Upper and Lower Dolpo Circuit Trek

Upon your arrival at Kathmandu at TIA, a representative of Himalayan Wander Walkers will warmly welcome you to Nepal and escort you toward your hotel. If your arrival time is in the morning you can do a short tour or just relax and walk around the town. You have to come one day earlier for a special permit. For that, we need your original passport.

Overnight: At hotel set with BB plan.

From Kathmandu, we take a bus or fly on any domestic carrier to Nepalgunj. Nepalgunj, a town in the Western Terai, is very close to the Indian border and the Bardia National Park. It is a major transport hub for the western, mid-western, and far-western regions of Nepal. Our representative will pick you up from the airport and take you to the hotel. Overnight stay will be at a hotel that is a 10 to 15- minute drive from the airport.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.

Today we take a 35-minute flight to Juphal. Our trekking starts from Juphal. The trail from Juphal to Dunai is comfortable and easy as the trail on this part of the trek also has a few jeeps running to and from. The first forty-five minutes of the trek descends to Kalagauda followed by two hours of the hike along the trail above the Thuli Bheri River. We trek by the riverside and pass Roop Ghar with the water mill and finally reach the Dunai (2150m) a small town, the headquarters of the district. Dunai has some government and private schools, colleges, police check posts, and some government offices. You can visit the Bon Stupa, school, the Central Buddhist monastery, and the very first English medium school across the river. From the Stupa you can have a view of the whole town and another village, upper Dunai too.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.

The real adventure of Dolpo Circuit Trek begins today. As the trek begins we initially trek along the classic trekking route of Dolpo via Sulighar, which is pretty much a comfortable walk along the leveled trail. We shall produce the trekking permit to Dolpo and the Shey Phoksundo National Park Permit at the Sunlight Check-post. Now we are officially inside Shey Phoksundo National Park. Beyond Sunlight, our trek follows the trail beside the Phoksundo River to Kageni. As the trek goes further, the landscapes in the vicinity begin to change. We trek through the lush tropical forest frequently emerging at isolated mid-hill villages like Jutung and arriving at Shangta. At Shangta we cross the bridge twice- once over the Phoksundo River and once over the confluence of Phoksundo Khola and Maiaba Khola and begin to head north towards Chhepka. Trekking upstream along the trail beside Phoksundo Khola for a while we arrive at Chhepka. We put our camps at an ideal location in Chhepka for the overnight stay.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.

Today the trail leads you beside Phoksundo Khola- the trail of the famous Lower Dolpa Circuit. We trek in the opposite direction of the river flow to Amchi Hospital. The trek crosses the bridge over Phoksundo Khola twice. As we approach closer to Kharka trekking along the amazingly peaceful region the trail goes high above Phoksundo Khola to Rechi 3011m, where we stop for lunch. Beyond Rechi we again hike along the riverside trail to Sulligad Dovan where we cross the bridge over the confluence of Phoksundo Khola and Yulung Khola and arrive at Chunuwar. We will settle our camps here for the night.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.

We will join the direct trail to Phoksundo Lake today climbing through forests of big cedars onto Palam (3710m), a winter settlement used by the people of the Ringmo village. The entrance station for the Shey Phoksundo National Park is at the south end of the village. The route then descends on switchbacks through open country to an elevation of 3300 meters and then starts up another set of dusty switchbacks to a ridge at 3780 meters to the highest waterfall in Nepal (200 meters high). Our route then continues to Ringmo village, a picturesque settlement of flat-roofed stone houses with lots of mani walls. Just below Ringmo we cross a bridge and follow the trail to Phoksundo Lake, where we camp at the national park camping grounds west.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.

Today we explore the area around Ringmo Village and the magnificent Phoksundo Lake. First, we explore Ringmo Village and head to Tshowa (the lake-shore Bon Monastery). The Gompa nestling a ridge top above Phoksundo Lake was built about 900 years ago. Exploring this culturally rich Bon Monastery is a fascinating experience. Then we drop down to Phoksundo Lake along steep-sided cliffs. The lake is famous for its magnificent turquoise color and spectacular scenery. We will have a beautiful scenic view of the typical Tibetan cultured Rigmo village from Phoksundo Lake. There are several monasteries (Gompas ) and Bon-to religious sites at the park and we spend our time visiting some of these. We also explore the wonderful natural sites and enjoy our nature tour.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.

Today’s trek is probably one of the best trekking days of the Dolpo to Mustang Trek. It climbs along the narrow trail cut on a cliff standing vertically straight above Phoksundo Lake. This treacherously fascinating trail brings us to another side of Phoksundo Lake. This particular part of the trek is like a fantasy walk portrayed by a writer in their fiction novels. To get to the Phoksundo Khola camp on the other side of the lake, we slide down for ninety minutes along with the beautiful forests. The final part of today’s trek slides up to the beautiful campsite at Sallaghari. Enjoy the night in the camps in a beautiful pine forest.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.

Today’s trek is relatively short; we trek for almost three hours to reach Nangdala High Camp 4100m. As the trek begins we ascend the narrow defile of the Tuk Kyaksa River. The trail switches to the opposite side of the river several times. Soon we arrive at a place where the rapids of the river are calmer. We cross the bridge over the river at that point. Thirty minutes of a walk after the bridge, we come across the wide valley followed by two hours of a walk along the canyon brings us to the potential campsite. A walk for a while further reaches the massive rock slab, which is Nangdala High Camp- our campsite for the night.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.

Today we trek to the fabled Shey Gompa and the nearby 'Crystal Mountain', the most sacred peak in Dolpo which Dolpo pilgrims circumambulate each summer before the harvest. We are now entering the real Dolpo, and to enter into this mystical land we have to cross the Kangla/Nangdala pass. The trek to the top of Kang La/Nangdala Pass is along the graveled trail uphill for three continuous hours. However, all the efforts put to come up to the top of the pass reward us with wonderful views. The eye-fast views from the Kang La Pass include Cyrstal Mountain, the mountains in Tibetan territory, and the mesmerizing landscapes of Dolpo. We also have views of the peaks, Shey Shikkar and Kang Chunne, both over 6000 meters, before descending steeply down to the valley floor and along the river. A red Chorten marks the entrance to Shey. Every Dragon year according to the Tibetan calendar comes every 12 years there is a grand festival. People from different places and countries come to attend this festival. We camp for the night.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.

Today we will explore Shey Gompa. It is said to be about 800 years 800-year-old monastery, with murals inside and an ancient scroll describing the mythology behind the Crystal Mountain. The monastery is locally known as Shelri Sumdho Gompa. Shey Festival, the summer festival observed by the people of Dolpo with huge enthusiasm is hosted at Shey Gompa. After the exploration of Shey Gompa, the trek begins, it follows the trail beside Sephu Khola for almost a couple of hours. The landscapes during this part of the trek are typical Dolpo landscapes- barren and enchanting. Then we begin to climb up towards the top of Shey La Pass, which is almost two hours of hike. The acme of Shey La (5095m) Pass west of Shey, rewards us with the magnificent views of Mustang to the East, Tibet to the North, and Kanjiroba, Kagmara, and Riu Dhukta, or the Crystal Mountain, to the West. The final push about 2 hours of hike brings us to Namgung.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.

Before setting out towards Saldang, we explore the monastery of Namgung set on the flanking cliff. As the trek from Namgong Gompa begins we follow Namga Khola cross past more summer herding spots and emerge out of spur for a short hike down to Saldang. Saldang is a beautiful village with lots of drylands surrounded by hills. Amchi tradition and Buddhism in Dolpo thrive here at Saldang. We'll get a chance to visit some local houses, drink some salt butter tea or Chyang (Tibetan barley beer), and sample the local fare at Saldang.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.

Today we will have a day hike after early breakfast to Yangjer the richest monastery in this region. We will have a packed lunch and will come back to Saldang for the night stop after the exploration of the monastery.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.

Today we trek for six hours and reach the village of Komash. Initially, the trail follows the Saldanf Lek along the Rapyha Khola to the barren hillside. Exiting the elevated ridge (khom la) of almost 4500m, the trail descends steeply to Komash Village a village that bears similarity to a Tibetan village. Overnight in tents at Komash.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.

As we trek from Komash village we may sight some endangered animals like a snow leopard or Blue sheep. On the way, we pass small villages. The landscapes in the vicinity are full of highland deserts with little shrub-like vegetation. On the trail, there is one small pass Shimen La (4260m). After almost five hours of comfortable hike, we arrive at Shimen. Overnight in the tented camps at Shimen.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.

Today the trail goes by the side of Panjang Khola. There are some villages and gompas on the way to Tinje. Tinje is a very beautiful valley. There is a natural airstrip where once a British aircraft had landed and taken off.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.

From the village of Tinje, we trek to Yak Kharka, which is an open grazing ground for yaks and sheep. The grassy meadow of Yak Kharka makes for an excellent camping site.

Meal: full-board, three times a day plus enough tea.