Upper Dolpo Trek

Day to Day Itinerary

• Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.

  On arrival at Kathmandu and at Nepal international airport, received by our Boundless staff and representative or guide, for short transfer to your hotel in the hub of Kathmandu city around Thamel. Thamel the an interesting and exciting area of the city, after checking into your rooms, then join at the lobby for group briefing provides you with trekking and other necessary information. Include group welcome dinner in a nice Nepalese authentic restaurant with local culture of folk musical program to entertain along with dinner.

• Day 02: Morning sightseeing tour and fly to Nepalgunj and transfer to hotel.

  Morning after breakfast depart for interesting sightseeing tour around Kathmandu famous world heritage sites, afternoon transfer to Kathmandu domestic airport for scenic flight to Nepal Far South West to land at Nepalgunj airport for Upper Dolpo trek, overnight in Nepalgunj for connecting flight to Jhupal in Dolpo.

• Day 03: Fly to Jhupal 2,475 m and trek to Dunai 2,140 m -04 hrs.

  Morning transfer to Nepalgunj airport where short flight 45 minutes lands you at Dolpo in Jhupal with small airstrip and then trek takes you to Dunai, a major and headquarter town of Dolpo area.

• Day 04: Trek to Chhekpa 2,678 m- 05hrs.

  After night stop at Dunai, observing local custom of Far West Nepalese start walk that takes you around market area and then to a bridge above Thulo Bheri River, and then climb to a ridge over Phoksumdo River valley facing views of Kagmara peak. Walk with long descend past farm villages and fields that grows much walnuts and getting close to Dhera stream, a small cattle herders place with short climb to Raha-Gaon village populated by main Hindu tribe known as Thakuri Malla. Route takes downhill into forest to reach our first overnight camp at Chhepka a small farm village.

• Day 05: Trek to Samduwa 3,038 m -05 hrs.

  Chhepka located near Ankhe village, where morning walk leads to short climb and then descend into forest reaching to a river bank, from here climb on leaving the woodland. Where climb takes you on top of a ridge and then descend to cross a small bridge at Ryajik village, walk further towards Samduwa for overnight stop which is close to the entrance of Phoksumdo National Park.

• Day 06: Trek to Phoksundo Lake 3,600m / 11,808 ft -05 hrs.

  Morning enter Phoksundo Lake surrounding as walk lead past Pungmo Khola (stream) and the valley, following Pungmo Khola downstream within pine and birch trees to reach upper side of Phoksumdo Khola. After a short refreshing stop continue walk to Ringmo village, an interesting Tibetan origin village decorated with mud plastered Chorten and Mani (prayer) walls. From here short walk to Phoksundo Lake for overnight camp by the shore of scenic and beautiful Phoksundo Lake.

• Day 07: Rest and acclimatization day at Phoksundo Lake.

  A great scenic spot for rest day within beautiful area and lake, take a short walk for more views of Kagmara peaks, then visit interesting Ringmo village situated close around the lake.

• Day 08: Trek to Phoksundo Khola Camp 3,750 m -05 hrs.

  From here route heads towards Upper Dolpo our main and major destination of the adventure, walk follows contouring rocky ledge high over a river bank 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 overnight stop and setting camp by the bank of a stream.

• Day 09: Trek to Low Camp 4,500 m - 05 hrs.

  Morning starts on nice level trail heading north past Phoksundo Khola as walk climb to a hilly slopes, after an hour uphill reaching on top of a ridge facing views of 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.

• Day 10: Trek to Shey Gompa 4,343 m via Kang-La pass 5,350 m /17,548 ft - 06 hrs.

  Morning with 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 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.

• Day 11: Acclimatization day at Shey Gompa.

  A great mystical place for rest day here you enjoy the harmony of natural surrounding 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.

• Day 12: Trek to Namgung 4,360 m via Sela-la Pass 5,094 m- 06 hrs.

  From Shey Gompa head into a wall 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 pleasant walk to Namgung Gaon for overnight stop.

• Day 13: Trek to Saldang 3,770 m -06 hrs.

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

• Day 14: Trek to Yangtsher Gompa 4,960 m- 05 hrs.

  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.

• Day 15: Trek to Sibu 4,560 m -05 hrs.

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

• Day 16: Trek to Jeng La Phedi 4,900 m - 06 hrs.

  From this isolated camp 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.

• Day 17: Trek to Tokyu 4,240 m crossing Jeng-la pass 5,216m - 06 hrs.

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

• Day 18: Trek to Dho Tarap 3,944 m - 05 hrs.

  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.

• Day 19: Trek to Tarap Khola 3,800m -06 hrs.

  From here descend to Tarap valley, one of 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.

• Day 20: Trek to Khani Gaon 3,150 m -06 hrs.

  Journey leads to scenic Tarap valley as walk enter to 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. Walk continues to reach where two rivers meets Tarap Chu and Lang Khola Rivers, overnight camp at Khani Gaon by the bank of river after a long day walk of nearly six hours or more.

• Day 21: Trek to Tarakot 2,540 m -06 hrs.

  From here to reach nice village at Tarakot walk lead past smaller villages and then enter into 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 outsider or invaders in past early days. Tarakot village houses famous old Sandul Gomba located at the junction of Barbung Khola and Tarap Chu River.

• Day 22: Trek to Dunai 2,140 m and drive to Jhupal-06 hrs.

  After a pleasant time at Tarakot, last day walk to Dunai morning starts into a spread out villages and farm huts, walking on a wider path with some short uphill and downhill to reach Thuli Bheri River valley and then to Dunai, on reaching Dunai for overnight stop. From Dunai take a short drive of few hours following on winding trails past farm villages and forested area to reach our last and final overnight stop at Jhupal, before flying back to Kathmandu.

• Day 23: Flight from Juphal to Nepalgunj and connect flight to Kathmandu.

  From Jhupal morning short flight to Nepalgunj city airport, with time to get refreshed before catching connecting flight back to Kathmandu on reaching at Kathmandu airport transfer to your hotels.

• Day 24: In Kathmandu reserve and contingency day.

  A free and reserve day in Kathmandu in case of flight delay and cancellation at Jupal in Dolpo, which can occur sometimes even in good seasons as Himalayan weather can be unpredictable sometime with unfavorable climate conditions for flights around mountain region.

• Day 25: International Departure homeward bound.

  Enjoying marvelous time around high hills of Far Western Himalaya, with last day in Nepal after a great adventure and experience on Upper Dolpo trek, as time for your international flight depart from the hotel, where Boundless Adventure staff transfer you to the airport for your flight homeward bound or to respective countries.