Upper Dolpo Trek

Welcome to Kathmandu, the city of temples, you can call it the most developed city of Nepal as of now, and it is here, where we are located to serve you in a way you want right from TRIBHUWAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, where you can see us waiting for you with our TRAVEL MAX GUIDE SIGN BOARD with your name on it so that you can spot us at once, and you will be taken to your hotel in a vehicle, or to our office where you can ask us questions, having tea or coffee. After all these activities, if you have time, then there is nothing better than spending your time in Thamel, the tourist hub which is just outside the door of our office, you ask us, what you want to eat, what you want to enjoy, we will show you what you most desired in a new place.

The sightseeing that you are going to do, today, comprises of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and they can be categorized as Stupas, Temples, and Palaces. The sightseeing can be personalized, according to your interest, and all the effective route planning for the sightseeing will be done by the city guide of TMG, focusing on all the values of your satisfaction like how much time you want to spend, the mode of transportation you want to choose, such as rickshaw, private car, cycle, and it also takes walking distance into account.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

From the hotel where you are staying, nothing is near the Kathmandu Durbar Square. It was a ceremonial site; it was a palace where the would-be kings used to be coronated in the past, now it is a palace cum museum, and to be there is to experience how the royals spend their life. Stand among the monuments, temples, and statues that back to the 17th and 18th century. 

Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)

Be well prepared in advance because this stupa is located at quite an altitude and is more than 2,000 years old. This is the most important of all the Buddhist Stupas in Nepal and has a fascinating face of Lord Buddha on every side, and its base has the stonework of 5 Dhyani Buddhas – Vairocana, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha, Amoghasiddhi, and Aksobhya, and each of these represents the wisdom of Lord Buddha. People flock to this stupa to see the birds-eye view of Kathmandu.

Pashupatinath 

Pashupatinath is as old as the hills, but the Hindu Committees of Nepal, looks after it, such as renovation and maintenance, and there are new adds on in and around the temple. Pashupatinath is the most important temple of Lord Shiva and located not far away from the heart of Kathmandu. Only Hindus are permitted to enter from the main gate to Pashupatinath Temple. As a visitor, you will enjoy the rich combination of architecture from a distance. If you are lucky, then you might see the Hindu Cremation taking place.

Bouddhanath 

Bouddhanath is also a stupa. It is one of the holiest pilgrimages of the Buddhists. It has a white doom just like Swayambhunath, whatever the myth is, it contains the bones of Kasyapa Buddha (Buddha incarnation), while others say it contains the bone of Lord Buddha. Around the base of the stupa are 108 small images of the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha. Go anytime to enjoy these images.

Nepalgunj is hot because the temperature shoots up to 40 degrees Celsius. It is a developed city because it shares its border with India. Lying in south-western Nepal, in the Terai Region, it is 8 km away from India. Some of its parts resemble northern India in terms of culture and traditions. Nepalgunj is also the gateway to enter Bardia National Park. It is also famous for the Bageshowri temple. There, you will also see horse carts. In the evening, you can visit Nepalgunj in a rickshaw. Since Nepalgunj is hot; it is home to mosquitoes. so you must have mosquito liquids.

This flight is a mountain flight because what you see is the view of snow-covered mountains. You do a morning flight. Landing at Juphal Airport is a new experience because you can experience such only in some parts of the world in which the runaway is made of gravel stones. From there, the trekking trail leads you to the Thulo Bheri River. On the way to this river, you walk through the fields of wheat and vegetables and later above this river. On the way, you will follow the Phoksundo River.

The trekking trail takes you to a suspension bridge and passes by the hospital. It goes up to the less vegetation area before it enters the Thulo Bheri valley and the Phoksundo river valley. On the way, you see the view of Kagmara Peak (5978m), pass through walnut groves, and then walk through Rahagaun villages. From there, you walk down a dense forest to reach Ankhe. Ankhe is the entry point of Phoksundo National Park. On the way, you will pass through Parela, Rahagaon, and Ankhe villages as well as cross the Thuri Bheri and the Suli Gad. Finally, we reach Chhepka. Overnight we stay at camp.

The trekking trail is difficult because it is narrow and steep. It makes you cross the river and takes you to the cliffs. As you head to these places, you will see the panoramic view of the mountains which makes you stop and rest. These places are difficult as well as they are viewpoints. The trekking trail ascends and descends to the river. The trekking that goes uphill is steep. Tonight, you will camp at Chunuwar near Amchi Hospital.

The first part of the trek is easy. But the remaining that is from Sumdo is steep and difficult. This also includes a climb up to a ridge and a stunning view of the highest waterfall in Nepal. Later, it takes you to the birch forest, the Phoksundo Khola, and Chortens and mani walls. You will head to the pass, and from there, you will see the first view of Phoksundo Lake. You will trek by the Phoksundo River most of the time and reach a village, Ringmo. The lake lies near this village; it is just a few minutes’ walk.

We are going to stay the same location doing acclimatize, explore Ringmo Village/Phoksundo Lake and visit Bon Gompa. Spend some time with nature, admiring the beauty of the lake and the local culture of Lower Dolpo.

The trekking trail goes up in the western direction, towards the rocky area, along with the bank of the lake. Then, it reaches the meadow and the floodplain. Further, it takes you to the valley and makes you cross the river. This river is the Phoksundo Khola. The trekking trail is steep and takes you to the remote area of rock, crevices and flood plain. Today also, you will camp by the river. Near the river is a forest. You are in the valley. this you feel it on its bottom.

For the first hour, you walk on a leveled trail. During that walk, you cross a glacial valley. The remaining trail consists of the confluence of the rivers, here the confluence of the river is the Phoksundo Khola and a stream, and steep meadow, and valley. Trekking also involves crossing the bridge and walking steep uphill. From this step, you will see Kang-La pass. It also consists of Peter Matthiessen christened ‘Snowfields Camp’. It also showcases Chhamlang peak 6 (6739m) and peak 7 (6105m).

In the morning, you follow an ascending trail. This trail is steep. This trail is also difficult. As it takes you to the top of the Pass, you will see the full view of the valley and the river. Also, you will see the excellent view of deserted valleys, Crystal Mountain and U-shaped canyon towards Shey-Gompa. After seeing this, you descend through meadows and cross the river several times. You then descend from the pass, cross the same river several times and walk through meadows where yaks and sheep graze. As you walk through small huts, a red Buddhist shrine welcomes you to Shey Gompa.

Today is an acclimatization day, and what you do today is a hike to Shey village. This village is famous for its ancient pre-Buddhist culture, the Bon Po. This culture also reflects the combination of animism and the teachings of Buddha. Walk around the area and explore Shey Gompa. Shey Gompa is the most famous monastery in the Upper Dolpo. Hundreds of Buddhist devotees visit Shey Gompa every year. To the east of Shey Gompa is Crystal Mountain. Villagers walk around this mountain before harvesting their crops.

The trekking trail descends and takes you to the forest of junipers. It also takes you to the canyon. It also changes its form by becoming zigzag. As it takes you to the top of Sela-La (Shey Bhanjyang), you will see the beautiful view of Namgung, a village, and the Namgung monastery. From the pass, the trekking trail descends to Namgung Gaun. This village has a monastery, and this monastery is on the top of a hill.

You follow up trekking trail and walk along with the mountains. The trekking trail is difficult. You have to walk on this because there is no option. While walking, you will see Saldang Village as well as a high plateau. You will also see the Namgung Khola, a river. The village is located on the top of a hill, above the Namgung River. Saldang Village is the largest village of the Upper Dolpo. Surrounded by terraced fields, Saldang is agriculturally prosperous.

Today, you trek through the terraced fields, Stupas, Chortens, Mani walls and by the Rapa Gumba. On the way, you come across Sugugaon, a village, high slopes, and the Namgung Khola, a river. You also come across the Dechen Laprang Gumba and see another monastery on the top of the cliff. From Saldang, the trekking trail takes monasteries, rivers, and local villages. You then will trek to Chagaon.

You walk along the river and find it easy. Later, you cross this river, then you head to the valley and follow the steep trekking trail. On the way, there is a meadow where you see the yaks grazing. The name of the river is the Nagon Khola. On the way, you will also see caravans of yaks. After a few hours of walk, you arrive at a junction of two small streams. You then begin upward climb to the base of Jeng La pass (Jyanta-La Base Camp).

You walk along with the Nagon Khola and meet the caravans. These caravans are heading to the Tibetan Nepal border. The direction they are heading in the North of Nepal. Looking at them, you turn east and then head to the confluence of the rivers and reach the base of Jeng La pass. From the top of Jeng La Pass, you can see the picturesque view of the Dhaulagiri massif. After that, you descend towards the Tarap valley. As you reach a stream, you will follow the stream to Tokyu village.

You walk downhill in the valley, seeing the lush vegetation on both sides of the river. What you see here is completely different from the one that you see in the inner Dolpa. There, you also see a marshy area which is said to be the common feature of the Desert Mountains of Tibet and the Ladakh Himalaya. The trekking trail is easy and passes through the broad fertile valley and by several chortens.

You follow the course of the Tarap Khola, reach narrow gorges, and then see blue sheep, marmots, yaks, and goats in the lower area. You will also reach the first steel suspension bridge which has been built to facilitate the movement of people and animals. The trekking trail is narrow in some parts.

You head to the gorge of the Tarap Khola, a river. The gorge sometimes gets so narrow that you can cross the river with a jump. Sometimes, you walk along with the river; sometimes high above the river. Sometimes the trail that you walk becomes narrow, and sometimes it becomes steep. Sometimes these natural trails have been turned into man-made.

First, you reach a village, Lalberi. From there, the trail takes you to a lush forest, gorge, and river. As it takes you to Tarakot, you will be in the landscape at the junction of the Barbung Khola and the Tarap Chu. Both are rivers. Tarakot is a small town that once used to be a fortress. It used to be the capital of Tichorung Kingdom and was a popular trading point. We will trek to Lingdo and camp over there.

You walk along the Bheri River, cross the bridge and reach the Lawan village. You keep on following the trail that goes by the Bheri River. This trail later ascends to the Byas Gadi. From there, the trailheads to the west and becomes easy. It then takes you to the Lochakhola Gaon and Dunai.

From Dunai, you trek along with the Bheri River enjoying a beautiful landscape. On the way, you pass through Dhupichaur and Rupgad villages as well as by the temple. You continue trekking via Kalagaonda village and Motipur village and reach a small airstrip.

Take the earliest flight to Nepalgunj, and from there, fly to Kathmandu. You will be taken to the hotel where you had stayed on the arrival day. The flight from Jhupal to Nepalgunj is a mountain flight because what you see is the view of snow-covered mountains. It will be an experience.

It’s up to you how would you like to spend your day? You can take a rest in a hotel, or you can buy some gifts for your friends and relatives. Thamel has a lot of tourist shops that sell Nepali hand-made goods. Your guide knows which not only sells these but also which gives a discount. Take advantage. In the evening, we will join for farewell dinner in a Nepali typical restaurant with a cultural show.

Before 3 hours, we pick you up from the hotel and take you to the international airport.