| Trip code | |
| Package name | UPPER DOLPO AND SHEY GOMBA TREKKING |
| Duration | 25 |
| Max. elevation | 5,350m m |
| Level | MODERATE |
| Transportation | Private vehicle | domestic |
| Accomodation | Hotels in Kathmandu and local lodge where available with tented camps most of the treks. |
| Starts at | KATHMANDU |
| Ends at | KATHMANDU |
| Trip route | |
| Cost | USD 0 per person |
| Day 01 | Arrival in Kathmandu via respective airlines and transfer to hotel. |
| Day 02 | Morning free preparation for trek, afternoon fly to Nepalgunj. |
| Day 03 | Fly to Jhupal 2,475 m then drive to Dunai 2, 231 m - 04 hrs. |
| Day 04 | Trek to Chepka 2, 678 m - 06 hrs. |
| Day 05 | Trek to Samdua village 2,960 m -05 hrs. |
| Day 06 | Trek to Phoksundo Lake 3,611 m - 06 hours. |
| Day 07 | Rest day at Phoksundo Lake for a local excursion. |
| Day 08 | Trek to Phoksundo-Khola 3,750 m- 05 hrs. |
| Day 09 | Trek to Phoksundo Bhanjyang 4,717 m - 04 hrs. |
| Day 10 | Cross Kang-La 5,350 m and trek to Shey Gomba 4, 200 m-06 hrs. |
| Day 11 | Rest day at Shey Gomba the crystal monastery. |
| Day 12 | Trek to Namgung 4,608 m via Sela (Gela) La 5,094 m. |
| Day 13 | Trek to Saldang 3,770 m - 05 hours. |
| Day 14 | Trek to Cha-Gaon 4,910 m - 05 hrs. |
| Day 15 | Trek to Dachu Khola camp at 4,700 m - 06 hrs. |
| Day 16 | Trek Jeng-La Phedi 4,900 m - 06 hrs. |
| Day 17 | Trek to Tokyu Gaon 4,240 m via Jeng-La 5, 110 m - 05 hrs. |
| Day 18 | Trek to Dho-Tarap 4, 090 m- 05 hrs. |
| Day 19 | Trek to Ghyamgar 3,759 m - 07 hrs. |
| Day 20 | Trek to Tarap Khola 3,652 via Chyugar 3,440 m - 06 hours. |
| Day 21 | Trek to Tarakot 2,540 m - 06 hrs. |
| Day 22 | Trek to Dunai - 05 hrs then drive to Jhupal - 02 hr jeep ride. |
| Day 23 | Fly from Jhupal to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj. |
| Day 24 | Free day in Kathmandu spare and contingency day. |
| Day 25 | Depart Nepal for international departure homeward bound. |
'Adventure to Nepal Far Wild West around the hidden and mystical scenic land'
On arrival at Kathmandu-Nepal International Airport via various airlines, our guide and staff receive you for a short transfer in the heart of Kathmandu city.
Where your hotel is located, after checking into your rooms and then meet other members of the trek at the hotel lobby for briefing. Regarding the wonderful adventure to Upper Dolpo and Shey Gomba Trek. On briefing includes useful information to make your holiday in Nepal more enjoyable. Evening group welcome dinner in a lovely Nepalese Restaurant with introduction to Nepalese culture of various parts of Nepal with folk dance and music.
On this day in Kathmandu, allowing trekking members to prepare for the trek, with leisure morning after breakfast. As time for flight departure transfer to Kathmandu domestic airport for scenic flight of less than hour to land at Nepalgunj city airport. During air enjoy a glorious panorama of Himalayan peaks from Langtang, Ganesh, Manaslu, and Annapurna to the Dhaulagiri range.
Nepalgunj, located Nepal Far Mid-West within low land known as Terai belt of warm sub-tropical climate, on reaching Nepalgunj airport a short drive to your hotel near the city area. Enjoy an evening stroll and catch glimpse of the locals with more Indian influence due to the close border with India.
Morning as per flight time for Dolpo, reach the airport for exciting flight to Jhupal a scenic short flight of 40 minutes. On arrival at Jhupal airport received by our trekking staff, and loading the gear in four-wheel drive or jeeps.
A short drive of few hours to Dunai, the headquarter and administrative town of Dolpo located by the Thulo Bheri River, check into the best available lodge and guest house for overnight, with time to relax and wander around the street of Dunai to witness the local way of life and impressive culture.
From Dunai, heading through the market areas and then morning walk leads to cross a bridge over Thulo Bheri River with climb to a ridge above Phoksundo River valley with views of Kagmara peak.
After a pleasant first day walk, head downhill past farm villages with many walnut trees around Dhera, within cattle herders a temporary settlements, and then short climb to reach at Raha-Gaon village inhabited by Thakuri people of Hindu tribe. Walk downhill into the forested area to reach our first overnight camp at Chepkpa, a small farm village.
The second-day trek from Chepka leads close to Ankhe village, starts with a short climb and descend into a forest to a riverbank, and then uphill on leaving the forest behind with downhill back into tree lines. As the walk continues upstream to cross a small bridge at Ryajik village, walking further to Samdua for the overnight stop, located near the entrance of Phoksundo National Park.
A great day walk to reach the first destination as well as the highlight of the adventure to Phoksundo Lake. Walk leads past Pungmo Khola (stream) valley following Pungmo Khola downhill into a small forest of pine and birch trees to reach the upper side of Phoksundo Khola.
Having few short stops, then walk to Ringmo village, a nice and interesting village with Tibetan origin background, and similar culture. The houses are built of stones with mud-plastered, with Buddhist and Bon religion prayer monuments of Chorten and Mani (prayer) walls.
From the village of Ringmo short walk to reach serene Lake Phoksundo for overnight camp near the bank from turquoise-colored Phoksundo Lake.
A great and perfect place for a rest day, enjoy with leisure activities and short walks, facing beautiful surrounding dramatic scenery that includes views of Kagmara peaks, explore around Ringmo village of immense cultural interest.
Also called Shey Phoksundo or Ringmo Lake, an alpine fresh-water oligotrophic lake within Shey Phoksundo National Park, where one can trek to various regions around Dolpo, and cross Kagmara high pass also to reach further west at Jumla and Lake Rara.
From here onward our journey heads towards higher side to reach around Upper Dolpo area, to our main highlights of this marvelous adventure, walk follows contouring rocky ledge on the river bank, with some unsteady small wooden bridge and vague path to reach the western side of the lake within a wide summer pasture. The area opens into a wide field and a valley to set our overnight camp by the shore of Phoksundo Khola / stream.
Morning walk starts on a nice level path with a short climb towards north above Phoksundo Khola, and then on a hill slopes with steep uphill haul to reach on a ridge top. Facing grand views of the wide green valley down below with Kang-La pass in the north that leads to our major destination at Shey Gomba.
Overnight camp is set on a nice green summer pasture near to the base of high Kang-la pass, around complete wilderness and far from human settlements.
Adventure to Shey Gomba, as morning, starts with a steep climb on stone and rocky trail for some hours to reach on the highest spot of the trek at Kang-la pass.
Which is above 5,350 meters / 17,552 feet our highest point of the adventure. The pass is also called Nagdalo-La, at the top festooned with prayer flags and stone cairns as spiritual symbols.
Enjoy the spectacular views, after a hard struggle overlooking the beautiful scenery of the wide Dolpo country with snow peaks that includes Mt. Dhaulagiri, in the Far East direction. After achieving a successful climb to the highest pass of the adventure, then downhill to the bottom of a stream, walk past Yak herder camps coming across Buddhist prayer monuments of Chorten and Mani walls.
A pleasant walk reach you to our final destination at Shey Gomba, located near beneath the Crystal Mountain, regarded as a Holy Mountain with an old Shey Monastery.
A great place for rest day, around remote and isolated region of Himalayas in complete wilderness of arid and dry surroundings.
A deserving rest to relax and for a short hike to explore around amazing location within Crystal Mountain. Tour of impressive and interesting old Shey Gomba also called Crystal Monastery. Where Dolpo villagers come for Koro / Circuit of the mountain and monastery on every 7th auspicious time of Lunar month.
The mountain is embedded with quartz and semi-precious stones, hence the name Crystal Mountain. Here is a beautiful line by saint and great guru Druptop Senge Yeshe of 11-12 Centaury.
“I flew through the sky on a snow lion, and there among the clouds,
I performed miracles, but not even the greatest of celestial feats
can equal once rounding on foot this Crystal Mountain”
A mystical and wonderful place to experience, a real Shangri-La well hidden away from the rest of the maddening world.
After a great moment and exciting time at Shey Gomba, adventure takes to another beautiful side of this great country to Inner and Lower Dolpo.
From this magnificent place, journey continuous walking beneath great canyon walls, as path meanders high up to Sela / Gela-la pass and a ridge top at 5,094 m high. Catch wonderful views of great valleys and rolling hills with distance Dhaulagiri peaks, and then downhill within grazing area with pleasant walk to Namgung Gaon for overnight stop in a windblown village but interesting.
From this barren and arid land and quant sleepy village next stop to Saldang a lovely farm village, walk on dusty windswept wide path with steep climb to cross over a ridge to reach Saldang, another impressive and a large village of Upper Dolpo region, located on the higher side extension of a Tibetan plateau.
Overnight camp near the village crop field of buck-wheat and barley.
After an interesting time exploring the village of Saldang and its old monastery, morning walk follows on the bank of Nang Chu River all the way, with few short ups and down and then past Sugu-Gaon and Dechen Lapran.
Yak herder settlement and then reach our overnight camp at Cha-Goan, a village with an old Rapa Gompa of Bon an ancient pre-Buddhist heritage and culture.
Morning walk from Cha-Gaon takes you around south-eastern areas of Dolpo towards Tarap valley within Tokyu and Dho Tarap villages, as route, follows Dachu Khola and beyond, after crossing a few smaller wooden bridge and then through farm fields, to reach Yak herder temporary summer shelters for overnight camp.
After a pleasant overnight in the middle of the serene wilderness, morning walk follows the same river for short while, and then walking on the main path coming across yaks and mules caravan laden with spices, crops and herbs heading towards Tibet border for trade, that has existed for hundreds of years till present.
Walking on old Trans Himalayan salt trade route and Caravan trails of Nepal and Tibet, and then reach at the base of Jeng-la pass for overnight camp.
Start the morning walk with a steep climb to reach on top Jeng-La pass at 5,110 m high, overlooking views of massive Mt. Dhaulagiri range with some peaks of Mustang area, from here long descend walk to the base of the pass and then on pleasant winding trail to reach a large Tokyu village for overnight camp.
Tokyu one of the largest village around Dolpo, with nice houses and neat farm fields. Consist of more than ten villages spread around its nice tended farm fields with Tibetan-style houses includes old monasteries.
From Tokyu Gaon, the morning starts with descending towards Tarap Chu within a wide green valley, one of the most scenic valleys of western Nepal with many of Sheppard’s temporary settlements of Yaks and Sheep, trek continues to reach our overnight stop and camp at Dho-Tarap, near the village populated with mix tribes Dolpa of Tibetans origin and Magar hill people.
Enjoyable time exploring villages of Tokyu and Dho-Tarap villages, as morning heads to long descend within Tarap valley, one of largest and longest valley of Dolpo stretches to near 20 k.m long. Where path follows Tarap Chu River most of the way that joins with Thuli Bheri River near Tarakot village.
Walk leads past Langa a small place with views of cascading waterfalls then head due south following Sisaul and Kesila grazing fields, around Yak herder camps to reach Ghyamgar for overnight camp.
Morning begins with a marvelous walk around the end of Tarap valley, where the trail enters a narrow gorge with some sparse vegetation. Bushes of juniper and wild rose, walk past Tol-Tol close to a large overhanging cave. Around this area might be lucky to spot some wildlife like Naur or Blue Sheep and other animals including elusive Snow Leopard.
Walk progress on reaching a confluence of Tarap Chu and Lang Khola streams, overnight camp is set by the river after a long day walks of more than six hours.
Today’s adventure takes you to the famous historical village of Tarakot which is close to Dunai, and towards the north around Dhaulagiri Himalaya range on route to Mustang region.
Morning walk leads past smaller farm villages and then into a patch of tree lines, following river to near Tarakot. On reaching Tarakot, a large and interesting village with an old historical background.
Tarakot at one time fortress village, during Malla dynasty, the fort known as Dzong in Tibetan and Kot in Nepali to defend the area from outsiders. At Tarakot village with time to explore around visit the famous old Sandul Gomba, located on the junction of Barbung Khola and Tarap Chu River where our overnight camp is set.
From Tarakot our adventure slowly comes to an end as today’s walks take you back to Dunai. Morning begins following a trail through spread-out villages, as the trail gets wider with few short uphill and downhill to reach Bheri River valley and at Dunai. From the town of Dunai taking a jeep ride to reach our ending point of the journey at Jhupal. Overnight in best available local lodge and guest house with time to bid farewell to our trekking staff and porters. As they have to walk and take a bus ride for few days to reach Kathmandu via Nepalgunj.
Morning as per the flight time to Nepalgunj, board in a small aircraft either Twin Otter or Dornier plane a swift short flight brings you to low warm areas at Nepalgunj. With time for refreshments or lunch before connecting into a bigger plane for a scenic flight of 50 minutes to Kathmandu, back into hustle and bustle city life of Kathmandu. After being in tranquil surroundings around Upper Dolpo, from the airport short drive to your hotel with the rest of the day at leisure.
It is always best and wise to have a spare or contingency day, in case of flight delay and might lead to cancellation at Jhupal / Dolpo. Due to bad unfavorable weather conditions for small planes to operate which can happen even in the best time of the seasons.
On this free day, one can enjoy individual activities and shopping for souvenirs or take a tour of Kathmandu's ancient cities site within Kathmandu, Patan, or Bhaktapur.
Your last day in Nepal, enjoying a memorable adventure on Upper Dolpo and Shey Gomba Trek, and then as time for your international flight. Our staff transfer you to the airport for homeward bound.