Upper Dolpo Trek - 24 Days

Once you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you’ll receive a grand welcome from our team. Our team representative will be there to meet you and greet you. They will take you to the hotel where you’ll stay in a private vehicle.

When reaching the hotel, you can rest and relax. Or, you can take a walk through the streets of Thamel.

In the evening, there will be an orientation session. This will be all about the briefing regarding the trek, guide introduction, preparation tips, etc.

Included: Airport pick-up, Accommodation in Kathmandu Hotel

After having breakfast this morning, today we will do the sightseeing tour of Kathmandu city. The tour will be mainly about covering the UNESCO World Heritage sites. These include Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Stupa, and the Kathmandu Durbar Square.

These are some of the historic and prestigious sites of the Kathmandu Valley. The following tour will be conducted in a private vehicle. You’ll also visit the Patan Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square, which are known for their detailed woodcarvings.

Alongside that, Swayambhunath Stupa is another popular monkey temple from where stunning 36o degree views of the city can be seen. Other than that, you will visit other small temples and cultural sites.

Included: Hotel accommodation with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

Today, we will head to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu via a flight journey. After having breakfast, we will head to the domestic side of the airport and get on the flight to Nepalgunj.

The hour-long flight takes you to the city of Nepalgunj from Kathmandu. The aerial views will be stunning, and you’ll clearly see the shift in landscapes from mountains to tropical plains.

During the flight, you will enjoy the panoramic Himalayan views, especially of Langtang Lirung.

Included: Hotel accommodation with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

Yesterday’s flight is followed by another flight taking you to the lap of the remote Dolpo region. You will fly from Nepalgunj to Juphal, which will be around 45 minute ride. Flights to Juphal are operated in the morning hours because of the weather conditions.

After reaching Juphal, the trek officially begins with a descent journey.

The downward walk will take you to Dunai, or sometimes even to the Sulighat area. In order to reach the Sulighat area starting from Juphal, the journey will be nearly 4 to 6 hours.

The following route passes through the Suli Gad River. You’ll experience diverse landscapes from terraced farms to alpine meadows and more. The trail passes through dense forests and several traditional villages. 

The interesting part is that you will also get the opportunity to enter the Shey Phoksundo National Park.

Included: Teahouse accommodation with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

On the Upper Dolpo trek, you move to the lower section or the area of the Upper Dolpo. This involves trekking from Sulighat to Reji by following the Suli Khola or river. After a short walk from Sulighat, you will reach the checkpoint of the Shey Phoksundo National Park.

During the journey, you’ll get to see several lush green forests, especially of cedar, pine, and bamboo trees. Not only that, you will pass several traditional villages highlighting the Tibetan Buddhism and Bon culture.

Reji is also a popular resting point with plenty of teahouses.

Included: Teahouse accommodation with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

Today will be a bit of a difficult section of the ascent journey from Reji to Ringmo village. The walk will be a bit steep, especially from the riverside, surpassing tough, high-altitude terrain.

After a short walk, the trail leads to the Phoksundo Khola, where you will cross several dense forests and canyons. In between, you will reach Ringmo village, which is a popular Tibetan settlement. The influence of Bon and Tibetan Buddhist culture is huge there.

The route will pass by the villages of Sagartara. Before reaching there, you too go through a short ascent journey, surpassing dense forests and crossing bridges. Once you reach Ringmo village, there lies Phoksundo Lake nearby, along with some small monasteries.

You will get the surreal views of the peaks, such as Kanjiroba, along with a pristine turquoise lake. There lies a beautiful waterfall as well, and small monasteries. The trail gets uphill from the village of Ringmo through the dense pine forests.

Being an ancient village, you will get to see several Buddhist mani walls and stupas. There are plenty of major attractions, including the Tshowa Gompa, which is 800 years old monastery.

Suligad waterfall is one of the highest waterfalls in Nepal. Ringmo La Pass is one of the highest altitude points. From here, stunning views of the lake can be observed.

Included: Teahouse accommodation with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

Acclimatization day at the Phoksundo Lake means a rest day. It is very vital for adjusting to the high altitude. To prevent altitude sickness, which usually happens when ascending at higher altitudes without slowing down or taking rest.

When walking in such higher altitudes, you should give your body rest. During this day, you can rest and relax or explore the Ringmo village. You can experience the traditional Bon culture.

Visit Tshowa Gompa; in order to reach you have to do a short hike. Or you can engage in leisurely walks around the lake as well.

Included: Teahouse accommodation with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

Today will be one of the most fun sections of the Upper Dolpo trek. The trail will be very narrow just above the lake. You will also get the stunning views of the turquoise lake.

With the conclusion of the cliff section, the trail takes you to the lush green forests, especially of pine and birch trees. You’ll cross bridges along the river to reach the Phoksundo Khola Camp.

The Phoksundo Khola Camp is a serene campsite in the valley. The refreshing water of the Phoksundo Lake offers you a different kind of joy. On top of that, the wilderness experience inside the Shey Phoksundo National Park is a unique feeling.

Included: Tented Camps with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

The challenging ascent part begins today on the Upper Dolpo trek. The elevation gain will be around 900m, with the terrain mostly being rugged and rough. It acts as a major point for crossing the Kang La Pass.

From there, the breathtaking panorama of the snow-capped peaks can be visible, such as Chhamlang peak (6,739m) and Peak 7 (6,105m). You have to cross the glacial valley starting from the Phoksundo Khola camp.

Reach the junction of the Phoksundo Khola, surpassing wooden bridges and mountain streams. Then, a short ascent takes you to a sheep grazing field. Shortly after a steep climb, you’ll reach the destination, Phoksundo Bhanjyang.

Included: Tented Camps with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

Today will also be a challenging and fun day as you’ll reach an altitude of over 5000m. The trek begins from Phoksundo Bhanjyang with a steep ascent on a rugged trail leading you to the Kang La (Nangdo La) pass.

You need to walk for around 3 to 4 hours to reach the Kang La (Nangdo La) pass. After reaching the top of the pass, you will get the stunning mountain views, especially of the Dhaulagiri range, Crystal Mountain, etc.

The majestic landscapes of the Upper Dolpo region are also a sight to admire. To reach the river valley, you have to walk down a downward curve. Caution needs to be maintained when walking on this section, as you have to walk through areas full of snow. Normally, it will take around 3 hours to descend.

During the descent journey, you will get to observe Buddhist chortens and mani stones before making it to the destination.

Included: Tented Camps with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

On the Upper Dolpo trek, this specific day will fully focus on much-needed rest and exploration of the Shey Gompa. It is also an immensely vital stop on the Upper Dolpo trek.

During this day, you can visit the Shey Gompa monastery. This ancient monastery is widely popular in this region. And you can see statues of some of the important figures of Tibetan Buddhism, such as Guru Rinpoche, Milarepa, and Sakyamuni Buddha.

If you want, you can also do the hiking at Crystal Mountain. It is a really attractive place with special quartz formations. Another option is the hike to the monastery of Tsakang. It is located on a cliffside.

You’ll also get the opportunity to experience local Tibetan culture, their way of life. Wild animals can also be seen, including blue sheep, snow leopards, and birds.

Included: Tented Camps with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

Today involves the high-altitude segment of the Upper Dolpo trek. The trek begins with a rocky, steep ascent. Mostly, the walk will be zigzagging through dense forests of rhododendron and canyons.

After getting to the top, you will be rewarded with stunning mountain views as well as valleys. Saldang La Pass is one of the highest passes of this trek with an altitude of 5,200m.

The descent journey begins there, which will be long and stunning. The high desert landscape is equally eye-captivating and offers you glimpses of yaks, sheep, and others.

The Namduna Gaun is another beautiful village known for the majority of stone houses and traditional lifestyle. During the journey, you will also see terraced and plenty of barley fields.

Namgung Monastery is one of the popular attractions of this area. As you continue the journey, you will notice the shift in landscapes from the high pass to a lower valley.

Included: Tented Camps with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

We will leave Namduna Gaun right after breakfast. The starting point will be a short climb before starting the descent journey. The trail will mostly pass through a high, tough ridge, where you will do most of the ascent and descent.

The lengthy and challenging traverse are the highlight points of this day’s trek, where you have to walk with extreme caution. The short descent journey, followed by the climb, takes you to the village of Saldang.

The terrain will mostly be rocky and dry, giving you glimpses of Tibetan culture too. At the descent part, you will also meet the Namga Khola stream, from where stunning views of the Saldang village can be experienced.

Included: Tented Camps with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

Saldang is also one of the largest villages of the Dolpo region. The trail follows the Nagon Khola, also called the Nang Chu River. Even more deeply, the Tibetan landscapes, along with the terraced fields, give you a different kind of experience.

You will also pass several villages like Marang and Ki, showcasing the Tibetan culture. There is also an ancient Yangze Bon-Po Monastery, which you can visit.

Following the river into the valleys and passing several traditional villages takes you to the Yangze Gompa. Yangze Gompa is more of a popular monastery located at a high altitude. The following monastery is surrounded by the majestic mountains; the view looks surreal from the top.

Included: Tented Camps with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

After the morning breakfast today on the Upper Dolpo trek, we descend from Yangze Gompa to Sibu. Today’s journey will be a complete downward walk from 4960m to roughly 4560m.

The trek begins with the descent from the remote Yangze Gompa. The trail follows the Namm Khong Khola, and you will also meet with the Namdo village. Ultimately, you will reach Shibu, which is one of the small villages.

Not only Namdo, but you will also cross Saldang, and in between lies Chaiba monastery.

Included: Tented Camps with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

Today will be quite a difficult day with the tough climb in rugged terrain. With the start of the trek from Sibu, the trail takes you to the Nagon Khola, which also meets with the Namdo village.

The route passes through the eastern valley with the majestic views of the Himalayan landscapes. This section also serves as part of the base camp for the Jeng La Pass.

During the journey, you will experience yak pastures near the camp.

Included: Tented Camps with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

This day on the Upper Dolpo trek marks an important one as we will be crossing the high Jeng La Pass (5,220m). Alongside that, we will also be doing the descent journey to the Tarap Valley.

This is also the final high pass that we will be crossing on this trek. From there, you will get the breathtaking panoramic mountain views of the Dhaulagiri massif and other Himalayan peaks.

Not only that, but you will also get the stunning views of the Tarap Valley. It is also known as the hidden valley. When you’re on the descent journey, you will arrive at the Tokyu Gaon Village. It is also one of the largest villages in this region.

There also lie several ancient monasteries, Mani walls, etc. Dho Tarap is a lovely village, which is also a medieval trading post. People can understand the Bon-Po and Tibetan Buddhism more.

The descent journey from Jeng La pass goes through a rough and rugged terrain with the occasional sightings of blue sheep and snow leopard.

Included: Tented Camps with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

An acclimatization right after reaching the altitudes of over 4000m is much needed. Just before crossing the Numa La or Baga La passes, this is the right moment to take a rest so that your body can adjust to the higher altitudes easily.

Resting at an altitude of 4000m is vital before ascending to over 5000m. Dho Tarap is a massive village with plenty of houses and several monasteries, such as Bon Gompas and the Ribo Bhumpa Gompa.

Talking of the environment, the village has a big valley with juniper and pine forests. Other than that, you can also go hiking to the nearby viewpoints from where you can get mesmerizing Himalayan views.

Included: Tented Camps with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

We begin descending early in the morning from the higher valley. To be more specific, the walk will be much lighter and easier from Dho Tarap. You will surpass several villages and observe the change in landscapes from open plains to sophisticated gorges.

Tarap Khola is also called the Kamakharka, which is more of a meadow section with a suitable camping area. Stunning views of the canyon can be observed with glimpses of juniper woods.

There is a higher chance of spotting herds of blue sheep. After crossing the steep, rocky slopes, the part of the Tarap Chu river comes as you continue this beautiful trail of the Upper Dolpo trek.

Included: Tented Camps with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

Today on the Upper Dolpo trek, we will do the proper descending section leading all the way to Khanigaon. Passing the deep river gorges and open field grazing areas, the trail will be fully scenic.

Not only that, but on the downward journey, you will also pass thick, lush green forests of pine and juniper. Another sighting that is highly expected is local sheep/yak grazing. To add more, you’ll likely see marmots, blue sheep, goats, and obviously yaks.

The following day, the trail gives you a deeper insight into the culture and lifestyle of the Dolpa locals. Khanigaon is a small, vibrant village full of scenic and natural beauty.

Included: Tented Camps with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

The trek begins from Khani Gaun, taking you to Lalberi Village, Tarakot, followed by Lawan/Byas Gadi, and ultimately to the Dunai. The trail moves along the Bheri River with a full descent journey from the higher-altitude settlement, Khani Gaun.

During the journey, you will pass lush green forests and several gorges. In the route also lies the terraced fields, followed by the Barbung Khola. Tarakot is also the hub point of the Tichorung Kingdom. It lies at the junction point of the Barbung Khola and Tarap Chu.

There are plenty of camping spots. Similarly, on the Dunai, you will find more lodges. It falls in the restricted area, so permits are absolutely mandatory.

Included: Tented Camps with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

It is the final day of the Upper Dolpo trek. The trek from Dunai to Juphal is quite easy and is also the final section of the trek. Today’s part begins with a climb to the Thuli Bheri river valley.

You also have to cross several small villages like Kalagauda. The trail will mostly lead to the district headquarters in Dunai. And ultimately to the airport in Juphal.

The path moves on to the terraced farmfields and several traditional villages. Just before reaching Juphal, you will also get to see the beautiful views of the hills.

Included: Tented Camps with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

Finally, after completing the trekking section of the Upper Dolpo trek, you will enjoy the back-to-back flight journey from Jhupal to Nepalgunj and Nepalgunj to Kathmandu.

Due to the weather conditions, the flight usually operates in the morning hours, especially from Jhupal to Nepalgunj. The flight will be 35 to 45 minutes.

Similarly, after reaching Nepalgunj, we will take another flight taking us to Kathmandu. The following flight will be 50 to 60 minutes, and we will land at Tribhuvan International Airport. Both flights will be scenic, allowing you to see the surrounding valleys and pristine Himalayas.

Included: Hotel Accommodation with Full board of meals (Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner)

Today, your Upper Dolpo trek comes to an end. On this departure day, you will head to your destination after the conclusion of the trek. Based on your flight schedule, we will arrange the flight drop-off services for you.

Depart from the country with pride and happiness, carrying epic memories. We hope to see you soon for another adventure with us!

Included: Airport Transfer in a private vehicle