Upper Dolpo Trek - 25 Days

Your Upper Dolpo Trek in Nepal officially begins upon your arrival in Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport. At the airport, you will find our representatives who will receive and help transfer you to your hotel in the tourist heart of Kathmandu. After checking into your hotel, you can explore the vibrant streets of Thamel. In the evening, you will meet your guide, who will provide an essential trek briefing and permits.

After breakfast in your hotel in Kathmandu, you will prepare to leave for the airport to board your flight to Nepalgunj. A scenic 1-hour flight takes you to one of the major business hubs, located near the Nepal-India border. You have the rest of the day for yourself. Take this opportunity to explore the local market and prepare for your flight to the mountains the following day.

Your day begins with an early morning flight to the trailhead of Juphal. The flight is short but offers scenic views of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges. The small airstrip of Juphal welcomes you to the starting point of your Upper Dolpo Trek. From the Juphal airstrip, you will begin your trek with a descent through terraced fields to the Bheri River before beginning an upstream hike to Dunai, the district headquarters of Dolpa.

Today, you will trek to Ankhe, the gateway to the Shey Phoksundo National Park. Leaving Dunai, you will cross a suspension bridge as you prepare to ascend the Thulo Bheri Valley. The trail leads you to the Phoksundo River Valley as you pass through villages like Rahagaon. Continue your hike through walnut groves to your overnight destination in Ankhe.

Today’s trek is a mix of ascents and descents. You will trek through dense forests before reaching the narrow and precipitous trails. The trek continues across a ridge giving a spectacular view of the Phoksundo Waterfall, the highest in Nepal, before descending to Sulighat.

Leaving Sulighat behind, the trek continues along the valley floor to the meeting point of Phoksundo and Pungmo Rivers. You will cross this river confluence over a suspension bridge and journey through the cedar forest to Ringmo Village. Ringmo is a traditional Tibetan village that flaunts its rich heritage. A short walk from here takes you to the shores of the awe-inspiring Phoksundo Lake.

Today is a day dedicated to rest and acclimatization. You can begin the day by exploring the Ringmo Village and taking a spiritual detour to the 900-year-old Bon monastery, Tshwo Gompa. The monastery is located on a ridge above the Phoksundo Lake. You will also visit the mesmerizing lake and spend the day admiring the surreal turquoise waters and the surrounding glaciers.

Leaving the Phoksundo Lake behind, you will truly begin the Upper Dolpo Trek. Your journey follows the trails along the western edge of the Phoksundo Lake. This is an adventurous trail as it involves walking on a wooden walkway supported by pegs driven into rock crevices. Continue further to the floodplain of the Phoksundo Khola before trekking through a remote valley to reach your overnight campsite.

You will continue your trek through the glacial valley and cross several rivers on today’s trek. As you reach closer toward High Camp, you will find the trails become increasingly rugged. From here, you will ascend a steep ravine before reaching the sheep meadow of Phoksundo Bhanjyang.

Today is one of the most challenging days of your 25-day Upper Dolpo Trek in Nepal. Alongside the mountainous terrain, you will also gain a significant altitude. Your trek from Phoksundo Bhanjyang begins with a steep climb to the Kang-La Pass (5,360 meters). The trail is strenuous, but reaching the summit gives you awe-inspiring views of the Himalayan landscape, including the Crystal Mountain ahead. From Kang-La Pass, you will begin your descent into the spiritual hub of Upper Dolpo to Shey Gompa.

Today is another day dedicated to rest and acclimatization. Acclimatization while trekking in the Himalayas is crucial as it allows your body to adapt to the high altitude conditions, significantly reducing the risks of altitude sickness.

Your itinerary today includes exploration of the 11th-century Shey Gompa, located at the confluence of two rivers beneath the Crystal Mountain. You can also visit the Tsakang Gompa, a monastic retreat nestled on a cliff face.

As you leave Shey Gompa behind, you will continue your journey through juniper forests toward the Saldang La Pass (5,200 meters). Reaching the summit of this incredible pass gives you stunning views of the arid Himalayan landscape. From the Saldang La Pass, you will descend northward, toward Namduna Gaun. Upon reaching your destination, you can explore the red stone Namduna Monastery.

Your journey today takes you to the terraced fields of Saldang. This is the largest village in the inner Dolpo region and is known for its strategic location on the trade route to Tibet. Here, you can witness high-altitude agricultural practices, explore the locality, and interact with the villagers.

From Saldang, you will trek along the Nagon Khola river that takes you further northward. Your trek takes you through the barren lands eroded by strong, high-altitude winds. A 4 to 5-hour trek takes you to the Yangze Gompa. You can also take a detour to the ancient Bon-Po monastery for a spiritual experience within this less-visited section of the Dolpo region.

Your day begins by retracing your path briefly back to Saldang. From Saldang, you will divert toward Sibu, passing through small settlements, including Chaiba. You will reach your campsite after approximately 7 hours of hiking. Your campsite is situated by the river in the serene village of Sibu.

Today’s trek takes you along the Nam Khong Khola. The initial sections of the trails are easy, but gradually start to ascend toward the base of the Jeng La Pass. You will set up camp at Phedi (base of the pass). Get plenty of rest, as you will be taking on another challenging pass tomorrow.

The journey across the Jeng La Pass (5,090 meters) begins early. You will navigate your way through the rocky terrain to the top of the pass. This is another challenging section that provides a profound sense of accomplishment and excellent views of the Dhaulagiri massif upon completing the summit. From Jeng La Pass, you will descend into the Tarap Valley and make your way to the Tokyu Gaon.

The journey to Dho Tarap from Tokyu involves a short-duration descent. Compared to the previous day’s ascent, today’s journey is more relaxed. Upon reaching Dho Tarap, you will find a large Dolpa-pa (Tibetan descent) community with traditional stone houses. This is a major junction and trading post of the Dolpo region. You can witness the distinct Bon Po religion and its practices in this village.

You will spend a day exploring Dho Tarap. The day is more relaxed with a leisurely itinerary. During the day, you can visit the local monastery and observe the quaint lifestyle of the locals. Here, you will encounter women dressed in unique headdresses made of turquoise and amber.

As you depart from Dho Tarap, you will leave the high valleys behind. The journey takes you downstream of the Tarap Khola. You will experience the valley narrowing into a deep gorge as you enter the trail carved into the cliffsides. A 6 to 7-hour hike takes you to your overnight camp at Kamakharka, beside the Tarap Khola.

Your descent continues through the Tarap River gorge. As you continue your journey, you will notice a gradual change in the landscape as you reach a lower-elevation zone. You will encounter more vegetation and warmer temperatures. Your overnight camp today is at Khanigaon, a winter settlement for the locals of Dho Tarap.

As you leave Khanigaon, you will trek to the village of Lalberi. The trek takes you through lush forests toward Tarakot, an old fortress built on a hill. Tarakot, a community with a strong Magar presence, is also historically significant, having served as the region’s capital.

Today is the final day of trekking. Your journey descends from Tarakot along the Bheri River toward Dunai. From Dunai, you will take on a brief ascent toward Juphal. Your final day along the Upper Dolpo Trekking trails marks the end of the hiking loop. In Juphal, you can celebrate this memorable fete with your trekking crew and support staff.

You will take an early morning flight back to Nepalgunj from Juphal. From Nepalgunj, you will take another flight to the country’s capital, Kathmandu. Upon arrival at Kathmandu airport, our representative will receive and help transfer you to your hotel. You have the rest of the day to yourself. Plan a short visit to the historical sites within your vicinity, or engage in last-minute souvenir shopping before your flight back home.

Your 25-day Upper Dolpo Trek officially concludes today. Prepare to leave the hotel for the airport at least 3 hours before your boarding time. Nature Lovers Treks and Tours representative will assist in transferring to Tribhuvan International Airport in a private vehicle.