Upper Dolpo Trek Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival Day

Personal welcome at Kathmandu Airport and transfer to your hotel in the tourist district of Thamel. After a short briefing on our trip plans you will be able to go out to explore the local temples and markets. 

Day 2 - Kathmandu City Tour

After breakfast we will tour the city, visiting many of the “City of Temples” historic landmarks including Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, and the stunning Boudhanath Stupa.

Day 3 - Kathmandu to Juphal & Suligadh (2070m)

We will take fly to the far western city Nepalgunj and then onwards over the Himalayan foothills, with views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri peaks until we reach the small airport at the village of Juphal. Once we arrive and meet our porters with all of our camping gear and we’ll head off to our first camp site in Suligadh a few hours walk down into the valley. 2 - 3 hours trekking. 

Day 4 - Suligadh to Renje (3000m)

Today our adventure really begins as we follow our trail and the Phoksundo Khola up the valley into the Himalayas. We will pass horse pastures and tiny herders settlements before  making our way up the ever narrowing valley to our camp site at Renje. 6 hours trekking.

Day 5 - Renje to Ringmo Village (3640m)

We continue up the valley, passing through forest until we reach the small Tibetan village of Sunduwa. After an hours climbing up from the valley floor we will be rewarded with the spectacular view of the 200 metre high waterfall that flows down from the lake above. From here the trail flattens our and we have a nice walk into the beautiful village of Ringmo and the amazing turquoise waters of the famous Lake Phoksundo. 6 hours trekking.

Day 6 - Ringmo Village

We have a day in Ringmo to explore the Lake and visit the beautiful old Buddhist monasteries. At almost 4000 metres of altitude an extra day will also help us acclimatise for the trek ahead of us. 

Day 7 - Ringmo to Phoksundo Khola (3620m)

Today we will traverse alongside of Phoksundo Lake along the precarious trail made famous in the Dolpo set film “Himalayan Caravan”. We will take our time to climb along the  rock cut trail that gives us the most spectacular views of the deep blue lake below and white peaks surrounding us. We will stop and camp on the shores of the lake head amongst the beautiful old birch trees and the green valley meadows. 4 - 5 hours trekking.

Day 8 - Phoksundo Khola to Kangla Phedi (4120m)

Our day starts with a nice gradual hike up the river valley underneath the high glaciated peaks above. We leave this pretty valley to climb steeply up a narrow gully towards our first mountain pass, Lang La, which we will cross tomorrow. The gulley eventually widens to an alpine basin where we have enough flat ground and a small stream where we will make a camp for the night. 6 hours trekking.

Day 9 - Kangla Phedi to Shey Gompa (4160m)

We will wake to stunning views back across the valley to the 6600 metre peak of Kanjeralwa. Ahead of us we will climb up a small gully and that is followed by a long scramble to the top of the 5360m Kangla pass. Will will cross the pass have get to enjoy the much easier walk down the valley all the way down to the sacred settlement of Shey Gompa. 6 -7 hours trekking.

Day 10 - Shey Gompa Rest Day

After a few long days we will rest and explore around Shey Gompa. This holy place is home to the famous Crystal monastery a few hours walk from the village. On the flanks of the quarts filled Crystal Mountain this monastery that is built into the cliff face is sometine special to see. We will be able to put our feet up for the afternoon to relax and enjoy some Tibetan tea before to continue on our way tomorrow. 3 hour walk.

Day 11 - Shey Gompa to Namgung (4430m)

Our trail climb back up the barren ridge line towards our second pass of Saldang La today. Once we cross the bland arid landscape we will descend down until we see the colourful reds and whites of the monastery and stupa as we approach the village of Namgung. 6 -7 hours trekking. 

Day 12 - Namgung to Saldang (4620m)

Today we will make our way to the largest village in the Upper Dolpo, the trading settlement of Saldand. Our trail leads us up and along the desert like slopes of the high Trans Himalayan Tibetan mountains until we can see the picturesque settlement of Saldang. The people of Saldang still trade salt and animals with Tibet over the high seasonal passes as they have for centuries before. 4 -5 hours trekking.

Day 13 - Saldang to Yangze (4960m)

From Saldang we will venture further north to one of the least explored areas of Dolpo where very few foreigners ever go. We will follow the trail across the windswept barren landscape through the tiny settlements of Tiling and Luri till we reach to our camp site at Yangze. Here we will find the ancient and beautiful Bon-Po Monastery where we will have the afternoon to explore and take in the significance of this timeless place. 4 - 5 hours trekking.

Day 14 - Yangze to Sibu (4560m)

Today we retrace our steps back to Saldang and then continue south towards the next big village of Dho Tarap. Our trail takes up a long river valley past buddhist stupas, chortens and mani stones, a monastery and through Namdo village before we make our camp at the small settlement of Sibu for the night. 7 hours trekking.

Day 15 - Sibu to Jyantala Phedi (4700m)

Our trail continues up the Nam Khong Khola river before we begin our climb towards the pass, up a stream and onto the high alpine grasslands where we will camp for the night. 

Day 16 - Jyantala Phedi to Dho Tarap (4080m)

In the morning we just a couple of hours walking to reach the top of the pass where we will be rewarded with some amazing mountain views. After a rest we will descend down into the steep valley but will eventually emerge to the beautiful open green fields of the Tarap Valley. As we enjoy the easier walk we will pass small herders settlements and old monasteries that dot the landscape. At the bottom of the valley at the confluence of two rivers we will find the picturesque village of Dho Tarap. Once we drop our bags and take a rest we will have time to visit the beautiful old Ribobhumpa Monastery perched up on the hillside. 7 hours trekking.

Day 17 - Dho Tarap Rest Day

After two weeks trekking we will be in great need of the rest day to ralax our bodies and replenish our energy levels. Dho Tarap is a beautiful valley to explore with the nearby village of Shipchok  and the monastery at Dero well worth a look. 

Day 18 - Dho Tarap to Nawarpani (3470m)

Todays trek takes us down the Tarap Khola that starts our nice and wide but becomes narrow and wild as the trail squeezes between the surrounding peaks.This trail can be slow and difficult but their are a few nice meadows where we can rest and camp. 7 hours trekking.

Day 19 - Nawarpani to Laisi (2770m)

Although we are nearing the end out our trek the Himalayas are not done with us yet. Our trail continues down the rugged valley and will test our endurance as we make our was through the wilderness towards relative civilisation ahead of us. This remote trail might offer us a sighting of the the illusive Blue Sheep that are often found in these far flung parts of the Himalayas. 6 hours trekking.

Day 20 - Laisi to Tarakot (2540m)

Are we trek down the valley to lower altitudes we find ourselves walking through green forest and  terraces fields like what we haven't seen for weeks. We will reach the beautiful  old walled village of Tarakot where we will stay for the night. 6 hours walking.

Day 21 - Tarakot to Dunai (2150m)

From Tarakot we have an easy days walk to the bustling little town of Dunai that is the capital of the Dolpo District. We will reach here with plenty of time for you to take your boots off and rest your feet with the first bottle of beer you will have seen in the long time. 

Day 22 - Dunai to Juphal (2500m)

Our last day trekking is just a short climb back up to the village and airport of Juphal. Tomorrow morning we will fly from here back to Kathmandu.

Day 23 - Juphal to Kathmandu 

Flight to Nepalgunj and onto Kathmandu. We will meet up for a final dinner together before we have to say goodbye. 

Day 24  - Departure

Transfer to Kathmandu Airport. 

Note - If the above itinerary does not meet your needs we can easily adjust this to suit your travel requirements.