A deep turquoise lake at about 3,600 m in Shey Phoksundo National Park, with a waterfall nearby and a quiet Bon village beside it.
A high crossing of about 5,100 to 5,400 m (sources differ) leading from the lake into the Shey valley.
An ancient monastery below Crystal Mountain, a sacred place in both Buddhist and Bon traditions and a key stop on the route.
Some of the highest permanent villages in Nepal, with barley fields, stone houses and yak herders.
A region where old Bon practice and Buddhism sit side by side, with mani walls, chortens and monasteries.
A second high pass, and the broad Tarap valley with its mix of Tibetan and Magar people.
The area opened to visitors only in the early 1990s, and the number of trekkers is small, so you meet more yaks than people.
Rest days at Phoksundo Lake, Shey Gompa and Dho Tarap help acclimatisation on a demanding route.
Upper Dolpo lies behind the Dhaulagiri range, close to the Tibetan border. It has long been known for its dry, high-altitude landscape, its remote monasteries and a way of life that has changed little in centuries. It is a tough, committed trek, but a deeply rewarding one.
The route flies to Juphal, heads to Phoksundo Lake, crosses the Kang La into Shey, loops through Saldang, crosses the Jeng La to Dho Tarap and finishes through Tarakot and Dunai. Most nights are in tents with a cooking crew, so you do not depend on lodges.
Because of the rain shadow, summer trekking is possible here, but the flights to Juphal are weather dependent, so build spare days into your plan. Fitness, patience and warm gear matter more here than technical skill.
| Duration | 28 days (about 21 days on the trail) |
|---|---|
| Start / End | Kathmandu, via Nepalgunj and Juphal |
| Highest point | Kang La, about 5,150 to 5,360 m (sources vary) |
| Distance | Roughly 250 km on foot |
| Walking per day | Usually 4 to 8 hours; pass days are the longest |
| Difficulty | Strenuous; high passes, long days and remote camping |
| Best seasons | May to October (the area is a rain shadow), plus spring and autumn windows; winter is closed by snow |
| Accommodation | Hotels in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj; mostly tented camping with a crew, plus a few simple lodges |
| Group size | Small group or private; usually a minimum of 2 travellers |
| Permits | Usually an Upper Dolpo restricted-area permit, a Shey Phoksundo National Park permit and often a Lower Dolpo permit. A licensed guide and an agency are normally required. We arrange everything. |
Airport pick-up, hotel transfer and a briefing about the long journey ahead.
Meals: dinnerWe finish restricted-area permit paperwork, check gear and pack food and equipment. Light sightseeing is possible.
Meals: breakfastA short flight to the hot lowlands in the west, and a hotel night before the mountain flight.
Meals: breakfastA scenic flight between the hills, then a gentle walk down to the district centre of Dunai.
Walking: 3 to 4 hoursEnter Shey Phoksundo National Park and follow the river valley through forest.
Walking: 5 to 7 hoursThe trail narrows into a gorge before reaching a camp near Phoksundo Lake.
Walking: 5 to 7 hoursReach the great turquoise lake and the village of Ringmo, with its stone chortens and mani walls.
Walking: 5 to 7 hoursAcclimatise, visit the Bon monastery in Ringmo and explore the lake shore.
Walking: optional short hikesWalk along the lake and into a quiet side valley, where camp is set beside the river.
Walking: 5 to 7 hoursClimb steadily beside the stream towards the high camp below the pass, with fewer trees.
Walking: 5 to 7 hoursThe pass day: a steep climb to a high pass with wide views, followed by a long descent to Shey Gompa.
Walking: 7 to 9 hoursVisit the monastery, Crystal Mountain and nearby retreat caves. A day to rest and enjoy the stillness.
Walking: optional short hikesClimb another high pass and then descend to the small village of Namduna, with views of far-off ridges.
Walking: 6 to 8 hoursWalk among barley fields to Saldang, one of the largest and highest villages in Dolpo.
Walking: 4 to 6 hoursFollow the Nang Chu valley past Yangze Gompa and small hamlets, camping near Sibu.
Walking: 5 to 7 hoursA climb up a high valley to the camp below the Jeng La, with a very cold, quiet night.
Walking: 5 to 6 hoursA steep early start over the pass with views towards Dhaulagiri, then a long descent to Tokyu.
Walking: 6 to 8 hoursAn easier walk down the Tarap valley to Dho Tarap, with its cultural mix of Tibetan and Magar people.
Walking: 3 to 5 hoursExplore the village, its gompa and the Bon monastery. Time to rest legs and wash.
Walking: optional short hikesFollow the Tarap Chu through a deep gorge, crossing the river many times and descending steadily.
Walking: 5 to 7 hoursA long day through the narrow canyon, with the first trees and fields reappearing.
Walking: 6 to 7 hoursDescend to the old fortress town of Tarakot, with its Sandul Gompa.
Walking: 4 to 5 hoursFollow the Bheri river back to the district headquarters, where a proper bed feels welcome.
Walking: 5 to 6 hoursA short final walk to Juphal, ready for the morning flight.
Walking: 2 to 3 hoursFly back to Nepalgunj and on to Kathmandu, then a hotel evening and a rest.
Meals: breakfastA spare day for flight delays, rest or shopping.
Meals: breakfastA free day for sightseeing and a farewell dinner with the team.
Meals: breakfast, farewell dinnerTransfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Meals: breakfastFlights to Juphal are weather dependent and often delayed, so spare days are built into the end of the plan. Altitudes and pass heights vary a lot between sources, so treat them as approximate. Your guide may adjust days to suit weather, snow on the passes and the group.
It is strenuous. Long days, passes above 5,000 m and remote camping all demand strong fitness and prior high-altitude trekking experience. It is not a good first trek in Nepal.
Yes. Upper Dolpo is restricted, so you usually need a restricted-area permit and a Shey Phoksundo National Park permit, and often a Lower Dolpo permit. You cannot trek independently. We arrange everything.
Spring and autumn are popular, and because the area sits in a rain shadow, summer is also possible. Winter is not recommended.
You sleep above 4,000 m often and cross several passes above 5,000 m. Rest days help, but walk slowly, drink well and report symptoms. Descent is the main cure.
Mostly in tents set up by the crew, with a few simple lodges in lower villages. Meals are prepared by a camp cook, with fresh and dried food carried by porters or mules.
Weather often delays flights, especially in summer. We build spare days into the end of the plan, and you should keep your onward flights flexible.
Nights at 4,000 m and above are well below freezing outside summer. Bring a down jacket, a warm sleeping bag, thermal layers, gloves and a hat.
It is remote, with no easy road out. Your guide carries first aid and a satellite or communication plan. Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation is essential.
Yes, covering trekking to at least 5,500 m, medical costs and evacuation. Send us your policy details.
Not independently. Regulations require an agency and a licensed guide, with usually at least two travellers.
Send an enquiry from this page or message us on WhatsApp. We confirm dates and details and a deposit secures your booking.
Lower villages often have a signal, and many lodges sell Wi-Fi or a local SIM data pack for a fee. Higher up and in remote valleys the connection is slow or absent, so tell family to expect quiet days. Wi-Fi is not included in the price. A local SIM bought in Kathmandu is a cheap backup.
Lodges serve dal bhat, noodles, soup, eggs, pasta, momo and pancakes, and dal bhat comes with refills. Vegetarian and vegan meals are easy to arrange. If you need gluten-free food or have allergies, tell us when you book so your guide can brief the kitchen, though choices narrow as you climb. Meals on trail days are included. City meals are not, apart from breakfast and the two special dinners.
Tap and stream water is not safe to drink untreated. Lodges sell boiled or bottled water for a fee, which is not in the price. Many trekkers bring purification tablets or a filter bottle to save money and plastic. Your guide can show you where it is safe to refill.
Yes. Pick-up and drop-off at Kathmandu airport, hotel nights in Kathmandu with breakfast, a guided city tour, and a welcome and farewell dinner are included. See the Included tab on this page for the full list. Extra hotel nights outside the itinerary are not included, so ask us if you need them.
A 20% deposit secures your booking. Send an enquiry from this page or message us on WhatsApp, and we will confirm the dates and how to pay. The balance is paid in Kathmandu before the trek. For cancellation and refund terms, see wildpasstreks.com/booking-policy/
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