery at the lake-shore, with more than 900 years of history. 

The interior of the monastery, will be a great experience adorned with giant statues of Bon saints and gurus. As well with vivid arts and paintings on walls and ceiling with religious frescos. Rest of the day enjoy relaxing and marvel the beautiful scenery that surrounds the turquoise Phoksundo Lake. 

Leaving the beautiful location of Phoksundo Lake, after a good breakfast enjoy the exciting walk with short climb. Heading towards a narrow path along the cliffs above Phoksundo Lake facing picturesque surrounding scenery. Then the trail descend along the beautiful forest for an hour or little more. By then reaching on the other side of the lake and Phoksundo Khola, where most trekkers camps.

From here with last climb to isolated Salla-Ghari for overnight camp, amidst woodland of blue pine and spruce trees. 

Today a short trek of some hours towards Nangdala High Camp, walk leads to steep uphill. Climbing over a narrow trail of Tuk Kyaksa stream crossing over the same streams several times. As walk leads to cross over a small bridge, and then heading towards a wide exposed valley. The trail follows for another few hours along the huge canyon where overnight camp is set near a massive rock slab.

Adventure today takes you to our major and main highlight in the heart of Upper Dolpo to Shey Gompa. Located close to sacred and amazing Crystal Mountain, the holiest peak of Dolpo and villagers. Start the morning to cross over the highest pass of the adventure Kang-La, also known as Nangdala. The climb takes you graveled path with steep uphill for few hours, for all the hard effort offers magnificent views. Overlooking Crystal Mountain, with Tibetan mountains across the border with grand scenery of Dolpo landscapes and snow clad peaks.

Includes grand looks of Shey Shikhar, Kang Chunne as far towards Kanjibroba peaks as walk leads to Shey Gompa. At the entrance coming across a red Chorten then step on the soil of holy monastery and mountains of Shey.

Shey Gompa, an isolated and remote settlement on the far flung corners of Western Himalayas. An amazing experience being in this wild and holy land, spending two more overnights on this unique areas of Shey Gompa.

Enjoy a day at Shey Gompa and enjoy the interesting tour of the monastery.

Shey monastery, believed to be more than 800 years old, treasures ancient scroll describing the myths behind the Crystal Mountain. Shey Gompa is locally known as Shelri Sumdho Gompa. The monastery hosts a summer festival, popularly known as the Shey Festival. Which is also described in the classic novel “The Snow Leopard” authored by American author Peter Mathieson. As well pictured in the movie called Caravan, but later changed to ‘Himalaya’. The movie produced by French explorer and adventurers Eric Valli’s. 

The Shey Festival takes place in the year of a dragon, which falls once in 12 years according to the Tibetan calendar. Trekkers can enjoy a hike to the base of Shey the Crystal Mountain embedded with crystal and quartz, truly amazing.

After an exciting and interesting time at Shey Gompa, begin the trek on return journey towards inner Dolpo areas. The trail follow along Sephu Khola for few hours entering within windswept terrain and climb over Shey-La pass.

From Shey-La, enjoy views of Mustang landscapes with Tibetan plateau, and Kanjiroba, Kagmara peaks, then long descend to Namgung. Where our overnight campsite is set close to the small village of Namgung and the Gompa.

Morning before heading to Saldang, visit the Namgung Monastery perched on a high windblown cliff. After an interesting tour of the Gompa walk follows along Namga Khola, past several summer grazing pasturelands. Then slowly walk ends on reaching Saldang village for overnight halt. One of the famous and large village of Upper Dolpo area. A lovely village placed on a windswept landscapes by mud canyons, surrounded by amazing eroded cliff hills. The ancient Bon sect and Amchi tradition in Dolpo flourished from this village.

From Saldang village, after a good breakfast, a few hours hike to Yangze, walk on windswept wilderness. The trail leads to few ups and down to a small shepherd settlement at Yangze. Where the richest monastery of the region located, after setting up the camp. Having time to explore around the monastery and enriched with ancient treasures of idols and holy scripts. Facing outstanding views of surrounding beautiful dry and arid landscapes with snow-capped peaks. 

After an exciting time on an amazing wild country of Upper Dolpo, and leaving Yangze Gompa areas. There is two routes from Yangtze to Sibu, the long ways through remote isolated Nishal-Gaon and Shimen-Gaon. But the straightforward short route is heading back to Saldang outskirts. Then following the river bed past terraces, adorned with Stupas, Chorten and heaps of Mani stones.

Where walk leads to Chaiba monastery and past Namdo, a prosperous large village of more than 60 houses. For about 400 locals, from here walk leads further high and down to a river. The walk slowly follows to a small yak herder settlement of Sibu to set out overnight camp on route to Jeng-La Pass.

Slowly the adventure leads towards inner and lower areas of Dolpo, as morning walk follows the Nam Khong Khola. For sometimes coming across caravan of yaks laden with goods for trade across the border in Tibet. After days of following the same river, finally our route heads east reaching the confluence of two small tributaries. From here on walk leads to steep climb reaching beneath Jeng-La Pass for the overnight on a nice meadow. 

Start the morning for few hours steep climb to the top of Jeng-La, offers excellent view of snow peaks. Includes grand look of Dhaulagiri Himalayan massif towards east, as it shines in the morning sun-light. Enjoying the superb panorama of surrounding towering high snow mountains range. From the top walk downhill towards Tarap valley, by afternoon reaching across a wide green valley. As walk continues to Tarap Chu amidst beautiful valley reaching a lovely village of Tokyu for overnight halt.

Afternoon with time to explore around the nice village of Tokyu and its impressive monastery, which belongs to the Chaiba sect of Buddhism.

A short morning walk to another lovely villages of inner Dolpo for overnight in Do Tarap. The walk follows downhill around Tarap Chu on a flat green valley, completely different from higher areas of Upper Dolpo. Walk leads towards a marshland, which is common features like in the desert and mountainous country of Tibetan landscapes. Slowly the walk ends reaching a large village of Do Tarap for overnight halt. A lovely village to explore and observe both Bon Po and Chaiba sects of pre-and present Buddhism blends in harmony. 

From here onwards walk leads on moderate gradual trail, depending upon the choice of several different campsites. Making the itinerary flexible as chosen by the trekkers to enjoy more of this wild country. From the barren country of Tarap, the route leads down towards a wide valley. Eventually reaching a narrow gorge, walking within juniper bush and wild rose, which is typical vegetation of inner Himalayan valleys. Around the serene areas might spot herds of blue sheep, which is quite common around this part of lower Dolpo.

As walk progresses reaching the confluence of Tarap Chu and the Lang Khola, a stream that joins with Tarap River. A perfect place to set our overnight camp on a nice green meadow. This isolated place, also known as Karma-Kharka, nearby the camp, a huge spacious cave located, makes a nice shelter or bivouac for some travelers.

Our adventure slowly comes to near end reaching the lower parts of Dolpo, as walk continues down Tarap River gorge. An exciting trek as the valley leads to narrow deep gorge, where one jump from one side to another. Walking into the also provides unexpected adventure in some areas. After an exciting walk of the day crossing icy streams, then reaching to our campsite at Tarap Khola within Khani-Gaon.

Today our last day walk of the adventure, morning leads to a small village of Lalberi. As walk continues into serene cool forested path, before heading down to another gorge, as route follows the river downstream. Finally the trail leads to a short climb entering a historical fort village of Tarakot. An impressive village with an ancient history of Malla kingdom era. Time permitting explore the village and its monasteries of great religious and cultural interest.

Leaving Tarakot last day walk leads above a tremendous deep gorge of Bheri River covered in pine trees. The path is just a mere 7 meters high from the raging river. As walk continues, then finally the last leg of the journey ends on reaching the Dunai. The main town and headquarters of Dolpo district for overnight stop in the comfort of a nice lodge or guest hours. Enjoy the celebration on completing the long walks around Upper and inner Dolpo. 

After completing the walks at Dunai town, having good breakfast a short drive brings to Jhupal. For next morning early flight to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj airport, at Jhupal staying in the best available lodge. Rest of the day at leisure to explore the Jhupal village of cultural interest with scenic views of dramatic landscapes.

Morning as time for flight to Nepalgunj, for connecting flight to Kathmandu walk to the airport terminal. As the small aircraft reach Jhupal small airstrip, the board in the plane of respective airlines. A short sweeping flight of 40-45 minutes facing grand views of Western Nepal amazing country landscapes, then landing at low-warm city airport of Nepalgunj. The time for flight to Kathmandu can take some time or shortly, having space for refreshing break. Then board in a bigger aircraft for scenic flight back to Kathmandu, on arrival at the air terminal. 

The guide and staff transfers you to the hotel, after an exciting adventure on Upper Dolpo Trek.

Enjoy an extra day in Kathmandu, we have reserved a contingency day in case of flight delay at Jhupal. This free day allows for individual activities or get into shopping spree, interested people can join for another interesting tour of other cities of Kathmandu valley. Sightseeing around Patan / Lalitpur or the famous Bhaktapur city Durbar Square, worth a visit.

After an enjoyable and most mesmerizing adventure in Nepal and around the Himalayas on Upper Dolpo Trek. As time for departure, our staff transfer you to international airport for homeward bound flight or towards next port of call.