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Upper Dolpo Trek / NPL
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 Dolpo region is
the most remote and least developed district in
Nepal. Although a few anthropologists and
geographers had explored the region, the entire
district was closed to trekkers until 1989 when the
southern part of Dolpo was opened to organized
trekking groups.
Dolpo region situated between the Tibetan plateau
and the Dhaulagiri Himalayan range is the highest
inhabited land of Dolpo. Geographically a southern
extension of Tibet, it lies within the borders of
the state of Nepal, since 1984 has been the
countrys largest national park and conservation,
the park sustains an abundance of wild life
including Musk Deer, Himalayan Blue Sheep and the
legendary elusive Snow Leopard, as well as being
home to a fascinating race of Tibetan speaking
people. The hardy highlanders of Dolpo are traders,
exchanging barley for Tibetan rock salt and they
take their yaks onto the Tibetan plateau during the
summer for grazing.
During the Upper Dolpo we start from Jhupal village
(Jumla), we begin this wonderful adventure,
encountering interesting places, people, villages,
valleys and serene forest of pines, oaks and
rhododendron, the trek passes many gigantic mountain
ranges and over the Numala pass at 5,400m till we
reach the Phoksundo lake at Ringmo village in the "Phoksundo
National Park".
At Ringmo, the highlight of our trip we will have
two nights here to enjoy the beauty of the deep blue
waters of the Phoksundo lake and the surrounding
snow peaks of Kanjirowa Himalayan range, with time
to visit the nearby isolated village of Ringmo and
its Monastery. Our classic journey continues to the
amazing country of Crystal Mountain at Shey Gomba,
following the ancient Trans Himalayan Trade route
and back to Jhuphal for the flight back by an
alternative route, giving you more opportunity to
explore this fascinating wild west of Nepal Himalaya |
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Featured
Pictures (Dolpo Region) |
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Brief
Itinerary |
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Day |
Activities |
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01 |
Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to
the hotel |
|
02 |
Free
day in Kathmandu. |
|
03 |
Fly Kathmandu
Nepalgunj and
transfer to the
hotel. |
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04 |
Fly from
Nepalgunj -
Jumla. |
|
05 |
Trek Jumla
Goti Chaur (trek
starts) |
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06 |
Goti Chaur
Naphukana |
|
07 |
Naphukana
Mauria~La
Chaurikot |
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08 |
Chaunrikot
Toijem |
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09 |
Toijem Kagmara
Phedi |
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10 |
Kagmara Phedi
Kagmara~La
Daju |
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11 |
Daju Phoksundo
Tal |
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12 |
Free day in
Phoksundo Tal |
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13 |
Phoksundo Tal
Phoksundo Beach |
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14 |
Phoksundo Beach
Mandhala Ice
Camp |
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15 |
Mandhala Ice
Camp Kang~La
Shey Gompa |
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16 |
Free day in Shey
Gompa. |
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17 |
Shey Gompa
Saldang~La
Namgung |
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18 |
Namgung
Yangjer Gompa |
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19 |
Yangjer Gompa
Musi Gaun |
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20 |
Musi Gaun
Lang~La Shimen
Gaun |
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21 |
Shimen Gaun
Tinje |
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22 |
Tinje Keheng |
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23 |
Keheng
Chharka~La
Chharka |
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24 |
Chharka Yak
Kharka |
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25 |
Yak Kharka
Sangda~La
Sangda Phedi |
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26 |
Sangda Phedi
Sangda |
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27 |
Sangda
Dangarjong |
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28 |
Dangarjong
Jomsom (trek
ends) |
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29 |
Fly Jomsom
Pokhara and
transfer to the
hotel. |
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30 |
Drive Pokhara
Kathmandu and
transfer to the
hotel. |
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31 |
Free day in
Kathmandu. |
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32 |
Departure
transfer to the
airport for
onward journey. |
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Day
01: |
Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer
to the hotel |
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Day 02: |
Free day in Kathmandu. |
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Day 03: |
Fly Kathmandu Nepalgunj and
transfer to the hotel. |
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Day 04: |
Fly from Nepalgunj - Jumla. |
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Day 05:
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Trek Jumla Goti Chaur (trek
starts)
This morning we fly from Nepalgunj
to Jumla. Leaving the airport at
Jumla, we cross the Tila Khola and
the Chaudabise Khola near their
confluence and climb gradually to a
fertile valley of rice terraces. The
trail continues through several
villages before passing through a
forest of maple and walnut to a
meadow which, in season, is covered
in wildflowers. Beyond the meadow,
the trail climbs to a small pass
before descending again to Gothi
Chaur and our first night's camp. |
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Day 06: |
Goti
Chaur Naphukana
Today's walk follows the Tila Khola
through fields of corn, potato,
buckwheat and barley until the
valley narrows and we enter a forest
of oaks, spruce and maples. We pass
through the village of Chotra with
it's typical Tibetan mani walls and
a short distance beyond, come to
another Tibetan-looking village,
Naphukana. Above this village, there
is a large gompa. |
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Day 07:
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Naphukana Mauria~La Chaurikot
From Naphukana the trail becomes
steeper and climbs through a forest
to a pass named Mauri Lagna [3820m].
From the pass there are views of
snowy peaks to the north and east.
Descending from the pass, the trail
traverses a steep slope before
dropping into a forest of pine and
oaks. We then enter the Bheri Valley
and, after following the trail in
and out of side valleys, we come to
the village of Chaurikot. Our camp
will be near the village. |
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Day 08: |
Chaunrikot Toijem |
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Day 09: |
Toijem Kagmara Phedi |
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Day 10:
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Kagmara Phedi Kagmara~La Daju |
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Day 11: |
Daju
Phoksundo Tal |
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Day 12: |
Free
day in Phoksundo Tal |
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Day 13: |
Phoksundo Tal Phoksundo Beach |
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Day 14: |
Phoksundo Beach Mandhala Ice Camp |
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Day 15: |
Mandhala Ice Camp Kang~La Shey
Gompa |
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Day 16: |
Free
day in Shey Gompa. |
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Day 17: |
Shey Gompa Saldang~La Namgung
You start by following a pleasant
track amidst juniper, which ascends
to a grey, stony canyon. This then
begins to zig-zag over bare rocks
and coarse eroded soil until it
eventually brings you to a flat spot
suitable for a brew or lunch if the
weather is fine. You then continue
very steeply up for 20 minutes
before traversing to the top of the
Saldang La. Here you can enjoy great
views towards the arid landscapes of
Mustang and the distant snow peaks
of Tibet . The subsequent descent
towards the north is long and tiring
but you finally come upon the
welcome sight of pastures of grazing
yaks and sheep and nomadic tents
made from yak hair. This signals
your approach to Namduna Gaon. Like
Shey, the Namgung monastery is of
the Karma-pa sect. The monastery, a
red stone structure, is built
against the backdrop of a cliff on
the north wall of a gorge. The red
and white colours of the gompa and
its stupas are the only colour in
this stark landscape. The village
itself consists of only six stone
houses and has terraced fields on
both sides of the tributary, which
flow down to the Nam Khong valley.
The economy of the region is based
on agriculture, animal husbandry and
trading. In Dolpo only one crop a
year can be grown and this is mainly
barley. In some villages buckwheat,
oilseed, potato and radish are also
cultivated. Recently the main cliff
temple collapsed and the villagers
have now built a beautiful new
monastery in the village itself. |
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Day 18: |
Namgung Yangjer Gompa |
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Day 19: |
Yangjer Gompa Musi Gaun |
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Day 20: |
Musi
Gaun Lang~La Shimen Gaun |
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Day 21: |
Shimen Gaun Tinje |
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Day 22: |
Tinje
Keheng |
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Day 23: |
Keheng Chharka~La Chharka |
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Day 24: |
Chharka Yak Kharka |
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Day 25: |
Yak
Kharka Sangda~La Sangda Phedi |
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Day 26: |
Sangda Phedi Sangda |
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Day 27: |
Sangda Dangarjong |
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Day 28: |
Dangarjong Jomsom (trek ends) |
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Day 29: |
Fly
Jomsom Pokhara and transfer to the
hotel. |
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Day 30: |
Drive
Pokhara Kathmandu and transfer to
the hotel. |
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Day 31: |
Free
day in Kathmandu. |
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Day 32: |
Departure transfer to the airport
for onward journey. |
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Highlight
of this Trek |
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Dolpo region is
the most remote and least developed district
in Nepal. Although a few anthropologists
and geographers had explored the region, the
entire district was closed to trekkers until
1989 when the southern part of Dolpo was
opened to organized trekking groups. |
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Trip Facts |
Minimum altitude: 1100m.
Maximum altitude: 6465m.
Grade: Easy
Mode: Camping Trek
Duration of Trek: 12 Day
Entry: Kathmandu - Nepalgunj
Exit: Pokhara - Kathmandu |
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