Upper Dolpo Trek

-1,174 meters

After finishing breakfast at your hotel, be ready with your belongings for the airport transfer. We will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA). We will begin our Upper Dolpo adventure by boarding a domestic flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. An hour-long scenic flight towards the west will take you to one of the lowland regions of Terai, Nepalgunj. Nepalgunj is a vibrant town in western Nepal, near the Nepal-India border. After landing on a flight in Nepalgunj, our office representative will swiftly escort you to the hotel by riding in a private vehicle.

After hotel check-in in Nepalgunj, you can rest for some time and enjoy your lunch. Nepalgunj is warmer than Kathmandu, so around mid-afternoon, you can head for a leisurely stroll to the nearby places. You can pay visits to local markets, villages, Mahendra Park Mini Zoo, etc.

Return to your hotel by evening and freshen up. Take some time to rest in your room and explore the hotel ambiance. Before the dinner, do some last-minute packing and preparations for the next day’s flight and trekking journey. Savour a delicious meal and spend a restful night in the hotel.

+2,688 meters

23 kilometers trek

After breakfast in the hotel, we will drive towards the Nepalgunj Airport. We will board a flight to Jhupal Airport in Jhupal Municipality of Dolpa district. Jhupal is the common entry point for trekkers in the Dolpo region. The Nepalgunj-Jhupal flight is around 20-25 minutes. Once you land at Jhupal on a picturesque flight, you will meet and be introduced to our trekking members and enjoy lunch together. Then, we will begin our Upper Dolpo trekking journey.

The Jhupal to Chekpa trek leads us to Shey Phoksundo National Park. The initial trails are not so tough, and you can walk comfortably. You will pass through the thick forests and terraced fields and walk alongside the Thulo Bheri River. Enroute, you will traverse the villages like Kalagaonda, Rupgad, and Dunai. From Dunai, we will head towards the north, alongside the Bheri River.

Continuing further, we will reach the Silughat checkpost and register our permits. We will then begin to trek inside the Shey Phoksundo National Park. We will walk past the Kageni, Jutung, and Shangta villages, cross a suspension bridge over the Bheri River, and enter Phoksundo River Valley. We will traverse the lush forest of pine and fir, following the Phoksundo River to reach Chhekpa finally. We will spend an overnight at a teahouse in this quaint village.

+272 meters, 17 kilometers

The Chhekpa to Chunuwar part of the trek will venture you deep into the Dolpo region. We will begin trekking from weary in the morning. Shortly after breakfast, we will leave Chhekpa village and head towards the Chunuwar/Amchi hospital. You will trek along the popular routes of the Lower Dolpa Trek. You will follow the trails that go opposite to the flow of the Phoksundo River. You will continue trekking over slightly ascending and descending trails and cross the suspension bridge twice over this river. Following the tranquil riverside trails, you will encounter the Rechi village, where we will stop for a lunch break.

From Rechi, you will follow the rocky and muddy trails and walk past the river gorges and cascading waterfalls. You will cross the confluence of the Phoksundo River and Yulung Khola via a bridge at Sulligad Dovan and finally reach Chunuwar, also known as Amchi Hospital. Amchi refers to traditional doctors who treat diseases using locally available medicinal herbs. So, Amchi Hospital is a traditional medicine center and place to cure the illnesses of locals.

Chunuwar is a popular stopover for people trekking towards the Shey Phoksundo Lake. It has several comfortable teahouses and lodges where people can rest and recharge. We will settle in for a night at one of the cozy teahouses in Chunuwar.

+550 meters, 6-8 kilometers

After an initial breakfast in Chunuwar, we will set off to trek towards the alpine Phoksundo Lake. The trail ascends gradually alongside the Phoksundo River upstream and winds through the forests of pine, cedars, birch, and rhododendrons. These forests are seen as colorful and vibrant in spring when the flowers are in full bloom. You will encounter the enchanting waterfall that originated as an outflow of the Phoksundo Lake. Take a refreshing break at this waterfall and grab the photo opportunity.

Next, you will reach Palam, which is a winter settlement of people from Ringmo. Continuing further on steep, narrow paths, you will enter an alpine environment with sparse vegetation. Finally, you will reach the Ringmo village, which is nestled near the Southern shores of Phoksundo Lake. Ringmo is a Tibetan-style village with a unique Bonpo culture. In Rigmo, you can see mud-coated chortens and mani walls. We will spend the night at a traditional teahouse in this village.

Today, we will spend the day resting, acclimatizing, and exploring at Ringmo village. After breakfast, you can leisurely walk around the narrow alleys lined with traditional houses in the village and interact with the local communities. This will help you learn and understand the distinctive culture and religion of the place. Get insights into the day-to-day life of people and unique Bonpo practices. Return to the teahouse after some time and enjoy your lunch. After taking some rest, we will visit Phoksundo Lake.

From Rigmo, it is a short walk to Phoksundo Lake. This Lake is sacred to the followers of Buddhism and the Bonpo religion. The captivating and peaceful Phoksundo Lake is the perfect blend of natural and cultural significance. Soak into the turquoise color and pristine water of Phoksundo Lake, encircled by the surreal vistas of the mountains. After enjoying the tranquil surroundings of the glittering lake and panoramic views seen from there, we will also visit the century-old Bon monastery (Tshowa) above this lake. We will get back to the Rigmo village, descending gradually, and reside in our cozy teahouse accommodation.

+90 meters, 14 kilometers

The Phoksundo to Sallaghari trek takes you into the more remote and wilderness regions, encountering untouched landscapes. From Ringmo, today we will head towards the northeast to the Sallaghari. Leaving the village, we will follow the rocky trails of the rugged mountainous terrains. We will ascend gradually through the narrow hillside routes.

We will climb the cliffs above the Phoksundo Lake and descend by the vibrant forests to reach the other side of the lake. Passing throug the wide alpine meadows and crossing several small streams, we will finally reach Sallaghari. Sallaghari is a high-altitude pasture land offering a serene alpine environment. It has a few teahouses to accommodate the trekkers. We will spend an overnight in one of the traditional teahouses in Sallaghari.

+950 meters, 10 kilometers

From Sallaghari, we will trek towards Nangda La High Camp, traversing adventurous high-altitude terrains far from beaten paths. You will ascend gradually through the rocks, narrow ridges, and steep slopes. Then, you will follow the trails of the Tuk Kyaksa River and cross a bridge over it. After trekking for around two and a half hours, we will reach the Nangda La High Camp. Nangda La High Camp is near the base of Nangda La Pass. At the sheltered flat area of the massive rock, we will set up a camp for the night.

+610 meters, -1,007 meters, 13-15 kilometers, 8-10 hours

We will start trekking from the Nangda La High Camp early in the morning. This will allow us enough time to cross the pass and reach Shey Gompa before dark. We will start by ascending steeply over the graveled trails towards the Nangda La Pass. The top of Nangda La Pass rewards you with breathtaking views of the Dolpo landscapes. You can also see the sacred Crystal Mountain and other surrounding peaks. Descend from the pass slowly and follow the trails that meander across the moorlands, rocky terrains, and rivers. Slowly, the Shey Gompa approaches with lush greenery.

You will walk past the red chorten to enter Shey Gompa. As per the Tibetan calendar, in Shey Gompa, the Shey festival is celebrated every dragon year (12 years). After reaching the village, take time to explore the surroundings before it gets dark. For the night, we will retreat to the cozy teahouse in the village.

+654 meters, -640 meters, 12-14 kilometers, 6-8 hours

We will leave the Shey Gompa and gradually ascend towards the Shey La Pass. We will walk alongside Sephu Khola for a few hours and follow the steep rocky trails to reach the top of Shey La Pass. From the pass, you can see the astounding vistas of lush hills, deep valleys, and snow-covered mountains. Descending gradually for about 2 hours will take you to Namgung village. You can explore the Tibetan-style houses and ancient Namgung Monastery in the village. Take in the peaceful atmosphere of the village before going to bed.

-300 meters, +500 meters, 18-20 kilometers

After breakfast in Namgung, we will head towards Sibu village, descending gradually. We will take the trails that meander alongside the Nam Khong Nala River. The routes are well-trodden and straightforward. After passing a few summer herding spots, we will reach the Saldang village, which is the largest in the inner Dolpo. The arid landscapes of the village are encircled by the lush hills. We will enjoy lunch and explore the village for a while. You can interact with the local people for depth into their history, culture, religion, traditional practices, and unique attire.

From Saldang, we will ascend through steep high-altitude terrains and descend gently to Sibu. Enroute, we will walk past the religious landmarks like mani walls, chortens, prayer wheels, Chaiba Monastery, and Namdo Monastery. This village is near a river with a tranquil environment. We will spend a night at this picturesque village.

+10 meter, 8-10 kilometers

We will leave the Sibu village after breakfast and ascend gradually by the river. We will enter into more remote mountainuous landscapes. We will pass through alpine pastures, where you can see the camps of yak herders. A slight ascend over the steep rocky trails will reach us to the rugged beauty of Lagmo Che.

+540 meters, -901 meters, 15 kilometers

We will start to ascend from the Lagmo Che towards Jeng La Pass. We will cross this pass as we crossed the previous two passes. From the top of Jeng La Pass, you can see the Dhaulagiri ranges at a faraway distance. Descending from the rocky pass, you will enter into grassy pastures and finally to Tokyu. Tokyu is a quaint village located in the Tarap Valley. We wil rest and recharge at the Tokyu after a long day, challenging trek.

-459 meters, 12-15 kilometers

Leaving Tokyu, we will descend slowly through Tarap Valley towards Sisaul village. We will follow the trails alongside the Tarap Chu River. The trails are generally straightforward, which will take us to Dho Tarap. We will spend some time exploring the Dho Tarap. We will visit some notable places like Bhumpa Gompa and Shipchok Gompa. Then, we will descend through the terraced fields and small settlements to reach the Sisual village for an overnight stay.

-380 meters, 15-18 kilometers

We will leave Sisaul village and head towards Laina Odar, following the Tarap Chu River downstream. We will trek downhill through several small traditional settlements and yak pasture lands. Trekking further, we will traverse the narrow gorges, and after a few hours, we will reach Laina Odar. Laina Odar is a picturesque settlement near the Tarap River. We will unwind and settle for a night here.

-980 meters, 12-15 kilometers

Today, we will trek downhill from Laina Odar to Lingdo. We will walk along the banks of Trap River as we make our way towards Lingdo. Further descending through small Georges, we will navigate some steep sections of the trail. Enroute, we will walk past villages like Nawarpani and Tarakot. We will continue descending towards Lingdo, crossing small rivers and passing through the terraced fields. Finally, we will arrive at Lingdo for an overnight stay.

-250 meters, 12-14 kilometers

After breakfast, we will descend from Lingdo along the Tarap River. Initially, we will traverse the rocky trails and gradually reach the greenery surroundings of lush trees and colorful terraced fields. On the way, we pass through Byasgar, where we will stop for a short lunch break. From Byasgar, we will follow the descending trails and finally reach Dunai.

Dunai is situated beside the shores of the Thuli Bheri River. It is the headquarters of the Dolpa, with schools, colleges, government offices, and a police station. Dubai is more facilitated with vibrant markets, a range of shops, and established hotels. We will enjoy a mouthwatering dinner and sleep cozily at a nice hotel in Dunai.

Dunai to Jhupal is the last trek of our Upper Dolpo trekking journey. We will retrace our footsteps as we trek towards Jhupal. We will follow the captivating trails alongside the Bheri River and traverse the lush forests and terraced farmlands once again. Passing through the villages like Rupgad and Kalagaonda, we will finally return back to Jhupal.

After arriving at Jhupal, you will have your lunch and take a rest for a while. During the remaining time, you can explore the village and do whatever you want to. Make the necessary packing for the next day’s flight to Kathmandu before retreating to bed.

After waking up in Jhupal early in the morning, we will savor our breakfast. Soon after, we will set off for the Juphal Airport to catch a morning flight to Nepalgunj. We will fly early to take advantage of the clear morning weather. After half an hour, we will land at the Nepalgunj Airport. Before your next flight schedule, you can explore the beautiful Nepalgunj city.

We will board the next flight from Nepalgunj to TIA airport in Kathmandu. After landing in Kathmandu, our 18-day adventurous trek of Upper Dolpo comes to an end. We will transfer you to your hotel and hope to hear from you soon for the next adventure.