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Upper Dolpo Trek 24 Days [2026] -
24
/Days
Upper Dolpo Trek 24 Days [2026]
The 24-Day Upper Dolpo Circuit Trek is one of the most remote and demanding wilderness journeys in the trans-Himalaya. Penetrating the mystical inner sanctum of Dolpo described in Peter Matthiessen’s classic The Snow Leopard, this expedition ventures into the high arid plateaus bordering Tibet. Tracing the deep turquoise shores of Shey Phoksundo Lake, you will traverse the glaciated high pass of Kang La (5,360 m) to reach the sacred 11th-century Shey Gompa (Crystal Monastery). Exploring the ancient mud-brick villages of Saldang, Namgung, and Yangze Gompa, you cross Jeng La Pass (5,110 m) into the high trading crossroads of Dho Tarap before descending the Tarap River gorge.
Availability
Includes
What's Included
- Upper Dolpo Restricted Area Permit (RAP, USD 500+ allocation) & Shey Phoksundo National Park Permit
- Round-trip domestic flights (Kathmandu – Nepalgunj – Juphal – Nepalgunj – Kathmandu)
- Full expedition team: Government-licensed high-altitude guide, professional camp cook, and porter/mule logistics
- All accommodation (teahouses along lower trails & complete tented camping infrastructure for high passes)
- All three daily meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) prepared by your expedition cook
- High-altitude mountain camping gear (four-season tents, foam mattresses, dining tent, kitchen equipment, and toilet tents)
- Emergency satellite phone support, medical oxygen bottle, and daily pulse oximeter monitoring
- Comprehensive staff insurance, national park fees, and government taxes
What's Not Included
- International flight tickets and Nepal entry visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance covering high-altitude helicopter rescue and emergency medical care
- Hotel accommodation and meals in Kathmandu outside the set itinerary
- Hot showers, Wi-Fi connectivity, and electronic device charging fees along teahouse sections
- Personal trekking and mountaineering equipment, sleeping bag (-20°C rated), bottled beverages, and tips
Itinerary
Follow our carefully planned Upper Dolpo Trek 24 Days [2026] itinerary, designed with proper acclimatization and comfortable trekking days throughout the journey.
Take an afternoon flight from Kathmandu to the lowlands of Nepalgunj on the border with India. Transfer to your hotel for an expedition briefing, gear inspection, and final logistical checks before entering western Nepal's mountain wilderness.
Day 1
Fly in the morning through the Himalayan foothills to the airstrip at Juphal. Meet your Sherpa guide, cook, and mule/porter support team. Descend through terraced hillside fields to the Thuli Bheri riverbank, following the wide valley eastward to Dunai, the administrative center of Dolpa.
Day 2
Cross the suspension bridge over the Thuli Bheri and head north, registering your national park entry pass at Sulighat. Walk alongside the rushing Suli Gad through forests of blue pine, spruce, and bamboo, crossing cantilever bridges over river rapids to arrive at Chhepka.
Day 3
Ascend the forested river canyon through birch and cedar woodlands, crossing the Suli Gad repeatedly. Pass through the settlement of Rechi for lunch and continue to Chunuwar. Visit the traditional Tibetan Amchi herbal medicine clinic and explore the local Bonpo monastery.
Day 4
Climb steep switchbacks through cedar groves to a ridge viewpoint overlooking Nepal's highest waterfall (167 m). Catch your first sight of the turquoise lake before descending gently into the Tibetan-origin village of Ringmo. Set up camp directly on the pristine shores of Shey Phoksundo Lake.
Day 5
Spend the day resting and adapting to the elevation. Walk along the western shore, tour the ancient Tshowa Bon Gompa on a cliff above the lake, and absorb the pre-Buddhist Bonpo religious rituals, murals, and carved Mani stones in Ringmo.
Day 6
Follow the cliffside 'Devil's Trail' carved into vertical rock faces rising directly out of Phoksundo Lake. Cross the lake's northern floodplain and follow the glacial Phoksundo Khola through birch and blue pine woods to set up camp at Sallaghari.
Day 7
Leave the forested valley, climbing through a steep rocky gorge into the high alpine zone. The route crosses loose scree slopes and glacial streams beneath towering cliffs. Establish a high camp at the base of the pass at Phoksundo Bhanjyang.
Day 8
Start before dawn to cross Kang La Pass (5,360 m) over steep scree and snow tracks. From the prayer-flag crest, take in sweeping views of the barren Tibetan plateau and the peaks of Inner Dolpo. Descend the northern valley past grazing yaks to the legendary Shey Gompa (Crystal Monastery).
Day 9
Explore the 11th-century Shey Gompa, housing sacred scroll paintings, antique statues, and texts of the Kagyu sect. Observe the sacred Crystal Mountain (Shel-ri), a site for Buddhist pilgrims who complete a holy circuit (kora) around its base.
Day 10
Trek east through an arid canyon, climbing the steady switchbacks of Sela La Pass (5,094 m). Savor panoramas stretching to Dhaulagiri and Mustang before descending across wind-swept pastures into the secluded canyon hamlet of Namgung.
Day 11
Follow the high desert trail contouring above the Namga Khola, climbing rolling slopes with open views across the trans-Himalayan plateau. Descend into Saldang, the largest and most prosperous agricultural village in Upper Dolpo, with whitewashed stone houses and terraced barley fields.
Day 12
Embark on a side-excursion along the northern trading trail toward the Tibetan border. Visit Yangze Gompa, one of the oldest Bonpo monasteries in Dolpo, housing ancient frescoes and statues. Return in the afternoon along the valley to Saldang.
Day 13
Leave Saldang and head south along the riverbed through terraced fields, stupas, and Mani walls. Climb past the small settlement of Namdo before ascending a gentle eastern slope to the cliffside village of Komash to set up camp.
Day 14
Trek through wild scrub and rocky ridgelines where blue sheep and snow leopard tracks are frequently spotted. Cross a minor ridge pass and descend into the Panjyang valley floor to the shaded riverside village of Shimen.
Day 15
Walk along the wide Panjyang Khola river valley, passing ancient chortens and stone irrigation channels. Arrive in the large settlement of Tinje, which features extensive open grasslands historically used as airfields for trans-Himalayan supply flights.
Day 16
Leave the main river system and branch southwest into the high alpine grazing pastures of Jeng La Phedi. Ascend alongside rocky stream banks past seasonal yak-herders' summer camps to pitch tents beneath the pass.
Day 17
An early morning push up the steep switchback slopes of Jeng La Pass (5,110 m). The summit delivers views across the Dhaulagiri massif. Descend into the Tarap Valley, passing through the monastery settlement of Tokyu.
Day 18
A short downhill walk down the flat valley floor to Dho Tarap—one of the highest permanently inhabited valley systems on Earth. Spend the afternoon visiting local Bon and Sakya Buddhist gompas and interacting with the resident Dolpo-pa communities.
Day 19
Begin descending the deep, dramatic Tarap river canyon. The trail narrows into a gorge carved straight into vertical cliffs high above the roaring water. Cross steel bridges over narrow chasms to pitch camp at Kamakharka.
Day 20
Continue descending the steep gorge as the arid desert climate gives way to pine, juniper, and wild rose forests. Cross suspension bridges over cascading waterfalls to reach the riverside village of Khanigaon.
Day 21
Follow the river trail down through cedar woods to the historic fortress town of Tarakot. Cross the suspension bridge over the Thuli Bheri river and trace its banks past agricultural villages back to Dunai.
Day 22
Climb out of the valley floor through terraced farming communities to the airstrip town of Juphal. Celebrate the completion of the 24-day Upper Dolpo circuit with your expedition guide, cook, and porter team.
Day 23
Catch an early flight from Juphal to Nepalgunj, followed by a connecting flight back to Kathmandu. Meet our transfer vehicle for private hotel drop-off, concluding the Upper Dolpo expedition.
Day 24
Things To Know
Requires an Upper Dolpo Restricted Area Permit (RAP, USD 500 for the first 10 days + USD 50/day thereafter), a Shey Phoksundo National Park entry pass, and a licensed government guide (minimum group size of 2). Maximum elevation reaches 5,360 m at Kang La Pass. The route operates as a full wilderness expedition combining basic local homestays with self-sufficient tented camping.
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