Lower Dolpo Trek - 17 Days

A mesmerizing 40-45 minute flight from Kathmandu with an aerial view takes you to Nepalgunj. Then, our official will pick you up at the airport and shift you to the hotel where you can relax. You can explore nearby places in the evening and return to the hotel overnight.

After having a delicious breakfast, you head to the airport early in the morning for today’s thrilling flight to Juphal. As you land at the airport, your official trek of Lower Dolpo begins with a wonderful trek to Dunai village through scenic villages, lush forests, and terraced fields of distinguished crops that include walking beside the riverbank. While traversing tiny settlements, you can explore the traditional lifestyle of the lower Dolpo people. After hiking for 4 to 5 hours, you eventually reach the headquarters of Dolpo, Dunai, and stay for the night in a serene environment.

Before leaving Dunai, you can explore lively markets and flourishing monasteries. The trail goes through striking landscapes, terraced fields, and rugged terrain with diverse flora and fauna, following the winding Bheri River. As you traverse several remote villages, you can encounter the unique traditional lifestyles of locals. On the way, you enjoy the picturesque view of Kang Tokal (6294 m) and the panoramic scene of valleys and cliffs. You finally reach Lingdo after passing the village of Bhyasghar, primarily inhabited by Buddhist people, where stone houses make it marvelous.

Before leaving Dubai, you can explore lively markets and flourishing monasteries. The trail goes through striking landscapes, terraced fields, and rugged terrain with diverse flora and fauna, following the winding Bheri River. As you traverse several remote villages, you can encounter the unique traditional lifestyles of locals. On the way, you enjoy the picturesque view of Kang Tokal (6294 m) and the panoramic scene of valleys and cliffs. You finally reach Lingdo after passing the village of Bhyasghar, primarily inhabited by Buddhist people, where stone houses make it marvelous.

Leaving Laina Odar, the trail ascends with scenic landscapes that take you to a small pass, then the path becomes easier with gentle rises. As you trek for a few hours, you cross the suspension bridge over the river. After walking for a while, another suspension bridge leads you to the west side of the river and reaches Nawarpani for the night after a continuous walk of 2-3 hours with panoramic scenarios along the way.

A trek from Nawarpani to Sisaul is a stunning and modest journey that starts typically walking through lush forests, local settlements, and terraced fields. The path is mostly ascending with occasionally descending, which offers picturesque views of rivers, streams, and small villages. After walking for 2-3 hours, there are steep uphills to traverse steadily that take you to a small pass where a Chorten makes the trek worthwhile. From here, the way descends steeply, which leads you to Sisaul and you can either stay in teahouses or set up camps there for the night.

There will be wonderful rivers, extremely beautiful flora, and expansive panoramas of the adjoining hills and slopes. The journey continues until it reaches a little group of cottages called Dho Tarap. You can see the hilltop gompa of Dho behind Dho, and it’s believed that Tibetans are the direct ancestors of the people residing there who greet warmly the travelers with the word ‘Tashi Delek' (good day) with a broad smiley face. The major highlights of Dho are two Buddhist monasteries, Ribo Bhumpa Gompa, right on the hill behind Dho, and Shipchaur Gompa, that may captivate your heart. You enjoy the night with local meals and warm hospitality.

Today’s trekking through remote and rugged landscapes to Numla Base Camp, which begins from Dho Dharap, is an exhilarating journey. It starts with ascending through lush forests that take to grassy terrain. From here, a steady ascent leads you to  Numla Base Camp, which is an iconic and serene point at the base of gigantic mountains. Even though you encounter demanding ascents, you can enjoy panoramic views of snow-clad peaks and lush valleys. This excursion, with its moderate to challenging difficulty, makes it more adventurous.

Today’s trek is a strenuous but worthwhile high-altitude adventure via a Numla pass (5318 m). The journey begins early in the morning to reach the pass to make traversing the pass safer and easier, as the weather is usually best in the morning. As the trail moves toward Numla Pass, it gets more rough and takes 3 hours to reach there without including any stops. The pass offers panoramic views of innumerable towering mountains such as Dhaulagiri(8,167m),  Annapurna and Manaslu Ranges, Shey Shikar (6139 m), and Kanjirowa (6883 m) on a clear day. From the pass, the path descends towards Danigar for an overnight, offering an experience of the local inhabitants’ traditional cultures.

Today, you have to traverse another pass, Baga La (5140 m), to reach Yak Kharka, which will be a moderately tough but exciting adventure through quaint settlements, rugged terrain, and alpine meadows. Starting the ascend from a lower altitude takes you high above the river, and then you arrive at the high camp near the pass, the key feature of today's trek. From here, you can enjoy a diverse range of summits of the Kanjirowa and other great mountains, such as the Shey Shikhar, glaciers, and serene valleys. After Baga La, the trail descends toward Yak Kharka, the best point for its peaceful environment and yak herding.

After leaving Yak Kharka, the trek begins by ascending to the higher slope. The descending route takes you to the river (Maduwa Khola) after walking for a while. From here, the path climbs gradually up as it proceeds to Phoksundo Lake, traversing charming grasslands and pine woodlands, cultivated terraces, and dense forests After crossing a tiny bridge over the river and leaving the forests, you reach Ringmo, located near the lake, after ascents of a few minutes. This magnificent village offers you a striking view of Phoksundo Lake, a deep turquoise gem surrounded by cliffs and towering mountains.

Another stretch to Chhepka is a long trek with unforgettable experiences that goes through forests filled with pines, birches, and other broadleaf vegetation. Leaving Ringmo, a continuous walk of a few hours takes you to the hospital and then you eventually reach Rechi after trekking for one and a half hours from here. The path begins to climb down sharply after steeply ascending for 15-20 minutes. As you continue the journey, it takes 2-3 hours to reach Chhepka, where you can witness unique flora. You have a wonderful night in this peaceful environment.

Today’s journey is a stunning adventure with descending trails through Nepal’s marvelous Dolpo Valley, passing through several settlements such as Shyanta, Raktnag (2421 m), and Kageni (2413 m). After traversing rivers, valleys, terraced fields, and dense forests, you reach a suspension bridge. From here, walking for a while, you arrive at the Shey Phoksundo National Park checkpoint.  You can see the landscapes from alpine to more temperate forests and farms while getting near Juphal after walking for one and a half hours from the bridge. Juphal is a serene village with a little airstrip that serves as an entrance to the Dolpo region.

A scenic flight from Juphal takes you to Nepalgunj early in the morning. You fully enjoy the initial section of the journey across the Himalayan valleys. Later, you get back to Kathmandu by flying for 40 to 45 minutes. In the evening, you attend dinner for a celebration in Kathmandu and spend a wonderful night in the hotel with a sense of achievement.

Kathmandu is a vibrant city that provides you with an exhilarating experience through explorations to various and culturally significant places such as Durbar Squares, Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, the Kathmandu Fun Park, Shivapuri National Park, and Changunarayan Temple, etc. You can visit vibrant markets such as Asan, Boudha, and Lagankhel to buy souvenirs for your loved ones. In the evening, we organize a farewell dinner for you as you leave for your homeland.

It’s your last day in the country of the Himalayas and you will bid farewell to leave for the homeland. By promising to provide the same kind of services in the future if you come to visit next time, we will wave our hands of departing.