Lower Dolpo Trek

Kathmandu Elevation: 1400 meters/4,600 feet

Upon your arrival at the Kathmandu Airport (Tribhuwan International Airport), our airport representative will welcome and receive you from the airport by offering a comfortable drive in a private vehicle. Then, you will be transferred to the hotel, where our staff will help you with the check-in procedures. Refresh and rest for a while in the hotel, and after some time, it is better to join the pre-briefing session in our office.

Here, you will be informed about the upcoming trekking details like food and accommodations, trekking routes, gear, permits, and many more. In the evening, have a quality time savoring the welcome dinner party arranged by us. communicate with fellow trekkers to build companionship that helps the trekking journey experience flourish.

Click here for detailed information about World Heritage Sites of UNESCO in Nepal.

On this day, you can have an optional tour of Kathmandu Valley, where you can sightsee the important cultural and historical sites of the place. It is not possible to cover all the attractions of the Valley within a day, so you will be exploring some of the popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Boudhanath, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Patan Durbar Square, and Swayambhunath. Explore the finest crafts and architecture of popular historic Durbar Squares. Visit the Monkey Temple, Swayambunath, and the largest stupa in the county, Bouddhanath. Then, you will visit the Pashupatinath temple of a Hindu devotee with insights into the cremation alongside the bank of the Bagmati River.

Enjoying the comfort of a private vehicle, you can have immersive religious, cultural, historical, and traditional insights during the sightseeing day with our knowledgeable local guide. After having a delicious launch at a local restaurant, return to the hotel for last-minute preparations for the Lower Dolpo trekking journey.

Nepalgunj Elevation: approximately 150 meters/492 feet

Our Lower Dolpo Trek journey starts by boarding a domestic flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. The flight for Nepalgunj is operated by major domestic airlines in Nepal, like Yeti, Bouddha, and Simrik. Enjoy the scenic flight with the amazing views of the Himalayas prior to the landing in the Terai region. Nepalgunj in the Banke district is a lowland area in southwestern Nepal. Upon landing in Nepalgunj, we spend the rest of our day visiting the nearby holy places and strolling around the town’s attractions.

Flight Duration: 30 minutes

Juphal Elevation: 2,475meters/8,118feet

Dunai Elevation: 2,140meters/7,019feet

The exploration of the Dolpo region in Nepal involves travel from Nepalgunj to Juphal and an initial trek to Dunai and further. We embark on an early morning flight from Nepalgunj Airport to Juphal Airport, which has a small airstrip. With this flight, we arrive in the Dolpo district, a remote part of Nepal with basic facilities but a picturesque environment.

The trek from Juphal to Dunai is the beginning of a trekking journey of the Lower Dolpo. The trail takes you through scenic landscapes, traditional villages, deep forests, and lush valleys. The trek descends through the terraced fields, a small marketed area, and crosses the Thulo Bheri River over a suspension bridge. Dunai is the administrative center of the Dolpa district and a larger town than the villages that passed by during the trek. With the availability of local markets and better accommodations, you can have a nice stay at Dunai.

Flight Duration: 35-40 minutes

Trek Duration: 2-3 hours

Tarakot Elevation: 2,850 meters/9,348 feet

The trek from Dunai to Tarakot is a picturesque journey. Begin the trek by crossing the Thulo Bheri River while leaving Dunai. Following the riverbed trail, the trek passes through Sulighat and Rechi villages. Traversing the diverse landscapes, including pine forests, terraced fields, and several small settlements, the trek provides mesmerizing views of scenic surroundings and traditional insights with the vibes of rural life in the Dolpo district.

Continue the trek, crossing the Tarap Chu River and some rocky terrains to reach Tarakot, at the bank of this river. Tarakot carries historical significance with an ancient fortress, further offering insights into the traditional Tibetan-influenced culture. You can have a glimpse of the natural and cultural aspects of the Dolpo region through this trekking journey.

Trek Duration: 5-6 hours

Khani Gaon Elevation: 2,543 meters/8,341 feet

The Tarakot to Khani Gaon offers enchanting landscapes of the Dolpo region. The trek follows the trail of the Tarap Chu River crossing and passes through terraced farmlands of charming villages with insight into traditional Dolpo culture, architecture, and farming.

With scenic beauty, the trek traverses the pine forests, small river crossings, and several traditional settlements on a downward journey to reach the Khani Gaon. Khani Gaon, with its unique culture, lifestyle, and customs, has some basic accommodations to rest and relax. However, we also set our campsite where you can chill further.

Trek Duration: 5-6 hours

Tarap Khola Elevation: 3,450 meters/11,316 feet

Start trekking from Khani Gaon towards the destination of a day, Tarap Khola for the overnight camping. The trail involves several river crossings through suspension bridges or crossing points and leads through spectacular gorges and canyons.

We make a steep ascent up to the gorge of the Tarap River and continue on a trek through well-formed trails and exceptional mountain views. The trekking journey will be exhilarating, with a unique experience of the adventure. The trek finally approaches you to an amazing campsite along the bank of Tarap Khola. Tarap Khola is encircled by mesmerizing landscapes of stunning valleys and mountains, displaying exceptional beauty.

Trek Duration: 4-5 hours

Yak Kharka Elevation: 3,800 meters/12,464 feet

After breakfast, we leave our campsite at Tarap Khola and head towards Yak Kharka. Yak Kharka is a high-altitude grazing area. Herders graze their yaks at these pasture lands, which are generally wide and open space land. Yak Kharka is a suitable campsite amidst the scenic landscapes. We reach Yak Kharka through a delightful trek, traversing the rivers, villages, and several scenic landscapes along the way.

Trek Duration: 4-5 hours

Dho Tarap Elevation: 4,090 meters/13,415 feet

Yak Kharka to Dho Tarap highlights the mesmerizing trails that pass through culturally rich villages. The trek initiates with an ascent through hills and river crossings, following the trails that lead towards Kamattarka at the meeting point of Tarap Chu and Lang River. The trek moves forward, leaving the narrow river gorge and entering arid valleys. Continue trekking to Dho Tarap, following the trails that pass through enchanting forests, local villages, and high-altitude meadows. After several hours of trekking through juniper bushes, we reach the Dho Tarap village for our overnight camping.

Dho Tarap is a village with rich art, culture, tradition, and religion. The Tibetan-influenced architecture, chortens, and monasteries of the village are fascinating. You can engage in interacting with the local people to hear the story of their past and understand their unique customs and lifestyles.

Trek Duration: 5-6 hours

Taking a rest and acclimatization day during the Lower Dolpo trek is crucial for ensuring overall well-being. Until this journey, you have already crossed the 4,000-meter altitude, which has a high chance of altitude sickness occurrence. So, it is very crucial to acclimatize properly to adjust your body to the elevation and minimize the potential risk of altitude sickness. Consider undertaking short acclimatization hikes around Dho Tarap because gradual walks at higher altitudes aid in adjusting to reduced oxygen levels.

Take time to rest and sleep, which helps to recover from the fatigue of long trek hours. Leisurely stroll around the Dho Tarap village, exploring the traditional houses and observing the daily life of people. Dho Tarap is inhabited by Tibetans and Magars, with a long history of residing here through several generations. Visit religious sites like Buddhist and Bonpo Gompa to witness rituals and ceremonies, soaking into the serene atmosphere. You can take quality time for quiet reflection. Spend the day resting and acclimatizing to the environment.

The trek showcases rich natural and cultural diversity along the trek of Tokyu Gaun from Dho Tarap. The route takes you through scenic mountainous landscapes, including ridges and valleys. On leaving the Dho Tarap village, our trek continues alongside the stunning landscape views and passes through several small settlements of traditional villages with cultivated fields. Following the ascending and descending routes of the rugged mountainous terrains, the trail approaches you to Tokyu Gaun. Tokyu Gaun is a picturesque village with traditional houses, ancient monasteries, and a unique charm.

Trek Duration: 5-6 hours

On this day, we trek to the base of Numa La, a high mountain pass in the Lower Dolpo region. We use the Base Camp as an acclimatization point before attempting a high pass crossing. Numa La Base Camp serves as a strategic location for adequate acclimatization, which is important to avoid altitude sickness while crossing the pass.

The scenic view of lush valleys fascinates you while having a slow elevation gain ascending to the higher altitudes. The trek can be tiring and draining while ascending through the challenging mountainous terrains. So, resting in the base camp helps restore energy.

Trek Duration: 5-6 hours

Today, you will be crossing the highest point of Lower Dolpo Trek, Numa La Pass, at 5,190 meters/17,027 feet. We start early to make sure that you cross the pass before midday. This is because the strong afternoon high winds may trouble the journey. You have to make a steep climb, negotiating the rocky and snow-covered terrains to reach the top of the pass.

While crossing the pass, you will be rewarded by the awe-inspiring views of surrounding sky-reaching peaks, stunning valleys, and incredible mountainous landscapes. You can savor the natural Himalayan beauty from this high-altitude location. After crossing the Numa La Pass, the descent through loose and steep rocky paths leads to a designated camping area at Phedi.

Crossing Baga La (5,070 meters/16,630 feet) is a challenging, adventurous, and rewarding journey. Starting from Numa La Phedi, properly rested and acclimated, the ascent begins towards Baga La. The steep climb follows the top of Baga La Pass with magnificent panoramic views of enchanting valleys and Himalayan peaks. After successfully crossing the Baga La, we begin a descent on the other side of the Phedi (4,470 meters/14,662 feet) to reach our suitable camping site.

Ringmo Elevation: 3,733 meters/12,244 feet

Leaving our Phedi campsite behind, the trek starts traversing through the enchanting pine forests. Follow a cautious descnet experiencing the diverse landscapes like alpine meadows to rugged mountain scenery. Along the way, the alpine region vegetation and pasture grounds fascinate the trek. Likewise, the trek passes through Tibetan culture villages, one of which is Rigmo, with unique Tibetan-style architecture and serene surroundings.

Trek Duration: 6-7 hours

Phoksundo Elevation: 3,611 meters/11,849 feet

Today, you can spend a rest day exploring Ringmo. Undertake a short acclimatization walk around the village. Consider visiting the ancient Bon monastery, a religious site in the village. After that, start for a hike to Phoksundo Lake traversing the captivating trails of Shey Phoksundo National Park. The alpine Phoksundo Lake is surrounded by the mesmerizing Himalayas. Take time for photography, relaxation, and exploration of the Phoksundo Lake. Spend a quality period at the Phoksundo Lake, immersing in its beauty and tranquility, and return to Ringo for overnight camping.

Chekpa Elevation: 2,838 meters/9,308 feet

The trek passes through varying terrains, involving river crossings. Navigating the enchanting landscapes and several cultural villages, Chepka arrives. Chepka is a remote village with typical local traditions and religion. Take some time to explore the village and interact with local communities. Then, we make an ascent to the pasture field of Chepka to set up camp for the overnight stay.

Trek Duration: 5-6 hours

On the final day of the trek, we make our way towards Juphal for a flight back to Nepalgunj. The trek follows an initial ascent with incredible views of valleys and mountains. After that, we make a gradual descent, following the downhill trek to reach Juphal. Reaching Juphal marks the end of the trekking journey. Juphal, with a scenic setting of the Himalayas, is a town with an airstrip.

Trek Duration: 5-6 hours

There are no direct flights from Jhupal to Kathmandu. So first, it is essential to take a transit flight from Juphal to Nepalgunj. The early morning flight from Jhupal lands you at Nepalgunj, where you may have a layover before connecting to Kathmandu. You can take this time to relax or explore the nearby areas. The next flight from Nepalgunj will bring you back, and then you will be transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day as per your preferences.

This leisure day is a golden opportunity to explore Kathmandu to your heart’s fullest extent. You can visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites that may have missed out or were not possible on the second sightseeing day. Likewise, you can also visit several other temples and monuments in Kathmandu. Explore the city park, Garden of Dreams, to soak into a tranquil atmosphere. Strolling around the market area of Thamel and cultural sites to buy souvenirs can be worth spending time on. Enjoy a grand farewell dinner in the evening that also marks the celebration of the successful Lower Dolpo Trek.

Our airport representative will drop you to the International Airport for your departure as per your flight schedule. Have a safe journey back to your homeland, and do remember us if you want to experience the remote wilderness and other kinds of adventurous journeys.