Dolpo is reminiscent of the image of Shangri-la in many respects. One has to see the landscape in all of its rugged natural beauty and experience the utter remoteness to appreciate this. The natural beauty and ancient culture of this place is rich almost beyond measure. The high and isolated valleys of northern Nepal's Dolpo region preserve some of the Himalayas last remnants of traditional Tibetan culture. According to legend, the Guru Rinpoche created Dolpo as a sanctuary for devout Buddhists. Cut off from the world by high mountains and snow-covered passes, Dolpo is the permanent home to about 5000 people whose lives cantered around Buddhism and traditional agriculture.
Our destination on this shorter trek is the awe-inspiring Phoksundo Lake.The distinctive people, architecture and unique lighting conditions make Dolpo a photographer's paradise. The Himalayan range can be seen in all its splendor and Phoksondo Lake with the Ringmo village provide some of the most beautiful Nepalese scenery. We follow the ancient Tibetan salt caravan route, across two high passes and through the wilderness in one of Nepals most remote areas. The route is Juphal- Phoksumdo Lake - Shey Gompa - Saldang La pass -Sibu - Tarakot.
In the Dolpo region the hot, humid monsoon, created by the sea winds blowing from the Gulf of Bengal, is tempered by the Dhaulaghiri range and trekking is therefore possible during the summer, a period during which flora explodes in all its splendor: orchids, edelweiss, campanulas, forget-me-nots . The centre of attraction is the lovely Lake Phoksundo, famous for its ever-changing color of its water. Here are steps on to the edge of the Trans-Himalayan plateau that extends from Tibet down into Nepal.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu (1350m/4264fT)
DAY 02: Kathmandu sightseeing
Day 03: Flight to Nepalgunj Day 04: Flight to Juphal (2475 m), walk to Chhepka (2838 m) 6 hrs
Day 05: Trek to Chunuwar/Amchi Hospital (3110 m) 6 hrs
Day 06: Trek to Ringmo/Phoksundo Lake (3733 m) 3 hrs
Day 07: Trek to Chunuwar (3110 m) 2 hrs
Day 08: Trek to Sangta (2520 m) or Kageni (2413 m) 6-7 hrs
Day 09: Trek to Dunai, 3-4 hrs or Juphal (2475 m) 6-7 hrs
Day 10: Flight to Nepalgunj and Kathmandu
Day 11: Free day
Day 12: Departure
Itinerary Detail
Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu (1350m/4264ft)
Upon your arrival in the Kathmandu airport (TIA), you will be greeted by a representative from Adventure Mission Nepal (AMN) and transfer to hotel .we will be discussing about the trek in details .in the evening we will organized a welcome dinner at Nepalese restaurant with traditional style and food. Overnight at hotel
DAY 02: Kathmandu sightseeing
We start a guided tour to several of the most historical and spiritual attractions in Kathmandu. Some of these landmarks include the World Heritage Sites: the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupati Nath, the famous 'Monkey Temple' (Swaymbunath) and Buddhists shrine (Buddha Nath) which is one of the largest Stupas in the world. In the afternoon, there will be a pre-trip discussion about the trek and equipments regarding the upcoming trek. Overnight at hotel.
Day 03: Flight to Nepalgunj.
To get to Dolpa, generally we have to fly to Nepalgunj first. Nepalgunj is a steaming hot city in South Western Nepal, in the lowlands of Terai, close to the Indian border, which is just 8 km away. Culturally the area more resembles India than upland Nepal. Take a cycle rikshaw for a ride in town. The Bageshowri temple is one of Nepal's most important Hindu temples and is worth a visit as well.
Day 04: Flight to Juphal (2475 m), walk to Chhepka (2838 m) 6 hrs
It's just a 35 minutes flight to Juphal over steep mountain ridges with beautiful views of snowcapped mountains and we have spectacular landing. From Juphal walk down over a small path among fields with wheat and vegetables to the Thuli Bheri River, which you'll follow after reaching it. A big iron suspension bridge, the Dhim Bridge (99 m long) forms the entrance to the Shey Phoksundo National Park (SPNP). The path follows the Suli Khola River behind us we can see the Dhaulagiri range. You pass small villages along the way, like Kageni (2413 m) and Sangta (2520 m) In Sangta honey is cultivated from where we enter the forest and walk along side of river and beautiful emerald green. The path is surrounded by pine trees, like spruce, fir, juniper and cypress and passes small bamboo forests and walnut trees.. At the end of the day we reach Chhepka, a small village, surrounded by fields of millet and wheat.
Day 05: Trek to Chunuwar/Amchi Hospital (3110 m) 6 hrs
The path goes through beautiful pine forests, with some bushes, birches and other broadleaf trees mixed in as well. It's following the river all the time and most of it is Nepali flat: sometimes going up and sometimes going down, with a couple of steeper climbs and descents. At some parts the valley gets very narrow and the impressive steep rocks are towering high above you on both sides. After about four hours you pass the village of Rechi, where there is a camping spot. At other side there is teashop which we continue from the other side of the bridge. It's two hours more to Chunuwar. Close to Chunuwar you can find the Amchi Hospital. (An Amchi is a traditional Tibetan doctor with traditional method of treatment and medicine). We stay overnight at tented camp.
Day 06: Trek to Ringmo/Phoksundo Lake (3733 m) 3 hrs
It's a short hike to Ringmo and the Phoksundo Lake. It includes a long and sometimes steep climb of about 2 hours. Just before the top, you can see Nepal's highest waterfall, a spectacular waterfall of 167 meters high, the Phoksundo Waterfall (also called Suligad Waterfall). The path is going down till it gets close to the river, which follows until we reach Ringmo.
Ringmo is a charming village. People practice the Bonpo religion here. In Ringmo women make very nice woven products, like belts, bags, shawls and blankets. Ringmo lies at the shore of the holy Phoksundo Lake. the lake is surrounded by the mountain with emerald green .If you want, you can walk a part of the famous Demons Trail from the movie Himalaya (Caravan) of Eric Valli. It's a spectacular trail, going high above the lake. At some parts it gets very narrow due to landslides, where we need to be very careful.At the other shore, there is a beautiful Bonpo Monastery which we can visit. We stay overnight at camp.
Day 07: Trek to Chunuwar (3110 m) 2 hrs
As the Phoksundo Lake is such a beautiful place, an extra free morning here is recommended.
In the afternoon you leave back to Chunuwar. Leaving Ringmo, the path is rather flat at first, but soon climbs steeply up the hill. Soon you will see the river far below you. The climb takes about half an hour. At the top you have a beautiful last view of the Phoksundo Lake. And then it is going down, down and more down. Pretty steep at the beginning but later Nepali flat again till you reach Chunuwar.
Day 08: Trek to Sangta (2520 m) or Kageni (2413 m) 6-7 hrs
The path descends gradually, going almost entirely through beautiful pine forests, with some bushes, birches and other broad leaved trees mixed in. It's about 1 ½ hours to Rechi.After Rechi, the trail is Nepali flat, to Chhepka (3 ½ hrs) going up and down, with a couple of steeper climbs and descends, following the river all the time. You notice that you are descending; not only by the increasing temperature, but also by the difference in vegetation. You'll see bamboo again for example, and big walnut trees. From Chhepka it's an hour more to Sangta, and another hour to Kageni. After Sangta you leave the forest, and suddenly you walk through a bit dry landscape.
Day 09: Trek to Dunai, 3-4 hrs or Juphal (2475 m) 6-7 hrs
It's a pleasant walk in a rocky landscape till the check post of the Shey Phoksundo National Park (SPNP). After the check post you can choose to go left to Dunai or cross the big iron suspension bridge (the Dhim Bridge) and go west to Juphal. It's about 45 minutes to Dunai, the headquarters of Dolpa District. It's a large village, of about 2,500 people, more or less half Hindu and half Buddhist. Up the hill, there is a Buddhist monastery, the Dolpa Kendriya Gompa, which is worth a visit. It is situated at the slope at the other site of the river, overlooking Dunai. The monastery belongs to the Nyingmapa lineage, the oldest Buddhism linege and was built in 1998.A bit further away from Dunai, at the same slope, you can find the Dolpo Bon School and Hostel. Besides the normal teachings that children receive at common schools, the Bon School educates children in the Bonpo religion, Tibetan culture and Tibetan language. As the children come from different, far away villages, there is a hostel as well. Currently there are 26 children in the school, divided into 5 different classes.Besides the Hostel, there is a beautiful stupa with holds a century old footprint of an important lama.From the bridge, it's about 2½ - 3 hours to Juphal. The first part goes over a large path, passing through the small village of Kalagaonda. Then we leave the main road and walk over a small path. It's a pretty steep climb to reach Juphal. Juphal is a large village with a small bazaar where it is nice to spend some time looking around.
Day 10: Flight to Nepalgunj and Kathmandu
Early in the morning you fly to Nepalgunj. Especially the first part of the flight through the mountain valleys is spectacular. Later in the day, you fly back to Kathmandu.
Day 11: Free day
Day 12: Departure
