Upper Dolpo trek | Itinerary | Unexplored Beauty of Nepal

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu

On the first day of your expedition, you arrive in Kathmandu and accommodate yourself in the hotel. You can take a rest and go for a night walk nearby and enjoy authentic Nepali cuisine.

Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing

On day 2, you can explore Kathmandu. Major attractions in Kathmandu are Pashupatinath temple, Darbur square, stone-printed alleys, cultures, people, and trying some street foods. After coming back to your hotel, do the trek Preparation to the Upper Dolpo. Avail yourself with essentials for your trekking through the Rough trails.

Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj

On the third day, you take a flight to Nepalgunj which approximately takes 1 hour. Renowned as an industrial and transportation hub, Nepalgunj still has many more things to offer. You can enjoy famous street foods, cultures, and livelihood. You will find the variation or diversity in cultures when you reach Nepalgunj. Spending your whole day exploring the Nepalgunj beauty take a rest at night cause the day after can be more hectic and surprising.

Day 04: Fly from Nepalgunj to Juphal/Trek to Dunai

Early in the morning taking the flight towards the Juphal is quite exciting and you get to see a panoramic view of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna range. Juphal(2475m) is the only airport in the Dolpa district. After that, your trek to Upper Dolpo officially started. You start to trek from Juphal to Dunai(2140m). It will approximately take 3 hours to reach Dunai. Dunai is the headquarter of the Dopa district which resides on the bank of the Thuli Bheri river. Here you stay at the Tea house.

Day 05: Trek from Dunai to Ankhe

On day 5, your trek eventually leads you to Shey phoksundo valley. Crossing the suspension bridge and turning to the west trails, passing the ridges, and canyons, you reach Rahagaon. After Rahagaon you go through the dense forest and finally reach Ankhe(2130m). The territory of Shey phoksundo national park begins from the Ankhe. You stay at a tented camp for the night after 5 to 6 hours of walking.

Day 06: Trek from Ankhe to Sulighat

For the sixth day, you trek through forests, springs, and streams and follow the rock trails beside the bank of the river and reach Ryajik then to the Sulighat. Here you spend your sixth night of the trip in tented camps. Trekking hours are 5 to 6 hours.

Day 07: Trek from Sulighat to Phoksundo Lake

On day 7, you start your trek and go through the meeting point of the Phoksundo river and Pungmo river. Walking through the wooden bridges, beside the Pungmo river finally takes you to Phoksundo Lake. Trek hours are 5- 6 hours and you accommodate in tented camps.

Day 08: Rest Day at Phoksundo Lake(3611m)

An acclimatization day! You can trek around Shey Phoksundo lake which beholds the heavenly beauty in turquoise color. On the eighth day, you can visit the neighborhood village Ringmo and do sightseeing in the Tibetan monastery.

Day 09: Trek from Phoksundo Lake to Phoksundo Khola(3750m)

Day 9 has come. The Shey Phoksundo Lake is bordered by the route on its western side. You stroll down the lake's western end's rocky hillside path. The path continues across a beautiful grassland to the Phoksundo Khola floodplain. For the accommodation, you get the tented camps.

Day 10: Trek to Phoksundo Bhanjyang(4717m)

The tenth day involves walking through a glacier valley in a northerly direction until you reach the intersection of the Phoksundo River and a stream. You start an upward trek as soon as you cross the bridge and move in the direction of the northeast. You can see Kang-La pass as you go to the top of a steep hillside. It takes 6-7 hours for the trek.

Day 11: Trek to Shey Gompa via Kang-La pass

You'll arrive at Kang-La Pass on the tenth morning after making your way through a challenging track. At a height of 5,360 meters, Kang-La Pass offers sweeping views of empty valleys, Crystal Mountain, and the U-shaped canyon leading to Shey-Gompa.

After leaving the pass, you travel across meadows where yaks and animals may be seen grazing. You also cross the same river many times. A scarlet Buddhist temple greets you at Shey Gompa as you pass past a row of modest houses.

Day 12: Rest day at Shey Gompa Explore the Crystal Monastery

You will take a well-deserved break at Shey Gompa to allow your body to adjust to the elevation shift. Take a stroll and explore Shey Gompa. The most well-known monastery in Upper Dolpo is Shey Gompa. Every year, Shey Gompa is visited by hundreds of Buddhist devotees. Crystal Mountain is located to the east of Shey Gompa ( Ribo Drugta). Every year, before they harvest their crops, the locals assemble and walk around this peak.

Day 13: Trek from Shey Gompa to Namduna Gaun(4800m) via Saldang La

The trip continues. You go down a path that winds through a Juniper woodland before arriving at a rocky canyon. To get to the summit of Saldang-La Pass, you have to trek along a winding path. The route then falls steadily for a considerable distance in the direction of Namduna Gaun. Visit Namgung monastery, which is located on a ridge's northern wall after you reach there. It takes approximately 6 to 7 hours of day trek. ?you can accommodate yourself in the tea house.

Day 14: Trek from Namduna to Saldang(3620m)

You begin your adventure in the morning by spending hours climbing desert hills. You begin to glimpse Saldang Village, which extends across a slope above Namga River, after 3–4 hours of walking. The largest village in Inner Dolpo is Saldang Village. Over 600 people are living here. Saldang is an Inner Dolpo town with thriving agriculture that is surrounded by terraced fields.

Day 15: Trek from Saldang to Yangze Gompa(4960m)

The third week of your walk starts in Saldang village and takes you to more uncharted territory in the north. On your way to Tiling and the settlement of Lurigaon, you follow the Nang Chu River. To reach Yangze village, continue walking. You may tour the Panzang River, the Yangze area, and the Bon-Po monastery here.

Day 16: Trek from Yangze to Sibu(4560m)

Several pathways lead from Yangze to Sibu. To get to Sibu, the longer path travels through Nishalgaon and Shimengaon. By going back the way we came to Saldang village, we choose the shorter trail. The next destination is Namdo village, which is 5 km long and home to 400 people. Near the Nam Khong River is the Namdo Monastery. The final two hours of your walk are dedicated to reaching Sibu.

Day 17: Trek from Sibu to Jeng-la Phedi(4900m)

You start your walk on the seventeenth day, following the Nam Khong river. You could pass through herds of yaks traveling in groups. You reach the meeting of two small creeks after a few hours of walking. You then start your climb to the Jeng La pass's base. Trek hours (6 to 7).

Day 18: Trek Jeng-la to Tokyu Gaon(4209m) via Jeng la

The day begins with a two-hour trek to the summit of Jeng La Pass (5110). Views of the Dhaulagiri range are spectacular from Jeng La Pass. You then make your way down into Tarap Valley. You arrive at a brook and proceed along it to Tokyu village.

Day 19: Trek from Tokyu Gaun to Dho Tarap(4040m)

Day 19, you walk towards Dho Tarap. The path is simple in this area. Walking across a wide, productive valley, you stop at various Chortens along the way. You must hike for around 4-5 hours to reach Dho Tarap.

Day 20: Rest Day at Dho Tarap and Exploration

The twentieth day is spent relaxing at Dho Tarap (4080m). You may tour the village, and see the gompas.

The trail intersection for Mustang, Jomsom, and Tibet is located in Dho Tarap, one of the world's highest villages. About three dozens of homes are there. Magars and Tibetans make up the majority of the population. In Dho Tarap, there are several Buddhist shrines. The iconic Bon Gompa is located above Dho Tarap.

Day 21: Trek from Dho Tarap to Tarap Khola(3800m) (Kamakharka)

The following day, you begin your walk by dropping down a valley, which as you continue, eventually transforms into a gorge. The walk ultimately arrives at the intersection of Tarap Chu and the Lang Khola after passing through juniper woods. After that, you arrive in Kamakharka to end your walk.

Day 22: Trek from Tarap Khola to Khanigaon(3150m)

You walk near the Tarap Khola Gorge. Sometimes the gorge is so narrow that you can jump across the river to get across. Consequently, the gorge's edge trek might be thrilling. Your trip comes to an end when you arrive at Khanigaun.

Day 23: Trek from Khanigaun to Tarakot(2537m)

You begin your day's hike by following a route to the settlement of Lalberi. After that, you travel beside the river after passing through a forest and descending to a canyon. After walking from Khanigaun for a total of 4-5 hours, you finally arrive in Tarakot.

Tarakot is a tiny village that formerly used to be a castle. It used to be the capital of the Tichorung Kingdom and was a famous commercial location. Even if it no longer emits the same intensity, it nevertheless charms tourists with its allure.

Day 24: Trek from Tarakot to Dunai

You go to Dunai by following the Bheri River after breakfast, traversing several gorges, towns, and bridges. To go to Dunai, you pass via Lawan village, Byas Gadi, and Lochakhola Gaon.

Day 25: Trek from Dunai to Jhuphal

The path keeps going after Thuli Bheri. To get to Juphal, you go through Dhupichaur, Rupgad, Kalagaonda, and Motipur. At Juphal, the incredible trek comes to an end.

Day 26: Fly from Juphal to Nepalgunj to Kathmandu

You will board the earliest aircraft from Juphal to Nepalgunj that is available. Following that, you will travel on the same day to Kathmandu via plane. Rest in your hotel room or, if you want, go for a stroll in the neighborhood. Most travel agencies will provide a goodbye dinner for you if you are going with them.

Day 27: Leisure day in Kathmandu

You can explore Kathmandu or take a rest from the long hurdler trip.

Day 28: Final departure to your port of destination

The last day of your Upper Dolpo excursion has arrived. You'll take a plane to your nation. There are other trek locations in Nepal if you wish to keep trekking there.