Upper Dolpa Trek

Upper Dolpa, one of the majestic places of our country is growing its popularity rapidly among the visitors as one can get an opportunity to trek on the legendary trekking trails of our country. Dolpa, the biggest district of our country is the home of ancient culture and traditions mostly influenced by Tibetan lifestyle. Starting from the sightseeing of the majestic Himalayas to getting an opportunity to explore the unique lifestyle and culture of people, the Dolpa region has many more to offer to its visitors.

Upper Dolpa trek takes the trekkers to some of the most isolated and remote areas of our country where you can see a true blend of natural beauty and ancient cultures. One can get an opportunity to trek on the highest passes of our country and gain some experience in technical trekking as well. Some of the major attractions of Upper Dolpa trek are the sightseeing of ancient monasteries and gompas, exploring the lifestyle of Himalayan people, Shey Gompa and Shey Phoksundo Lake. Saldang, Dho Tarap, authentic Buddhist monuments, David Snell groove’s Himalayan pilgrimage, and Shey Phoksundo National Park and a wide variety of flora and fauna found in this region.

This beautiful journey starts with sightseeing in some of the famous places in the capital city of our country. We will then take a scenic flight to Jhupal from Kathmandu and start our trekking journey. We will then head ahead of few Himalayan passes and reach Renji from where a trek about 6-7 hours will take us to Phoksundo lake (one of our destinations of the trip). We will then trek to Shey Gompa crossing the Phoksund Khola, Phoksundo Bhanjyang and the famous Kang La pass. We will then cross another pass Saldang La pass from where we will Saldang. Heading ahead and crossing the Jeng La pass will lead us to Dho Tarap from where we will start to descend our trip to Tarakot and then to Jhupal. We will be back to Nepalgunj and then fly to Kathmandu from where we will end our incredible journey.

Outline Itinerary
Day 01 Arrival at Kathmandu:
Day 02 Sightseeing of Kathmandu valley:
Day 03 Fly from Kathmandu to Nepaljung:
Day 04 Fly from Nepaljung to Jhupal and then trek to Dunai:
Day 05 Dunai to Ankhe:
Day 06 Ankhe to Sulighat:
Day 07 Sulighat to Phoksundo lake:
Day 08 Rest day at Phoksundo lake:
Day 09 Trek to Phoksundo Khola:
Day 10 Phoksundo Khola to Phoksundi Bhanjyang:
Day 11 Phoksundo Bhanjyang to Shey Gompa:
Day 12 Rest Day at Shey Gompa:
Day 13 Shey Gompa to Namuda Gaun:
Day 14 Namuda Gaun to Sadlang:
Day 15 Sadlang to Yanze Gompa:
Day 16 Yanze Gompa to Sibu:
Day 17 Sibu to Jeng-La Phedi:
Day 18 Jeng-La Phedi to Tokyu Gaon:
Day 19 Tokyu to Dho Tarap:
Day 20 Rest day at Dho Tarap:
Day 21 Dho Tarap to Tarap Khola:
Day 22 Tarap Khola to Khani Gaon:
Day 23 Khani Gaon to Tarikot:
Day 24 Tarikot to Dunai:
Day 25 Dunai to Jhupal:
Day 26 Fly to Kathmandu:
Day 27 Departure day:

  • Day 01

    Arrival at Kathmandu:

    This will be the first day of our trekking journey. After landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be transferred to our hotel via private vehicle. We will rest for some time and then begin the sightseeing of the capital city of our country. At evening, you will be welcomed with a typical Nepali food at a typical Nepali restaurant. Overnight at Hotel.

  • Day 02

    Sightseeing of Kathmandu valley:

    After an early morning breakfast, you will do the sightseeing of some of the famous places of Kathmandu valley. You will be transferred to many places of Kathmandu with our private vehicle which includes Pashupatinath temple, Swoyambunath Stupa, Bouddanath Stupa and other many famous places of Kathmandu. At evening, you will meet your fellow trekking mates and then we will have a short briefing about the journey in our office. An evening stroll at Thamel and Durbarmarg will give you much energy which will help you at the trek. Overnight at Hotel.

  • Day 03

    Fly from Kathmandu to Nepaljung:

    After an early morning breakfast, we will take a scenic and short flight to Nepaljung from Kathmandu. We will then take some rest and then do the sightseeing of this beautiful city. 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 in Nepalgunj.

  • Day 04

    Fly from Nepaljung to Jhupal and then trek to Dunai:

    We will today after an early morning breakfast take another flight to reach Jhupal which will be the starting point of our trek. We will then take some rest and then start our trekking journey to reach Dunai. We will trek through the terraced fields and then trek along the bank of Bheri river. Trekking ahead will take us to Dunai. Overnight at Dunai.

  • Day 05

    Dunai to Ankhe:

    Today’s day starts with an early morning breakfast. We will then climb above and then cross a suspension bridge. We will then trek along the western trail which will take us to an old hospital of this village. The trail ascends up the side of the treeless, Thulo Bheri valley before entering Phoksundo river valley. This trek is a bit tiring but the awesome view of Kagmara peak will fully refresh us and make us more motivated to reach to the destination. We will then pass through walnut groves, Dhera and Rahagaun villages, walk down dense jungles and finally reach Ankhe. Overnight in Ankhe.

  • Day 06

    Ankhe to Sulighat:

    After an early morning breakfast in Ankhe village, we will leave this beautiful village behind and then move ahead to reach Sulighat. We will ascend through a wooden riverbank which will eventually lead us to the dense forests of rhododendron and oak trees. Trekking downhill through an easy descend will bring us to Sulighat. Overnight at Sulighat.

  • Day 07

    Sulighat to Phoksundo lake:

    As usual, an exotic and refreshing breakfast will start our today’s trek. We will then trek ahead till the confluence of Phoksundo and Pungmi river. Here, we will cross a suspension bridge and then trek along the western bank of Pungmo river. We will then trek through a cedar forest and reach the Palam village. From here, one can see a distant view of the majestic Phoksundo lake. Trekking ahead will take us to this beautiful lake. Overnight at Phoksundo lake.

  • Day 08

    Rest day at Phoksundo lake:

    As we are trekking in the higher altitudes relatively, we will have a rest day at the Phoksundo lake. During the day we can embark on a short hike to the village of Ringmo and its Tibetan Buddhist Monastery. During our short walks, we also get a chance to get acquainted with the local culture.  The Dolpo people wear homespun clothing that is sometimes dyed a maroon color and they favor Tibetan-style somba or dhocha (boots with upturned toes) for foot wear. Both men and women often wear religious amulets and strings of coral, amber and turquoise. Overnight at Phoksundo Lake.

  • Day 09

    Trek to Phoksundo Khola:

    After an early morning breakfast, we will today trek through the western end of Phoksundo lake and then continue along a rocky ledge. We will trek ahead within the rocks and then we will reach to an ancient village where you can see a majority of Sherpa people. Trekking along this trail will bring us to the bank of Phoksundo Khola. Overnight at Phoksundo Khola.

  • Day 10

    Phoksundo Khola to Phoksundi Bhanjyang:

    Today’s trek will lead us to a glacial valley. At the confluence of the Phoksundo Khola and another mountain stream, there is an old wooden bridge. From here, we walk towards the north-east. A long climb brings us to a sheep meadow where our trail veers up a steep ravine. A hard climb to the top brings us to yet another valley where we can see the Kang-La pass. We set up our camp near the pass in a place that Peter Matthiessen christened ‘Snowfields Camp’.

  • Day 11

    Phoksundo Bhanjyang to Shey Gompa:

    After an early morning breakfast, we will trek via the Kang La Pass. Today’s trek will be a bit challenging as we will trek through the higher passes of Dolpa region. We will then walk on a meandering trail along the banks of a river, crossing and re-crossing it several times. There are mud caves lining the hills overlooking the river. We also pass through meadows where we see grazing yaks, hundreds of sheep and domestic mountain goat (Chyangra). After crossing a quaint log bridge, we reach the Shey Gompa compound where we will be spending the night. Overnight at Shey Gompa.

  • Day 12

    Rest Day at Shey Gompa:

    We will today fully rest at Shey Gompa and the do the sightseeing of the ancient monasteries and gompas. This place is much beautiful as it offers the visitors an opportunity to do the sightseeing of the Himalayas as well as explore the authentic culture of people living in this village since many years. We will also do the sightseeing of Shey village. Overnight at Shey village.

  • Day 13

    Shey Gompa to Namuda Gaun:

    We will today trek above the Sadlang-La pass and then cross this pass to reach Namuda Gaun. The subsequent descent towards the north is long and tiring but grazing yaks and sheep, and nomadic tents made from yak hair is a comforting sight. In Namduna Gaun we visit Namgung monastery. The red stone monstery is built against the backdrop of a cliff on the north wall of a gorge. Overnight in Namuda Gaun

  • Day 14

    Namuda Gaun to Sadlang:

    After an early morning breakfast, we will climb the slope and then trek along the dusty barren hill. We will continuously trek for 3-4hours and finally see the Saldang Village below us on a plateau high above the Namga Khola stream. We will then trek ahead and reach this beautiful village. Overnight at Sadlang village.

  • Day 15

    Sadlang to Yanze Gompa:

    Trekking along the Nagon Khola in a wide and barren land will bring us to Marang. Crossing the Ki village will take us near Panzang river and then we will reach to Yanze gompa. Overnight at Yanze Gompa.

  • Day 16

    Yanze Gompa to Sibu:

    Today’s trek will start after an early morning breakfast. There are two trails that connect to Sibu from Yanze. We will choose the easier route and then trek back to Sadlang and then cross a river and trek along the green terraced fields stupas, chortens, heaps of mani stones and a Chaiba monastery, then pass through the Namdo village, which is also prosperous, with about sixty houses having nearly 400 inhabitants. Trekking ahead will take us to Sibu. Overnight at Sibu.

  • Day 17

    Sibu to Jeng-La Phedi:

    Trekking along the Nam Khang Khola will bring us near the Tibetan border. After turning east and walking for a while, we arrive at a confluence of two small streams. We will then ascend to a grazing area below the Jeng-La pass. Here we will set our camp and stay for overnight.

  • Day 18

    Jeng-La Phedi to Tokyu Gaon:

    We get up early in the morning and set forth on today’s trek. It will take us two long hours to reach the top of the Jeng La pass from where we get remarkable views of the north face of the Dhaualgiri massif. From here we descend on a rough trail to the Tarap Valley, a fascinating valley with vast plains in high mountains that extends twenty kilometers along Tarap Chu river. We camp close to the monastery at Tokyu.

  • Day 19

    Tokyu to Dho Tarap:

    We trek downhill on a plain valley with patches of lush grass on both sides of the river which is completely different from other parts of inner Dolpo. There is also a marsh which is a common feature in the Desert Mountains of Tibet and the Ladakh Himalaya. Both the Bon Po and Buddhist sects are practiced in the valley. After a short trek, we reach Dho Tarap. Overnight in Dho Tarap.

  • Day 20

    Rest day at Dho Tarap:

    We spend today resting and strolling in the village of Dho Tarap which is surrounded by an irregular stone wall. Our walks will help us get acquainted with the local culture of the area. At Dho, about 40 houses are divided into three clusters and built in a haphazard way inhabited by few Tibetans and mostly Magars who are a hill tribe of Nepal. While here, we can visit a Buddhist Gompa which is closest to our campsite or we could embark upon a 40-minute walk and visit a Bon Po Gompa. Overnight in Dho Tarap.

  • Day 21

    Dho Tarap to Tarap Khola:

    From Tarap we descend towards a wide valley which eventually narrows into a gorge. We walk along juniper and wild rose bushes just above the tree line. On our trek we see herds of blue sheep and by the afternoon, we reach the confluence of the Tarap Chu and the Lang Khola, a stream that joins with Tarap River from further east. We will make our camp on a nice meadow also known as Kamakharka and spend the night.

  • Day 22

    Tarap Khola to Khani Gaon:

    We continue walking down the gorge of the Tarap River, at times alongside it. During our walk we pass by the local people who will be taking their herds to lower pastures for the winter. This will be one of the most exciting days of this trip as the valley becomes so narrow in a deep gorge that in some places we can jump from one side to another. Sometimes there is no trace of a path and we may have to walk across stone slabs fitted on logs in between the walls which act as a bridge. The gorge also provides unexpected adventure and thrills. At some places, the bridges are either damaged or washed away and we may be forced to cross the icy torrent on foot. Finally, we reach our camping spot beside the Tarap Khola at Khanigaon where we spend the night.

  • Day 23

    Khani Gaon to Tarikot:

    From the camp we follow a trail that takes us to the village of Lalberi. Our trail then passes through a lush forest, descends into another gorge and continues to follow the river again. After reaching Tarakot, we can visit Sandul Gompa which lies about 8 km east of the village at a juncture of Barbung Khola and Tarap Chu. The monastery stands on a hill to the south of Bheri River. Today we camp by the Tarap Chu river about 150 meters below Tarakot, near the police post.  Overnight in Tarakot

  • Day 24

    Tarikot to Dunai:

    We begin our trek on a trail behind the Bheri River before crossing a bridge near the Lawan village. Our trail will continue alongside the big Bheri Rriver ascending until the Byas Gadi. From here the trail moves towards the west on a relatively easy trail.  We cross the river again near the Lochakhola Gaon and ascend to Dunai for an overnight stay. Today’s trek will mostly be on a wonderful gorge with pine trees. Overnight in Dunai.

  • Day 25

    Dunai to Jhupal:

    Fron Dunai, we trek along the Bheri River enjoying the beautiful landscape. On the way, we pass through Dhupichaur and Rupgad villages as well as a temple. We continue trekking via Kalagaonda village and Motipur village before reaching the small airstrip. Overnight in Jhuphal.

  • Day 26

    Fly to Kathmandu:

    On today’s day, we will fly back to Kathmandu and then do the sightseeing of the remaining places of the valley. At evening, you will have a farewell dinner in a typical Nepali restaurant. Overnight at Kathmandu.

  • Day 27

    Departure day:

    This will be the last day of our journey. You will be transferred to Tribhuvan International Airport and then you will fly back to your own home country.

Include

  • Two nights standard accommodation in 2/3/4/5 star category hotel in Kathmandu located tourist center, or up to you.
  • Meals on full board (Breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trekking
  • Local fresh fruits like orange, apple, banana and grape etc.
  • All accommodations during the trek.
  • Your destination map.
  • Both ways domestic Flights with airport tax.
  • An experienced Government licensed holder Climbing guide and porter to carry your luggage during the trek.
  • Permit
  • Food, drinks, accommodation, insurance, salary, equipment’s, transportation, local tax for Guide and porter
  • Group medical supplies (first aid kit will be available).
  • If you need we will provide you sleeping bag, down jackets, Duffle bag and, if necessary etc.
  • All necessary Government paper works and national park entry permits and TIMS Card etc.
  • Travel & Rescue arrangement.
  • All government taxes and Vat.

Exclude

  • Airport / Hotel / Airport pick up & drop by private car or van. It is depend of the group.
  • Meals yourself Kathmandu (L+D).
  • equipment / Gears
  • Your Travel insurance.
  • International airfare.
  • Nepal entry visa (You can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Nepal’s Airport in Kathmandu).
  • All kind drinks (Alcoholic, hot and cold drinks, Water )
  • Personal shopping and laundry etc.
  • Personal trekking Equipment’s.
  • Tips for trekking staff and driver. (Tipping is expected, but it is not mandatory)
  • If do any tour and sightseeing and other activities etc.

 

Usefull Info

Important Note and Optional Activities: We, at Pikey Paradise trek are always concerned about the safety of our clients while travelling with us. Just be sure that your trek leader has the authority to cancel or amend any part of itinerary if it is necessary for the safety concerns. We will work and put every effort to keep the above itinerary as it is but as we are travelling in the remote and isolated areas od mountainous region, we can’t guarantee it! Some of the major factors of changing the itinerary are the health of clients and also the extreme weather conditions. Our trek leader will try to do their best as to run according to the plan on the trip but we personally recommend to be prepared for the changes in itinerary if necessary. You will be informed if there will be changes in the itinerary by your trek leader. Your trek leader will assist you with information about your options but please note that any additional activities you undertake are not part of our itinerary and our makes no representation about the safety of the activity. We recommend to use your own judgements when choosing any optional activities in your free time.

Acclimatization:

Trekking itinerary of Pikey Paradise is designed with a high degree of minimization of awareness of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). We won’t be going to the higher altitudes too fast as it causes a serious medical condition which may lead to death. The higher the altitude the less oxygen there is in air. On the height above 5000m in mountain ranges, oxygen level drops low at more than 50%. Human body need to adapt at this attitude so we will take acclimatization and rest days on some of the points of our trek. We recommend to the clients who are suffering from heart and lung disease to consult with their doctor before being a part of the journey. Mild headaches, fever, loss of appetite or stomach disorder are symptoms of AMS. Our itineraries are designed to try to prevent AMS but it is important to remember, some people can be more susceptible than others.

Trek leader and Staff Arrangements:

We, at Pikey Paradise firmly believe that if you want to get the most of the output from your staffs, you must treat them well. We also believe that a happy staff is a hard-working staff. We extremely believe in these things and also try our best to maintain a good relationship with our staffs.

Most of the emphasis are given to the local leaders and local guides as we believe working with the staffs of local communities is ore fruitful. We provide training for all our staff and all our trek leaders are trained in the following as a minimum;

  • Intensive Wilderness First Aid
  • Trekking Guide Training
  • Eco Trekking Workshop & Adventure Meet
  • English Language
  • Conservation & Biodiversity
  • Rock & Ice Climbing & Mountaineering (for expedition leaders)

At, Pikey Peak, we guarantee our clients that they are working and coping with the best professionals of the country who are friendlier and also much experienced on their respective field. All of our guides are fluent in speaking English and if you want, we are ready to provide you guides who are good at speaking other languages such as French, Spanish, Japanese, German and Italian. We only select professionals who are experienced, have leadership skills, are friendly in nature and also have a good personal ability. All these years, we have learnt that one of the major needed things in the trip is the leadership quality that a guide should have so that the trip will be safe, enjoyable and successful.

You will also be glad to know that most of our guides are actually from the mountainous region of our country and have spent half of their whole life in the most isolated and remote areas of our country. Mountainous region is the home for them and walking through these challenging paths is in their blood. They’re not ‘familiar’ with local communities, they’re a part of them. They don’t ‘know’ local culture, they practice it. They truly love their home and relish getting the opportunity to show travelers why.

Porter Care

One of the most underrated professionals of our country are the porters who are a major part in the trekking and expedition journeys at the Himalayas. No doubt, the entire trekking and expedition industry in Nepal is built on the back of these hard-working porters. We must be blessed with the effort of the porters as their tireless efforts of carrying supplies, equipment and baggage makes the journey to the Himalayan region successful. So, its kind of unfortunate that they have endured a history of exploitation and abuse at the hands of the industry. In an effort to combat this, we are firmly committed to porter rights.

We assure all our porters are well treated, well paid and we also provide the level of shelter, clothing and footwear that these harsh environments demand. Porters who become sick are treated with the same care and attention as team members and we have previously used helicopters – at our expense – to rescue porters from dangerous situations. And for the porter’s sake we require that all trekkers keep their bag weight under 15kgs/33 pounds.

We totally support the work of the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG), making our resources available to them to help improve the working conditions of the porters.

Environmental Concerns:

Most of the areas of the Himalayan region is stunningly beautiful but at the same hand it’s to risky as well. Future generations have just as much of a right to appreciate it as we do and so the tourism industry has an obligation to protect and preserve it. We employ a ‘zero impact’ policy on the natural environment and the traditional communities that live there. We enforce a number of do’s and don’ts, and staff can advise how to minimize your impact.

Trekking to the base camp of the mountain of our country is not an easy task and one should be in a good health and physical condition. Most of the days have four to five hours of walking and some of the days are up to seven hours as well. Although less but these walks are very much tiring and difficult. It’s a good idea to prepare yourself in the lead-up to your trip with some regular exercise, the best form of which is long walks in hilly areas. Technical experience is not required, hiking/camping experience is an advantage, but by far the most important thing is a positive attitude and a generous amount of determination.

We recommend to let us know if you have any pre-existing medical conditions as it might be difficult above 5000m if you get sick. Also, before coming to Nepal it’s important to consult your doctor regarding vaccinations and any other medical concerns that the trip may raise. Medical and evacuation expenses are your responsibility

A typical day on the trail:

You will be waked up early in the morning with a bucket of hot water to wash in. You will then have your breakfast and then pack your bag to head for the trek. We will trek through forests, hills, mountains and local villages all about 3hours. We will then stop for an hour at a particularly pleasant spot and have our lunch. We will then again start our trek and trek about another 3hours to reach the destination where we will stay for overnight. Then you can have tea or coffee and some light snacks, before exploring the area with trek leader or just relaxing until dinner is served in a warm dining hall.

Evenings are quite interesting and fun as we will be chatting and doing entertainment stuffs with our fellow trek mates. Finally, it’s off to bed for a well-deserved night’s rest before you start it all again.

Pre-Trip Meeting:

Our trek journey starts with a pre-trip meeting at Kathmandu at our office. We will be usually doing the pree-trip meeting on the second day of our trekking journey and then you will be introduced to your fellow trek mates. You will also be introduced with your trek leader and then you can ask the important questions to your trek leaders in the pre-trip meeting.

The Trekking Group:

For the Everest Base Camp trek, there will be one leader, one assistant leader and one Sherpa porter for each group of two trekkers. This arrangement ensures that should any one of them fall ill, the trip can still go on as planned. We can run the trek for groups of any size, but generally have a maximum of ten people, as we’ve found this to be the optimum size for a successful trip. However, if you’d like to make a group booking for more than ten people it can easily be arranged.

Accommodations:

The cost of the accommodations in this trek is included in the trip cost and we have chosen accommodation options based on the following criteria; standard of hygiene, standard of service, location, food standards and cost. All accommodation is based on twin share. We will provide you single supplement if there is different sex. For the solo trip and on request single supplement will be charge US$300.

Toilet Facilities – On trek, toilet facilities are available at Tea Houses but some places are beyond your expectation and you should be satisfied with a local toilet.

Meals during Trek:

All Meals on full board basis will be provided during the cost spent on trek. Three meals (Nepali, Sherpa, Tibetan, Bhutanese, Continental, Italian and Indian cuisine) a day will be provided from the teahouse/lodge menus. Each day dinner and breakfast are used to take in the same lodge you spend the night. Lunch will also be provided by our company and at the same cost.

 

 

 

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