Lower Dolpo & Phoksundo Lake Trek

Upon your arrival in the Kathmandu airport (TIA), a representative from Himalayan trekkers and transfer to the hotel will greet you. We will be discussing the trek in details and free time of your own. Overnight at hotel.

We will start our guided tour to several of the most historical and spiritual attractions and some of landmarks which are considered as world heritage sites including the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the famous 'Monkey Temple' (Swayambhunath) and Buddhists shrine (Buddha Nath) which is one of the large Stupa in the world. In the afternoon, there will be a pre-trip discussion where we can meet our trek leader and other team members where we will discuss our trek

Today either we fly to which will be 30 minutes scenic flight or you can 7 hours/200km drive to Pokhara. If the weather is clear you can see the Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung, Manaslu and Annapurna as soon as you start going down from Kathmandu. In the evening stroll around the lakeside or depending on the time you reach Pokhara for a boating trip in the Phewa Lake. Pokhara is one of the most admired and most visited cities by the foreigners after Kathmandu. It is also known as the “city of Lake paradise.”

The journey starts with a scenic drive in the morning. We drive uphill taking a winding road all the way to Naudanda. The road then descends to Nayapul. Along the way, you can have a panoramic view of Annapurna South, Machhapuchre, lush green hills, terraced fields, and villages. The drive offers one of the most picturesque terrains on the whole trip. We drive along the banks of the Myagdi River until we reach Beni. Beni (830m) is a large village situated on a plateau above the river. The trail to Dhorpatan and Dolpo starts at the southern end of Beni. We further drive following the river (Myagdi Khola), which starts from the Dhaulagiri glacier till reaching our overnight destination, The hot spring (Tatopani) along the way is one of the most notable places to see today. It is a great idea to take a dip and relax at the hot spring with a chilled beer! 

We will cross the bridge of Myagdi Khola and climb up a rocky path dug into the cliff just over the river. The trail goes up and down through the village and forest. Majority of people in this area belong to the Magar, Chhetri and few other ethnic communities. 

We walk through a flat path passing the villages of Takum and Sibang. After Sibang, We approach a climb to ascend up to the small settlement known as Mattim. From here there is a crest which we descend and reach Muna.

We take the trail from Muna to Jaljala La (3390m.) via Lumsum (2100m.) and Moreni (2670m.). To reach Lumsum we make a steep climb, passing through oak and rhododendron forests with views of Himalayan peaks like Dhaulagiri, Mana Pathi and other unnamed peaks. As we are walking past the Moreni village we will see a glimpse of Tibetan lifestyle and culture as most people here have Tibetan roots. After Moreni, we will make a steep descent and reach the settlement at Jaljala Jangla.

An alpine settlement on top of a ridge, Jaljala is a vantage viewpoint. It is also used by the nearby villagers as pasture land for their cattle’s. Don’t be surprised if you see some Yaks and mountain goats along the way! This is a perfect camping area and the view of Dhaulagiri range from this point is just breathtaking. Jangla La is the place from where the ancient kingdom of Tichrong, the valley of Fragrant water starts. Tichurong was a medieval kingdom which was administered from the then city of Tarakot or Taragaon or Dzong.

Today we will trek from Jaljala La to Dhorpatan (2870m) via Gurjakot (3070m). The trails are vertically steep till Gurjakot and then it moves through flat land all the way to Dhorpatan. We walk along the banks of the river passing through the forests of oak, pine, rhododendron, juniper and other local vegetation. Gurjakot is a small village, predominantly inhabited by people who follow the Tibetan culture. The trek gets more interesting as we walk past the chortens and Mani walls, which are symbolic to Tibetan Buddhism and the culture of the area. Dhorpatan, our campsite of the day lies at the junction of roads leading to the districts of Baglung, Beni, Rolpa, and Rukum. We can also see a small airstrip as we approach Dhorpatan. The place has apple orchards and you can also see terraced fields of wheat, buckwheat, maize, and potatoes. One of the most significant features about Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve is that anyone can go for hunting by paying certain fees to the Government authority.

Leaving Dhorpatan, we head uphill to Phagune Pass. On the way, we pass grasslands and sparse forests. Phagune Pass is surrounded by green hills and we can see the distant mountain top villages. 

Today we will follow a steep trail that goes down past some beautiful villages, terraced fields and a suspension bridge over Pelma Khola (stream). As we cross the bridge we will make a gentle ascent up through terraces and local villages all the way to Takur. AS we are heading towards Pelma we will cross the wooden bridge over the Pelma river and walk ahead. This part of the trail is most notable for the terraced farms and small settlements along the routes. Pelma is just another village like the many others dotting the hillside.

We will trek from Pelma to Dhule (3300m) crossing Yamakhar (2480m) and Gorba Khola (2930m). After crossing Pelma Khola the trail climbs steeply all the way to Dhule. As we are moving forward we come across a number of small villages and terraced farms and we also get an opportunity to peep at the daily lives of people here. We camp for the night at Dhule, a beautiful mountain village.

Leaving Dhule we trek via Nautale Bhanjyang (3961m) to Seng Khola. This part of the trail goes past dense forest with vegetations such as rhododendron, pine, and juniper after which we reach the resting place at Nautale Bhanjyang. From here we can have magnificent views of Dhaulagiri range and the other Himalayan peaks. Another 2 hours of climb and we reach our campsite for the day. The last quarter of the walk is steep and we might slow down a bit and take enough stops and rest along the way. There are terraced fields of wheat, buckwheat, and potatoes surrounding the village of Seng Khola, which is our campsite for the day! 

We will trek from Seng Khola to Purpang (4050m) following a steep and rocky path. In route, we will come across alpine grasslands and the Panidal Pass located at an altitude of 4412m. From here we can have a magnificent view of Dhaulagiri range, Kantagaton Himal, Nurbukang Himal, and some other unnamed peaks. The trail leading to Purpang can be considered slippery as it is comprised of rocky terrain and involves a steep climb. Purpang is an open rocky grassland surrounded by magnificent mountains. From Purpang to Sahartara (2730m) the trail is steep passing through rocky terrain. From Jangla Bhanjyang (4535m) we get a panoramic view of Norbu Himal, Kantagaton, Dhaulagiri and other Himalayan peaks. Crossing Jangla Bhanjyang (End of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve area), we will follow a gently descending path all the way to Tokar, a small village surrounded by hills. After passing through some villages on our way down we at last reach Sahar Tara which is popular for Yarchagumba harvesting trail.

Sahartara is a small mountain village surrounded by terraced fields. The village boasts of a hot spring and today we can spend some leisurely hours bathing in the hot spring to ease our tired muscles.

From Sahartara we follow a trail along the banks of the river until we reach a large and green valley. Trekking forward from the village of Khani gaon to Lahini we have a chance of meeting the famous musk deer, bounding away in the midst of juniper and pine forest. 

From Lahini the trail becomes narrow and adventurous as we walk through areas that are prone to landslide and avalanches. We set up camp at Nawarpani which is situated in a grassy area.

This day is one of the most significant milestones of this trek as it is a difficult and dangerous part of the trek. The valley narrows here. On this trail, we will approach some deep gorges and cross innumerable small bridges. We will follow a path that is carved out of a rocky cliffside. Following such an adventurous trail we will reach Dho Tarap.

This day is dedicated for rest and acclimatization as we are approaching higher altitudes from now on. We will spend this day taking a short walk and hike around the village which as a notable number of chortens, Mani walls and monasteries. The village also offers insight into the mountain life of Nepal, you will get an idea of how hard life is in this rocky areas, where you see people engaged in daily chores such as farming and cattle raising. The quest for water might also surprise you as you see people carrying huge containers of water and climbing up and down!

After having a relaxed time and visiting all the gompas and Chorten in Tarap valley we take a trail that climbs up through grassy meadows filled with wildflowers to reach to Numala base camp. From the base camp, we get a beautiful view of the distant Tibetan mountains and the upper Tarap valley.

Today we will be crossing the Numala Pass and descend towards Poyon Khola till we reach the Bagala Base Camp that is surrounded by big glaciers and blade-shaped rock cliffs. We stop for the night at Pelungtang, a village surrounded by hills that has temporary houses, yak pastures, and terraces. From this point, you have your first glimpse of Topo Peak (4900m). The Norbu Kang Himal sparkles brightly in the background.

We make our way to Yak Kharka via Bagala Pass. The top of the pass is a great vantage point as we can see the massive Kanjiroba Massif from here. After Baga La, the trails turn gently down all the way to Yak Kharka. Yak Kharka literally means the-grazing place of Yaks in the local language.

The trek to Phoksundo Lake (3600m) via Ringmo village (3641m) takes about seven hours. Ringmo is a small village predominantly inhabited by the Gurung and Thakuri communities. We will move along the flat land passing through pine forests, grassland, terraces, hills, and villages. After some time Phoksundo Lake appears before you in all its glory. Before we reach the final destination of the day, we have to cross a bridge made of wood, resembling wooden bridges of medieval Europe Phoksundo Lake is the deepest lake of Nepal and also the deepest lake found in such a great altitude in the world. The big village on the banks of this lake is quite rich culturally. This area will help you understand more of Tibetan Buddhist culture and its practices that are unique to the mountainous regions of Nepal and some parts of Tibet, as you will visit small chortens and monasteries.

Today we explore the area around the magnificent Phoksundo Lake. The lake is most notable for is green color resembling that of turquoise. Ringmo village, which looks like a typical Tibetan village, is scenically nestled in the folds of this area.

It is also home to many beautiful glaciers found near and above the lake area. There are many monasteries (Gompas) and Bon-Po religious sites and we can spend our time visiting some of these. Shey Gompa one of the oldest in all the Himalayan region is believed to date back to the 11th century. Thashung Gompa, one of the popular Gompa located near Phoksundo Lake was built about 900 years ago.

After an interesting visit to the beautiful sights of the area, we leave Phoksundo and make our way towards Chhepka. From here on, we start descending down through the Sulighat River gorge. First, 4 hours the trail is steep and difficult to walk also like the trail is rocky and not well maintained. On the way, we pass Gurung and Tibetan villages surrounded by beautiful fields.

Trek from Juphal takes about five hours. We trek along a gentle climb until we reach Raktang. On the way, we will come across forests covered by pine, oak, juniper, rhododendron, bamboo and other natural vegetation that is also rich in wildlife. After leaving Raktang, we go down steeply and steadily for a few hours till our trail moves on flat land. En route we cross several terraced fields, villages rich in Highland culture, check posts and grasslands at Sulighat. We can also visit Dunai, the headquarters of Dolpo (time permitting). This little town has quite a large settlement and plenty of tea houses and a few government offices. We trek slightly flat land for a few more hours to reach Juphal, our final stop where the trek ends.

Today we have one and a half hour scenic flight from Julpa-Nepalgunj- Kathmandu. Since we have different flight schedule so we need to stay sometime at Nepalgunj airport for the connecting flight to Kathmandu. We will reach Kathmandu in the afternoon. Free time of your own.

 You can use your free time by visiting some of the heritage sites of Kathmandu valley or you can do last minutes souvenir shopping from Nepal to your friends, families, and relatives. In the evening, joining the Himalayan trekkers' team for farewell dinner with cultural program.

(Note: Since Juphal lies at the mountainous zone and if we have a weather issue or other technical problems and we do not have a flight on the previous day then we can use this day to fly Kathmandu or if everything goes on our schedule then we can use this day as leisure day).

You can depart from Kathmandu to your home country or extend the trip and head for another trip within or outside Nepal.