Lower Dolpa trek is an alternative trek to the Upper Dolpa trek and is designed for those trekkers who can’t trek on the higher altitude and on challenging trails. This beautiful journey takes the trekkers to the beautiful and isolated land of Dolpa district which is untouched and unbeaten. One can get various opportunities to explore the hidden treasures of Dolpa region. You can do the sightseeing of ancient lifestyle and culture of people living in Dolpa region along with the sightseeing if some of the highest mountains of the world including Everest and Makalu.
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. The Upper Dolpa Trek offers the spectacular sight of mysterious mountains, snow leopards, blue sheep, unique culture and lifestyle and different tropical landscapes. You will also get an opportunity to do the sightseeing of the mighty Himalayan ranges from this beautiful place.
Lower Dolpa Trek starts with a scenic flight to Nepalgunj and then we will take another flight to Jhupal. We will start our trek and reach Dunai. Trekking via Tarakot and Lahini will take us to Dho Tarap. Trekking ahead, we will reach the Numa LA base camp and cross the famous Numa La pass. Trekking ahead, we will reach the Shey Phoksundo lake and do the sightseeing of this beautiful lake. After the sightseeing, we will trek back to Jhupal and then fly back to Kathmandu to end our trip.
Please refer to the itinerary for further information:
Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu (1400m):
Namaste and welcome to the country of Nepal. You will be welcomed by our representative in the Tribhuvan International Airport and then transferred to our hotel in Kathmandu. At evening, you will be welcomed by an authentic Nepalese cuisine in one of the typical Nepalese restaurants of Thamel and then we will do a briefing about the itinerary of our trip. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 02: Kathmandu valley sightseeing including Bhaktapur and Lalitpur:
After an early morning breakfast, we will head towards the beautiful and ancient places of Kathmandu valley which includes the world heritage sites, temples, places and other many beautiful things. Talking about Kathmandu, this place is a paradise to the tourists of all over the world and one can get an opportunity to relax his/her body form head to toe by doing the sightseeing of some of the iconic things of the world. You will be taken to Pashupatinath temple which is one of the most religious and historical temples of Kathmandu. Thousands of devotees from Nepal, India and all over the world come to this ancient temple for their rituals and celebrations. After the visit of Pashupatinath, we will drive for 15-20 minutes to do the sightseeing of Bouddhanath stupa. After exploring these historical monuments, we will be doing the sightseeing of ancient Durbar squares of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. Visiting Lalitpur and Bhaktapur will give you an opportunity to see the living goddess, Kumari and explore the ancient streets filled with arts and architects. A refreshing evening walk on the streets of Thamel and Basantapur will make you feel Kathmandu a really cool and historical place and you will also explore lots of new things in these streets. At afternoon, we will be back to our hotel and do the briefing of Everest Expedition trip. You will be guided about some of the important rules and suggestions for the trip such as what is your responsibility, what to do and what not to do on the trek? You will be then introduced to your fellow expedition staffs and guides and relax the hotel after dinner. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj:
After our short excursion in Kathmandu, we take an hour-long flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, located in Western Nepal. 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 Nepalgunj to Jhupal and trek to Dunai (2,850m/9,348ft):
We fly to Jhupal after breakfast. The town is beautifully located over the Himalayan foothills, with views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri peaks to its north. Here, we meet our trekking staff and begin the adventure. We walk through terraced fields to the Bheri River and its narrow gorge. We continue walking to Dunai which is the administrative headquarter of the Dolpo region. We explore the small town in the evening and camp there for the night.
Day 05: Dunai to Tarakot
After breakfast our trek continues along the southern bank of the Bheri River heading upstream on an easy trail. Along the way, we pass through several deep gorges, hanging bridges and isolated villages. Our trail also includes a tremendous gorge with pine trees and a path built about seven meters above the river. After walking for a while, we will be greeted by the colorful, terraced field of Tarakot, a small village that stands on a hillock to the south of the Bheri River. Overnight in Tarakot.
Day 06: Tarakot to Laini
We walk alongside Tarap Chu river and cross it twice before reaching Sandul Gompa. The gompa lies at a juncture between Barbung Khola and Tarap Chu river. We continue walking on a trail that takes us through farm terraces and rural villages. After ascending and descending for a while, we finally reach Laini. Overnight in Laini.
Day 07: Laini to Nawarpani
We climb on a steep trail and walk along switchback above the Tarap River. The walk is quite exciting as the valley becomes a narrow gorge that in some places you can jump from one side to another. Several vigorous climbs and descents will take us to the banks of the Chyugur Khola, from where we reach Nawarpani. Overnight in Nawarpani.
Day 08: Nawarpani to Do Tarap
We begin today’s trek by gradually ascending to Kamattarka at the confluence of the Tarap Chu and Lang Khola. We cross a narrow gorge and leave the tree line behind us and welcome wild rose and juniper bushes, typical of the dry inner Himalayan valleys. After walking for several more hours, we reach the village of Dho Tarap which is surrounded by an irregular stone wall. In this Valley both Bon Po and Chaiba religious sects reside together. Tarap is also inhabited by a few Tibetans and mostly Magars who have lived here for many generations. Overnight in Do Tarap.
Day 09: Rest Day at Do Tarap for acclimatization
The day off will assist with acclimatization and allow some bodily rest. We can spend the day visiting nearby monasteries. During today’s 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. The people of the region are both Bon Po and Nyingmapa (Buddhist sects). Overnight in Do Tarap.
Day 10: Trek to Numa La Base Camp
We trek towards the upper Tarap valley enjoying views of lush grasslands on both sides of the river which is unique to this part of the inner Dolpo. We walk alongside Tarap Chu river and take pleasure in the amazing views of the vast Tarap valley with its wide plains and high mountains. A few hours’ good walk takes us to the village of Tokyu which houses a Buddhist monastery of the Chiba sect. After exploring the monastery, we continue walking up the valley on a rough trail before reaching the Numa La Base Camp. Overnight in Numa La Base Camp.
Day 11: Cross Numa La pass (5,190m/17,023ft), camp at Pelung Tang
Today is going to be the toughest and one of the longest days of our trek. After breakfast, we begin crossing the Numa La pass on a steep trail all the way up the top ridge of the pass. From the ridge we get incredible views of the barren mountains of Dolpo up to Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m). After getting to the top of Numa La, we descend to camp at Pelung Tang.
Day 12: Cross Baga La pass (5,070m/16,630ft), trek to Dajok Tang
After breakfast we begin our steep climb up to the top of Baga La pass. From here, we get fantastic views of the dry landscape and the distant snow-capped mountains including Mt. Kanjirowa. We spend some time at the top of the pass taking pictures and generally enjoying the mesmerizing views. Next, we descend to Dajok Tang for an overnight stay.
Day 13: Dajok Tang to Ringmo
We spend most of today’s trek on trails alongside beautiful pine forests and alpine vegetation. After trekking for a short while on an easy trail with only gradual highs and lows, we reach Ringmo Village. The village is a traditional Tibetan village of the Dolpo region. Overnight in Ringmo.
Day 14: Hike to Phoksundo Lake
Today we explore the great Phoksundo Lake and camp at its shores. We see yak caravans moving in and out of Ringmo mostly towards Tibetan borders on remote mountain trails. The scene is even depicted in a Hollywood movie ‘Caravan’ shot mostly in this location. On our way to the lake, we also tour a nearby monastery. Upon reaching the Phoksundo Lake, we can enjoy a relaxing walk on the serene lake’s shores. Overnight at Phoksundo.
Day 15: Phoksundo Lake to Shyanta
We trek downhill to Chepka. From Chepka the trail follows a massive overhanging rock. During our trek, we find many important medicinal minerals which are believed to cure almost anything in this area. The route then passes through villages, before climbing to Shyanta. Overnight in Shyanta.
Day 16: Shyanta to Jhupal
We march towards Jhupal via Sulighat on a trail surrounded by birch trees. From atop a ridge, we get the most spectacular views of the mountain above us and Jhupal Village below. Utmost caution is required while trekking along this trail. After reaching Jhupal, we can spend our afternoon exploring the busy market town or simply taking a rest. Overnight in Jhupal.
Day 17: Fly to Nepalgunj, fly to Kathmandu
We take the earliest flight from Jhupal to Nepalgunj. Upon reaching Nepalgunj, we return to Kathmandu on the next available flight. Upon our arrival in Kathmandu, we will be transferred to our hotel. There is nothing to do but trade emails with travel companions and organize the photos. To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will have a farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 18: Final departure
Our adventure in Nepal comes to an end today! You will be transferred to the airport and then transferred to your own home country.
Cost Include
- Airport / Hotel / Airport pick up & drop by private car or van. It is depend of the group.
- 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.
Cost Excludes
- 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.