In this charming country, the Upper Dolpo Trekking to Shey Gompa is an essential piece of life and has a good many age-old Buddhist and Bonpo customs together with shamanic repercussions. You have a remarkable impact on the villages, gompas, and individuals that you encounter on this trek. The scenes here are more demolished, and the communities are much more disembroiled and unadulterated.
Dolpo is Nepal’s most isolated and least developed area. Although a few geographers and anthropologists had explored the region, the entire area was shut off to hikers until 1989, when the southern part of Dolpo was opened to managed trekking tours. The Snow Leopard and the Himalayan Pilgrimage of David Snellgrove added to the person and enthusiasm of Dolpo.
The Upper Dolpo Trek passes various monstrous mountain ranges. It also meets the Lower Dolpo Trek, at one time in its own right, a tiny territory. Then making it the connection of Shey Gompa which combines Saldang and Dho Tarap, yet lesser-known places. Trekking in Upper Dolpo is enthusiastic about the wild, remoteness, and the fantastic mountains. The people living in exorbitantly outlying districts still have to overlook this sheer truthfulness.
How to Get to Upper Dolpo?
There are many ways to get to Upper Dolpo. If you want to take a long way from Radi, direct bus to Radi from Kathmandu and need to change the jeep place to place to get Dunai. However, if you want to climb from Juphal, you will have to fly to Juphal from Nepalgunj. The porters will carry your baggage, and guide will take proper care of you during the trek.
How long does it take to complete Upper Dolpo Trek?
The duration of the treks needed to complete the Upper Dolpo Trek varies according to the starting point of the trek. If you choose, Upper Dolpo Trek, it will take you 22 to 24 days to complete the trek whereas, from Jomsom, it will take you around 26 to 30 days. Likewise, if you choose from Jumla via Rara Lake, it will take you same duration as Jomsom to Upper Dolpo. Now, it is talking about the Upper Dolpo Trek – 22 Days and Upper Dolpo trek itinerary are below.
1. Kathmandu – Nepalgunj
2. Nepalgunj – Juphla then trek to Dunai
3. Dunai – Chhepka
4. Chhepka – Jharana Hotel
5. Jharan Hotel – Phoksundo Lake
6. Acclimatization
7. Phoksundo Lake – River bed camp
8. River Bed Camp – Nando – La high Camp
9. Nandola high camp – Shey Gompa
10. Rest day
11. Shey Gompa – Numagung
12. Numagung – Saldang
13. Saldang – Chhore Gaon
14. Chhore Gaon – Jengla high camp
15. Jengla high camp – Yak kharka
16. Yak kharka – Dho Tarap
17. Dho tarap rest
18. Dho Tarap – Niwar pani
19. Niwar Pani – Shahar Tara
20. Shahar Tara – Dunai
21. Dunai – Juphal
22. Juphal – Nepalgunj – Kathmandu
How much does it price to trek to Upper Dolpo?
There are various Upper Dolpo trek cost depends upon the packages offered from the trekking company. The Upper Dolpo trek cost includes the price of flights, food, accommodation, insurance, gear, and expense of hiring a guide and other. The airfare from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj costs around $188, whether Juphal is $177 respectively. If you have quite enough time then you may take the route Upper Dolpo trekking via Radi, no flight cost applied. But we are advised you to have some additional days if the weather does not allow to fly or any unforeseen causes. There is no option for accommodation; you will have a tent as accommodation during the trekking.
The permit cost of upper Dolpo is $500 per person for ten days and an additional $50 per person day beyond 10-days. It obtains from the department of immigration and applies through the registered trekking agency — similarly, the fees of guides and porters ranging from $22 to $45 per day basis. For the recent changes in visa and trekking permits fees, please log on the official website of the department of immigration, Nepal effective from 17th July 2019.
There might be some miscellaneous costs like buying some souvenirs from the folks, tipping to guide, crew members, and others. Generally, Upper Dolpo Trekking package begins from $3500 and may price up to $5500 depending on the duration of your trip, the number of groups, and the Upper Dolpo trekking package you choose. The price includes your accommodation, meals, guide, crew members, and your domestic airfare in the Upper Dolpo Trekking package.
When to trek to Upper Dolpo?
Going to Upper Dolpo Trek is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The Dolpo region is especially rain-shadow area situated behind the giant Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. No doubt, it has the splendor of the Himalayans, high passes and exhausting landscapes. So made it into a Tibetan plateau of the Trans-Himalayan desert. Here are the pros and cons according to the seasons that we generally organized. So you may do what is right for you.
Spring Season: MAR – APRL – MAY
Trekking in the spring season is ideal anywhere in the world. Flora and Fauna whatever the creature in the universe dormant all winter spring back to life feeding and breeding in the warm temps. The high land is especially rejuvenating with snow trailside; moreover, some passes are not open at the time. Hillsides are green underneath the tree line, and the mostly clear skies mean fewer chances of flight cancellations getting into Juphal – the departure point for the trek.
Monsoon season: JUN – JUL – AUG
Trekking during the monsoon season is not ideal all around the world. But Nepal is a country for trekkers paradise where intrepid travelers can do trekking in summer season too. The western part of Nepal such as Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpo, and other many destinations are the rain-shadow area. During this time, the high passes are snow-free, the landscapes are verdant, and the trails are well marking with the footsteps of locals. There is a high possibility of flight cancellation getting into Juphal due to the cloudy weather and heavy rainfall.
Fall: SEP – OCT -NOV
Perhaps autumn is the best period for trekking in Nepal, especially crowed in Annapurna, Langtang, and Everest region. The skies are crisp and blue after the summer monsoons, offering many photoshop moments of the sparkling nature and massif Himalayas. Additionally, the Fall harvest times are an opportunity for you to mingle with the locals, many tiny villages, and communities on their way to the Upper Dolpo.
How Difficult is Upper Dolpo trek?
Upper Dolpo Trek is a challenging and still lesser-known in Nepal, with around 250 to 750 tourists visiting every year. The name alone indicates that it may be difficult enough to walk to the high mountains. It requires to walk 5 to 9 hours in a single day crossing over 5000 meters and as well as spend the nights above 4000 meters in several days. The journey is feasible for those people who are physically and mentally fit.
Does It Safe For Trekking?
Well, it is one of the questions that most frequently asked. Only a few individuals make it to the entire Upper Dolpo to Jomsom trek via Upper GHT, and most of the people do a classic Upper Dolpo trekking. The only way you get to Upper Dolpo is walking through the either Phoksundo valley or Tarap valley from Juphal. Though there are certain aspects, you need to consider before planning your trekking. It would be best if you acclimatized properly to avoid AMS. Please don’t take the altitude sickness lightly while it can be severe sometimes.
Some FAQs for Upper Dolpo Trek
The Upper Dolpo Trek cost may differ depending on the services, the number of groups, and the duration of trips you have chosen. But we do offer $3800 per person for Upper Dolpo Trek that all-inclusive.
There are variant itineraries for Upper Dolpo. Usually, it takes 22 to 26-days to complete the entire circuits.
Trek to Upper Dolpo is more challenging. It requires to walk 4 to 9 hours a day, needs to cross over 5000 meters of several high passes.
The attractions of the Upper Dolpo are:
Trekking around the Shey-Phoksundo National Park
The deepest lake of Nepal, the Phoksundo Lake
Bon culture and monasteries
Wondrous camping experience along with the picturesque alpine deserts.
The best time to trek to Upper Dolpo is from April to October. In April, some passes will not open but still possible to make the circuits with proper gears. The rainy season (July to September) is ideal for the Upper Dolpo Trek.
Conclusions
Hope you enjoyed our complete guide to Upper Dolpo Trek. You can now pack your bag and prepare for one of the most beautiful treks. Plan your next trip to Nepal; the Upper Dolpo trek fires up your adrenaline we are here to help you with Himalayan Exploration Treks.
