• Altitude: 2,850 m
• Walking: 3 hours
• Flight: 45 minutes
• Sleeping: Tea House

After breakfast, you will be taken to the airport to take a flight to Jhupal in the morning. You have left the Terai and, now, you are entering the mountains.

After coming to Jhupal, you will see the porters and the camping crew. Enjoy a cup of tea and a biscuit before the start of the journey.Today the walk is not hard but it will lead you on a trail that goes up past the Thulo Bheri Valley and through the fields of the village of Kalagaunda. You pass the Roop Ghar village that has a traditional water mill, then follow the river and, finally, reach Dunai.

Note: These timings are only a rough estimate and can be changed depending on the pace of trekking and trail conditions.

• Altitude: Height: 2,896 m
• Hiking duration: 6 hours
• Resting: Tea House

You will be traveling through the Thulo Bheri Valley and then through the Phoksundo River Valley, beginning with a steep climb out of Dunai. The hike will take you up and down a lot. One of the ups is to a ridge with a nice sight of Kagmara Peak which is visible further up the valley. There are also small villages to be traversed: Dhera famous for its walnut groves, and Rahagaun famous for its gompa which is dedicated to village guardian – Mastha.

You will then descend a canyon where the forest is very dense and cold. After that, a river crossing, and finally reaching Ankhe village.

Note: Around Ankhe, the trek entails steep climbs and declines.

• Altitude- 3180 m
• Walking time: 6 hours
• Accommodation: Camping

After breakfast, you will go down the path where you can see the juniper and pine trees and cross a wooden bridge to come up again through the valley which offers you a wonderful view of the mountains. Besides, when you reach the highest point, you will get a wonderful view of the valley below.

There is a checkpoint at Silughar where your permits will be inspected.   After that, you have truly entered Shey Phoksundo National Park!  This is your first camping night here.

Note: The trekkers have to show their permits in this place before the continuation of the journey toward Phoksundo ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌Lake.

• Altitude: 3,180 m
• Trek time: 6 hours
• Accommodation: Tea House

Today’s trek is the main highlight of the entire trip – you will finally arrive at Phoksundo Lake!

You will also witness the meeting of two rivers today – the Phoksundo and the Pungmo rivers. You will also get a glimpse of the Phoksundo waterfall, one of the highest waterfalls in Nepal. From here there are spectacular views of the lake itself.

On the way many we be passing through Ringmo Village, which is the nearest settlement to Phoksundo. This small village has mani walls (walls made of stones with Buddhist mantras carved into them) and chortens (stupas) to indicate to everyone that the residents practice Tibetan Buddhism.

At this point you will have your permits checked one more time as you are now about to enter the Shey Phoksundo National Park which is visible ahead.

Tonight, the camp will be near the Phoksundo Lake set with its turquoise waters. What a scene!

Note:Swimming or bathing in the lake is prohibited as it is a sacred site.

• Altitude: 3,612 m
• Tea House Accommodation

The setting of the campsite is absolutely perfect for having a relaxed breakfast. For the more active ones among you, it is possible to go on a short hike to Ringmo village to get a better view. Alternatively, you can just relax and take in the surroundings by doing a bit of yoga or meditation. Imagine the meditation in such a beautiful place!

Are you aware that Dolpo and Phoksundo Lake were featured in Eric Valli’s 1999 film ‘Himalaya’?

Set in a fictitious village, this movie, which is quite true to the local way of life at various points, centers around the caravans of yaks used by the villagers who take the mountains to transport salt for grain trading in the lowlands.

Furthermore, the film illustrates the feud between the tribe chief Tinle and a young herdsman, Karma. And as it turns out, Tinle dies in the mountains due to a snowstorm. Norbu, his monk son, decorates the monastery wall with the scenes of the caravan’s journey to honor his father.

However, while the two lead actors, Gurgon Kyap as Karma and Lhakpa Tsamchoe as Pema, the female lead, come from outside Nepal, Thinle Lhondup, who played Tinle, was actually from Dolpo and had never acted before.

Disappointingly Thinle passed away in Dolpo in 2016 – presumably in the way he wished. Also, mention the numerous other locals who appeared in the film and Nepal’s very own Jampa Kalsang who has starred in many other films since.

Notes: This could be a day to use to rest, relax, explore Ringmo village, or simply bask in the beauty of nature.

• Altitude: – 3507 m
• Trek time: 5 hours
• Camping Accommodation
• Elevation: 3,507 m

Follow the eastern shore of Phoksundo Lake first thing to get to the point where you start a relatively flat trail along a riverbed. Once there, you will come across meadows mingled with giant boulders. The perfect combination of the magical lake closed by your side, and Kanjirowa Himal looming above, makes this day one of the great treks.

Camping facilities are very basic, no teahouses on the trail – make sure you have enough supplies.

• Altitude – 3,910 m
• Trek time: 6 hours
• Camping Accommodation

The hike today starts with the gradual climb up a narrow path taking you through a glacier valley. You will be able to cross the mountain streams that you keep coming across several times throughout today’s hike until eventually, there is the long climb to the green pasture which you will use to cross to another valley (via a climb) with views of Kang La Pass and peaks such as Chhamlang.

The route up to Phoksundo Bhanjyang is steep and rugged; good physical condition is ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌necessary.

• Altitude– 4500 m
• Time: 6 hours
• Stay: Camping

On the day after breakfast you are going to go up the Kang La Pass at 5,350 m / 17,552.4 ft, one of the challenging days on this trekking.

You can expect a very hard day on the trek when you look at the view of the wonderful overall panorama from the prayer flag covered pass.

The path down is going to be very steep at first and then as you get nearer to Shey Gompa, the slope is going to be more gradual. The village is really small with just a few houses but the monastery, which is the main attraction, is enough to get you there.

Legend has it that Shey Gompa was erected when a Buddhist came to the place riding a flying snow lion to fight with a local mountain spirit. Shey Gompa was built exactly where this battle took place. Nearby is Crystal Mountain.

Note: It is of utmost importance to get acclimatized properly because the high altitude and the difficult terrain make it a bit risky to reach this holy place.

• Altitude– 4500 m

After having breakfast, if you want, you can roam around the area as well as climb the Crystal Mountain.

As Shey Gompa is the most well known monastery in Dolpo, the neighbouring Crystal Mountain is spiritually important for the Buddhists.

The mountain’s from the quartz veins were named by the bases of the mountain quartz mineral which shines in the sunlight.

The whole moon in July/August is known for the devotees circling the mountain. It is an amazing moment for a visit if you want.

Note: Due to the high altitude it is advisable to stay away from any establishments. Avoid accessing dehydration that can cause serious health problems.

• Altitude – 4800 m
• Time: 6 hours
• Stay: Camping

This day, you get to see the Tibetan Plateau to the north from the summit of a pass. If you turn your face in different direction, you will get the clear view of Mustang region which is towards east in Nepal.

You have been climbing above the past time, now you are going down into the grassy areas and farmland that are located around the Nam Gaun Gompa. Along with these fields, there are nomadic tents composed of yak hair in the pastures where the herders are grazing their yaks and sheep.

There is one more gompa, Namduna Gaun, where you can go and compare with the other ones that you have visited.

Note: Walking to Namduna Gaun would involve steep climbing and rough ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌surface.

• Altitude – 3620 m
• Trek time: 5 hours
• Accommodation: Camping

Today your main goal is to ascend the valley and from there you will be able to see highly workable land. After that, you will head down to Saldang.

Saldang is the largest community in Inner Dolpo located in the dry trans-Himalayan zone. It is not one but five settlements set out on a large slope. Saldang has been quite a prosperous village considering that it is positioned on the trade route between Tibet and Nepal. And it is still an interesting village to experience.

Note: The pathway to Saldang is quite difficult, so proper acclimatization is a must.

• Yangze Gompa – 4960 m
• Trek time: 4 hours
• Accommodation: Camping

Today you’ll only be making a short jaunt along a deserted track at the side of the Nagon Khola (river). On the way, you will pass through Marang and Ki villages, cross Panzang River, and then arrive at Yangze Gompa.

Yangze Gompa is believed to be over a millennium old. It really gives a sense of its long history from the size and the large number of chortens (stupas).

Spend a little while here, discover the gompa, and if you can, attend the monks’ evening prayers.

Note: The route to Yangze Gompa is quite steep and the surface is rough, so the climb requires a good physical condition.

• Altitude – 4560 m
• Trek time: 6 hours
• Accommodation: Camping

Dolpo has many gompas that you have already seen, but today your trek to Sibu will take you past more gompas.

This evening you will be camping by the river at Sibu, yet another amazing spot to enjoy sleeping outside while being surrounded by nature.

Note: The path to Sibu is quite easy, however, the next day’s hike involves a steep climb up Jeng La Pass.

• Altitude – 4900m
• Trek time: 6 hours
• Accommodation: Camping

Jeng La Phedi means ‘Jeng La Pass base’. As you may guess, you will reach the base of this pass today because it is the one you will be climbing over tomorrow.

Following Nagon Khola (river) you may come across yak caravans on the trail as they are heading to their grazing grounds. Overall, today’s itinerary is rocky hills at high altitude with strong, cold winds.

Fortunately, after the day’s journey you can look forward to some hot tea and dinner at the camp site.

Note: The way to Jeng La Phedi is steep and rocky in places so make sure your physical fitness and acclimatization are really good before you attempt the ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌pass.

• Altitude – 4209 m
• Trek duration: 7 hrs
• Accommodation: Camping

This is one of the days in which you will set foot on the Jeng La Pass which is at an altitude of 5,150 m / 16,900 feet. Even though the ascent to the top (about 2 hrs) is not long, it is quite steep and going to the high altitude makes it more difficult. The view from the top of the Jeng La Pass showed the west side of the snow-capped Dhaulagiri massif which took one’s breath away.

Keep on the descent towards the Tarap Valley whose flat lands and the running Tarap Chu (river) represent the beauties of life there. There are roughly 10 villages scattered over this flat land with each village having not only its cultivated fields but also the gompas and chortens.

Note: Trekkers should be prepared for a rustic experience and carry necessary supplies.

• Altitude – 4040 m
• Trek time: 5 hrs
• Accommodation: Camping

Right after breakfast, the group will visit Dho Tarap by walking through a mountainous valley along which the village is situated. This village of magars is really based on farming – buckwheat, barley, and potatoes are their food crops. Architecturally, the houses are mainly of traditional design heavily influenced by Tibetan style.

This village was the setting for the film ‘Himalaya’.

The populations here follow both the religion of Buddhism and Bon Po – the latter is the religion prior to Buddhism and also it originates from Tibet.

Note: It is an absolute must to get acclimatized before-hand so as to not get sick from altitude as it is a very high altitude.

Rest and relaxing are some of the things you can do today so you even have the chance to get an extra hour of sleep and eat a breakfast later than usual.

Afterwards, visiting the village will bring you to a Buddhist Gompa where you will be allowed to enter. You can also take a walk of about 30 minutes and get to a Bon Gompa. When you take a visit here you will be able to make a comparison between the two.

Bon is a Tibetan religion that is very much like Tibetan Buddhism and influenced by it but is still a minority in Tibet. Followers of Bon, claim that the religion was started in the kingdom of Zhangzhung, near the sacred mountain of Mt Kailash, and from that place it moved into Tibet.

A slight estimation of 2019 was that there were about 400,000 followers of Bon on the Tibetan plateau. Like Tibetan Buddhism, the Chinese cultural revolution resulted in a destruction of the approximately 30 Bon monasteries in Tibet (however they were permitted to be rebuilt after 1980). Currently, the spiritual leader of the Bon is Menri Trizin Rinpoche. Bon monasteries can be found in Nepal and Tibet.

Note: Prepare yourselves for an absolute off-the-grid experience as there will be absolutely no WiFi or mobile signal.

• Altitude: 3800m
• Walking time: 6 hrs
• Altitude: Camping

Today you’ll be hiking down after leaving Dho Tarap via juniper bushes and wild roses. Once you are down in the wide valley, the sun will be setting on your face.

Along the walk, you will see the point where the Tarap Chu and Lang Khola rivers meet, and have a few switchback trails as you go down to Tarap Khola (river) where the vegetation starts to change from the pasture land to alpine vegetation.

Again you will set up your camp near a river – the ambiance being very peaceful and making your heart ache with joy.

Note: Along the Tarap Khola trail, you might have to deal with narrow paths, river crossings, and in some places ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌landslides

• Altitude: 3,150 m
• Approximate trekking hours: 5
• Accommodation: Camping

The trail will, in parts, follow the gorge of the river Tarap and its waters. Caution should be exercised while going over some stone stairs as some stones may be loosened which may pose a danger to you.

By lunchtime, you will have arrived and will have enough time to get to know the inhabitants of Khani Gaon if that is possible since this village receives more trekkers than the rest of the villages that you have visited on this if not one of the most unique treks at all.

Note:  The landscape to get to Khani Gaon can be quite steep and difficult, there are some narrow paths and you will also have to cross the river a couple of times.

• Altitude – 2,537 m
• Trek time: 5 hours
• Accommodation: Camping

First in the morning you will cross a suspension bridge, then the rest of your day will be following the river using trails that alternate between up and down. Also a little trickier is the day as maybe you will have to use stepping stones to cross the river at some points. They can be really slippery, so please be cautious.

More and more scaled and cultivated crops are seen as you get closer to Tarakot – a town centered around a fort. It was capital of this region even before the Gorkha dynasty was established. If you go a bit east from Tarakot close to Barbung and Tarap Chu rivers you will surprise Sandul Gompa. Actually, the Gompa used to charge tolls to trading caravans coming this way.

Note: The going to Tarakot consists of some steep parts and crossings of the river.

• Altitude – 2,850 m
• Trek time: 6 hours
• Accommodation: Camping

Most of your day will be spent going downhill. Then as you walk along the Bheri River you will be heading towards the end of this circuit trek.

Tonight, you can stay in a teahouse and enjoy the things you missed in the camp, like soft drinks and beer!

Note:While you make your way downhill enjoy the serene river sceneries and the surrounding mountains.

• Altitude: 2,320 m
• Trek time: 3 hours
• Accommodation: Camping

It is your last day of hiking but the last hour is a bit uphill one! Just to challenge you that you are no match for the Himalayas!

Once you get to Jhupal you might want to celebrate with even more soft drinks and beer!

Jhupal is a former Village Development Committee (VDC)  in Dolpo district and is now part of the Thuli Bheri Municipality.  With its scenic mountain backdrop, Jhupal is the main gateway to Upper Dolpo and a starting point for many treks.

Note: There are a few shops and teahouses and maybe even WiFi!

• Altitude: 1,350 m
• Flight time: 1 hour 30 min

Today the journey will be a short flight first to Nepalgunj then a change of flight on to ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌Kathmandu