Upper Dolpo Trek
A mystical land where centuries-old Buddhist and Bonpo traditions are still alive
Off the Beaten Path, unexplored trails and discoveries attract any trekker to the Upper Dolpo Trek in Nepal! Located behind the Dhaulagiri Range and connected to the Tibetan Plateau. The Upper Dolpo trek is filled with adventure, rocky highlands, and spectacular views of the Nepali and Tibetan Himalayan ranges. Lakes, mountains, traditional villages, and ancient monasteries fill this trek with experience. From the Phoksudo Lake to the Shey Gompa, the trail is extraordinary, and views of Nepal’s mid-western plateaus and valleys make the Upper Dolpo Trek, also known as a mystical alternative trekking route in Nepal!
The region of the Upper Dolpo Trekking is highly filled with Tibetan influences. Many of the villages still practice the ancient old Bon traditions. These villages are full of old traditions and culture. Our Peregrine guide will guide you in understanding the locality of the region.
Many honey hunters are also famous for their pure honey venture into the Dolpo region. We might encounter these daredevils who live by gathering “Himalayan gold” from the highlands. In another part of the Upper Dolpa Trek, we head to Phoksudo Lake. Also known as the deepest lake in Nepal. Following the Phoksudo River, which fills its surroundings with life, gives you an excellent natural trail through valleys, streams, and highlands.
Like any other Nepal adventure, a scenic flight toward Nepalgunj and Juphal starts in Kathmandu. From here, the Upper Dolpo Trek officially begins. The trails are off the path as we head for the first three days toward Phoksundo Lake. After enjoying the scenery of Phoksudo, we head further towards the main settlements in the area in the Do Tarap Valley.
Along the way, we passed and stayed in different cultural villages. Here we can see the people in their daily lives, following old traditions. The Upper Dolpo Trek has magnificent valleys, culture, and mountain views. Also, heading through green forests and jungles near Tarakot lets you encounter various wildlife living in their unique habitats.
Staying in old villages, campsites, and guesthouses makes the Upper Dolpo Trekking an adventure. The Peregrine Treks & Expedition team is always available for any route or region information. To get the whole experience, we ensure that the Upper Dolpo Trek in Nepal will give you everlasting memories!
Meals: Not Included
Meals: Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: from our flight we can see fantastic mountain views of the Annapurna and the Dhaulagiri! Did you know that Dunai town is the administrative headquarter of the whole Dolpo region!Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: today we get to see the mighty Kagmara peak!Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: while climbing up above the river, we can cool down in the various fresh streams. While heading down the stone staircase, we should take our time as it can be a bit wobbly!Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: From the ridge of Palam village we get to see amazing views of one of the largest waterfalls in Nepal and the Phoksundo Lake, make sure to have your cameras ready after reaching Palam village! Ringmo has beautiful Chortens and Mani walls, but we get to explore them the next day.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: Ringmo villages have their traditions and culture, the people here where traditional attires. Homespun clothing, sometimes dyed maroon and Tibetan style footwear called samba or dacha. Religious jewellery is prevalent and made of coral, amber, and turquoise.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: Peter Matthiessen christened this campsite as the “Snowfields Camp.” It’s essential to have a good night's sleep as we face the Kang-La Pass of 5,360m tomorrow.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: Did you know that the Shey Gompa was built in 1655! A giant golden copper statue of a seated Shakyamuni Buddha marks the entrance of this ancient monastery.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: Did you know that Gaun is Nepali for Village? Namduna Gaun has a red stone monastery built against the cliff, an exciting site to explore.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: Saldang village is the largest village in the inner Dolpo area, with a village area of 2 km and about six hundred villagers residing, Saldang is worth exploring and visiting the marketplace.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: The Yangtze Gompa houses an ancient Bon-Po Buddhist Monastery, worth a visit!Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: From Saldang to Namdo, we get to see ancient Chortens, spiritual Mani Stones, and an old Chaiba Monastery. At the edge of Namdo, we also can visit the Namdo Village Monastery shortly.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: From the top of the Pass we get to see incredible panoramas of the entire Dhaulagiri massif.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: On this day it’s common to see herds of blue sheep! Did you know that the Lang Khola and the Tarap Chu join into the big Tarap River further up east?Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: The gorge trek today is so spectacular, as it narrows down we can jump across it, sometimes even the path disappears, and we need to improvise a way using slate rocks and broken tree logs!Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: After reaching Tarakot we can visit the Sandul Gompa about 8 km east of the village.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Note: We take an early flight in the morning so better to take an early sleep. Please consult with your trek leader for the exact flight times.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Meals: Breakfast
During your trek, you will stay in Samsara Resort, Hotel Arts Kathmandu, or a 3-star hotel in Thamel. A solo traveler needs to share the room with a same-gender traveler. If you need a single supplement, you will have to pay an additional cost of about USD 500. During the Upper Dolpo Trek, most of your accommodations contain attached bathrooms, while some of the teahouses may not have, and you may have to share the washing and toilet facilities. Kathmandu and the trekking regions will have sing room facilities in lower elevations, but it will be hard to find them at higher elevations.
Meals
You will enjoy typical Nepalese food and international cuisine (Tibetan, Continental, Indian, etc.) during your Upper Dolpo Trek. Be sure that the lodges or teahouses will provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner as per their available menu. You may not be served breakfast somewhere during your trek. You may get opportunities for welcome and farewell dinners for guests.
We have daily departures for private trips, so we recommend booking it according to your schedule. We do not need a minimum group size for the private trip and won’t charge additional charges for a solo traveler.
Please let us know if you need additional services like pre/post accommodation, domestic flight, Everest Mountain Flight, adventurous sports, sightseeing, etc. Please fill out this customized form for your convenience.
Customize this trip with help from our local travel specialist that matches your interests.
We accept major currencies such as the US Dollar, the Great Britain Pound, the Euro, the Australian Dollar, the Singapore Dollar, the Indian Rupee, the Swiss Franc, the Canadian Dollar, the Japanese Yen, the Chinese Yuan, the Saudi Arabian Riyal, the Qatari Riyal, the Thai Baht, the UAE Dirham, the Malaysian Ringgit, the South Korean Won, the Swedish Kroner, the Danish Kroner, the Hong Kong Dollar, the Kuwaiti Dinar, and the Bahrain Dinar.
Type C, D, and M power plugs and sockets are used. The standard voltage and frequency are 230 V and 50Hz, respectively.
Vaccinations You must be completely vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days before traveling to Nepal. Vaccination documentation is required.
On Arrival Visas are available at Nepal's entrance points for travelers. Travelers from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Syria, on the other hand, are required to obtain a visa through their nearest Nepalese diplomatic post (embassy/consulate).
To confirm the trek/tour package, we want a deposit of at least 20% of the total tour/trek fee. The remaining balance must be paid when you arrive in Nepal. We take Visa, Maestro, MasterCard, American Express, and other major credit cards. The total cost of a Bhutan and Tibet tour must be paid in full at the time of booking.
We strongly advise you to purchase a SIM card for reliable internet access throughout Nepal. Nepal Telecom (owned by the government) and NCELL (owned by the private sector) are the two main SIM card providers in Nepal. It is preferable to get a SIM card at an airport, where staff will assist with activation and data plan purchases. If you have a SIM card, it will be easier for you to contact us and locate our airport agent.
You can charge your electrical devices at hotels and lodges because there are no power outages. In the Himalayan region, however, hotel owners may levy a nominal fee.
The best experience we had with Peregrine was the whole tour of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek was tailor-made for our requirements; all our requests were reviewed, discussed, and accepted and, in some instances, with a better recommendation.
Read More