EXPLORE NEPAL · TOURS & TREKS

Upper Dolpo Trekking

A journey shaped by the landscapes, people and experiences of Nepal.

Offered by Nepal Footprint Holiday Pvt.ltd

Duration22 days
Illustrative Nepal scenery for Upper Dolpo Trekking NEPAL · TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
01 / THE EXPERIENCE

Discover the journey

Upper Dolpo Trekking is one of the remote trekking in Nepal that lies in the base of far west Himalayas which preserve the stone-age culture. Opened in 1993 for Tourism activities with special trekking permit, it still holds gem of landmarks and the authentic culture of Tibetan Buddhism. Friendly People greet visitors to Dolpo with warm “Tashi Delek”. The monasteries of Dolpo including the ones of Tibetan Buddhists and Bon nestle on the spurs atop traditional villages. The landscapes, which are so wonderful, vary while trekking in different regions of Dolpo.

02 / WHY GO

The memorable moments

Beautiful landscape in the upper Himalayas Unique Buddhist culture and way of life of people One of the best location for shooting films Fascinating Shey Phoksundo Lake also known as “Deepest Lake in Nepal” Passing Shey La Pass (5,094m) and Kang La Pass (5,306m) brings you close enough to the pristine mountains, flora and fauna Experience the beautiful nature and rare village life of Western Nepal

03 / YOUR ROUTE

Journey at a glance

Day Day 1:: Arrival In Kathmandu – Hotel Transfer. — Arrival In Kathmandu – Hotel Transfer. Day Day 2:: Half Day Sightseeing In Kathmandu City , Evening In The Southwest: Flight To Nepalgunj. — Half Day Sightseeing In Kathmandu City , Evening In The Southwest: Flight To Nepalgunj. Day Day 3:: Into The Heart Dolpos. Flight To Juphal (2,550 M) And Trek To Dunai (2,150 M). — Into The Heart Dolpos. Flight To Juphal (2,550 M) And Trek To Dunai (2,150 M). Day Day 4:: Canyon Hike. Trekking To Tarakot (2,550 M). — Canyon Hike. Trekking To Tarakot (2,550 M). Day Day 5:: Aiming High. Trekking To Lahiniwiese (3,300 M). — Aiming High. Trekking To Lahiniwiese (3,300 M). Day Day 6:: Along The Tarapchu. — Along The Tarapchu. Day Day 7:: Along An Ancient Trade Route. Trekking To Dho (4,050 M). — Along An Ancient Trade Route. Trekking To Dho (4,050 M). Day Day 8:: Acclimatization In Dho (4,050 M). Cultural Experience Monastery. — Acclimatization In Dho (4,050 M). Cultural Experience Monastery. Day Day 9:: Always The North: Trek To High Camp (4,600 M) At La Chhoi. — Always The North: Trek To High Camp (4,600 M) At La Chhoi. Day Day 10:: The First Pass: Trekking Via Chhoi La (5,025 M). — The First Pass: Trekking Via Chhoi La (5,025 M). Day Day 11:: Tibet Is Not Far Off. Trek To Shimen (3,900 M) — Tibet Is Not Far Off. Trek To Shimen (3,900 M) Day Day 12:: The Longest Mani Walls Of Nepal. Trekking To Komang (4,200 M). — The Longest Mani Walls Of Nepal. Trekking To Komang (4,200 M). Day Day 13:: Wild Paths And The Monastery Yang Chernobyl. Trekking To The River Bed (3.700 M). — Wild Paths And The Monastery Yang Chernobyl. Trekking To The River Bed (3.700 M). Day Day 14:: Herbs Center. Trekking To Namkhong (4,200 M). — Herbs Center. Trekking To Namkhong (4,200 M). Day Day 15:: The Second Pass: Sela La (5,094 M). — The Second Pass: Sela La (5,094 M). Trek To Shey Gompa. Is Called Crystal Monastery As Well. Day Day 16:: The Monasteries Of Shey. Trekking To The Base Camp (4,600 M). — The Monasteries Of Shey. Trekking To The Base Camp (4,600 M). Day Day 17:: The Third Pass: Kang La (5,360 M). River Crossings And Camp In The Pine Forest. — The Third Pass: Kang La (5,360 M). River Crossings And Camp In The Pine Forest. Day Day 18:: For Mountain Lake. Trekking To Phoksundo (3,700 M). — For Mountain Lake. Trekking To Phoksundo (3,700 M). Day Day 19:: Descent, Down, Down. Trekking To Chepka. — Descent, Down, Down. Trekking To Chepka. Day Day 20:: Goodbye. Trekking To Jhupal. — Goodbye. Trekking To Jhupal. Day Day 21:: Birds Eye View. Flight To Nepalgunj And Kathmandu. — Birds Eye View. Flight To Nepalgunj And Kathmandu. Day Day 22:: Shopping & Sightseeing In Kathmandu And Flight Onward Destination. — Shopping & Sightseeing In Kathmandu And Flight Onward Destination.

YOUR DAY-BY-DAY ROUTE

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Arrival In Kathmandu – Hotel Transfer. — Arrival In Kathmandu – Hotel Transfer.+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 2: Half Day Sightseeing In Kathmandu City , Evening In The Southwest: Flight To Nepalgunj. — Half Day Sightseeing In Kathmandu City , Evening In The Southwest: Flight To Nepalgunj.+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 3: Into The Heart Dolpos. Flight To Juphal (2,550 M) And Trek To Dunai (2,150 M). — Into The Heart Dolpos. Flight To Juphal (2,550 M) And Trek To Dunai (2,150 M).+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 4: Canyon Hike. Trekking To Tarakot (2,550 M). — Canyon Hike. Trekking To Tarakot (2,550 M).+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 5: Aiming High. Trekking To Lahiniwiese (3,300 M). — Aiming High. Trekking To Lahiniwiese (3,300 M).+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 6: Along The Tarapchu. — Along The Tarapchu.+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 7: Along An Ancient Trade Route. Trekking To Dho (4,050 M). — Along An Ancient Trade Route. Trekking To Dho (4,050 M).+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 8: Acclimatization In Dho (4,050 M). Cultural Experience Monastery. — Acclimatization In Dho (4,050 M). Cultural Experience Monastery.+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 9: Always The North: Trek To High Camp (4,600 M) At La Chhoi. — Always The North: Trek To High Camp (4,600 M) At La Chhoi.+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 10: The First Pass: Trekking Via Chhoi La (5,025 M). — The First Pass: Trekking Via Chhoi La (5,025 M).+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 11: Tibet Is Not Far Off. Trek To Shimen (3,900 M) — Tibet Is Not Far Off. Trek To Shimen (3,900 M)+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 12: The Longest Mani Walls Of Nepal. Trekking To Komang (4,200 M). — The Longest Mani Walls Of Nepal. Trekking To Komang (4,200 M).+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 13: Wild Paths And The Monastery Yang Chernobyl. Trekking To The River Bed (3.700 M). — Wild Paths And The Monastery Yang Chernobyl. Trekking To The River Bed (3.700 M).+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 14: Herbs Center. Trekking To Namkhong (4,200 M). — Herbs Center. Trekking To Namkhong (4,200 M).+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 15: The Second Pass: Sela La (5,094 M). — The Second Pass: Sela La (5,094 M). Trek To Shey Gompa. Is Called Crystal Monastery As Well.+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 16: The Monasteries Of Shey. Trekking To The Base Camp (4,600 M). — The Monasteries Of Shey. Trekking To The Base Camp (4,600 M).+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 17: The Third Pass: Kang La (5,360 M). River Crossings And Camp In The Pine Forest. — The Third Pass: Kang La (5,360 M). River Crossings And Camp In The Pine Forest.+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 18: For Mountain Lake. Trekking To Phoksundo (3,700 M). — For Mountain Lake. Trekking To Phoksundo (3,700 M).+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 19: Descent, Down, Down. Trekking To Chepka. — Descent, Down, Down. Trekking To Chepka.+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 20: Goodbye. Trekking To Jhupal. — Goodbye. Trekking To Jhupal.+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 21: Birds Eye View. Flight To Nepalgunj And Kathmandu. — Birds Eye View. Flight To Nepalgunj And Kathmandu.+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

Day 22: Shopping & Sightseeing In Kathmandu And Flight Onward Destination. — Shopping & Sightseeing In Kathmandu And Flight Onward Destination.+

Confirm daily arrangements with the provider.

KNOW WHAT'S COVERED

What's included in your experience

Included

  • Airport pickup, drop and all ground transport by private vehicle.
  • Standard twin sharing Hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast as per itinerary.
  • Trekking Lodge (Tea House) accommodations throughout the trek.
  • Three meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) during the upper dolpo trek.
  • All necessary paper works for dolpo trek special permit, 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.
  • Emergency life saver oxygen and mask support.
  • Guided Kathmandu sightseeing tour with private vehicle.
  • Assistant guide group size more than 4 person group.
  • Welcome and farewell dinner in typical Nepalese restaurant.

Not included

  • International Airfare from and to Kathmandu.
  • Nepal entry visa fee (you may easily issue the visa on arrival at Tribhuwan International
  • Airport – Kathmandu). $25 USD for 15 days Visa.
  • Your Travel and Medical Insurance.
  • Meals whilst you are in Kathmandu Lunch and Dinner as per itinerary.
  • Your Personal Expenses and trekking equipment for the trek.
  • All the alcoholic and non alcoholic cold and hot drinks on trek ( i.e. those you choose to purchase along the way and during evenings in the Tea Houses)
  • All desserts sweet things like chocolate, cake, pie, pudding.
  • Hot shower and battery charging on the tea houses.
  • Tips for the guide, porter and driver (Tipping is expected)
  • Kathmandu sightseeing monument entrance fees.
  • Excess baggage more than 12 kg.(If you have extra baggage you can leave in Kathmandu office with full safety)
PLAN AHEAD

Essential trip information

Before you go

How to Reach Dolpo Dolpo trek begins at Juphal, an elevated airstrip in the remote west region. Before we begin the Upper Dolpo trek, visitors also get an opportunity to view the great cultural sites of Kathmandu. The Dolpo Trek with Nepal Footprint Holiday traverses through the sub-tropical forests of Shey Phoksundo National Park, ethnical villages of Lower Dolpo, and arrives at the major villages of entire Dolpo- Dho. The trading center of Dolpo, Dho is also in close proximity to Mustang. Crossing over the challenging high passes Chhoi La Pass the Upper Dolpo Trek winds through rugged trails of Dolpo to Shey via sacred Namgung Gompa and 5,094m Shey La Pass. Shey the famous village of Dolpo has equally famous Shey Monastery with the magnificent backdrop of Crystal Mountain. The latter half of the Upper Dolpo Trek traverses through another 5,306m Kang La Pass, visits several traditional villages of Dolpo. And arrive in the most beautiful lake of Nepal, Shey Phoksundo Lake. Savor the views of crystal clear Phoksundo Lake with the backdrop of lush vegetation and magnificent Mt. Kanjirowa. At Phoksundo Lake also witness the Bon culture at Ringmo Village which lies on a hill above the lake. The restricted trekking region in Nepal, Upper Dolpo is an expensive and longest trekking adventure of Nepal compared to other trekking regions. However, the trek caters to a unique culture, landscape, and floral and fauna diversity as an open natural and cultural museum of Hidden Himalayas. The area where the Academy Award-nominated film “The Himalayas” was filmed. Best Time to visit Upper Dolpo The best time to trek Upper Dolpo is from the Spring (April – May) and the Autumn (October – November) when temperatures are cool with bright blue skies. Permit to Trek Upper Dolpo For Upper Dolpo, you are going to need two permits, while exiting to Upper Dolpo (from Lower Dolpo) and enterning to Lower Dolpo (from Upper Dolpo). And another permit for Shey – Phoksundo National Park.

Accommodation

Camping

Fitness & eligibility

2

Meeting point

Kathmandu

CONTINUE EXPLORING

There's more to experience.

Discover another journey, explore local experiences or find a place to stay.

Travel photography credits