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. Prepare for the next day’s flight to Nepalgunj. 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 Juphal, from where our trek commences, it gives us the opportunity to explore this 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.

Flight from Nepalgunj to Juphal (2354m /1 hr) and trek from Juphal to Dunai (2140m / 3 hrs) 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 (2090m). 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.

We take a diversion from the King Mahendra statue to cross the new suspension bridge and proceed towards the west, following the trail past the hospital. The path soon begins to climb up the side of the treeless Thulo Bheri valley to the crest of a ridge and then enters the Phoksumdo river valley, reaching another ridge, which is marked by cairns at 2,499m. We can relish the excellent views of the Kagmara Peak up the valley. Moving ahead, we approach a large canyon and descend gently along a long downhill slope through the scattered houses and walnut groves to a stream at 2,810. The trail below the stream leads to Dhera, a winter settlement of the people living in the higher villages. We embark on the upper trail and arrive at Rahagaon (2900m), a Thakuri village, where there is a Gompa dedicated to the local god, Mastha, reckoned as the custodian of the village. The trail now stretches through the lower part of Rahagaon and then descends to Phoksumdo river. We pass through yet another canyon and make a descent through the dense forests to a large stream, eventually emerging at the entrance to the Shey Phoksundo National Park at Ankhe (2,896m). Overnight at camp in Ankhe; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Today our trail takes us through trivial ups and downs along the forested riverbed. We then ascend steeply to about 2,900m. The ups and downs are too frequent, yet some beautiful streams along the way break the monotony. We make our way out of the forest and then walk up a grassy slope, high above the river. From here, the route descends steeply towards the foot of a cliff. We now make our way up the challenging and wobbly stone staircase to a river bank at 2950m. From here, the trail becomes a collection of rocks and sticks that form a dyke along the river bank. We continue upstream to a bridge and then eventually arrive at Sulighat (3500m). Overnight at camp in Sulighat; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We begin our trek, walking along the valley floor to the confluence of the Phoksumdo and Pungmo Rivers. After crossing to the western side of the Phoksumdo River on a wooden bridge, we follow the west bank of the Pungmo River. The path passes through a cedar forest to Palam, a winter settlement used by the people of Ringmo village. The houses here are almost buried in the sandy soil. Advancing further, we head up to open country and then to a ridge at an altitude of around 3,350m. From the ridge, one can see the distant views of Phoksumdo Lake and a spectacular 200m high waterfall, the highest in Nepal. After this scenic stoppage, we descend through the birch forests to the upper reaches of the Phoksumdo River, and then to the picturesque settlement of Ringmo, with its mud plastered chortens and mani walls. From here, it is a short and pleasant walk to the picturesque shores of Phoksumdo Lake (3600m). Overnight at camp in Phoksumdo Lake; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

A well deserved sojourn in the most fascinating milieu of the trek. 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 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 Phoksumdo Lake; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Let’s resume our trek skirting the shore of the lake as it contours on a rocky ledge along the western bank. This unsteady trail suspended on a gangway of wood supported on pegs driven into crevasse in the rocks, signals the remoteness of the area we are about to enter. At the westernmost edge of the lake, the path leads through a lush meadow that opens up into the flood plain of the Phoksumdo river. We then walk through the valley, crossing the river and avoiding the occasional boggy marsh underfoot until we arrive at the bank of the river. Overnight at camp in Phoksumdo Khola; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

The trek begins with a walk along the level path through a glacial valley and then heading north. At the confluence of the Phoksumdo Khola and another mountain stream, there is an old wooden bridge. Taking the indistinct path to the north-east of the valley, we climb over the rocks and boulders and cross a stream. A long climb brings us to a sheep meadow where the trail veers up a steep ravine. Further, a tough climb to the top brings us to yet another valley. From here, we get our first glimpse of the Kang-La pass. Trailing ahead, we finally arrive at Phosumdo Bhanjyang. Overnight camp will be just before the pass at Phoksumdo Bhanjyang, in a place that Peter Matthiessen christened 'Snowfields Camp'. Overnight at camp in Phoksumdo Bhanjyang; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

All geared up to conquer the Kang La, we begin our trek with a steep climb. This climb along the slate screed is nerve- racking. Once we reach the top of Kang La (5360m), sight of the scenic valley being bisected by a gushing river, seems really mesmerizing. Enjoying this seemingly satellite view from the pass for a short while, we begin a steep descent to the valley floor. From here, we head on for a long walk crossing the river several times through different bridges. There are mud caves lining the hills overlooking the river. As we pass through the meadows, we can see the hirsute yaks, sheep and mountain goats (Chyangra) near the rustic nomadic huts of the herders. A red chorten heralds our arrival at Shey Gompa (4,160m). Overnight at camp in Shey Gompa; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We’ve allotted an extra day at Shey Gompa so that we get an opportunity to explore this antique monastery. Let’s gear up to explore this much talked about monastery. The gompa is not very 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 gets a distant glimpse of Mt. Kailash! 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.

We begin with an easy trek amidst the clusters of junipers and descend into a grey, stony canyon. The trail gets curvy and steeply climbs over the bare rocks until we reach the top ofSangda La (5200m). We now proceed with a long and fatiguing descent towards the north, pass by a yak pasture and eventually arrive at the village, called Namduna Gaun (4430m), consisting of mere six stone houses. Like Shey, the Namgung monastery in this village reveals the “Karma-pa” sect of Buddhism. The monastery, a red stone structure, is built against the backdrop of a cliff on the north wall of a gorge. The red and white colors of the gimpy and its Stupas are the only color in this dissolute landscape. There are terraced fields on both sides of the tributary, which flow down to the Nam Khong valley. The village relies on agricultural, the produce mainly being barley. People also practice animal husbandry and trading. Overnight at camp in Namduna Gaun; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Kissing goodbye to the Namduna Gaun, we head up a scree slope and begin a long traverse along the dusty barren mountains. After 3-4 hours of hard climb, we approach the settlement ofSaldang 3,770m, poised on a plateau high above the settlement of Nam Khongmala. This scenic village is the largest in the inner Dolpo region. Saldang belongs to the arid zone of the Trans-Himalayan Tibetan plateau. The village stretches for nearly two kilometers on an open slope. It cuddles five small villages having about eighty well built houses and a population of approximately six hundred people. Being located on the trade route to Tibet, this village has a significant business advantage. After the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959, trade with Tibet was virtually stopped. It has been restored to some extent through the barter system by which Tibetan salt reaches mid-Nepal. The Drokpa people on the western plains of Tibet collect salt from the dried lakes north of Tsangpo. Overnight at camp in Saldang; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We are now at the verge of exploring the least explored region. We head far towards the north. The trail follows the Nang Chu river most of the way on this wild barren windswept terrain. We walk through the trivial ups and downs and pass by the settlements of Tiling and Lurigaon until we finally arrive at the village of Yangze (3750m) also known as Yangtsher. As we cross the Panzang River and head on further for a short while, we get ourselves to one of the least explored regions of Nepal. There is also an old Bon Po monastery- Yangze Gompa here, worth exploring. Overnight at camp in Yangze Gompa; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Sibu can be reached embarking on a longer trail that stretches to the north- west, passing by the isolated villages of Nishalgaon and Shimengaon. But it’s better that we take an easier and shorter trail, which retraces back to Saldang. From Saldang, we move ahead following the river bed and walk past the terraced fields, stupas, chortens, heaps of mani stones and a Chaiba monastery. The trail now passes through the fairly populated village called Namdo. It stretches for more than 5 kms on the high slopes to the left of Nam Khong River. The Namdo monastery is located near the river bed. Two hours of downhill walk alongside the river will bring us to the settlement of Sibu (3840m), where we halt overnight. Overnight at camp in Sibu; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We start off our trek following the trail alongside the Nam Khong River for a while. We then divert towards the east till we arrive at the confluence of two small rivers. From here, our walk leads to a steep climb to the Jengla Phedi (4,900m), or the bottom of daunting Jeng La. We stay overnight at camp in Jeng-la Phedi; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

After breakfast, we begin the enthusiastic climb to Jeng La and reach its top after a fatiguing ascent for about two hours. A flurry of snow clad peaks greets us towards the south. Indulging ourselves in the mountainous vista for a while, we begin our descent from the pass on a rugged route, towards Tarap valley. We now embark on a pleasant trail down towards Tarap Chu, a lush green valley with vast plains. It extends twenty kilometers along the river. There are ten different villages in Tarap Chu, all characterized by cultivated fields, chortens and gompas of both the sects of Buddhism. Our halting destination today is at one of the most beautiful villages in Tarap, the Tokyu Gaon (4290m). Overnight at camp in monastery Tokyu Gaon; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We head towards the east along the downhill route of Tarap Chu. This plain valley, with patches of lush verdant grass on both sides of the river, contrasts the other parts of inner Dolpo. There is also a marsh which is a common feature in the desert mountains of Tibet and the Ladhakh Himalayas. In this valley, both Bon Po and Chaiba sects reside together in harmony. After a short trek through this beautiful valley, we arrive at Dho Tarap (3,944m). We have enough time to stroll around the village. This village is fortressed by an irregular stone wall. At Dho, about 40 houses are divided into three clusters. These houses are built in an unorganized way and inhabited mostly by Magars and few Tibetans. Overnight at camp in Dho Tarap; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We have a good opportunity to explore the locality of Dho Tarap today. We go for a short hike to a Buddhist gompa which is at the proximity of our campsite. After that we take a walk for about 45 minutes to get to another Bon Po gompa. Interacting with the local people can also be a great fun. These people have special self-spun costume and a Tibetan style boots called “somba”. They mainly belong to Bon Po and Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism. This is indeed going to be an informative and exciting day. Overnight at camp in Dho Tarap; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We begin with a decent towards a wide valley. Today’s trek isn’t that tough but it’s indeed lengthy. As we move ahead, the valley narrows down to a gorge and then we continue walking alongside the clusters of junipers and wild roses up the tree line. Chances are that you could just spot the herds of blue sheep. We now arrive at the confluence of the Tarap Chu and the Lang river, a stream that joins with Tarap river from further east. We then walk up to a beautiful meadow at Tarap Khola (3800m), Overnight at camp in Tarap Khola; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Today the trail takes us down the gorge of the Tarap river. We continue alongside the river and then make our way above the river on a trail that winds up a steep slope. There are many possible campsites by the river. As we advance further, we might just get bewildered to see the valley so drastically narrowing down in a deep gorge that we could almost jump from one side of the gorge to another. The paths at times are almost untraceable and we have to walk across the stone slabs attested on logs to form a bridge. At some places, the bridges are either damaged or washed away and we might have to reluctantly cross the icy torrent on foot. Finally, we arrive at our campsite beside the Tarap khola at Khanigaon (2,950m). Overnight at camp in Khanigaon; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We begin our trek walking along a very blurred route that leads us to the village of Lalberi. Passing through an area of dense forest, we descend into another gorge. We then follow the river downstream, alongside the splendid terraced fields, and arrive at Tarakot (2537m). This is an old fortress town, locally referred as Dzong, meaning “fort”. The famous Sandul gompa lies about 8 km east of Tarakot and at the junction of Barbung River and Tarap Chu. It stands on a knoll to the south of Bheri River and at one time supervised the collections of tolls for the trading caravans traversing an area called Tichu Rong. There could be two possible campsites here- we can either camp by the river about 150 meters below Tarakot, near the police post or climb a steep hill for over an hour to the small village on a spur on the other side of a valley opposite to Tarakot. There are chortens and a gompa here on the edge of a grassy plateau, with a standalone tree. Overnight at camp in Tarakot; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We resume our trek walking on a path with pine trees, above the Bheri River in a deep gorge until we arrive at Dunai (2,140m). Overnight at camp in Dunai; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We retrace the journey back to Jhuphal, which is a short distance walk along the Bheri River to the small airstrip, which wraps up this long adventure. We can jam up with our crew members tonight to celebrate this achievement. Overnight at camp in Juphal; breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

We board on a short and scenic flight over the Himalayan foothills overlooking the jaw-dropping mountainous vistas of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri to the north. We land at Nepalgunj in about 35 minutes. From Nepalgunj, we take a connecting flight to Kathmandu. Our plane touches down the domestic wing of the Kathmandu airport in about an hour. A representative from Nepal Trek Ways will receive and transfer you to your designated hotel in Kathmandu. You have gotten back from a long tiring trip, so you would probably want to flex your muscles a bit and get groomed. 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.

Time to part and say good bye! A representative from Nepal TrekWays will escort you to the Tribhuwan International Airport, three hours prior to your filght schedule. Hope you enjoyed every bit of the moment being with us as much as we did being with you. Have a safe journey 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.