Upper Dolpo Trek

pon arrival at Tribhuwan Internationlal Airport,  you will be escorted to hotel at Thamel by  All Nepal Excursion's staff and guides.

On checking your rooms, getting refreshed join with other trekkers for briefing provided by our guide or leader.

Evening enjoys group dinner in a nice authentic Nepalese restaurant with a live cultural program to entertain you with dinner.

Morning till afternoon free day in Kathmandu, morning tour of Kathmandu famous world heritage sites of great interest led by our expert guide, as Kathmandu city steeped with ancient and old monuments that make the whole valley an interesting place to explore, afternoon transfer to Kathmandu domestic airport where scenic flight reaches you to Nepal Far South West for Upper Dolpo trek.

Early morning depart from the hotel to Nepalgunj airport where the short flight takes to Jhupal at Dolpo to start our walks to Dunai, an administrative and headquarter town of Dolpo area, with time for walks around the market of Dunai to observe interesting tradition and culture of Western Nepalese.

From Dunai, morning walk reaches to cross over a bridge above Thulo Bheri River, where climb takes you on a ridge higher from Phoksumdo River valley with views of Kagmara peak.

After the bridge long downhill past farm villages and fields growing walnuts with other basic crops, as the walk gets close to Dhera stream around cattle herder place then a short climb to Raha-Gaon village populated by main Hindu tribe known as Thakuri Malla, as walk downhill into the forest to reach first overnight stop at Chhepka a small farm village near to Ankhe village.

Morning walks with a short climb and then descend into a forest to reach at a riverbank, from here climb on leaving the small forested area.

The climb continues to reach a high ridge and then descends to a small bridge reaching Ryajik village, where walk follows to Samduwa for an overnight stop close to at the entrance of Phoksumdo National Park.

From here morning walk leads into Phoksundo Lake heading past Pungmo Khola (stream) and the valley, as the route follows Pungmo Khola downstream within pine and birch trees to reach the upper side of Phoksumdo Khola.

After a short refreshing stop continues to walk to Ringmo village, an interesting Tibetan origin village with mud-plastered Chorten and Mani (prayer) walls.

A short walk takes you right near a shore of Phoksundo Lake for an overnight camp of scenic and magnificent Phoksundo Lake.

A great lovely place for rest day within scenic views of the lake, the short walk offers the best views of Kagmara peaks, as well visiting Ringmo village which is close to the lake.

From here route heads towards Upper Dolpo our main and major destination of the adventure, walk follows contouring rocky ledge high over a riverbank in between unsteady path.

Walk lead further to the far end of the lake past summer pasture fields that opens up into a wide valley to reach Phoksundo Khola (stream) for an overnight stop and setting camp by the bank of a stream.

The morning starts on a nice level trail heading north past Phoksundo Khola as walk climb to hilly slopes, after an hour uphill reaching on top of a ridge facing views of the green wide valley includes as far towards Kang-La pass which is on-route to Shey Gompa, overnight camp is set on a nice green summer pasture known as Low Camp.

Morning with a steep climb to reach our destination at Shey Gompa also called Crystal Monastery, due to its closeness with Crystal Mountain.

From Low Camp, 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.

The pass offers fabulous views of Dolpo landscapes with high snow-peaks that includes far to Mt. Dhaulagiri range, from the top, descend to reach at the bottom of a hill to a river, and then head towards cattle herder camps after a short break continue to walk encountering a Buddhist prayer monument with Chorten and Mani.

From this nice place short walk to Shey Gompa located on the bottom of Crystal Mountain regarded as Holy Mountain with an old monastery close-by.

A great mystical place for rest day here you enjoy the harmony of natural surroundings with the sound of monks and priest prayer chanting, visit Shey Monastery, the area around which is fully described in a classic novel called ‘Snow Leopard’ by the author Peter Matthiessen.

From Shey Gompa head into a walled canyon, where route meanders atop Sela or Gela-la at 5,094 m offering grand views of landscapes and of Mt. Dhaulagiri peaks, downhill on the grazing area with a pleasant walk to Namgung Gaon for an overnight stop.

After Namgung walks on dusty windswept terrain with a steep climb to reach overnight stop at Saldang, another interesting large village of the region, situated on a higher side of a plateau.

From here, morning follows Nang Chu River all the way with short up and down then past Sugu-Gaon and Dechen Lapran a cattle herder temporary settlement, and then to our overnight stop at Yangtsher Gompa near Cha-Goan a village with an interesting old Gompa of pre-Buddhist and ancient Bon-Pa culture.

Morning walk leads south towards Tarap valley around Tokyu and Dho Tarap villages, taking south direction to reach the bank of Dachu Khola, after crossing the same trail following the river past farm fields, and into Yak herder area for overnight camp at a place called Sibu.

From this isolated camp, the walk follows a river for short while encountering yaks and mules laden caravan on route to Tibet, where trade with Tibet still exists since hundreds of years, as this route falls on old Trans Himalayan Caravan Route the reach at the base of Jeng-la pass.

Morning climb to cross over Jeng-la pass with steep uphill all the way to the top of a pass rewards views of Mt. Dhaulagiri range, and then long descend to the base of the pass and continue to walk to reach at large Tokyu village.

An easy walk to reach at Tokyu Gaon for overnight, an impressive and interesting village around the Dolpo area, consists of more than ten villages with nice tended farm fields with old monasteries.

After Tokyu Gaon, downhill to Tarap Chu on a wide green valley a scenic and wider valley on walks encounter many Yak herder settlements walk continues to overnight camp at Dho Tarap, another interesting village of mix tribes of Tibetans origin and Magar hill tribe people.

From here descend to Tarap valley, one of the largest and longest valley of Dolpo about 20 k.m. extends all the way to Tarap Chu River that to joins with Thuli Bheri River near Tarakot village, walk leads past Langa with beautiful cascading waterfalls heading due south following a trail after Sisaul to a small place of Kesila around Yak herders camps to reach overnight stop at Tarap Khola on the confluence of River Tarap Chu and Lang Khola, overnight camp by the river.

The journey leads to scenic Tarap valley as the walk enters a narrow gorge with some green vegetation bushes of juniper and wild rose, walk leads past Tol-Tol near a large overhanging cave, within this area chance of spotting some wild-life like Naur or Blue Sheep and other animals.

The walk continues to reach where two rivers meet Tarap Chu and Lang Khola Rivers, overnight camp at Khani Gaon by the bank of the river after a long day walk of nearly six hours or more.

From here to reach the nice village at Tarakot walk lead past smaller villages and then enter into a small forest, following a river all the way to Tarakot, an important and large village of Dolpo with an interesting history.

Tarakot and the village built in an old historical like fortress (Dzong or Kot) to guard the village against outsiders or invaders in past early days.

Tarakot village houses a famous old Sandul Gomba located at the junction of Barbung Khola and Tarap Chu River.

After an enjoyable and exciting walk and overnight in Tarakot, the last day walk takes you back at Dunai, as morning starts walking within several rural farm villages on a wide path includes short uphill and downhill to reach Thuli Bheri River valley and at Dunai.

From Dunai short drive of few hours on winding trail past farm villages and forested area to reach last overnight stop at Jhupal, before heading back to Kathmandu.

Morning from Jhupal a short swift flight to land at Nepalgunj airport, here with time to for refreshment and lunch and then catch connecting flight back to Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel after a great exciting adventure on Upper Dolpo.

Spare or contingency day in Kathmandu where the flight can delay with cancellation at Jhupal in Dolpo can happen sometimes due to bad and unfavorable weather conditions, if all goes well on time as our itinerary days, interested people you can book for an optional tour around Kathmandu at a place of great interest or free for individual activities.

Last day in the land of world highest mountains and exciting cultures, as per your time for international flight depart from the hotel, where All Nepal Treks staff and guide transfers you to the airport, with grand experience and wonderful memories of Upper Dolpo Trekking.