Highlights

• Fascinating journey to the land of Blue Sheep and Snow Leopard

• Turquoise Phoksundo Lake is the major attraction

• Cross 3 high difficult passes, Saldang La 5200m, Jeng La 5090m and Kang La 5360m

• Unparalleled landscapes, mystical Shey Gompa and the mesmerizing valleys beneath the mountains

Upper Dolpo Trekking is an amazing combination of journey to Lower and Upper Dolpo region where one can be amazed by the beautiful and unparalleled landscapes, forests of blue pines, rhododendron and fir tree lines, the turquoise Phoksundo Lake, mystical Shey Gompa and the mesmerizing valleys beneath the mountains.

Trekking to Upper Dolpo starts with the flight to Nepalgunj and then to Jhupal in Dolpo region. Then the adventure begins and continues with the visit to picturesque Phoksundo Lake while exploring pre-Buddhist Tibetan Bon culture in the land of Snow Leopard and Blue Sheep. Upper Dolpo trekking passes through several interesting villages and crosses 3 high difficult passes, Kang La 5360m, Saldang La 5200m and Jeng La 5090m. The trek to Upper Dolpo ends in Jhupal with the flight back to Kathmandu eventually. The best time to trek in Upper Dolpo region is the summer and Monsoon season.

There are few interesting facts about Upper Dolpo region that make it a paradise for the trekkers. The world renowned Peter Matthiessen’s book ‘The Snow Leopard’ was based on this place. Moreover, Nepal’s first English subtitled movie, ‘The Caravan’, also became very famous and was nominated for the Oscar Award in the best foreign language film category. Here lies a ‘Crystal Mountain’, near to Shey Gompa, the holiest mountain for Buddhists so each year hundreds of pilgrims visit to circulate the mountain. Lastly, the people of Dolpo rarely understand Nepali language and speak Tibetan.

Upper Dolpo Trekking Outline Itinerary

Day 01:Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel, D, Hotel

Day 02:Trek preparation and afternoon flight to Nepalgunj, B, Hotel

Day 03:Fly to Jhupal 2320m, trek to Dunai 2000m 3hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 04:Trek to Ankhe 2890m 6hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 05:Trek to Sulighat village 3500m 6hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 06:Trek to Phoksundo Lake 3612m 5hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 07:Rest day at Phoksundo Lake for local excursion, BLD, Camp

Day 08:Trek to Phoksundo Khola 5hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 09:Trek to Phoksundo Bhanjyang 7hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 10:Trek to Shey Gompa 4500m via Kang La 5360m 6hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 11:Rest day at Shey Gompa, BLD, Camp

Day 12:Trek to Namduna Gaon 4800m via Saldang La 5200m, BLD, Camp

Day 13:Trek to Saldang 3620m 5hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 14:Trek to Yangze Gomba 4960m 5hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 15:Trek to Sibu 4560m 7hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 16:Trek to Jeng La Phedi 4900m 6hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 17:Trek to Tokyu Gaon 4200m via Jeng La 5090m 6hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 18:Trek to Dho Tarap 4040m 5hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 19:Trek to Tarap Khola 3800m 7hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 20:Trek to Khari Gaon 3150m 5hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 21:Trek to Tarakot 2850m 5hrs, BLD, Camp

Day 22:Trek to Dunai and drive to Jhupal, BLD, Camp

Day 23:Fly to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj, B, Hotel

Day 24:In Kathmandu, free day for sightseeing and shopping, BD, Hotel

Day 25:International departure, B, Flight.

Upper Dolpo Trekking Detailed Itinerary

***BLD denotes breakfast lunch and dinner

Day 01:Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel, D, Hotel

After flying into Kathmandu, one of our staffs will greet you and take you to the respective hotel. There after the dinner, you will be briefed about the trip details by one of our representatives.

Day 02:Trek preparation and afternoon flight to Nepalgunj, B, Hotel

After the final preparation in Kathmandu now we start our trekking journey with an hour flight from Kathmandu. We land in the western land of Nepal. Nepalgunj is a town near the Nepal-India border. Nepalgunj is also known as the gateway to Simikot and Humla.

Day 03:Fly to Jhupal 2320m, trek to Dunai 2000m 3hrs, BLD, Camp

Today we experience another thrilling flight from Nepalgunj to Jhupal. Jhupal is a beautiful town situated at the Himalayan foothills. It offers you magnificent views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri peaks to its North East. Once we land, we walk through terraced fields to Bheri River and its narrow gorge. We continue to walk until we reach Dunai which is the administrative headquarter of the Dolpo region.

Day 04:Trek to Ankhe 2890m 6hrs, BLD, Camp

Once we leave Dunai, we start our trek crossing a suspension bridge and turning to the west. Slowly our trail ascends to the treeless zone, Thulo Bheri Valley. Moving forward in the trail we get to view Kagmara Peak. As we move forward we pass through walnut groves and Rahagaun villages. We walk down the dense forest and finally reach Ankhe.

Day 05:Trek to Sulighat village 3500m 6hrs, BLD, Camp

Today our trail ascend and descend along the wooden riverbank and climbs on a steep route. You can witness a few streams along the way. The trail eventually crosses the forest and passes through the grassy slope. Now we trek downhill on a trail surrounded by green forest to the river bank at Sulighat village.

Day 06:Trek to Phoksundo Lake 3612m 5hrs, BLD, Camp

We start our walk along the confluence of the Phoksundo and Pungmo rivers. After crossing a bridge, we continue to walk on the western bank of the Pungmo Khola. Passing through the Cedar forest we reach Palam village. We trek up to the ridge from where you can enjoy the distant views of Phoksundo Lake and magnificent waterfall. Slowly trail descends through birch forest. Moving forward we slowly reach Ringmo village filled with its mud plastered chortens and mani walls. Continue further to the tranquil and turquoise lake, Shey Phoksundo Lake.

Day 07:Rest day at Phoksundo Lake for local excursion, BLD, Camp

Today we will have a rest day since we have trekked a long way. One day should be there for local excursion around the most gorgeous Phoksundo Lake.

Day 08:Trek to Phoksundo Khola 5hrs, BLD, Camp

Today our trek moves around the western end of the Phoksundo Lake. This trail is unsteady and through suspended gangway of woods. From the western edge of the lake, the path leads through a lush meadow. Moving forward now we walk through the valley, crossing the river and avoiding the boggy marsh underfoot. 

Day 09:Trek to Phoksundo Bhanjyang 7hrs, BLD, Camp

We walk about an hour on a trail that leads us along the level path through the glacial valley. Moving forward through the wooden bridge we walk towards the northeast. Our trail ascends upward and as we climb it brings us to a sheep meadow where our trail veers up a steep ravine. After a hard climb to the top, it brings us to another valley, from where we see Kang La Pass.

Day 10:Trek to Shey Gompa 4500m via Kang La 5360m 6hrs, BLD, Camp

Today we ascend steep trail with slates towards the pass. You can get excellent views from Kang La Pass. Now we descend to the valley floor on a steep trail. We continue to walk on a meandering trail along the bank of the river. You can witness many numbers of grazing yaks, sheep, and domestic mountain goats. After crossing the long bridge we reach Shey Gompa.

Day 11:Rest day at Shey Gompa, BLD, Camp

Today is the second rest day of our trek. We can walk nearby places to explore cultural diversity. To the east of the Gompa, we have a crystal mountain. We spend our day hiking around Shey village. Shey village is very famous for its ancient Buddhist culture. Dolpo has an ancient lifestyle and Tibetan way of living. Today is a perfect day to explore the rich culture of this region.

Day 12:Trek to Namduna Gaon 4800m via Saldang La 5200m, BLD, Camp

We start our day walking on the pleasant trail enjoying the views of juniper trees which descends into a grey, stony canyon. Now our path begins to go zig zag. Eventually moving forward in this trail brings us to the top of Saldang La pass. We can explore the Namgung monastery in Numduna Gaon. You can observe a red stone monastery which is built against the backdrop of a cliff on the north wall of a gorge.

Day 13:Trek to Saldang 3620m 5hrs, BLD, Camp

We start our trek with uphill climb and begin a long walk through dusty barren mountains. We will have about four of the climbs. As we continue slowly we can see Saldang Village below us on a plateau above the Namg Khola stream. Saldang is one of the largest villages of Dolpo region.

Day 14:Trek to Yangze Gomba 4960m 5hrs, BLD, Camp

From Saldang, we start our walk further to the north along the Nagaon Khola. We have a few ups and down in this trail. Moving forward we cross through Marang and Ki village. As we continue our walk we cross a tributary of Panzang River and walk towards east before we reach Yangze Gomba.

Day 15:Trek to Sibu 4560m 7hrs, BLD, Camp

Two trails connect Sibu. To save our time and energy we will retrace the path back to Saldang village. As we continue to walk along the river we cross terraced fields, stupas, chortens, heaps of mani stones and Chaiba monastery. Moving forward we pass through the Namdo village. It stretches on the high slopes to the left of Nam Khong Khola. We can witness the Namdo monastery which is situated near the river bed. Overnight in Sibu.

Day 16:Trek to Jeng La Phedi 4900m 6hrs, BLD, Camp

We walk along the Nam Khong Khola for a while and pass by caravans with yaks that are moving towards the Tibetan border. After turning east and walking for a while, we arrive at a confluence of two small streams. Next, the steep trail ascends to a grazing area below the Jeng La pass. Our camp will be set up in this beautiful meadow. Overnight in Jeng la Phedi. 

Day 17:Trek to Tokyu Gaon 4200m via Jeng La 5090m 6hrs, BLD, Camp

As we walk through steep trail, our step ascends to grazing land below the Jeng La pass and with much steadiness on the strenous trail, we will come down to Tokyu Gaon in Tarap Valley for the overnight camp. This is also an amazing vantage point from where you can view the north face of Dhaulagiri massif.

Day 18:Trek to Dho Tarap 4040m 5hrs, BLD, Camp

Moving forward we descend on a rough trail further down in Tarap valley. Tarap valley is a fascinating valley with the Tarap Chu River. Dho Tarap for the overnight camp.

Day 19:Trek to Tarap Khola 3800m 7hrs, BLD, Camp

We continue today's walk by trekking downhill on a plain valley through lush grass on both sides of the river. This river goes through various parts of inner Dolpo. You can also witness marsh which is quite a common feature but unique in the desert mountains of Tibet and Ladakh Himalaya. Tarap Khola for the night.

Day 20:Trek to Khari Gaon 3150m 5hrs, BLD, Camp

We start our trek walking down the gorge of the Tarap River. Moving forward trail becomes more interesting since valley gets narrow in a deep gorge that in some places we can jump from one side to another while some times there may be no trace of a path and we may have to walk across stone slabs between the walls which act as a bridge.

Day 21:Trek to Tarakot 2850m 5hrs, BLD, Camp

Today we keep moving through a trail that takes us to the village of Lalberi. Our trail crosses through green lush forest and descends into another gorge. Once we reach Tarakot, we can visit Sandul Gompa which is located 8km east of the village at the juncture of Barbung and Tarap Chu River. We can witness the monastery which stands on the hill of Bheri Khola.

Day 22:Trek to Dunai and drive to Jhupal, BLD, Camp

Today we walk along the Bheri river to Dunai and drive, enjoying the beautiful landscapes. On the way, we pass through Dhupichaur and Rupgad villages as well as temple. We continue driving through amazing Kalagaonda village and Motipur village before reaching a small airstrip.

Day 23:Fly to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj, B, Hotel

Storing everything deep in our memories, now its time to get back from where we started our story. You can witness beautiful scenery from the airplane. It will take us about an hour to reach Kathmandu. As you have trekked for such a long time, you can just have a cozy rest at your hotel room.

Day 24:In Kathmandu, free day for sightseeing and shopping, BD, Hotel

You deserve a beautiful break after finishing such an arduous journey deep in the Upper Dolpo Himalayas of Nepal. You can either opt to go for shopping or for the Kathmandu valley sightseeing.

Day 25:International departure, B, Flight.

We will miss you from this day on since you will be leaving us. Goodbye and see you again soon.

Cost for 1 PAX: $4550 /-

Cost for 2 or more PAX: $3990 per person

Note: Trip cost varies with the group sizes.

Upper Dolpo Trekking Cost Breakdown

Cost Include 

• Airport pick up, drop and other ground transfers

• Both way flight tickets from/to Nepalgunj and from/to Jhupal

• Hotels in Kathmandu, 1 night in Nepalgunj on BB basis

• Kathmandu sightseeing with entrance fees

• Tented camp accommodation during the trek with full meals and tea / coffee

• Welcome and farewell dinner at Nepali typical restaurant with folk music and dance

• An experienced trekking guide, Sherpa (4 trekkers: 1 Sherpa or assistant guide), porters (1 for 2 trekkers) and their salary with insurance

• All camping equipment, tents, mats, blankets and others for proper camping nights

• Kitchen utensils, food supplies

• Cook and other kitchen staffs and their expenses plus insurance

• Freshly cooked meals with tea/coffee in bed

• Fruits and salads everyday

• Clean drinking water

• All required permits

• Company t-shirt and certificate of appreciation

• Route maps

• Duffel bags, sleeping bag and down jacket (provided if needed, to be returned after)

• First aid medical kit

• All government taxes

Cost Exclude

• Nepal visa fees, International flight

• Extra drinks as alcoholic and non-alcoholic

• Personal expenses

• Extra accommodation and meals behind schedule

• Travel and emergency rescue insurance

• Gratuities to the staffs

Upper Dolpo Trekking Useful Information

Kathmandu airport pick up and drop services

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours’ staffs will pick you up from the airport as per your flight arrival time and similarly drop you off in the airport for international departure according to your flight schedule. During arrival, please don’t forget to look for your name placard hold by the team, outside the airport arrival gate. Our staff will be impatiently waiting for your arrival to greet you and warmly welcome you in Nepal. ‘NAMASTE’ is the foremost and the most commonly used greeting word in Nepal which you will hear from our staff at the very first moment you meet him.

Customized Trips and Trip departure

Upper Dolpo Trekking departs from Kathmandu as per our fixed departure dates. You can join any available fixed departure groups if you are a solo or small group travelers if you wish to, when the trips cannot be customized.

But if you are in a private group, fixed departure dates are not suitable for you and so you need to choose your own dates and packages, when you can customize the trek as per your travel needs. For further information, please kindly contact your own friendly neighbor, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours.

Accommodations in Kathmandu and during trek

You will be staying in the 3 star hotel in Kathmandu while in the tented camps during the trek.

Route Map and Company T-shirt

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours offers you a complimentary trekking map and the company t-shirts.

Safe Drinking Water during Upper Dolpo Trekking

Hydrating yourself is the most important thing to do during the trek. You should drink at least 3 liters of water every day or more. The main reason is to avoid the altitude sickness and to avoid other health issues. Nature Lovers Treks and Tours provides you water purification tablets or liquids to purify the water in the mountains. We will also boil the water time and again since there's no other way round. 

Your trekking guides and porters

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours has the best guides and porters in the whole tourism industry. We can guarantee you on that. Ask yourselves a question. What do you look for in a guide and a porter? Are they fully insured and are they paid well? Well, they are the staffs of Nature Lovers Treks and Tours so they are hundred percent happy with their treatment by the company. They are experienced, licensed and knowledgeable in the field. They are well paid and fully insured for their journey as well as for the medicals.

Now, let’s talk about our backbones. The leader or a guide should have a significant knowledge in the climbing and trekking so that he can wonderfully and safely lead you, clearing any obstacles on the way. We, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours can proudly say that our guides (climbing, assistant, trekking guide) are highly qualified for the role. They are fully trained, experienced and licensed. They have undergone through a whole lot of training to make themselves useful in various situations and to make your journey a smooth and pleasant one.

Our guide knows the local areas, the cultures, the traditions and the lifestyles much more than anyone do. Some of the things he tells you, might even be hard to find in the travel guide books. Depending upon the situations and weather conditions, the daily plans might change slightly which when happens, he will inform you beforehand. You should always be flexibly ready to accommodate to your guides’ instructions. Let him know if you have any health problems as well since he will act accordingly to the situation. Depending upon the group size, we will also provide you assistant guides and extra Sherpas if needed.

Our porters are always fully equipped with the gears they need and as per the company policy, they are always insured and completely looked after. They are our backbone. We allow maximum weight of 25/30 kg to be carried by one porter. They are the strongest in our group with less communication skills. We also closely work with IPPG {International Porter Protection Group} and follow their ethics and guidelines.

Your safety

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours puts your safety as the top priority. We provide you our own comprehensive first aid medical kit bag along with the professional team of guides and porters. We are always in communication with our field team members to keep track of your safety and concerns. Your entire journey will be monitored by us and we make sure you enjoy your journey in full scale. We are available 24/7 for your health and safety checks during Upper Dolpo Trekking.

Important point to Note

We always suggest you to keep extra one or two days in your trek since we are taking many domestic flights. The weather in the mountains is unpredictable and can change anytime drastically which means your flight can be delayed or at worst cancelled and postponed for the next day. Therefore, this goes to all the Upper Dolpo trekkers, that extra days are needed.

Upper Dolpo Trekking Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Upper Dolpo Trekking cost?

The cost of the Upper Dolpo Trekking varies from $3500-$4500 depending upon the number of days you choose to trek. The longer the trek, more expensive it will become. It also depends upon the group sizes. Normally, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours offers a comprehensive package which is inclusive of all the cost and expenses for the entire journey from the moment you land in Nepal till the moment you fly back home. However, you could also choose to buy only service-based package from us when we will be providing you only the supporting field staffs plus trekking permits and you have to arrange the rest by yourselves.

How is the Accommodation during the Upper Dolpo Trekking?

In Upper Dolpo Trekking, we will provide you the full camping service.

During the camping days, you will be sleeping in the camps set up by our field Sherpa staffs. There will be separate kitchen and dining and toilet tents. Your meals will be freshly cooked and you will be served day and nights by our Sherpas. Our staffs will carry the sleeping bags, pillows and mattresses for you to sleep in the tents. Undoubtedly, you will have a perfect camping trek experience with Nature Lovers Treks and Tours.

What are the permits that I need for Upper Dolpo Trekking?

For Upper Dolpo Trekking, you will need to make three different permits: Dolpo Restricted Permit, Shey-Phoksundo National Park fee and TIMS Card (Trekkers' Information Management System).

How does this tipping system in Nepal work and do I have to tip?

Tipping is not compulsory for Upper Dolpo Trekking however tipping is all about showing your gratitude and appreciation. We care about our staffs in the fields so we expect you to look after them in return for them looking after you throughout your journey. They are your closest friend in the remotest parts and also your protector whenever anything seems to happen to you. So tipping is highly expected and we’ve made it mandatory too. The amount of gratuities can be determined by yourselves. Normally, a guide expects around $5 or more per day per person while a porter expects $4 or more per day per person.

Can I charge my phones, batteries or other electronic devices during Upper Dolpo Trekking?

The charging of your electronic devices can be rarely done in this trek so please charge every instrument of yours before leaving for the journey. It's highly recommended to carry the solar backups and extra power backups as well.

Is there WiFi and mobile signal on the Upper Dolpo Trekking?

Upper Dolpo Trekking route has hardly any mobile networks in most of the days. But you can buy one of the NTC or Ncell Sim cards from any local phone shops in Kathmandu which has coverage in most parts of Nepal. It is wiser to buy a sim card with around 4 GB data in Kathmandu and use the mobile data in the trek if available.

When is the best time to trek to Upper Dolpo?

Upper Dolpo Trekking can be done throughout the year. However in average, Spring {March, April and May} and Autumn {September, October and November} are the best times or seasons to trek to Upper Dolpo. Spring and Autumn are known as the Peak season or Busy season in Nepal. It’s because the temperature is moderate during these seasons and the best panoramic mountain views are guaranteed while during other Summer {June, July and August} and Winter {December, January and February} season, the clear weather is not guaranteed. But if you are an explorer, a photographer and a peace lover, less busy season can also be the right time to do Upper Dolpo Trekking. Dolpo is in fact popularly known as the monsoon trekking destination in Nepal.

Do I have to worry about the altitude sickness in Upper Dolpo Trekking?

The itinerary of our Upper Dolpo Trekking is perfectly designed by Nature Lovers Treks and Tours and has separated enough time in the places to let the body acclimatize well in high altitudes. As long as you follow the guide, you should be fine. Altitude sickness in fact can affect anyone regardless of the age or the fitness level, so it is very important to walk slowly and gradually as you go higher. Learn more in details about Altitude Sickness to prepare yourselves for the upcoming Upper Dolpo Trekking.

Do I need to be healthy and physically fit for Upper Dolpo Trekking?

When it comes to trekking in the mountains, health and fitness of a person plays a vital role. If you are a healthy person without any serious medical problems, Upper Dolpo Trekking is for you but if you have any sorts of medical issues, please consult to your doctor before coming to Nepal for the trek. We will be gaining the high altitude of 5360 m above the sea level which is not a joke. People normally start to have breathing problems above 3000 meters from the sea level, if they have pre-existing health conditions.

Now when it comes to the fitness level required, Upper Dolpo Trekking demands high physical fitness. The trekking includes daily walks of about 4-8 hours and involves many ascents and descents including crossing of high passes which means you need a lot of practices before you start the trekking journey. If you do not have the previous trekking experience, that’s going to be tough for you but obviously if you have previous experiences, it will be lot easier. For those not having previous trekking experiences, please exercise regularly for at least two months prior to your trekking departure. Go for the morning walks, do some jogging as you get time, participate in some cycling activities, etc. This way, you will be good to go for trekking to Upper Dolpo.

What kind of food items or meals can I eat on Upper Dolpo Trekking?

Only breakfast is included in Kathmandu while full board meals or full meals are included during the trek. Tea and coffee will also be provided during the entire trip. During the trek, you will have your breakfast and dinner in the same tented camps where you spend the night while the lunch will be served en route towards the next destination of the day. Freshly cooked meals will be served in most of the days and usually the foods are basic and with few choices but they will certainly be healthy and nutritious. Our Sherpas will make sure that you eat enough food for the trekking journey.

Do I need a travel insurance for Upper Dolpo Trekking?

Travel insurance is a must when you trek to Upper Dolpo. Therefore before you come to Nepal, please make sure you have your insurance documents with you since our insurance companies cannot insure foreign nationals. Because of the reason that they cover all the expenses, if you face some unfortunate happenings and you have to be rescued or medically assisted during the trip or if your belongings are lost or stolen. We strongly advise you to take out an insurance which covers any medical risks up to 5400 meter as well as the medical evacuation from the mountains.

What gears and equipment do I need to pack for Upper Dolpo Trekking?

Choosing the right gear and equipment is important as well for the successful trek to Upper Dolpo. Pack the right gears and equipment but remember, packing as light as possible is the best way to go when trekking to Upper Dolpo. You should read this What to take for travel to get all the details on what you need to pack or carry for Upper Dolpo Trekking.