Upper Dolpo Trek – 23 Days
Upper Dolpo Trek – 23 Days

Trip Overview
Trip Highlights
- State-of-the- art trek.
- Nature and culture is flawless.
- Shey-Phoksundo lake is hobby horse.
- Lake has deep secret of changing its colors.
- Snow leopard,blue sheep and serow is hypnotizing.
- 5070 m of elevation with uneven and hilly trails.
- Arduous trek so apposite for workhorse trekkers.
Upper Dolpo Trek is very famous long and wilderness trekking in western Nepal. Placed at the remote corner of Trans-Himalayan region ‘Dolpo’ is a heavenly land in mid-western part of Nepal. Trekking in this region has been opened only recently for trekkers, so the cultural and natural beauty of this area remains uninfluenced by the outer-world. The main attraction of this region is ‘Shey-Phoksundo’ lake, the lovely lake is best known for its ever-changing water colors. The lake itself fall in the areas of ‘Shey-Phoksundo National Park’, the park is home to some of the most remarkable wildlife Nepal has to offer such as snow leopard, blue sheep and serow. Rodney Jackson, a great Naturalist conducted his research on snow leopards in Shey-Phoksundo area itself.
Since, the area lies is very remote, it takes a week or a two to get to Upper Dolpa, if you fly in and out of Dunai. We head north from Dunai, it takes a day to enter the park from there and two more days to make it to the famous lake. Only a few houses in this region offer shelter since it’s a food deficit area, so we need to be self-sufficient while on this trip.
The altitude of the trek ranges from 2500 meters to 5070 meters while the trekking route is also very narrow and steep at places, so a good physical condition and hiking experience is mandatory for this trek.
Upper Dolpo trek cost for 2025, 2026 and 2027
The cost for the Upper Dolpo trek varies depending on the number of people in the group. Here’s a breakdown:
Number of Pax | Cost per Person (USD) |
---|---|
2 | $4290 |
3 | $4200 |
4 to 6 | $4100 |
7 to 10 | $4000 |
11+ | $3900 |
Dolpo preserves one of the last remnants of traditional Tibetan culture, so apart from the great Himalayan views and well-preserved ecosystem. The trekking never fails to amaze you with the very remote lifestyle of the local people. A trek through Upper Dolpo is truly an experience of lifetime.
Itinerary
Arrival and transfer to hotel/welcome dinner. (D)
Arrival and transfer to hotel/welcome dinner. (D)
Day at Leisure /Hotel. (B.D)
Day at Leisure /Hotel. (B.D)
Flight Kathmandu-Nepalgunj
Flight Kathmandu-Nepalgunj
Flight Nepalgunj-Juphal (2475 m), walk to Chhepka (2838 m) Duration: 6 hrs
Flight Nepalgunj-Juphal (2475 m), walk to Chhepka (2838 m) Duration: 6 hrs
Chhepka to Chunuwar/Amchi Hospital (3110 m) Duration: 6 hrs (B.L.D)
Chhepka to Chunuwar/Amchi Hospital (3110 m) Duration: 6 hrs (B.L.D)
Trek to Ringmo/Phoksundo Lake (3733 m) Duration: 3 hrs (B.L.D)
Trek to Ringmo/Phoksundo Lake (3733 m) Duration: 3 hrs (B.L.D)
Ringmo/Phoksundo Lake (3733 m), free day (B.L.D)
Ringmo/Phoksundo Lake (3733 m), free day (B.L.D)
Ringmo/Phoksundo Lake to Chunemba (3639 m) Duration: 5 hrs (B.L.D)
Ringmo/Phoksundo Lake to Chunemba (3639 m) Duration: 5 hrs (B.L.D)
Chunemba to Snowfields Camp (4400 m) Duration: 7 hrs (B.L.D)
Chunemba to Snowfields Camp (4400 m) Duration: 7 hrs (B.L.D)
Trek to Shey Gompa (4310 m) via Kang La (5375 m) Duration: 6 hrs (B.L.D)
Trek to Shey Gompa (4310 m) via Kang La (5375 m) Duration: 6 hrs (B.L.D)
Rest day Shey Gompa (4310 m) (B.L.D)
Rest day Shey Gompa (4310 m) (B.L.D)
Shey Gompa to Namgung (4430 m) via Shey La (5000 m) Duration: 6 hrs (B.L.D)
Shey Gompa to Namgung (4430 m) via Shey La (5000 m) Duration: 6 hrs (B.L.D)
Namgung to Saldang (4060 m) Duration:3 hrs (B.L.D)
Namgung to Saldang (4060 m) Duration:3 hrs (B.L.D)
Saldang to Sibu (4200 m) Duration: 5 hrs (B.L.D)
Saldang to Sibu (4200 m) Duration: 5 hrs (B.L.D)
Sibu to Lagmo Che (4570 m) Duration:4 hrs (B.L.D)
Sibu to Lagmo Che (4570 m) Duration:4 hrs (B.L.D)
Lagmo Che to Tokyu (4209 m) via Jeng La (5110 m) Duration: 7 hrs (B.L.D)
Lagmo Che to Tokyu (4209 m) via Jeng La (5110 m) Duration: 7 hrs (B.L.D)
Trek to Samling Gompa (3800m) (B.L.D)
Trek to Samling Gompa (3800m) (B.L.D)
Dho Tarap to Sisaul (3750 m) Duration:4 hrs (B.L.D)
Dho Tarap to Sisaul (3750 m) Duration:4 hrs (B.L.D)
Sisaul to Laina Odar (3370 m) Duration: 7-8 hrs (B.L.D)
Sisaul to Laina Odar (3370 m) Duration: 7-8 hrs (B.L.D)
Laina Odar to Lingdo (2391 m) Duration: 5 hrs (B.L.D)
Laina Odar to Lingdo (2391 m) Duration: 5 hrs (B.L.D)
Lingdo to Dunai (2140 m) Duration: 5 hrs (B.L.D)
Lingdo to Dunai (2140 m) Duration: 5 hrs (B.L.D)
Dunai to Juphal (2475 m) Duration: 4 hrs (B.L.D)
Dunai to Juphal (2475 m) Duration: 4 hrs (B.L.D)
Flight Juphal-Nepalgunj-Kathmandu (B)
Flight Juphal-Nepalgunj-Kathmandu (B)
Leisure day in Kathmandu and shopping (B)
Leisure day in Kathmandu and shopping (B)
Departure (B)
Departure (B)
Include/Exclude
What's Included
- Airport pick up and drop off by our private vehicle
- Kathmandu/Pokhara/Nepalgunj hotel room with Breakfast (B) basis
- Domestic Airfare from Pokhara to Jomsom and Nepalgunj-Kathmandu
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) fees
- Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) permit fee
- Upper Dolpo Special trekking permit fee
- Dolpo National Park entry permit fee
- All accommodation and 3 meals a day during the trek
- English speaking trekking Guide and each 2 persons 1 Porter
- All land transfer as per itinerary
What's Not Included
- Nepal entry visa fee per person US$ 40 only.
- Kathmandu/Pokhara/Nepalgunj Hotel Lunch and Dinner (L, D)
- Kathmandu-Pokhara or Pokhara-Kathmandu Domestic Airfare per person US$ 102 only (If you required)
- Travel Insurance and medical evacuation in case of emergency
- Items of personal nature & all bar bills ie. Soft/hard drinks, tips for Nepalese staff’s etc.
Fixed Departure
Reviews
Upper Dolpo Trek
Upper Dolpo Trek the peacefulness of Upper Dolpo was refreshing. We enjoyed the isolation and the opportunity to truly connect with nature.
Upper Dolpo Trek
Upper Dolpo Trek the peacefulness of Upper Dolpo was refreshing. We enjoyed the isolation and the opportunity to truly connect with nature.
FAQs
Are there ATM facilities in Nepal?
Yes, in Kathmandu and Pokhara. International credit cards (Master Card, Visa Card etc) are also accepted in all leading hotels, shopping centers, bars and restaurants in Nepal.
Do I need a visa to travel to Nepal?
All foreign nationals, except Indian Citizens, need visas to enter Nepal.
How to Enter Nepal?
In order to fly directly to Nepal from your home country, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu is the only international airport in Nepal. TIA has direct air link with Osaka, Shanghai, London, Frankfurt, Hongkong, Singapore, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Bombay and Calcutta. Lufthansa, Nepal Airlines (NAC), Air India, Singapore Airlines, Thai are the airlines that carry most of the foreign travelers into Kathmandu; and if you buy tickets from any other airlines, you will probably connect with one of these airlines for the final leg of your flight. Alternatively, if you have time and enthusiasm, traveling overland to Nepal via India is an option.
What about getting to Nepal from Tibet?
The crossing between Nepal and Tibet via Kodari is only open to organized groups but not to individual travelers heading north. Be prepared with alternative plans if you’re thinking about using this route, because landslides regularly make it impassable during the monsoon.
What are health requirements to visit Nepal?
Nepal does not require any specific immunization for visitors. It is however best to have vaccine before coming to Nepal. Your doctors can advice you on the type of vaccine to be taken to travel to third world countries like Nepal.
What are some basic Nepali customs that I should know about?
- Take off your shoes before entering a temple or one’s home
- Ask for permission before entering a Hindu temple
- Taking photographs inside the most temples are considered illegal
- Ask for permission before taking photographs of objects, and including Nepali people.
- Nepali people are friendly by nature. Have a genuine interest in them. Talk to them. Be friendly as you travel
What do I need to get my visa?
You need a valid passport, two passport size photos and US$ in cash.
What if I decided to stay more than 60 days in Nepal? Where and what should I do to extend my Tourist Visa?
There’s no problem in it. The Immigration Department of Kathmandu or Pokhara can extend the visa for another 30 days and the charge for this is US$ 50. Indeed the visa can be extended for a total of 120 days, an additional 30 days visa may be granted on reasonable grounds from the Immigration Office. Nevertheless, a tourist cannot stay in Nepal under tourist-visa for more than 150 cumulative days.
What is the currency of Nepal?
Nepalese currency is spelled as Nepalese Rupees or Rupee (Rs) or Nepali Rupee, and in short it is written NRS or RS. 100 Paisa equals 1 Rs. Currently Notes of the following denominations are used: 1000, 500, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2, and 1 rupees. Coin hasn’t been popular in Nepal and hence is almost always ignored in business. The coins of the following denominations can be found: 1 paisa, 5 paisa, 10 paisa, 50 paisa and 1 Rs, 2 Rs, and 5 Rs. It is recommended that you travel with smaller notes in less populated areas, while large notes are easily accepted elsewhere.
What is the national language of Nepal?
Nepal’s national language is called Nepali. It is written in Devnagri Script. This script is the same as the one used in Hindi language – the national language of India. There are more than 72 different spoken languages in Nepal. It is also official language of Nepal.
What time is it now in Nepal and what’s the phone code?
Nepali time is GMT/UTC plus 5 Hours 45 minutes. Area code for dialing to Nepal: Country Code: 977 Kathmandu City Code: 1 (e.g. 977 1 4212737 First three digits is the country code, second is the area code, the last digits are telephone numbers.
What's the common form of greeting in Nepal?
It is called Namaste or Namaskar. You can say the greeting in words as well as do it using a gesture. Join your palms together and bring them close to your chest and about 5 to 7 inches below your chin. The word Namaste has many meanings such as Hello, How are you? I am glad to see you, nice to meet you, good morning, etc.
When is the best time to travel in Nepal?
The weather is probably the best guide for deciding when to plan your trip to Nepal. The best time to visit Nepal is between September to November and March to May.
Where do I apply to get my visa?
The best way to apply for visa is from the Nepalese diplomatic missions in your home country. The other choice is to get it from Immigration office upon your arrival day at the entry points of Nepal.
Where is Nepal?
Nepal, a sovereign Independent Kingdom, lies between 80 degree 12′ east longitude and 26 degree 22′ and 30 degree 27′ north latitude. It is bounded on the north by the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China; on the east by Sikkim and West Bengal of the Indian Union on the south by Indian States of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and on the west by Uttar Pradesh of Indian Union. The length of the Kingdom is 885 kilometers east-west and its breath varies from 145 to 241 kilometers north-south. Climatically, it lies in the temperate zone with the added advantage of altitude.
Why is Nepal such a fascinating country for many people?
The Himalayan kingdom of Nepal is a land of scenic mountains, time-worn temples and some of the best walking trails on Earth. It’s a small country, but it’s rich in scenic splendor and exotic cultures. The people of Nepal are as diverse as their country and represent distinct cultures and races.
Though they speak a variety of tongues and practice different religions, they are the friendliest people that you would ever meet. The kingdom has long exerted a pull on the Western imagination and it’s a difficult place to dislodge from your memory once you return. So, wait until you’re actually here in Nepal.
As a traveler, there is endless number of surprises Nepal has to offer you. Kathmandu Valley with its thousands of Hindu temples, Buddhist stupas, stunning architecture and rich pageantry can be quite beyond words. If you are careful enough not to get entangled in the superficial facade of a flatly”modernizing” capital city, Kathmandu probably offers you as exotic and urban experience as you can get.
Beyond Kathmandu, it’s another world altogether. Most travelers to Nepal want to check out the truly spectacular Himalayas along with the higher hills. A few go there to scale the high mountains, but many are nature lovers who trek along landscapes filled with deep valleys, lush forests, snow trails, terraced fields, and above all, the most hospitable people.
Travelers to Nepal also love making a safari trip to one of the National Parks in Nepal. The most popular one is the Chitwan National Park in the southern plains which hosts a diverse wildlife reserves including the rare Asian one-horn rhino.
Will my Cell phone (mobile phone) work in Nepal?
Please, Contact your service provider and check if Nepal country is included in their `Global roaming’ package. Please note, not all parts of Nepal are covered by the GSM Network in Nepal.
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