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Lower Dolpo Trek
Duration
22 days
Trip Type
Trekking & Sightseeing
Meal & Accommodation
Breakfast in Kathmandu and all meals during the trek
Group Size
2+
Transport
Private vehicle/Flight
Arrival On
Kathmandu
Departure From
Kathmandu
Operation
Fully Organized Trek
Route Detail
Kathmandu-Nepalgunj-Juphal-Dho-Phoksundo Lake-Juphal-Nepalgunj-Kathmandu
Best Month
March to May & September to December
Review
Price
USD $3850
Per Person
| Activities: | Trekking & Sightseeing | Fitness Level: | Adventurous |
| Max Elevation: | 5,190m/17,023ft at Numa La Pass | Transportation: | Private vehicle/Flight |
| Best Month: | March to May & September to December | Group Size: | 2+ |
| Arrival on: | Kathmandu | Departure from: | Kathmandu |
| Meal: | Breakfast in Kathmandu and all meals during the trek | Duration: | 22 days |
| Accommodation: | Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu and teahouses during the trek | Price: | USD 3850 per person |
All inclusive cost
USD
3850
per person
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Overview
Trip Introduction:
Lower Dolpo Trek is the trek to the isolated and remote region of Dolpo. The trek goes completely through the culturally Tibetan region, situated in the Trans-Himalaya of Nepal, bordering Tibet (China) in the north. A major part of Dolpo lies in Shey Phoksundo National Park, and hence, falls under the protection. Despite being the name ‘lower’ Dolpo, the region lies at a higher altitude with a dry atmosphere. You get a great journey exploring the natural beauty with the ethnic lifestyle of the local tribes of the people of the region.
The trek offers an exquisite adventure-travel experience of the remote and rugged mountain terrains of Nepal. The trail passes through ancient Tibetan villages, along with high-altitude passes, lakes, and Buddhist monasteries. The sighting of a variety of wildlife inhabiting the region, including Blue mountain sheep, Mountain Goats, Jackals, Wolf, and Snow Leopards, makes this trip even more exotic. The Lower Dolpo region is an unexplored region that still remains truly isolated from its neighboring regions. One can feel like time has stood still here for centuries as the inhabitants continue to sustain their livelihood and lifestyle in their traditional manners. The trek can be one of the best adventure, historical and cultural tours in Nepal.
The trek is also considered one of the strenuous journeys through the higher and windy paths, long hikes throughout the day, and might need some physical exercise. The trek is highly recommended for experienced and fit hikers. The trek rewards you with the clear blueness of the 'Shey Phoksundo Lake (3,611m), unique flora and fauna, a region rich in religion and diverse culture, and challenging passes.
Day 01: Arrival day in Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264 ft)
Day 02: Kathmandu valley sightseeing & trek preparation (1,300m/4,264 ft)
Day 03: Flight from Kathmandu to Nepaljung
Day 04: Fly to Jhupal (Dolpo) (2,320m/7,610ft) & trek to Dunai (2,850m/9,348ft), a 2-3 hrs walk
Day 05: Trek to Tarakot (2,850m/9,348ft), 5-6 hrs walk
Day 06: Trek to Khani Gaon (2,543m/8,341ft), 5-6 hrs walk
Day 07: Trek to Tarap Khola (3,450m/11,316ft), 4-5 hrs walk
Day 08: Trek to Yak Kharka (3800m/12,464ft), 4-5 hrs walk
Day 09: Trek to Dho Tarap (4,090m/13,415ft), 5-6 hrs walk
Day 10: Rest Day at Dho Tarap for acclimatization
Day 11: Trek to Tokyu Gaun 5-6 hrs walk
Day 12: Trek to Numa La
Day 13: Cross Numa La (5,190m/17,023ft), and camp at Phedi
Day 14: Cross Baga La (5,070m/16,630ft) and camp on the other side of the Phedi (4,470m/14,662ft)
Day 15: Trek to Ringmo (3,600m/11,808ft), 6-7 hrs walk
Day 16: Rest Day at Ringmo for a hike to Phoksundo Lake
Day 17: Trek to Chepka(2260m/7412ft)
Day 18: Trek to Jhupal
Day 19: One reserve day for the flight plan
Day 20: Fly to Kathmandu via Nepaljung
Day 21: Rest day in Kathmandu
Day 22: Departure
Trip Cost Includes:
✅ All airport and hotel transportation by private vehicle in Kathmandu per the suggested itinerary.
✅ Deluxe twin-sharing accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast
✅ Farewell dinner in Kathmandu (Alcoholic beverages are excluded)
✅ Kathmandu to Nepalgunj to Kathmandu by flight
✅ Full board meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea & coffee) during the trek
✅ Seasonal fruits during the trek are provided
✅ Comfortable & clean accommodation on teahouse/lodge/tent during the trek
✅ Government Registered Trek guide (English speaking, First Aid and eco trained), Sherpa porter (one porter for two trekkers)
✅ All necessary paper works, entry fee, and permits & TIMS card
✅ Four seasonal sleeping bags, Nepal Vision Treks duffel bag, and trekking map (sleeping bag to be returned after trip completion)
✅ First aid exclusive medical kit bag
✅ All government and local taxes
Trip Cost Excludes:
❌ Visa fees (You can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu so (bring accurate USD cash and two passport photographs)) International airfare to and from Kathmandu
❌ Lunch and dinner except for welcome & fare well dinner (and also in the case of early return from the mountain than the scheduled plan)
❌ Any extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary plan
❌ Travel and rescue insurance
Lower Dolpo Trek Map
Itinerary
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lower Dolpo Trek Altitude Chart
FAQ
The Lower Dolpo trek is 18 days long. The Lower Dolpo Trek is marked as one of the most exciting and challenging treks which are located in the western hills of Nepal. The trek allows the trekkers to experience real natural beauty.
On a scale of 5, The lower Dolpo Trek is marked as number 3. The trek may be moderate to strenuous. The 17-18 days trek is the most exciting and challenging in western Nepal.
The Lower Dolpo trek extends up to the height of 5309m. The trek is easy looking at the height, weather and environment on the trek.
The best time to travel to Lower Dolpo is during September, October, and November in the Autumn season, March-April-May in Spring and Moonsoon in July June, and August.
Departure Date
Departure dates for Lower Dolpo TrekWe provide a series of fixed departure trek, tour and expeditions in Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and India. If you are single and wishing to be with a group, you can join our fixed departure schedule. If the schedule dates are not convenient for you, contact us & let us know; we are more than happy to customize our trips to suit your needs. If any individuals or group doesn’t want to join with our other group, we can operate as per your wish and requirement. We are ground operator of these Himalayan destination and able to arrange your trip as per your interested date and choice.
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