Dolpo and Mustang Trek

The Lower Dolpo circuit is a two-week loop in Nepal's far west that links the Tarap valley with Phoksundo Lake. From the Juphal airstrip it follows the Thuli Bheri river to Dunai and Tarakot, then climbs a long gorge to Dho Tarap, a cluster of stone villages and gompas at around 4,000 m. From Tarap it crosses two high passes on consecutive days, Numa La and Baga La, before dropping through birch and juniper to the turquoise water of Phoksundo at Ringmo. It is a shorter, cheaper way into Dolpo than the Upper Dolpo trek: the restricted-area permit here is charged by the week rather than by the day, and the route stays south of Shey Gompa. What it shares with the north is the feel of the place, Bon and Buddhist monasteries, mani walls, yak caravans and very few other trekkers. The two passes are the crux. Both are above 5,000 m, the days are long, and they come after only a few nights at altitude, so an acclimatisation day in Dho Tarap matters. Lodges exist in Dunai, Ringmo and some villages, but most nights between Tarap and Phoksundo are spent camping or in very basic homestays. It suits fit trekkers with some high-altitude experience who want a remote route without committing three weeks. Licence-verified guides you contact directly can explain how they handle the camping stretch and the flights.

📅 Duration: 10-14 Days

🏔️ Max Altitude: 5190m

📝 Permit: Restricted (≈ US$57 in permits)

This route joins two of far-west Nepal's lakes. It starts in Dolpo at the Juphal airstrip, climbs the Suli Gad valley to Phoksundo Lake, then turns west over Kagmara La, a 5,115 m pass on the edge of Shey-Phoksundo National Park, and descends into the Jumla district. From the old trading town of Jumla it continues north over forested ridges to Rara, Nepal's largest lake, inside Rara National Park, and flies out from the small Talcha airstrip. The two halves feel very different. The Dolpo side is high and sparse, with Tibetan-influenced villages and the deep blue of Phoksundo. Kagmara La is the single big climb. West of it the trail runs through pine and rhododendron forest, terraced Hindu villages and wide meadows, ending at a lake ringed by blue pine with very few visitors. This is a camping trek for most of its length. Apart from Dunai, Ringmo, Jumla and the park area at Rara, accommodation is in tents, and supplies are carried. Distances between villages can be long, and both airstrips depend on the weather. It suits trekkers who want a long, quiet route across a part of Nepal that sees few foreigners and who are comfortable with one high pass and many days in tents. Licence-verified guides you contact directly can explain how they run the crossing and the logistics between the two airstrips.

📅 Duration: 18-24 Days

🏔️ Max Altitude: 5115m

📝 Permit: Restricted (≈ US$77 in permits)

The Upper Dolpo Trek crosses the remote trans-Himalayan region of Dolpo in north-western Nepal, behind the Dhaulagiri and Kanjiroba ranges. From the airstrip at Juphal it follows the Thuli Bheri and Suli Gad valleys to Phoksundo Lake, then climbs over Kang La (Nagdalo La) to Shey Gompa, the Crystal Monastery, before looping east through Saldang and south over Jeng La to the Tarap valley and back to Dunai. North of Phoksundo the landscape turns high and dry: wide barley fields, stone villages, gompas of the Bon and Buddhist traditions, and long stretches with no settlement at all. Days often run above 4,000 m and cross passes over 5,000 m, and weather on the passes can hold a group up. This is largely a camping trek. Ringmo, Dunai and a few villages have basic lodges or homestays, but on the high section your team carries tents, food and fuel. Upper Dolpo is a restricted area, so it is arranged through a registered agency with a licensed guide, and the permit is charged by the day. It suits experienced trekkers who are comfortable with three weeks away from roads, long days and simple food, and who want a quiet route through a culture that has changed slowly. Licence-verified guides you contact directly can explain how they run the crossing, the camping logistics and the flight back-up plan.

📅 Duration: 20-24 Days

🏔️ Max Altitude: 5350m

📝 Permit: Restricted (≈ US$632 in permits)