Dolpo with Shey Gompa

On arrival, meet our TH staff for a courtesy transfer to your respective hotels in the heart of Kathmandu, in the Thamel area, a popular spot for shopping and dining at many world-class restaurants, pubs, and bakeries. Our guide will provide details about the Dolpo with Shey Gompa Trek.

The morning after breakfast at a given time our city and cultural guide will guide you in and around Kathmandu at places of interest and importance, as Kathmandu Valley is full of World Heritage Sites the holy Pashupatinath temple, Bouddhanath (Little Tibet), Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) & monasteries, ancient Kings Palaces and courtyard in Kathmandu; after an interesting sightseeing back to the hotel and transfer to Kathmandu domestic airport for 55 minutes scenic flight to Nepal’s South West region at Nepalgunj close to the border of India, where the temperature is warm of sub-tropical climate on reaching Nepalgunj transfer to respective hotels for the overnight stop.

Morning a short drive from the hotel to Nepalgunj airport for the connecting short scenic flight to Jhuphal which takes about 40 mins, on the flight super panorama of the Dhaulagiri mountain range, on reaching Jhuphal, our field, and trekking crews will meet, and then with a short drive on the jeep track road to Dunai for overnight stop, Dunai a moderate size and a headquarter town with Government administrative of Dolpo region.

After the flight and short drive to Dunai, from here morning starts with the first day's walk by crossing a suspension bridge and then leading towards North West with a climb to the banks of Thulo Bheri Valley, after a while it leads to a ridge at Phoksumdo river valley at 2,499 meters, with magnificent views of Kagmara Peak, then walking on the path with a long downhill through several scattered houses and walnut groves near to a stream, then reaching Dhara small winter settlements of cattle herders, from here climbing to Rahagaon village inhabited mostly by Thakuri, a Hindu tribe of people of the Western Himalaya mid hills, after Rahagaon walking downhill towards a dense forest, reaching at Ankhe for overnight camp, this small place is the main entrance to Shey Phoksumdo National Park, afternoon at leisure for a short walk around this nice area.

Morning from Ankhe starts with short ups and downhill walks into
a forest, then to the riverside, then climbing to a ridge, leaving the forested area high above the river, after the ridge top, descending back to the forest area to another riverbed. From here, the walk leads upstream and then crosses a small bridge near Ryajik village. After this village, we will continue walking towards our overnight camp at Sumdu near Sulighat, with time for a short visit around this nice, small village.

Today’s walk leads to one of the highlights of this trip to a beautiful emerald Phoksumdo lake, starting the morning walk into the valley of Phokshumdo and Pungmo Kholas (streams) confluence, after crossing the western side of Phokshumdo Khola, and then following the Pungmo Khola west bank, after a nice and pleasant rest stops, walk leads on the downhill path through birch and pine forests towards the upper side of Phokshindo Khola, and then finally reaching Ringmo village, this is one of the interesting and attractive villages with mud plastered chortens and Mani (prayer) walls, from this nice village a short walk towards the enchanting, turquoise and emerald colored Phokshindo Lake, overnight camp near the bank of this beautiful lake.

An important and necessary rest day at Ringmo and Phoksumdo Lake for acclimatisation before heading to higher areas. This is an ideal spot for a free day around this place. One can take an optional walk or visit the Ringmo village and its old, interesting Buddhist Monastery, along with stunning views of the surrounding landscapes and snow-capped mountains.

After a great and enjoyable time in this serene, emerald Phokshumdo lake area, our journey continues towards higher unto upper Dolpo region which is our final destination of this wonderful adventure the highlights of this trip, a morning walk contouring a rocky ledge on the river bank towards an unsteady trail, at the western rim of Phoksumdo lake then entering a summer grazing pasture opening into a flood plain of Phokshumdo Khola for our overnight camp on the bank of the river.

From this nice camp by the stream in the middle of nowhere, our walk starts on a pleasant trail towards a glacial valley leading north of Phokshumdo Khola confluence, where another stream joins, then from here walk up on the long ridge slopes on the grazing land area, after a strenuous walk uphill reaching to the ridge top with views of another vast wide valley. At Kang-La pass, which leads to Shey Gompa and our destination, our overnight camp will be set up on a nice, wide grazing spot. This camp is christened with a name as ‘Snowfields Camp' by Peter Matthiessen in his classic novel “The Snow Leopard”.

Today's trek leads to our destination at Shey Gompa and the highlights of this great, wonderful journey. The morning walk starts with a steep climb up the slate stone scree atop Kang-la pass at 5,360 meters, the highest point of this trip, which offers a grand vista of the surrounding valleys and snow-capped mountains, and all the way views of the Mt. Dhaulagiri range. 

After enjoying the rest with the magnificent scenery, the walk leads downhill towards a valley floor, from here the trail meanders along the river banks, then walking on the green marsh and wet meadows, encountering herds of yaks, sheep, goats, nomadic huts of cattle herders, and then slowly heading towards a red chortens (Buddhist monument) this is a relief sign that the walk is complete for the day and welcoming you at Shey Gompa, our overnight camp set beneath the stunning Crystal Mountain regarded as sacred mountain as well.

After a wonderfully enjoyable time here our journey continues with a mesmerizing moment of Shey and the Crystal Monastery, walk follows in the middle lined with juniper trees, and then descending into a canyon, the track winds up on top of Saldang-la pass, from here on the downhill path towards north direction, then reaching to an area at a pasture with yaks, sheep grazing, from here a gradual walk to our overnight stop at Namduna Gaon.
This village has an old monastery of the Karmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. This is a farming village that grows only one crop a year, mainly barley. In some villages, buckwheat, mustard, potatoes, and radish are also cultivated. 

From here, morning walk heads up on a screen, rocky slope, along a dusty, windswept country. After four hours of strenuous climbing, reach Saldang, an interesting village in this area, located high above on a plateau and one of the largest villages in the inner Dolpo area. 

In Saldang, there are five flourishing villages scattered around the area. This is one of the main villages, not only for its agriculture but also for its prime location along a trade route to Tibet. 

This grand classic trek continues north to the least-visited area for other Western trekkers. Then it follows the Nang Chu River most of the way on this dry, arid, and picturesque terrain, leading ups and downs and through Tiling and Lurigaon, a small cattle herders settlement, then reaching our overnight camp at Yangze village with an old Bon-Po Monastery, Bon–Po or Pa, a pre-Buddhist religion started before Buddhism came to Tibet.  

Buddhism began only in the 6th century in Tibet and the high country of Nepal.

Our journey continues by retracing the trail towards Saldang village, as this is the most straightforward route. It saves time making the walk much shorter than on the northern western trail to Siby and beyond, after crisscrossing the path reaching Saldang village area, from here our walk follows the river into terraced fields with rows of stupas, chortens, monastery, then through Namdo another large flourishing village with more than sixty houses after visiting the monastery at Namdo, the walk continues for another two hours further descending towards a river and into a temporary Sheppard’s settlement at Sibu for an overnight stop.

From this campsite at the grazing pasture land, the morning walk starts following Nam Khong Khola (stream) for an hour, then coming towards yaks-laden caravan on their way towards the Tibetan border for trade and bartering, as this area on the old Trans Himalayan Trade route, been trading with Tibet for hundreds of years till today, the walk continues following the same river, and then finally our route diverts heading east to the meeting point of two smaller rivers, from here walks leads on the steep uphill climb towards Jeng –la base or a bottom for an overnight camp on a nice grassy spot.

After being a few days in total isolation away from the village, today’s walk leads to an interesting village at Tokyu Gaon, one of the largest villages in this region, starting the morning with a steep climb for nearly two hours at the top of Jeng - la with panoramic views of snow-capped mountains looking at the North Face of Mt. Dhaulagiri massif range of peaks, after enjoying the awesome scenery, walk leads to a long descend towards Tarap valley, which is one of the longest beautiful green valley extending near about 20 k.m. distances along the Tarap Chu River, with more than 10 villages with well-tended farm fields with monasteries and chortens, then walking on a pleasant trail after completing the downhill portion to reach our overnight stop at Tokyugaon a wonderful village with an old interesting monastery, an afternoon with ample time to visit the village and the monastery or relax and interact with the locals.

From this nice village, a morning walk follows the downhill path towards Tarap Chu into a wide valley, around which are temporary settlements of local cattle herders. The people here belong to both the Bon Po and Chaiba sects of Tibetan Buddhism (Mahayana) and live together in friendly harmony. 

Then, with a nice walk through this beautiful valley, we will reach Dho Tarap for an overnight camp, and in the afternoon, with time, a visit to this interesting village, which is inhabited by people of Tibetan origin, mostly the Magar hill tribe.

On the long day walk, the trail is moderate and gradual, with few short climbs and downhills. The morning starts with a descent into a wide valley that further narrows into a gorge. Following the path with sparse vegetation of juniper and wild rose bushes which is typical in this dry barren area of inner Himalaya climate and arctic temperate zone, around this place chances of spotting some wildlife including herds of blue sheep, after a great enjoyable walk reaching the junction of Tarap Chu and Lang Khola, flowing from Tarap River beyond east, source of the river from the glacier of North West Dhaulagiri Himalayan range of mountains. 

After a pleasant walk, reach a beautiful grassy field, a meadow, or a summer pasture called Kamekharka. The word Khaka means the shepherd's shelter or shade.

After a nice morning in these wonderful surroundings, the walk leads towards the Tarap River and into a gorge, with the path rising above the steep slopes.
This narrow gorge offers some challenges and adventure, as the path, in places, passes over damaged bridges from river floods and sometimes requires wading across the chilly river. After some adventure and excitement, this fine day walk reaches Tarap Khola near Kharigaon for overnight camping.

This exotic journey continues to the lower Dolpo area through Lalberi village, then back into the tree line on the trail, following the river downstream again to Tarakot village, a picturesque village with nice terraced cultivated fields and an old fortress around the village. 
(Over a hundred years ago, before the Gorkha dynasty, this beautiful place was the capital and had a Dzong, meaning a Fort.) 

Tarakot village houses the famous Sandul Gompa, located at the confluence of Barbung Khola and Tarap Chum. After an interesting detour and a visit to Tarakot village, we walked down from the village to our overnight camp near the river just below the village, close to a monastery at the edge of a grassy plateau, with an interesting solitary tree.

This remarkable and finest journey slowly comes to an end at Jhupal, the gateway to Dolpo and many other destinations in this far west region, starting this final day walk to Dunai following several scattered farm villages and cattle herders shades and huts, then leading to a gradual uphill to a valley and then with a descend to the other side on the barren treeless landscapes at Thulo Bheri valley at Dunai area, from here walking past a hospital to cross the new suspension bridge then finally reaching at Dunai town, a large town area with an administrative headquarter of Dolpo zone, to make this walk shorter and to reach Jhupal on time to check with our flight taking a jeep ride for an hour drive on the dirt rough road to Jhuphal for the last and final overnight stop of this impressive journey at Jhupal with time for a short walk around this village.

Early morning, depending upon the flight time get in a small plane Dronier or Twin Otter or a similar type for a short scenic flight of 40 minutes to Nepalgunj with an awesome panorama of Mt. Annapurna and Mt. Dhaulagiri range of mountains, on reaching Nepalgunj depending upon the connecting flight to Kathmandu, with few hours of rest and refreshment at Nepalgunj, then connect the flight to Kathmandu which takes almost 50 minutes with a sweeping panorama of a mountain range from the plane, then finally concluding this fantastic journey in Kathmandu, on arrival transfer to respective hotels with afternoon free at leisure.

We have reserved this day to relax and enjoy your last day in Kathmandu with another sightseeing tour in and around Kathmandu, visiting places of interest and importance, or to book an Everest/Mountain Flight with us. 

Last day in Nepal with a wonderful, memorable time in the Himalaya Dolpo with Shey Gompa Trek with Team Himalaya and transfer to the airport for the flight back home or to the respective destination.