Mysterious Dolpo Trek
Western Nepal
Dolpo!
The word conjures up visions of mysterious monasteries of snow
leopards and blue sheep. A land beyond the Himalaya. Laying in
western Nepal, Dolpo is one of the most remote of Nepal’s regions.
By special permit, through our Nepalese tour operator, we are
able to offer this-day trek through upper and lower Dolpo. In
addition to trekking we will spend a day rafting on the Trisuli
River, three days in remote Bardia National Park (looking for
rhinos and tigers) and 4 days in Kathmandu visiting Buddhist &
Hindu shrines and temples.
Our route follows much of the route taken by Peter Mathiessen
and George Shaller as described in "The snow Leopard”. We trek
200 miles, averaging 10 miles a day. We spend 6-8 hours a day
trekking . Several layover days are planned. Porters carry a
day pack with the things you need for the day.
Participants should be in good shape. We are at high elevation
much of the time on this trip. Five passes, over 16,500 feet,
are crossed . Steep climbs and descents are made.
We use a reputable, local, trekking agency that is licensed by
the Nepalese government and is environmentally friendly. Their
guides are some of the best in Nepal. Ron Yarnell, the owner of
Wilderness: Alaska/ Mexico, accompanies the trip as your leader.
Day
01 |
Arrive
in Kathmandu. You will be met at the airport and transported
to our hotel. The afternoon will be spent visiting the Hindu
shrines of Durbar Square. Meals the first two days in Kathmandu
are not included in the price of the trip. |
Day
02 |
Tour
the Buddhist sites of Swayambhunath and Bodhanath on the
edge of the city. |
Day
03 |
After
breakfast we travel by van 3 hours to the Trisuli River.
Following a safety lecture we spend the afternoon paddle
rafting a section of the Trisuli. Previous experience is
not required . It is a fun run with class III rapids. Following
the raft trip we continue , by van, to our hotel at Pokhara,
on Phewa lake, with the Annapurna Range rising to 26,000
feet north of us. Breakfast and dinner this day are not
include in the price of the trip. |
Day
04 |
Today
we fly from Pokhara to Jomsom (elevation 8900 feet), the
administrative centre for the Mustang district to Nepal.
En-route we fly between Annapurna I ( 26500 feet) ad Dhaulagiri
( 26,800 feet) . It is a spectacular flight. We meet our
porters in Jomsom. From here we trek up the wide, Kali Gandaki
Valley to the Fortress- like town of Kagbeni (9200 feet)
. The scenery around us is spectacular . To our south are
the galciated peaks of the Himalaya. To our north is the
drier, dessert - like countryside of the Tibetan plateau
, a maze of barren high mountains . ( 8 miles). |
Day
05-06 |
Climbing
3000 feet out the Kali Gandaki Valley, we have excellent
views of the Annapurna Range, Muktinath and Mustang. We
traverse into the spectacular Chalung Khola, climbing and
descending side canyons along the way, to the village of
Sangdak, elevation 12,500 feet. (15 miles) |
Day
07-09 |
We
ascend the convoluted Chalung gorge, then climb 400 feet,
to 16,800- foot, Sangdak Pass, the eastern entrance to Dolpo.
The scenery is magnificent. This has got to be one of the
grandest viewpoints in the world. Descending the pass we
follow the Thajang Khola to the village of Chharka, 13,500
feet elevation. (25 miles) |
Day
10-13 |
From
Chharka we climb 3000 feet to Chharka Pass (16,500), then
descend into the Keheng Khola. This is one of the most remote
regions in Nepal, an area where there could still be the
magnificent Marco Polo sheep or the Tibetan wild yak. The
landscape is Arctic desert , barren in places with alpine
meadows in others. We hike past the very Tibetan villages
of Tinje, Shimengaon and Saldang. (50 miles) |
Day
14-15 |
Entering
Phoksundo National Park, we climb 3000 feet over a 17,300
- foot pass and descend , to famous Shey Gomba, elevation
13,950 feet. We spend a layover day here watching blue sheep,
looking for snow leopards and wolves and touring the monastery.
(10 miles). |
Day
16-18 |
Leaving
Shey Gomba we climb 3200 feet over a 17200- foot pass. Views
of the 22,000-foot peaks of the Kanjiroba Range are excellent
. We descend 5000 feet into the Phoksundo River drainage
and work our way along beautiful Phosksudo Lake (12,000
feet). We find ourselves perched on cliffs, high above the
lake. If you don’t like heights you won’t enjoy this section.
A layover day is planned at the lake. (16 miles) |
Day
19-20 |
From
Phoksundo lake we descend past the spectacular waterfall
draining the lake. Leaving the main route we follow the
Durjam Khola through the village of Pungmo (9600 feet),
to the base of Kagmara Pass. Since crossing the last pass
we have entered the lusher side of the Himalayas . Beautiful
forests of pine, spruce, hemlock and birch are common.(18
miles) |
Day
21-22 |
Climb
3000 feet to the summit of Kagmara Pass( 16,800) . Descend
along Kagmara Glacier , 3000 feet to Kagmara Phedi camp.
(8 miles) |
Day
23-24 |
Descend
Garpung Khola 8 miles to Hurikot and the park boundary .
Continue down 2 miles to the Bheri River, at 8600 feet elevation
. Contour through villages and apple orchards past potato
and corn fields, climbing to camp at Mauriya Phedi , elevation
10,200. (20 miles) |
Day
25 |
Ascend
steeply, 2300 feet, through forests of pine and oak, across
avalanche tracks to Mauriya Pass (elevation 12,500). Views
of the snowy peaks to our north and east are exceptional.
Descend steeply , 2600 feet, through birch, oak and rhododendron
forests to Chotra, elevation 9900 feet (7 miles). |
Day
26 |
For
the next two days we descend the Tila valley through spruce
forests, past barely fields and rice terraces, irrigation
works and water driven mills, to Jumla, elevation 7700 feet,
the administrative centre for the region. (20 miles) |
Day
27 |
From
Jumla we fly to Nepalgunj , then drive to Bardia National
Park, a remote national park in the lowerlands of western
Nepal. Here we go o elephant rides and jungle walks looking
for tiger, rhinos and other wildlife. |
Day
28 |
Drive
back to Nepalgunj and fly to Kathmandu . Dinner is not included
today. |
Day
29 |
Today
is a layover day in Kathmandu for shopping . Meals are not
included. |
Day
30 |
The
end of the trip. You are free to return home today. |
Join us trekking through
one of Nepal’s most mysterious regions.
Cost: Please contact
us.
Minimum Group size: 4
Season: May - October
Grading: 4
Departure date: as per your convenience.
Weather & Temperatures
Temperatures can range from the 80’s in the jungle to the 20’s or
lower in the high country. This is the dry season, so significant
rain is not likely, but you will need to be prepared for a variety
of weather, including snow at higher elevations.
Included in the price of the trip:
-
All hotels and lodging,
-
transportation including airport pick up and return in Kathmandu
meals except while in Kathmandu & Pokhara,
-
air flights beyond
Kathmandu,
-
eating utensils,
-
tents,
-
first aid supplies,
-
trekking
permit,
-
porters and guides.
Not included in the price of the trip:
-
Transportation to
Kathmandu,
-
personal clothing,
-
sleeping bag,
-
sleeping pad, boots,
-
meals while in Kathmandu & Pokhara,
-
soft drinks and alcoholic
beverages,
-
day pack,
-
duffel bag and gratitude’s. An equipment list
will be provided upon registration or request.
Recommended reading
The snow Leopard; Peter Mathiessen;Himalayan Pilgrimage; David Snellgrove;
Stones of Silence; George Shaller; Dolpo, Karna Sakya; Heart of
the Jungle, K.K. Gurung; Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya, Lonely
Planet Guides; Nepal, Insight Guides.
For
More Information: info@ecotrek.com.np
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