Today is your arrival day. We welcome you upon your arrival at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport. Transfer to Hotel in Kathmandu. Prior to the activities, arrange a meeting with your guide for briefing about the necessary formalities on your tour and trek program. Depending upon your arrival time you may spend free time visiting nearby historic/Countryside areas.

Meet your culture guide for Half day sightseeing in Kathmandu World Heritage sights. Explore UNESCO enlisted Hindu and Buddhist temples, observe age old Newari architectures, friendly people; their culture and lifestyle. Our Trek Leader/Guide meets you in the afternoon for the trek briefing and for the final trek preparation. In the evening sample a delicious traditional Nepali Welcome dinner in authentic Nepali Restaurant with the cultural dances that represents different customs and music instruments of Nepal. Private vehicle is there for you to pick up and drop in Hotel with our staff. Overnight in Kathmandu.

After breakfast, you will be driven to the domestic wing of the Kathmandu Airport. About an hour’s flight would take you to Nepalgunj, the western region hub of Nepal, which borders the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh to the south. As we don’t have a connecting flight to Jumla, from where our trek commences, it gives us the opportunity to explore this usually hot and humid town. The city center, Dhamboji, happens to be the business hub with plethora of hotels and shops. Hindu as well as Muslim culture influence the town. Bageshwori temple and Muslim market are also worth visiting. Overnight at hotel in Nepalgunj; breakfast included.

We take an early morning flight to Juphal. Dolpo flights are always scheduled early in the morning. This is because the swift winds in the Thulo Bheri Valley begin to swirl by 10 a.m., which could pose serious problems for the flights scheduled later. Once we arrive at Juphal, we meet our trekking crew and after a short sojourn, we commence our trek towards Dunai. We walk downhill through the meadow, pass by few houses and arrive at a small hotel at Kala Gaura (2094m). From here, the trail goes slightly up towards the Bheri river and then to a narrow gorge. Advancing ahead, we finally arrive at Dunai, the administrative center of Dolpo region. We set up our camp here and then explore this bustling little hill town for the rest of the afternoon. Overnight at camp in Dunai; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Resuming our trek from Dunai, we cross a big steel suspension bridge and turn west, following the trail past a hospital. From here, it's a level walk along the bank of the Thulo Bheri River to its confluence with the Suli Gaad at 2282m. We follow the new trail, north of the east bank of Suli Gaad to a collection of teashops run by the wives of army personnel in Dunai. Another hour of walking takes us to Kal Rupi and then to Raktang (2260m). We cross the west bank and trek past many horse pastures, over a ridge to the rough stone houses of Jyalhasa, a wintering spot for the people of Ringmo. We keep walking upstream to another bridge and make our way past some teashops and a bridge over the Ankhe Khola, at 2460m. The trail moves up and down through grass and ferns to a trail junction. The right fork leads to the army and national park post at the village of Ankhe, and stretches past two more villages of Rahagoan and Parela. The names of these three villages coincidentally refer to eye, eyebrow and eyelash respectively. We take the left fork and climb over a ridge at 2710m, then descend on a rocky path to Chepka (2838m). This place is identified by the trinity of Laali Gurans Hotel& Lodge, Yak Hotel& Lodge and Hotel Jharna. We can either camp here or at another good spot beside a huge rock at the walnut grove about 20 minutes beyond Chepka. Overnight at camp in Chepka; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We continue along a new trail which stays near the river and then climb over a small ridge. In order to avoid an imposing ridge ahead, we follow the west side of the river for about an hour and then divert to the east side near a national park camping ground. Alongside a river at 2900m, the trail becomes a collection of rocks and sticks forming a dyke along the river bank. The trail makes several more switchbacks through the forests of firs and larches, as it continues upstream to a bridge that leads to the nine houses of Renje village across the river at 2940m. About five minutes’ walk from here will take us to a good campsite. Overnight at camp in Renje; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We kick off the trek, passing through the Suli Gaad valley. As we head eastward, the valley becomes even steeper and narrower. We then climb over a ridge descend to a wooden bridge and continue through the switchbacks, along the valley floor to the confluence of Suli Gaad and the Pungmo River. From here the trail to Phoksumdo Lake and Shey Gompa follows the west bank of the river. We climb through a forest of big cedars and arrive at the settlement of Palam (3397m), another winter settlement used by the people of Ringmo village. The houses almost seem to be buried in the sandy soil. The entrance for Shey Phoksumdo National Park is at the south end of the village. After our park entrance ticket is examined, we may be subjected to a baggage inspection ostensibly for drugs and stolen art objects, a very peculiar formality in this remote locale. We continue our way up and down the sandy trail to an elevation of 3300m. From here, we encounter another set of dusty switchbacks to a ridge at 3780m. This ridge offers a distant view of a spectacular 200m -high waterfall, the highest in Nepal. The trail now makes a steep descent through birch forests, approaches the brilliantly clear, rushing waters of the Phoksumdo River and climbs gently to Ringmo village, a picturesque settlement of flat-roofed stone houses with an array of mud -plastered chortens and maniwalls. Just below Ringmo, we cross a bridge and follow a trail north to the ranger station at Phoksumdo Lake (3600m). We continue to the shores of the lake near the point where the Phoksumdo River flows out of the lake. There are national park camping grounds on both sides of the river on the south-east shore of the lake. Park rules prohibit us from camping in other places. Overnight at tent in the tranquil vicinity of Phoksumdo lake in Ringmo (3733m) on full board basis. Overnight at camp in Ringmo; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

A well deserved sojourn after an incessant trekking for almost a week. We are at one of the most scenic locations of the trek, so an excursion is always on the cards. We can take a soothing stroll around the Phoksumdo Lake. Phoksumdo Lake could stimulate the poetic flair within anybody..it’s indeed so beautiful! We will then hike through the juniper trees to an old dilapidated Bon-po gompa, known as Pal Sentan Thasoon Chholing. This monastery was built some 60 generations ago. There are five other private gompas in some houses of the small monastic community at vicinity of the lake. The insides of the gompas contain dusty Buddhist paintings and statues. We can also witness the trappings which reflect the animistic elements of the Bon-po religion as well as the ancient witch's cavern. A donation to the ragtag collection of dirty monks will gain us entrance to the gompas. We will certainly be fascinated by the strange iconography and practice of the Bon-po religion. Overnight at camp in Ringmo; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

From our campsite near Ringmo on the southern end of Phoksumdo Lake, the trail contours on a rocky ledge as it skirts the western lip of the lake. In some places, it's precariously suspended on a gangway of wood supported on pegs driven into crevices in the rocks. As we cross a stream, look up at the glacier descending from the upper slopes of Kanjeralwa (6612m), it is absolutely stunning! We then climb to a crest at 4060m for a spectacular view of the lake with the snowy peaks of Sonam Kang in the background. The trail makes a steep and dusty descent through birches and blue pines to the westernmost edge of the lake at 3630m, where the Phoksumdo River enters. The route now heads west, up along a wide valley. We follow an indistinct trail through thorn bushes and scrub trees, crisscrossing boggy marshes and tributaries of Phoksumdo River. We camp in a forest of blue pines at Chunemba, an undeveloped national park camping ground at 3630m. Overnight at camp in Chunemba; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We begin the day walking along a leveled path that now heads north through a glacial valley. We then divert to the east bank of Phoksumdo River and follow the main valley for another hour till we arrive at Kang Gompa. The trail climbs steeply from Kang Gompa, staying on the grassy ridge. It's a long climb up the ridge, past a few groves of birch trees. We can relish the spectacular mountain views of Shey Shikhar (6139m) and Kang Chunne (6443m), dominating the western skyline. We continue on a crest at 4200m and then the route descends gently on a rocky trail toLar Tsa, a camp site besides the river at 4120m. It's actually possible to continue walking, but since we have now ascended more than 500m in a day, we are better off spending the night at Lar Tsa for acclimatization. Overnight at camp in Lar Tsa; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Today’s trek begins by crossing a bridge, followed by an ascent to the top of a scree slope at4490m. We continue our ascent until we reach the crest of a grassy ridge at 4640m. The trail now contours and drops gently into Mendok Ding (flower valley). We again climb alongside a stream to a campsite at 4610m. You are almost certain to spot a herd of blue sheep on the slopes above the camp. Overnight at camp in Mendok Ding; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We continue on the route that follows the upper reach of the Phoksumdo river and turn north towards the peak of Riwo Drugdra (Crystal Mountain). There is a choice of trails here- the Dolma Trail and the Pilgrim Trail. The Dolma trail turns north soon after the camp while the pilgrim trail starts up a steep scree slope on the opposite side of a stream that flows from the north. We follow the more scenic, pilgrim route across the Sehu La to the west of Crystal Mountain, making a kora (circumambulation) of this sacred peak. After a long pull to Sehu La (also known as Mendok Ding La) at 5160m, the trail descends along a scree slope to a grassy meadow besides a stream valley. We are frequented by a series of long ascents and descents across ridges, in and out of the side valleys as we traverse around the Crystal Mountain. After a steep, rough climb to a crest at 5010m and another at 4860m, we begin the descent to the Tar valley. Soon after the route reaches grassy slope, a side trail leads to Tsakang, a 800 years old gompa, perched dramatically on the side of a cliff. The final descent is on a wide trail to a campsite in a large meadow near few huts of nomads, just below Shey Gompa. Overnight at camp in Shey Gompa; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

An extra day at Shey Gompa gives us a chance to rejuvenate ourselves. Let’s gear up for a pleasant hike to explore this much talked about monastery, Shey Gompa. We start off by crossing a river on a log bridge. Advancing further we climb up to a big chorten and then pass by a huge field of mani stones, finally arriving at the premises of Shey Gompa at 41600m. The gompa itself is not large, and there are no artifacts or paintings inside. Although the building is said to be 800years old, the wall paintings are relatively recent, probably done in the 1970s. The statues on the altar are of Guru Rinpoche, Sakyamuni and Milarepa. The gompa also houses an ancient Tibetan scroll that describes the myth of Crystal Mountain and Shey Gompa. According to the inscription, there is a holy lake in a crater among the mountains that surrounds Shey. If a pilgrim makes nine circumambulations of this lake, the water turns milky. A sip of this milk and the pilgrim can see Mt Kailash in the distance! The ones, who don’t need much rest, can try discovering this lake. This is certainly going to be an explorative and interesting day at Shey Gompa. After this indulgence, we get back to our campsite. Overnight at camp in Shey Gompa; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

A steep ascent is headed our way. We make the move from Shey Gompa, trekking eastwards. The trail now rockets up to the Shey La pass at 5010m. We can stop here for a moment to catch our breath and relish the bird’s eye-view of the surrounding. We now make our way down the pass and continue descending northwards. Making a short final ascent, we arrive at Namgung (4433m). Overnight at camp in Namgung; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Today, the trail stretches high above the Namgung River and then gently drops down to Karang (4050m). Descending further from here would get us to the settlement of Saldang, situated on a river bank. But this village does not have anything worth exploring, so we would possibly wrap up today’s trek at Karang. Overnight at tent in Karang on full board basis. Overnight at camp in Karang; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Let’s begin our trek with a descent to Torak Sumdo (3670m), the confluence of the Namgung and Polang Rivers. From here, we move ahead across the northern bank and then climb to Yanger Gompa at 3750m . We continue trekking alongside the river and make a fairly steep ascent to Mugaon. Overnight at camp in Mugaon; breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Shimen is at a slightly lower elevation compared to Mugaon, but on the way we need to cross a 5000m plus pass. Today’s route stretches up the valley and climbs steeply to Mushi La pass (5030m). From here, the trail descends steeply to Shimen village (3870m). Overnight at camp in Shimen; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Today, the trail first drops down from Shimen to the elevation of 3870m and then make a fairly steep climb up a river to Pha (4090m). A subtle ascent from here will get us to Tinje (4150m). Overnight at camp in Tinje; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

After an energizing breakfast, we resume our trek, walking past the runway of an abandoned airport in Tinje. As we advance further, we arrive at a trail junction at 4130m. The higher route leads to Tarap. We embark on the lower route and continue southward till we arrive at a campsite on the bank of the river at Rakpa (453m). Overnight at camp in Rakpa; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

With ambivalent emotions, we begin the day’s trek heading for a long and steep climb to theCharka La (4920m). From here the route goes down gradually and then dives down sharply into the valley at 4290m. We then make a long traverse down to the picturesque village of Charka, poised on the bank of Barbung river at 4110m. Overnight at camp in Charka; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

It’s another day where we start off with a climb. Today we first trudge up a crest at 4380m. The trail then abruptly descends to a river. We head southward following the right fork of the river along the rough switchbacks, which takes us in and out of the valley. As we move ahead, the valley gets narrower. We now emerge into a big meadow and climb to our campsite at Norbulung (4750m); breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

‘Sleep low and climb high’ has become our slogan for the past few days. We commence the day’s trek with a climb to a yak pasture at Molum Sumna (4860m) and further ascend a crest at5130m. Making a long traverse across meadows to the foot of the Sangda La, we then head on for a long, strenuous and steep climb to the pass at 5460m. From here, the trail descends through switchbacks to our campsite by a stream at Sangda Phedi (4190m); breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We cross the lower Sangda La at 4990m and then descend through loose shale towards the village of Sangda Ghunsa (4190m). The trail further drops to Chalung river, crosses it at 3750m, and then soars steeply up the opposite bank of the river. A long high traverse leads to a cairn at 4090m. We then trek through a set of steep switchbacks and descend to a stream at 3580m. From here, we climb to the compact settlement of Sangda (3710m) and wrap up the day’s trek. Overnight at camp in Sangda; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Our footy mission begins with an ascent to a hill behind Sangda. Throughout the day, we make a flurry of high traverses, crossing nine different ridges, until we walk up to the crest of a last ridge at 4280m. The trail now drops down to the Kali Gandaki valley and stretches under the high cliffs till it ultimately descends to the large village of Dhagarjun (3290m). Overnight at camp in Dhagarjun; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

The last day our trek begins with a climb to a ridge at 3360m. From here we trek down through a challenging trail of loose rocks until we arrive at Jomsom (2710m). This wraps up the trek. We understand that you get the feel as if your skeletal system has gone ramshackle after all those elongated walking hours for almost a month. But we bet, your mind is all pumped up as you have lots of fascinating experiences to share with your acquaintances back home. This is a big moment and we should have a celebration to say the least! It’s your night, party hard, but don’t forget to thank the crew members. Overnight at camp in Jomsom; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Kissing goodbye to Jomsom, we board on a flight to Pokhara - a fantastic aerial journey offering some of the rarest views of the Kali Gandaki Gorge between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. In about 25 minutes, we will land at the airport in Pokhara. From Pokhara, we either take a 35 minutes’ flight or a six hours’ drive to Kathmandu. Upon your arrival at the domestic wing of the Kathmandu airport, a representative from Nepal Trek Ways will receive and transfer you to your designated hotel. You have just gotten back from a long trip, so you would probably want to groom yourself and relax. Try out the herbal spa and do away the trekking fatigue. You have an extra day at Kathmandu tomorrow. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast included.

This is a free day in Kathmandu to fulfill anything that you missed out spotting in this energetic capital of Nepal. You can indulge yourself in shopping or strolling around some of the cultural and historical landmarks of Kathmandu. Thamel is your hot spot for shopping where you can haul all the souvenirs representing Nepal and its culture. May be that in addition to your interesting trip anecdotes, you would also want to take back some stuff for your friends and relatives. In the evening, a farewell dinner with a range of traditional Nepali cuisines, will be hosted by Nepal Trek Ways. Enjoy the dinner, pack/prepare yourself for a flight back home and have a beauty sleep. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu; breakfast and dinner included.

You will be escorted to the Tribhuwan International Airport by a representative fromNepal Trek Ways. It is advisable to reach the airport three hours prior to the flight schedule. We welcomed you with a big smile and we are seeing you off with an affectionate hug. Hope you had an awesome stay in Nepal and a memorable trip. Have a safe flight back home and we look forward to being your adventure companion in Nepal again. Trips can always be extended to try out some of our other adventurous packages like - Bungy Jumping, Mountain Biking, Jungle Safari, White Water Rafting, Golfing & Paragliding etc. Please let us know about your desire for trip extension so that we can make the necessary arrangements.