Remote Trails of the Dolpo Region

We welcome our team members upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and transfer to our hotel. We use this day to check trekking permits, review our gear lists, and conduct a full briefing on the route ahead.

We take a short domestic flight southwest to Nepalgunj, a bustling lowland city near the Indian border that serves as our staging point for western Nepal. We settle into our hotel and prepare for the morning flight into the mountains.

We board a small aircraft for a dramatic mountain flight to the airstrip at Juphal. After meeting our local porters and organizing loads, we begin our trek with a gentle descent alongside the Thuli Bheri River to reach the administrative headquarters of Dunai.

Our trail follows the meandering course of the Barbung Khola upstream through terraced fields and small settlements. We pass traditional slate-roofed houses before arriving at the historic fortified village of Tarakot.

We continue along the southern bank of the Tarang Chu River, navigating narrow gorge paths carved into the rock face. We set up camp near natural rock overhangs known locally as odar, used by generations of muleteers and herders.

The valley narrows further as we cross suspension bridges spanning rushing glacial torrents. We climb steadily through pine forests before reaching the small seasonal encampment of Toltol.

We ascend out of the gorge into a wide, open valley leading to Dho Tarap, one of the highest permanent human settlements in the region. Here we spend time observing the daily life of the local Dolpo-pa people and their yak pastures.

We take a rest day in Dho Tarap to support proper physiological adaptation to the altitude. We use the time to visit local monasteries and walk up the surrounding hillsides to aid our acclimatisation.

We leave Dho Tarap behind and follow the Tarap Chu upward through increasingly barren alpine terrain. We establish our camp near the base of the Numa La pass, preparing for tomorrow's high crossing.

We make an early morning start to climb the steep, stony slopes to the summit of the Numa La pass. From the top, we take in panoramic views of peaks before descending steeply to our camp at Danigar.

We tackle our second major crossing of the route by ascending toward the Baga La pass. The trail requires careful footing on loose scree before we cross the summit and descend into the quiet grazing meadows of Yak Kharka.

We descend through birch and pine forests, catching our first glimpses of the deep turquoise waters of Phoksundo Lake. We set up camp near the lakeside village of Ringmo, famous for its traditional mud-plastered houses and chortens.

We spend a full day exploring the shores of Phoksundo Lake and the nearby Bon monastery of Tsho Gompa. We walk along the cliffside trails that offer striking views over the deep alpine waters.

We retrace our steps down the valley, following the Phoksundo Khola as it rushes through narrow gorges. We descend past waterfalls and forest tracks to reach our overnight camp at Rechi.

Our trail continues downward through forested ridges and small farming hamlets. We cross several wooden bridges over tributary streams before arriving at the village of Shyanta.

We complete our circuit by walking the final stretches back to the airstrip at Juphal. We celebrate the conclusion of our trek with our local support crew.

We board our morning flight from Juphal to Nepalgunj, then connect onward to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, we transfer to our hotel for a well-earned rest.

We provide a transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your international departure flight, concluding our services for your journey.