Upper Dolpo Trek

Duration: 24 Days   
Trip Details
  • Destination: Nepal

Highlights

  • Adventurous trail.
  • Stunning scenery.
  • Rich culture and tradition influenced by Tibetan religion.
  • Extremely kind, hospitable, and welcoming locals.
  • Spectacular views of Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Nilgiri, and Thorung Peak.
  • Observe the deepest gorge of the world, Kali Gandaki Gorge.
  • Explore the holiest sites of Hindus, Muktinath Temple. 

Upper Dolpo Trek will take you to one of the secluded regions of Nepal where you will find ancient traditions and culture. The Upper Dolpo Trek is known as a challenging and adventurous trek. For decades, trekking in Upper Dolpo was closed to foreigners, and still some parts of the Dolpo are restricted, and special permission from the government of Nepal is required to trek to this region. The trail will lead you to trek on high Himalayan terrain. Trekking above Phoksundo Lake in Shey Phoksundo National Park requires authorized permission by the government of Nepal.

The entire region is highly influenced by the Tibetan religion, norms, and values. Upper Dolpo is yet not touched by modern amenities. Even in this time of the human era, people of Upper Dolpo live the same life as they used to live hundreds of years back. Upper Dolpo is inhabited by the Drokpas, Tibetan nomads, who have been living there for 1000 years. During the Upper Dolpo Trek, you will have an opportunity to experience the unique lifestyle of locals residing here and understand their culture. People here are extremely kind, hospitable, and welcoming. You may be hundreds and thousands of miles away from your home, but you will find yourself at home. It is also said that the villages found in this region are also the highest settlements on earth.

The Upper Dolpo trekking area is surrounded by Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) in the south, Sisne (5,911 m) & Kanjiroba (4,786 m) mountain in the west, and Tibet in the north. The Upper Dolpo Trekking trail will be full of ascents and descents with high, challenging passes, rivers, and small villages. You will see a diverse range of landscapes, climatic conditions, and vegetation throughout the trek. The Upper Dolpo Trek provides stunning views of Mt. Annapurna (8,091 m), Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Mt. Nilgiri (7,061 m), and Thorung Peak (5,416 m) along with breathtaking views of Kagbeni, Jharkot, and Thorung La Pass (5,416 m). The trek will also allow you to observe the deepest gorge in the world, thwe Kali Gandaki Gorge, and take you to one of the holiest sites of Hindus, Muktinath Temple. We, Snowland Adventure, have professionally designed our Upper Dolpo Trek for 24-days with steady ascents and sufficient acclimatization days to make the trek a success.

Outline Itinerary

  • Day 01Arrive Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264ft)
  • Day 02Full day Kathmandu City excursion
  • Day 03Fly from Kathmandu - Nepalgunj & transfer to hotel
  • Day 04Fly from Nepalgunj to Juphal (2,320m/7,601ft) & trek to Sulighat (2,070m/6,790ft); 2-3 hrs
  • Day 05Sulighat – Renje (3,010m/9,873ft); 5-6 hrs
  • Day 06Renje – Ringmo village (3,640m/11,940ft)–Phoksundo Lake (3,620m/11,874ft); 5-6 hrs
  • Day 07Rest day in Phoksundo Lake and explore around Ringmo village
  • Day 08Phoksundo lake - Phoksundo Khola (3,630m/11,909ft); 4-5 hrs
  • Day 09Phoksundo Khola - Phoksundo Bhanjyang (4,120m/13,514ft), 6-7 hrs
  • Day 10Phoksundo Bhanjyang - Kang-La pass (5,160m/16,925ft) – Shey gompa (4,390m/14,400ft); 5-6 hrs
  • Day 11Rest day at Shey Gompa the crystal monastery
  • Day 12Shey gompa – Saldang La (5,010m/16,432ft) - Namgung village(4,430m/1,530ft); 6-7 hrs
  • Day 13Namgung village - Saldang (3,620m/11,874ft); 4-5 hrs
  • Day 14Saldang - Yangtze Gompa (4,960m/16,267ft); 4-5 hrs
  • Day 15Yange Gompa - Sibu (4,560m/14,957ft); 6-7 hrs
  • Day 16Sibu – Jeng La Phedi (4,900m/16,072ft); 5-6 hrs
  • Day 17Jeng La Phedi – Jeng La pass (5,090m/16,695ft) – Do Tarap (4,080m/13,382ft); 6-7 hrs
  • Day 18Day explore and acclimatization in Do Tarap
  • Day 19Do Tarap - Karma Kharka (3,800m/12,464ft); 6-7 hrs
  • Day 20Tarap Khola – Khanigaon (3,150m/10,332ft); 5-6 hrs
  • Day 21Khani Gaon – Tarakot (2,537m/8,321ft) – Dunai (2,030m/6,658ft); 5-6 hrs
  • Day 22Dunai - Juphal (2,320m/7,610ft); 2-3 hrs
  • Day 23Fly from Juphal - Nepalgunj - Kathmandu
  • Day 24Final departure - Breakfast
Detail Itinerary

What’s Included

  • Airport pickup/drop by a private vehicle.
  • All ground transportation in a private vehicle as per the Itinerary.
  • Standard accommodation in a three-star hotel in Kathmandu including breakfast as per Itinerary.
  • Teahouse/guest house accommodation during the trek.
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during the trek as per Teahouse/guest house menu.
  • Welcome and farewell dinners.
  • Guided city tour in Kathmandu by private vehicle.
  • English-speaking government-licensed guide and assistant guide.
  • Entrance fees for sightseeing/monument visits.
  • All necessary paperwork and trekking permits (ACAP, TIMS).
  • Porter service.
  • Free trekking bag/duffel bag, t-shirt, and trekking map to take back with yourself.
  • Down jacket & sleeping bag provided by Snowland Treks & Expedition (to be returned after trip completion).
  • Staff expenses (salary, insurance, equipment, food, and accommodation).
  • First aid kit.
  • All government and local taxes.
  • Extra official expenses.
  • International Airfare to and from Kathmandu.
  • Nepalese visa fee.
  • Excess baggage charges.
  • Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu in case of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the mountain due to any reason other than the scheduled Itinerary.
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu.
  • Travel and rescue insurance.
  • Tips for guide(s), porter(s), and driver(s).
  • Personal trekking gear.
  • Personal expenses (alcoholic drinks, hot & cold drinks, phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower, etc.).
  • Any other expenses that are not mentioned in the 'Price Includes' section.

Useful Information

Upper Dolpo Trek difficulty

Upper Dolpo Trek is a difficult trek that will take you to one of the isolated areas of Nepal. You will have an off-the-beaten path trekking experience, which means the trail includes rough, rocky, rugged, steep, and glacial sections. No doubt, the trail is demanding and needs strong physical fitness. Prior trekking experience will make the journey easier.

Best time to go on Upper Dolpo Trek

Spring (April to May) and Autumn (October to November) is the best time of the year to go on the Upper Dolpo Trek. We are a team of professionals, and our guest's safety and comfort is our top priority. We will make sure that this trip will become a lifelong memory. For any information regarding the Upper Dolpo Trek itinerary or cost, feel free to contact us anytime.

Note:

Due to global warming, the weather in the mountains and hilly regions has become more unpredictable. Because of this, we are facing some problems with bad weather, heavy rainfall, landsilde, blocked highways and flight delays or even cancellations for a day. Sometimes because of the road traffic, we cannot arrive on time. It may happen at any time of the year because we cannot predict the weather conditions and other situations. Therefore, if possible, we would like to suggest adding an extra supplement day before your international flight. If everything is going well, you have a beautiful day to visit any interesting place in the historical city.