Phoksundo Lake
profile-expert
Talk to Trip Expert +9779851046026

Upper Dolpo Trek

5 reviews in Tripadvisor

world-img
arrow
duration-icon

Trip Duration

28 Days
difficulty-icon

Trip Difficulty

Challenging
group-size

Group Size

2-16 Pax
max-alt-icon

Max. Altitude

5,360m. /17,585 ft.
start-end-icon

Accommodation

Hotel, Lodge
transportation

Transportation

Flight, Bus
activity-icon

Activity per day

Trekking & Sightseeing
start-end-icon

Start/End

Kathmandu

Trip Overview

The Upper Dolpo Trek features the northwestern part of Nepal, exploring the Dolpo district, which is seldom visited by tourists and trekkers. But just because it has a lower number of visitors compared to other trekking destinations does not mean that it is not worth the effort. The pristine natural beauty of the remote Dolpo region is one of the best experiences you can have in Nepal. This trek also incorporates the Shey-Phoksundo National Park, the one and only trans-Himalayan conservation area in Nepal, bordering Tibet with its 3555 km² area.

Although this trek does not involve any peak climbing activities or have us visit any base camp, we still reach over 5000 meters of elevation as we have to cross 3 different mountain passes. Namely, we will cross the Kang La Pass (5360 m), Jeng La Pass (4369 m), and Saldang La Pass (5200 m) in order to complete this trek. The Kang La Pass is also the highest point of this Upper Dolpo Trek, offering a great ascending experience along with a view that you will remember for ages.

The villages we will visit on this trek are very religiously driven, which you can notice from the many chortens, prayer flags, mani walls, and gompas along the way. The majority of the people there follow the teachings and practices of Buddhist-Bon. Important religious sites like the Shey Gompa, Bon-Po Monastery, Yangtse Gompa, and more are some of the highlights of this journey.

The locals of the region are known to have a different dialect compared to the rest of Nepal, as they are more influenced by the Tibetan dialect. It is the result of centuries of exposure to Tibetan traders and shepherds. Back in the days, the Upper Dolpo region was a hub of trade between Tibet and Nepal, making it greatly influenced by their customs, teachings, and religion. Here are more things you need to know about this adventurous trek.

Have Questions?

Talk to our expert team and plan your trip.
image-1
profile-expert
image-3

Mr. Ashok KC

+977-9851046026

Highlights of Upper Dolpo Trek

  • Visit the deepest lake of Nepal, the Shey Phoksundo Lake, a beautiful, turquoise color lake reaching 145 meters in depth.
  • Witness a beautiful 167-meter-tall waterfall at the village of Ringmo, beside the lake.
  • Visit the ancient Shey Gompa monastery, reaching 4500 meters above sea level.
  • Cross the Kang La Pass, Saldang La Pass, and Jeng La Pass.
  • Visit Yangze Gompa, Saldang Gompa, and the Namgung Monastery for a religious side tour.

Itinerary of Upper Dolpo Trek

After your flight lands at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will have to get your tourist visa approved. Leaving the terminal, one of our reps will locate you and escort you to your accommodation for the night. Before you head to bed, we will have a short introductory meeting with the porters, guides, and driver, who are an inseparable part of this Upper Dolpo Trek. We expect you to rest well since we will be out and about for long hours tomorrow.

activity-small

Activity: 45 mins drive

accommodation-small

Accommodation: Hotel

Includes/Excludes

What is included?

  • All arrival, departure transfers as per the itineary by car, van or coach.
  • Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu with English speaking guide, transport and entry fees.
  • Domestic airfares and road transportation according to your choice.
  • All hotel accommodation with breakfast.
  • All meals (3 meals each day) during camping or tea-house trek.
  • Full service from our guides, cooks, and porters.
  • All camping and kitchen equipments and camp site fees.
  • Staff salary, transport and insurance.
  • Restricted Area permit fee – US$500 per person for first 10 days and US$50 per person per day there after.
  • National Park entry fee.
  • Necessery government taxes.
  • Company ground handling charges.

What is not included?

  • International flights to Nepal.
  • Meals not mentioned above or in the itinerary.
  • Travel and medical insurance including evacuation.
  • Nepal entry Visa fee.
  • Expenses of personal nature such as laundry, bar bill, telephone calls etc and tips for staff.
  • Any additional activities not in the itinerary.

Route Map & Altitude Chart

Trip Information

Add-Ons

Upgrade Your Accommodation in Kathmandu

The capital city of Kathmandu offers a great range of luxury and high-end hotels, which you might want to try out. You are free to choose from any of the establishments within the city, and we will try our best to arrange your accommodation there. Our standard option will be a 3-star hotel on a twin-sharing basis, which is a part of the Upper Dolpo Trek package, unlike this upgrade to luxury hotels.

Your luxury hotel arrangement will also be done on a twin-sharing basis, which means you will be sharing the room with a fellow trekker in the group. We can also arrange private rooms at a price.

How does our trip start?

Our Upper Dolpo Trek starts with a day tour around the Kathmandu valley, followed by a flight to Nepalgunj the next day. After a day there, we will take an early morning flight to Juphal, the starting point of our trek itinerary. Flights to Juphal are day-sensitive, meaning they only fly on specific days of the week. In this case, flights are available on Tuesdays and Fridays only, which requires you to plan your journey accordingly.

Difficulty

The standard Upper Dolpo Trek is considered to be a challenging trek, particularly due to its long itinerary and rugged terrain, often reaching over 4000 meters above sea level. The trekking days are not particularly long or difficult, but trekking for over 3 weeks really takes a toll on your body, and not to mention the physical strain of crossing mountain passes and hill ascents. On a scale of 10, Adventure Tansen’s expert trek guides have rated it a solid 9.

Best seasons

The best seasons for visiting the Upper Dolpo region are definitely spring and autumn. During these seasons, you can enjoy great trekking conditions during the daytime and also a clear view of the landscape thanks to great visibility. These seasons are also known for low chances of precipitation, bright blue skies, and unobstructed views from the highland viewpoints.

If you are unable to make it to Nepal during either of these seasons, you can also do this trek during the summer. It might be a little too hot in the lower region and city areas, but the other things remain the same, with a slightly high chance of rain.

Altitude Sickness

During this 28-day-long journey, we will spend a total of 8 nights over 4000 meters above sea level, which can induce altitude sickness in some trekkers. However, the effects of altitude sickness at such a level are not very harmful. We will also follow the preventive measures, which should keep you away from this illness.

Accommodation, Food and Drink

All the accommodation during this journey will be arranged on a twin-sharing basis. Standard 3-star hotels will be arranged during your time in Kathmandu, while your trekking days will be accompanied by tea houses. Your food options are Tsampa, Dhido, Nepalese bread, eggs, pancakes, noodles, soups, stews, momo, and so on. As we gain elevation, the range of options will lessen, as getting even the basic things is difficult.

Transportation

Every bit of transportation required by the itinerary we have discussed above will be provided, arranged, and covered by the standard Upper Dolpo Trek package. This includes pick up and drop off at the Tribhuvan International Airport, flight to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu and back, flight to Juphal from Nepalgunj and back, and a drive around Kathmandu city for sightseeing.

Permit

For this trek, every trekker must have the Restricted Area Permit (RAP) and a Shey Phoksundo National Park entry permit. Both of these permits are a part of the standard trek package.

Trip preparation and fitness

Since this is a challenging trek, we recommend that trekkers start their physical training for at least 14 to 16 weeks before the scheduled start. The main focus must be to grow their stamina and strengthen their leg muscles.

Cost & Budget

This amazing Upper Dolpo Trek package will cost you USD ________ per head. Under this package, expenses like daily accommodation, three meals during the trekking days, wages for the porters and guides, permit expenses, local taxes, and more will be covered.

Gadgets charging & Internet

Electricity is a huge issue in the remote Dolpo region; you are likely to face many power outages during your time there. But do not worry, the locals have grown to depend on solar energy for their daily needs. A stable internet connection is a myth in the Upper Dolpo region, you will not even have a cellular network. So, prepare for weeks without internet.

Your Extra expenses

Things like visa fees, personal travel insurance fees, extra meals, additional accommodation, tips for the porters and guides, emergency evacuation services, and more are your extra expenses that should be paid for separately.

Things to Remember Before Trekking the Upper Dolpo Trek

  • All permits for this Upper Dolpo Trek must be arranged before you begin the trek. Our guide will help you obtain all the necessary documents.
  • There are multiple high passes on this itinerary, so make sure that you are well prepared to go on this journey.
  • We will spend many days over 4000 meters of elevation, which calls for proper acclimatization. So, do not skip the preventive measures or overtake the ascending pace set by Adventure Tansen’s trek guide.
  • There will be no cell reception and no internet connections, so if you can’t live without entertainment, we recommend you download your favorites before the start of the trek.
  • The locals of the Upper Dolpo region are very conservative, so do not engage in public affection or wear revealing clothes at any point during the trek.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, every trekker who wants to experience this Upper Dolpo Trek journey must have some level of trekking experience. The route we will traverse is not fit for beginners at all. You will have the hardest time if you join this trek without any prior trekking experience.

No, solo trekking in the Shey Phoksundo National Park region is prohibited by law. As per the law, international trekkers must be accompanied by a licensed guide while visiting any conserved or protected area within Nepal.

The main job of porters is to carry your heavy luggage so that you do not have to. This is not a mandatory service.

The 5360-meter-high Kang La Pass is the highest point of this Upper Dolpo Trek. It offers one of the best views of the entire journey, as we will get to see a panoramic 360-degree view of the surrounding peaks and valleys.

Trip Reviews

Have Questions?

Talk to our expert team and plan your trip.
image-1
profile-expert
image-3

Mr. Ashok KC

+977-9851046026
Talk to Travel Expert
profile-expert
Mr. Ashok KC Trip Expert
Your adventure, Your way, Your story
Chat Now ⮞