Lower Dolpo Trek

When you arrive at Tibhuvan International Airport, our guide will pick you up and take you to your hotel in the bustling Thamel district of Kathmandu. Depending on your arrival time, you can choose to relax for the next journey, see the city’s attractions, or shop for adventure gear in one of Kathmandu’s many adventure supply stores. We’ll assemble our bikes and be ready for the journey in the afternoon.

Leaving the metropolis of Kathmandu behind, we fly to Nepalgunj while enjoying the gorgeous trip. Due to its location in western Nepal, close to the Indian border, Nepalgunj is an important business hub for several regions. Later in the evening, we can stroll through Nepalgunj’s bustling markets.

Today, we take a 35-minute flight from Nepalgunj to Juphal. As soon as we touch down in the Juphal, our trek begins. We reach the Bheri River by descending via local settlements and terraced fields. The walk continues along the riverbank and passes past the Roop Ghar with water mill before reaching Dunai.

Today, we will hike to Tarakot along the Bheri River’s upstream trail. In order to reach Tarakot, we hike over a level trail surrounded by picturesque scenery. As we ascend the slope, we encounter vast canyons, hanging bridges, and isolated towns. Tarakot, an ancient fortress town situated on a hillock to the south of the Bheri River, is greeted by dry stones and terraced fields of various hues as we continue our trek.

The trail on the southern side of the Bheri River that leads to the wide valley is followed. We next proceed east along the Bharbung Khola to reach Laisicap, where we will bridge the primary river. Following the flow of Tarap Khola, we now head north to Khanigaon, which provides a breathtaking view of Sandul Gompa across the valley. While appreciating the view of Putha Hiunchuli (7246) and the Churen Himal Range, we start the final ascent up the steep trail to reach Laina Odar. Spend the night in a tent camp in Laina Odar.

Today’s trek passes across the deep gorge of the Tarap River, ascending steep slopes high above the gorge. The trail gets more open and straightforward as we progress. On wooden planks and flat stones, we continue our journey to Chhyugar. We then cross a small stream, and a couple of hours of trekking gets us to Toltol, a winter village for Upper Dolpo residents.

Moving along the Tarap River’s bank, we gradually ascend to Kamattarka, the confluence of Tarap Chu and Lang Khola. To reach the settlement of Dho Tarap, we leave the tree line and enter a trail lined with wild rose and juniper shrubs after traversing a steep ravine. Dho Tarap is a beautiful town encircled by stone walls that was formerly a prominent trading hub for Tibet and Mustang merchants.

In order to acclimate to the thinner air, we take a day off from trekking to explore Dho Tarap. The remainder of the day is spent learning about and appreciating the local culture, traditions, and way of life by visiting the monasteries in the vicinity. The inhabitants of Dolpo wear handwoven garments and favor Tibetan-style somba (boots with upturned toes) as footwear. The majority of residents practice Bon-Po and Nyigmapa religions.

Today we travel towards Numa La Base Camp, moving alongside Tarap Chu River and ascending uphill till Tokyu, a traditional Kani village with an elegant walk. From there, we cross a bridge to Khanger and continue along the main route in a northwesterly direction. Then, we proceed up the treacherous path to reach Numa La Base Camp.

Today, we begin the tough journey towards the Numa La Pass (5310 meters). On the difficult and rough trail, we climb steeply to the tops of countless ridges. Once we reach the summit, we are greeted with breathtaking views of Mount Dhaulagiri (8167m) and the Churen Himal Range, as well as Norbung Kang (6085m). After a period of time, we descend alongside the Gyambo Khola and reach the magnificent Danighar meadow.

We leave Danighar and travel across another pass, Baga La, to reach Temche (5170m). Along the shabby yak trail, we undertake a difficult rise. The quick ascent in altitude may necessitate additional work as we ascend. In addition to sacred Chortens, the summit of the pass gives a magnificent view of Norbung Kang (6085m) and other peaks, as well as the hypnotic Phoksundo Lake. We next descend through a deep gorge and cross a frozen stream to arrive in Temche.

We first drop to Yak Kharka from Temche before ascending to the town of Ringmo via a trail lined with oaks, pines, juniper bushes, and cypress trees. We travel to Ringmo village, a well-known Bon town in the Dolpo region, accompanied by a breathtaking vista of tall cliffs and a massive waterfall. We reach the magnificent Phoksundo Lake through a short stroll from Ringmo.

We take an additional day off from trekking to explore Phoksundo Lake and Ringmo settlement. The Phoksundo Lake is a gorgeous turquoise lake that is also the deepest lake in Nepal. Lake provides a picturesque perspective of Ringmo village. Tshowa (Bon Monastery) was constructed 900 years ago and is located close to the Ringmo town. We also encounter numerous stunning glaciers above the lake region.

Today’s journey to Chhepka begins with a moderate stroll along the riverbank, followed by a sharp ascent to the summit of the hill, which provides the final glimpse of the lovely Phoksundo Lake. From there, we make our way to Chunuwar via a brief descent. The track continues through a pine and birch woodland towards Rechi. With a gentle uphill and downhill ascent along the trail, we reach Chhepka.

We leave Chhepka and travel to Juphal via the villages of Shyanta and Kageni. From Shyanta, we travel into the jungle to reach the Shey Phoksundo National Park checkpoint. Then, we cross the metal suspension bridge over Dhim Khola and hike to Juphal via a narrow trail and magnificent barley and wheat fields.

We take an early morning beautiful flight from Juphal to Nepalgunj. When we reach Nepalgunj, we board the next flight to Kathmandu. You are transferred to your hotel in Kathmandu, and the remainder of the day is at your leisure. In the evening, you can dine at one of the local restaurants in the capital city.

We reserve one additional day in case the flight is canceled due to bad weather or delayed for other reasons. Stay at a 4-star hotel in Kathmandu for the night.

Today we will take you to the airport to catch your flight out of Nepal. Alternatively, if you’d like to stay longer, we may make additional travel arrangements to assist you continue your Nepal experience.