Upper Dolpo Trek

Dolpo, also Dolpa, is one of the most remote regions of Nepal, known in Tibetan as “Ba-Yul”, the “Hidden Land”. With the Dhaulagiri barrier to the east and the Chur Himal mountain range to the south, it is part of the Tibetan plateau, while it has always been quite isolated from Nepal. Its inhabitants and culture are fully Tibetan, and yak caravans crossed its territory following trade routes with Nepal and India.

Most of the region is inscribed within the Shey-Phoksundo National Park. Its natural environment is overwhelmingly beautiful, marked by a series of high mountain passes, which can be closed by snow part of the year, and it is one of the territories with the greatest presence of the snow leopard. It is one of the most inhabited, highest-lived places in the world, with small, half-fortified villages and Buddhist monasteries with roots in the ancient Bön religion. Its inhabitants are known as dolpas or dolpo-pas and have maintained their traditional and basic lifestyle in quite harsh conditions, with subsistence agriculture and the care of livestock.

Dolpo was closed to foreigners until 1989, when the trekking routes were organized. The difficulty in getting there, its isolation, its harshness and the high price of the special permit means that there are no rows of hikers here. Dolpo is relatively little visited, although it is one of the most impressive tours and environments in all of Nepal. There is practically no accommodation in the entire region, so the overnight stays of the trek are done in camping.

This itinerary stands out for its four mountain passes that must be crossed, three of which are above 5000 meters in altitude. It also stands out for its number of “gompas” (temples / monasteries) that are scattered throughout its geography, Buddhist Gompas of the Bön tradition, with a very hard and sober iconography, deeply rooted in ancient shamanic traditions, among which that of Shey Gompa stands out even more. The Phoksundo Tal (lake) stands out, the deepest in Nepal and one of the largest, sacred lake where bathing is prohibited. It stands out for its solitude, walking through a wide and overwhelming landscape, with an almost unaltered nature where the invisible snow leopard finds a solitary territory to hunt. But, above all, it stands out for being a very different experience from all the other treks in Nepal, it is another dimension.

FULL TRIP according to the detailed program

INCLUDES
·       Welcome at the airport

·       All transfers by private vehicle

·       3 nights accommodation with breakfast in Kathmandu, Bouddha or Thamel of your choice

·       Camping Trekking

o    Flight Kathmandu – Nepalgunj

o    Flight Nepalgunj – Juphal

o    Flight Juphal – Nepalgunj

o    Flight Nepalgunj – Kathmandu

o    1 night hotel with breakfast in Nepalgunj

o    Escort and transfer to the airports before and after the trek

o    Accommodation in tents. 1 tent for 2 components

o    Dining tent, kitchen, toilet, sleeping mat, tables and chairs and duffelbag

o    Three meals a day during the trek

o    Coffee, tea, chocolate, juices and snacks and biscuits

o    Local English-speaking mountain-guide throughout the trek

o    Cook

o    Kitchen & Camp Assistants

o    Mules for carrying the material

o    Individual flexible solar panel for battery charging

o    Water every morning for daily cleaning

o    Hot water at least twice during the trek for a full “bath”

o    Trekking Permit TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) Card

o    Lower Dolpo Special Permit

o    Entrance fee to Shey Phoksundo National Park

·       Government Fees and VAT

·       Salary, food, accommodation and insurance for all staff

NOT INCLUDED
·       International flight from point of origin to/from Nepal

·       Nepal Entry Visa

·       Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj

·       Tips to staff

·       Any personal needs

·       Medical and/or travel insurance

·       MANDATORY mountain rescue insurance valid for Nepal and up to 5500 meters and including helicopter rescue

·       In general, any concept not specified in this program, as well as any need for personal assistance for foreign affairs

·       No additional expenses due to flight cancellations, weather conditions, road closures, etc.

“Late check out” as an option. Be able to have a room before the return flight if it is in the afternoon or night.     

ONLY TREK, no services in Kathmandu and Pokhara

PRICE INCLUDES
·       Camping Trekking

o    Flight Kathmandu – Nepalgunj

o    Flight Nepalgunj – Juphal

o    Flight Juphal – Nepalgunj

o    Flight Nepalgunj – Kathmandu

o    1 night hotel with breakfast in Nepalgunj

o    Escort and transfer to the airports before and after the trek

o    Accommodation in tents. 1 tent for 2 components

o    Dining tent, kitchen, toilet, sleeping mat, tables and chairs and duffelbag

o    Three meals a day during the trek

o    Coffee, tea, chocolate, juices and snacks and biscuits

o    Local English-speaking mountain-guide throughout the trek

o    Cook

o    Kitchen & Camp Assistants

o    Mules for carrying the material

o    Individual flexible solar panel for battery charging

o    Water every morning for daily cleaning

o    Hot water at least twice during the trek for a full “bath”

o    Trekking Permit TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) Card

o    Lower Dolpo Special Permit

o    Entrance fee to Shey Phoksundo National Park

·       Government Fees and VAT

·       Salary, food, accommodation and insurance for all staff

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
·       International flight from point of origin to/from Nepal

·       Nepal Entry Visa

·       Transfers on arrival and departure from Nepal

·       Accommodation in Kathmandu

·       Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj

·       Tips to staff

·       Any personal needs

·       Medical and/or travel insurance

·       MANDATORY mountain rescue insurance valid for Nepal and up to 5500 meters and including helicopter rescue

·       In general, any concept not specified in this program, as well as any need for personal assistance for foreign affairs

·       No additional expenses due to flight cancellations, weather conditions, road closures, etc.

Inquiry

The Upper Dolpo is a restricted area, so it is subject to special trekking conditions. It also has a fairly high trek rate, of $500 for 10 days plus $50 for an additional day. This and the fact that you have to use four internal flights unfortunately means that the cost of this trek is high.

Arriving at Juphal, the starting point of the itinerary, means (incomprehensibly) flying first to Nepalganj and spend a night there. As always, all mountain flights in Nepal are very subject to weather conditions, especially those that go to small airfields, such as Juphal, although its runway was asphalted in 2017 making it more reliable. This may mean that in poor visibility conditions flights may be cancelled and have to wait a day to leave or return, so it is convenient, if possible, to add a safety day in the itinerary, as well as having the last day of Kathmandu in case of return problems.

The entire Dolpo region is in the monsoon “shadow” zone, which implies that it is not greatly affected by the monsoon rains of July and August. This allows this trek to be done during the summer, unlike most other areas of Nepal, although flights, as already mentioned, can be affected by the monsoon.

We use local guides from the Dolpo, which means that the trip from Kathmandu to Juphal will be done alone, but with assistance in the transfers.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SCHEDULE

Programs may have to be adapted according to the schedules of your flights to Nepal. The itineraries are designed considering that the international flight arrives at Kathmandu in the morning or noon. If you arrive to Nepal afternoon or later it would be better to have a margin day before starting your trek, although it is not essential.

DO YOU WANT TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR TRIP?

Related to the trek itineraries, Kathmandu and Pokhara staying are the “minimum days recommended” to have a comfortable and safe trip and trek. But always is a good idea to add some extra day during the trek or in your days in Kathmandu or Pokhara.

Like all our tours, the itinerary can be customized and adapted to your taste, needs and preferences.

You can book the full trip or just the trek and travel on your own in Nepal.

EXPERIENCES TO NEPAL OUTSIDE THE PROGRAM

Whether for free days in Kathmandu or Pokhara, as if you want to add more days to your trip, we offer several options and extensions. With them you can add and complete activities and experiences on your trip. Some are already included in some program, but in general we prefer that you choose them on your own, if you are interested in any, depending on your tastes and way of traveling. Ask us for more information if you are interested.