Lower Dolpo Trek - 18 Days

Trip Overview

Lower Dolpo Trek  is a 18 days trip through Dho Tarap, Numa La, Baga La, Ringmo and Phoksundo Lake in the remote Dolpo region of Western Nepal. It is a strenuous high altitude trek through the remote Dolpa district of western Nepal. The journey takes you from Dunai through Tarakot, Laini, and Nawarpani to Dho Tarap, then across Numa La and Baga La passes to Ringmo Village and Phoksundo Lake. The route offers dramatic mountain scenery, remote Tibetan influenced villages, two high mountain passes, and Nepal's deepest lake.

This 18 day journey starts with flights from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and Juphal before trekking through the valleys of the Dolpa district. The trek combines high mountain scenery with the unique culture and traditional lifestyle of the Dolpo people, Tibetan Buddhist and Bon monasteries, remote stone villages, and the turquoise waters of Phoksundo Lake inside Shey Phoksundo National Park.

Trip Detail

Itinerary Overview

This 18 day trek begins with permit work and sightseeing in Kathmandu, then flights to Nepalgunj and Juphal to reach the trailhead at Dunai. From Dunai, the trail follows the Bheri and Barbung valleys through Tarakot, Laini, and Nawarpani to reach Dho Tarap. From Dho Tarap, the route climbs over Numa La Pass and Baga La Pass to Pelung Tang and Dajok Tang, then descends to Ringmo Village beside Phoksundo Lake. From the lake, the trail follows the Phoksundo Khola down through Shyanta back to Juphal, from where you fly back to Nepalgunj and Kathmandu.

Here is a quick look at how your 18 day trek unfolds.

• Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu at 1,400 m

• Day 2: Trek permit preparation and sightseeing in Kathmandu

• Day 3: Flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj at 150 m

• Day 4: Flight from Nepalgunj to Juphal at about 2,500 m, trek to Dunai at about 2,850 m

• Day 5: Trek from Dunai to Tarakot at 2,543 m

• Day 6: Trek from Tarakot to Laini at 3,160 m

• Day 7: Trek from Laini to Nawarpani at 3,545 m

• Day 8: Trek from Nawarpani to Dho Tarap at 4,090 m

• Day 9: Acclimatization day at Dho Tarap at 4,090 m

• Day 10: Trek from Dho Tarap to Numa La Base Camp at 4,440 m

• Day 11: Trek from Numa La Base Camp to Pelung Tang at 4,465 m via Numa La Pass at 5,190 m

• Day 12: Trek from Pelung Tang to Dajok Tang at 4,080 m via Baga La Pass at 5,070 m

• Day 13: Trek from Dajok Tang to Ringmo at 3,600 m

• Day 14: Trek from Ringmo to Phoksundo Lake at 3,612 m

• Day 15: Trek from Phoksundo Lake to Shyanta at 2,520 m

• Day 16: Trek from Shyanta to Juphal at 2,500 m

• Day 17: Flight from Juphal to Nepalgunj, then Nepalgunj to Kathmandu

• Day 18: Final departure from Kathmandu

Lower Dolpo Trek Highlights

• Cross two major mountain passes, Numa La at 5,190 m and Baga La at 5,070 m, while enjoying wide views of the remote mountains, valleys, and high Himalayan terrain of Dolpo.

• Reach the beautiful Phoksundo Lake at 3,612 m, famous for its clear blue and turquoise water, steep surrounding cliffs, and dramatic Himalayan scenery within Shey Phoksundo National Park.

• Explore Ringmo Village, a traditional Himalayan settlement near Phoksundo Lake, known for its stone houses, mani walls, local Buddhist culture, and the nearby monastery.

• Experience Dho Tarap at 4,090 m, a high mountain settlement in the Tarap Valley where local communities have preserved their traditional way of life, culture, and religious practices.

• Walk through the Tarap Valley and along the river valleys of Lower Dolpo, passing remote villages, cultivated fields, traditional houses, and rugged mountain landscapes.

• Trek through Shey Phoksundo National Park, a remote protected area known for its diverse Himalayan landscape and wildlife, including blue sheep and other high altitude species.

• Enjoy a combination of natural and cultural experiences, from high mountain passes and remote valleys to traditional villages, ancient religious traditions, and the remarkable landscape around Phoksundo Lake. 

• Visit one of the least visited regions of Nepal, where trails see very few trekkers compared to the Everest and Annapurna regions
   

Key Destinations You Will Visit on the Lower Dolpo Trek

Dho Tarap and the Tarap Valley

Dho Tarap sits at about 4,090 m in a wide, open valley reached after several days of walking up the Barbung Khola from Tarakot. It is one of the highest permanent settlements in the world and is notable because Bon and Buddhist families live together in the same village, with separate monasteries within walking distance of each other. The local people, known as Dolpo pa, wear traditional woollen clothing and keep yaks and other livestock. Your rest day on Day 9 gives you time to explore the village, visit the monasteries, and walk through the surrounding fields before the climb toward Numa La Pass.

Numa La and Baga La Passes

These two passes form the physical and scenic heart of the Lower Dolpo Trek. Numa La, crossed on Day 11 at 5,190 m, is the higher of the two and the highest point of this itinerary, while Baga La, crossed on Day 12 at 5,070 m, follows soon after. Both crossings take you through remote alpine terrain with wide views over the Dolpa hills, and the two days that follow drop you steadily down toward Ringmo and Phoksundo Lake. Because the passes come back to back with only one camp at Pelung Tang between them, these two days are the most physically demanding part of the trek.

Ringmo Village and Phoksundo Lake

Phoksundo Lake is the deepest lake in Nepal, known for its clear turquoise water set against cliffs and forest inside Shey Phoksundo National Park. Ringmo, the traditional village beside the lake, has stone houses, mani walls, and a small Bon monastery. On this itinerary you reach Ringmo on Day 13 and continue to the lake itself on Day 14, giving you time in the area to walk along the shore and take in the surroundings before descending through the Phoksundo Khola valley toward Juphal.

Altitude and Activities

The trek begins in Kathmandu at 1,400 m before flying to Nepalgunj at 150 m and on to Juphal at about 2,500 m, the starting point for walking. From Juphal, the trail follows the Bheri and Barbung valleys through Tarakot, Laini, and Nawarpani, gaining height gradually to reach Dho Tarap at 4,090 m, where a rest day is scheduled. From Dho Tarap, the route climbs to Numa La Base Camp before crossing Numa La Pass at 5,190 m and Baga La Pass at 5,070 m on consecutive days, dropping to Ringmo Village and Phoksundo Lake. From the lake, the trail descends through Shyanta back to Juphal, from where you fly back to Kathmandu.

Accommodation and Meals

You will stay in a 4 star hotel in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj, with breakfast and dinner included on your Kathmandu and Nepalgunj days. Lunch is not included in Kathmandu or Nepalgunj, since these are free days meant for sightseeing, permit work, or rest, and you can choose your own place to eat lunch. Day 1 includes a welcome dinner, and your last evening in Kathmandu includes a farewell dinner. During the trek, you will stay in teahouses where available and in camping tents with full crew support elsewhere, with all three meals included every day.