Upper and Lower Dolpo Circuit Trek - 26 Days

Dolpo · 26 Days

Upper and Lower Dolpo Circuit Trek - 26 Days

· Strenuous · Max altitude 5,350m (17,553 ft) at Nangdala Pass · Max group 2-12 people

Duration

26 Days

Max Altitude

5,350m (17,553 ft)

at Nangdala Pass

Grade

Strenuous

Lodging

Tented camping + 3-star hotels in cities

Overview

The Upper and Lower Dolpo Circuit is the complete Dolpo experience - a 26-day camping expedition that links the northern Upper Dolpo (Shey Gompa, Saldang, Tinje) with the southern Lower Dolpo (Dho Tarap, Tarap valley) in a single huge loop. You fly in to Juphal, walk up through Phoksundo Lake, cross the Nangdala and Shey La passes into Inner Dolpo, traverse east through Saldang and Tinje, then drop south to Dho Tarap and out via the Bheri valley.

This is the most ambitious standard trek in Nepal's western Himalaya. There are no lodges north of Ringmo - everything is camping. Our crew carries a full kitchen, dining tent, sleeping tents and a substantial mule team. Permits are dual: Upper Dolpo restricted-area for the northern section, Lower Dolpo restricted-area for the Dho Tarap exit. You spend 22 nights camping. Snow leopard country, intact Tibetan-Buddhist culture, two 5,000m+ passes - this is the western Himalayan equivalent of the Great Himalaya Trail's hardest stretches, condensed into one trip.

Highlights

  • Cross Nangdala Pass (5,350m) and Shey La Pass (5,100m)
  • Two-plus nights at Shey Gompa - 11th-century crystal-mountain monastery
  • Walk the complete Inner Dolpo loop: Saldang, Namgung, Komash, Shimen, Tinje
  • Stand on the shore of the turquoise Phoksundo Lake
  • Visit Yangjer Gompa above Saldang
  • Standard rest day at Dho Tarap - traditional Tibetan-speaking valley
  • Walk salt-trade routes still used by yak caravans
  • Genuine snow leopard country - Shey Phoksundo holds Nepal's densest population
  • Distant views of Kanjiroba, Dhaulagiri and Himalchuli
  • The most complete Dolpo trek possible in a single trip

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Kathmandu (1,400m)

🍽 Welcome dinner

Airport pickup, hotel check-in and trek briefing.

Day 2

Fly Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (150m)

⏱ 1-hour flight 🍽 Breakfast, Dinner

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

Day 3

Fly Nepalgunj to Juphal (2,475m), trek to Dunai (2,150m)

⏱ Flight + 3 hours trek 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

STOL flight into Juphal. Walk along the Thuli Bheri to Dunai.

Day 4

Dunai to Chhepka (2,687m)

⏱ 6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Walk along the Bheri and up the Suli Gad into the national park.

Day 5

Chhepka to Chunuwar (3,110m)

⏱ 6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Climb through pine forest with views of Nepal's highest waterfall.

Day 6

Chunuwar to Phoksundo Lake (3,600m)

⏱ 5-6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Steep switchbacks to the turquoise lake village of Ringmo.

Day 7

Rest day at Phoksundo Lake

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Explore Ringmo, the Tshowa Bon monastery and the lake shore.

Day 8

Phoksundo to Sallaghari

⏱ 5 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Walk along the north shore of Phoksundo and into the upper valley.

Day 9

Sallaghari to Nangdala High Camp (4,717m)

⏱ 5-6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Steady climb to the base of the first high pass.

Day 10

Nangdala HC to Shey Gompa (4,280m) via Nangdala Pass (5,350m)

⏱ 5-6 hours ▲ 5,350m 🍽 Breakfast, packed Lunch, Dinner

The trek's high point. Cross the pass and drop to the monastery.

Day 11

Shey Gompa to Namgung via Shey La (5,100m)

⏱ 6-7 hours ▲ 5,100m 🍽 Breakfast, packed Lunch, Dinner

Second 5,000m+ pass back to back. Drop east into Namgung.

Day 12

Namgung to Saldang (4,100m)

⏱ 4-5 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Walk to the largest village in Inner Dolpo.

Day 13

Day hike to Yangjer Gompa (4,599m)

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Climb above Saldang to the 13th-century Sakya monastery.

Day 14

Saldang to Komash Village

⏱ 6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Continue east along the plateau.

Day 15

Komash to Shimen

⏱ 5 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Walk through traditional Tibetan-speaking villages.

Day 16

Shimen to Tinje

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Reach the easternmost village of Inner Dolpo.

Day 17

Tinje to Yak Kharka (4,020m)

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Climb south into the upper Tarap drainage.

Day 18

Yak Kharka to Tokyu (4,240m)

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Continue into the upper Tarap valley.

Day 19

Tokyu to Dho Tarap (3,944m) - Rest day

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Reach Dho Tarap and rest. Visit the valley monastery.

Day 20

Dho Tarap to Nawarpani (3,475m)

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Descend through the Tarap valley.

Day 21

Nawarpani to Lashicap (2,775m)

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Continue down toward the Bheri.

Day 22

Lashicap to Dunai

⏱ 6 hours 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Final trek day to Dunai.

Day 23

Dunai to Juphal

🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Short walk back to the airstrip.

Day 24

Fly Juphal-Nepalgunj-Kathmandu

⏱ 2 flights 🍽 Breakfast, Lunch

Two connecting flights back to Kathmandu.

Day 25

Buffer day in Kathmandu

🍽 Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Held in reserve for flight delays. Used as a rest/sightseeing day if not needed.

Day 26

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
  • 2 nights' Kathmandu accommodation (3-star, BB plan)
  • 1 night Nepalgunj hotel
  • Upper Dolpo and Lower Dolpo Restricted Area Permits
  • Shey Phoksundo National Park Permit
  • Senior English/Nepali/Tibetan-speaking guide
  • Full kitchen crew (cook + kitchen helpers + mule drivers)
  • 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
  • Company duffel bag and first-aid kit
  • Buffer day for flight weather
  • All government taxes

Not included

  • Nepal visa fee
  • International airfare
  • Travel insurance covering trekking to 5,500m with helicopter rescue (compulsory)
  • Excess baggage on domestic flights
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
  • 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 Complete Dolpo

The Dolpo region splits into Upper (north of Phoksundo) and Lower (south of Phoksundo). Most trekkers do one or the other. This 26-day expedition does both in a single loop - walking up through Lower Dolpo to Phoksundo, crossing into Upper Dolpo at the Nangdala, traversing the whole Inner Dolpo, dropping south via Shimen and Tinje, and exiting via Dho Tarap and the standard Lower Dolpo trail.

The Two High Passes

  • Nangdala (5,350m): The trek's highest point. Crossed on day 10 from Nangdala High Camp to Shey Gompa.
  • Shey La (5,100m): Crossed on day 11 from Shey Gompa to Namgung. Two 5,000m+ passes back to back.

Shey Gompa and Crystal Mountain

Founded in the 11th century, Shey Gompa sits at the foot of Crystal Mountain (Shey Riwo Pelmo Tsegyi). The monastery is the destination of the famous Dolpo kora pilgrimage that circles Crystal Mountain every twelve years (next major one: 2028). We spend the rest day here.

Saldang, Komash, Shimen, Tinje

The four central Inner Dolpo villages - all above 3,800m, all Tibetan-speaking, all dependent on yak herding and barley farming. The east-to-west traverse through these villages is the cultural heart of the trek.

Dho Tarap

A wide high-altitude valley at 3,944m. Standard rest day before the final descent to Juphal. The valley monastery is one of the oldest Buddhist sites in Dolpo.

Acclimatisation

Built-in rest days at Ringmo (3,600m) and Dho Tarap (3,944m). The Nangdala / Shey La back-to-back crossings on days 10-11 are the crux. By then you have 8 days of progressive altitude gain.

Permits

  • Upper Dolpo Restricted Area Permit (USD 500 for the first 10 days, USD 50 per day after)
  • Lower Dolpo Restricted Area Permit (USD 20 for the first week)
  • Shey Phoksundo National Park Permit
  • Minimum two trekkers required

We arrange all three in advance. Permit cost alone is roughly USD 750 per person.

Best Season

  • Spring (April-June): Stable, snow on the passes through May
  • Monsoon (July-August): Rain shadow makes this workable but visibility drops
  • Autumn (September-mid-November): Clearest visibility, drier passes

Winter (mid-Nov-Mar) is not possible - passes snow in, Juphal flights cancel.

Fitness

Strenuous. 26 days of walking, two 5,000m+ passes back to back, 22 nights camping. Prior multi-day 5,000m+ trekking experience required. 6 months of focussed training.

Packing list

Clothing: Down jacket -20C, fleece mid-layer, soft-shell jacket, hard-shell waterproof, soft-shell trousers, 4 trekking shirts, 2 trousers, thermal base layers, 8 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, -20C 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 to Mustang?
Same duration class, similar price. The Upper + Lower loop exits via Juphal (the way you entered); the Mustang version exits via Jomsom (different airstrip, different cultural region). Upper + Lower gives you more time inside Dolpo; the Mustang exit gives you a final Mustang valley as well.

How does this compare to Inner Dolpo Circuit?
Upper + Lower adds 2 extra days and the full east-to-west traverse through Komash, Shimen and Tinje. Inner Dolpo loops back south at Chagaon via the Jyanta La. Both end at Dho Tarap.

Are the lodges good?
There are no lodges north of Ringmo. You camp from day 8 to day 22 - 14 consecutive nights of camping. We carry the full kitchen and dining setup.

How fit do I need to be?
Strenuous. Two 5,000m+ passes back to back plus 22 nights camping. Prior multi-day 5,000m+ trekking experience required.

How cold does it get?
-10 to -20C at night at the high camps. -20C sleeping bag is essential.

Why so many permits?
The trek crosses two restricted-area zones (Upper and Lower Dolpo). Each has its own permit. Plus the national park entry. We handle all three.

Will I see snow leopards?
Possible but rare. Shey Phoksundo holds Nepal's densest snow leopard population (estimated 50-60 individuals). Local sightings happen 3-4 times per season.

What if the Juphal flight cancels?
A buffer day is built into the itinerary at the end. In severe weather we can re-route via overland from Surkhet (adds 2-3 days).

How reliable is the food on a 22-day camping trip?
Excellent. Full kitchen crew rotates menus daily. Fresh vegetables packed in mule loads from Juphal, resupplied from villages along the way.

Can I do this trek with prior experience only at Everest Base Camp?
EBC is a good base but not sufficient. We require prior multi-day camping experience above 5,000m. Kanchenjunga, Manaslu Circuit, Upper Mustang Saribung or similar.

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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 $4000

per person

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