An adventure of a lifetime experience around the remote wild west of Nepal, a memorable trek around isolated villages and monasteries of immense old culture, exploring Phuksumdo lake and traditional villages of Somdang-Tokyu and Tarakot villages, crossing over Nangdalo / Kang-La and Sela (Gela) La passes with breathtaking views on the snow leopard trail to Shey, the crystal monastery in the least visited area.
Trek to Upper Dolpo is an overwhelmingly fascinating adventure, where you will be walking in the complete wilderness in the harmony of pure nature in these unspoiled and untouched areas of Nepal's far wild west.
Very few trekkers and adventurers visit this wild area of Dolpo due to its remoteness, where both ways flight is involved in this marvelous adventure to Upper Dolpo & Shey Gompa.
This trek, located within Shey Phuksundo National Park, extends as far west as Mugu and Humla area, it is also Nepal's largest national park covering lush deciduous forests of blue pine, cypress, poplar, and birch as the walk proceeds higher to the barren and arid country of low bushes of juniper and azalea (dwarf rhododendron).
On this great walk to Upper Dolpo & Shey Gompa with chances of spotting some wildlife like the rare snow leopard and the blue sheep, Ghoral, and Himalayan Thar.
The Upper Dolpo Trek offers you one of the most magnificent countries with scenic landscapes of green, wide valleys, snow-capped peaks, and impressive villages interwoven with Buddhist religion and ancient Bon traditions (a pre-Buddhist sect).
The adventurous trip starts from Kathmandu city with Nepal Spirit Adventure's experienced Dolpo Trek Guide with a panoramic flight to land at Nepalgunj airport, a large city near the Indian border state of UP with a semi-tropical climate. From here continues with another scenic flight reaching Jhupal in the Dolpo area.
The walk leads towards the Dunai headquarters town of the Dolpo district and then reaches our first highlight of the adventure at the emerald-colored Phuksundo Lake near the village of Ringmo, with time to marvel at its beautiful surroundings. Our route leads higher to cross Nangdalo / Kang-la, a high pass offering tremendous views of Kagmara peaks and as far as the Dhaulagiri range of mountains.
As the walk progressed, reaching our final destination at Shey Gompa beneath a mystical Crystal Mountain embedded with semi-precious stones, an interesting place of great ancient and historical importance.
After a delightful overnight stop with a rest day to explore the undisturbed areas of Shey Monastery, the walk leads towards a nice village of Somdang and then crosses a few passes heading southeast, reaching Tokyu and Dho-Tarap, large, lovely villages of inner Dolpo. Continues following the Dho-Tarap River valley, reaching another interesting village at Tarakot of historical importance, a fort village that dates back to the Malla period.
Upper Dolpo Trek and Shey Gompa conclude with a walk and a short drive back to Jhupal for a sweeping flight back to Kathmandu with a brief stop at Nepalgunj. Finally, this marvelous adventure to Upper Dolpo & Shey Gompa Trekking ends in Kathmandu with an enjoyable and memorable experience.
Upon our arrival in Kathmandu, a representative from Nepal Spirit Adventure will pick us up from the airport and take us to our hotel. In the afternoon, we may take a rest or visit Nepal Spirit Adventure's head office in Kathmandu. In the evening, we will invite you to a welcome dinner in a nice, authentic Nepalese restaurant with a folk and culture show, and overnight in Kathmandu.
Today, after breakfast, we start a guided tour to several of the most historical and spiritual attractions in Kathmandu. Some of these landmarks are considered World Heritage Sites, including the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the famous 'Monkey Temple' (Swayambhunath), and the Buddhist shrine (Bouddhanath), which is one of the largest stupas in the world. At noon, there will be a pre-trip discussion where we can meet our trek leader and other team members. Nepal Spirit Adventure will brief you regarding our trek as well as provide you with an opportunity to ask any questions we may have regarding our upcoming adventure overnight in Kathmandu.
After our short excursion in Kathmandu, we take an hour-long flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, located in Western Nepal. Nepalgunj, a town near the Nepal-India border, is also the gateway to Simikot, Humla. The town itself is an interesting Terai town that showcases the diverse culture of Nepal. In Nepalgunj, we visit the local market, mini-zoo, and nearby villages overnight.
We fly to Jhupal. The town is beautifully located over the Himalayan foothills, with views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri peaks to its north. Here, we meet our trekking staff and begin the adventure. We walk through terraced fields to the Bheri River and its narrow gorge. We continue walking to Dunai, which is the administrative headquarters of the Dolpo region. We explore the small town in the evening and camp there for the night.
After breakfast, we leave Dunai and cross a suspension bridge and turn to the west, following a trail past a hospital. The trail ascends the side of the treeless Thulo Bheri valley before entering the Phoksundo River valley. During the walk, we get a view of Kagmara Peak up the valley. We pass through walnut groves, Dhera and Rahagaun villages, walk down dense jungles, and finally reach Cheepka overnight in camp.
Breakfast in camp, then our trail ascends and descends along a wooded riverbank and climbs on a steep trail. The ups and downs can be a bit monotonous, but there are several streams along the way that offer a chance to cool off. The trail eventually leaves the forests and passes through a grassy slope high above the river. We trek downhill on a trail surrounded by lush forests before reaching a cliff, followed by a dizzying drop on a wobbly stone staircase to the riverbank. We continue trekking until we reach Chunuwar, where we spend the night.
We continue our journey along the valley floor to the confluence of the Phoksundo and Pungmo rivers. After crossing a bridge, we walk on the western bank of the Pungmo Khola. The trail passes through a cedar forest before reaching Palam village. From here, we trek up to a ridge and enjoy distant views of Phoksundo Lake and a spectacular waterfall, one of the highest in Nepal. Next, our trail descends through birch forests to the upper reaches of the Phoksundo Khola, and then to the picturesque Ringmo village with its mud-plastered chortens and mani walls. From here, it is a short walk to the shores of the Phoksundo Lake. Overnight at Phoksundo Lake.
After breakfast, the trail moves around the top western end of the Phoksundo Lake as it contours on a rocky ledge along the lake’s western bank. This unsteady trail suspended on a gangway of wood supported on pegs driven into crevasses in the rocks signals the remoteness of the area we are about to enter. At the westernmost edge of the lake, the path leads through a lush meadow that opens up into the flood plain of the Phoksundo Khola. Then we walk through the valley, crossing the river and avoiding the occasional boggy marsh underfoot, and then coming to the bank of the river to the overnight camp.
Online published departure date is guaranteed, if your travel date doesn’t work with the departure date! We’ll help you set your trip date!! Whatever you’re looking for, a private trip or a solo trek, you can plan with our expertise your tailor-made trip just deal with your Upper Dolpo Trek.
As per your Kathmandu flight arrival schedule, we will pick you up from the Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport to the hotel by private vehicle.
As per our Upper Dolpo Trek Packages, the hotel accommodations are included in the trip cost, and Nepal Spirit has chosen the best deluxe accommodation for 4 nights in Kathmandu in a 3-star Hotel, 2 nights in a lodge in Nepalgunj/Jupal, and the rest of the nights in a comfortable two-man camping tent. To sleep in a tent, 4 4-season sleeping bag and a foam mattress will be provided. We maintain standard comfort in every matter based on enforceable conditions such as weather calamities. All hotel and camping accommodation is on twin twin-sharing basis.
Breakfast (only) will be available in Kathmandu, whereas all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be available during the trek. We can enjoy freshly-cooked, hygienic, and nutritious meals on a full-board basis prepared by our trained and experienced cook during the trek. Authentic Nepalese and Tibetan dishes, as well as the more common international cuisine (Tibetan, Continental, Italian, Indian, etc.), will be available. There will also be welcome and farewell dinners in Kathmandu.
Upper Dolpo Trek is categorized as a difficult trek. In such a trek, you are likely to walk for 6-7 hours, cross steep, hilly terrain, and occasionally high passes of up to 5,500 m. You are likely to be in a remote environment with extreme weather on some days. You will also be facing high-altitude air with low levels of oxygen. Therefore, previous trekking experience, physical fitness, and a positive attitude are essential.
Exercising and jogging regularly for some weeks before the trip is a good idea to enhance our strength and stability. Past hiking experience is fundamental, but no technical skill is required for this trip. It is vital for participants with pre-existing medical conditions, such as heart, lung, and blood diseases, to consult their doctor before taking the trip. It is also advised that you inform Nepal Spirit Adventure about your medical condition before booking the trek.
For the Upper Dolpo Trek, there will be one leader, an assistant leader (4 trekkers: 1 assistant guide), and Sherpa porters for luggage carrying (2 trekkers: 1 porter). This arrangement ensures that even if someone in the group gets sick or is unable to carry on, the trip can still go ahead as planned for the rest of the group. We can run the trek for groups of any size, but usually, a maximum of 10 people (minimum of 02 people) is ideal as we've found this to be the optimum size for a successful trip.