Upper Dolpo "the Hidden Land"

Once a forbidden land, Dolpo retains its pristine conditions and the people unchanged through centuries. The region became known to the outside world after the release of the film “Caravan” by Eric Valli which highlighted its spectacular landscapes and the Tibetan culture of the local inhabitants.

In the footsteps of the salt caravans: Saldang, Yangsher, Shey Gompa

Dolpo is a Bae Yul, a "Hidden Country" in Tibetan, due to its inaccessibility and isolation.
These mystical high valleys were long forbidden to foreigners. Apart from a few villages and monasteries, Dolpo is a desolate land of icy valleys, snow-capped peaks, and pristine, turquoise lakes.
We will visit the main villages of Shey Gompa "crystal mountain monastery" whose pilgrims perform the kora and on to Saldang, the small capital of the largest and yet least inhabited districts of Nepal.
We hike through the Tarap Valley with its rich pastures, famous for its small horses and the magnificent Phoksumdo Lake where Eric Valli filmed "Caravan" which features a caravan passing through the old trade route. Today it has given way to the Yarsagumba route, a precious little caterpillar turned into a parasite by a fungus, which is the region's new source of wealth.

 

HIGHLIGHTS
- A wild and remote region in the footsteps of the salt caravans immortalized by Eric Valli's film "Caravan”, the high mountain atmosphere with four passes over 5000m.
- Old-style trekking in bivouac in an under-explored region.
- A particular Tibetan culture and the ancestral animist religion of Bonpo.


-

Gallery

Itinerary

  • Level of Trek: Easy
  • Best Period: June - September
  • Duration: 27 Days
  • Number of walking days: 21
  • Highest Altitude: 5500 Meters
  • Flights: Kathmandu - Nepalgunj - Juphal - Nepalgunj - Kathmandu
  • Accomodation: Hotel in Kathmandu & Lodge/Camp during trek
Leave No Trace

For your next trek with us in the Himalayas, travel light and aware: Base Camp offers you a biodegradable soap made in Nepal, to leave no trace ...

Day
Airport pick-up, transfer to hotel.
- Accommodation: Hotel

- Accommodation: Hotel

- Duration of hike: 5-6hr
- Accommodation: Camping

We make a gradual ascent through pine and juniper forest and come across many hamlets and grazing herds. We then camp by the riverside.
- Duration of hike: 6hr
- Accommodation: Camp

We walk through a narrow path in the Tarap Khola gorges and camp near the river.
- Duration of hike: 6hr
- Accommodation: Camp
We leave the gorges and reach the Tibetan plateau at about 4000 m. Actually, Tarap is the name of the valley where there are many villages, of which Dho is the prominent one.
- Duration of hike: 6hr
- Accommodation: Camp

This is a day of rest for acclimatization with visits to small temples, monasteries and villages in the Tarap Valley.
- Accommodation: Camp

We spend the morning in Tarap, then make a short trek to reach the camp at the foot of the Num La (Pass) that we will cross the next day.
- Duration of hike: 4hr
- Accommodation:  Camp

We walk for 2 hr and cross the Num La (5,200m) then walk to Langmosi La (4,900m), another pass. Towards the south, we see the beautiful panoramic view of the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau towards the North.
- Duration of hike: 5-6hr
- Accommodation: Camp

We cross the Langmosi La (Pass) (4,900m) and descend to Nyalde to set up camp near the river.
- Duration of hike: 6hr
- Accommodation: Camp

This day we have an easy hike along the river to reach the village of Sibu.
- Accommodation: Camp

Today we hike to reach Saldang, Dolpo’s largest village.
- Duration of hike: 5hr
- Accommodation: Camp

A day of rest at Saldang.
- Accommodation: Camp

We follow the banks of a stream and enjoy an easy walk to Yangshe. We set up camp near the Yangsher Monastery, the largest gompa in Dolpo.
- Duration of hike: 5hr
- Accommodation: Camp
Today we have an easy trek to Karang, a beautiful village within stone walls with barley fields around the village.
- Duration of hike: 3hr
- Accommodation: Camp
It’s a hard trek to cross the Yang La pass (5,400m) and reach the village of Phyger.
- Accommodation: Camp

We visit the Samling Monastery (follows the ancient Bönpo religion) and trek along the riverbed to Tra, among the nomad camps.
- Accommodation: Camp

We first follow the riverbed, then climb up and then come down to reach Shey Gompa, Dolpo’s famous monastery. In front of the village lies a hill known as ‘Crystal Mountain’ that is renowned for Kora.
- Duration of hike: 6hr
- Accommodation: Camp

Visit the Shey Gompa and spend the day resting in the camp.
- Accommodation: Camp

From Shey Gompa, we hike for a few hours before crossing the Kang La (5,500m), the highest pass on this journey. We then make a long descent into a rough terrain to reach Phoksumdo Khola and our bivouac.
- Duration of hike: 7-8hr
- Accommodation: Camp
This is perhaps the most beautiful day of our trek as we follow the small trail along the sparkling Lake Phoksumdo in an amazing environment of snowy mountains and forests. We camp out in Ringmo.
- Duration of hike: 6hr
- Accommodation: Camp
We spend the morning in Ringmo to visit the Bönpo monastery over the lake. In the afternoon, we take a walk to Sepka. This is our last night in camp.
- Duration of hike: 5hr
- Accommodation: Camp

We make a long trek to reach Juphal Airport.
- Duration of hike: 8hr
- Accommodation: Lodge

We fly from Juphal to Nepalgunj and then on to Kathmandu. The rest of the day is free in Kathmandu.
- Accommodation: Hotel

Free day in the city.
- Accommodation: Hotel

Free day in the city.
- Accommodation: Hotel

Airport transfer to TIA (Kathmandu Airport) for your return flight.
End of our services.

Notes

- In Kathmandu, we use hotels of good category *** well located in the center of Kathmandu.
- The stay in Kathmandu is always done in B&B to give you your choice of restaurants that offer you traditional and continental cuisine according to your choices.
- During the trek, you will be in full board and accommodation according to the itinerary.




What's included

- All airport transfers by private vehicle.
- 4 nights at the hotel Tibet *** or similar in Bed & Breakfast
- 1 night at Sneha Hotel, Nepalgunj with half-board
- Trek full board in bivouac
- Camping equipment and collective kitchen (comfort version with tables and chairs, mess tent, kitchen tent, and two-seater tents, stove, gas, mattress ...)
- Special permits Lower Dolpo / TIMS / and entrance to Phoksumdo National Park
- Flights Kathmandu - Nepalgunj - Juphal Round Trip ($ 656 / Person - may change without notice)
- English speaking guide from Kathmandu to Kathmandu
- Team: 1 kitchen, kitchen boy (s), Sherpa (s), porters with 2 persons and mules from 3 persons
- Carrying personal belongings up to 13 kg/person
- Insurance staff and routing guide and cook
- Cargo of our equipment at the airport
- Domestic airport taxes
- Upper Dolpo permit (US $ 500 / person for 10 days)

What's not included

- Meals in Kathmandu except breakfasts
- Nepal Visa ($50 + Photo)
- Personal insurance mandatory repatriation
- Cargo for all excess baggage over 15kg / person (hold baggage and hand baggage) to be paid on the spot at the airport
- Personal expenses, tips, drinks, sleeping bags, etc.
Question? Make an inquiry or call (977-1) 451 55 73