• Altitude: 1,350m
• Activities: Visit UNESCO sites
• Meal: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Three Star Standard Hotel

You can spend today exploring the heritage and rich culture of the Kathmandu Valley while also wrapping up your trekking preparations. See some of the world famous sites in Kathmandu like Swyambhu Nath (Monkey Temple), Boudhanath Stupa, and the holy Pashupatinath Temple that give one a great insight into the history, religion, and art architecture aspect of Nepal. In the afternoon hours, your guide will help you get all the required permits, check your trekking gear, and finish off the last bits of arrangements to your flight departure toward Nepal’s western parts.

• Altitude of Nepalgunj : 150 m
• Flight time: 50 minutes
• Meal : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Stay: Tea House

After breakfast, you’ll board a flight departing from Kathmandu and heading to Nepalgunj, a beautiful lowland city in the Terai region near the Nepal-India border which will offer you amazing views during the flight that you’ll enjoy as a landscape transitions from the Himalayas to subtropical plains. Upon landing you will be taken to your hotel and you are free to either relax or visit a local market if it suits your fancy for the remainder of your stay. Nepalgunj marks the beginning of your trek toward Dolpo, and spending a night here allows you to rest before your early morning flight the next day.

Notes: The schedule of flights may change depending on weather conditions.

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

Get a chance to catch an early morning mountain flight which will take you to Juphal, and after that start on an adventure which is going to be one of a kind. The flight will only be a short one but you can be rest assured to be treated with a jaw-dropping scenery that will include the views of the magnificent Dhaulagiri and Annapurna mountain range. After you get on the ground, you will start a short uphill walk in the area where the people living here have been tilling terraced fields, have been living in a series of traditional villages which are spread far apart, they are quite remote, it is quite a beautiful place. The route passes through different suspension bridges, local villages and you also witness a natural river Thuli Bheri at the side. When you arrive at Dunai, the main administrative place of Dolpo District, you will get another first taste of life in the mountain with a unique mix of culture which you will not find on a daily basis.

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

Once the trailhead is Dunai, we turn right down a river, followingThuli Bheri. At a distance of about 20 kilometers, there is a major junction with another trail that turns up to Shey-Phoksundo and, hence, we turn away. From here on, we go down a wild forested slope to an altitude of about 2,400 m to arrive at a beautiful, secluded village of Ankhe, which is the starting gateway to Shey-Phoksundo wilderness. It is from this village that one can reach the holy lakes Shey and Phoksundo.

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

Today’s​‍​‌‍​‍‌ walk follows through thick forests of juniper, pine, and cedar up and down mountains that are rugged and quite steep. As you ascend the mountains, you will come across some little creeks to cross, gently make your way into the serene valleys and finally get to the narrow cliff-side paths that allow you to witness the view of the waterfalls and the snow-capped mountain range beyond. The beauty of being in such a remote location, with its peacefulness and sense of solitude, makes the journey a truly memorable section on the way to the village of Renje!

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

The ascent continues with the first few kilometers crossing through a dense forest of larch and spruces before opening into the wide open and the rocky landscape is soon behind you at about the fourth hour. This is quite an experience to reach this beautiful village called Ringmo, truly a hidden gem of Dolpo.

This village of Ringmo is in a mountain valley and there is nothing on this particular hill but these little houses with a Tibetan architecture style and stone walls with prayer flags hanging and all that. Ancient Buddhist ways of life, including rituals and prayers, are still an inseparable part of the lives of the villagers. The whole village is set in a mountain scene that is breathtaking which makes it all the more a unique experience. This village is also your stepping stone to visiting the famous Shey Phoksundo Lake which is in the Shey Shey valley and is surrounded by mountains on the north side but very flat on the southern side. You can get a feeling of a real Himalayan village life there.

• Altitude: 3,612 m
• Tea House Accommodation

This will be a whole day devoted to you enjoying the beautiful Shey Phoksundo Lake, renowned among alpine lakes in the Himalayas. You can imagine the color of the water that will leave you amazed as the turquoise waters mirror the white, snowy mountain peaks and the steep rocky cliffs rising directly above the lake! All this natural beauty and purity is embraced by the boundaries of Shey Phoksundo National Park, making this site among the most treasured and well-known natural areas in Nepal. So, after visiting this wonder, take a walk to some interesting viewpoints and do some exploring around the peaceful lakeside as well as taking photos of the beautiful scenery with the snow-covered mountains in the background. Besides, a few traditional Bon and Buddhist customs can be witnessed in Ringmo Village.

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

The opening highlight is a steep mountain trail that follows a lovely river through dramatic surroundings. As the route curves into the hillside and runs alongside the water, you’ll begin to spot several waterfalls, sheer rock canyons, and other scenic features. The walk here also gives you a chance to take in the raw natural landscape, untouched and expansive. This stretch captures the wild and isolated spirit of Upper Dolpo, for which the region has gained its reputation.

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

Along with the charming glacial streams and the narrow valleys cut by the trail, you’ll notice the gradual shift into the high alpine zone of Upper Dolpo. The dense forests thin out as the environment opens up, ringed by snowy peaks. Surrounded by this remote Himalayan wilderness, adventurers truly feel they have entered a world yet to be explored.

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

On this day, you get to experience the highlight of the entire Upper Dolpo Trek, making your way across demanding high-altitude terrain and ascending over a major ridge before arriving at the revered Shey Gompa. The old and most revered among the many monasteries in Dolpo, the Crystal Monastery, has always been a spiritual center for the people living around the region.

As the monasteries is surrounded by the beautiful and awe-inspiring Himalayan landscapes as well as by the sacred Crystal Mountain, you could say that one is not missing out anything by visiting this place since the monastery not only presents stunning views to see, but it also holds the rich, the ancient as well as the modern Buddhist ​‍​‌‍​‍‌culture.

• Altitude– 4500 m

This is a lovely rest day after an adventurous day to explore spiritually and culturally the Shey Gompa. Take your time to explore the monastery’s old prayer halls, beautiful murals, prayer wheels, and traditional architecture all the while meeting the monks residing there and getting their perspectives on Tibetan Buddhist beliefs. You may choose to take a light walk and enjoy the spectacular landscape and serenity surrounding this beautiful mountain valley, which will give you a Himalayan experience that you cannot forget.

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

Starting from Shey, continue your journey through remote high valleys, passing by pastures where yaks graze, until you reach Namduna Gaun. Along the trail, you’ll witness dramatic mountain scenery, encounter very few locals—many of whom have carried on their Tibetan heritage for generations—and gain insight into their unique mountain lives. The peaceful setting and genuine mountain culture make this route not just visually stunning but also rich in cultural value.

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

On this day, you meet at the foot of Upper Dolpo’s largest and richest village – Saldang. Being on the old trade route which connects Nepal and Tibet, Saldang is still considered the nucleus of Tibetan culture and traditional trade. While wandering along whitewashed houses, Buddhist monasteries, farms with crops growing, and friendly locals, you are also captivated by magnificent Himalayan views.

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

To start the day, head towards Yangze Gompa that belongs to the Bon religious tradition. Bon is considered the ancestor of the Buddhist faith, and up to now, it continues to provide spiritual guidance to most local people. A visit to this ancient temple reveals to you many interesting aspects of ancient Himalayan culture, practices and even religion that you have not heard elsewhere and makes one respect a different lifestyle. After that, you will return to Saldang.

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

Sibu being one of the sereneest village located near the confluence of two large valleys, is a place that you can visit without hurrying as the journey to Sibu from Saldang is not long. Your way is dotted with old-time yak mani (prayer) walls, prayer flags, and sweeping views that perfectly showcase the harsh beauty of Upper Dolpo. The route is so well balanced that you get amazing views of the remote mountain valleys throughout the day and the local culture of this seldomly trekked region of Nepal leaves quite an impression.

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

On today, you will start climbing a steep path along the rocky ground, passing by alpine meadows and waterfalls of glacial streams, till you reach the mountain base of a pass in the vicinity, Jeng La Pass. As you move forward, the snow-capped peaks become even more impressive, and the scenery surrounding you is getting more and more spectacular. This is the tranquil and scenic part of the entire hike and a good chance to contemplate and get your head together for the pass crossing the next day while admiring the pristine natural beauties of the high Himalayas.

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

Crossing Jeng La Pass marks another highlight of your exploration through Upper Dolpo. When you reach the summit of this tall mountain pass, you’re rewarded with breathtaking views that stretch across the Dhaulagiri mountain range and the sparkling, snowy summits of the Himalayas. You are then free to relax and have fun descending towards the scenic Tarap valley. It will just be a few miles from this valley to Tokyu – an isolated mountain village in the remote Upper Dolpo region that has preserved the ancient ways of life and the culture of this area in an exceptional way.

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

Descend​‍​‌‍​‍‌ first in the fertile Tarap Valley and after reaching the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the Himalayas, Dho Tarap, you will understand their meaning. The village is the habitat of both the Tibetan Buddhist and Bon communities and is a place of great cultural and historic significance for them. The valley village is also recognized for its ancient rock houses, old monastery, and traditional way of life of its people that make them different from other communities. Strolling along the narrow lanes provides an opportunity to witness the unique customs and lives of those who have continued to live here for many generations.

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

Leave behind the spacious valley and the Tarap Stream will be the major route, as soon as your path will be surrounded by deep, narrow gorges which will be carved into towering cliffs at both sides. After you climb the narrow trails and cross the suspension bridges above swift rivers and rapids, you will see an entirely new scenery that is totally different from the snowy mountain terraces you saw when you were at a higher altitude early on in your walk. Such a dramatic view of the canyon makes today’s walk among the most picturesque segments of the returning trip.

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

From the forested hills and peaceful mountain villages where the trail goes through riverside, you are gradually getting down to a very scenic spot namely Khani Gaun.

The air is becoming increasingly humid and the plants are getting greener as the height is going down. These are pleasant and quite a sharp contrast to the rather dry terrain at higher elevations.While trekking, your path will be crossing the local villagers’ settlements which can serve you as a means to understand more about the people of Dolpo who live at the foot.

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

The trail today is along the Bheri River which will lead back to the village of Tarakot. Tarakot is a very old village and was a busy center for the exchange of goods in the past between the people of Nepal and Tibet. The village is the site for the remains of an ancient fortress, traditional dwellings, and agricultural land of Dolpo reflecting its centuries-old role in trade.

You will take your time to explore this important cultural place and will do nothing else but have a pleasant time in the cool hills.

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

Following a picturesque riverside trail back from Dunai, with agricultural terraces at the side and beautiful villages along its way, you will also pass under suspension bridges and through beautiful forests.

Such a day will serve as the best opportunity you may ever have to look back on the extraordinary experiences you’ve had, the amazing sights which you’ve enjoyed, and those rich cultural encounters that have made the Upper Dolpo one of most spectacular treks in Nepal. The day of the trek will end with you being tired but proud of your achievements and happy at having had a wonderful time.

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

You have the pleasure of a final very easy day while retracing the mountain trail towards Juphal.The trail is quite known, so you get to see it just one time, and enjoy it, and perhaps say your last farewell there to the little settlements as you go.

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

You will have the pleasure of an excellent morning flight which will take you from Juphal to Nepalgunj with a transfer flight going further on to Kathmandu.

Your view from above is going to be of the most spectacular mountain landscapes you’d ever imagine while flying over Nepal. You get a chance to reflect the completion of a challenging adventure as well in Kathmandu by a short trip. Once you arrive in Kathmandu, you’ll be taken to your hotel, where you can browse for souvenirs, stop by local cafes, or just unwind and relax after wrapping up one of the most remote and rewarding Himalayan treks. ​‍​‌‍​‍‌

• Altitude: 1,350 m

Your amazing Upper Dolpo Trek ends today. Depending on your flight arrangements, our representative will take you to Tribhuvan International Airport so you can continue your journey. With the pristine turquoise waters of Shey Phoksundo Lake, and the sacred Shey Gompa, as well as the ancient Bon monasteries, remote Tibetan villages, and dramatic Himalayan landscapes, there is a very real chance that Upper Dolpo will be a journey that none of you are likely to forget anytime soon. We are hoping that the delightful, authentic memories and genuine kindness from the Himalayas have stirred up the courage in you to make another Himalayan adventure with us very soon.