Sherpa Nomads offers an amazing adventure to Lower Dolpo & Phokshumdo Lake on the classic Caravan Trade route to Tibet, where the elusive snow leopard and early pre-Buddhist the Bon religion still exist in the wild country, located in Far North West Nepal, where the trade with Tibet still flourish across the border.
Lower Dolpo & Phokshumdo Lake trek offers views of Mt. Dhaulagiri I (8,167m), Tukuche Peak (6,920 m) Nilgiri Peaks (7,061m) Annapurna I (8,091m / 26,545ft) Annapurna South (7,219m-23,693ft), Gangapurna (7,455m-24,457ft) and Annapurna III (7,555m-24,787ft) to Mt. Machhapuchhre (Fish-tail) with 08th highest Mt. Manaslu 8,163 m, range of mountains with Api and Saiphal including Kagmara Himal.
Trek to Lower Dolpo & Phokshumdo starts with a scenic sweeping flight to Nepalgunj city on the Far South West Nepal close to Indian border in a warm temperature zone, from here taking another scenic sweeping flight to Dolpo at Jhupal village with alluring views of Api, Saiphal and Dhaulagiri range of mountains, landing at Jhupal and the heading to Dunai town the headquarter town of Dolpo district located, this area famous for snow leopard and Blue sheep and other wildlife. From here the adventure begins with slow scenic walk towards the picturesque Phokshumdo Lake known as Ringo also, to reach around this wonderful scenic area with tranquil environment.
On route this trek to Lower Dolpo visiting interesting villages of strong Tibetan influenced similar culture, Buddhist / Bon (pre Buddhism) traditions and daily way of life and custom, walk leads on the barren windswept terrain with amazing views of red rock formation walls high cliffs in the backdrop of high snow capped mountains.
Lower Dolpo & Phokshumdo trek passes through several interesting villages of Ankhe 2,896m, Sumdu / Sulighat village 3,500m to reach at beautiful country in Phokshumdo Lake with a nice Tibetan looking Ringmo village closeby, after a rest to enjoy the scenery and exploring the lake and village, adventure continues to a high pass of Baga La 5,070m and Jeng la at 5,090 meters reaching impressive villages of Tokyu and Dho Tarap and to Tarakot a nice village with a monastery, from here slowly this awesome adventure concludes at Jhupal with a flight back to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj after a wonderful adventure to Lower Dolpo & Phokshumdo lake with great service of Sherpa Nomads and its friendly crews and guides.
Fascinating trek on the high extension of the Tibetan plateau, amazing scenery of rock and canyons, turquoise Phokshumdo Lake, mountain views of Dhaulagiri, and Dolpo Himal with Kagamara, visiting traditional villages of Buddhist culture and religions, interesting monasteries, on the high scenic passes with arid barren and photogenic landscapes, on the wild areas of Lower Dolpo the land of Snow Leopard and Blue Sheep.
On reaching Kathmandu international airport, received by Sherpa Nomads staff and transfer to respective hotel in the hub of Kathmandu, and then briefing / orientation program regarding Kathmandu, and Lower Dolpo trek.
Morning after breakfast our city tour guide will take you on a half day tour at places of interest around interesting old temples, monasteries and palaces, Kathmandu is full of World Heritage Sites, afternoon transfer to Kathmandu domestic airport for the flight to Nepalgunj with alluring views of Himalayan mountains during 50 minutes flight, on reaching at Nepalgunj airport transfer to respective hotels around the city area.
short drive from the hotel to Nepalgunj airport for the connecting short scenic flight to Jhuphal which takes about 40 mins, on the flight super panorama of Dhaulagiri mountain range, on reaching Jhuphal, our field and trekking crews will meet and then with a short drive on the jeep track road to Dunai for overnight stop, Dunai a moderate size and a headquarter town with Government administrative of Dolpo region.
After a flight and short drive to Dunai, morning starts with the first day walk by crossing a suspension bridge and then leading towards North West with a climb to the banks of Thulo Bheri Valley, after a while it leads to a ridge at Phokshumdo river valley at 2,499 meters, with magnificent views of Kagamara Peak, then walking on the path with a long downhill through several scattered houses and walnut groves near to a stream, then reaching at Dhera a small winter settlements of cattle herders, from here climbing to Rahagaon village inhabited mostly by Thakuri, a Hindu tribe of people of the Western Himalaya mid hills, after Rahagaon walking downhill towards a dense forests, reaching at Ankhe for overnight camp, this small place is the main entrance to Shey Phokshumdo National Park, afternoon at leisure for short walk around this nice area.
Morning from Ankhe starts with short ups and downhill walks into forest and then to river side, then climbing to a ridge leaving behind the forested area high above the river, after the ridge top descending back to forest area to another riverbeds. From here walk leads to an upstream then crossing a small bridge near Ryajik village, after this village walking further towards our overnight camp at Sumdu near Sulighat village with time for short visit around this nice small village.
Today walk leads to one of the highlight of this trip to a beautiful emerald Phokshumdo lake, starting the morning walk into the valley of Phokshumdo and Pungmo Kholas (streams) confluence, after crossing the western side of Phokshumdo Khola, and then following the Pungmo Khola west bank, after a nice and pleasant rest stops, walk leads on the downhill path through birch and pine forests towards upper side of Phokshumdo Khola, and then finally reaching at Ringmo village, this is one of the interesting and attractive village with mud plastered chortens and Mani (prayer) walls, from this nice village a short walk towards the enchanting, turquoise and emerald colored Phokshumdo Lake, overnight camp near the bank of this beautiful lake.
An important and necessary rest day at Ringmo and Phokshumdo Lake for acclimatization before heading higher area, this is an ideal spot for free day around this place one take an optional walk or visit the Ringmo village and its old interesting Buddhist Monastery along with stunning views of surrounding landscapes and snow capped mountains.
After an enjoyable and interesting time at Ringmo village and Phokshumdo lake, today’s walk leads to other side of Dolpo area towards east by an alternative way crossing few passes, starting the morning walk on a pleasant and gradual trail and then leading to an uphill climb to cross over Baga-la at 5,070 meters, with steep climb for about 03 hours to reach the top of the pass, the top offers overwhelming panorama of Phoksumdo lake and Kagmara peaks, after a great scenery walk leads to a long descend to our overnight camp to phedi, meaning base or a bottom of the hills.
From this camp, morning walk leads to another pass at Numa-la at 5,190 meters, the highest spot of this awesome trip, walk leads to a climb on the nice grassy slopes for about three hours then reaching the top of Numa-la with impressive views of snow capped mountains from Dhaulagiri mountain range to Kagmara peak and looking down at beautiful valleys and surrounding dramatic landscapes, after an enjoyable moment descend to the base of this high pass, then with few hours of good walk on the gradual path to our overnight camp on the summer pasture fields and meadows.
After being few days in total isolation away from the village, today’s walk leads to an interesting village at Tokyu Gaon, one of the largest village of this region, starting the morning with a steep climb for near two hours at the top of Jeng - la with panoramic views of snow capped mountains looking at the North Face of Mt. Dhaulagiri massif range of peaks, after enjoying the awesome scenery, walk leads to a long descend towards Tarap valley, which is one of the longest beautiful green valley extending near about 20 k.m. distances along the Tarap Chu River, with more than 10 villages with well tended farm fields with monasteries and chortens, then walking on a pleasant trail after completing the downhill portion to reach our overnight stop at Tokyugaon a wonderful village with an old interesting monastery, afternoon with ample time to visit the village and the monastery or just relax and interact with the locals.
Morning walk follows on the downhill path towards Tarap Chu into a wide valley, around this picturesque valley with temporary settlements of local cattle herders, the people here belongs to both Bon Po and Chaiba sects of Tibetan Buddhism (Mahayana) living together in friendly harmony. Then with a good nice walk on this beautiful valley reaching at Dho Tarap for overnight camp, afternoon with time for local visit around this interesting village which is inhabited by Tibetans origin people and with mostly Magar hill tribe.
On the long day walk but with moderate and gradual trail with few short climb and down hills, morning starts with a descent into a wide valley which further narrows into a gorge. Following the path with sparse vegetation of juniper and wild rose bushes which is typical in this dry barren area of inner Himalaya climate and arctic temperate zone, around this place chances of spotting some wild life including herds of blue sheep’s, after a great enjoyable walk reaching at the junction of Tarap Chu and Lang Khola, flowing from Tarap River beyond east, source of the river from the glacier of North West Dhaulagiri Himalayan range of mountains. After a pleasant walk reaching a grassy field a summer pasture which is called Kamekharka, the word Khaka meaning shelter or shades of the Sheppard’s.
After a nice morning in this wonderful area, trek leads towards Tarap River and into a gorge, rising above from the path built on steep slopes. This narrow gorge offers some challenge and with an adventure as the path in some places with damaged broken bridge by river floods, and sometimes wading across the chilly river on foot, after some adventure and excitement this fine day walk reaches at Tarap- khola near Kharigaon for overnight camping.
Adventure carry’s on reaching at lower Dolpo area through Lalberi village and then back into tree lines on the trail following the river again downstream to Tarakot village, this picturesque village with a nice terraced cultivated fields and an old fortress around this village- town'. (over hundred years ago, before the Gorkha dynasty, this beautiful was the capital and had Dzong meaning Fort). Tarakot village houses the famous Sandul Gompa, located at the confluence of Barbung Khola and Tarap Chum after an interesting detour and with a visit of Tarakot village, walking down from the village to our overnight camp near by the river just below the village close to a monastery at the edge of a grassy plateau, with an interesting solitary tree.
This wonderful journey slowly comes to an end at Jhupal, the gateway to Dolpo and many other destination on this far west region, starting this final days walk to Dunai following several scattered farm villages and cattle herders shades and huts, then leading to a gradual uphill to a valley and then with a descend to the other side on the barren treeless landscapes at Thulo Bheri valley at Dunai area, from here walking past a hospital to cross the new suspension bridge then finally reaching at Dunai town, a large town area with an administrative headquarter of Dolpo zone, to make this walk shorter and to reach Jhupal on time to check with our flight taking a jeep ride for an hour drive on the dirt rough road to Jhupal for the last and final overnight stop of this impressive journey at Jhupal with time for short walk around this village.
Early morning, depending upon the flight time get in a small plane Dronier or Twin Otter or similar type for a short scenic flight of 40 minutes to Nepalgunj with awesome panorama of Mt. Annapurna and Mt. Dhaulagiri range of mountains, on reaching at Nepalgunj depending upon the connecting flight to Kathmandu, with few hours of rest and refreshment at Nepalgunj, then connect the flight to Kathmandu which takes almost 50 minutes with sweeping panorama of mountain range from the plane, then finally concluding this fantastic journey in Kathmandu, on arrival transfer to respective hotels with afternoon free at leisure.
Sherpa Nomads reserve this day as spare in Kathmandu, on account of flight delay and cancellation in Jhupal, Dolpo due to unfavorable bad weather, if all goes well as per the itinerary one can book for another sightseeing tour or any trip for a day.
Your last day in Kathmandu as per your international flight time, our Sherpa Nomads staff will transfer you to airport for the flight homeward bound after a life time experience around Lower Dolpo and in amazing Nepal with excellent service of Sherpa Nomads.
