About Upper (West Dolpo) Trekking

The West Dolpo Trek with Explore Dolpo begins at Juphal, the ancient trading town in Lower Dolpo. Heading west of this fascinating district in the wild west of Nepal, the trek winds through several rural villages and the highly revered Hindu Temple of Tripura Sundari.

As this wonderful trek in Dolpo goes further, it begins to gain elevation, which goes as high as the top of Kagmara Pass. The major challenge of West Dolpo Trek- Kagmara Pass leads us to the most beautiful lake in Nepal- Phoksundo. After Phoksundo, the West Dolpo Trek ends at Juphal via Chhepka.

The adventurous trek in Dolpo, West Dolpo Trek is a moderately challenging trek in Dolpo that caters for the wonders of barren landscapes, the Himalayan panorama including Kanjiroba and Dhaulagiri and the cultural diversity including Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism and Bon Buddhism.

West Dolpo Trek is a 15 days 14 night trek of absolute adventure walking into the world’s one of the few least trodden trails.

Trip Highlights

  • World Heritage Site Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Temple.
  • Fine Art and Gallery of Hindu and Buddhist Culture in Patan.
  • Adventurous camping trek to Nepal's remote Trans Himalayan area.
  • Superb view of Himal Kanjirowa, Crystal Mountain and much more.
  • Visit of old Dolpo district monasteries.
  • Visit west country remote areas.
  • Observe Unique Tibetan Buddhist culture Discover the wild Himalayan west of Nepal.
  • Crossing Kagmara and explore the captivating Phoksundo Lake (Nepal's Deepest Lake).

Itinerary

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Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1300m/4264ft)

As you fly into Kathmandu, the views of snow-capped mountain peaks greet you. A TOP OF THE WORLD ADVENTURE representative and driver from our office will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. The representative will help you check into your designated hotel. At the hotel you will be briefed about your daily activities.

  • Meals: Dinner
  • Accommodation: Kathmandu Hotel
  • Place: Kathmandu
  • Altitude: 1300

From Kathmandu you take a bus or fly on any domestic carrier to Nepalgunj. Nepalgunj , a town in the western Terai, is very close to the Indian border and the Bardiya National Park. It is a major transport hub for western, mid-western and far-western regions of Nepal. Overnight at hotel or lodge.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Nepalgunj Hotel
  • Place: Nepalgunj
  • Altitude: 150

Today you will take a 35 minutes long flight to Juphal .Your trekking starts from Juphal. You will follow the trail on the banks of the Thulo Bheri river till you reach Tibrikot, a village with an important Hindu shrine. Tibrikot is an old fortress town overlooking the Thulo Bheri Valley. The houses have carved wooden windows and a large shrine and temple is dedicated to the goddess Tripura Sundari Devi. You set up camp at Tibrikot.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Place: Tripurakot
  • Altitude: 2100

Today you will hike up a treeless uninhabited ridge. On the way you will pass through Para and a few small villages. You will ascend up till you reach a forested area known as Kaliban, your camp for the night.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Place: Kaliban

From Kaliban you will trek to Kaigaon village. The village has a veterinary station for cattle, a bhatti and shops. In this village the Hindu Chettri people practice Tibetan Buddhism and festoon their houses with prayer flags like the Buddhists

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Place: Kaigaun

You will trek on the west bank of the Bheri River, passing Hurikot to a sign which says the entrance to Shey Phoksundo National Park. The trail stays high above the river to the confluence where the Jagdula and Garpung rivers join to form the Bheri. You will cross the Jagdula Khola and camp near the army post at Toijem (2920m).

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Place: Toijem
  • Altitude: 2920

You follow the trail up the western side of the Garpung Khola to about 3650m, then cross to the eastern side and continue upstream. The valley narrows and the river becomes a series of waterfalls as the trail climbs to a moraine at 3900m. You will make a camp at an elevation of about 4000m. The panoramic views of the peaks are sensational. Wildflowers abound and birds like snow pigeons, redstarts, ravens and griffons can be seen.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Place: Kangmara Base Camp

You will start early and climb alongside the Kagmara glacier to the Kagmara Pass at 5115m, then descend about 900m alongside a stream to a camp on pastures in the Pungmo Khola valley. There are sweeping screen slopes and massive rock formations. You will get spectacular views of the Kagmara Himal, Daulagiri, the Annapurnas, La Shamma and other snow-peaks, a fitting reward for your climb. You will descend to a grazing ground called Yak Kharka.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Place: Yak Kharka
  • Altitude: 5115

Today you will follow a trail that stays high above the stream, which eventually becomes the Pungmo khola. The route enters Birch and Juniper forests. It gives way to blue pine as the trail crosses the river on a wooden bridge. There are views of the Kanjiroba peak in the horizon above the barley fields of Pungmola fortress like village. You camp at this village

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Place: Pungmo Village

From Pungmo village you will continue downstream to the national park headquarters at Shumduwa. From here you will follow the trail up the Phoksundo khola to Phoksundo Lake. You will cross picturesque alpine meadows, flowered pastures, rivers, natural springs and soaring mountain views.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Place: Phoksundo Lake
  • Altitude: 3600

Today you will explore the area around the magnificent Phoksundo Lake. The lake is famous for its magnificent turquoise color and spectacular scenery. Ringmo village, which looks like a typical Tibetan village, is scenically nestled in the area. Many beautiful glaciers can be found near and above the lake area. There are many monasteries (Gompas ) and Bon-po religious sites at the park and you will spend your time visiting some of these. The most famous, Shey Gompa was established in the 11th Century. Thashung Gompa located near Phoksundo Lake

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Place: Phoksundo Lake
  • Altitude: 3600

After an insightful visit you will leave Phoksundo and make your way towards Chhepka. The trail goes down hill through a narrow gorge of Suligad River. You will pass Gurung and Tibetan villages surrounded by beautiful fields

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Place: Chhekpa
  • Altitude: 2678

Trek from Chhepka to Dunai (2150m) takes about five hours. You will trek along a gentle ascent path until you reach Raktang. On the way you come across forests covered by Pine, Oak, Juniper, Rhododendron, Bamboo and other natural vegetation rich in wildlife. After leaving Raktang, you will go down steeply for a few hours till your trail moves along a flat land. En route you cross several terraces, villages rich in typical culture, check post and grass land. Dunai is the headquarters of Dolpa. There are administrative offices, lodges, hotels, tea houses, market and many other places to be visited. You trek a few more hours to reach Juphal, our stop.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Teahouse
  • Place: Juphal
  • Altitude: 2475

From Juphal you will fly to Nepalgunj and then finally to Kathmandu.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Kathmandu Hotel
  • Place: Kathmandu
  • Altitude: 1300

Today after having breakfast, you will visit the Kathmandu Valley in private vehicle. You will have lunch and visit UNESCO Heritage site in Kathmandu Valley like Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath Temple, Swyambhunath (Monkey Temple), etc. Our guide will explain about the history, culture, etc. about the places you visit. At the same time you can visit to Thamel shop for some last minutes shopping. Overnight stay at Kathmandu Hotel.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Kathmandu Hotel
  • Place: Kathmandu
  • Altitude: 1300

After breakfast, our representative and office vehicle will be on standby at your hotel to transfer us to the airport for our connecting flight home. 

  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Place: Kathmandu Airport
  • Altitude: 1300

Cost Details

Cost Includes

  • Arrival and departure by private vehicle
  • Kathmandu hotel with Breakfast
  • Kathmandu Sightseeing with English-speaking Tour Guide
  • Kathmandu-Nepaljung-Kathmandu flight fares
  • Nepaljung-Jhuphal-Nepaljung flight fares
  • Shey-Phoksundo National Park permit
  • All necessary permits 
  • TIMS
  • Trekking guide (Food, accommodation, salary, insurance)
  • Porter
  • Teahouse Accomodation in Mountain
  • All meals (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
  • First aid tool box

Cost Excludes:

  • Bar bills
  • Visa fee
  • International flight fare
  • Travels insurance
  • Trekking equipment 
  • Tips