Lower Dolpo Circuit Trek - 18 Days

Dolpo · 18 Days

Lower Dolpo Circuit Trek - 18 Days

· Strenuous · Max altitude 5,310m (17,420 ft) at Numa La pass · Max group 2-12 people

Duration

18 Days

Max Altitude

5,310m (17,420 ft)

at Numa La pass

Grade

Strenuous

Lodging

Tented camping + 3-star hotels in cities

Overview

The Lower Dolpo Circuit is the most accessible introduction to Nepal's remote western Trans-Himalayan region. Over 18 days you trek a complete loop through the Shey Phoksundo National Park, crossing two demanding 5,000m+ passes (Numa La and Baga La), visiting the Dho Tarap valley - one of the highest permanent Tibetan-speaking settlements in the world - and standing on the shore of the turquoise Phoksundo Lake.

You will not see another trekking group most days. This is a fully supported camping expedition (no teahouses above Phoksundo), so we bring a full kitchen crew, mule team, dining tent and sleeping tents. Permits are restricted-area. Lodges below Phoksundo are basic. What you experience in return is the closest you can get to old-Tibet without crossing the border - intact Buddhism, salt-trade routes still walked by yak caravans, and one of the most photogenic lakes in Asia.

Highlights

  • Cross two 5,000m+ passes: Numa La (5,310m) and Baga La (5,070m)
  • Visit the Dho Tarap valley (4,090m) - traditional Tibetan-speaking settlement
  • Stand at the turquoise Phoksundo Lake (3,600m) - Nepal's deepest at 145m
  • See Nepal's highest waterfall (330m) at Ringmo
  • Walk salt-trade routes used by yak caravans
  • Visit ancient Bon and Buddhist monasteries
  • Trek the rain-shadow region - one of the few Nepal treks possible in monsoon
  • Spot blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, golden eagle (potential snow leopard)
  • Tibetan-speaking sirdar bridges the cultural gap
  • Camping expedition with full kitchen crew and mule support

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Kathmandu (1,400m)

🍽 Welcome dinner

Airport pickup, hotel check-in and trek briefing.

Day 2

Kathmandu permit and city day

🍽 Breakfast

Final permits issued by our office. Free time.

Day 3

Fly Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (150m)

⏱ 1-hour flight 🍽 Breakfast, Dinner

Short flight to the western Terai. Overnight near the airport.

Day 4

Fly Nepalgunj to Juphal (2,475m), trek to Dunai (2,850m)

⏱ Flight + 2-3 hours trek ↔ 5 km 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Spectacular STOL flight into Juphal. Walk along the Thuli Bheri river to Dunai - district headquarters of Lower Dolpo.

Day 5

Dunai to Tarakot (2,543m)

⏱ 5-6 hours ↔ 14 km 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Walk along the Bheri river through traditional villages.

Day 6

Tarakot to Laini (3,160m)

⏱ 6-7 hours ↔ 14 km 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Climb through forest and farmland.

Day 7

Laini to Nawarpani (3,545m)

⏱ 5-6 hours ↔ 12 km 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Continue up the valley, entering the high country.

Day 8

Nawarpani to Dho Tarap (4,090m)

⏱ 7-8 hours ↔ 16 km 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Long day climbing to the wide Tibetan-speaking valley of Dho Tarap.

Day 9

Rest day at Dho Tarap

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit the monastery, walk through the village, acclimatise before the passes.

Day 10

Dho Tarap to Numa La Base Camp (4,440m)

⏱ 6-7 hours ↔ 11 km 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Climb above the valley to the base camp below Numa La.

Day 11

Numa La Base Camp to Pelung Tang via Numa La (5,310m)

⏱ 6-7 hours ↔ 12 km ▲ 5,310m 🍽 Breakfast, packed Lunch, Dinner

The trek's highest point. Steady climb to the pass, panoramic views, steep loose descent to camp.

Day 12

Pelung Tang to Yak Kharka via Baga La (5,070m)

⏱ 6-7 hours ↔ 13 km ▲ 5,070m 🍽 Breakfast, packed Lunch, Dinner

Second high pass back to back. Descent into the Phoksundo valley.

Day 13

Yak Kharka to Ringmo / Phoksundo Lake (3,600m)

⏱ 3-4 hours ↔ 10 km 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Short descent into the famous turquoise lake village.

Day 14

Rest day at Phoksundo Lake

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Explore Ringmo village, the 900-year-old Tshowa Bon monastery and the lake shore.

Day 15

Ringmo to Shyanta (2,520m)

⏱ 5-6 hours ↔ 14 km 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Descend past Nepal's highest waterfall back into the forest.

Day 16

Shyanta to Juphal (2,475m)

⏱ 4-5 hours ↔ 11 km 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Final trek day back to the airstrip.

Day 17

Fly Juphal-Nepalgunj-Kathmandu

⏱ 2 flights 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch

Two connecting flights back to Kathmandu. Hotel check-in. Farewell dinner.

Day 18

Departure

🍽 Breakfast

Airport transfer for your onward flight.

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What's included

Included

  • Round-trip Kathmandu-Nepalgunj-Juphal flights
  • All airport pickups and drops
  • 3 nights' Kathmandu accommodation (3-star, BB plan)
  • 1 night Nepalgunj hotel
  • Lower Dolpo Restricted Area Permit and Shey Phoksundo National Park Permit
  • Senior English/Tibetan-speaking guide
  • Full kitchen crew (cook + kitchen helpers)
  • Mule team for baggage
  • All camping equipment (tents, sleeping pads, dining tent, toilet tent, kitchen tent)
  • Three meals a day plus tea and snacks throughout
  • Boiled drinking water daily
  • Emergency evacuation co-ordination
  • All government taxes

Not included

  • Nepal visa fee
  • International airfare
  • Travel insurance covering trekking to 5,500m with helicopter rescue (compulsory)
  • Meals in Kathmandu outside BB plan
  • Personal trekking equipment
  • Hot showers, charging, sat-phone calls
  • Alcohol and bottled drinks
  • Tips for the camping crew
  • Any cost arising from flight delays or weather

Trek guide

The Gateway to Dolpo

Lower Dolpo sits inside the Shey Phoksundo National Park - Nepal's largest at 3,555 sq km. The "Lower" in the name does not refer to altitude (the trek goes to 5,310m) but to the lower part of the Dolpo administrative region, which extends north all the way to the Tibetan border.

The Two Passes

  • Numa La (5,310m): Highest pass of the trek. Long steady climb from Dho Tarap, panoramic views from the top, steep loose descent to Pelung Tang.
  • Baga La (5,070m): Crossed the day after Numa La. Slightly easier underfoot, snow-covered in autumn and spring.

Both passes are crossed back-to-back, which makes the middle of the trek the hardest section. A rest day at Dho Tarap before the passes is essential and built in.

Dho Tarap Valley

A wide high-altitude valley at 4,090m, populated by Tibetan-speaking Magars and Tibetan refugees. The valley supports yak herding and traditional barley farming. The Dho Tarap monastery is one of the oldest Buddhist sites in Dolpo. The valley sees roughly 200 foreign trekkers per year.

Phoksundo Lake

145m deep, 3,600m elevation, mineral-stained turquoise. The lake is sacred to Bon practitioners and the village of Ringmo on its shore is the Bon spiritual centre of Lower Dolpo. The Tshowa Bon monastery sits above the lake and is roughly 900 years old.

Acclimatisation

The natural slow ascent profile through Tarakot, Laini and Nawarpani gives a good acclimatisation arc. A scheduled rest day at Dho Tarap before the passes is non-negotiable.

Permits

  • Lower Dolpo Restricted Area Permit
  • Shey Phoksundo National Park Permit

We arrange both. Restricted-area permit requires a minimum of two trekkers.

Best Season

  • Spring (April-June): Stable, wildflower season at higher altitudes
  • Monsoon (July-August): Rain shadow makes this possible - and quieter than ever
  • Autumn (September-November): Clearest visibility, drier passes

Winter (Dec-Feb) is not possible - passes snow in.

Fitness

Strenuous. 18 days of walking, two 5,000m+ passes back to back, basic camping. Prior multi-day Himalayan trekking experience strongly recommended. 4-6 months of focussed training.

Packing list

Clothing: Down jacket -15C, fleece mid-layer, soft-shell jacket, hard-shell waterproof, soft-shell trousers, 3 trekking shirts, 2 trousers, thermal base layers, 6 pairs socks, beanie, sun hat, balaclava, neck buff, insulated and liner gloves

Footwear: Waterproof trekking boots, gaiters, camp shoes

Accessories: 40L daypack, 80L duffel for mule, -15C sleeping bag, trekking poles, headlamp + spare batteries, polarised sunglasses cat 4, 2L water capacity, water purification, power bank, hand sanitiser, baby wipes

Documents: Passport, Nepal visa, insurance, 4 passport photos, copies of permits

Medical: Diamox 250mg, broad-spectrum antibiotics (doctor advice), painkillers, antihistamines, ORS, blister care, SPF 50+ sunscreen, lip balm, personal medications

Frequently asked questions

How does this compare to Upper Dolpo?
Lower Dolpo is 7 days shorter and roughly USD 1,000 cheaper. You get Phoksundo Lake, Dho Tarap and two 5,000m+ passes - but not Shey Gompa, Saldang or the Mustang exit. Excellent first Dolpo trek.

Can I do this in monsoon?
Yes - Dolpo sits in the rain shadow north of Dhaulagiri, so it gets very little monsoon rain. July and August are realistic months here when most of Nepal is washed out.

Are the lodges good?
Below Phoksundo, very basic teahouses exist. Above, you camp. We carry the full kitchen and dining setup.

How fit do I need to be?
Strenuous. Two 5,000m+ passes back to back is the crux. Prior multi-day Himalayan trekking experience strongly recommended.

How cold does it get?
-5 to -15C at night at pass camps. -15C sleeping bag is sufficient.

Are showers possible?
Limited. Dunai and Ringmo have basic facilities. Nothing in between.

Why the Juphal flight?
There is no road into Dolpo. Juphal STOL airstrip is the only access. Driving to Jajarkot and walking to Juphal would add 5-6 days.

What if the Juphal flight cancels?
We always recommend a buffer day at each end. In bad weather we can re-route via overland from Surkhet (adds 2-3 days).

Are permits hard to get?
No - just expensive (USD 20/week for Lower Dolpo, plus park fees). We arrange them in advance.

Can I combine with Phoksundo Tea House?
No need - the Lower Dolpo Circuit includes Phoksundo plus the two high passes. The Phoksundo Tea House Trek (11 days) is the budget version without the pass crossings.

Is this safe?
Yes - the political situation is stable and our crews have walked this trail for decades. Standard high-altitude precautions apply.

Still have questions? Talk to a guide →

Why book this with us

Senior local guides. Small groups. Honest pricing.

  • Departures led by a guide who grew up in the region.
  • Max 8 trekkers per group — no convoys.
  • 100% Nepali-owned. Profit stays in the valleys.
  • Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure.
  • Permits, internal flights and TIMS handled by us.
  • 24/7 in-country support during your trek.

From $2850

per person

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