Dolpa Trekking-10 Days

Good to Know
  • Duration 10 Days
  • Trip Grade Moderate
  • Starts/Ends Kathmandu to Kathmandu
  • Group Size 2-10
  • Max. Altitude 3733 m.
  • Best Season March, April, May and September, October, November

Far behind the Dhaulagiri mountain range, Dolpa is almost completely cut off from development efforts of the outside world.  It is one of the most isolated regions in Nepal. Dolpa was first opened to trekkers in 1990 and Inner Dolpo only in 1992. In spite of it’s beautiful landscapes and authentic culture, up till now it’s still a region which gets very few tourists. You can walk for days without meeting any other foreign trekkers. A very special experience as well!

Hiking in Dolpa is an experience of a lifetime. The trails give you a unique opportunity to experience life in the remote highlands. As you walk through the beautiful landscapes, passing through pine forests alongside wild rivers with views of beautiful snowcapped mountains, you will feel as if you are in a hidden paradise, frozen in time. If you are going to Dho Tarap, you hike through desolate landscapes surrounded by rocks in all kind of colors and formations. The Phoksundo Lake is of an incomparable beauty, with its deep blue and emerald colors, surrounded by steep rocks. You will not find a body of water so precious looking anywhere else.  During your journey in the Dolpa region, you will pass through authentic Buddhist and Bonpo villages, and get in contact with untouched Tibetan culture. The population of Dolpa is very diverse, with Hindu’s living in the lower parts and Buddhist people from Tibetan background living in the higher parts of Dolpa.  Bonpo religion is practiced in these higher regions as well.  It is the oldest spiritual tradion of Tibet. It is very much related with Buddhism, but has more shamanistic and animistic influences, which gives a mythical appeal to Dolpa.
 

Itinerary
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Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, the Adventure Himalayan representatives will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel. After refreshment, you will be briefed in short about your tour by our guide or tour leader.  If you have any questions or doubts about your trip then they should be asked and clarified at this time. Overnight stay at hotel.
 

    Kathmandu Valley includes several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Pashupatinath (famous Hindu temple and cremation ground) Boudhanath (massive Buddhist stupa). We can also visit Swyambhunath, also known as Monkey Temple, which was built roughly 2000 years ago.  Finally, we can visit Patan, city of fine arts. In the afternoon, you will be meeting with your trekking guide and will check all the necessary things. Overnight stay at the hotel.

      To get to Dolpa, you have to fly to Nepalgunj first. Nepalgunj is a city in South Western Nepal, in the lowlands of Terai, close to the Indian border. You pass the busy of the bazaar and see horse carts full with people going to or coming from the Indian border.  Overnight in hotel in Nepalgunj.

        In the morning, we take a spectacular 35 minute flight over steep mountain ridges to Juphal. Juphal airport is just a gravel airstrip amidst the mountains and Juphal a small, mostly Hindu village. From Juphal you walk down over a small path among fields with wheat and vegetables to the Thuli Bheri River. Soon, we see a big iron suspension bridge, the Dhim Bridge of 99 m long. This is the entrance to the Shey Phoksundo National Park (SPNP). SPNP is Nepal’s largest National Park, established in 1984, with an area of 3,555 km⊃2. It aims to conserve the Trans-Himalayan ecosystem and the Tibetan type of flora and fauna. In 1998, and area of 1,349 km2.  You have to pay 1000 rps entrance fee (except persons from SAARC countries, who pay 100 rps).  We walk along the quiet path for several hours through forests and along emerald green rivers.  More or less an hour after Shyanta, you reach Chhepka,  a small village, surrounded by fields of barley. Overnight in Chhepka.

          It’s a short hike today to Ringmo and the Phoksundo Lake. After about an hour or two of trekking, we reach a viewpoint, where we will see a Nepal's highest waterfall of 167 meters high, the Suligad Waterfall (also called Phoksundo Waterfall). A nice place for a little break. 5 minutes after the viewpoint you will reach the top, and you will have your first view of the view of the Phoksundo Lake. It’s now half an hour more Nepali flat, walking through the forests, till you reach Ringmo. Overnight in Ringmo.

            As the Phoksundo Lake is such a beautiful place, a free day here is recommended. Ringmo is a charming village that lies on the shore of Phoksundo Lake. People practice the Bonpo religion here. At the other shore, there is a beautiful Bonpo Monastery which you can visit. It’s a 20 minute walk to the monastery through the pine forest. In the monastery you can observe a statue of Thönpa Chenrab, the founder of Bonpo religion, a Buddha who lived thousands of years ago.

              You can walk the following stretch in two short days, or one long day. Walking time to Rechi is about 3 ½ hours (excluding breaks) and from Rechi to Chhepka is 3 ½ hours as well.  The walk to Rechi goes almost entirely through beautiful pine forests, with some bushes, birches and other broadleaf trees in it as well.  After a couple hours of hiking, we reach a hospital.  From here, it’s about 1 ½ hour walking to Rechi (2940 m). Just before Rechi, there is a hotel with a camping spot, where you can stop for lunch or put up your tent.

              The path continues steeply uphill for about 15 minutes (you can see Rechi on the other side of the river) and afterwards goes down steeply as well.  It’s about 3 to 3 ½ hours walking to Chhepka. We notice a change in vegetation as we pass through forests for the rest of the way to reach Chhepka. Overnight in Chhepka.

                You pass villages like Shyanta, Raktang (2421m) and Kageni (2413 m), while passing though scenic landscapes. An hour later, you cross a suspension bridge. Soon after, there is the checkpost of the Shey Phoksundo National Park (SPNP), where you have to show your permit and entree ticket of the SPNP.  To Juphal it’s about 2½ - 3 hours from the bridge. About 1.5 hr later, we leave the main road and walk over a small path. It’s a pretty steep climb of about 1 - 1½ hour to reach Juphal, a large village with a small bazaar where it is nice to look around.

                  Early in the morning you fly to Nepalgunj. Especially the first part of the flight through the mountain valleys is spectacular. Later in the day, you fly back to Kathmandu.  Celebratory dinner in Kathmandu.  Overnight at hotel.

                    We will transport you to the airport.  Thanks for trekking with Adventure Himalayan travels.  We look forward to seeing you again!

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                      What's Included
                      Includes
                      • 5 nights and 6 days of food and accommodation during trek with home stay or lodge 
                      • Kathmandu - Nepalgunj - Juphal and Juphal - Nepalgunj - Kathmandu airfare
                      • English speaking local expert guide 
                      •  Dolpa permit fees ($10 per week)
                      • Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) fees
                      • Three nights’ accommodation at three star hotel in Kathmandu on twin sharing with breakfast
                      • Airport transfers and escort
                      • Farewell dinner in Kathmandu
                      • Equipment clothing for porter & staffs
                      • Equipment (sleeping bag, first aid kit, oximeter etc.)
                      • Insurance for all staff & porters.
                      • Trekking achievement certificate
                      • Adventure Himalayan Tshirt
                      Excludes
                      • Nepal visa - Multiple Entrée 30 days - USD 50  (Details in Visa Page)
                      • International flight 
                      • Lunch & dinner during hotel stay in Kathmandu
                      • Hot Shower and electronic charging fees at guest houses during the trek
                      • Alcoholic drinks, candies, etc.
                      • Extra accomodation and meals outside of itinerary
                      • Personal gears & clothing (available on hire)
                      • Tips, any expenses incurred in emergency evacuation/road block due to any reason, table drinks, snacks while walking. 
                      Dates and Prices
                      Date PriceAvailability 
                      Start DateStarts: ThursdayDec 12, 2024End DateEnds: SaturdayDec 21, 2024PricePriceUS$1575StatusStatusAvailable
                      Start DateStarts: MondayDec 16, 2024End DateEnds: WednesdayDec 25, 2024PricePriceUS$1575StatusStatusAvailable
                      Start DateStarts: ThursdayDec 19, 2024End DateEnds: SaturdayDec 28, 2024PricePriceUS$1575StatusStatusAvailable
                      Start DateStarts: MondayDec 23, 2024End DateEnds: WednesdayJan 01, 2025PricePriceUS$1575StatusStatusAvailable
                      Start DateStarts: ThursdayDec 26, 2024End DateEnds: SaturdayJan 04, 2025PricePriceUS$1575StatusStatusAvailable
                      Start DateStarts: MondayDec 30, 2024End DateEnds: WednesdayJan 08, 2025PricePriceUS$1575StatusStatusAvailable

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