- Length
- 14 days
- Highest point
- 5,310 m
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Starts
- Juphal (fly via Nepalgunj)
- Group size
- 2–10 People
- Sleeping
- Tea House / Camp
Cross the wild Numa La and Baga La passes to the turquoise Shey Phoksundo Lake on this 14-day Lower Dolpo wilderness trek through far-western Nepal.
- Stand on the shore of turquoise Shey Phoksundo Lake, the deepest lake in Nepal
- Cross two wild Himalayan passes, Numa La (5,310 m) and Baga La (5,070 m)
- Explore the medieval village and monasteries of Dho Tarap
- Trek through the remote rain-shadow wilderness of far-western Dolpa
- Experience authentic Bon and Tibetan Buddhist Dolpo-pa culture
- Spot blue sheep and, with luck, signs of the elusive snow leopard
- See the spectacular Phoksundo waterfall, one of the highest in Nepal
- Journey far off the beaten path, away from crowded mainstream trails
The climb, day by day
Day 1Fly Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (150 m)150 m
Fly west from Kathmandu to the hot lowland city of Nepalgunj near the Indian border. Rest and prepare for the early mountain flight to Dolpa the next morning.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- 1 hr flight
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Night
- Hotel
Day 2Fly to Juphal and trek to Dunai (2,140 m)2,140 m
Take the spectacular short flight to the cliffside airstrip at Juphal (2,490 m), then descend along the Bheri River to the district headquarters of Dunai for your first night in Dolpa.
- Distance
- 5 km
- Walking
- 2–3 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House
Day 3Dunai to Tarakot (2,540 m)2,540 m
Follow the Bheri and then the Tarap Chu upstream past terraced fields and the old fortress village of Tarakot, once a customs post on the salt-trade route to Tibet.
- Distance
- 12 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House / Camp
Day 4Tarakot to Laini (3,160 m)3,160 m
Trek deeper into the Tarap gorge, crossing the river several times on suspension bridges as the valley narrows and the trail climbs steadily toward Laini.
- Distance
- 13 km
- Walking
- 6 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Camp
Day 5Laini to Nawarpani (3,545 m)3,545 m
Continue up the dramatic gorge through pine and juniper, with the river thundering below, to the small grazing settlement of Nawarpani.
- Distance
- 11 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Camp
Day 6Nawarpani to Dho Tarap (4,090 m)4,090 m
Emerge from the gorge into the wide, arid Tarap valley and reach the medieval village of Dho Tarap, a cluster of stone houses, chortens and Bon and Buddhist monasteries at the heart of Lower Dolpo.
- Distance
- 12 km
- Walking
- 6 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House / Camp
Day 7Acclimatization day at Dho Tarap (4,090 m)4,090 m
A vital rest and acclimatization day. Visit the ancient Crystal Mountain-style gompas, meet the Dolpo-pa people and take a short hike to aid altitude adjustment before the high passes.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- Rest / short hikes
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House / Camp
Day 8Dho Tarap to Numa La Base Camp (4,440 m)4,440 m
Trek up the upper Tarap valley past yak pastures and the last permanent settlements to a high camp below the Numa La pass, ringed by barren ridges.
- Distance
- 9 km
- Walking
- 5 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Camp
Day 9Cross Numa La (5,310 m) to Pelung Tang (4,465 m)5,310 m
The biggest day of the trek. Climb steeply to the top of Numa La, the highest point at around 5,310 m, with sweeping views toward Dhaulagiri, then descend to the windswept camp at Pelung Tang.
- Distance
- 12 km
- Walking
- 7 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Camp
Day 10Cross Baga La (5,070 m) to Dajok Tang (4,080 m)5,070 m
A second high pass, Baga La at around 5,070 m, rewards you with panoramas over the Kanjiroba massif before a long descent through alpine meadows to Dajok Tang.
- Distance
- 10 km
- Walking
- 6 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Camp
Day 11Dajok Tang to Ringmo, Phoksundo Lake (3,641 m)3,641 m
Descend through birch and blue-pine forest to the Tibetan village of Ringmo and the shore of Shey Phoksundo Lake, whose vivid turquoise water is the trek's iconic highlight.
- Distance
- 9 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House / Camp
Day 12Explore Phoksundo Lake (3,641 m)3,641 m
A free day to walk the lakeshore, visit the ancient Bon monastery of Tshowa above Ringmo and view the spectacular Phoksundo waterfall, one of Nepal's highest.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- Half-day walks
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House / Camp
Day 13Phoksundo Lake to Juphal (2,490 m)2,490 m
A long final trekking day descending along the Phoksundo and Bheri rivers through forest and farming villages back to Juphal for your last night in the mountains.
- Distance
- 22 km
- Walking
- 6–7 hrs
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Night
- Tea House
Day 14Fly Juphal to Nepalgunj to Kathmandu (1,400 m)1,400 m
Take the early morning flight from Juphal to Nepalgunj and connect onward to Kathmandu, arriving with memories of one of Nepal's wildest and most beautiful regions.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- Flights
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Night
- –
The price includes
- All domestic flights (Kathmandu–Nepalgunj–Juphal and return)
- Lower Dolpo Restricted Area Permit and Shey Phoksundo National Park entry permit
- Licensed, experienced English-speaking trekking guide
- Porters to carry trekking gear and supplies
- All accommodation: hotels in cities, tea houses and full camping on the trail
- All meals on trek (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Camping equipment, tents, kitchen crew and dining arrangements
- Airport transfers and ground transport
- All government taxes and service charges
You pay separately
- International airfare to and from Kathmandu
- Nepal entry visa fee
- Travel and high-altitude rescue insurance (mandatory)
- Meals in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj other than breakfast
- Personal trekking equipment and gear
- Tips for guide, porters and crew
- Alcoholic and bottled drinks, snacks and personal expenses
- Costs arising from flight delays or itinerary changes due to weather
The Lower Dolpo Trek is one of Nepal's last true wilderness journeys, winding through the remote trans-Himalayan landscapes of Dolpa district behind the main Himalayan range. Far from the crowds of Everest and Annapurna, this 14-day adventure carries you into a high desert world of ochre cliffs, ancient Bon and Tibetan Buddhist villages, and the spellbinding turquoise waters of Shey Phoksundo Lake, the deepest lake in Nepal.
From the mountain airstrip at Juphal you trek deep into Shey Phoksundo National Park, climbing past the medieval settlement of Dho Tarap before crossing two demanding high passes, Numa La (around 5,310 m) and Baga La (around 5,070 m). The reward is the shimmering shoreline of Ringmo and a culture that has changed little in centuries.
A Restricted Wilderness
Lower Dolpo lies inside a restricted area, so every trekker must travel with a licensed guide and carry the Lower Dolpo Restricted Area Permit alongside the national park entry permit. This protects both the fragile environment and the unique Dolpo-pa way of life. We handle every permit, flight and logistic so you can focus on the trail.
Who Is This Trek For
This is a strenuous, high-altitude camping and tea-house trek for fit, experienced trekkers who are comfortable with long days, basic facilities and remote terrain. In return you gain access to one of the most pristine and culturally intact corners of the Himalaya.