Upper and Lower Dolpo trek

Itinerary 

Day 1: Arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: sightseeing or trekking permit preparation day.

Day 3: extra day in Kathmandu.

Day 4: fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj.
Approximately 75-minute flight with a Small propeller plane with fantastic panoramic views and landing in Terai at tropical climate. Overnight in a simple hotel. 

Day 5: In the morning you fly to Juphal (2475 m) and Camp at Dunai 2140 m.
Meet some off staff at Juphal and start walking down to the Thuli bheri River about 3 hours to Dunai. There we will meet the rest our staff and mules. Dunai is the biggest town and headquarter for Dolpo District. 

Day 6: Dunai to Tarakot 2560 m. 7 hrs trekking
Your hike leads through a deep Gorge on a very beautiful and sunny walk along the river. The day will be very hot along the bank of Bheri River because of sun shining. You will pass several local villages with fantastic interaction of local living. Lunch break will be somewhere in the village and keep following the River bank crossing the suspension bridge and end of the day you can reach to sloppy village Tarakot. The camp will be below the village in flat field near by the police check post. 

Day 7: Tarakot to Laina Odar 3370 m. 6.5 hours
You walk along the Tarap Khola and rough tough newly opened road. It is quite interesting gradual uphill walking through the alpine forest with fantastic views upstream, then cross over the suspension bridge to Laisicap. Afterward there is steep ascent about an hour then the trekking goes gradually uphill through a magnificent forest. The Camp will be on the field where some locals are also camping nearby for pedestrian tea house and animals pasturage. 

Day 8: Laina Odar to Nawarpani 3615m. 7 hours
Directly behind the storage area, the trail is serpentines steeply upwards through the rocky hills. It is quite interesting climbing about 2 hours to the top point 3680m. Of prayer flags. We have to follow the Tarapkhola valley by doing several rocky up and down. The path goes through spectacular deep Tarap khola gorges by crossing some suspension bridge and narrower rocky passes. We will also see some temporary tea houses along the path there we may buy some cold drinks. Most of their selling goods are supplying from Tibet. The trek for the day will be a bit longer and finally camping will be under a big cave on the field call Nawarpani or Pibuk. 

Day 9: Nawarpani to Dho Tarap 4050m.
 It continues along the River bank of Tarap Khola through a dreamlike gorge. At the old stupa Ghyamgar (3790 m) takes you along the narrow Gorge then continuously following towards upstream. It has very magnificent natural rounding views throughout the valley. However the walking up and down, quite longer flat may make you very tired. Completing hundreds of serpentines walk over flat valley brings you finally to the big Tibetal settlement call Dho Tarap village. This would be the longest walking of this trekking route. 

Day 10: Excursion Dho village 4050 m.
 Today you will have an opportunity to visit local Tibetan village and know the reality of Tibetan life, culture and traditions. You will hike to the surrounding monasteries Sipcchog and Ribo Gumba as well as upto the hill top about 4800m. For acclimatization and return to the same camp for overnight. 

Day 11: Dho Tarap to Jhyantla Phedi 4800m. 6 hours
The trail continuously follows wide valley, passing the School then to the village. This village is call Tokio and it is widely expanded however it is smaller than Dho. From this village the path will be separated to three different directions like way to Numala pass, Chhoila pass and Jhyantala pass. We gradually climbing upto the barren field or Tibetan pastureland may takes about 3 hours to the camping field on the bottom of Jhyantala pass.  Around this area several group of wild blue sheep, whistling marmot, Himalayan rabbit and domestic yaks, sheeps, goats and horses may appear. 

Day 12: Jhyanta Phedi to Rakyo 4230m. 7 hours
After breakfast the path starts climbing up to Jyanta Bhanjyang La (5220 m) that is really culmination day of the trekking. From the summit or Jhyantala pass you will see the magnificent views surrounding Upper Dolpo region and the Tibetan mountains. And long descent from the pass leads down through Small side valley along the Sarung Khola to the Rakyo village. 

Day 13: Rakyo to Saldang 3770m. 7 hours
After Rakyo village it directly follows a short tighter climb and hikes in a quite fertile valley with little Villages. Your path will continue downstream Saldang village (3770 m).  Saldang is quite rich for Buddhist culture and traditions.  It has also very beautiful landscape with attractive farming and mind-blowing natural beauties. 

Day 14: Saldang to Namgung 4350m.
The trails mostly goes up, crosses several ranges and reach after relatively a steep ascent pass (4560 m) then following jig-jag alpine trail to Namgung. It has very well-known monastery where very famous Lama was reincarnated. Namgung village is believed as a prime holistic Buddhist practice land.  If the day is remaining than you can hike some hours towards the pass for betterment of tomorrow. 

Day 15: Namgung to Shey Gompa 4340m. 5hours
Today we have to cross another 5100m. Pass call Sela La on the way to the legendary Shey Gompa. The ascent lasts about 2h with a panoramic view of Snow covered several mountains. Descending and flat walk will take at least 2.5 hours to reach Shey Gompa. It is very popular for religious Centre of the Dolpo and have an opportunity to visit old monastery that is almost 1 hour away from the camp. 

Day 16: Shey Gompa to Sallaghari or Phedi. 7 hours
Early in the morning we start hiking steadily towards the Nangdala or Kangla pass 5360m. This will be the last above 5000m. Pass for this trekking. During the snow fall it is really very dangerous pass but in the summer it is quite ok.  From the pass you can have a breathtaking panoramic views of Tibetan Himalayas, upper Dolpo region and unique lunar looking landscape with several surrounding snowcapped mountains. 

Day 17: Phedi to Phoksundo lake 3730m. 6 hours
The quite laborious descending from the steep and narrow gorge requires stepping safely as well as sufficient stamina. Cross the Phoksundo Khola and walk through the densely wooded valley, walking along the narrow rocky path, occasional views of wide and blue lakes often admiring you. The camp will be on the side of Phoksundo Lake. The locals are settling almost half hour away from the Lake however you will see a lot their traditional activities near by the Lake. 

Day 18: Phoksundo Lake to Ringmogaun 3680m 6 hours.
Breakfast with sunshine in front of the blue and deep Phoksundo Lake make you morning quite remarkable.  Passing through the old village and having the last in touch of Tibetan tradition will be ending here. This area is more dominated by Bon Buddhist so there culture and tradition starts slightly different from here. We continuously pass along the nice view point from where you can see waterfalls then leads the way down to the river bank along the forest. 

Day 19: Ringmogaun to Chhepka 2700m. 6 hours
It would be wonderful views of Waterfall and walking through human emptiness or fairytale Old cedar forests leads you down to Chepka and overnight on tent. 

Day 20: Chhepka to Juphal 2475m. 6.5 hours
We continuously follow the River gorge along the Sulighad to Rupghad. You cross the suspension bridge over the Thuli Bheri River and climb up to Juphal. Today we will have Farewell to the staff and carriers, without their help and support this trekking would not have been possible. 

Day 21: Juphal to Nepalgunj to Kathmandu
With the well-known small aircraft from Juphal to Nepalgunj flight in the morning then fly to Kathmandu in the afternoon. Rest in hotel. 

Day 22: Reserve day in case of bad weather.

Day 23: After the breakfast drive back to Kathmandu airport for departure