Lower Dolpo Trek

Trip Overview

ADVENTURE TO NEPAL FAR WEST HIMALAYAN IN THE COUNTRY OF ANCIENT BON-RELIGION

Lower Dolpo Trek a great way to spend your adventure within Nepal Far northwest Himalaya, which leads you into the country most remote and isolated villages within the huge Yak grazing area of Lower and Inner Dolpo facing incredible scenery of its beautiful landscapes. Lower Dolpo Trek a combination of scenic views and cultural aspiration where you can observe the local way of heritage life and religion practice as it was for past hundreds of centuries in the harmony of pristine environment and perfect tranquil wilderness. Beginning this great journey Lower Dolpo Trekking with a scenic flight from Kathmandu to reach at Nepal Far South West and then towards high areas of Dolpo to land at Jhupal airport, where the walk starts to reach our main highlight of the adventure at turquoise colored Phoksumdo Lake, also called Ringmo Lake. With time at Phoksumdo Lake having enjoyable and pleasant time facing exceptional views of surrounding beautiful scenery of white-capped peaks and rolling green hills, where high climb leads to cross over Baga La and Numa-la pass at above 5,190 m high to reach at impressive areas of Tokyu-Gaon.

Around Tokyu-Gaon visit its interesting villages and monasteries then walk through a great field into Yak country at Dho-Tarap valley to reach at another lovely Tarakot village, a historical spot during ancient Malla regime of 9^th to 16^th Century. Slowly our walk completes on reaching at Jhupal after entering the town of Dunai, headquarter of Dolpo district, from Jhupal flying back to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj city with an awesome panorama of Himalayan giant mountains. Lower Dolpo Trek concludes at Kathmandu after a wonderful and remarkable adventure and experience around Nepal Far West Himalaya of Dolpo.

Trip Preview:

Mode of accommodation: Hotels, local Lodge and camping.
Trek Grade:  Moderate to Adventurous.
Highest spot on Treks:  Over Baga La 5,070m and Numala 5,190 m high.
Trek Duration:   13 Nights and 14 Days (Jhupal to Jhupal).
People and Culture:  Populated by Dolpo and some Magar with Hindu
Thakuri higher with strong Buddhism and ancient
Bon sect religion of colorful culture and old
traditional heritage and lively custom.
Best Seasons:  April to November of the year, includes monsoon
months of June to August as Lower and Inner
Dolpo falls within Rain-Shadow area where
monsoon rain clouds blocked by high Himalaya
mountains.

Total Trip:  17 Nights and 18 Days (arrival to final departure)

Details Itinerary

Short Outline Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu with transfer to hotel.
Day 02: Afternoon fly to Nepalgunj city 50 mins on air and transfer to hotel.
Day 03: Morning flight to Jhupal 2,475 m and trek to Dunai 2,140 m – 04 hrs.
Day 04: Trek to Chhepka 2,838 m – 06 hrs.
Day 05: Trek to Samdua village 2,960m -06 hrs.
Day 06: Trek to Phoksundo Lake 3,630 m – 06 hours.
Day 07: Rest day at Phoksundo Lake for local excursion.
Day 08: Trek and cross Baga La 5,070m and camp 4,470 m – 06 hrs.
Day 09: Cross Numala 5,190m and camp at Phedi – 07 hrs.
Day 10: Trek to Tokyu Gaon 4,200 m via Jyang la 5,090 m – 06 hrs.
Day 11: Trek to Dho-Tarap 3, 944 m- 05 hrs.
Day 12: Trek to Ghyamgar 3,759 m – 07 hrs.
Day 13: Trek to Tarap Khola 3,652 via Chhyugar 3,440 m – 06 hours.
Day 14: Trek to Tarakot 2,540 m – 06 hrs.
Day 15: Trek to Dunai – 05 hrs then drive to Jhupal – 02 hr jeep ride.
Day 16: Morning flight to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj and transfer to hotels.

Day 17: In Kathmandu free as contingency day for individual activities.

Day 18: Final departure homeward bound or to respective destinations.

Detail Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu with transfer to hotel.
On arrival at Kathmandu international airport get transferred to hotels after received by our guides and staff, at hotel check-in and join in for group briefing regarding treks and other useful information, with welcome dinner.

Day 02: Afternoon fly to Nepalgunj city 50 mins on air and transfer to hotel.
Morning free in Kathmandu with options for sightseeing tour at places of interest for few hours, after lunch transfer to Kathmandu domestic airport for scenic flight to land at low warm areas of Nepal Far South in Nepalgunj city airport and transfer to hotel within this Indian type city, which is close to India border of UP (Utter Pradesh).

Day 03: Fly to Jhupal 2,475 m then drive to Dunai 2,140 m – 02 hrs.
Early breakfast for another short connecting flight to Jhupal in Dolpo, on reaching Jhupal after 40 minutes on air, received by our trekking staff that has traveled here taking a long overland drive and walks, from Jhupal at present a motor road has been constructed connecting Dunai the main headquarter town of Dolpo area.

From Jhupal a short drive of more than an hour rides to Dunai for an overnight stop, in the comfort of the nice local lodge, afternoon walk around Dunai town an interesting place to observe its culture and way of daily life.

Day 04: Trek to Chhepka 2,838 m – 06 hrs.
After overnight in Dunai, morning walk past market crossing a bridge over Thulo Bheri River and then climb over a ridge to Phuksumdo River valley with views of Kagmara peak, from here trek leads downhill passing farm villages with walnut trees close to a stream at Dhera, a small cattle herders settlements, from here a short climb to Rahagaon village of Thakuri a Hindu local tribe, then downhill walk into forested area to reach overnight camp at Chhepka a small farm village.

Day 05: Trek to Samdua village 2,960m -06 hrs.
From Chhepka near Ankhe area, morning walk with short climb and descend through forest reaching a river bank, from here climb on leaving the forest, from the top walk downhill to forested area leading upstream to cross a small bridge at Ryajik village, trek  further to Samdua for overnight stop near the entrance of Phuksumdo National Park.

Day 06: Trek to Phoksundo Lake 3,630 m – 06 hours.
Morning walk leads to our first destination at Phoksundo Lake after Pungmo Kholas valley  and crossing streams, following Pungmo Khola downhill into pine and birch trees to reach at upper side of Phoksundo Khola, after a  short break continue to walk to Ringmo village, an interesting village of Tibetan origin with mud plastered chhorten and Mani (prayer) walls.

From here a short walk to Phoksumdo Lake for overnight camp by the shore of beautiful turquoise Phoksumdo Lake.

Day 07: Rest day at Phoksundo Lake for the local excursion.
An ideal spot for the rest day, marvel the beautiful views of surrounding landscapes and peaks of Kagmara, and visit interesting Ringmo village by the lake side.

Day 08: Cross Baga La 5,070m and to Phedi 4,470m – 07 hrs.
After an enjoyable and exciting rest stop at Ringmo village and around Phoksundo Lake, morning walk leads to reach another side of Dolpo area. As our route leads east to cross few passes, walking on a pleasant trail with a steep uphill to reach over Baga-la at 5,070 meters.

A steep uphill for few hours to reach on top where you will be rewarded with a super panorama of Phoksumdo lake and Kagmara peaks after a scenic stop walk leads to a long descend to overnight camp at Phedi (bottom of the hill).

Day 09: Cross Numa-la 5,190 m and to walk to other Phedi – 08 hrs.
Morning walk leads to cross over Numa-la above 5,190 m, the highest spot of the adventure, taking nearly three hours to reach on top of Numa-la, facing views of Dhaulagiri mountain range to Kagmara peak with beautiful valley and dramatic landscapes.

After an enjoyable stop descends to the base of the Pass, with the gradual path to reach our overnight camp around Yak summer pasture.

Day 10: Trek to Tokyu Gaon 4,200m via Jyang la 5,090 m – 06 hrs.
From this peaceful and quiet area where walk leads to interesting village at Tokyu-Gaon, one of the largest village of Lower and Inner Dolpo, morning starts with a steep climb for two hours to the top of Jyang-la with grand views of snow-capped mountains with Mt. Dhaulagiri North Face, on enjoying the fantastic views, then descend towards Tarap valley to reach overnight stop at Tokyu-Gaon, an interesting village with an old monastery, afternoon visit its monastery and observe farming and daily activities.

Day 11: Trek to Dho Tarap 3, 944 m- 05 hrs.
After Tokyu Gaon, morning starts with downhill walk to Tarap Chu on broader green valley, this is one of the scenic wide valleys with lots of Sheppard’s settlements of Yaks and Sheep, and walk continues to our overnight camp at Dho Tarap, this is another interesting village with mix tribes of Tibetans origin and Magar hill tribe people.

Day 12: Trek to Ghyamgar 3,759 m – 07 hrs.
From here a long descend to Tarap valley, one of the largest and longest valley of Dolpo area which is about 20 k.m. which stretches following Tarap Chu River most of the way to joins with Thuli Bheri River near Tarakot village, walk leads past Langa with beautiful cascading waterfalls heading due south following the trail after Sisaul and small place of Kesila around Yak herders temporary camps to reach our overnight camp at Ghyamgar.

Day 13: Trek to Tarap Khola 3,652 via Chhyugar 3,440 m – 06 hours.
Today walks on Tarap nice valley, as the trail enters into a narrow gorge with some vegetation of bushes of juniper and wild rose, walk leads past Toltol with a large overhanging cave, around this area might see some wildlife like Naur or Blue Sheep and other animals. As the walking progress reaching a confluence of River Tarap Chu and Lang Khola, overnight camp by the river after a long day walk of about 6 hours.

Day 14: Trek to Tarakot 2,540 m – 06 hrs.
Start morning walk passing smaller villages and then into a small wooded area, following river all the way at Tarakot, a large and interesting village with old history and well maintained terraced farm fields, Tarakot with an old historical fortress (Dzong or Kot) guarding the village.
Tarakot village houses famous old Sandul Gomba located at the junction of Barbung Khola and Tarap Chu River where the overnight camp is placed.

Day 15: Trek to Dunai – 05 hrs then drive to Jhupal – 02 hr jeep ride.
After a great time in Tarakot, last day walk leads to Dunai and then with a short drive to Jhupal for last overnight stop and flight back to Kathmandu. The morning starts following spread out villages, walking on the wide trail with short uphill and downhill towards Thuli Bheri River valley to reach at Dunai, on reaching Dunai time permitting having lunch. From here jeeps drive to Jhupal to catch our next morning flight to Nepalgunj.

Day 16: Morning flight to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj and transfer to hotels.

From Jhupal bidding farewell to our camping staff and porters morning taking a sweeping short flight to Nepalgunj, and the connect flight to Kathmandu overlooking fantastic panorama of high peaks of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna range with Manaslu Himal, then land at Kathmandu airport, where short drive takes you to your respective hotels in the hub of Kathmandu around Thamel or near about.

Day 17: In Kathmandu free as contingency day and for individual activities.

An extra day as a contingency in Kathmandu where flight can get delay and might leads to cancellation at Jhupal-Dolpo, if bad and unfavorable weather conditions happen, which is quite normal around Himalaya as weather can be unpredictable sometimes.

This free and spare day can be used for individual activities or just relax and enjoy the memories of Lower Dolpo Trekking.

Day 18: Final departure homeward bound or to respective destinations.
Last day in the land of Himalayan Wonders, as per your international flight time depart from the hotel for an airport for your international flight back to home countries or other respective destinations.

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