Lower Dolpo Trek

Day 01: Arrival day in Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264 ft)

Car

20 Minutes

Overnight

Kathmandu

Meal

Welcome Dinner

Accommodation

Hotel

Welcome to the Himalayan country of Nepal. Our representative will be waiting for your arrival at the Tribhuvan International airport to welcome you and assists you to transfer into your hotel in Kathmandu. After taking some time to get refreshed, you'll meet again in the evening for the welcome dinner in one of the typical Nepalese restaurants in the heart of Kathmandu. We'll also have a short briefing about your trip and overnight at Hotel.

Day 02: Kathmandu valley sightseeing & trek preparation (1,300m/4,264 ft)

Overnight

Kathmandu

Meal

Breakfast

Accommodation

Hotel

After breakfast, we will start the day with our guided trip to cultural world heritage sites in Kathmandu valley that includes visits to the pilgrimage sites of Hindus Pashupatinath temple, the world's biggest Bouddhanath Stupa, the monkey temple Swoyambhunath Stupa and historical Kathmandu Durbar Square. We will also explore durbar square with its surrounding temple, unique architecture, and Kumari (living goddess) in central Kathmandu. In the evening, we will have a pre-trip discussion and introduction session with our fellow trekking staff for your adventure trip.

Day 03: Flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj

Car

20 Minutes

Overnight

Nepaljung

Meal

Breakfast

Flight

30 minutes

Accommodation

Hotel

As per the flight schedule for Nepalgunj, you will be transferred to the domestic airport for one and half hour scenic flight to Nepalgunj. We will transfer you to the hotel after landing at Nepalgunj. You can spend the rest of the time exploring the surrounding southern Nepal border with India and market areas. Overnight at a hotel.

Day 04: Fly to Jhupal (Dolpo) (2,320m/7,610ft) & trek to Dunai (2,850m/9,348ft), a 2-3 hrs walk

Overnight

Dunai

Meal

3 Meals

Walking

2-3 Hrs

Accommodation

Tea House

After an early breakfast, we will move to the airport for a morning flight to Jhupal, a super scenic flight of 45 minutes that brings you to Jhupal over the Himalayan foothills, with views of Himalayan peaks to the north. On arriving at Jhupal our other trekking staff will receive you. Our first-day adventure will begin through the terraced fields to the Bheri River. The narrow gorge takes a 2-3 hour walk to reach the camp at Dunai. Dunai is the administrative headquarter of the Dolpo region. You will have some time to stroll around for local knowledge. Overnight at the camp.

Day 05: Trek to Tarakot (2,850m/9,348ft), 5-6 hrs walk

Overnight

Tarakot

Meal

3 Meals

Walking

5-6 Hrs

Accommodation

Tea House

We will start our trek after breakfast which will continue along the south bank of the river heading upstream on a good trail. We will follow the path through a tremendous gorge with pine trees and an ingenious path built about seven meters above the river. We will eventually reach Tarakot, where a colorful terraced field will greet us. Tarakot is an old fortress town built by the local people as Dzong or fort. The famed Sandul Gompa lies farther east of Tarakot and at the junction of Barbung khola and Tarup chu (river). The village stands on a hillock to the south of the Bheri River at one time supervised the collection of tolls for the trading caravans. We will have the overnight camp near the river about 150 m below the village, near the police post. We will climb a steep ridge for an hour to the village on a spur, where there are chorten in a Gompa on the edge of a grassy plateau, with a solitary tree. We will settle camp for the overnight.

Day 06: Trek to Khani Gaon (2,543m/8,341ft), 5-6 hrs walk

Overnight

Khani Gaon

Meal

3 Meals

Walking

5-6 Hrs

Accommodation

Tea House

After breakfast, we will continue our walk that follows the Tarap chu river upstream, crossing by a bridge. We will be crossing the same river twice. The path will lead us through the farm terraces and rural villages of Sahartera. The wind will gradually take us towards a small settlement of Kola after 3-4 hours of good morning walk. From this place, we will descend with a few ups to reach our overnight camp at Khani Gaon with another 2 hours of trek. Overnight camp near the village backyard.

Day 07: Trek to Tarap Khola (3,450m/11,316ft), 4-5 hrs walk

Overnight

Tarap Khola

Meal

3 Meals

Walking

4-5 Hrs

Accommodation

Tent

After breakfast, we will continue our walk up to the gorge of the Tarap River, rising high above on a trail built out from steep slopes. The walk will be quite exciting as the valley becomes a narrow gorge that in some places you can jump from one side to another. Sometimes the path vanishes for a while, making our own path across stone slabs fitted on logs in between the walls which act as a bridge. The gorge will also provide us with an unexpected adventure and thrills. In some places, the bridges might be either damaged or washed by the monsoon flood, and we may opt to cross the cold torrent on foot. Overnight at the camp by the river near the Kamattarka village.

Day 08: Trek to Yak Kharka (3800m/12,464ft), 4-5 hrs walk

Overnight

Yak Kharka

Meal

3 Meals

Walking

4-5 Hrs

Accommodation

Tent

After breakfast, we will start our trek with a pleasant walk with the most scenic landscapes that easily get us to the Yak Kharka. We will have lunch in the middle of the way. The camp will be set up as before and we will overnight at the tented camp at Yak Kharka.

Day 09: Trek to Dho Tarap (4,090m/13,415ft), 5-6 hrs walk

Overnight

Dho Tarap

Meal

3 Meals

Walking

5-6 Hrs

Accommodation

Tent

Our morning walk will begin after breakfast with a gradual up leading us to Kamattarka at the confluence of the Tarap Chu and Lang Khola, a stream flowing from the east. After a few hours of good morning walking, we will leave the narrow gorge. From the gorge, the path will lead us just above tree lines for juniper bush and wild rose, typical of dry inner Himalayan valleys. Another 3-hour or more walk will bring us to the village of Dho Tarap surrounded by an irregular stone wall. At Dho, we see a village with thirty-four houses that are divided into three groups and built randomly. In this Valley, both Bon Po and Chaiba sects reside together. Few Tibetans and mostly Magars who have lived here for many generations also inhabit here. Overnight Camp by the village yard.

Day 10: Rest Day at Dho Tarap for acclimatization

Overnight

Dho Tarap

Meal

3 Meals

Accommodation

Tent

We will have a pleasant day, free from the hassle of packing. You'll have a great chance to make friends with the locals who have hardly seen westerners. The Dolpo people wear home-spun clothing that is sometimes dyed maroon. They favor Tibetan-style samba or dacha (boots with upturned toes) for footwear. Both men and women often wear religious amulets and strings of coral, amber and turquoise. The Buddhist Gompa is nearby to the camp while the Bon Gompa (pre-Buddhist) is about half an hour's walk.

Day 11: Trek to Tokyu Gaun 5-6 hrs walk

Overnight

Tokyu Gaun

Meal

3 Meals

Walking

5-6 Hrs

Accommodation

Tent

After a wonderful time at Dho Tarap, our journey for the day will continue towards upper Tarap valley. The walk will follow the plain valley with patches of lush verdant grass on both sides of the river, which is completely different from other parts of inner Dolpo. The trek on this pleasant track will lead us by the Tarap chu upstream all the way. Tarap is certainly a dream valley with vast plains in high mountains extending twenty-kilo meters along the river Tarap Chu, having ten villages with cultivated fields of barley, buckwheat, wheat, and potato. After 3-4 hours of a good walk in this perfect tranquillity, we will reach the village of Tokyu, which has a monastery belonging to the Chiba sect. After visiting the village, our walk continues further up this valley climbing up the rough track for almost another three hours to reach our overnight camp beneath the Numa-la.

Day 12: Trek to Numa La

Overnight

Numa La

Meal

3 Meals

Walking

5-6 Hrs

Accommodation

Tent

We will start our trek after breakfast with a scenic view. We will be gaining high altitudes which might make us feel short breathing. We will have a short day but feel a little hard during the walk. After having a great day at the high altitude, we'll reach the camp overnight.

Day 13: Cross Numa La (5,190m/17,023ft), and camp at Phedi

Overnight

Phedi

Meal

3 Meals

Walking

7-8 Hrs

Accommodation

Tent

After breakfast, our journey will continue to the crossing of Numa La passing at 5,190m. The track will lead us to a steep climb all the way to the top ridge of Numa la with great views of the surrounding landscapes and scenery of valleys. We will also get an amazing view of mountains including the north face of the Dhaulagiri massif along with other distance snow-capped peaks. This will be one of the long and difficult days during the trek. It will take us just 6 to 7 hrs to get to the top at Numala. We will descend to another bottom part known as Phedi and overnight.

Day 14: Cross Baga La (5,070m/16,630ft) and camp on the other side of the Phedi (4,470m/14,662ft) 

Overnight

Phedi

Meal

3 Meals

Walking

7-8 Hrs

Accommodation

Tent

After breakfast, our morning trek will start with a steep climb to reach the ridge top of Baga-la(5,070m), which offers fantastic views of the surrounding landscapes and the distant snow-capped peaks of the Kanjirowa Himal range. After a glorious moment at the pass, almost three hours of the downhill walk will take us to the Phedi and overnight.

Day 15: Trek to Ringmo(3,600m/11,808ft), 6-7 hrs walks

Overnight

Ringmo

Meal

3 Meals

Walking

6-7 Hrs

Accommodation

Tea House

Our morning trek will start after an early breakfast through the pine forest. We will move forward leaving the forest behind the country and the vegetation changes for pasture fields and alpine shrubs most of the way to Ringmo on the gradual slopes with few ups and downs as we reach our final destination at Ringmo and the crystal serene Lake of Phoksundo.

Day 16: Rest Day at Ringmo for a hike to Phoksundo Lake 

Overnight

Ringmo

Meal

3 Meals

Accommodation

Tea House

This will be a pleasant day. You'll be free from the hassle of packing. You will also have a chance to visit the nearby Tibetan Buddhist monastery, which is well worth a visit, as is the village of Ringmo. A walk part way round the lake is also very enjoyable and relaxing. This will be a great day exploring the lake areas with a great view. Overnight at camp.

Day 17: Trek to Chepka(2260m/7412ft) 

Overnight

Chepka

Meal

3 Meals

Walking

5-6 Hrs

Accommodation

Tea House

From Chepka, the trail will follow the massive overhanging rock. We might find many important medicinal minerals which are believed to cure almost anything in this area. The route will then pass through the villages, before climbing to the pasture at Chepka. We will camp at Chepka.

Day 18: Trek to Jhupal 

Overnight

Jhupal 

Meal

3 Meals

Walking

4-5 Hrs

Accommodation

Tea House

Following the trail gently sloping upwards, we will march towards Jhupal. We will meet the tall birch trees on our way. From atop the ridge, we can have the most spectacular views of the mountain and Jhupal below. Utmost caution will be required while trekking along this trail. After reaching Jhupal, we will spend our afternoon exploring the busy market town or simply pursuing whatever we feel like.

Day 19: Fly to Kathmandu via Nepaljung 

Car

20 Minutes

Overnight

Kathmandu

Meal

Farewell Dinner

Flight

25 Minutes+ 30 Minutes

Accommodation

Hotel

We will take a flight from Jhupal to Nepalgunj. On reaching Nepalgunj, we will return to Kathmandu on the next available flight. The rest of the day in Kathmandu can be spent shopping and doing general sightseeing.

Day 20: Rest day in Kathmandu 

Overnight

Kathmandu

Meal

Breakfast

Accommodation

Hotel

On this pleasant day, you will have a full day at leisure. You can either relax at the hotel or explore the city including the temples and sites of the Thamel area. In the evening, you'll transfer for a farewell dinner in one of the Nepalese restaurants in the heart of Kathmandu. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 21: Departure 

Car

20 Minutes

Meal

Breakfast

You will be free for any last-minute shopping for souvenirs or gifts for your family, friends, or relatives for you until your departure flight/drive. You can also think about commencing any extra trips or activities you may have booked with us. If you are all set for departing, you'll be transferred to the International Airport for your departure flight to your onward destination.