The Upper Dolpo Trek is a remote and mystical journey into one of Nepal’s most isolated Himalayan regions, rich in Tibetan culture and untouched natural beauty. Located in the rain-shadow of the Dhaulagiri range, Dolpo offers arid landscapes, centuries-old monasteries, and high-altitude adventure, with few trekkers on the trail. This off-the-beaten-path trek takes you through the Shey Phoksundo National Park, past turquoise Phoksundo Lake, over high passes like Kang La (5,360m), and into ancient villages where time seems to stand still.
Trip Highlights:
- Visit the mesmerising Phoksundo Lake, Nepal’s deepest lake.
- Cross remote high passes: Kang La, Shey La, and Jeng La.
- Explore ancient Shey Gompa and other centuries-old monasteries.
- Witness traditional Bon and Tibetan Buddhist culture.
- Spot rare wildlife like blue sheep and Himalayan griffons.
- Trek through some of the most isolated and authentic Himalayan villages.
- Walk in the footsteps of the famous film Himalaya (Caravan).
Upon arrival at Kathmandu.
Overnight: Kathmandu View Hotel
Meals: Welcome Dinner
During the free day, you may have a chance to visit the heritage site of Kathmandu valley. We conduct the pre-trip departure meeting regarding upcoming trekking peak climbing where you meet the trek guide and other team members. They will brief you about the team formation, equipment and nature of peak climbing and other necessary information.
Overnight: Kathmandu View Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
As per the flight schedule; about an hour superb airstrip to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu. It is crossing a whole range of the western part of the Himalayas like Langtang, Manaslu, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri. Comparatively, it is warmer than Kathmandu. Nepalgunj lies near the Indian border.
Overnight: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
It requires making a fight in Juphal in the morning. Forty-five minutes of amazing flight provides super visibility of Himalayan foothill, with views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mastiff. After reaching Juphal and arranging luggage and other kinds of stuff, then an easy walk to Dunai. Walking hours: ~2-3 hours.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
The first day of the adventure takes a bit more time to set up all the luggage. As we cross a bridge over the Bheri River takes a left trail that leads us to Shulighat, the entry point of Shey Phoksundo National Park. The trail goes along the Phoksundo Khola, passing through the several small settlements to Chhepka. Walking hours: ~6-7 hours.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
The trail goes gradually climbs up along the valley through the forest. The trail follows several small ups and downs paths; need to be cross the river over small bridges that lead you to Raichi for lunch. At one point between Raichi and Chunuwar, there is a dramatic point where two rivers of distinctly different colors merge to form a single Phoksundo River. Then we continue to walk to Chunuwar. Walking hours: ~6-7 hours.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
The trek goes steeply uphill for the first three hours. There is minimal vegetation, and hills are very dusty in the dry season. As we arrive at the view tower, we can see the highest waterfall in Nepal with a height of 107 meters, mind-boggling sceneries surrounding hills. Ten minutes uphill from the view tower, we can get the first glimpse of Phoksundo Lake. Then, the trail goes gradually descending through the pine forest to the small village of Ringmo. Walking hours: ~5-6 hours.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
Today, we will admire the beauty of Phoksundo Lake and possibly hike a small village of Ringo and its Tibetan monasteries. The people of this area are following the Bon Buddhist known as pre-Buddhist too.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
Ringo village is the boundary between Lower and Upper Dolpo. We will enter a restricted area of Upper Dolpo and follow the trail Oscar-nominated movie HIMALAYA, directed by Eric Valli. The trail is a salt trade route between the people of Dolpo and Tibet. The twisted trail is more adventures along the lake. As we reach a height of 4085 meters, after which it gradually descends through the dense forest and climbs up towards an open valley with a spectacular view of Kanjirowa Himal with an elevation of 6612 meters. Then, we reach a beautiful camping place.
Walking hours: ~6 hours
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
The Trekking trail is unique. We enter through high rock walls on both sides and cross a couple of streams without bridges. The river flows inside the gorge; the walk is uphill but not steep. There is wide open space on the river shore, with stony ground and thorny juniper bushes. Walking hours: ~6 hours.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
The trail goes inclined steeply for the first two and a half hours over Sandy Mountain to Kang-La with an elevation of 5350 meters. The feet slid at every step, and altitude sickness may take hold at this point. After walking down the hill from the pass for about 4 hours, we get to Shey Gompa. Walking hours: ~7 hours.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
You can explore around Tsakang Gompa. It is not a monastery but a retreat. Tsakang had been a meditation center of many great lamas from Tibet. Shey Gompa belongs to the Chaiba community, followers of the Padmasambhava, and Kagyu sects. It was the first Kagyupa monastery, and its founder was the lama Ten-szin-Ra-Pa. The monastery was built during the 11th century. Shey is famous for its ancient Buddhist culture. In Dolpo, the ancient Tibetan way of life combines animism with the teachings of Buddha. Drutup Yeshe introduced Buddhism in the Dolpo valley. Many years ago, he came to Dolpo and came across a wild people whose supreme God was a ‘fierce mountain spirit.’ Crystal Mountain is to the west of the Shey monastery. It is an extraordinary mountain, indeed. Its contorted cliffs are laced with quartz and embedded with a wide variety of marine fossils. Shey Gompa stands above the confluence of Kwangju Nala and Yeju Nala. Near the confluence, there is a group of prayer mills turned by water wheels.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
We have to cross a pass with a height of 5,000 meters named Shey-La. Then the path begins to zigzag over bare rocks and coarse eroded soil. The trail subsequently descends to the pastures. It means our approach to Namgung. Walking hours: ~6 hours.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
The trek leads us steeply climb up, feeling very hard as we arrive at 4700 meters pass. Then we walk down the picturesque village, Saldang. It is one of the largest villages of this region’s strategic location of the trade route to Tibet. Walking hours: ~4 hours.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
The trek goes to pass through the terraced fields, stupas, chhortens, mani wall, monasteries, and several villages. We walk along the gorge where the bottom is populated with the green field of local barley. As we arrive at the campsite, we need to cross a knee-deep river twice. A beautiful open ground, thorny juniper bushes are only the vegetation. Walking hours: ~6 hours.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
This is the last pass of the journey; mentality requires preparing. We walk up a mild horizontal along with a river site. We cross the river twice at some point in the trail for a long stretch. But towards ends become steeper. As we left valleys and villages, enter the barren hill, an almost highest camp of the journey. Walking hours: ~5 hours.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
Today, we cross the last pass of the journey that walks up steeply uphill to the pass. We can see the beautiful sceneries of the Himalayas, including Dhaulagiri and the barren lands of Inner Dolpo. The trail goes down from the pass, gradually descending at first then steep down towards Tarap valley. Further 2 hours walk from Tokyo Goan, we get to Dho- Tarap (the highest village of the Dolpo.) and a junction from where the route diverges to Jomsom, Mustang, and Tibet. Walking hours: ~7 hours.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
The trail leads you downhill in a windy gorge along the Tarap River. There are hanging ridges on both sides; sometimes, it even disappears between and under the hills. The trail goes through the narrow gorges with the rushing river. Many mules, horses, and Yak will encounter along the trail to transporting the goods. In the afternoon, the trail seems some improvement of construction and sees a modern steel bridge to facilitate the movement of people and animals. Walking hours: ~7 hours.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
The same course, walk along the river to the narrow gorge a gentle incline through the dense forest. Sometimes, several ups and downs appear along the trail due to the huge rocky stones that represent the quality of the trail and take attention while on trek possibility of slippery. Walking hours: ~5 hours.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
The trail is easy to walk gradually inclined along the shore of the River. The trail sometimes climbs to the top of the hill and sometimes deep to the level of the River open space trail that leads us to Dunai. Walking hours: ~5 hours.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
The trail retrace the steps to Juphal while the journey to mountain. Just walk along the motorable road to Kala gouda. A steep climb up to Juphal passing through the cultivated rice fields. Walking hours: ~3 hours.
Overnight: Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner
Early morning, we take a flight to Nepalgunj. It is a wonderful 35- minute flight over the Himalayan foothills, with fine views of the main peaks including Annapurna and Dhaulagiri to the north. You then catch up on the connection flight back to Kathmandu.
Overnight: Kathmandu View Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
The day can occupy as security day in case of flight interruption. Alternatively, you have a chance to explore the Heritage site of Kathmandu if you arrived on the scheduled itinerary.
Overnight: Kathmandu View Hotel
Meals: Farewell Dinner
You will be transfer to airport 3 hours before your scheduled flight to your home country
Meals: Breakfast
