Trip Overview

Dolpo lies in the north-west region of Nepal (situated behind the Dhaulagiri massif & its range); a trans-Himalayan regionis one of the most remote and least explored areas of Nepal although the region was opened in 1989 for trekking group only not for individual FITS (Which is only organized through Government Registered Trekking Company). The topography, the people in this region have preserved their lifestyle remaining almost untouched by the trappings of modern society / modern civilization. This trek is an opportunity to meet people who follow a lifestyle that goes back centuries. Dolpa was popularized by Eric Valli’s film “Caravan, also known as Himalaya too” which was nominated for an Oscar Awards in 2003! The people of Dolpo are of Tibetan origin and maintain their Tibetan culture with monasteries that follow closely the Buddhism of Tibet. The trek is enlivened by the sight of yak caravans that even today travel long distances through difficult terrain to barter goods. The people of Dolpo have a primitive lifestyle with their own dialect and culture. During this wonderful trek you can visit several unique monasteries (Gompa), deep blue Lake, cascading waterfalls, spectacular mountain views of Dhaulagiri and Kanjirowa Himal. A special permit is required for this trek which can be obtained only from the local trekking operator, which is must be Government Registered Company. The Dolpo trekking takes place through the high rugged mountainous valley which requires some previous trekking experience to enjoy this trek. This region is very poor, least rainfall, far from the development works, isolated for a long time due its border with Tibet/China, very far from capital city of Nepal & so on. From the pass on a clear day, you will see the Shey Shikar (6,139 m), Kanjirowa and Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m). At Phoksundo Lake, we see views across the valley to the huge waterfall formed by the Phoksundo Lake, Tarakot is an old fortress known by the local people as Dzhong.

Outline Itinerary

  • Day 1

    Arrive in Kathmandu (1,350 m)

  • Day 2

    Sightseeing in Kathmandu

  • Day 3

    Flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj

  • Day 4

    Flight to Juphal /Jufal

  • Day 5

    Trek from Dunai to Tarakot (2,550 m /5 hrs)

  • Day 6

    Trek Tarakot to Khanigaon (2,550 m)

  • Day 7

    Trek from Khanigaon to Chukore (about 3,550 m / 5 hrs)

  • Day 8

    Trek from Chukore to Kamokharka (4,000 m / 4-5 hrs)

  • Day 9

    Trek from Kamokharka to Dho (4,130 m /5 hrs)

  • Day 10

    Trek from Dho to Num- La Camp (4,350 m /5-6 hrs)

  • Day 11

    Trek from Num- La Camp to Bang- La Camp (4,500 m /5 hrs)

  • Day 12

    Trek from Bang- La Camp to Sanu Bheri valley (4,600 m/ 6-7 hrs)

  • Day 13

    Trek from Sanu Bheri valley to Phoksundo Lake / Ringmo (3,730 m / 5-6 hrs)

  • Day 14

    Trek from Ringmo to Renje (3,010m / 5-6 hrs)

  • Day 15

    Trek from Renje to Sepak (2,670 m / 5 hrs)

  • Day 16

    Trek from Sepak to Dunai (2,150 m / 5-6 hrs)

  • Day 17

    Trek from Dunai to Juful (2,400 m / 4 hrs)

  • Day 18

    Flight to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj

  • Day 19

    Airport Transfer

Detailed Itinerary

  • Day 1

    Arrive in Kathmandu (1,350 m)

    Our Airport representative will meet you at Kathmandu Airport then transfer to a centrally located hotel in Kathmandu, we provide 3-star level accommodation.
  • Day 2

    Sightseeing in Kathmandu

    On this day, we visit Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath temple (Monkey temple), both of them are UNESCO Heritage sites.
  • Day 3

    Flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj

    Final preparation for Dolpo trek during the day, afternoon flight to Nepalgunj, which takes 50 minutes, Nepalgunj is situated in the western Terai (the lowland of Nepal) bordering to India, where is the highest temperature in Nepal in Summer (June- August).We will explored in & around Nepalgunj in the evening & wait for next morning Flight to Juphal /Jufal, overnight at hotel.
  • Day 4

    Flight to Juphal /Jufal

    Once we land at a mountain Airstrip (STOL) at Jufal. The trail descends to the large village of Dangi Bhrara and to Kala Gaud. The trail follows close to the river on its south bank and reaches Roop Ghar with the water - powered mill and simple lodges before reaching the town of Dunai, a district headquarters for Dolpa featuring a large village with a schools, police check post and local government offices.
  • Day 5

    Trek from Dunai to Tarakot (2,550 m /5 hrs)

    Following the trail eastward along the south bank of the Thulo Bheri and crossing north bank beyond Dunai and then south bank reach to Lawan finally reach to Tarakot in 5 hrs after a very beautiful scenic walk.
  • Day 6

    Trek Tarakot to Khanigaon (2,550 m)

    After a few ups and downs, you will cross the high suspension bridge at 2,560 meters. Just above the bridge, you will see Tarap Chu joins the Barbung Khola and then reach Khanigaon, a secluded village complete with a Gompa (monastery).
  • Day 7

    Trek from Khanigaon to Chukore (about 3,550 m / 5 hrs)

    From Khanigaon, the trail leads to Lihini. Now the trail continues sometimes on stone stairways and sometimes on a twisting bare-earth and reaches to the high point about 3,550 m. From here, the trail slops down to Chukore.
  • Day 8

    Trek from Chukore to Kamokharka (4,000 m / 4-5 hrs)

    Beyond Chukore, the trail slopes down to Naurpani. Crossing several streams and bridges, passing the series of low caves the trail slopes down into the large yak pasture of Kamokharka.
  • Day 9

    Trek from Kamokharka to Dho (4,130 m /5 hrs)

    After Kamokharka, the trail continues across the meadow crossing several little streams and a wooden bridge along the line of Mani walls leads to the village. We walk through the Trans-Himalayan landscape the whole day before we reach the village of Dho.
  • Day 10

    Trek from Dho to Num- La Camp (4,350 m /5-6 hrs)

    We head west out of Dho village passing stone houses until we reach the Crystal Mountain School. Beyond the school, the trail leads uphill to the Tok-Khyu village (4,180 m). Then the trail crosses the Tarap Khola to Reach Num- La Camp.
  • Day 11

    Trek from Num- La Camp to Bang- La Camp (4,500 m /5 hrs)

    The route crosses a small stream and makes a long climb along a moraine to Numa -La (5,318 m). From the pass, on a clear day, we will see the Shey Shikar (6,139 m), Kanjirowa and Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m). From there, we descend from the pass into the U-shaped rocky valley and reach to Bang- La Camp.
  • Day 12

    Trek from Bang- La Camp to Sanu Bheri valley (4,600 m/ 6-7 hrs)

    The trail crosses the stream then climbs a slope to reach the Poyun Chu valley and Banga - La (5,190 m). We descend from the pass and cross the stream and slope down the right-hand mountainside, finally reaching Sanu Bheri valley.
  • Day 13

    Trek from Sanu Bheri valley to Phoksundo Lake / Ringmo (3,730 m / 5-6 hrs)

    We follow the trail down to the meadow then descend into a forest and reach a yak pasture. We then, trek through more meadows, forests, and a yak pasture then climb on a high cliff side trail to a ridge at 3,780 m. There are good views across the valley to the huge waterfall formed by the Phoksundo Lake. From here, the trail descends gently through a blue pine forest and reaches Ringmo (3,730 m) near the shores of Phoksundo Lake.
  • Day 14

    Trek from Ringmo to Renje (3,010m / 5-6 hrs)

    Leaving Ringmo, we follow a steep descent to the Suligad river valley, before descending we experience the high mountain of Kanjirowa and other mountains, we further descend to Sumdo then stop for lunch, the trek is now an easy descend to the Suligad river valley on the dense forest of oaks, juniper and rhododendrons.
  • Day 15

    Trek from Renje to Sepak (2,670 m / 5 hrs)

    We continue walking into the highly forested part of the Phoksundo National Park, we will not see the high mountain but the walk traverses through a splendid natural environment that includes hearing the songs of birds, crossing rivers and encountering the wildlife of the parks. Sepak is located on the river bank where we will camp for the overnight.
  • Day 16

    Trek from Sepak to Dunai (2,150 m / 5-6 hrs)

    Today, we take only a four hour walk to Dunai, the trek passes through Hunku where we leave the Phoksundo National Park, as soon as we leave the park the trail leads us through farmland with cultivated terrace. From there, we continuously follow the river Suligad then join the Bheri River at Dunai.
  • Day 17

    Trek from Dunai to Juful (2,400 m / 4 hrs)

    From Dunai, we first follow the Bheri River for about 2 hrs then take a step climb for 2hrs from Rupgad to Jufal, on this walk we pass by a typical Nepali village of the mid -west of Nepal.
  • Day 18

    Flight to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj

    We take an early morning flight to Nepalgunj from Juphal and after transit to Nepalgunj Airport our flight departs around 4 pm in the evening for Kathmandu. Before our flight, we will have the time to explore Nepalgunj by Rickshaw.
  • Day 19

    Airport Transfer

    Our Airport representative will transfer you to the airport at the given.

Trip Info

Cost Includes

  1. Airport picks up & drops off by private vehicle
  2. 3 Nights hotel accommodation in Kathmandu in B/B basis at standard hotel (Tibet Guest House or similar)
  3. A full day sightseeing in Kathmandu (private vehicle & city tour guide)
  4. Both ways flights in between (Kathmandu-Nepalganj-Jufal & Jufal-Nepalgunj-Kathmandu)
  5. All domestic airport taxes
  6. Private vehicle transfer from (hotel-airport-hotel)
  7. A private bus travel to transfer trekking staffs & camping, kitchen equipment to Nepalganj & Jufal/Juphal & the same way   bring back to Kathmandu & other necessary surface travel cost
  8. All meal (three time a day) breakfast, lunch & dinner w/ tea, coffee/boiled water during trekking
  9. An English speaking guide
  10. Necessary numbers of  porters, chef, kitchen staffs & Sherpa
  11. All camping equipment, cooking utensil & fuel
  12. Wages, equipment & other required facilities for  trekking staffs
  13. 3 weeks  special trekking permit & Shey Phoksundo National Park entry permit
  14. All government & local taxes
  15. All official paper works
  16. Insurance/Security for supporting staffs/ all the local staffs.
  17. Emergency /Rescue evacuation arrangement & pre-deposit service (porter`s back, horse`s back & helicopter), in case of required or someone wanted

Cost Excludes

  1. Monument/temples entry fees in Kathmandu while sightseeing
  2. Travel Insurance, Nepal visa & photos
  3.  Meals in Kathmandu (lunch & dinner)
  4. Personal trekking equipment (mattress, sleeping bags /down jacket, trekking boots) beverage, alcoholic drinks, telephone   bills & laundry service
  5. Personal nature expenses
  6. Tipping for trekking staffs
  7. Rescue & helicopter charter cost/charge, in case of emergency while on trek
  8. Others than what are included.

 

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Dolpo Trek-Num La Pass