Duration: 28 Days
Trip Grade: Challenginng
Group Size: 2-10
Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu & Nepalgunj; Camp during the trekking
Transportation: Private Vehicle, Flight & Tourist Bus
Meals: Breakfast in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj; all meals during the trek
Upper Dolpo Trek will take you to the remote and unspoiled region of Nepal in the far west. Trekking in the Dolpo region will present the irresistible beauty of nature alike Tibetan landscape. The entire region is closed to foreigners for so many years, and still, only a handful of visitors get to visit this region every year. Dolpo region is a hidden gem of Nepal. Even though the region is open to tourists, there are so many rules regulations one needs to strictly follow to go on Upper Dolpo Trek. Nepal government has imposed several permits that the travelers need to take before commencing their trek in Dolpo region. All of these are the efforts of Nepal government to preserve the raw beauty and rich culture of Upper Dolpo region. Along with gorgeous landscape Upper Dolpo Trekking will offer you astounding views of several Himalayan mountains like Annapurna range (8,091 m), Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Mt. Api (7,132 m), Mt. Nilgiri, Kagmara Ri (5,115 m), extra.
Upper Dolpo Trekking will take you back in time. As the region is very remote, you will find people living their lives as they used to live hundreds of years ago. Upper Dolpo is highly influenced by Tibetan culture and tradition. The lifestyle, language, dishes, festivals, and beliefs of locals are the same as Tibetans. During your journey, you will come across several gompas and monasteries that will present you pre-Buddhism Bon Po and Chaiba culture. The entire region is not touched by modernity yet, therefore, you will get to experience the raw beauty of nature and human life during Upper Dolpo Trek. We, Green Valley Nepal Treks Research Hub is glad to present you our professionally designed Upper Dolpo Trek- 28 days. We also organized a tailor-made Upper Dolpo Trek, therefore feel free to share your dream trip with us.
Upper Dolpo Trek route
Upper Dolpo Trek includes a very off-the-beaten trekking experience. The trail will include a few different passes from where a stunning view of the surrounding can be observed. Similarly, you will pass by numerous forests of pine, rhododendron, oak, picturesque villages, fine valleys, deep gorges, beautiful moraines, and crossing several rivers streams. The trail will take you to lovely Ringmo village from where a short hike will take you to Shey Phoksundo Lake. Located at 3,611 meters above sea level, the turquoise lake, Shey Phoksundo is known as the most beautiful lake of Nepal. This lake surrounded by high hills and Mt. Kanjiroba at the far distant. Likewise, you will visit the Shey Gompa, an ancient monastery. From the back of this monastery, you will get to see a holy mountain known as Crystal Mountain is famous for its unique decomposition of quartz crystals and marine fossils.
Best time to go on Upper Dolpo Trek
The best time to go on Upper Dolpo Trek is from the beginning of August to the end of October (monsoon season). You will get to see clear scenic views. The entire region also bloomed up with numerous wildflowers and the air carries freshness chillness from the Himalayas.
Upper Dolpo Trek difficulty
Upper Dolpo Trek is a difficult journey into the western region of Nepal. The trail will include several ascends descends on the steep, rugged, and unstable path. You will walk for around 6 to 7 hours a day and cross a few different passes. Therefore, you need to have good health and strong physical fitness to go on Upper Dolpo Trekking.
Day 01 :Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264ft)
Day 02 :Kathmandu: sightseeing and trek preparation
Day 03 :Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj: 1 hour
Day 04 :Fly from Nepalgunj to Jhuphal (Dolpo) and trek to Dunai (2,850m/9,348ft): 45 mins flight, 2-3 hours trek
Day 05 :Dunai to Ankhe (2,896m/9,499ft): 5-6 hours
Day 06 :Ankhe to Sulighat: 5-6 hours
Day 07 :Sulighat to Phoksundo Lake (3,611m/11,849 ft) 4-5 hours
Day 08 :Acclimatization and rest at Phoksundo Lake
Day 09 :Trek to Phoksundo Khola: 4-5 hours
Day 10 :Phoksunds Khola to Phoksundo Bhanjyang: 6-7 hours
Day 11 :Phoksundo Bhanjyang to Shey Gompa (4,500m/14,760ft) via Kang-La Pass (5,360m/17,581ft): 5-6 hours
Day 12 :Acclimatization and rest at Shey Gompa
Day 13 :Shey Gompa to Namduna Gaun (4,800m/15,744ft) via Saldang La (5,200m/17,056ft): 6-7 hours
Day 14 :Namduna Gaun to Saldang (3,620m/ 11,874ft): 4-5 hours
Day 15 :Saldang to Yangze Gompa (4,960m/16,267ft): 4-5 hours
Day 16 :Yangze Gompa to Sibu (4,560m/14,957ft): 6-7 hours
Day 17 :Sibu to Jeng-la Phedi (4,900m/16,072ft): 5-6 hours
Day 18 :Jeng-la Phedi to Tokyu Gaon (4,209m/13,809ft) via Jeng La pass (5,090m/16,695ft): 5-6 hours
Day 19 :Tokyu to Dho Tarap (4,040m/13,251ft): 4-5 hours
Day 20 :Rest Day at Dho Tarap
Day 21 :Dho Tarap to Tarap Khola (Kamakharka) (3,800m/12,464ft): 6-7 hours
Day 22 :Tarap Khola to Khanigaon(3,150m/10,332ft): 4-5 hours
Day 23 :Khanigaon to Tarakot (2,537m/8,321ft): 4-5 hours
Day 24 :Tarakot to Dunai (2,140m/7,019ft): 5-6 hours
Day 25 :Dunai to Juphal: 2-3 hours
Day 26 :Fly from Jhuphal to Nepalgunj and then to Kathmandu
Day 27 :Rest day in Kathmandu
Day 28 :Final departure
Every Saturday & Wednesday (arrival day in Kathmandu) from March to June & September to November is our fixed departure date for Lower Dolpo Trek. You could choose your suitable date & let us know we will arrange your trip regarding.
Day 01 :Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264ft)You will arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport. One of our team delegates will welcome you at the airport and take you to the hotel. He will help you check-in and also brief you about today's program. Later in the evening, you will meet with your guide and have a delicious dinner organized by Green Valley Nepal Treks & Research Hub. You will stay overnight in a hotel.
Day 02 :Kathmandu: sightseeing and trek preparationAfter having breakfast, you will begin a guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu. You will visit the sacred Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath (aka Monkey Temple), and Kathmandu Durbar Square. All of these landmarks are prominent touristic places and also part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Later, you along with your guide will check and prepare all the gears and documents for the trek. In the evening, you will stroll on the colorful streets of Thamel. You will stay overnight in a hotel.
Meals: Breakfast only
Day 03 :Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj: 1 hourToday, you will fly to Nepalgunj, located in western Nepal. The flight will be an hour long and present you gorgeous views of the Terai region. Upon reaching Nepalgunj, you will move to your hotel. Nepalgunj is one of the busiest towns of Nepal near Nepal-India border. Here, you will visit the mini zoo, explore nearby markets and villages. You will stay overnight in a hotel.
Meals: Breakfast only
Day 04 :Fly from Nepalgunj to Jhuphal (Dolpo) and trek to Dunai (2,850m/9,348ft): 45 mins flight, 2-3 hours trekAfter having a refreshing breakfast, you will fly to Jhupal. The flight will present you stunning views of Mt. Annapurna (8,091 m) and Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167 m). Today, you will meet with your other crew members and begin an adventurous journey of your life. Trekking through the terraced fields, you reach Bheri River. From here, the trail will take you to the administrative headquarter of the Dolpo region, Dunai. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 05 :Dunai to Ankhe (2,896m/9,499ft): 5-6 hoursLeaving Dunai behind, you will cross a suspension bridge and trek to west following a forested trail. Further, the trail ascends up to Thulo Bheri valley. On the way, you will get to see superb views of Kagmara Peak. The trail then passes by walnut groves and small villages. You will descend through a forest and reach Ankhe. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 06 :Ankhe to Sulighat: 5-6 hoursTrekking along a wooded riverbank, you will ascend on a steep trail. The trail will include numerous ascends and descends today, however, various streams throughout the trail will help you cool off. Further, the trail leaves forests and passes by the grassy slope. You will then descend down through a dense forest and reach a cliff. From here, you drop down on a loose rocky staircase, be careful. From the river bank, continue trekking until you reach Sulighat. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 07 :Sulighat to Phoksundo Lake (3,611m/11,849 ft) 4-5 hoursToday, you will trek towards the confluence of the Phoksundo river and Pungmo river. From here, you will cross a bridge and trek along the western bank of Pungmo Khola. Further, the trail goes through a cedar forest and reach Palam village. You will then ascend to a ridge and descend through lush forests of birch. Passing by Phoksundo Kola, you will reach Ringmo village. A short walk from here will take you to Phoksundo Lake. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 08 :Acclimatization and rest at Phoksundo LakeToday will be a rest for you to acclimatize with the altitude. You will spend the day going on a short excursion to Ringmo village. Here, you will visit ancient Tibetan Buddhist monastery. You will get to see the daily lifestyle of people residing here along with their rich culture and tradition. Later, you will explore the beautiful Phoksundo Lake and spend some time soaking the beauty of the lake and its surrounding. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 09 :Trek to Phoksundo Khola: 4-5 hoursTrekking along the western end of Phoksundo Lake, you will enter into a crevasse. The trail will be rugged and unsteady. From the westernmost edge of the lake, the trail goes through a lush meadow that takes you to the plain of Phoksundo Khola. From here, you will pass by a valley and cross a river. You will reach the Phoksundo Khola where you spend the night. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 10 :Phoksunds Khola to Phoksundo Bhanjyang: 6-7 hoursThe trail goes through a glacial valley that will take you to the north side at the meeting point of Phoksundo Khola and another mountain stream. Crossing an old wooden bridge, you walk towards the northeast and ascend to a beautiful sheep meadow. From here, the trail leads you up to a steep ravine and ascend to the top from where stunning views of Kang La Pass can be seen. You will also get to see amazing views of Chamlang peak 6 (6,739 m) and peak 7 (6,105 m). You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 11 :Phoksundo Bhanjyang to Shey Gompa (4,500m/14,760ft) via Kang-La Pass (5,360m/17,581ft): 5-6 hoursYou will wake up early and ascend on a steep path towards a pass. The ascend will be challenging, however, from the top, you will get to see an outstanding view of the surrounding area. Further, you will descend on a steep trail and trek along the bank of a river. You will cross this river many times at different points and trek through meadows. You will see many grazing yaks, mountain goats, and sheep in the meadow. Crossing a log bridge, you finally reach Shey Gompa for the night stay. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 12 :Acclimatization and rest at Shey GompaToday is your second acclimatization day at Shey Gompa. You will visit Shey Gompa, which is an ancient monastery built in 1655. This monastery is famous for its huge copper with a gilded gold statue of a seated Shakyamuni Buddha. You will see Crystal Mountain to the east of the gompa. This mountain is one of the strangest mountains of Nepal as its cliffs are covered with quartz and rich variety of marine fossils. Later, you will explore the Shey village. Here you will get to see the Bon Po culture. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 13 :Shey Gompa to Namduna Gaun (4,800m/15,744ft) via Saldang La (5,200m/17,056ft): 6-7 hoursThe trail today's goes through juniper trees that further descend to a stony canyon. From here, trekking on a zigzag trail over rocks will take you to the top of Saldang La Pass. The trail then descends down to Namduna Gaun. On the way, you will get to see a lovely view of yaks and sheep grazing in the meadows. In Namduna Gaun, you will visit the old Namgung monastery built with red stone. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 14 :Namduna Gaun to Saldang (3,620m/ 11,874ft): 4-5 hoursLeaving Namduna Gaun behind, you will ascend on a slope and trek along the dusty trail. After long hours of climb, you reach Saldang village. For your information, Saldang is the biggest village of Inner Dolpo. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 15 :Saldang to Yangze Gompa (4,960m/16,267ft): 4-5 hoursTrekking along the Nagon Khola in the north on a barren terrain, you will begin your day. The trail will be relatively easy and includes a few ascends & descends. Further, passing by Marang and Ki villages, you cross Panzang River. The trail then turns to the east, and you will cross one more river to reach Yangze gompa where you will visit an ancient BonPo monastery. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 16 :Yangze Gompa to Sibu (4,560m/14,957ft): 6-7 hoursYou will come across two trails that lead to Sibu. You will choose the easy one and trek back to Saldang village. From Saldang, you will trek along a river and go through stupa, chortens, terraced fields, and mani stones to reach Namdo village. Paying your visit to Namdo monastery, you will continue trekking for another two hours to reach Sibu. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 17 :Sibu to Jeng-la Phedi (4,900m/16,072ft): 5-6 hoursThe trail follows Nam Khong Khola and passes by caravans. Further, trekking in the east direction, you will reach the confluence of two small streams. From here onwards, you will ascend on a steep trail to the grazing area below Jeng La Pass. You will stay overnight in a beautiful meadow. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 18 :Jeng-la Phedi to Tokyu Gaon (4,209m/13,809ft) via Jeng La pass (5,090m/16,695ft): 5-6 hoursToday, you will wake up early in the morning and begin trekking towards Tokyu Gaon. The first part of the trail is to reach the top of Jeng La Pass that will welcome you with a stunning view of the north face of Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167 m). The trail then descends to a rough path that will take you to Tarap valley. From here, you will trek and reach Tokyu Gaon for the night stay. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 19 :Tokyu to Dho Tarap (4,040m/13,251ft): 4-5 hoursDescending on a plain valley, you will pass by the grassy area that will present you a different view of Inner Dolpo. On the way, you will come across swamp that is common in the desert mountain region. Further, the trail from here will take us to Dho Tarap village surrounded by irregular stone walls. Here, we will get to experience unique Bon Po and Chaiba religion. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 20 :Rest Day at Dho TarapToday is our rest day at Dho Tarap village. This off day will help us with acclimatization and allow us to explore the village along with its nearby areas. We will get to interact with locals and see their lifestyle, culture, and tradition. The people here follow Bon Po and Chaiba religion. You will get to see their beautiful dress and taste their assortments. We will stay overnight in a tea house.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 21 :Dho Tarap to Tarap Khola (Kamakharka) (3,800m/12,464ft): 6-7 hoursThe trail descends down to a wide valley that further narrows into a gorge. Trekking along the wild rose and juniper bushes, you will get to see herds of blue sheep. You will reach the confluence of Tarap Chu and Lang Khola. Near Tarap Khola on a nice meadow known as Kamakharka, you will spend the night. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 22 :Tarap Khola to Khanigaon(3,150m/10,332ft): 4-5 hoursAfter having breakfast, you will trek down the gorge of the Tarap River. On the way, you will pass by local people taking their herds to lower pasture. Further, you will cross an extremely narrow gorge where you can jump from one place to another easily. The trail will be adventurous. Further, the trial will get more thrilling as you will cross small streams on foot as bridges might be damaged and washed away. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 23 :Khanigaon to Tarakot (2,537m/8,321ft): 4-5 hoursFollowing a trail, you will reach Lalberi village. The trail then goes through dense forest and descend down to one more gorge. Trekking through the gorge, you will reach near a river. Further, trekking along the bank of a river, you will reach Tarakot where you visit Sandul Gompa. This gompa is located 8 km east of the village at the confluence of Barbung Khola and Tarap Chu. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 24 :Tarakot to Dunai (2,140m/7,019ft): 5-6 hoursRe-tracing the same path, you will trek back to Dunai. Crossing a bridge nearby Lawan village, you will trek behind Bheri River. The trail then ascends to Byas Gadi and move west towards an easy path. Crossing a river near Lochakhola Gaon, you will ascend and reach Dunai for the night stay. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 25 :Dunai to Juphal: 2-3 hoursTrekking along the Bheri River, you will get to enjoy the beautiful scenery on the way. Further, you will pass by Dhupichaur and Rupgad villages. The trail then goes through Kalagaonda village & Motipur village and take you to a small airstrip from where you will fly back to Jhupal. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 26 :Fly from Jhuphal to Nepalgunj and then to KathmanduToday, we will take back to back flight to Nepalgunj and then to Kathmandu. After reaching Kathmandu, we will head to our hotel and spend the day relaxing. In the evening, we will join the farewell dinner organized by the company. We will also prepare to leave tomorrow. We will stay overnight in a hotel. You will stay overnight in a hotel.
Meals: Breakfast only
Day 27 :Rest day in KathmanduThis a rest day for you in Kathmandu. You can relax for the day, explore around and shop. If you want, we can also arrange a guided tour of the landmarks that you missed last time. In the evening, you will have a delicious farewell dinner and also prepare to leave. You will stay overnight in a camp.
Meals: Breakfast & fare well dinner
Day 28 :Final departureYour adventurous journey in Nepal with us comes to an end. Today, after having breakfast, you will move to the airport. One of our team representatives will guide you up to the international airport terminal gate and bid you our last goodbye.
We booked a 12 day Everest base camp with heli out package with Green Valley Nepal Trecks. The experience has been perfect from start to finish. We booked with Arjun and he was so helpful. He patiently answered all our questions and took care of us upon arrival and leaving Kathmandu. Our guide Gopal was the best! - honestly cannot fault him at all. He went above and beyond to accommodate us and make sure we were comfortable throughout the trip. He managed to find ...
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