The northern part of Dolpo is usually called Inner Dolpo and has always had an aura of mysticism.
The high valleys of Dolpo are some of the most remarkable in the Himalaya with sweeping views stretching to the arid Tibetan plateau. Trekking here offers a real adventure, in a remote, unspoilt part of Nepal that has remained largely untracked and unexplored.
Best Season:
March, April, May And October, November, December
Itinerary:
Day 01 Fly to Nepalgunj overnight hotel.
Day 02. DUNAI: Very early, we will transfer to the airport for the flight to Juphal, a Tibetan- like city, perched on a hill overlooking the mountains . Upon arrival, we can wander the town with its Tibetan - style houses, before heading down the hill to Dunai. Dunai is a vertiable city, the administrative headquarters for the Dolpo region, with government offices and a prison for hardened Nepali criminals. Camp will be by the Thulo Bheri River.
Day 03. TARAKOT 8366FT: From Dunai, we have a day's walk uphill along the Barbung Khola. Crossing over a narrow bridge, we continue on the other side of the river. The trail is narrowed, and while through thinly covered forest. Tarakot, perhaps the major market city for the Dolpo region. Locals bring in goods from Pokhara area, villagers from higher region come down to shop. We will camp near here for the night.
Day 04-06. DO: Next three days we will be in trekking up the Tarap valley, heading up slowly along the Tarap Khola past villages as Kanigaon, Lahini, Naurkharka to Do. As we walk past these villages, we can clearly note a change in faces and living styles of the people. No longer do we have a sense of being a part of the Nepal we know. The society here is closer to that of Tibet. Villagers dress in Tibetan style cloths, and the religion is usually either Buddhist or Bon Po Bon Po is a blend of the early animistic religion of Buddhism. Several times along the way, we will cross from one side of the river to the other on a wide variety of bridges. The trail is part of one of the major trade routes from Tibet across into the kingdom of Mustang.
Day 07-11 SHEY 14100- 16300 ft: The next 5 days we will head north west out of the Tarap Valley taking different than the major route to Shay for better views over high passes including the Jengla Pass 16750 ft and passing villages like Sibu gaon and Shey Gompa, lying at the foot of its namesake, Ldol-po shel gyi ri bo (the crystal mountain of Shey). We will be exploring the Gompa, hopefully meeting with the lama, if he is here. To get to the monastery, perched on a hill above river junction, one tiptoes across stones laid gently in the water onto a small gravel island, passes the ever-present prayer walls and a second bridge, and then climbs up to the bluff to the chimes of a wind bell. Once a year, in the fifth Tibetan month during the full moon, there is a spring festival.
Day 12-14 PHOKSUMDO LAKE 11800 ft: These next three days will lead us up the very steep slope that caused Matthiesen and scheller so very much difficult to a pass, only slightly below the surrounding summits of more than 21000 feet. Descending through soft scree to the head of a glacial valley, we arrive finally at a stream. At the foot of the gorge, the trail leads to a wide, flat valley and finally the north and of Phoksumdo Lake. Shortly before arriving at the southern shore of Phoksumdo, we across a small stream bed by the glaciers of Kahjiroba high above.
Day 15 PHOKSUMDO LAKE: This day is free to explore the area of Ringmo. Across the river from Ringmo is the Gompa, with an old lama and his wife. A small cadre of monks are studying with the Lama.
Day 16 RIAIJI 9840 ft: We turn away from the lake and climb gently up through a forest high point of 12000 feet where we have spectacular views of the Phoksumdo Khola valley, Kanjirolba and Nepal's largest waterfall tumbling through the narrow mountain gorge. Continue on, a steep drop takes us to a bridge, after which we climb up a rise to Murwa village. From here, we contour down the valley along the river to lunch near Sumduwa village. From Sumduwa we continue along the river through the forest of cedar, blue pine and birch to our campsite at Riaiji.
Day 17 AANKE 8850ft: The morning trek is difficult, characterized by extreme ups and downs. We start out on flat ground after crossing the Phoksumbo Khola from our campsite. The trail stays along the river through the forest, but soon enough goes up and down. After about three hours, we climb steeply on a trail carved into the rock wall, on to 1000 ft, contouring around the hill side. We end our day along the river, past Chekpa at 8700 ft and reach Aanke for the camp.
Day 18 JUPHAL AIRPORT: From here we contour around the ridge, climbing eventually to Ranagoan, the last permanent village on the trail to Dunai. The few houses we pass farther on belongs to the Rana people. Along the way are many shrines dedicated to the animistic god Masta. Dropping down, climbing and then dropping down, climbing and then dropping , we come to a low ridge where we can see the whole settlement of Dunai where we began our trek. Continue to Juphal for overnight camp.
Day 19 JUPHAL/NEPALGUNJ/KATHMANDU: Today, if the gods are with us and the weather is good, we will do a lot of flying, going from Juphal to Nepalgunj, to Kathmandu. If the gods are unhappy and the weather is no good, we may have to spend the night in Juphal. Back home in Kathmandu we will transfer to your Hotel for a shower and free afternoon.
Itinerary subject to change
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