Lower Dolpo Trek

As you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, our staff will be ready to pick you up and take you to your hotel. Once we arrive at the hotel, our team will brief you on the outline for the trek. In the evening, you will be joining the rest of the group for an introductory welcome dinner. The first night is all about bonding and resting up.

Highlights 

• Hassle-free airport pick-up.
• A detailed explanation of the itinerary.
• Bonding welcome dinner with the full group.

While you must be rearing to head out on the trek, you can take this day to immerse yourself in all that Kathmandu has to offer. You will go sightseeing right after breakfast.

Neither crowds nor heat will be a problem as you relax in our private vehicle. Our tour guide will be right by ready to relay details of the sites that we will be heading to. We will begin at Pashupatinath, which is a very famous Hindu temple. 

Once we’ve marveled at the cultural and sacred beauty of this temple, we will be moving to Boudhanath and Swayambhunath. These are Buddhist temples and flaunt their unique beauty. Towards the evening, we will head to Kathmandu Durbar Square. Here, you will be surrounded by the cultural beauty of middle age architecture.

You will also have some time in the evening to shop for any trekking gear or supplies. We will be near market hubs like New road or Thamel, so it will be easy to buy any missing components.

Highlights 

• Sightseeing holy sites like Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, and Swayambhunath temples.
• Strolling through historic sites like Kathmandu Durbar Square.
• Free day to purchase any trekking gear or supplies that you might need.

After a hearty breakfast, we will be heading to the domestic airport. From here, we will be taking a flight to Nepalgunj. This flight will only take about an hour. We hope you’ve packed your tank tops and t-shirts as Nepalgunj is one of the hottest places in Nepal. The flight will let you appreciate the tall mountains that stand guard to the rolling, lush hills. Once you land, you can enjoy the sunny beauty of the plains.

Highlights 

• One-hour scenic flight to Nepalgunj.
• Beautiful green meadows and warm, sunny weather.

The next morning we will be catching a flight to Jhupal. It will be a short 45-minute flight. The airport we will be arriving at is on a small hilltop. You will immediately feel the high cool breeze that will get you ready to get set and begin your trek.

On this day, we will be hiking for around 3 hours. We will cover 6 km and trudge through local villages. All around us, you will see terraced fields that lead you to the swiftly flowing Bheri river. The trail has the perfect countryside feel to it as you pass by water mills to reach the Dunai village.

Highlights 

• Short scenic flight to Jhupal.
• Only three hours of trekking through plains and terraced fields.

As we head out for this day’s trek, we will be following one stream after the other. Not just this, but we will also be walking right alongside the Bheri and Barbung river. As you maneuver hanging bridges, these rivers will add an excellent soothing soundtrack to your trek and are a sight to behold.

You will also be trudging along with large pine forests that add to the authentic trekking experience. Crossing Byasghar and trekking by Baijibara, you will get a chance to visit a Bon Monastery. As you trek higher, you will begin to see dry stone walls and rows of fields which will be your welcoming sign to Tarakot.

Once we reach Tarakot, we will be taking a short walk to Sandul Gompa. Sandul Gompa is a very famous and sacred site nestled amid large, towering hills. Here, you will begin to notice dry stones and deep gorges. Tarakot was once a very famous trading point. The locals here mostly practice Tibetan Buddhism. Another interesting fact is the dialect, you might get to hear a local language called ‘Kaike’, which is central to here and nowhere else.

This day’s trek will take you about 5 hours of walking.

Highlights 

• Walking by fast-flowing rivers like Bheri and Barbung.
• Tackling hanging bridges and deep gorges for stunning natural beauty.
• Visiting the famous religious site Sandul Gompa.
• Immersing yourself in the local Tibetan Buddhism and culture.
• Large towering hills for a picturesque view.

Once again, following the trail alongside the Bheri river, we will head out this morning. Today’s trek will take about 5-6 hours of walking. The path will further lead us to an open valley and alongside the Bharbung Khola. On reaching Laisicap, we will be crossing the swinging river bridge. 

The rivers will continue guiding our path as we will be following the steady stream of Tarap Khola. This river runs alongside high cliffs of red and brown as far as the eye can stretch. The isolated villages and terraced lands will add a stark contrast to the barren hills. Another stream will lead us right to Khani Gaon.

Highlights 

• Following one stream after another is bound to keep your spirits high.
• Large, looming cliffs add an eerie atmosphere to walk alongside.
• Terraced lands and isolated villages at different spots remind you of civilization despite the barren lands.

Once we head out from Khanigaon, the trail goes into Lihini. This day’s trek should take you about 6 hours to cover. The trek is quite versatile. One moment, you will find yourself trudging stone staircases and walking on barren earth underneath, the next. The roads twist and turn until we reach an elevation of 3650m. From there, we will be descending to Chukore.

Highlights 

• Versatile landscapes to keep things interesting.
• Stone stairs as well as twisting roads.
• Walking in the shade of breathtaking and large, dry hills

On this day, we will be leaving Chukore and descending to Narpani. As you look up, you will see glorious mountain peaks at a distance cheering you on. You will be crossing streams and wobbly bridges, feeling one with nature itself. 

Your path will further be dotted with a series of low caves, which invite exploration. Additionally, your eyes will be treated with large yak pastures, which will let you know that you have arrived at Kamokharka. This day’s trek will take you about 4 hours. 

Highlights 

• Crossing streams, bridges, and yak pastures.
• Passing exciting caves along your trail.
• Only about 4 hours of walking.

As we leave Kamokharka, the trail today will oversee pleasant countryside views. You will walk by meadows and small streams. You will also be crossing wooden bridges and trudging along a mostly even path. After walking for about 3-4 hours, you will begin to see a long line of mani (stone-built) walls. The mani walls mark your arrival at the day’s destination, Dho.

Dho offers a wide selection of sights itself. Even at this elevation, it is dotted with chortens and monasteries. One of them is the 1000-year old Ribo Bumpa Monastery. You can also choose to visit Drakmar monastery which sits tall on red cliffs to create a visual masterpiece. There are many such monasteries to pick from so rest assured your day is going to be very eventful.

Highlights 

• Pleasant meadows and streams to walk alongside.
• Strain-free walking of only 3-4 hours.
• Gorgeous mani walls leading you into Dho.
• Wide variety of centuries old monasteries to explore.

Once we turn our backs to Dho, we will be passing several rows of stone houses. You will pass a popular school, and follow an ascending trail uphill. This trail leads you to the traditional, remote village of Tok-Kyu, where you will get to see old-fashioned houses and a lifestyle untouched by modern influences. 

This area is famous as one of the highest altitude human settlements in the world. From here, we will be crossing the Tarap Khola. This river runs swiftly between a stunning depth creating a lovely gorge. You will be rewarded with interesting sights like Shering Gompa, a house for the monks in this region. The trail leads you through gentle inclines and then turns more rugged as you near Numa La Camp. After walking for about 4 to 5 hours, you will reach Numa La Camp. 

Highlights 

• Picturesque rows of stone houses.
• Witnessing the stunning gorge of Tarap Khola.
• Visiting the remote village of Tok-kyu with its untouched lifestyle.

This day’s trek gets slightly more strenuous as we enter higher elevations. The climb may be steep, but it is also gratifying. Once up there, you will get to marvel at the astounding beauty of the mountains. The views of the sprawling desert land in front of you is bound to make an impactful memory. After you’ve had your fill–both for your heart and your cameras, we will descend to Dajok Tang. This day’s trek will only take you about 4-5 hours of walking.

Highlights 

• Reaching Baga La Camp and enjoying the stunning view from high above.
• Cascading hills that stretch into the expanse.

On this day, we will be crossing a stream and then ascending a slope to reach Poyn Chu Valley. You will reach Baga La as you continue along, which is at an elevation of 5190m. Since this is quite high, it is possible to tire yourself quicker. With this in mind, this day’s itinerary is only 4 hours long. We will be walking alongside a mountainside slant until we get to Sanu Bheri Valley.

Highlights 

• Well-paced 4 hours of walking for proper acclimatization.
• Reaching high elevations and enjoying the surrounding scenic beauty.
• Walking along mountainside slants for a memorable otherworldly experience

Special Notes

As we will be reaching very high elevations on this day, be sure not to strain yourself too much while walking. We will be taking ample breaks, but if at any time you feel like you need to stop, make sure you let one of our guides. We have altitude sickness medicines on board, so if you feel any shortness of breath or strain, please feel free to reach out to any member of our team.

You will begin the descent and will immediately be greeted with beautiful stretches of green meadows. These will then lead you into dense forests that stretch high up to provide ample shade as you trek on through. Additionally, you will be passing yak pastures and also climbing on a cliffside ridge.

This ridge acts as an excellent viewpoint to watch the bustling valley below. You can also witness the mighty waterfall that comes out of Phoksundo Lake. You will follow a trail that lowers you and takes you via tall pine forests to Ringmo. Ringmo is a small Tibetan village but it offers excellent views of the Phoksundo Lake.

The blue waters are bound to seem inviting after a long day’s trek. You can spend your evening walking by this lake and snapping pictures of the sunset. We will be stopping here right near the famous Phoksundo Lake.

Highlights 

• Stunning natural beauty as you walk through green meadows and dense pine forests.
• View of the entire valley from a highpoint cliffside ridge.
• Overnight near the famous Shey Phoksundo Lake.

The next day’s trek is much easier on your feet. You will be detouring to visit a Tibetan monastery nearby and appreciate the pristine beauty of this emerald lake. The monastery is Tshowa Gompa, which is a 900-year-old Bon monastery that sits on a small ridge above the lake. The lake is considered to be sacred by the Buddhist community and sports a breathtaking turquoise color.

Once we move on from this point, we will be heading towards Sulighad. The fun tidbit is that one of the streams originating from the lake itself will guide us along the way until we reach the village of Renje.

Highlights 

• Detour to the Tshowa Gompa, a 900-year-old Bon monastery.
• Beautiful Phoksundo Lake flaunting its turquoise color far and wide.
• Short day’s walk to Renje village.

On this day’s trek, we will leave the small village of Renje. With the tall mountains celebrating our successful trek, we will be marching through fir and larch forests. Flowing right alongside us will be the Sulighat River, ready with its fresh stream to rejuvenate us along the way. After about 6 hours of walking, we will reach Chepka.

Highlights 

• Walking through lush fir and larch forests.
• The tall backdrop of gorgeous mountains as you trek back.

On this day’s trek, we will be walking for about 6 hours. You will be trekking through villages and getting a front seat view of the local livelihood. The trek is relatively stress-free and full of all the beauty that the plains have to offer. You will have plenty of time to slowly walk and snap pictures once we reach Dunai. 

Highlights 

• Walking through local villages and settlements.
• Appreciating the daily lives of people away from the city life.

Once we have a hearty breakfast, we will head right back into the trail. This trail is sure to be a treat for your eyes.  You will be walking through Birch trees and vast green pastures. The route can sometimes get rocky, but you are unlikely to notice from the high of your triumphant descent. This day’s trek will take you about 6-7 hours.

Highlights 

• Green forests and pastures all along your trail.
• Rocky but rewarding descent.

Early morning we will be taking a short, scenic flight to Kathmandu. The flight will only take about 1 hour, during which you can marvel at the land below and celebrate your successful trek. From here, we will be transferring you to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to catch up on some sightseeing or simply rest in your hotel and go through your camera roll.