Lower Dolpo Trek

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COST FOR THE TRIP USD 3250
Lower Dolpo Trek

Lower Dolpo Trek is a hidden treasure and a remote area trekking in Nepal. The main point of this area is Shey- Phoksundo Lake. Trekking to Lower Dolpo offers you a remarkable and worthwhile experience of lifetime. Dolpo is also a popular Trekking Destination. Dolpo is protected under the Shey Phoksumdo National park, so the land, culture and wildfire are protected. It is also the home of Shey Phoksundo Lake, the highest altitude lake in the world.

Thanks to Eric Valli, a French geographical photographer working for National Geographic, the Dolpo region of Nepal has been shown in all its integrity and full mystical experience. Furthermore, this is also one of the few areas where the pre-Buddhist Bon Po religion is still practiced. While on the trek, we get to muse at the yak caravans that maintain the traditional salt trade with Tibet. We also cross two high passes- Numa La and Baga La-and reflect on life amidst the tranquil waters of Phoksundo Lake.

 

 

Key features of Lower Dolpo Trek

  • Visit of the UNESCO World Heritage sites Kathmandu
  • Scenic flight to Juphal
  • Shey Phoksundo National Park and its wide array of rare flora and fauna
  • The hypnotic beauty of Phoksundo lake
  • A bastion of old world Tibetan culture locked away behind the barriers of Dhaulagiri
  • The high passes of Bagala La and Numa La

Day 01: Arrival and transfer to Hotel in Kathmandu

Upon arrival in Kathmandu Airport, our airport representative will welcome you and give you short info about Kathmandu and directly drive to the Hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

 

Day 02: Sightseeing for a full day in Kathmandu Valley.

World heritage sites like Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pasupatinath, etc. Preparation for the trekking.

 

Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj: 1 hour

After a hearty breakfast, we will be heading to the domestic airport. From here, we will be taking a flight to Nepalgunj. This flight will only take about an hour. We hope you’ve packed your tank tops and t-shirts as Nepalgunj is one of the hottest places in Nepal. The flight will let you appreciate the tall mountains that stand guard to the rolling, lush hills. Once you land, you can enjoy the sunny beauty of the plains.

 

Day 04: Fly from Nepalgunj to Jhupal (Dolpo) (2,320m/7,610ft) and trek to Dunai (2,850m/9,348ft): 45 mins flight, 2-3 hours trek

The next morning we will be catching a flight to Jhupal. It will be a short 45-minute flight. The airport we will be arriving at is on a small hilltop. You will immediately feel the high cool breeze that will get you ready to get set and begin your trek. On this day, we will be hiking for around 3 hours. We will cover 6 km and trudge through local villages. All around us, you will see terraced fields that lead you to the swiftly flowing Bheri river. The trail has the perfect countryside feel to it as you pass by water mills to reach the Dunai village.

 

Day 05: Dunai to Tarakot (2,543m/8,341ft): 5-6 hours

As we head out for this day’s trek, we will be following one stream after the other. Not just this, but we will also be walking right alongside the Bheri and Barbung river. As you maneuver hanging bridges, these rivers will add an excellent soothing soundtrack to your trek and are a sight to behold. You will also be trudging along with large pine forests that add to the authentic trekking experience. Crossing Byasghar and trekking by Baijibara, you will get a chance to visit a Bon Monastery. As you trek higher, you will begin to see dry stone walls and rows of fields which will be your welcoming sign to Tarakot.

 

Day 06: Tarakot to Laini (3,160 m/10,365 ft): 6-7 hours

Once again, following the trail alongside the Bheri river, we will head out this morning. Today’s trek will take about 5-6 hours of walking. The path will further lead us to an open valley and alongside the Bharbung Khola. On reaching Laisicap, we will be crossing the swinging river bridge. The rivers will continue guiding our path as we will be following the steady stream of Tarap Khola. This river runs alongside high cliffs of red and brown as far as the eye can stretch. The isolated villages and terraced lands will add a stark contrast to the barren hills. Another stream will lead us right to Laini Gaon.

 

Day 07: Laini to Nawarpani (3,545m/11,627 ft): 5-6 hours

After breakfast, you ascend to mini pass at 3540m marked with prayer flags. Then passing some ascents and docents you arrive at the Chyugur Khola. Crossing the suspension bridge to the river you walk along a side of the stream of Chaya Khola. Here the local slate like the rock is excellent for building bridges and stairways for the trail.

 

Continue the walking to Tazam, where a couple of huts offer food and supplies between May and November. You again cross the suspension bridge to the river bank and follow the riverside trail and sooner you will arrive at Nawarpani. This is mule caravan stop at 3475m. Overnight at tented camp.

 

Day 08: Nawarpani to Dho Tarap (4,090m/13,415ft): 7-8 hours

As we leave Nawarpani, the trail today will oversee pleasant countryside views. You will walk by meadows and small streams. You will also be crossing wooden bridges and trudging along a mostly even path. After walking for about 3-4 hours, you will begin to see a long line of mani (stone-built) walls. The mani walls mark your arrival at the day’s destination, Dho. Dho offers a wide selection of sights itself. Even at this elevation, it is dotted with chortens and monasteries. One of them is the 1000-year old Ribo Bumpa Monastery. You can also choose to visit Drakmar monastery which sits tall on red cliffs to create a visual masterpiece. There are many such monasteries to pick from so rest assured your day is going to be very eventful.

 

Day 09: Rest Day at Dho Tarap for acclimatization

Today is the day of exploration of Dho Tarap village. The name Tarap refers to the entire region. Dho means lower end of the valley. This village is made of clusters of closely packed stone houses and corrals surrounded by fields of barley. Here huge shaggy yaks are used for plowing and carrying loads. It will be rewarding to visit three interesting monasteries of Ribo Bhumpa Gompa, it is unique ‘chorten in a chorten’ which contains remains of a demon killed by Guru Rinpoche.

 

The paintings inside the chorten represent both Bonpo and Nyingma traditions; Doro Gompa, it is located on the north side of the river and has an unusual entrance; Shipchok Gompa, it is the Bonpo school lies across the river which is recognizable by the dozen of Mustang style chortens. It has a wonderfully carved door and finely painted prayer wheel in the atrium. Overnight at tented camp.

 

Day 10: Trek to Numa La Base Camp (4440m/14,563 ft): 6-7 hours walk

Once we turn our backs to Dho, we will be passing several rows of stone houses. You will pass a popular school, and follow an ascending trail uphill. This trail leads you to the traditional, remote village of Tok-Kyu, where you will get to see old-fashioned houses and a lifestyle untouched by modern influences. This area is famous as one of the highest altitude human settlements in the world. From here, we will be crossing the Tarap Khola. This river runs swiftly between a stunning depth creating a lovely gorge. You will be rewarded with interesting sights like Shering Gompa, a house for the monks in this region. The trail leads you through gentle inclines and then turns more rugged as you near Numa La Camp. After walking for about 4 to 5 hours, you will reach Numa La Camp.

 

Day 11: Cross Numa La pass (5,190m/17,023ft), camp at Pelung Tang (4465m/14,645 ft): 6-7 hours

Today you start your journey early in the morning as you are passing high Numa La pass. Firstly you cross the stream on rocks then climb steeply on yak trails up a grassy slope to a ridge where there are several mani walls and a chorten. Then you dip into a high glacial bowl and come to cross the small stream. From here you make a long climb up a moraine to the Numa La (5290m).

 

From the pass, you can see the peaks of Dhaulagiri (8167m), Shey Shikhar (6139m) and Kanjeralwa. Descend from the pass into a scenic U-shaped rocky valley crossing stream, and scree slopes. On the way, you will meet yak caravans hauling timber from Phoksundo to Dho Tarap. Finally, you arrive in pastures at Pelung Tang for the camp site. Overnight at tented camp.

 

Day 12: Cross Baga La pass (5,070m/16,630ft), trek to Dajok Tang (4,080m/13,382ft): 6 hours

In the beginning, the trail crosses the stream then switchbacks up a slope to a small meadow called as high camp (4740m). From here it ascends a ridge then a moraine into a large bowl marked by a chortens of upturned stones. The trail arcs gently around the bowl on a scree slope to several rough cairns atop Baga La (5175m).

 

Descend from the pass steeply first, then more gently staying high above the right bank of the stream. At 4390m the trail turns a corner and enters a huge valley making a final descent on steep switchbacks to Dajok Tang, meadow marked with prayer flag. This is a spectacular valley and one of the most scenics in western Nepal with a large moraine at its head and numerous waterfalls. Overnight at tented camp.

 

Day 13: Dajok Tang to Ringmo (3,600m/11,808ft): 3-4 hours

From Dajok Tang you follow the path down to herders’ huts passing through national park building. Then it traverses high above the river and moves into a huge valley passing through groves of pine and juniper trees. After an initial descent, the trail climbs to the cliff from where you can see Rilke village below to the left and the blue river and trail descending from Ringmo.

 

Day 14: Hike to Phoksundo Lake

We continue to hike the hillside to a ridge from where you can see a huge waterfall. The trail descends gently through blue pine forest to the chortens and barely fields of Ringmo village. From this village, after ten minutes you will arrive at the Phoksundo Lake. Phoksundo is an alpine freshwater lake spread over 494 ha in size with a water volume of 409,000,000 m3 with 145m depth. Overnight at tented camp.

 

Day 15: Phoksundo Lake to Shyanta (2520m/8265 ft): 5-6 hours walk

After breakfast, you follow the path on the riverside. Initially, it is leveled but pretty soon you climb along the steep uphill trail. After an hour long uphill climb you reach atop a hill from where the river you followed earlier begins to diminish in size. However, the last view of Phoksundo Lake atop a hill is truly fascinating. Then you slide down for a while and resume the trek along leveled trail to Shyanta.

 

Day 16: Shyanta to Jhupal

An hour long trek from Chepka brings you to Shyanta and one more hour trek takes you to Kageni. Dramatically, beyond Shyanta you leave the forest trail and chase with arid landscapes. The walk is pleasant savoring wonderful rocky landscapes to the check post of Shey Phoksundo National Park. After the check post, you cross the suspension bridge over Dhim Khola and follow the path on the west to Juphal. The trail to Juphal is wide before it arrives at Kalagaonda village. Leaving Kalagaonda you walk along the narrow path. Sooner the trail passes beautiful fields of barley and wheat then climb final uphill to Juphal.

 

Day 17: Fly to Nepalgunj, fly to Kathmandu

After breakfast, you board a flight from Juphal to Nepalgunj. From Nepalgunj, you fly back to Kathmandu. Upon landing in Kathmandu airport you will be transferred to your hotel. The rest of day is at leisure. You can have a hot shower, spa for relaxing your body in Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel

 

Day 18: Drive to the Airport, takeoff from Kathmandu

Adventure High Mountain staff will transfer you to the airport for your final departure from Nepal. We hope that this epic trek will be firmly ingrained in your memory and will be enough to prompt you to consider your next trek with us!

 

 

Note: This itinerary is meant only as a guideline and is subject to change to suit the local conditions. Walking hours are based on an average walking pace and may change as per individual pace.

Airport pickup, drop and all ground transport by private vehicle.

Standard twin sharing Hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast as per itinerary.

Kathmandu - Nepalgunj - Jufal - Nepalgunj - Kathmandu flight

Trekking Lodge (Tea House) accommodations throughout the trek.

Three meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) during the upper dolpo trek.

Phoksundo National Park Entry Permit and TIMS card.

A highly experience and knowledgeable, friendly , English speaking well trained, Government License holder guide with his salary, food, drinks, accommodation, transport and insurance.

Friendly and helpful porters with proper walking equipment, his salary, foods, accommodation and insurance (one porter for two people).

Comprehensive medical box (first aid kit will be available).

Arrangement of Emergency Helicopter service (paid by your Travel Insurance company).

Government taxes and official expenses.

Guided Kathmandu sightseeing tour with private vehicle.

Assistant guide group size more than 4 person group.

Welcome and farewell dinner in typical Nepalese restaurant.

International airfare.

Nepal entry visa and airport fees.

Personal equipment and clothing.

Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, room service, extra hotel nights, extra meals, shopping, hot shower, hot and cold drinks, alcohols, snacks, water, Wi-Fi, battery re-charge, heater charge, etc.)

Personal porter.

Alcoholic and bottled beverages.

Travel insurance with trip cancellation, medical and evacuation policy.

All expenses associated with non-scheduled departure.

Guide Gratuity - Tip­ping is always a per­son­al choice, but is greatly appreciated by your guides.

The following booking terms and conditions represent the contract between the customer and Adventure High Mountain. Adventure High Mountain is a government registered tour and trek company based in Kathmandu, Nepal, established with an aim to provide quality travel services.

 

At the time of booking, you are expected to read all the terms and conditions carefully. The booking confirmation will be given, thinking that you have read all the terms and conditions entitled by the core values of this company. After the booking process, you are completely obliged by the conditions mentioned below.

These booking conditions are only applied to the bookings you have made with this company.

 

The following terms and conditions apply, however the circumstances and regulations, contractual obligations to suppliers and affairs related to locations, and product type may slightly vary depending upon the situation.

 

Payment Schedule

$700 deposit at time of registration, which includes a $300 non-refundable registration fee.

Balance due 60 days prior to departure.

Payment must be paid in full prior to the beginning of the trek.

 

Payment Procedure:

Bank Name : MEGA BANK NEPAL LIMITED.

Beneficiary Name : ADVENTURE HIGH MOUNTAIN (P)LTD.

Account Number : 0570010151011

Swift Code: MBNLNPKA

Bank Address: Thamel, Saraswati Sadan - 29 Kathmandu Nepal.

 

We strongly recommend the purchase of travel cancellation insurance to protect you from the unexpected. You aren’t likely to think of it now, but people do get ill, break a bone, have a family emergency or get assigned to a last minute business trip. If you are in remote areas, please note that emergency rescue & evacuation can be very expensive.

 

We also strongly urge you to consider rescue and evacuation insurance if your own policy does not provide the coverage need­ed. Services available may include, but are not limited to, helicopter evacuation, medical care, etc.

 

If you choose not to purchase insurance, you assume full responsibility.

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