Lower Dolpo

Trip Overview

The Lower Dolpo trek in the far western region of Nepal remains unspoiled by the hordes of trekkers found in other parts of the country which makes it an amazing trekking destination. This remote and rugged protected area is both scenically and culturally attractive. It offers magnificent views of great Himalayan peaks, breathtaking landscapes, ancient monasteries and different and varied ethnic communities. You will get to hike to the beautiful and tranquil Phoksundo Lake, the jewel of Dolpo, in the Shey-Phoksundo National Park. Along the way you will observe some unique wildlife including Himalayan blue sheep, the huge Himalayan griffon, mountain goats, jackals, wolves and if you are lucky, you may even get to see the elusive snow leopard. We also cross two high passes, Numa La where we get incredible views Mt. Dhaulagiri (8167m) and Baga La from where we will have distant views of snow-capped mountains including Mt. Kanjirowa.

This trek offers a wonderful chance to experience a culture far different from that is seen in other parts of Nepal. The people here trace their origins to Tibet and are mostly involved in the salt trade as agriculture is difficult here. This traditional culture has passed from generation to generation. They remain closely linked to Tibet both in language and culture.

Our adventure begins with a short one hour flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, near the Nepal-India border where we have the afternoon and evening to explore the town, visit the local market and nearby villages. The following morning we fly to Jhupal, a town in the Himalayan foothills, with views of Annapurnas and Dhaulagiri. Our trek commences here and we follow trails through interesting villages with overnight stops at Dunai, Tarakot, Laini and Nawarpani before reaching the village of Do Tarap. An extra day here acclimatising gives us the opportunity to visit nearby monasteries and absorb the local culture.

The next morning we follow the Tarap Chu river with amazing views of the Tarap valley with its wide plains and high mountains before arriving at Numa La base camp where we overnight before ascending to Numa La pass with its spectacular views. We enjoy a little time here before descending to Pelung Tang. An overnight stay here before ascending once again to Baga La pass and descending to Dajok Tang. A short trek the following day puts us within striking distance of one of the highlights of the trek. The next morning we trek to the stunningly beautiful Phoksundo Lake where set up camp, enjoying the peace and tranquillity of this unique place. The relatively fast decent takes us through the village of Shyanta before arriving back in Jhupal from where we take the flight back to Nepalgunj and on to Kathmandu.

The trek starts and finishes in Kathmandu and includes flights to and from Jhupal via Nepalgunj where your trek begins. In order to keep the trek cost as low as possible, we offer the flexibility for you to arrange your own accommodation in Kathmandu however we are happy to arrange this for you if you wish.