Upper Dolpo Circuit Trek

Our airport arrival and departure representative will greet you at Tribhuvan International Airport on your arrival schedule. Then you will be transferred to the hotel and our staff will help you until check-in procedure ends at Hotel. Either you can have rest at Hotel or visit NGT’s office for collecting additional information on Upper Dolpo Circuit Trek. In the evening, please join our welcome dinner program organized by Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition Team.

Accommodation: Hotel/Resort
Meals: BB Plan + Welcome Dinner.

Note: It is not possible to visit all world heritage sites in Kathmandu within a day. So you can choose at least 3-4 places for day sightseeing.

Accommodation: Hotel/Resort
Meals: BB Plan

Today we take a flight from Kathmandu to Nepalganj. Nepalgunj is located in the southwestern part of the Terai region near to the border of India. In Nepalgunj, we spend our day by paying a visit to the holy Bageshwari Temple and just wandering around the market. Here we can see people from every corner of Nepal, including people from Tibet and India. They gather here for a trade of goods and services.

Accommodation: Tea House Lodge
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

We take an early morning flight from Nepalgunj to the dirt airstrip of Juphal.  From Juphal we start our trek following a broad trail which descends passing through beautiful terraced fields. We walk along with a small group of buildings before crossing the Thuli Bheri Khola. After crossing the river we continue on a broad dirt track trail that leads towards Dunai. Dunai is the administrative centre as well as the main trading centre of the whole Dolpo Region.

Accommodation: Tea House Lodge
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Today we start our trek by crossing the suspension bridge over Thulo Bheri Khola and follow the trail that goes along the right bank of the river towards Sulighat. Here at Sulighat we make a stop to register at the National Park office. After registration and permit checks we continue our trek along the true left bank of the river passing through the village of Raktang. Heading further we cross a large tributary, Ankhe Khola and then make a climb for about an hour to reach our camping site at Chhepka.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

We follow our trail crossing the Suli Khola to its west bank avoiding a steep, landslide affected area and return to its east bank after about an hour of trekking. We continue on our trail passing through dense forest before crossing a tributary and then climbing a switch back to reach a broad grassy plateau. From here we follow the flat trail for a while before gradually descending down to a river and head towards Rechi where there is a good camping site.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

From Rechi continue on our trail passing through a school and gompa. The teachers and students are always happy to receive guests. Our trail from there continues along the true right bank of Phoksundo Khola. We now start ascending through cedar and pine forest on the trail that swings north, passing through the small winter settlement of Polam. We climb further up the ridge with good views of turquoise Lake Phoksundo. Soon our trail descends through birch forest before climbing an easy gradient to reach Ringmo Village. We will spend an additional day for exploration around Ringmo.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Today we will spend the day exploring around Ringmo. Ringmo is a traditional Tibetan village with ancient gompas. Here locals make a range of impressive handicrafts. Phoksundo Lake is another highlight of Ringmo and the whole Dolpo region. It is Nepal’s deepest and second largest lake which gives a wonderful leisure day while exploring around Ringmo.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Today we follow one of the most spectacular sections of the trail. We start our trek continuing on the western side of the lake outflow and then gradually ascending towards the cliff with excellent views of the Phoksundo Lake and the village. After a few hours of uphill journey, the trail descends to the floodplain of the Phoksundo Khola where there is an excellent grassy campsite.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

After having breakfast we leave our campsite and follow the trail heading towards the mouth of the gorge. Soon our trail winds up the gorge crossing the river several times. We continue our trekking as the gradient eases and as the gorge widens. From there we trek for about an hour to arrive at the Campsite for the overnight camping.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Today we leave the campsite and start following the trail that climbs the switchback to the true left side of the magnificent waterfall. We continue to ascend over the river valley which gradually broadens to a large basin. There are many flat areas in the basin, we continue a little further to the base of the long curving tail for the overnight camping.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

We start early for the crossing of adventurous Nangdala La Pass. We follow the trail that is over loose slate-scree, climbing steeply upwards we head to the top of the pass. From the top, we can see a broad valley. Gently descending the trail now follows an easy gradient down to the valley. We will probably meet yak and sheep herds on our way down before reaching the red-painted walls of Shey Gompa.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

We take a rest day for exploring around Shey Gompa. We can visit Kagyupa gompa as well as the hermitage at Tsakang. It is one of the most sacred valleys in Dolpo. It is common to spot blue sheep and snow leopard in this area. However, locals here strictly prohibit the killing of any animals in and around Shey Gompa. After a full day excursion, we will spend the overnight in Shey Gompa.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

After spending a full day exploring around Shey Gompa, we leave our campsite and head east into Sephu Khola Valley. Then our trek is over an ascending trail over the loose ground for about three hours to the top of the Sela La Pass at 5095 meters. Once at the top of the pass we begin to descend into a shallow valley and continue our trek as we pass through a watercourse to the small village of Namgung.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Today is a short but spectacular day for walking. After a few hours of easy walking, we climb up onto a ridge with prayer flags and look down on Saldang below us. On our way, we will stop for some salt-butter tea and a cup of Tibetan barley beer. Wandering through this fascinating Tibetan village we camp just above Saldang’s gilded gompa. Saldang is the commercial and administrative centre of Upper Dolpo.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

From Saldang we head northeast along the little-trekked route to Khomasgaon. Our trail goes along the Nagaon Khola passing through several white-washed villages, long mani walls, painted chortens and old gompas. Once we reach Chagaon, we follow the trail to the left and cross the river, continue heading northeast along a smaller trail that leads us to Khomasgaon.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

After breakfast, we leave our campsite at Khomasgaon and then continue our trekking as we follow the trail that passes through traditional villages and mani walls. Trekking up and down through the valley we head towards Mendo where we camp for our overnight stay.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Today our trek continues as we explore the less-beaten trails of Upper Dolpo region. The views of breathtaking landscapes and the unique culture of Upper Dolpo surely puts forward magical experience to its trekkers. After a long and good trekking day, we will arrive at Rapka for our overnight stay.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

After breakfast, we leave our campsite at Rapka Khola and trek over the trail that ascends gently towards Chharka La Pass at 4920 meters. After reaching the top of the pass we descend through the side of the valley all the way down to Chharka Village situated at the bank of Barbung Khola.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

Today we follow our trail by descending down to the river. Then we continue to trek following the right fork southwards climbing in and out of the side valleys on a rough trail. We emerge into a big meadow as the valley narrows. Our trek continues as we climb up to reach our campsite at Norbulung.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

We start to follow the trail that climbs up to Molom Sumna  – a yak pasture. From there, our trek continues to climb before making a long traverse across meadows to reach the foot of Sangda La. From there we make a long and steep final climb for the crossing of Sangda La also known as Niwal Pass before gently descending down to our campsite at Sangda Phedi.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

After breakfast, we climb to a lower Sangda La at 4990 meters before descending down to the village of Sangda Ghunsa. From there we descend down for the crossing of Chalung Khola at 3750 meters before climbing again towards the steep switchbacks and then descend down to a stream. A final climb from there leads us towards the compact settlement of Sangda.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

From Sangda we climb up the hill and spend our day making high traverses, crossing nine ridges to a final crest at 4280 meters. We then descend into the Kali Gandaki Valley traversing along high cliffs before descending down to the large village of Dhagarjun.

Accommodation: Tented Camp
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

From Dhagarjun we climb to a ridge at 3360m before making a final descent on a challenging loose trail that leads us towards Jomsom. Jomsom is an important hub for Mustang and Upper Mustang Treks with the airstrip, abundance of tea houses and services. This is a celebration day after successfully completing Upper Dolpo Circuit Trek with Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition.

Accommodation: Tea House Lodge
Meals: All Meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner]

We take an early morning scenic flight from Jomsom to Pokhara. Pokhara is home to thick forest, emerald lakes and a place of remarkable natural beauty. The reflection of the Machhapuchre (Fish-Tail) Himal over the serene Fewa Lake makes this place truly magical. Besides, visiting sacred places and sightseeing around the city in Pokhara could be a good way to spend your day.

Accommodation: Hotel/Resort
Meals: BB Plan

It takes approximately four to five hours drive to reach Kathmandu from Pokhara. We drive along Prithvi Highway which offers scenic hilly zigzag roads through the banks of Trishuli River. The daily activities of the local people can be seen along the road when we pass through many villages and towns.

Accommodation: Hotel/Resort
Meals: BB Plan + Farewell Dinner