Upper dolpo trekking Blog

In Nepal’s Dolpo region, the Upper dolpo trek is a well-known to be a challenging trekking path. It is located in the country’s west Himalaya and provides breathtaking vistas of the Himalayan mountain ranges, including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Kanjiroba.

The journey to upper Dolpo Nepal; passes through rural towns and a variety of natural settings, including woods, high-altitude deserted landscapes, and alpine meadows. A chance to explore the traditional culture and way of life of the locals, who are primarily of Tibetan origin. Upper dolpo trekking needs good physical condition and acclimatization to complete the trek.

Upper dolpo trek
Picture of Chhortens seen during Upper dolpo trek – The people here follows Tibetan buddhism.

Only experienced hikers should undertake the hard and isolated Upper Dolpo Trekking. There are numerous river crossings and few glacier walks on the Upper Dolpo trek, as well as rough pathways and numerous steep passes. High passes of Upper Dolpo are thrilling adventure.

Extreme weather with changeable climatic situation in the Himalaya and chilly temperatures is always a possibility. Hikers must be self-sufficient throughout the trip because there are fewer amenities along the route. You have to stay in tents for few nights in Upper dolpo trekking. However, Nepalgram team can take care of those camping arrangements and guidance in these terrains.

The Upper Dolpo walk takes you into the uninhabited western Nepali countryside. We pass by the lovely Shey Phoksundo lake, numerous high passes, and breathtaking mountains as we stroll along the historic salt trade route between Tibet & Nepal.

Ancient Tibetan Buddhist cultures are prevalent in the desolate area between the Tibetan plateau and the Dhaulagiri massif. Prayer flags and ancient lifestyles, which are preserved in perfect condition and has not any modern influences, are borne out in the various artistic monasteries of the local ethnic communities, notably Shey- Gumpa.

Upper dolpo trek
Picture of Pey Phoksundo lake – seen towards the end of Upper dolpo trek

Upper Dolpo region is more isolated and under-explored region in Nepal Himalaya. In addition to historic Bon Po and Buddhist holy sites, the alpine region offers stunning vistas of mountains, gray slopes, and grazing deserts. Nepal’s Dolpo region has a distinctly Tibetan-influenced culture, which makes this trek an appealing remote trek of Nepal.

Undeveloped wildness in Upper Dolpo area is a component of the sedimentary Tibetan Tethys zone, which acts as a buffer against the nearby semiarid environment between Tibetan plate & Eurasian plate (also called Indian plate).


    Annual rainfall in the area is less than 500 millimeters. Upper dolpo region of Nepal is consequently a desert nation with a chilly climate.

    Altitude in Upper Dolpo trekking

    The lowest and highest points along the Upper Dolpo Trek‘s path, respectively, are about 2,500 meters (8,202 feet) and 5,200 meters (17,060 feet). The Shey Gompa Pass (5,090 meters/16,700 feet) and the Jengla Pass (5,140 meters/16,863 feet) are two high-altitude passes that must be traversed throughout the walk in this Upper Dolpo region.

    Thus, trekkers must adequately acclimatize during Upper Dolpo trekking to reduce the risk of altitude sickness. To ensure a secure and comfortable trekking experience in Upper Dolpo, it is advised that you take the essential safety precautions and adhere to the instructions provided by your trekking guide.

    What is the best season to visit Upper dolpo region of Nepal?

    Late September through November for Autim season & March through May for spring are the ideal times to do the Upper dolpo trek in Nepal. The weather is often clear and consistent during these months, with little chance of precipitation or snow.

    The neighboring mountains may be seen in stunning detail because the sky are typically clear. The daytime temperature is pleasant (around 15 deg cel), but the nighttime temperature can drop significantly, especially at higher altitudes (around -1 deg cel).

    The region’s monsoon season lasts from June to August and is marked by a lot of rain and cloud cover over white mountains. Rain makes trekking challenging in the lower region. It is because of wet trails and might be slippery. Thus monsoon is not recommended for Upper Dolpo trekking.

    The winter season, which lasts from December to February, is marked by chilly temperatures, snowfall, and the possible difficulty of traversing high passes because of unfavorable weather. Sometimes the high passes might get closed. Which trekkers have to wait till snow melts to pass over those high passes. Consequently, these seasons are not good for hiking in Upper dolpo; but still if you have enough time and good experience of trekking in cold weather – winter trekking to upper dolpo is prefered over Monsoon trekking in the region.

    Major attraction of Upper dolpo trek

    Upper dolpo trek is a well-liked trekking destination because of its stunning natural surroundings and fascinating cultural history. The following are some of the trek’s main draws:

    • -Panoramic vistas of some of the highest mountains in the world, including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Kanjiroba, may be seen during the trek.
    • -The walk travels through the Shey Phoksundo National Park, which is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, including the critically endangered Snow Leopard.
    • -Traditional Culture and Lifestyle: number of isolated villages where trekkers can get a glimpse of the locals’ traditional way of daily life, who are primarily from Tibetan origins.
    • -Shey Gompa: The trek’s main draw is Shey Gompa, one of the area’s oldest and most significant monastery.
    • -Natural Beauty: The walk offers a rare combination of various landscapes, including forests, high-altitude deserts, alpine meadows, and glacier rivers. It is a genuinely amazing trekking experience.
    Upper dolpo trek
    Wide View of Psey Phoksundo lake – unrealistically beautiful

    Dolpo trek itinerary for 15 days trip to Nepal

    • Day 1: Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj
    • Day 2: Fly from Nepalgunj to Juphal and trek to Dunai
    • Day 3: Trek from Dunai to Tarakot
    • Day 4: Trek from Tarakot to Laini
    • Day 5: Trek from Laini to Nawarpani (3475 m)
    • Day 6: Trek from Nawarpani to Lyang la
    • Day 7: Trek to Dho Trap (3944 m)
    • Day 8: Trek to Numa la
    • Day 9: Trek to Panklanga Khola
    • Day 10: Trek to Yak Kharka
    • Day 11: Trek to Ringmo
    • Day 12: Trek to Sanduwa village
    • Day 12: Trek Chekpa
    • Day 13: Travel to Dunai
    • Day 14: Dunai to Jhupal
    • Day 15: Fly to nepaljung and to Kathmandu.

    This itinerary is subject to amended depending on various factors such as weather conditions, trekker’s fitness level, and other unexpected circumstances. It is advisable to have a flexible approach and be prepared for any changes to the itinerary during the trek.

    The itinerary for upper dolpo trekking can be customized as per your requirements and interests. It is recommended to hire a professional trekking guide to ensure a safe and enjoyable trekking experience in Upper Dolpo region.

    Are you looking for other trips than Upper dolpo trek?

    Nepalgram Adventure can help you with the filter below. Select the right destination and activity of your interest to find the best trip to Nepal.

    • Annapurna Base Camp
    • Annapurna Conservation Area
    • Arun Valley
    • Bandipur
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      • Chola pass
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    • Dolpo Region
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    • Kathmandu
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    • Less Known or New
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    • Makalu Base Camp
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    • Manaslu Conservation Area
    • Nar Phu Valley
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    • Peak Climbing / Mountain Climbing / Expedition
      • Easy Peak Climbing
      • Expedition above 8000 Meters
      • Expedition below 8000 Meters
      • Peak Climbing in Everest
      • Technical Peak Climbing
    • Hiking/Trekking
      • Glacial lake Trek
      • Heli hiking
      • High Pass Trek
      • Short Trekking in Nepal
    • Nature Activities

    How Difficult is Upper Dolpo trekking?

    The Upper dolpo trek is a challenging hike that calls for high physical condition and previous hiking knowledge. Previous hiking experience in Nepal Himalaya is entertained.

    The Upper Dolpo route includes many high-altitude passes, lengthy days of walking across unforgiving terrain, and sections of steep, rocky trail. For the hike to reduce the danger of altitude sickness, a good level of acclimatization is also necessary.

    Upper dolpo trek
    Picture – Camping by the lake of Phoksundo – these days there are tea house for the accommodation, you do not necessarily need to do camping at this place.

    Cost upper dolpo trek

    The price of the Upper dolpo trek varies based on a number of elements, including the season, the distance covered, the level of comfort preferred, and the number of participants. An typical Upper Dolpo 27-day hike might cost between $1,900 and $3800 per person.

    More Destination – from Nepal

    xplore Nepal with us – to the deep in those nook and corners of Nepal Himalaya. Suggestions other than Upper dolpo trek.

    About Author

    I grew up in the mountains & got university education in Kathmandu to become an engineer. But with homely environment of mountains interest me to become a trekking & tour guide, by passion. I have been 6574 meter to the highest & fortunately got chance to explore most of Nepal and bit of abroad.

    Eventually, passion converted to profession and here i am on behalf of Nepalgram - a Trekking agency in Nepal.

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    (2) Comments

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