Lower Dolpo Trek is an extremely thrilling and rewarding trek that takes you deep into the western hills of Nepal. Treks like the Everest Circuit or even the Annapurna Circuit, invite hundreds of trekkers due to its stunning mountain views. While the Lower Dolpo Trek is often taken upon by fewer travelers, it entices you with off-beaten paths, and steep hills, at the core of the trek itself. Add swinging bridges over gushing rivers, and vast, quiet landscapes, this trek demands 5-7 hours of walking every day.
These rigorous terrains don’t come without the rewards. You will get to witness cascading desert scenes as well as the pristine beauty of the turquoise Shey Phoksundo Lake. With rows of stone-houses, traditional villages, as well as deep pine forests, this trek packs it all for you.
In less than three weeks, you will get to be transported amidst the semi-desert region that weaves you in and out of densely forested slopes. You can also see a wide variety of fauna such as the Himalayan musk deer, blue sheep, snow leopard, caravans of yaks, and so on in their natural habitat. Snowy peaks like Mt. Dhaulagiri, Kugung La, and Khyung La look upon you as you trek. You will be trekking to two high passes: Numa La (4350) and Baga La(4500m) that offer breathtaking views of the lands below.
The best season for this trek is during Spring and Autumn. Since this trek falls in the rain-shadow area, it can be done throughout the year. Furthermore, the skies will be clearer and will offer a much better view when you are at higher elevations.
Welcome to Kathmandu!! Asian heritage representative awaits you at Tribhuvan International Airport. On arrival, our Asian Heritage Representative will be waiting to welcome you and take you to the hotel. Check in to your luxurious room at the luxury 4-star Hotel Yatri. Our representative will facilitate you and discuss your travel itinerary. There will be enough time to stroll through the street of Thamel.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Yatri Suites & Spa or Similar.
After Breakfast, our tour guide will pick you up along with the driver and a vehicle. Firstly you will visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO world heritage site where you can observe the typical wood-carved temples and buildings reflecting the ancient Kathmandu city. Afterward, we will head towards Swyambhunath- the monkey temple where you can observe the panoramic view of Kathmandu city.
Then after, you will visit the Pashupatinath Temple, one of the biggest pilgrimage sites for the Hindu religion people in Southeast Asia. You will explore the surroundings and observe the ritual body cremating ceremony process of the Hindu people. We can also visit another pilgrimage site nearby the Pashupatinath Temple i.e. Guweyswori Temple. Lastly, we will visit Boudhanath Stupa, another UNESCO world heritage site. The Stupa was built in 600 A.D. and is the only one of a kind of Stupa which reflects Buddhism in the world. We shall explore the surroundings of Boudhanath Stupa. After completing our sightseeing, you can get back to the hotel and enjoy some rest.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight in Hotel Yatri Suites & Spa or Similar.
Flying from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, the gateway to Bardiya, is an incredible experience that offers stunning aerial views of the rugged terrain, snow-capped mountains, and lush green valleys of Nepal. Nepalgunj is located in the southwestern part of Nepal, near the Indian border, and serves as the main entry point for visitors traveling to Bardiya.
Accommodation: Overnight at an available lodge in Nepalgunj.
The next morning we will be catching a flight to Jhupal. It will be a short 45-minute flight. The airport we will be arriving at is on a small hilltop. You will immediately feel the high cool breeze that will get you ready to get set and begin your trek.
On this day, we will be hiking for around 3 hours. We will cover 6 km and trudge through local villages. All around us, you will see terraced fields that lead you to the swiftly flowing Bheri River. The trail has the perfect countryside feel to it as you pass by water mills to reach the Dunai village.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in Camp.
As we head out for this day’s trek, we will be following one stream after the other. Not just this, but we will also be walking right alongside the Bheri and Barbung river. As you maneuver hanging bridges, these rivers will add an excellent soothing soundtrack to your trek and are a sight to behold.
You will also be trudging along with large pine forests that add to the authentic trekking experience. Crossing Byasghar and trekking by Baijibara, you will get a chance to visit a Bon Monastery. As you trek higher, you will begin to see dry stone walls and rows of fields which will be your welcoming sign to Tarakot.
Once we reach Tarakot, we will be taking a short walk to Sandul Gompa. Sandul Gompa is a very famous and sacred site nestled amid large, towering hills. Here, you will begin to notice dry stones and deep gorges. Tarakot was once a very famous trading point. The locals here mostly practice Tibetan Buddhism. Another interesting fact is the dialect, you might get to hear a local language called ‘Kaike’, which is central to here and nowhere else.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in Camp.
Once again, following the trail alongside the Bheri river, we will head out this morning. Today’s trek will take about 5-6 hours of walking. The path will further lead us to an open valley and alongside the Bharbung Khola. On reaching Laisicap, we will be crossing the swinging river bridge.
The rivers will continue guiding our path as we will be following the steady stream of Tarap Khola. This river runs alongside high cliffs of red and brown as far as the eye can stretch. The isolated villages and terraced lands will add a stark contrast to the barren hills. Another stream will lead us right to Khani Gaon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in Camp.
Once we head out from Khanigaon, the trail goes into Lihini. This day’s trek should take you about 6 hours to cover. The trek is quite versatile. One moment, you will find yourself trudging stone staircases and walking on barren earth underneath, the next. The roads twist and turn until we reach an elevation of 3650m. From there, we will be descending to Chukore.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in Camp.
On this day, we will be leaving Chukore and descending to Narpani. As you look up, you will see glorious mountain peaks at a distance cheering you on. You will be crossing streams and wobbly bridges, feeling one with nature itself.
Your path will further be dotted with a series of low caves, which invite exploration. Additionally, your eyes will be treated with large yak pastures, which will let you know that you have arrived at Kamokharka.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in Camp.
As we leave Kamokharka, the trail today will oversee pleasant countryside views. You will walk by meadows and small streams. You will also be crossing wooden bridges and trudging along a mostly even path. After walking for about 3-4 hours, you will begin to see a long line of mani (stone-built) walls. The mani walls mark your arrival at the day’s destination, Dho.
Dho offers a wide selection of sights itself. Even at this elevation, it is dotted with chortens and monasteries. One of them is the 1000-year old Ribo Bumpa Monastery. You can also choose to visit Drakmar monastery which sits tall on red cliffs to create a visual masterpiece. There are many such monasteries to pick from so rest assured your day is going to be very eventful.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in Camp.
Once we turn our backs to Dho, we will be passing several rows of stone houses. You will pass a popular school, and follow an ascending trail uphill. This trail leads you to the traditional, remote village of Tok-Kyu, where you will get to see old-fashioned houses and a lifestyle untouched by modern influences.
This area is famous as one of the highest-altitude human settlements in the world. From here, we will be crossing the Tarap Khola. This river runs swiftly between a stunning depth creating a lovely gorge. You will be rewarded with interesting sights like Shering Gompa, a house for the monks in this region. The trail leads you through gentle inclines and then turns more rugged as you near Numa La Camp. After walking for about 4 to 5 hours, you will reach Numa La Camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in Camp.
This day’s trek gets slightly more strenuous as we enter higher elevations. The climb may be steep, but it is also gratifying. Once up there, you will get to marvel at the astounding beauty of the mountains. The views of the sprawling desert land in front of you is bound to make an impactful memory. After you’ve had your fill–both for your heart and your cameras, we will descend to Dajok Tang. This day’s trek will only take you about 4-5 hours of walking.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in Camp.
On this day, we will be crossing a stream and then ascending a slope to reach Poyn Chu Valley. You will reach Baga La as you continue along, which is at an elevation of 5190m. Since this is quite high, it is possible to tire yourself quicker. With this in mind, this day’s itinerary is only 4 hours long. We will be walking alongside a mountainside slant until we get to Sanu Bheri Valley.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in Camp.
You will begin the descent and will immediately be greeted with beautiful stretches of green meadows. These will then lead you into dense forests that stretch high up to provide ample shade as you trek on through. Additionally, you will be passing yak pastures and also climbing on a cliffside ridge.
This ridge acts as an excellent viewpoint to watch the bustling valley below. You can also witness the mighty waterfall that comes out of Phoksundo Lake. You will follow a trail that lowers you and takes you via tall pine forests to Ringmo. Ringmo is a small Tibetan village but it offers excellent views of the Phoksundo Lake.
The blue waters are bound to seem inviting after a long day’s trek. You can spend your evening walking by this lake and snapping pictures of the sunset. We will be stopping here right near the famous Phoksundo Lake.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in Camp.
The next day’s trek is much easier on your feet. You will be detouring to visit a Tibetan monastery nearby and appreciate the pristine beauty of this emerald lake. The monastery is Tshowa Gompa, which is a 900-year-old Bon monastery that sits on a small ridge above the lake. The lake is considered to be sacred by the Buddhist community and sports a breathtaking turquoise color.
Once we move on from this point, we will be heading towards Sulighad. The fun tidbit is that one of the streams originating from the lake itself will guide us along the way until we reach the village of Renje.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in Camp.
On this day’s trek, we will leave the small village of Renje. With the tall mountains celebrating our successful trek, we will be marching through fir and larch forests. Flowing right alongside us will be the Sulighat River, ready with its fresh stream to rejuvenate us along the way. After about 6 hours of walking, we will reach Chepka.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in Camp.
On this day’s trek, we will be walking for about 6 hours. You will be trekking through villages and getting a view of the local livelihood. The trek is relatively stress-free and full of all the beauty that the plains have to offer. You will have plenty of time to slowly walk and snap pictures once we reach Dunai.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in Camp.
Once we have a hearty breakfast, we will head right back into the trail. This trail is sure to be a treat for your eyes. You will be walking through Birch trees and vast green pastures. The route can sometimes get rocky, but you are unlikely to notice from the high of your triumphant descent. This day’s trek will take you about 6-7 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in available local lodges.
Early morning we will be taking a short, scenic flight to Kathmandu. The flight will only take about 1 hour, during which you can marvel at the land below and celebrate your successful trek. From here, we will be transferring you to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to catch up on some sightseeing or simply rest in your hotel and go through your camera roll around Thamel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in Yatri Suites and Spa Thamel or similar in Kathmandu.
Your trip will come to an end today. You will be advised and assisted with your onward travel arrangements and transfer to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport by private transport around 3 hours before your flight schedule and flight back to your home/other travel destination. Have a safe journey onwards.
Including Breakfast and private Transport.
