The Upper Dolpo Trek: A 26-Day Expedition
You are a seasoned adventurer. You have completed the world's great treks, and now you are searching for a true pilgrimage. You seek a journey that takes you to a place so remote and untouched that it feels like stepping into a dream. You want to see the land of the snow leopard, a hidden kingdom behind the Himalayas.
Imagine a journey into the legendary "Hidden Kingdom" of Dolpo. For nearly a month, you leave the modern world completely behind. You cross multiple high passes, camping in pristine wilderness under a sky full of brilliant stars. Your path leads you to ancient, cliff-side monasteries and finally to the sacred Crystal Mountain at Shey Gompa. You stand in awe on the shores of the impossibly turquoise Phoksundo Lake.
Our 26-day Upper Dolpo Expedition is that journey. This is not just a trek; it is a full-scale camping expedition into one of the most remote and culturally preserved regions on Earth. This trip is for those who seek the true, wild, and spiritual soul of the Himalayas.
Best Time for This Expedition
This extremely long and remote trek requires stable weather. The autumn and spring seasons are the only recommended times.
- Autumn (September - November): This is the ideal season. The skies are clear, the views are sharp, and the weather is at its most stable for crossing the high passes.
- Spring (March - May): This is the other good season. The weather is warmer, and the passes are clearing of winter snow.
A Typical Day on Your Trek
This is a camping expedition, and the daily routine is an adventure in itself.
- Morning: Your day starts around 6:30 AM with a hot cup of tea brought to your tent by our crew. After packing your gear, you will have a hot breakfast in the dining tent.
- Trekking: You start walking around 8:00 AM. The pace is slow and steady to help you adjust to the altitude. You will walk through remote, wild landscapes for 3-4 hours.
- Lunch: Our cook team will walk ahead and prepare a hot lunch for you on the trail.
- Afternoon: You will walk for another 2-4 hours to reach our campsite for the night. The crew will have already set up your tents.
- Evening: You can relax with hot drinks and snacks. Dinner is served in the dining tent. You will get a briefing from your guide about the next day's journey.
Meet Your Expedition Team
This trek requires a full support team to ensure your safety and success.
- Your Expert Guide: We only use our most experienced senior guides for this trek. They are licensed, speak English, and have extensive experience in the remote, high-altitude region of Dolpo.
- Your Camping Crew: This trek includes an experienced cook and kitchen staff who will prepare fresh, hot, and healthy meals for you.
- Your Strong Porters: A team of strong local porters will carry all the tents, food, and your main bag, often with the help of mules in this region.
Safety on this Strenuous Trek
Your safety is our absolute priority on this journey.
- High Altitude and Passes: This trek involves many days at high altitude and three major pass crossings. The itinerary has several key acclimatization days. Your guide is an expert in managing altitude safety.
- Extreme Remoteness: Upper Dolpo is one of the most remote places in Nepal. Your guide will carry a satellite phone for emergencies, as there is no mobile service. They will also carry a comprehensive medical kit.
- Domestic Flights: The flights to and from Juphal are in small planes and depend on good weather. We book them with reliable airlines.
Trek Difficulty: Is This Trek for You?
This trek is rated as Very Strenuous (Expedition Level). It is suitable only for experienced trekkers with a high level of physical fitness and previous experience with high-altitude trekking and camping.
You must be prepared for over three weeks of continuous walking, multiple high pass crossings, and living in a tent in basic wilderness conditions. This expedition requires excellent stamina and a strong, positive mindset for adventure.
Food and Lodging on the Trek
- Teahouses: You will only stay in very basic teahouses for the first and last nights of the trek in Dunai and Juphal.
- Tent Camping: For 19 nights, you will stay in tent camps. We provide high-quality two-person tents, a dining tent, a toilet tent, and all kitchen equipment.
- Meals: Our cook will prepare a variety of tasty and high-energy meals throughout the trek, from fresh vegetables and rice to pasta and soups.
Join us in the Dolpo district, characterized by mysterious landscapes – some of which seem as if they are from another planet. There are eye-popping contrasts in color, with rocky brown landmasses next to turquoise bodies of water, and grey hills next to patches of bright green oasis.
Explore this hidden land for an unforgettable mystical experience. The allure of theUpper Dolpo Trekcomes from how secluded it is, like a hidden and forbidden territory. In fact, for years foreigners were not allowed to enter. Still today, the area sees few tourists.
The Dolpo district is the largest in Nepal, though it is one of the most remote and least inhabited. It is possible to trek for several days without seeing another person. Local people of Dolpo live a traditional lifestyle, unaffected by modernity. They have ancestral roots in Tibet, with who they still have trade connections with today. They practice Bon Po religion, a religion somewhat rooted in Tibetan Buddhism with some ancient shamanistic influences.
The Upper Dolpo Trek might just be the most unique trek in the country. The unique culture and landscape can be found nowhere else on Earth. It is a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in such a well-preserved place, away from outside influence. The beauty of this amazing adventure cannot be overstated. Trek begins with a scenic flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj.
Enjoy gorgeous mountain views from the window. Pass through forests and crop fields for the first few days. Soon, the trail turns north towards higher elevation. The vegetation and signs of any life become fewer and fewer. Enjoy views of the massiveDhaulagiri (8,167 meters), the seventh highest mountain in the world. Throughout the journey, revel in tons of mountain views, including the Annapurna, Manaslu, and Nilgiri ranges.
