Lower Dolpo Trek - Ethic Himalaya

At the airport; you will be meet by representative of our company and transferred to the Hotel, where you will meet us. A pre-trek briefing will be held at approx. 6:00pm to 7:00pm in the evening and is a great opportunity to get acquainted with your fellow group members before heading out to dinner. Welcome dinner at the authentic and typical Nepalese cusine with culutural dance.

We take the short flight to Nepalgunj in western Nepal; there are good views from right side of the plane as we fly close to the Himalayan Mountains. Nepalgunj is the largest city in the Terai with a hot and humid climate.

After an early breakfast you transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Juphal, a super scenic flight of 45 minutes brings you at Juphal over the Himalayan foothills, with views of Himalayan peaks to the north. On arriving at Juphal we manage the gears for the trekking. Our first day adventure begins through the terraced fields to the Bheri River and the narrow gorge taking 2 to 3 hours to camp at Dunai -the administrative headquarter of the Dolpo region. You have time to stroll around for village and stay overnight at the camp.

After breakfast we start our journey continues along the south bank of the river heading upstream on a good trail. A tremendous gorge with pine trees and an ingenious path built about seven meter above the river, to Tarakot where colorful terraced field greets us. Tarakot is an old fortress town built by the local people as Dzong or fort. The village stands on a hillock to the south of Bheri River at one time supervised collection of tolls for the trading caravans. Overnight camp is made by the river about 150 m below the village, near the police post or we climb a steep ridge for an hour to the village on a spur, where there are chorten in a Gompa on the edge of lush plateau, with a lonely tree.

Today, we continuous our journey to follow the Tarap chu river upstream, crossing same river twice. Then the trail leads us through the farm terraces and rural villages of Sahartera and winding gradually towards a small settlement of Kola after 3 to 4 hours of pleasant walk. From here, we descend with few ups to reach our overnight camp at Khani gaun with another 2 hours of trek and overnight camp near by the village backyard.

We continue our trip up to the gorge of the Tarap River, rising high above on a trail built out from steep slopes. The walk is quite exciting as the valley becomes narrow gorge that in some places you can jump from one side to another. Sometimes the path disappears for a while, making our own path across stone slabs fitted on logs in between the walls which act as a bridge. The gorge also offers unexpected adventure and thrills. In some places, the bridges are either damaged or washed by the monsoon flood and we may choose to cross the chilly torrent on foot and overnight at camp nearby the river before Kamattarka village.

Today, we start our trip with a lovely walk and with most scenic landscapes and easily get to the Yak Kharka. We may have lunch at the middle of the way. Our camp will set at Yak Kharka. Rest of the day, we wonder around the area or rest in the camp

After breakfast the trail leading us gradual up at Kamattarka confluence of the Tarap Chu and Lang Khola, a stream flowing from the east. After few hours pleasant walk the trail leaving the narrow gorge and leads just above tree lines for juniper bush and wild rose, typical of dry inner Himlayan valleys. Next 3 hours or more walk brings us to the village of Dho Tarap surrounded by an irregular stone wall. Here are thirty-four houses are divided into three groups and built in a randomly way, Bon Po and Chaiba both sects reside together. Tarap is also inhabited mostly Magars who have lived here for many generations and few Tibetans and overnight Camp by the village backward.

Today is the pleasant day free from the hassle of packing and chance to make friends with the locals who have hardly seen westerners. People of here wear home spun clothing that is sometimes painted maroon and they favor Tibetan style somba or dhocha (boots with upturned toes) for foot wear. Both men and women often wear religious amulets and strings of coral, amber and turquoise. The people of the region are both Bon po and Nyingmapa of Buddhist sect. The Buddhist Gompa is nearby to the camp while the Bon Gompa (pre Buddhist) is about half an hour's walk.

After a wonderful time at Dho Tarap, our journey continues towards upper Tarap valley, the walk follows in this plain valley with patched of lush grassy pasture on both sides of the river, which is completely different from other parts of inner Dolpo. The trek on this pleasant track leads by the Tarap chu upstream all the way. Tarap is certainly a dream valley with vast plains in high mountains extending twenty kilo meters along the river Tarap Chu, having ten villages with cultivated fields of barley, buck wheat, wheat and potato. After 3 to 4 hours pleasant walk in this perfect tranquility we get in to the village of Tokyu. After visit this village our walk continues further up this valley climbing up the rough track for almost another three hours to reach our overnight camp beneath the Numa La.

We start our trek with scenic view but gaining high altitudes and feel short breathing. This is short day but feel little hard during the walk. Even a great day at the high altitude and we'll reach at the camp for overnight stay.

After breakfast our trip continues to crossing of Numa La pass at 5,190m, and the track leads to steep climb all the way to the top ridge of Numa La with great views of the surrounding landscapes scenery of valleys, mountains including north face of the Dhaulagiri massif along with other distance snowcapped peaks. This is one of the long and difficult days during our trek. It takes 6 to 7 hours and after top at Numala, we will descend another bottom part known as Phedi for overnight camp.

After breakfast, our journey start with a steep climb to reach the ridge top of Baga-la at 5,070m, which offers fantastic views of the surrounding landscapes and of the distant snowcapped peaks of Kanjirowa Himal range, after a wonderful moment at the pass, almost three hours of downhill walk, takes to the Phedi for the overnight camp.

Our trek starts through the pine forest, on leaving the forest behind the country and the vegetation changes for pasture field and alpine shrubs most of the way to Ringmo on the gradual slopes with few ups and downs as we reach our final destination at Ringmo and the crystal serene Lake of Phoksundo view from our camp.

This is another pleasant day free from the hassle of packing. You have chance to visit Tibetan Buddhist monastery is well worth a visit, as is the village of Ringmo. A walk round the lake is also very enjoyable and relaxing. This is a great day exploring the tranquil Crystal Lake areas and with a great views overnight at camp.

The trail follows through the massive overhanging rock. We found many important medicinal mineral which is believed to cure almost anything in this area. The route then passes through the villages, before climbing to the pasture at Chepka. We camp at Chepka for overnight stay

Today, at first the trail gently upwards slopes to the Jhupal. From the top, we can have the most spectacular views of the mountain and scenery of Jhupal below us. After reaching Jhupal, we can spend our afternoon exploring the busy market town or simply follow whatever we feel like.

We take a flight from Juphal to Nepalgunj. Then, reaching Nepalgunj we return to Kathmandu on the next available flight. The rest of the day in Kathmandu can be spent shopping and general sightseeing.