Upper Dolpo Trekking

Detail Itinerary

• Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu airport and transfer to hotel.

  When you arrive to Tribhuvan International Airport, a representative from Crystal Himalaya will see you at the airport and take you to your hotel. In the evening, we brief you on the upcoming trek. Overnight at hotel.

• Day 02: Sightseeing of Kathmandu valley and acquire permits.

  After breakfast, we brief you on our upcoming adventure and welcome you to a sightseeing tour around Kathmandu, including its famous UNESCO World Heritage sites. Spend the rest of the day preparing for your upcoming trek and exploring the capital city. Overnight in hotel.

• Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and transfer to hotel

  Board a flight from domestic airport in Kathmandu and fly to Nepalgunj, a blazing hot city in the Terai region, on the edge of the border with India. Wander the streets before embarking on the long awaited journey the following day. You will notice that Nepalgunj has a different vibe than Kathmandu. Overnight in a guest house.

• Day 04: Fly from Nepalgunj to Juphal, trek to Dunai (2140m)

  Take one more flight from Nepalgunj to Juphal to start the foot journey. Become filled with glee as the plane lands at the foot of the Himalaya. Begin the walk toward Dunai, a nice village nestled in the mountains. Overnight in Dunai.

• Day 05: Trek from Dunai to Ankhe (2800m), 5-6 hours

  Depart from Dunai after breakfast, crossing a suspension bridge to do so. The well-marked trail leads past a hospital and leads up the barren Thulo Bheri Valley and then enters the Phoksundo River Valley. Soak up the sweet views of Kagmara Peak towering over the valley. Through small villages and fertile fields (including walnut groves!), we reach our destination. Overnight in Ankhe

• Day 06: Trek from Ankhe to Sulighat (3500m), 5-6 hours

  After breakfast, take the up and down trail as it follows the forested riverbank. The day is not so strenuous, so take your time relaxing in the forest and beside the river. Eventually, the trail leaves the forest and enters a gorgeous grassy meadow, to a cliff. We descend via a steep staircase and again trek along the riverbank to Sulighat. Overnight in Sulighat

• Day 07: Trek from Sulighat to Phoksundo Lake (3610m), 4-5 hours

  Have a tasty breakfast and look forward to one of the best days of the trek. Today, we see the glorious Phoksundo Lake. Cruise through the valley to the confluence of the Phoksundo Khola (River) and the Pungmo Khola. Cross a bridge to the western side of the Pungmo Khola. Keep walking through forests to Palam village, where we ascend to a ridge and get our first glimpses of Phoksundo Lake. We reach Ringmo village, the small settlement that lies nearby the lake. See their charming chortens and mani walls that surround the village. Overnight at Phoksundo Lake

• Day 08: Rest day at Phoksundo Lake

  Wake up excited to spend the day exploring Shey Phoksundo Lake. If you have a desire, we can walk part of the famous Demon’s Trail, as shown in the movie Himalaya (Caravan) by Eric Valli. The Demon’s Trail is a route that traders have used for hundreds of years to bring salt from Tibet using their yaks. It’s a scenic route, tracing the upper rim of the lake. However, some parts are a bit dangerous and prone to landslides so we use caution. Otherwise, there is a Bon Po Monastery at the other side of the lake that we can visit. Check out the statue of Tonpa Shenrab Miwo, the founder of the Bon Po religion, who lived about 1,000 years ago. Overnight at Phoksundo Lake.

• Day 09: Trek from Phoksundo Lake to Phoksundo Khola, 4-5 hours

  We say goodbye to this magnificent place before heading out on today’s path. The trail climbs along the rocky edge of the western shore of the lake. The trail is rather unmaintained at many points – a testament to how remote this area really is. Leaving the lake, we enter a valley and walk through it to the bank of the Phoksundo Khola (River). Overnight here

• Day 10: Trek from Phoksundo Khola to Phoksundo Bhanjyang, 6-7 hours

  Today, we trek further into the remote Dolpo district. The even trail through the glacial valley leads us to the north. We have a long and steady climb up to a sheep grazing meadow, from where the trail heads even steeper upward. We arrive to a valley with amazing views of the Kang La Pass, which we cross the next day. Throughout the day, we also get stunning views of Chhamlang Peak 6 (6739m) and Peak 7 (6150m). Overnight in Phoksundo Bhanjyang.
  
  

• Day 11: Trek from Phoksundo Bhanjyang to Shey Gompa (4500 meters) via Kang La Pass (5360m), 6 hours

  Time to ascend through the pass! It’s an exhausting ascent, but the views from the top are unbelievable. See pristine snow-capped peaks in the distance, and the expansive valley down beneath you. After spending some awesome moments at the top, we zigzag to the valley floor through yak and mountain goat grazing meadows. After a few more hours, we arrive to Shey Gompa. Overnight here.

• Day 12: Rest day at Shey Gompa, explore Crystal Monastery

  It’s already been an incredible journey on the Upper Dolpo Trek. Take today to relax and feel the positive mountain vibes. Shey Gompa is too cool of a village to just breeze through. We visit Shey Gompa, which was built in 1655 and has a copper and gold gilded statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. East of the gompa is Crystal Mountain, noted for its distinctive structure and deposits of quartz and marine fossils. Also, explore the unique Bon Po religion followed by the locals. Overnight in Shey Gompa

• Day 13: Trek from Shey Gompa to Namduna Gaun (4800m) via Saldang La Pass (5200m), 7 hours.

  Leave Shey Gompa after breakfast. We proceed through juniper trees into a colorless, yet majestic canyon. The path ascends steeply on a very rugged trail to the top of the Saldang La Pass. The views from the top are (unsurprisingly) breathtaking. Descend past grazing pastures and groups of nomads to Namduna Gaun. Check out the red stone monastery before the sun goes down, it’s an awesome place. Overnight in Namuda Gaun

• Day 14: Trek from Namduna Gaun to Saldang (3620m), 5 hours.

  Visit the monastery one more time if you want before departing from Namduna Gaun. A long, through the desolate alpine landscape leads up to a high plateau above the Namga Khola. Down below, we see the sprawling village of Saldang, where we end up after a couple hours of descending. For the area, Saldang is a prosperous village due to its position along the ancient Tibetan salt trade route. Overnight in Saldang.

• Day 15: Trek from Saldang to Yangze Gompa (4960m), 5 hours.

  Once again, we climb higher towards the heavens for amazing views, surrounded by untamed landscape throughout the day. The ascent is gradual, with some minor downhills in between. Move through Marang and Ki villages, stopping to say hi and have a tea if you’d like. After crossing the Panzang River twice, we arrive to Yangze Gompa, where there is an old Bon Po Monastery. Overnight in Yangze Gompa.

• Day 16: Trek from Yangze Gompa to Sibu (4560m), 6 hours.

  We briefly retrace our steps to Saldang, passing charming signs of Buddhism and Bon Po along the way. Then, divert to Namdo, a sloped village along the Nam Khong Khola.A few more hours of trekking along the bank of the river leads us to the small settlement of Sibu. Overnight here.

• Day 17: Trek from Sibu to Jeng La Phedi (4900m), 5 hours.

  We trek along the Nam Khong Khola for some time, where it is common to share the trail with caravans of yaks making their way towards the Tibetan border. After shifting east and hiking for a while, we arrive at a confluence of two trickling streams. The trail makes a steep upward turn to a grazing area below the Jeng La Pass. We set up camp in this picturesque spot. Overnight in Jeng La Phedi.

• Day 18: Trek from Jeng La Phedi to Tokyu Gaon (4200m) via Jeng La Pass (5090m), 6 hours.

  To cross the pass with the most favorable weather, we wake up earlier today. It takes two draining hours to reach the top, but the views are priceless. You can see the massive north face of the Dhaulagiri massif. Snap some photos and take in the views. Go down to the Tarap Valley on the rough trail. The valley is huge and full of natural wonder. Overnight in Tokyu Gaon

• Day 19: Trek from Tokyu Gaon to Dho Tarap (4040m), 4 hours.

  We descend through the valley, seeing little green patches of oasis along the way. It’s not a long or strenuous journey today, so absord the cultural and natural beauty around you. Overnight in Dho Tarap.

• Day 20: Rest and exploration day in Dho Tarap.

  Take the day sleep in, relax, and wonder around the culturally fascinating village of Dho Tarap. We go on some day hikes, as well as visit the Buddhist monastery in the village, and/or the Bon Po monastery about 40 minutes from the village. Overnight in Dho Tarap.
  
  

• Day 21: Trek from Dho Tara to Tarap Khola (Kamakharka) (3800m), 6 hours.

  From Tarap we trek down to a wide valley which eventually narrows into a gorge. Enjoy hiking alongside juniper and wild rose bushes near the tree line. On today’s trail, it is likely we see herds of blue sheep. Three-fourths of the way through the journey, we reach the confluence of the Tarap Chu and the Lang Khola, which joins the Tarap River from further east. We set up camp in an amazing spot along the Tarap Khola, a place also known as Kamakharka. Overnight here.

• Day 22: Trek from Tarap Khola to Khanigaon (3150m), 5 hours.

  Keep hiking through the gorge of the Tarap River, sharing greetings and smiles with locals along the way. Despite all we have seen so far, this is one of the most exciting days of the Upper Dolpo Trek. The gorge is so narrow that at some places it is possible to jump from one side to the other, an exhilarating experience considering how deep it is. There are plenty of thrills throughout the day, from crossing raging rivers, to walking the pathless plateau. Overnight in Khanigaon.

• Day 23: Trek from Khanigaon to Tarakot (2340m), 4-5 hours.

  Pack up camp in the morning and hit the trail. We first pass through a village called Lalberi, where we can stop for a tea or snack. Continue through a verdant forest, then descend into a gorge, from where we let the river guide us. We reach Tarakot in the early afternoon with plenty of time to explore the Sandul Gompa. The scenic monastery lies 8km from the village on an isolated hilltop. Then head back and relax. Overnight in Tarakot.
  
  

• Day 24: Trek from Tarakot to Dunai, 5-6 hours

  Have a filling meal and start towards Dunai. The journey is nearing its end and we hope you have made some unforgettable memories with us. We trek along the Bheri River and take the easy trail all the way to Dunai. Much of the trail lies in a gorge surrounded by refreshing pine trees. Overnight in Dunai.

• Day 25: Trek from Dunai to Juphal, 2-3 hours.

  It’s the last day of the trekking part of the Upper Dolpo Trek. We enjoy the last of this otherworldly landscape. Pass through Dhupichaur, Rupgad and other villages on the way to Juphal. The small village has a tiny airstrip, from where we fly out the following day. Overnight in Juphal.

• Day 26: Fly from Juphal to Nepalgunj in the morning, then fly to Kathmandu.

  After breakfast, take a morning flight to Nepalgunj from Juphal, and there will be a layover in Nepalgunj before the next flight to Kathmandu. Enjoy the scenic mountain views during the flight. Spend the rest of the day sightseeing or taking a well-deserved rest. Overnight in hotel.
  
  

• Day 27: Leisure Day in Kathmandu.

  Spend the day resting, shopping, sightseeing, or however you wish to spend it! Overnight in hotel in Kathmandu.

• Day 28: Departure from Nepal

  We take you to Tribhuvan Airport to leave from Nepal. Thank you for choosing Crystal Himalaya Treks and Expedition as your guide! Hope to see you soon.