Upper Dolpo Trek

Before trekking to this advetnerous yet beautiful holiday, we need to have a adventurous flight to Nepalgunj. This is where our interesting schedule starts to shine enjoying one of the top treks in Nepal.

Kathmandu to Nepalgunj is our first stop. The travel only takes around an hour by air, so make sure to reserve a window seat to experience breathtaking vistas of the high Himalayas along the way. When we touch down in Nepalgunj, we’ll be checked in at our hotel before enjoying the rest of the day at our leisure. The city is primarily known as a center of trade with adjacent India, but it also features some fantastic local eateries where you can get a taste of classic Nepali dishes.

Few travelers to Nepal get to fly domestically, but this thrilling itinerary takes you another flight into Nepal’s core. You will fly into a land of dry mountains and vast valleys with year-round snow spots after a 35 minutes short flight.

You’ve reached Juphal, the start of the Upper Dolpo Trek. After meeting our porters and trekking team, we’ll begin our trek. This will be a moderate introduction to our epic trekking plan, commencing with a modest rise above a wooded valley before dropping into the Thuli Bheri river, which we’ll follow for two hours. Along the trip, you’ll see the gigantic Dhaulagiri Himal rising above the Upper Dolpo’s lower mountains. Our first night in the Himalayas will be spent at teahouse in Dunai.

We’re entering Nepal’s largest national park, Shey Phoksumdo. There’s enough to enjoy in this wild landscape, especially for nature lovers: boundless forests of juniper and birch, herds of blue sheep on steep mountaintop routes, notable monasteries, and cultural monuments. Today’s Upper Dolpo Trek climbs into the park’s dense wilderness for nearly six hours, passing through beautiful woodlands where walnut and maple trees provide shade from the Himalayan sun. In Chhepka, we’ll pick a guesthouse for the day. As the sun sets, this charming village is the perfect place to enjoy nature.

Dramatic suspension bridges are a hallmark of trekking in Nepal, and we’ll come across a few great examples of these daring feats of architecture this morning, crossing back and forth over the Phoksumdo Khola river as we ascend through beautiful pine forests. Lush green hillsides are the order of the day, and the sight of thin trails cutting their way across steep ravines is sure to take your breath away.

Today’s section of the Upper Dolpo Trek will also introduce us to arguably the finest waterfall in the region, and one of the tallest in the country. We’ll stop nearby to take plenty of photographs and enjoy a picnic-style lunch. From here, it’s just a short hike to the village which shares its name with the waterfall. We’ll reach Jharana after about six hours of hiking today, and our comfortable accommodations at the best available trekking lodge will afford us some hard-earned rest after our strenuous hike.

The next day of the Upper Dolpo Trek will begin after a hearty breakfast in the town of Jharana. Today we’ll be covering a lot, which will involve ascending into the mountains. Our efforts will be rewarded with breathtaking alpine vistas today when we finally catch our first glimpse of Phoksundo Lake. To reach the wide settlement of Ringmo, we must first cross another daring suspension bridge, then go via a ranger station.

This lovely town is one of the few remaining Bön, or Bon, religious centers in the Himalayas. This native religion was practiced in these highlands even before the arrival of Tibetan Buddhism. We’ll be staying at a small inn run by a kind local family. It’s possible to pitch a tent at one of the surrounding campgrounds, but we recommend staying in town instead because you’ll have a much more meaningful impact on the local economy and will gain invaluable knowledge of culture from interacting with the welcoming locals.

We’ll spend the day exploring the captivating area around Phoksundo Lake’s dazzling blue waters. Our plan will also help us prevent altitude sickness and make our Upper Dolpo Trek more comfortable by giving us an extra day to adjust. The sacred lake—from the 1999 film Himalaya—is today’s star. We’ll go along its peaceful shorelines, where evergreen trees reach the lake. As you gaze at the snowcapped mountains reflected in the quiet river, you’ll realize how relaxing this natural setting is. The native Bon culture has long understood this, and we will visit Tshowa Gompa, a lakefront monastery.

Today will be one of your favorite Upper Dolpo Trek days if you adore Phoksundo Lake’s surreal beauty. Following the cliffside trails above this stunning alpine lake to the opposite bank will give us a unique perspective. We’ll cross meadows to reach the Phoksumdo Khola River’s floodplain. Since we’re off the beaten path, we’ll have to camp tonight. Your Alpine Ramble Treks team will make sure you have all the amenities you need as we set up camp near Sallaghari in pine wood.

After packing up camp and eating breakfast, we’ll head north along a very flat path for the first hour of today’s trip. We will cross a short wooden bridge and begin our strenuous ascent at the confluence of the Phoksundo Khola and the Tuk Kyaksa Khola. The trail just gets steeper from here, and we’ll soon be at another high-altitude meadow.

We will have lunch in the beautiful backdrop of the Upper Dolpo’s unspoiled mountain before beginning our ascent. The impressive Kang La mountain pass will soon come into view as we continue on our journey. The next day, we’ll make the ascent to the pass and be rewarded with spectacular views of the Himalayas. Our campsite for the day will be in the Nangdala High Camp, marked by a massive rock slab.

Another challenging ascent awaits us this morning as we begin our epic journey in the Upper Dolpo. In preparation for the tough climb that lies ahead, we will eat a healthy breakfast and then set out. We’ll be taking our time on the ascent to the top of the 5,360-meter-high Kang La mountain pass, which is higher than most treks in Nepal. Once we reach the pass, you’ll be treated to a breathtaking panorama of the Tibetan plateau and the three towering peaks that define Upper Dolpo. It includes Shey Shikhar, Kang Chunne, and the holy Crystal Mountain. Shey, also known as Crystal Mountain, was given its English name because of the abundance of quartz crystals in the rock that makes up its summit.

After taking in the scenery, we’ll carefully make our way down from the pass. The trails eventually lead us through a river and past grazing yaks and goats to the town of Shey. There are a few tea houses in town, but if not, there’s a beautiful campsite right next to the monastery where we can pitch our tents.

Today is a rest day, but it’s also a great opportunity to see the Upper Dolpo Trek’s rich cultural heritage. The monastery at Shey, Shelri Sumdho Gompa is one of the most impressive symbols of the Bon religion in all of Upper Dolpo. Exploring the gompa’s peaceful interiors will allow you to admire the work of its master craftsmen, who likely created the structure more than 800 years ago. You might even strike up a conversation with a monk who lives in the area and learn all about the monastery’s fascinating past and isolated setting.

You’re in for a real treat if your hike through the Upper Dolpo falls in the summer festival season, which attracts tourists and pilgrims. But regardless of the season, Shey’s surroundings are breathtaking because of the towering Crystal Mountain. After a day of seeing these historical sites, we’ll return to Shey for another night.

We must now leave Shey Gompa and continue along the route of the Upper Dolpo Trek. Today, we’ll be heading east, through a valley populated by grazing yaks, and along the banks of the Sephu Khola River. Soon, we’ll be passing through the foothills and into the true mountains, where the rocky Himalayan peaks are stacked upon one another.

Today, we plan to use the Shey La pass to get past the chain of peaks. The pass is at an amazing altitude of almost 5,306 meters above sea level, so the views are, unsurprisingly, well worth the effort of getting here. From here, we’ll be able to take in a breathtaking view of the mountainous landscape that reaches Nepal’s remote Mustang area all the way to Tibet. After taking a moment to take in the breathtaking panorama, we’ll make our way back down the pass and on to Namgung.

After our leave from the Namjung, the trail will begin to ascend. It starts out with a lengthy and interesting journey along the mountainous terrain with rocks. At the bottom of the valley, there are terraced fields where various crops are getting ready to be harvested. Following a brief period of ascent, we will begin our descent toward the picturesque settlement of Salding, which rests on a plateau several hundred meters above the Nam Khong Nala River. The other villages in the district are smaller than this one. On the Trans Himalayan Tibetan plateau is where you’ll find this dry settlement. A day of hiking will take us approximately five hours to complete.

After breakfast today, we’ll set out for the north, leaving Saldang and following the Nagon Khola as it flows through the Upper Dolpo’s highlands. We’ll be passing through a few villages today, and along the way, we’ll see several intriguing caverns in the cliff walls. We cross through Nagon Khola and Tora Khola rivers, then continue on to Yangze Gompa across a dangerous suspension bridge. This monastery, also known as Yangtsher Gompa, is widely considered to be the oldest in the Dolpo area. This gompa, dating back a thousand years and surrounded by a spectacular collection of chortens, offers a compelling argument for the significance of religion and spirituality in traditional Himalayan society. Stunning images of the Buddha, Green Tara, and other religious and historical icons like Guru Rinpoche and Padmasambhava may be found here.

We’ll be presented with a few alternatives for the next part of our Upper Dolpo Trek. Taking the path that goes through Shimengaon and Nishalgaon is a longer and more difficult way to travel. Most Upper Dolpo treks, however, take a more direct path that involves returning to Saldang, then following the river, and finally crossing terraced fields of barley and wheat on the way to Sibu.

There are two additional monasteries we can see if we go with this alternative: Chaiba Gompa and Namdo Monastery. The gompa at Namdo is located in a particularly beautiful rural community of roughly 400 people, and both monasteries provide good insight into the Buddhist and Bon beliefs. We may enjoy lunch here and the relaxed atmosphere of the village while chatting with the residents. Moving forward, after a total of six or seven hours on the trail, we will reach the town of Sibu. We will set up camp for much-needed rest in this traditional village, which is marked by a series of mani walls and chortens.w

Today is a rather easy day on the Upper Dolpo Trek, giving us an opportunity to rest before tomorrow’s ascent of the Jeng La Pass. After breakfast, we’ll begin off along a flat path that follows the Namgung Khola’s path. We’ll be walking through the Upper Dolpo valleys, where juniper and pine trees flourish, and their aromatic trees will be beneath our canopy. However, we’ll start our ascent to Jeng-la Phedi from the point where the Namgung Khola and another river converge. The landscape consists mostly of grass, with some low vegetation and a few sprinklings of rocks here and there. After around five or six hours of hiking, we’ll reach Jeng-la Phedi.

Every great Nepali hike features breathtaking vistas of the Himalayas, and today we get to experience one of the best. Two hours should get us to Jeng La Pass, a fantastic crossing between the high mountains of the Upper Dolpo. When we get there, we’ll be at an elevation of about 5,100 feet. From this location, we can see the snow-capped Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters) and the lower, drier peaks of the Upper Dolpo range.

Photographers on the trek will be fascinated by the stark distinction between the two, and after we’ve all had our fill of the breathtaking scenery, we’ll start the long descent into the Tarap Valley. The Tarap Chu River will be in sight as we make our way across a landscape of cultivated terraces and chortens adorned with bright prayer flags. This glacier river’s name, Chu, represents the Tibetan culture of the isolated Upper Dolpo region. We’ll walk alongside the river for almost 20 kilometers before stopping for the night in the town of Tokyu.

Since we won’t be doing a lot of traveling today, we’ll take our time with breakfast and explore the charming town of Tokyu. The little but significant monastery in Tokyu is worth a visit if you missed it last night. You won’t want to miss the magnificent portrayal of the Maitreya Buddha inside this gompa’s modest facade, which is flanked by mani walls and recently repaired chortens. When we set out, we’ll hike for four or five hours through a beautiful green valley before reaching the small town of Dho Tarap. We’ll be spending the following two nights at the finest accessible trekking lodge in a town that’s home to people of Magar and Tibetan ancestry, where we can get to know them and their culture. Many hikers consider these interactions with locals to be the most memorable part of the Upper Dolpo Trek.

We’ll take today to relax and get acquainted with Dho Tarap, one of the most interesting settlements in all of Upper Dolpo. You’ve undoubtedly already observed that the locals here practice both Buddhism and Bon. The mani walls, chortens, and monasteries all throughout the town are made of stone and are proof of the harmonious integration of these two traditions. Nearby the city is home to several monasteries, or gompas, including one that serves as a quiet sanctuary for reflection and meditation but sees very few tourists. We will also go to the farms in Dho Tarap and talk to the locals as they gather their barley, wheat, and potatoes. Dho Tarap is also a great place to kick back and relax with a good book while taking in breathtaking views of the Upper Dolpo’s towering peaks if that’s more your speed. We’re going to stay one more night in town before continuing on.

After the early morning breakfast, we will start to descend from the high mountain altitude. After some hours of descend, we will reach alongside of the Tarap Chu River passing though the juniper vegetation and alpine descents. Keep your eyes sharp during the walk, as you may encounter small herds of blue seeps across the hills. You might also encounter the nomadic shepherds of Upper Dolpo near the Tarap Chi and Lang Rivers.

Now our last stretch of steep and narrow path is waiting for us to climb. We climb this steep path to reach the community of Serkam village. After we reach this village, we will set up the camp and prepare for dinner.

After breakfast, we’ll set off on a mellow path that follows the Tarap Chu river as it winds its way up through wooded areas. From here on out, our route will take us both down and up. This section of the trail is notoriously hazardous because of all the imbedded boulders and stones. Khanigaon and Tarakot are options for overnight stays at this point on some Upper Dolpo trekking itineraries, but we prefer the rural ambiance of Shahar Tara. Once we get there, we’ll settle in for the night and feast on some delicious local fare.

We’ve been on the Upper Dolpo Trek for three weeks now, and we’re finally making our way back to Dunai. After leaving Shahar Tara, we will hike for perhaps five hours today, steadily gaining elevation along the Thuli Bheri River. We may have to share the trail with local donkey caravans carrying goods and supplies to the mountains when we near the more inhabited sections of the Upper Dolpo again. The path gradually declines as we get closer to Dunai. We’ll have beautiful vistas of grassy plains, large river valleys, and low mountains. Dunai marks our exit from the enormous Shey Phoksundo National Park and our return to a more familiar country.

On our final day of the Upper Dolpo Trek, we’ll be following the river’s route as it flows through the Thuli Bheri Valley. Even though we’re only going to be hiking for a couple of hours and following the same path we did just a few weeks ago, nothing can prepare us for the unexpected sights and sounds that await us in Nepal. We’ll be passing through some forests as we get closer to our day’s destination, Dunai. It’s time to celebrate now that we’ve finished the adventurous Upper Dolpo Trek. This afternoon, the whole trekking crew is getting together for a celebratory supper to reflect on the trek’s success.

After our amazing Trans-Himalayan Upper Dolpo journey, it’s time to descend. While our flights are short, we’ll need to check in at the local airport and make our connection to Nepalgunj, making it a long travel day. These planes offer one last view of the Himalayas.

Tonight, you’ll have time to shop in bustling neighborhood markets. Enjoy authentic Nepali cuisine in Kathmandu’s fine restaurants, and make unique memories of Kathmandu’s ambiance.