Trip Facts
- Activities: Trekking
- Trekking Type: Camping Trek
- Best Season: Sept - Dec / Feb - July
- Total Duration: 25 Days
- Trek Duration: 22 Days
- Min. Group Size: 5+ pax
- Max. Height: 4,900 m. / 16,076 FT
- Transportation: Fly in / Out
- Trek Start From: Kathmandu
- Trek End To: Kathmandu
Detail Itinerary of Lower Dolpo Trek
- Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu at (1'365m. 4'478ft)
It is a panoramic thrill flying into Kathmandu on a clear day. The views of snow-capped mountain peaks sprawling down below you are almost ecstatic, beginning a whole chain of memorable experiences that stay with you for a long, long time. A representative and driver from our office will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. The representative will help you check into your designated hotel. At the hotel you will be briefed about your daily activities. - Day 02: City Sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu is the historical and cultural heart of Nepal and has been a popular destination for tourists ever since Nepal opened its doors to visitors. The city presents a wonderful mix of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and Western influence in the Valley. Patan and Bhaktapur, its two major neighboring cities bear immense historical, cultural and religious significances. There will be a half day guided tour to the famous and biggest Hindu shrine of Pashupatinath, the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal Boudhanath, the 15th century Palace of 55 windows and Swoyambhunath. - Day 03: We fly to Nepalgunj
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Nepalgunj, which lies close to the Indian border in the western Terai. - Day 04: We fly to Jumla at (2'370m.7'775ft) and to Gothi chaur at (2'700m. 8'858ft.) about 7 hours Trek
We take a morning flight from Nepalgunj to Jumla. Leaving the airport at Jumla, we cross the Tila Khola and the Chaudabise Khola, near their confluence and climb gradually to a fertile valley of rice terraces. The trail passes through several villages. It continues through a forest of maple and walnut, to a meadow which, in season, is covered in wildflowers. Beyond the meadow, the trail climbs to a small pass before descending again to Gothi Chaur. - Day 05: Gothi Chour - Naphukana at 3'080m. 10'104ft.) about 7 hours Trek
Today's walk follows the Tila Khola through fields of corn, potato, buckwheat and barley until the valley narrows and we enter a forest of oaks, spruce and maples. We pass through the village of Chotra with typical Tibetan mani walls. After a short distance, we come to another Tibetan-looking village, Naphukana. There is a large gompa above this village. - Day 06: Naphukana - Chaurikot at (3'060m.10'039ft.) about 7 hours Trek
From Naphukana the trail becomes steeper and climbs through a forest to a pass named Mauri Lagna at (3'820m.12'532ft) From the pass there are views of snowy peaks to the north and east. Descending from the pass, the trail traverses a steep slope before dropping into a forest of pine and oaks. We then enter the Bheri Valley and after following the trail in and out of side valleys, we come to the village of Chaurikot. - Day 07: Chaurikot - Bheri riverside at (2'610m.8'562ft.) about 6 hours Trek
Continuing on to the village of Balasa we can see Kagmara peak on the horizon. The trail drops to a stream before climbing through a forest of walnut trees to a ridge. Passing through the apple orchards of Jyakot, we then descend to the village of Rimi before following a rocky trail down to the Bheri River. - Day 08: Bheri riverside - Garpung khola at (2'900m. 9'514ft.) about 7 hours Trek
We stay on the west bank of the Bheri River, passing Hurikot and arrive at the entrance to the Shey Phoksumdo National Park. We then come to the confluence of the Garpung and Jagdula Rivers, which joins the Bheri River. Following the Garpung Khola, we reach our camp by the riverside. - Day 09: Garpung khola - Kagmara at (3'500m. 11'482ft.) 6 hours Trek
We continue to follow the Garpung Khola, ascending slowly towards the Kagmara La. Today is a short trek but it is very important for acclimatization that we don't ascend too quickly. - Day 10: Kagmara - Kagmara phedi at (4'000m. 13'123ft.) about 7 hours Trek
We now cross to the eastern side of the river, where the valley narrows and the river becomes a series of waterfalls. The trail climbs to a moraine below the Kagmara La and we make our camp among the boulders. We get magnificent views of the surrounding peaks from here. - Day 11: Kagmara phedi - Cross Kagmara La at (5'115m. 16'781ft.) about 8 hours Trek
We get an early start this morning and ascend alongside the Kagmara Glacier to the Kagmara La. This is a good place to spot the rare blue sheep. After a 900m descent, we reach the pastures of the Pungmo Khola Valley. - Day 12: Pungmo Khola - Pungmo about 7 hours Trek
The trail now enters birch and juniper forests which soon give way to blue pine. Up the side valleys, there are views of Kanjirolba peak before we reach the fortress-like village of Pungmo, set amidst barley fields. - Day 13: Pungmo - Phoksumdo Lake about 7 hours Trek
We continue downstream to the national park headquarters at Sumduwa before joining the trail up the Phoksumdo Khola to Phoksumdo Lake. We climb through a forest of large cedars to the winter settlement of Palam and continue ascending through the open country to a ridge from which there are good views of the lake in the distance. Close by is a spectacular waterfall, the highest waterfall in Nepal. The trail then makes an initial descent before climbing gently to Ringmo village. After crossing a bridge below Ringmo, the trail continues northwards to the shores of Phoksumdo Lake. - Day 14: At Phoksumdo Lake
Today is a rest day at the lake which is known for its unusual greenish-blue colouring. It is overlooked on the western side, by a large snowy peak known as Kanjirolba or Kanchen Ruwa. A trail leads through a stand of juniper trees to an old dilapidated gompa which overlooks the lake. As well as Buddhist paintings and statues, there is also evidence of the ancient Bon-po religion within the temple and chapels. - Day 15: Phoksumdo Lake - Baga La phedi about 7 hours Trek
We retrace our route as far as Ringmo and then follow a trail eastwards, through forest of juniper and blue pine. The trail follows the river up the valley to a waterfall and we will reach at the base of the Baga La. - Day 16: - Baga La phedi - Cross Baga La at (5'090m. 16'699ft.) and to Numa La phedi at (4'800m.15'748ft.) about 7 hours Trek
From our camp it's a steady 3 hour climb to the top of the Baga La, the second of the high passes. The descent is gradual at first but it soon drops steeply to a stream before ascending again to the foot of the Numa La. - Day 17: Numa La phedi - Cross Numa La at (5'360m. 17'585ft.) and to Do at (4'100m. 13'451ft.) about 6 hours Trek
We continue climbing through arid country to the last of the high passes, the Numa La. It is marked by mani stones and, if it is clear, we can see as far as Dhaulagiri. The trail now descends past a huge mani wall to the Tarap region and we walk through the barley fields of the Tarap Valley to the settlement of Do village. - Day 18 - 19: At Do for cultural exploration
Rest days at Do village. It is the largest settlement in Tarap and has several gompas. On the ridge above the village is the Ri Bhunpa Gompa and, just to the east, the village of Shipchhok has a Bon-po gompa which is certainly worth exploring. There are also opportunities to get great views of the valley and surrounding snow peaks from a number of nearby ridges. - Day 20: Do village - Lahini at (3'560m. 11'679ft.) about 7 hours Trek
This morning's walk is almost level and follows the river until it flows into a gorge. We enter the gorge which has large rose shrubs and other wildflowers, and after crossing and re-crossing the river numerous times, we finally come to a flat expanse. - Day 21: Lahini - Tarakot at (2'600m. 8'530ft.) about 8 hours Trek
The trail today is steep, narrow and dangerous as it clings to the cliffs, and the bridges along here can often be washed out. Eventually, the valley widens and the route becomes easier as we approach the village of Khanigaon. We then climb high above the river before descending towards the Barbung Khola and the fortress village of Tarakot. - Day 22: Tarakot - Dunai at (2'100m. 6'889ft.) about 8 hours Trek
We follow the Barbung Khola downstream along the south bank to the village of Lawan, before crossing to the north bank and walking for several more hours to Dunai. - Day 23: Dunai - Juphal at (2'500m. 8'202ft.) about 6 hours Trek
Today, we trek from Dunai to Juphal. From Dunai we follow the river trail downstream to Juphal. We walk uphill through meadows and past a few houses to the small hotels at Kala Gaura at (2'090m. 6'856ft.) After several hours of walking, we finally reach Juphal, which is the end point of our trek. - Day 24: We fly from Juphal - Nepalgunj - Kathmandu
We take a flight from Juphal to Nepalgunj. We then take a connecting flight from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu. - Day 25: Depart Kathmandu
Our Nepalese support team will take you to the airport for your flight home.
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