Dolpo Kagmara Peak Climbing

You may arrive in Kathmandu at any time. Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by one of our airport representatives and transferred to the hotel. There are no planned activities for the day, so you may check into your hotel and relax. Overnights stay at the hotel.

Early in the morning, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Nepalgunj. The short flight takes about 50 to 60 minutes, and from the plane- you can enjoy the views of the Himalayas and the changing landscape below. The mountains tower over the valley basin quite magnificently. Upon landing at Nepalgunj, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnights stay at the hotel in Nepalgunj.

Today, you will have another short flight from Nepalgunj to Jumla. In ancient times before Nepal was a unified kingdom, Jumla was one of the most powerful states. The original Nepali language- the Khas Bhasa, originated from Jumla. It is drained by three major rivers- the Tila, Hima, and the Jawa rivers. Upon landing at Jumla, you will be transferred to your lodge. Overnights stay at Jumla.

The trek from Jumla to Gothi Chaur mainly consists of trekking along the river banks and passing through ruined pasturelands. You can find small huts along the way, called Kharkas, which the villagers use for herding cattle. The vast expanse of subarctic terrain is gorgeously decorated with views of the mountain peaks. Overnights stay at a lodge.

You will start your trek early in the morning. Ascending on the grassy pasture and forest, you will follow the trail to the Mauri Lagna Pass (3,900 m). The dramatic summit of the mountain pass offers a stunning view of nearby mountains- including the Ghyuthumba and Matathumba Peaks. You can also enjoy panoramic views of the large Thulo Bheri valley below. From there, you will continue on the stony downhill path towards the open sloppy ridge dotted with shrubs. Passing through the pine and oak woods, you will reach crops field and villages above the Thunder Bheri valley until arriving at the Nephukhona village. Overnights stay at Nephukhona.

Further along, the village is pasturelands where you can see cattle grazing in the fields. Passing through the animal graze pasture, you will follow a straights path to the bank of a branch of the Tila River. Further ahead is a small hamlet called Muni village, where the path forks out to Jajarkot, Jumla, and Dolpo. Gradually ascending the meadow, you will arrive on the ridge with some houses; the village called Chotra (3,015 m). It features an eye-catching Mani stupa and also presents beautiful, diverse landscapes brimming at the foothill of the mountains. Finally, it is a continuous downhill trek to the Tibetan cultural settlement, Nauli Kharka. Overnights stay at a guesthouse.

After breakfast, you will follow a descending trail as it passes along the dramatic village, where you can experience the western Nepali lifestyle of the villagers closely. The path then eventually approaches the snow-covered Kagmara peak foothill, and you can see the panoramic view of the lush green Kagmara Lekh valley. Next, the trail beautifully coruscates through the walnuts and pine forests towards the stream where the Rimi village is located. It is a continuous upstream climb to the Hurikot village from there. The trekking trail provides a good view of the Kaigaon Himal as well. Overnights stay at Hurikot.

Today's hike continues along the river; you will pass many traditional Tibetan-style villages along your way towards Garpung. You will also officially enter the Shey Phoksundo national park today, passing the park's check-post. Next, the meandering trail bends and ebbs towards the Kagmara La Pass as it passes under the canopy of Garpung Khola forest. Here, you will not likely find any permanent human hamlets, except the seasonal animal graze huts scattered here and there. Eventually, you will reach today’s destination. Overnights stay at Garpung Khola.

A trail begins with an upstream hike, and the path crosses the river a few times. The Kagmara La Pass route continuous into the vibrate forest and pastures, giving you a lovely hike through Dolpo's alpine terrain. Climbing on the cliff, the trail starts to become narrow as you approach the boulder canyon. The Kagmara Phedi is situated on a watershed beneath the peak. Today's hike is filled with wonderful mountain views and the natural scenery of the lower Dolpo valley. Overnights stay at Kagmara Phedi.

The trek to Lasa today is filled with streams and glacier moraines. Next, you will cross several small rivers and make your way to Lasa, passing through the forests. The forest begins to clear out as you start gaining elevation; the terrain instead now features barren rocky boulder-strewn lands. But even in the barren vastness, you can find many Mani stones carved with prayers and colorful prayer flags that line the tree branches. Overnights stay at Lasa.

The route from Lasa to the Pungmo village gradually descends the valley through the forest and over streams. You will enter the juniper and birch woodlands and walk along with the dwarf wildflower shrubs that line the trail for most of the hike. Beyond the forests, you will find a small nameless permanent human hamlet where you can spot different species of birds. From here, you can also get an amazing view of the north face of the Kanjirowa peak. Finally, as you make your way through the woods, you will reach the village. Pungmo is a small village with influences from Tibetan culture. The villagers here migrate during the winter to lower elevation. It is surrounded by farmlands where the villagers grow seasonal grains like buckwheat, potatoes, barley, wheat, and fresh vegetables. Overnights stay at Pungmo.

This day is reserved as a rest day. It is important to let your body rest and gather strength and stamina to continue on the journey. You can spend the day exploring the village and enjoying the panoramic mountain views. Overnights stay at the village.

Today's trek finally takes you to the beautiful Shey Phoksundo Lake. It is a downstream hike, and the trail goes through the alpine forests. You will also pass by several small villages along the way, and the trip is also decorated with occasional wispy waterfall that line cliff sides. For the first part of the trip, you will hike downhill to Sumduwa. It is here where the trail joins with the Dolpo trek route. There is a Nepal army checkpoint here, and you will have to let them check your trek permit. Then the trek continues along the Phoksundo River up the valley. Passing local tea shops, you can enjoy an amazing view of the Suligad waterfall from atop a ridge. This Phoksundo waterfall is believed to be the longest water cascade in Nepal. From here, the trail initially descends towards the Phoksundo Khola, then ascends again to agriculture farms, and finally to the Ringmo village. Overnights stay at Ringmo.

This is a beautiful trekking day as you will be making your way to one of the most revered lakes in Nepal- the Shey Phoksundo Lake. Even from the Ringmo village, you could see the contrasting blue of the lake against the surrounding green hills. The turquoise lake is quite a magnificent sight as it sits so calmly against the rolling green hills covered in pine. However, the immediate surrounding area of the lake does not harbor any animal life, which is a peculiar trait. Nevertheless, on the banks of the lake, you can see many Bon Stupas and small shrines. Overnights stay at Phoksundo Lake.

This is another day reserved for rest. You can spend the day enjoying the beautiful turquoise lake and views of the mountains. The lake is quite big, and you can also visit the many Bon monasteries surrounding the water body. You can also hike to a short ridge above the lake where Eric Vally's documentary- "Caravan" was shot. Overnights stay at Phoksundo Lake.

Today’s hike mainly consists of an uphill trek. You will make your way up the hills towards the Pungmo village today, going through the woods once again. Occasionally, you can see the mountains peeking through the green canopy. The trek is peaceful, with many Himalayan birds breaking the silence. Overnights stay at Pungmo village.

From Pungmo, you will start making your trek towards the Kagmara Base Camp. Along the way, you will also cross a mountain pass, decorated colorfully with numerous praying flags. You can also find a series of stone cairns and small stupas. Moreover, you can also get a closer view of the mountains, including the Kanjirowa Peak, the Kanchauni Himal, and numerous nameless snowy peaks. From the pass, it is a descent down to the base camp. Overnights stay at the base camp.

This is a rest day, as you will need your full stamina and strength for tomorrow's peak climbing. You can spend the day relaxing and making sure that you have the equipment for the climb. Your guide will brief you again on how to harness and use the equipment properly. You can also enjoy the day looking at the mountains. Overnights stay at the base camp.

This is a special day. You will start the day early in the morning. You will find the terrain changing from shrub land to full snowy expanse to make your way up the elevation. Following your guide, you will use your peak climbing equipment like ice and crampons to make your way to the peak's summit. After an arduous three-day journey, you will finally reach the top, stopping at intervals for an overnight stay. Taking in the sense of accomplishment, you will then follow your guide back to the base camp. Overnights stay at the base camp.

From the base camp, you will make your way back down the valley towards the Hurikot village. It is a steady climb downhill, and you can enjoy the changing terrain as it changes from small shrubs dotting the land into thick forests again. Overnights stay at Hurikot.

Leaving Hurikot behind, you will enter the lower Dolpo valley once again and make your way back to Kaigaon. The trail passes through many pastures, and you can also see the villagers going about their daily life, tending to cattle or working on the farms. The occasional views of the mountain peaks also make an appearance as you make your journey today. Overnights stay at Kaigaon.

The trek to Tripurakot is quite leveled. You will trek alongside the river banks and make your way eventually to the famous village. Tripurakot features a famous temple dedicated to the revered Tripura Devi. She is a deity believed to grant wishes. During festivals, hundreds of pilgrims visit the village for worship at the temple. Overnights stay at Tripurakot.

Today, you will make your way back to Juphal. After breakfast, you will follow the trail that descends along the Phoksundo Khola, heading into the forest and passing through cultivated farms. You will also be walking in the middle of the cliff right above the river today. The valley here is known for its hemp plant. Further ahead, the Phoksundo River joins with the Thulo Bheri River at Suligad. From there, it is a steady climb up onto the village and the Juphal airstrip. Overnights stay at Juphal.

Today, the schedule is mainly filled with the airplane flight. You will catch an early flight from Juphal to Nepalgunj. Upon landing at the Nepalgunj airport, you will then catch another flight back to Kathmandu. The short flights provide wonderful views of the mountain peaks and the landscape below. At Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnights stay at the hotel in Kathmandu.

You will be taken to the airport for your final departure today.