Upper Dolpo Trek

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu

A Himalayan monk representative will pick you up at the Tribhuwan International airport in Kathmandu and transfer you to a hotel on B/B basis. After some refreshment in the hotel, you can visit the Himalayan Monk office to discuss the tour and trekking itinerary, required items and equipment and any further queries you have. You will also meet the team members and your guide for the trek. In the evening, we provide you a welcome dinner with a delicious Nepali cuisine. You can experiment with the Nepali delicacies that you will have more in the coming days.

Day 2: Free day in Kathmandu

It is a free day in Kathmandu.  You can use this day for sightseeing around Kathmandu. There are a number of world heritage sites around the Kathmandu valley like the Durbar square (old palaces and temples), Pashupatinath (a sacred Hindu temple), Swyambhunath (a Buddhist stupa on a hilltop) and Boudhanath (a mandala style Buddhist stupa). In the mid-afternoon, we have a meeting, a pre-trek group discussion to prepare the members for the trek. In the evening, you can walk around Thamel to gather any other necessary types of equipment and essential items required during trekking.  You pack your bags for the next day and rest in the same hotel.

Day 3: Kathmandu to Juphal (2475m; 35 min flight from Nepalgunj)

You can choose the type of vehicle (bus or plane) you prefer to get to Nepalgunj. Traveling by plane gets you quicker whereas traveling by bus lets you experience the highways bustle of Nepal in with its own charm. By any means, we will reach Nepalgunj and from there, we will take a flight to Juphal located in Dolpa region. We spend the exciting night in the camp amidst the wilderness.

Day 4: Juphal to Chhepka (2838m; 6 hrs)

Trek begins from Juphal downhill and through cultivated fields to reach Thuli Bheri River. We enter the Shey Phoksundo National Park area comprising of 3,555 km/sq area. We trail along the Suli River and rest at a tea house that provides pure and fresh honey with our tea. We trek through pine and bamboo forest and in few hours we reach Chhepka through Sangta. We stay the night in the camp.

Day 5: Chhepka to Chunuwar

We trek through the forest, then follow the river, pass a few uphill and downhill, and reach villages like Dhane and Kiptarung. We see the local villagers traveling through the trail with their dzopas and mules. After trekking for 3 and a half hours from Chhepka, we reach Rechi village. We follow the Phoksundo river and finally reach Chunuwar which has a hospital with Amchi doctor, who is educated in traditional Tibetan medicine. We stay the night in the camp.

Day 6: Chunuwar to Ringmo

We trek for about 2 and half hours of walk to visit the view tower for the magnificent view of the Phoksundo fall, which is Nepal’s highest waterfall of 107m. We trek downhill to reach Ringmo village which is at the border between upper and lower Dolpo. The Ringmo village has interesting culture and traditions which are in practice since medieval ages. We stay the night in the camp.

Day 7: Ringmo to Ruktang

Upper Dolpo area begins as you reach Choklapuk. We use the trekking route used by Dolpo people to trade with Tibetans where the popular movie “Caravan” was filmed. We trek through pine forests, have many descends and ascends, letting us view the magnificent Kanjirowa Himal (6612m). Stay the night in camp in Lakeside.

Day 8: Ruktang to Base Camp

This day we trek towards the base camp. We pack our lunch to have it on the way. We pass through a couple of stream and waterfall freely flowing between huge rocks. We stay the night in the camp in the excitement surrounding of Basecamp.

Day 9: Base camp to Shey Gompa

You will take your lunch along through the trek to Shey Gompa and have it on the way. We trek through the high pass Kang La at 5350m. We descend carefully from the pass that is steep and icy path.  In 3 more hours, we reach Shey Gompa located on a beautiful spot, above the grassland, and below the snowy Himalayan peaks. It is a small village with few settlements. The village is also known as the ‘spiritual heart’ of Dolpo region and many pilgrims visit the monastery to make a Kora. We stay the night in the camp.

Day 10: Shey Gompa to Saldang

We cross the Sheyla pass at 5000m with the beautiful view of the Tibetan plateau and the Mustang region to the east. We will have lunch at Namjung with beautiful farmlands. In four more hours, we reach Saldang. We can also stay in Namjung to acclimatize and continue to Saldang the other day. We stay the night in the camp in either place.

Day 11: Saldang to Rhakyo

 We leave Saldang and trek to Namdo , a small village which takes about a few hours. The trail slightly ascends and then descends with beautiful mountain scenarios. We also pass through terraced farms, and trails decorated by chortens and stupas around the monastery. After 5 hours we reach Rhakyo village. This route is also used for trading with Tibet. We can find caravans of yaks, mules, and horses passing by the same trail. We stay the night in the camp in Rhakyo village.

Day 12: Rhakyo to High Camp (4850m; 6 hrs)

You take your lunch for the day to eat it during the day. We begin the trek along the river gorge and follow another stream to the other valley. We trek through a steep climb to reach the High camp. We stay the night in camp.

Day 13: High camp to Dho Tarap

We trek 2 hours to reach the Jeng la pass, which is the final pass of the trek at 4850m. We have the splendid view from the top with the glorious Dhaulagiri mountain. In another 5 hours, we reach Takshi village to have lunch and then continue to descend through the trail to Dho Tarap for an hour. The Dho Tarap valley is rich with lush vegetation, cultivated lands, and several monasteries and chortens below the high mountains. Stay the night at the camp.

Day 14: Dho Tarap to Tangum

We move from Dho Tarap to trek to Tangum. We pass through Lang and Tol Tol which are the junctions for horses and mules. We take a brief rest and lunch at Lang and trek 8 hours to reach Tangum. Stay the night in camp.

Day 15: Tangnum to Lashikyap

We leave the Tangnum village and trek to Laini Odar valley through the dense alpine forest.  After having lunch in the valley, we continue to trek to Lashikyap village. In total it takes about 7 hours to reach Lashikyap village. Stay the night in camp.

Day 16: Lashikyap to Dunai

We will trek through several villages like Tarakot, Tarabagar, Sahar Tara and Tuppo Tara to reach Dunai, headquarter of Dolpa district. It takes about 7 and half hours through rivers, cross bridges, climb stone steps, pass cultivated fields and more interesting places. We can find a nice camping site down to the riverside with a clean water facility and a proper toilet.

Day 17: Dunai to Juphal

The final day of the trek is from Dunai back to Juphal which takes about 4 hours. There is road access till Kalagauda from where we can trek a steep uphill to reach Juphal. Stay the night in camp.

Day 18: Juphal to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj

We take an early flight from Juphal to Nepaljung. You can trace the Himalayan mountains and places from the flight and reflect on the places you have just successfully trekked. From Nepalgunj, you can take another flight to Kathmandu. You stay the night in Kathmandu in a hotel on BB basis.

Day 19: Rest day in Kathmandu.

 After a long trip, this day is reserved to rest in Kathmandu. There are saunas and spas to treat your body after a treacherous trip. If your body is up to see more of Nepal, you can visit the museums and take a stroll around the city. You can also take a stroll around Thamel for some souvenirs. You rest in the same hotel for the last day in Nepal. Stay the night in the same hotel on BB basis.

Day 20: Departure at airport.

 We bid you farewell in your final day in Nepal. A Himalayan monk representative will drop you at the airport and you depart from Nepal. We hope you have enjoyed your stay and will come soon to visit other interesting places as well.

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The given cost are per person and exclude international flights. Given below are the departure dates available for online booking. If the given date is not favorable then please contact us and we will happily customize your trip on dates more appropriate for you.

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Included in the cost:

• Transportation as per the itinerary
• 4 nights in Kathmandu hotel on B/B
• Trek in full board in the lodge
• English speaking guide
• Sherpa, cook, and porter (1 Porter for 2 people, carrying baggage up to 13 kg person during the) trek
•  National park fees (ACAP & TIMS)
• All government and local taxes
• Staffs insurance
• Medical kit (carried by trek leader)

Excluded in the cost:

• Clients’ insurance

• Visa for Nepal (Visa fee for 30 days: $ 40)

• Visits and meals in Kathmandu.

• Personal expenses (tips, hot shower, sleeping bag, drinks, recharging of batteries, etc)

• Rescue if needed

Supplements:

• Single room if needed
• Flight from Kathmandu – Nepalgunj – Juphal (roundtrip)

Accomodation

You will stay in a three-star hotel in Kathmandu as per B/B, probably in Thamel and 2 nights in a lodge in Nepalgunj/Juphal. The rooms are clean, spacious and simple with comfortable beds, along with attached bathrooms with hot water supply. The rooms are usually double bedrooms, but it can be supplemented with single rooms with additional fees. Most of our suggested hotels are located in peaceful inner parts of Thamel, surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Since Upper Dolpo trek is an adventure in the wild. There are no lodges or guest houses as we get further through the trek. We rest in comfortable camping tents, each adjustable by 2 people. You will require a seasonal sleeping bag and a foam mattress along with the equipments like torches or lamps with extra batteries.

Meals

Meals, while you are in Kathmandu, include only breakfast. It depends on you, whether you want to eat in the hotel or outside the hotel, all on your cost, and you choose where to eat and what to eat. Food in the city is not much to worry about as you will find every type of cuisine, form authentic Nepali to international dishes (continental, Italian, Tibetan, Indian, etc) around every corner of the city. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be on the basis of B/B in the city while it is included in the package during the trek.

A traditional meal outside Kathmandu is the favourite Dal-Bhat, cooked rice with lentil soup, along with freshly cooked vegetables and pickles.  You can have other dishes as per the menu of the hotel or lodge. We have experience trekking cook and porters along with us to cook us fresh and hygienic meals when we tent outside in the wilderness.

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