Introduction of Upper Dolpo Trek
The mountainous country Nepal hides the enormous and majestic hidden beauty between the high hills, mountains, and ridges. It leads Nepal to have a wide range of trekking trails and several journeys through nature covering the diversity of its unique beauty features and the factors of mountain topography. It makes a long and strong list of the variety of trekking journeys that run over a short period in the long and diverse region of Nepal. Among the dominating list, Upper Dolpo Trek remains and outstands as one of the most unique and diverse trekking, not just in Nepal but covering scenarios throughout the world, even though it’s not that well known it always makes the bucket place on the list of travel enthusiasts and adventure spirits.
Upper Dolpo Trek is a very diverse trekking route that holds the high factors and the amazing features a trekking journey should have. The trekking itself can be taken as an extreme adventure for a walking journey, as it covers the unspoiled and untouched beauty of nature, with the uninfluenced culture which has no bit of a connection with the outer modern world. It is already a stannous and quality trek that needs a hard journey for days as well as the deductions towards the goal, as it goes through the high-altitude hills and lower mountain peaks, covering the remotest parts of the Himalayas.
This trek of Upper Dolpo trek is based on the small settlement which is located between the lap of the upper mountain region of Nepal, with the ethnic people living with a similar culture and tradition to Tibetan. Besides adventure through the great and difficult terrains, the region up to the Upper Dolpo holds the breathtaking beauty and the stunning scenery of the untouched side of the world behind the mountains.
Overall, this trek of Upper Dolpo trek combines the characteristics of a great journey, lining the adventure, witnessing the ecosystem of a higher region, hidden culture, unseen magnificent beauty, untouched nature, and many other features in a single frame of a long journey. The diversity of such wide features and factors makes this journey a very unique within it.
So, here we brought the trekking itinerary of 25 days, covering the long and diverse journey up to there in Upper Dolpo. We bring you the properly planned and scheduled with the well-packed journey. This trek can be taken as a journey, that you cannot miss out on if you are a travel enthusiast an adventure seeker, or a spirit trekker. And here we designed this trek to cover every aspect and the features to make your journey more enjoyable and exciting on the other side of the mountains. Not a single modern infrastructure will be seen, once the trekking begins, therefore all the staying will be through camping in such a high altitude, preparing food beneath the mountain peaks and above the high gorges. From here you can guess how exciting and intrusting this tre4k can be in a single journey. Get in here to know more about this trip. All are to be explained in the itinerary.
Photo and Video Gallery
Trip Highlights
- Journey through amazing untouched nature and the unspoiled tranquil environment of the upper mountain region of the Himalayas behind the great mountain peaks far from the modern world
- Diverse landscapes of high hills, gorges, cliffs, slopes, and terrains that are untouched by any kind of modern infrastructure, which are non-existent
- The unique journey of high-altitude desserts or Mountain desserts which are very rare to be found in the world
- Witnessing different rare wildlife such as Himalayan Back Bear, Snow Leopard, Blue Sheep, etc, and a wide ecosystem of flora and fauna
- Empty trails and peaceful routes as it is the least visited trekking tail due to its challenging journey and the long duration
- The uninfluenced culture of ethnic communities bordered by the Himalayan terrains from the outer influence
- Witnessing the very rare and ancient Bon-Po culture, which is to be found only in this region
- The experience of an isolated society by the geographical borders
- Spiritual significance with the ancient monasteries, gompas, prayer flags, and other pilgrimage sites
- The challenging trail offers an adventurous journey and a chance to try a physical challenge to your ability
- The breathtaking views and scenery of snow-capped mountain peaks, stunning landscapes, majestic beauty of the alpine region, and magical beauty of traditional villages
- The witnessing of some of the remotest villages which are also an ancient one settled century back
- The journey through several high passes, lakes, glaciers, mountain terrains, steeps, slopes, and many more
- Overall, the combination of solitude, peace, nature, culture, beauty, and a spiritual journey over the far side of the modern world
Route Map
Upper Dolpo Trek Detail Itinerary
01
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu
Your itinerary for this trek starts from your arrival in Kathmandu at TIA (Tribhuvan International Airport). Our staff or the representative from the office will be waiting for you to get there at the airport.
You will get picked up by a private vehicle and drop you at the hotel for the check-in. After that, you can check out the streets in Kathmandu and have some fun with local foods and vibing around.
You will get your night stay at the 3-star hotel in Kathmandu.
Activity
30 mins
Max Altitude
1400m. / 4,593ft
Overnight Stay
Kathmandu
Accommodation
3-star Hotel 02
Day 02: Pre-meeting and Discussions of The Trip and Sightseeing Tour of Kathmandu
This day is dedicated to the planning and preparation for the whole journey. You can have your doubts and queries there with the team and discuss the whole structure of the trekking journey of Upper Dolpo Trek. Other than that, the short breading session will be there to give you some basic ideas about the whole journey.
After the briefing, there is a sightseeing program for you. You will get a sightseeing tour of Kathmandu Valley, which is itself a wide subject in a tourism attraction because of its historical, religious, and cultural significance. You will go sightseeing at the Pashupatinath Temple, a very important Hindu pilgrimage site, for Buddhists which is a pilgrimage for Buddhist, Boudhanath which is portrayal of amazing ancient architecture and ancient historical sites of Patan Durbar Square and Kathmandu Durbar Square as well as the Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
Also note, that the sightseeing tour is just a day-long tour, so it is not that flexible and can be reduced to some of the sites during this tour.
You will get your night stay in the same 3-star hotel.
Accommodation
3-star Hotel 03
Day 03: Fly From Kathmandu to Nepalgunj
With, the morning breakfast at Kathmandu, you will be taken to the Airport for the domestic flight down to Nepalgunj. It takes us a flight time of 1 hour to get dropped off at Nepalgunj Airport.
You will be getting a full day, thereafter in Nepalgunj, from where you can have your time there exploring, the Terai topography of Nepal trying some local foods, and hanging around.
You will get your overnight managed at a standard Hotel in Nepalgunj.
Activity
1-hour flightMax Altitude
1400m. / 4,593ftAccommodation
Hotel 04
Day 04: Flight From Nepalgunj To Juphal And Trek to Dunai
We will get a flight from Nepalgunj up to the Juphal, after a light breakfast in Nepalgunj. This is going to be one of the scenic flights of this itinerary. You can get the view of some of the highest peaks of the world such as Mt. Dhaulagiri(8167m) and Mt. Annapurna(8091m).
After arriving at the Juphal, our actual walking journey of the trek begins with the trek up to the Dunai of about 3 hours of trek. From there we will be trekking through the terrace farms and at the ridges of Bheri River to arrive in Dunai.
We will be creating a tent camp for the overnight stay in Dunai.
Activity
45 min flight & 3 hours of trekMax Altitude
2150m. / 7,054ftOvernight Stay
DunaiAccommodation
Camp 05
Day 05: Trek from Dunai to Ankhe
After getting breakfast in Dubai, we will continue our journey crossing the suspension bridge, which leads to the wooden routes. A little ascend and descend will be there, until we reach at the Thulo Bheri Valley, enjoying the scenery of remote mountains including Kagmara Peak.
Until we get there in Kagmara, we will pass through different small towns and settlements with walnut plantations with no road access. Once we arrive at the Ankhe, we will prepare for the night stay.
The camp at Ankhe will be an overnight stay.
Activity
6 hours of walkMax Altitude
2600m. / 8,530ftOvernight Stay
AnkheAccommodation
Tent Camp 06
Day 06: Trek From Ankhe to Renje
From today, the trek will become a bit difficult as the terrains start to get a bit vertical ascending and descending with the forested riverside. After the forest, you will go through the grassy land and descend a little to get an ascending route to get there at Renje
We will prepare a tent camp for an overnight stay.
Activity
6 hours of trekMax Altitude
3104m. / 10,184ftAccommodation
Camp 07
Day 07: Trek from Renje to Phoksundo Lake
On the seventh day of your itinerary, you will get to visit the Shey-Phoksundo Lake which is also the deepest lake in Nepal. We will continue our journey, after the morning breakfast. We will take the route of the western bank of the Pungmo River after crossing a bridge from the eastern side. As soon as we enter the western bank of the river the woodland arrives before we get there in Palam settlement. Above the settlement you have to climb a little ridge and descend the thick alpine and birch trees, before we arrive at the Phoksundo River. From there we just need some further walk to get there in Shey-Phoksundo Lake.
The great thing about this day is we will be going to get the stay with the camping at the side of the freshwater lake just beneath the mountain peaks.
We will be staying there at Phoksundo Lake doing camp.
Activity
5 to 6 hours of trekMax Altitude
3600m. / 11,811ftAccommodation
Tent Camp 08
Day 08: Trek From Phoksundo Lake to Phoksundo Khola
With a very fresh morning, we will continue our journey with the route above the western shores of Phoksundo Lake. At this point, you are already in the remote part of Nepal or the Himalayas. And from here the journey also gets tougher as the trail gets rough, steep, and stony. Through the difficult route, we will get there in the valley and a river, which is Phoksundo Khola.
We will prepare for the camping at the riverside to spend overnight.
Activity
5 hours of trekMax Altitude
3600m. / 11,811ftAccommodation
Camp 09
Day 09: Trek From Phoksundo Khola to Phoksundo Bhanjyang
After getting the Himalayan morning with the tranquil and fresh air, we will continue our journey for the Phoksundo Bhanjyang. From the junction of Phoksundo Khola and another stream from the mountain, we will take the north side of the hill through a glacier valley. The view of sheep pasture there and the steep ravine above the pasture takes us to the Kang La Pass from where you will get the stunning view of Chamlang Peak 6(6739m) and Chamlang Peak 7 (6105m). There the place called the Phoksundo Bhanjyang will arrive just beneath the Kang La Pass.
The camp will be your other day’s overnight stay.
Activity
7 hours of walkMax Altitude
5151m. / 16,900ftAccommodation
Camp 10
Day 10: Trek From Phoksundo Bhanjyang to Shey-Gompa via Kang La Pass
Early in the morning, we will climb the very difficult steps above to reach the Kang La Pass. After we arrive at the pass, we will have some time for the view of the surroundings which is spectacular. Leaving the pass, we will descend the steps through a river ridge, having the meadows and crossing the freshwater river multiple times. You will also see several yaks gazing at goats and seeps. After that, we have to cross a log bridge to arrive there in Shey-Ghompa.
We will prepare for camping and other essentials for overnight stay.
Activity
6 hours of trekMax Altitude
4402m. / 14,442ftAccommodation
Camp 11
Day 11: Rest, exploration, and Acclimatization Day in Shey-Gompa
On the 11th day of your itinerary, you will be getting a rest day at Shey-Gompa for acclimatization for the further journey. The Shey-Ghompa is a very old monastery which is constructed back in 1655, with the copper statute covered with plated gold of Shakyamuni Buddha. The small settlement is surrounded by the crystal mountains. You can also witness the marine fossils which were studied before there with the odd cliffs. Besides the natural beauty, you can hang around to see the very rare culture and traditions of the Himalayan people including the Bon Po culture.
Your overnight will be the same as other days in a camp.
Max Altitude
4126m. / 13,537ftAccommodation
Camp 12
Day 12: Trek From Shey-Gompa to Namduna Gaun
We will again continue our journey after the rest day at Shey-Gompa. The trail today will pass through the juniper trees and thick alpine to get there in a rocky canyon. It will be a very unique experience as you will be seeing the rocky canyon which is at such an altitude. Above the canyon, there comes a pass called Saldang La Pass after the rough path and rocky terrains. It continues until we arrive at the Namduna Gaun. It arrives with the scenic scenery of a small village with the small sheep and yaks gazing around the village.
You will get your overnight stay there at camping.
Activity
7 hours of walkMax Altitude
4400m. / 14,436ftAccommodation
Camp 13
Day 13: Trek from Namduna Gaun to Saldang Via Saldang La Pass
By leaving the Namduna Gaun we will begin to climb the slope through a rough and dusty trail. After 4 hours of stannous climbing, we will get there at the small hill peak from where Saldang La pass is nearby with just another couple of hours. It holds an altitude of around 5200m from the sea level, which is also the highest point we will get in this trekking journey, to Upper Dolpo trek. From there you will get the enormous beauty of the surroundings beneath the Saldang La Pass. After there we will be descending to the Nam Khong Nala, which is a small plateau, beside the high mountain peaks, which is the largest village in the lower Dolpo region.
The place of Saldang is a beautiful location covering the Himalayan farming terrace traditional agriculture and adventurous geography, which also works as the trade center or the route to Tibet.
We will get our camping there, for the overnight stay.
Activity
5 hours of trekMax Altitude
5200m. / 17,060ftAccommodation
Camp 14
Day 14: Trek From Saldang to Sibu
With the beautiful morning at a far place from the modern world at the Saldang, we will continue our trekking journey, after having a light breakfast. We will be traveling through the Nagon Khola, from the northern side. This journey is going to be a little lighter than the previous one as we just ascend and descend through the simple trails. We will get to the villages of Marang and Ki after crossing the Panzang River. Then we will arrive at the Yangze Gompa, an ancient monastery of Bon Po, after crossing another river just behind the Marang. The journey is also filled with Stupas, Chortens, farming terraces, and mani stones. After crossing such a diverse route, we will get there at Sibu with just another 2 hours of hike from Marang.
We will prepare our camping site for another day, and get the overnight stay there.
Activity
8 hours of trekMax Altitude
3942m. / 12,933ftAccommodation
Camp 15
Day 15: Trek From Sibu to the Jenga La Phedi
We will follow the Nam Khong Khola until we reach at the tiny streams flowing down from the mountains. After crossing, the river we need to climb a little hard ascent to reach there in Jenga La Phedi.
There will be an overnight stay camping.
Activity
7 hours of walkMax Altitude
4369m. / 14,334ftAccommodation
Camp 16
Day 16: Trek from Jenga La Phedi to Tokyu Gaun
On the fifteenth day of our Upper Dolpo Trek, we will be heading towards Tokyu Gaun. From here we enter the Upper Dolpo region passing the Jenga La Phedi, getting the stunning panoramic view of mountain ranges facing the mount Dhaulagiri (8267m).
After the panoramic point, we will descend through a rocky pathway, which takes us to the Tarap Valley. After some further walk, we will arrive at the Tokyu Gaon.
We will prepare a camping site similar to other days and spend the overnight there.
Activity
7 hours of trekMax Altitude
4845m. / 15,896ftAccommodation
Camp 17
Day 17: Trek to Dho Tarap from Tokyu Gaun
Today, you will cross from the grassy region, with it we will be getting the first glimpse of inner Dolpo as we descend to a plain area or a small valley. From here we start to get the mountain dessert. Through the Upper Dolpo Trek, we will be arriving at the settlement of Dho Tarap, a small village circled by the stone cliffs. You can have an insight into Bon Po culture and the Chaiba religion around the settlement.
The camp will be prepared for the overnight stay.
Activity
7 hours of trekMax Altitude
4240m. / 13,911ftAccommodation
Camp 18
Day 18: Trek from Dho Tarap to Serkam
With the morning in the Dho Tarap, we will be descending to Serkam. This journey goes through the narrow canyon, passing through the blue sheep herds and the jungle of Juniper trees and wild rose flowers.
After the Lang Khola and the Tarap Chu, we will be getting there in Serkam.
We will manage the camping site to get an overnight stay there.
Activity
7 hours of TrekMax Altitude
4090m. / 13,419ftAccommodation
Camp 19
Day 19: Trek From Serkam To Khani Gaun
This journey is filled with the huge descent of the Khani Gaun which drops the large altitude. You will be passing through the steps and the challenging trail, even though it’s a descent route down to the Khani Gaun crossing the majestic landscapes.
We will be staying there with the camping for overnight stay.
Activity
5 hours of walkMax Altitude
3630m. / 11,909ftAccommodation
Camp 20
Day 20: Trek From Khani Gaon to Tarkot
We are on the 19th day of the Upper Dolpo trek itinerary. We will be getting our way through Lalberi Village, after breakfast. The route will take you to the dense woodland. You will get the vibing mountain forest there, with the deep canyon behind it.
After crossing the river, we will arrive at the Tarkot. Upon arriving there we will visit the Sandul Gompa. We will get back to Tarkot after the visit.
We will be having another camping overnight there.
Activity
5 hours of walkMax Altitude
2281m. / 7,484ftAccommodation
Camp 21
Day 21: Trek from Tarkot to Dunai
From Tarkot we will be moving forward to Dunai from where we started our trekking journey, ending with the circuit of Upper Dolpo Trek. You will get the journey alongside the Bheri River, with the breathtaking view of Dhuoichaur and Rupgad, which are stunning villages. After passing another beautiful village through Motipur and Kalagaonda we will arrive at the Dunai.
We will be having a camping site there at the Dunai of the whole Upper Dolpo Trek.
Activity
6 hours of walkMax Altitude
2281m. / 7,484ftAccommodation
Camp 22
Day 22: Trek to Juphal
This will be the last trekking day with the walking journey. We will be having a short trek up to the Juphal. It will be just 3 hours of walk from the Dunai. It is a short and easy trek to get there in Dunai.
After arriving at Dunai, We will be having our last camping, of this whole trekking journey of Upper Dolpo Trek.
Activity
3 hours of trekMax Altitude
2402m. / 7,881ftAccommodation
Camp 23
Day 23: Flight from Juphal to Nepalgunj and then to Kathmandu
With the fresh morning at Juphal, we will take a flight for Nepalgunj, leaving the actual journey of Upper Dolpo Trek. And after the flight of an hour, we will take a flight up to Kathmandu.
After arriving in Kathmandu, you can have your own time hanging around in the streets for some refreshments.
You will get the accommodation in a 3-star Hotel.
Activity
45 min flight to Nepalgunj & 1-hour flight to KathmanduMax Altitude
2402m. / 7,881ftAccommodation
Camp 24
Day 24: Rest Day At Kathmandu and A Farewell program
This will be the last day of your itinerary with the stay in Kathmandu with the refreshment and a farewell dinner as a farewell program for you before your departure.
Hence, you can use this day as a rest or further exploration of Kathmandu valley, hunting some local street cuisines and foods. Or you can also have an experience of nightlife at Thamel before you leave.
You will be staying at the same 3-star hotel for accommodation.
25
Day 25: Departure
After the refreshment day, we will be dropping you off at the TIA (Tribhuvan International Airport ), after morning breakfast.
From there you will get your denature ending the itinerary of Upper Dolpo Trek.
If our standard itinerary doesn't fully meet your needs, we are happy to tailor it to your specific preferences and requirements.
Private Trip or Group Joining ?
Private Trip
A private trip offers complete flexibility, personalized itineraries, and tailored experiences. You enjoy privacy, exclusive attention from guides, and the freedom to travel at your own pace, making the journey more intimate and customized to your preferences.
Group Joining
Joining a group tour offers cost savings, added safety, and the chance to meet new people. It provides expert guidance, organized logistics, and a more enriching experience through shared insights and camaraderie.
Upper Dolpo Trek - Trip Information
Pick any specific tricky or season for the upper Dolpo trek is a bit tricky. As it lies in the uppermost part of the mountain region behind the peaks. And it still holds the beauty of a tranquil and fresh environment throughout the year. It also depends upon the choice and the interest of the trekker in which features and the factors they want in their journey. It also holds different features with the changing seasons. The geography also gets the weather very unpredictably changing even though the region remains dry most of the time. But considering the most and the best features of the trekking factors of Upper Dolpo Trek, the seasons of Autumn and Spring will or can be chosen as the best trekking time in the whole of Nepal.
As in Spring, the days become longer and you get time to enjoy more of the tranquil nature there which is isolated from the outer world. You will get the stable weather as well as the scenic blooming landscapes all around the trail. The Upper Dolpo Trek is already a great journey that holds the scenic journey and the flowering season adds more beauty to it. The refreshing environments and the dust-free air after the Pre-monsoon before the Spring make it more favorable. So, you will get the refreshing trails and the scenic journey if you get your trekking journey in Spring.
In Autumn, the weather gets the most stable state, and the visibility at its best. So you can enjoy every scenery more clearly. You will get the colorful route all around the trail as the changing phase of leaves from dry to new would turn the landscapes picturesque. It also archives the warm hue which is also the main theme of Upper Dolpo Trek.
So, the seasons of Spring and Autumn can be taken as the best trekking time for this outstanding trek.
The accommodation for this trek will be all as mentioned in the cost including and excluding. You will get the basic logistics according to the necessity and schedule per itinerary. The structure of the food will be Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
You will be staying at the 3-star hotel while in Kathmandu and a standard hotel while in Nepalgunj, other than that you will be staying at the Camp for an overnight stay. It is a great opportunity to experience the adventure of living in a camping accommodation, while in such altitude. Camping is the only option for overnight stays there as the region is already a remote area of Nepal and no means of goods with modern means are available. Also, there are very few settlements that cannot provide lodging or teahouse facilities.
Other than that, the things to be noted is, that this package will not cover other logistics than mentioned in the cost section. It includes the bills of beverages, sweets, desserts, ice creams, or any kind of personal interest things during the journey. All the necessary logistics will be covered as scheduled plan of itinerary. You can have queries about this during the briefing session before the trekking journey.
The preparation for this journey of Upper Dolpo trek will be a great point to consider as we will be on a long journey at the remotest part and all the accommodation Camping. So, it is a deal of preparing for the essentials of the journey along with the accommodation staff. Other than that all the basic foods and the materials which we will need to prepare and build the tent. And we are talking about 20 days of trekking carrying all the essentials through the rough and difficult terrains.
So, you need to carry the essentials that you need the most during your trek, other than that do not carry any kind of things that you can avoid while in the trek, as we are already tied with the overload of gears, equipment, and materials.
Carry enough clothes that can cover your all itinerary during this journey and keep the clothing that can keep you warm than the trendy ones. Also, carry an extra pair of trekking boots as there is no p[ossible of finding another pair of boots or any kind of footwear on the journey if you have any kind of fault or damage to your footwear.
Do not forget to keep a first aid kit or the basic medical items with you as it can be needed any time and helps a lot during an emergency. It is also common to have tiny wounds during a long journey in such diverse and mountainous geography.
Note that all of the above is just the basic idea or the surface structure of preparation for this diver trek. For Upper Dolpo Trek we need very strict and planned preparation to be held which needs proper planning and teamwork. So, you will get a proper briefing about all the preparation for all the sections before heading on the journey.
The permit to get access inside the Dolpo region or to get trekking permission for Upper Dolpo is a bit complex, as it is already a strictly restricted area, and also falls under the Shey-phoksundo National Park. It is also divided into two restricted areas lower Dolpo and Upper Dolpo. Besides this, the permits also work for a valid day of 10 days inside the region, which makes the permits to be renewed or to be taken as necessary days. After 10 days, the permit charges increase with the rate per day. The following are the permits,
- (SPNPP) Shey-Phoksundo National Park Permits
- (LDRAP) Lower Dolpo Restricted Area Permits
- (UDRAP) Upper Dolpo Restricted Area Permits
- (TIMS) Trekking Information Management System
These permits should be taken from the official government offices, filled with legal personal information, and verified with the government-issued official stamp. Doing or conducting any kind of trekking journey or similar activities inside the region is an illegal act. If found doing so, can be taken under legal charges.
The permit work for this trek is still a challenging task to manage, as there are other, branching terms to be followed accordingly, with the structure of the journey. So, all of them are to be managed by our staff for you to get rid of such mess during your journey.
Most Asked Questions
Why is there all the camping in the whole trekking journey?
As mentioned above Upper Dolpo Trek goes through the remotest part of the Himalayas, with very few small settlements. And there are no running lodges or any kind of services similar to the teahouse, which makes camping the only option for accommodation during this trek.
Should I need to hire an external porter?
No, you do not need to hire any porter as our package covers the number of potters to be hired as per the number of trek members. You will get the local potter and the guide with the government-issued license. We do not recommend you carry any other materials that you do not use often as it just increases the burden over eth enjoyable trek.
What currencies can be used during the trek?
Only Nepalese currencies are in use right now all across the country. Only a few luxury restaurants and cafes in Kathmandu accept payments in some foreign currencies. Other than that you need to have the Nepalese currencies to get the right transactions. You can exchange them with the international exchange rate in Kathmandu.
Can I access to the internet during this trek?
Unfortunately, it is very hard to access the internet t the Dolpo Region. Even getting access to the mobile network is a struggling thing there. It is hard to get the proper signal, even though the service providers are found to be promoting internet access in such regions, but it’s a matter of geography.
Can I use a local SIM during my stay?
Yes, you can use the local SIM, which you can buy from the official sellers. You just need a copy of your passport with a pp size photo to get the service providers to give you the SIM. Ncell and NTC are the best options.
