Upper Dolpo Trek

In the morning, the tour guide of our agency takes you around the Kathmandu Valley. During this guided tour, you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Swayambhunath Stupa (the Monkey Temple), Patan Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple and Bouddhanath Stupa are the must-visit sites. The history, cultural, art and architectural importance and beauties are worth of visiting.

After you return to the hotel, the team leader gives you all the information regarding Upper Dolpo trek itinerary. This provides you opportunity to pack the required stuffs for this epic trek.

After breakfast, you will be fetched to the Kathmandu Airport in a private jeep. Then, you fly to Nepalgunj by enjoying the aerial scenery. You witness the snowy peaks, green forests, lush valleys and plains of the Terai region.

From the Ranjha Airport, the representative of NTR takes you to the hotel. After becoming fresh, you can travel around Nepalgunj City. One of the places to visit is Bageshwori Temple as an important site for the Hindus.

Before flying to Juphal, you take breakfast. During the flight, you enjoy the lovely view of the Himalayas, green hills and high altitude villages. From Juphal, you formally begin Upper Dolpo trek by moving towards Dunai.

Dunai is a Himalayan town giving you the vistas of the majestic peaks of Annapurna (8,091m) and Dhaulagiri (8,167m) Massifs. It is also the administrative headquarter of Dolpo district.

Walking along the cultivated lands with seasonable crops and vegetables, you move further. By crossing a suspension bridge over the Thuli Bheri River, you enter into Shey Phoksundo National Park.

It is the largest national park of Nepal conserving a large variety of animal, bird and plant species. You need to buy a permit to continue the journey towards Chhekpa. By penetrating through the dense forests of birch, fir, oak, bamboo and rhododendron, you reach the destination.

Today’s journey is quite challenging yet more memorable as you go across a high Himalayan pass to reach Shey Gompa. Among the four high passes of Dolpo region, Kang La Pass is the highest one.

Despite its height, this pass is probably the most walked in Dolpo. It comes across in most of the moderate to challenging treks of Inner Dolpo. The summit serves the striking views of Himalayas and the deep deserted valleys plus the lush vegetation of Phoksundo National Park.

This is another day for adjustment with the high altitude to prepare for the further ascend. To make this day more meaningful and memorable, you have a few options. You can visit the Tsang Gompa founded in the 11^th century by the Lama Guru Ten-Sin-Ra-Pa. It is the first Bon Gompa ever built in Inner Dolpo region.

Towards the west of this gompa lies the Crystal Mountain. This strange shrine stands at the confluence of the Kangju Nala and the Yeju Nala (“Nala” means “stream”). You can see the deposits of quartz and fossils on the river beds with your eyes live.

Finally, you can visit Shey Village, one of the largest human settlement areas of this region. You can talk to the people to know more about their socio-cultural aspects of the Bonpo religion.

After having energetic breakfast, you begin to move towards one of the high passes. By following the rugged trail going uphill, you will cross Shey La Pass (5,010m) (also called Glen La). From the top of this pass, you will see the fascinating sights of Tibetan Plateau and Upper Mustang region.

This pass is an adventurous pass while making Upper Dolpo to Mustang Trek. Then, you descend towards a beautiful village Namduna Gaun (Namgaun) by walking across some yak pastures. The friendly people living in the congenial environment welcome you to their hamlet.

Today’s trek starts with climbing up along the barren hilly sector and descending along the Nangma Khola banks. After climbing the hard trail for about 3 hours, you reach Saldang Village.

Saldang is a beautiful hamlet consisting five villages within 2 km area. It is the largest village of Upper Dolpo region having nearly 80 houses. Occupied by around 600 people, this is also a prosperous village in terms of agriculture and trade as well. This is the junction of the ancient trading route to Tibet from Dolpo region.

By walking past the terraced fields, chortens, mani walls and a Chaiba monastery, you continue the trip. You have to walk across Namdo Village having around 60 houses and around 400 inhabitants. Moving across the Nam Khong Khola, you reach the bottom of one of the highest passes of Dolpo region. You will set up the tented camp for tonight’s rest.

You are going to climb across another high pass of Dolpo region higher than 5,000m. Ascending further, you hike to Jeng La Pass that shows you the south face of Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167m). You can also see the mesmerizing view of the bizarre landscapes and high altitude villages of this region.

Descending gently, you follow the trail to Dho Tarap that is quite easy and extensively travelled by the trekkers and locals alike. It takes around three hours to reach this village. This beautiful village is the most striking feature of trekking to Inner Dokpo region.

You can visit a ‘French School’ just outside the village of the village, set up by the French people. Dho Tarap (4,080m) is one of the world’s highest altitude human settlement areas. Based on Nepal Census 2011, there are 205 households and 923 people in this Himalayan village. Similarly, you will be visiting Buddhist Gompas, talking with Sherpas and learning the art of weaving Thankas.

You begin the voyage after having breakfast by following the Tarap Chu Khola banks. You might see some wild animals like blue sheep, marmot, etc. and the Dolpalis travelling with their flock of sheep or dzopas. By walking past a suspension bridge, you reach Serkam for the night station.

By following the steep uphill and downhill trail, you continue going further. Then, you come across the Barbung Chu Valley that has a large plot of cultivated fields. Moving ahead along the rugged trail, you reach Tarakot.

Tarakot used to be the capital of a principality before the unification campaign led by King PN Shah. It is a dzong (fortress) located at the top of a foothill. You can visit a famous local monastery named Sandul Gompa which is located on a riverbank. Instead of Tarakot, you can also set up the tented camp on the riverbed.

by following the narrow trail along the Thuli Bheri River banks, you keep moving ahead towards Dunai. You will go across a few scanty villages like Lawan, Byas Gadi and Lochha Khola Gaun. As the trail goes through the dense pine forests, you can also have some glimpses of wild animals and birds.

Today is the last day of trekking in Dolpo region. After having breakfast, you begin to move along the banks of the Thuli Bheri River. You come across Dhupichaur, Rupgad, Kholagaun and Motipur villages en route. Here at Juphal, you can merry make to mark the grand success of Upper Dolpo trek.

When you have breakfast, you catch a domestic flight to Nepalgunj that takes nearly 40 minutes’ time. You will again enjoy the in-flight view of Annapurna Massif and Dhaulagiri Massif. Observe the spellbinding beauties of Dolpo region for the last time this season.

From Nepalgunj, you will fly to Kathmandu as per the flight schedule. From the Kathmandu Airport, the member staff of our agency relocates you to the hotel. In the free time, you can go shopping around Thamel Bazaar. In the evening, we invite you for farewell dinner at some cultural restaurant around Thamel.

This is the last day of Upper Dolpo trek itinerary for 22 days. You are returning your home country by spending more than 3 weeks in Nepal. The representative of the company escorts you up to the Tribhuvan International Airport to catch the flight.