Trip Highlights
- Ravishing views of Kanjirowa Himal, Crystal Mountain, and many more.
- Visit old monasteries in Upper Dolpo like Shey Gompa and Yangtze Gompa.
- Explore tranquil turquoise Phoksundo Lake (the Deepest lake in Nepal).
- Experience thrilling adventure crossing Kang La Pass (5160m) and Jyag La Pass (5090m)
Overview
The Upper Dolpo Trekking route is noted for its incredible pristine, and isolated trails situated closer to the Tibetan borders. Peter Matheson describes the remarkable journey to Dolpa in his book “The Snow Leopard.” Likewise, the Oscar-nominated movie- Caravan was shot in this region. As it is one of the restricted trekking regions, the trekkers will require special permits as well. Along with the Bon Po religion and biodiversity of the Shey Phoksundo National Park, trekkers can relish the views of the Dhaulagiri and Kanjirowa Himal range.
The trip starts with a short flight to Nepalgunj and further scenic flight from Nepalgunj to Juphal, where the trek begins. Commencing from Juphal through Himalayan trails, forests, and many villages, you will reach the pristine Shey Phoksundo Lake. On the way, you will pass villages like Suligad Ghat and Renje to reach Ringmo village. From here, Phoksundo Lake is only a short hike away. After exploring the lake, you follow with a trek to the famous ancient Shey Gompa, which also offers an impressive view of the Crystal Mountain. You will witness the primordial trans-Himalayan trade route to Tibet and the largest Tibetan plateaus. Following the trails of several small villages, narrow gorges, and arid cliffs, you will cross over the tiresome Kang La Pass (5160m). As you descend from the pass, you will head to the Dho Tarap village and continue ahead to Tarakot.
Further, you cross over rivers and pass through several Buddhist and Bon Po villages to return to Dunai. The trek ends returning to Juphal from Dunai village. The best season for a trek to carry out is spring (April- May) and fall (October-November) season, while winter brings heavy snowfall, so it becomes tough to cross over some passes during the winter season.
At Brown Bear Trails, we provide the best service attending to every minuscule detail keeping up the convenience of the client’s requirement. We facilitate the client requirements in all aspects regarding organizing trips, accommodation, permit requirements, transportation, and passport, and so on along with the trustworthy English-speaking guide for the trek.
Our representative will pick you up at the airport and drop you to the designated hotel. You will relax and join us during dinner time. Our staff will provide a quick briefing about the trekking program.
After breakfast, you can take a sightseeing tour to some of the world heritage sites in the Kathmandu valley like Pashupatinath temple, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu Durbar Square, and others. These heritages are the depiction of ancient Nepalese history and traditions. Also, you can spend the day exploring the streets and shopping for the trek. Overnight stay at the hotel in Thamel.
After breakfast, you will leave to catch up on the early flight to Nepalgunj, which is situated at the far-western side of Nepal. Once you reach the hotel, you can rest or, if you wish, our guide will show you around the city. There are several attractions here, including a mini zoo and Hindu temples to visit. Overnight stay at the hotel in Nepalgunj
After breakfast, you will catch another early flight to Juphal, which takes about 35 minutes to reach the airport. Heading out of Nepalgunj, you will take a flight to Juphal, which is the starting point of the trek. For the first part of the trek, you will follow an easy trail towards Sulighat. You will walk downhill, passing the small villages to reach the confluence of Thuli Bheri River and Sulighat. After walking through the forest of large Cedar, you will reach Sulighat. Overnight stay at camp in Sulighat.
After breakfast, you will leave for the Renje village. The trek heads through the riverbed and crosses over a suspension bridge. You will come across the enormous narrow, rocky cliffs. Further, the trail will descend towards the river and ascends to a viewpoint. From here, you can catch a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding landscapes. Later, you will descend and reach Renje and take a rest. Overnight stay at camp in Renje village.
After breakfast, you leave for the beautiful Ringmo village. You will cross over the rivers and ascend through the sharp curve glancing the beautiful barren landscape. You will also get glimpses of the Phoksundo Lake as you head towards the lake. Then, you start to descend through the forest to reach Ringmo village, which resides on the bank of Shey Phoksundo Lake. Passing the Chortens and Mani walls past the village, you will reach Phoksundo Lake and set a camp in the best-suited place. Overnight stay at the camp.
The challenging trek rewards you the much-needed rest at the Phoksundo Lake, the deepest lake in Nepal. The turquoise freshwater lake certainly astounds you with its serene beauty with the vivid view of Kanjirowa Himal (6612m). You can take short hikes around the lake to nearby vantage points and the Shey Phoksundo National Park. Around the nearby villages, you can find the company of Tibetan Buddhist people with their traditional way of living.
Leaving behind the alpine Phoksundo Lake, you will head the journey towards the Phoksundo Khola campsite. You will trek alongside the lake and continuing the trail across several unexplored and remote parts of the Upper Dolpa. The trail follows the primitive pathway, and you will require to climb up the sharp rise route. Gradually passing through the pristine trails of cold icy glaciers valleys, you will descend towards the Phoksundo Khola. Overnight stay at the camp beside Phoksundo Khola.
After an early breakfast, you will start a refreshing trek towards Phoksundo Bhanjyang. The trail becomes challenging as you have to walk through the glacial valley and mountain stream. You will continue the trek crossing over the wooden bridge and climb towards the steeper trails. On the way, you can admire the glorious views of Mt. Chamlang Peak 6 (6739m) and Peak 7 (6105m). After following some off-beat trails, you will reach Phoksundo Bhanjyang. Overnight stay at the camp in Phoksundo Bhanjyang.
Commencing from Phoksundo Bhanjyang, you will leave for Kang La pass (5160m). The trail will continuously ascend for a couple of hours to reach the top of Kang La Pass. The trail rewards you with an outstanding view of landscape variations, snow-capped mountains such as Shey Shikhar (6139m), and Kang Chunne (6443m). After that, you will descend towards Tar valley to reach an 800-year old Tsakang Gompa. Passing through the small villages, you will reach the red-colored monastery known as Shey Gompa. Overnight stay at camp.
You will have a day off to reward yourself with a fascinating exploration of Shey Gompa, which is a beautiful monastery with a rich history built around the 11th century. To the west of the monastery, you can get a splendid view of the Crystal Mountain. The mountain is a holy peak in Dolpa for local pilgrims to visit during the full moon of July or August. You can find the Chaiba community and get an insight into their lifestyle and traditions around the local areas. Here, you can witness the Tibetan way of life in Dolpa and ancient Buddhist culture. Overnight stay at the camp in Shey Gompa.
From Shey Gompa, you will begin the delightful trail walking through the juniper forest and come across stony canyons. Following the rocky trails, you will ascend the Saldang La Pass, where you observe the beautiful sight of northern Tibetan Plateau. Then, you will descend and note the beautiful meadows as you approach the village of Namgung. Here, you will visit the red Chorten monastery called Namgung monastery, which is built on the north wall of the gorge. Overnight stay at camp in Namgung village.
From Namgung village, you leave for Saldang. The trail requires you to climb up the steep slopes and descend to approach the beautiful Saldang village. It is located on the plateau above the Nam Khong Nala, which is also the biggest village in the Lower Dolpo. Because of its strategic location, the trade route to Tibet is easy, and also the village has progressed in agriculture. Overnight stay at camp in Saldang Village.
The trail includes walking alongside the Nagon Khola, followed by the dry terrain land. You will pass through various ascending and descending trails and approach the quaint villages of Marang and Ki villages. Traversing through the villages, you will cross over the Panzang River and head east. Crossing another river, you will reach the entrance point of Yangze Gompa, which is an old monastery related to the Bon Po religion. Overnight stay at Yangze Gompa.
From Yangze, the trail offers two alternative routes. Following the short path, you may retrace back towards the Saldang village, which is an easier path. Crossing over the rivers and passing through the terraced lands and a Chaiban monastery, you will come across the Namdo village. Passing the Namdo Monastery, you will approach the small settlement of Sibu village. Overnight stay at camp.
After breakfast in Sibu, you will head towards Jeng La Phedi. You will trek following the edges of the river valley and walk alongside the Nam Khong Khola. You will head east and continue the trail until you arrive at the confluence of small streams. Then, you will climb up the sloppy trail that leads to the Jeng La Phedi at the base of Jeng La Pass. It is a pleasant meadow where you will set up your camp for the night. Overnight stay at Jeng La Phedi.
To reach Do Tarap, you will have to cross over the Jeng La Pass, which takes you across steep barren trails. Once you reach the top, you will have mesmerizing views of Dhaulagiri (8167m) before descending. Following the downhill route, you will pass the lush trails along the river. Walking through, you will find irregular stone walls and approach Dho Tarap, which houses Bon and Buddhists adherents alike. Overnight stay at camp.
After a long strenuous trek, you will rest in Dho Tarap, surrounded by irregular stones and Mani walls. You will also get to interact with the locals of the area and observe their distinctive culture. You may also visit a nearby Buddhist and Bon Po Gompas. Likewise, you can also hike to the nearby vantage points, which offer a glorious view of the Dhaulagiri and Putha Hiunchuli Himal range. Overnight stay in Dho Tarap.
Commencing from Dho Tarap, you will trek descending towards the valley, which eventually narrows down at the juncture of gorges. You will walk through the juniper and rose bushes alongside the forest. You will come across the confluence of Tarap Chu and Lang Khola that joins the Tarap River from the east. You will set the camp nearby the river in the beautiful meadow known as Karma Kharka and spend the night there. Overnight stay at camp.
Leaving the beautiful sight of Tarap Khola, you will walk alongside the river into the gorge to reach Khanigaon. The trail moves down the narrow and deeps gorges from the broad valley. You will be crossing over the primitive bridge fitted on logs between the walls. Along the trail, you may opt to cross the icy torrents on foot. Finally, you will reach the camping spot at Khanigaon and spend the night there.
Leaving Khanigaon behind, you will head towards the village of Lalberi following the descending pathway into gorges. You will pass through the lush forest and reach Tarakot traversing through crop fields. The next destination on the trek is Dunai village. Walking alongside the Bheri River, you will take an ascending trail to reach Dunai village. Overnight stay at Dunai.
The trek ends getting back to Juphal. Starting with the flat trail, you eventually have to ascend across steeper slopes. Enjoying a variety of landscapes, you will pass through the Dhupi Chaur and Rupgad villages. You continue trek towards Kalagauda and Motipur village. The trail leads you across Khas villages and the Thuli Bheri River to Juphal. Overnight stay in Juphal.
From Juphal, you will catch an early morning flight to Nepalgunj gazing over the snow-capped mountains in the Dhaulagiri range. You will reach Nepalgunj airport and catch another flight to Kathmandu. Having reached Kathmandu, you will relax after a long day. For the rest of the day, you can explore around and shop for souvenirs. Overnight stay at hotel in Kathmandu.
We will bid you a warm farewell on your departure day. Taking good memory of the trek,
Our staff will drive you to the airport on your flight time. Revisit us and have a safe
Journey.
Cost Includes
- 01: All arrival and departure transportation on private vehicles airport to hotel and vice versa.
- 02: On best Tourist Standard Hotels in Kathmandu / Nepalgunj on bed and breakfast basis, as well on twin sharing basis in hotel rooms.
- 03: Sightseeing tour if included on the itinerary, with expert guide and all entrance fees around places of interest.
- 04: Local transportation from Jhupal if included on the itinerary before the trek and after the trek. Includes domestic Air Fare Kathmandu-Nepalgunj-Jhupal and vice versa.
- 05: Applicable special trekking permits for Restricted Area for Upper & Lower Dolpo. Includes Shey Phoksundo National Park entrance fees.
- 06: Full board on trekking includes breakfast, lunch and dinner with twin room accommodation on best lodge available on treks. Full board on tented camping backed by separate kitchen unit of cook,kitchen staff, cook, guide and porters with camping staff.
- 07: Wages, insurance, transportation allowance for guide, trekking staff, porters including meals and accommodation.
- 08: Comprehensive medical and First Aid kits in case of unfortunate illness.
Cost Excludes
- 01: Personal medical / travel insurance and Nepal entrance visa fees and International air fare.
- 02: Meals while in Kathmandu and at Nepalgunj, expenses of personal nature drinks, laundry and hard or soft drinks. Showers hot / cold during trekking and fees for using electronic items for charging in lodges on treks.
- 03: Emergency evacuation in case of unfortunate accidents, illness or personal problem using any means of fast transport including helicopter service.
- 04: Personal trekking gear, sleeping bags and down jackets if not included in the trip package.
- 05: Early return from the trek due to illness, medical or personal problem no refund will be entertained. Which has to be claim from your medical / travel insurance.
- 06: Single supplement in hotel rooms either in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj, as well on trekking. At extra cost on top of the trip cost.
- 07: Gratitude or tipping of trekking staff and guide, drivers.
FAQ’S (Frequently Asked Questions):
The best time for Upper or Lower Dolpo is spring from March to May, and autumn / fall begins from September to early November. These are the best times for pleasant walks and views.
The total days from arrival to final departure is 18 nights and 19 days, but the trekking portion is of 14 nights and 15 days. Yes, it is a fixed departure, where dates is in progress. But we run and organize for private groups as well minimum of 2-3 persons. Where a single person is not allowed as Dolpo falls on Restricted Area where minimum 2 people need to join. Includes special trekking permits to enter Upper & Lower Dolpo.
Accommodation in local lodges is simple but nice, clean and cozy but smaller rooms. But most trekking will be on tented camping. The foods served by camping cooks are nice. Serving Continental, Chinese, Indian, Tibetan, and Nepal meals as per the menu provided. Sometimes our cook will provide fresh bakery items also. The main preferred meal is Nepali Dal Bhat (boiled rice and lentil soup with seasonal vegetables and homemade hot sauce or mild pickle.
On camping all food served are set meals to make it easier as well as to save time and fuel energy.
The trek starts from low as 2,400 m at Jhupal village and crossing the highest point above 5,200 m passes to reach from one end of the valley to another beautiful areas.
Every village has hydroelectricity power, and some smaller settlements like Ringmo, and Somdang have solar power where trekkers can charge their electronic items by paying a fee per hour per item charged to the lodge owner.
Yes, nearly all villages provides hot or cold shower and bathe with hot water in a large bucket. Extra charge for using hot shower and bathe.
