Lower- Dolpo Trek - 18 DaysLower- Dolpo Trek - 18 Days

Lower- Dolpo Trek - 18 Days

    Overview of Lower- Dolpo Trek - 18 Days

    Dolpo is the land of the Bon-Po faith, an old indigenous religion of western Tibet. The faith was later adapted by Buddhist teachings and religious practices. Still, there are some differences between the Bon-Po and Buddhist practices. The counter-clockwise way of circumambulation by the Bon Pos is in contrast to the clockwise pattern of the Buddhists. Similarly, they spin their prayer wheels to the left and circumambulate chortens and shrines with their left side towards the object of their respect. Dolpo has its very unique way of lifestyle, language, festivals, and dresses, and of course, the landscapes which are very much similar to the scenery of western Tibet. If you are trekking in May /June, the Caravan in the hunt for Yarcha Gumba makes you think about how important or costly Yarcha Gumba is. Hundreds of thousands of people from the Dolpo and even from lowlands will be in such elevation, camping for months in their search for Yarcha Gumba (it is half plant and half insect) half of its body is in within the ground and the remaining half is above the ground as a plant.

    Bon-Po Invocation: OM PANI PADME HUM (Buddhist sacred invocations) is replaced by OM MA TRI MU YE SA LE DU (Bon Po sacred Invocation). D. L. Snellgrove translates the invocation as: “The way to the thread-cross has been shown. Shown as what? Shown as the realm where the spirits of the directions and intermediates directions and the zenith and nadir all gather together. There is no need to tell them. The sun and moon the lunar mansion and the stars, the lords of the soil, spirits below ground, spirits above ground, all of them find joy in the Thread-Cross and yearn after it. They delight in the substitute offerings and revel in the riches”.

    All Nepal Hiking invites you for a lifetime wilderness experience in the Dolpo region. We also organize our treks for budget travelers. The Numa-La and Baga-La are the famous passes of lower Dolpa, with amazing views of Kannjiroba Mountain. Another attraction is the famous Phoksundo Lake inside Phoksundo National Park with various flora and fauna before reaching the Ringmo Village.

    Highlights

    Dolpo does have its very unique way of life-style, language, festivals, and dresses and of course the landscapes which is very much similar to scenery of western Tibet. If you are trekking in May /June, the Caravan in the hunt for Yarcha Gumba makes you think about how important or costly Yarcha Gumba is. Hundreds of thousands of people from the Dolpo and even from lowlands will be in such elevation, camping for months in their search for Yarcha Gumba (it is half plant and half insect) half of its body is in within the ground and the remaining half is above the ground as a plant.Wilderness, off the beaten trail, Passess Namu La Baga La. Tibetan culture.

    Itinerary
    • Max. Altitude:(1340 m)
    • Accommodation:Kathmandu
    • Time:1
    • Meals:B

     You will meet your trek leader for a briefing about the trek beginning the next day. After the briefing, there will be a short question and answer session about your trip in which you may ask anything regarding the trek. We all finalize our preparation for the trek. In the evening enjoy the nightlife in Kathmandu. 

    • Accommodation:Kathmandu
    • Time:1
    • Meals:B

    Nepalgunj lies in the Mid-Western region of Nepal, close to the Nepal-Indian border. It is a lowland terrain. The 45-minute flight with great views passes through hilly mid-regions of Nepal, with the long range of Himalayas in the north. Transfer to hotel and evening tour by Rikshaw to Bageswori temple on the Nepal-India Border. Overnight in Hotel. FB

     

      A 30-minute early morning flight to Jhuphal. We need to arrange porter, fuels, and things in Jhuphal. We will take some lunch in Jhuphal. Jhuphal is on the ridge, we walk steeply down through a beautiful village, houses are joined with each other, there are Hindu flags on their rooftop and the houses are built with mud and rocks. The path is steep downhill mostly till the banks of Thuli Bheri and flat to Dunai. Overnight in Hotel. FB (Dunai is the headquarters of the Dolpo district)

       

        After having breakfast in the hotel, we trek through the Thuli Bheri River. The trails will be full of local villagers, the donkeys carry stuff for villages up to upper Dolpa. The temperature is a bit high during the daytime. We can walk wearing shorts. The trail is almost flat, overnight in a hotel. FB

         

          After Shahar Tara, we won’t have proper settlements for the next few days till Dho Tarap. So we are fully equipped with a tent, fuel, and food. We can get a tented hotel, where you can order some food as well. Usually, we will have a fixed tent next to a local big tent like a big house, safety matters! The trail passes through nature and is full of ups and downs. We will be in Laina Odar. Sleep inside the tent. FB

           

            After taking our breakfast, we leave Laina early for Toltol. Another day full of ups and down through the Dho Khola, the beginning of the Thuli Bheri River. We really can enjoy the unique landscape of the Dolpo region, with rocky hills, wild animals, and various species of butterflies, and the blooming flowers on the trail are amazing. Tented camp next to the river. FB

             

              Now, we are in the dry region of mountains beyond the tree lines. We can see only juniper bushes, wild roses with sharp thrones, and many types of flowers in the ground, different shapes, and full of deep colors. We gradually trek up to the Dho Valley. The valley gets wider and we can see the Dho valley with crops on the field, and the monastery with colorful praying Buddhist flags on the upper ridge of the valley. Overnight at Hotel. FB

               

                Today is the day for getting used to the height, or the acclimatization Day. Dho Valley is long and lies from east to west. First, we visit a Bon monastery in Sipchyo in the eastern part of the Dho Valley. Then we can climb up to the hill, there is Amchey lama and from that monastery, we can see the bird’s eyes views of the Dho-Tarap Village. Getting into the local houses of Dho Tarap village and knowing their lifestyle, food, jewels, dresses, etc will be an extra experience of this trek. Another attraction would be a visit to the Crystal Mountain School. Students of the School get standard facilities even in such a remote area. Sleep in Hotel. FB

                 

                  After staying two wonderful nights in Dho -Tarap, we continue our trip to Tokyu, a village in the same Dho Tarap Valley. We cross the small river and visit a newly built monastery and our journey continues toward Numa-La Base camp. Grazing yaks and horses can be seen on the field. If you are trekking in May /June, the Caravan in the hunt for Yarcha Gumba makes you think about how important or costly Yarcha Gumba is. Hundreds of thousands of people from the Dolpo and even from lowlands will be in such elevation, camping for months in their search for Yarcha Gumba (it is half plant and half insect) half of its body is in within the ground and the remaining half is above the ground as a plant. Overnight in the tent. FB

                   

                    After having some breakfast, we start our trekking to Numa-La early in the morning. The first hour is steeply up and another 3 hours go gradually upward with wonderful views of Kannjiroba and Mt. NorbiKang mountains. The landscape is amazing with wide views of the mountain desert. We step down to Baga-La Base Camp, another 4-hour slow walk to get down to Danigar. Overnight in the tent. FB

                     

                      Danighar lies on the banks of Panklanga Khola (river). After crossing the river, the trekking trail goes vertically up to the Baga La. It takes about 3 hrs to the top with magnificent views surrounded by landscapes and snow-capped mountains. We trek down to the Yak Kharka for another three hours. Overnight in the tented camp. FB

                       

                        Here, we are again in the tree line, we can see vegetation like pines, walnut, willow oak, etc. Our first one-hour trek will be through the vegetation and for another 2 hours we walk through the cliffs, narrow rocky with great views of the landscape. We are very close to our today’s destination Phoksundo Lake. After taking lunch, we may visit Ringmo village, Phoksundo Lake, and the monastery on the north corner of the lake. The lake views from the courtyard of the monastery are amazing. Overnight in Hotel. FB

                         

                          The easy way down to Chhepka is through the forest and there is a beautiful viewpoint of a waterfall running out from the Shay Phoksundo Lake. From the viewpoint, the trail is rocky and dusty and goes steep down to Amchi Hospital. It would be nice to visit the Hospital where there are Amchy monks. The monks collect herbs and they grind the herbs to make powder which is distributed to the needy people. Overnight in Hotel. FB

                           

                            Leaving Chepka, follow the Phoksundo River. Sloping upwards and down to Sulighat, Where there is the national Park Head Quarter then we meet the trail we started on the first day of our trekking. Climb uphill to get Jhuphal at the end. We can have a Jhuphal village tour in the evening. Overnight at hotel. FB

                             

                              Fly to Nepalgunj and same day next available flight to Kathmandu. Arriving in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your Hotel. If interested, you may do the last-minute shopping. All Nepal Hiking will organize a dinner for you in a typical Nepal restaurant with ANH staff. Overnight in Hotel. FB

                               

                                We can arrange short or long day sightseeing around Kathmandu valley. Sightseeing around Patan or Bhaktapur and more monuments in the city. Shopping and some leisure time in Kathmandu before leaving.

                                 

                                  Airport reporting time is 3 hrs prior to your flight schedule. A representative from All Nepal Hiking will drop you at the Airport on time. If the flight is in the evening, you can have some sightseeing or souvenir hunting during the day.

                                   

                                    Cost Details
                                    Includes
                                    • All airport/hotel transfers
                                    • 3 nights hotel in Kathmandu
                                    • Welcome and farewell dinner
                                    • All accommodations and meals during the trek, Tents, and kitchen equipment too
                                    • A full-day sightseeing tour in Kathmandu Valley including tour guide and entrance fees
                                    • Pickup and drop to start your trek and from the ending point to your Hotel In Kathmandu or your destination
                                    • An experienced English-speaking trek leader (trekking guide), assistant trek leader (6 trekkers:1 assistant guide), and Sherpa porters to carry luggage (2 trekkers:1 porter) including their salary, insurance, equipment, flight, food, and lodging
                                    • Down jacket, four seasonal sleeping bags, All Nepal Hiking duffel bag, and trekking map (down jacket and sleeping bag are to be returned after trip completion)
                                    • All necessary paperwork and permits (National Park permit, TIMS)
                                    • A comprehensive medical kit
                                    • All government and local taxes
                                    Excludes
                                    • Meals not specified in the 'Meal Inclusions' in the itinerary'
                                    • Travel Insurance
                                    • International airfare
                                    • Nepal entry visa: you can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (a multiple-entry tourist visa good for 30 days can be obtained by paying US $ 40 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, multiple-entry tourist visas for 90 days can be obtained by paying US $ 100. Please bring 2 copies of passport-size photos.)
                                    • Alcoholic, non-alcoholic drinks and water, soft drinks, etc.
                                    • Hot showers during the trek
                                    • Personal trekking equipment
                                    • Tips for trekking staff and driver (Tipping is respected but it is not obligatory)
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