On a clear day, flying into Kathmandu is an exhilarating experience. It’s almost joyful to see the mountain ranges below you covered in snow, which sets off a series of unforgettable events that stay with you for a very, very long time. Our waiting support crew will meet and greet you at the arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu as your plane touches down and transport you to your accommodation.

Since Nepal began welcoming tourists, Kathmandu, the historical and cultural center of the country, has become a well-liked travel destination. A beautiful fusion of Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, and Western influence can be seen in the city. A guided tour will be provided to the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal, Boudhnath, as well as the most well-known Hindu shrine, Pashupatinath, which is devoted to Lord Shiva. Both sites are included as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You go on a tour to Patan, also known as Lalitpur (the City of Artists), which is located 5 kilometers from Kathmandu. You have the opportunity to stroll through Patan Durbar Square and take in the architectural marvels from the Malla era. The main attractions in the square are the Mahaboudha Temple, Kumbeshwor Temple, Krishna Temple, and Golden Temple.

You next proceed to the airport for a journey to Nepalgunj, which is located in the western Terai region not far from the Indian border. Daytime free time is available.

You fly from Nepalgunj to Jumla in the morning, where your Lower Dolpo trek starts. After leaving Jumla’s airport, you pass Tila and Chaudabise kholas close to where they converge and gradually ascent to a fertile valley of rice terraces. The trail travels through a number of towns. It continues through a maple and walnut forest to a meadow that is blooming with wildflowers at that time of year. The trail ascends to a minor pass after the meadow and then descends to GothiChaur.

The route of the walk today follows the TilaKhola through fields of corn, potatoes, buckwheat, and barley until the valley narrows and you reach an oak, spruce, and maple forest. The town of Chotra, which has classic mani walls, is one you pass through. You arrive at Naphukana, another village, after a little walk. Above this settlement, there lies a sizable gompa.

From Naphukana, the trail steepens and ascends through a forest to Mauri Lagna (3820m), a pass. Views of snow-capped peaks may be seen to the north and east from the pass. The trail descends from the pass and climbs a steep hill before entering an oak and pine forest. You then enter the Bheri Valley and arrive at the settlement of Chaurikot after following the trail in and out of side valleys.

On the horizon, as you proceed to the settlement of Balasa, you can see Kagmara peak. The path descends to a brook before ascending to a ridge via a walnut tree woodland. You first descend to the settlement of Rimi before taking a steep trail down to the Bheri River after passing through the apple orchards of Jyakot.

You continue down the west bank of the Bheri River, past Hurikot, and eventually reach the SheyPhoksundo National Park’s entrance. After that, you reach the point where the Bheri River joins the Garpung and Jagdula rivers. After passing through GarpungKhola, you arrive at your tent along the river.

You keep following GarpungKhola as you gently climb up to the Kagmara La. Pace yourself because rapid ascent is bad for acclimatization.

You now cross over to the river’s eastern bank, where the valley becomes condensed and the river turns into a string of waterfalls. Your camps will be set up among the stones on a moraine below the Kagmara La as you ascend the path. From here, you can see the neighboring peaks in all their splendor.

You rise early this morning and climb to the Kagmara La, the first of the high passes, while following the Kagmara Glacier. Finding rare blue sheep here is easy. You arrive at the PungmoKhola Valley grasslands after descending 900 meters.

Now that the trail is among birch and juniper woodlands, blue pine will soon take its place. Before you get at the fortress-like village of Pungmo, which is surrounded by fields of barley, there are views of Kanjiroba mountain up the side valleys.

Trekking in Lower Dolpo is a popular Dolpo Trek location. You continue downstream to the national park headquarters at Sumduwa before taking the trail up the PhoksundoKhola to Phoksundo Lake. You ascend through a forest of big cedar trees to the winter town of Palam before continuing upward through open terrain to a peak from which you can see the lake well in the distance. A magnificent waterfall, the tallest in Nepal, is nearby. After a brief initial ascent, the trail then smoothly ascends to Ringmo village. The trail continues northward to the shores of Phoksundo Lake after passing a bridge just below Ringmo.

The lake, which is renowned for its distinctive greenish-blue tint, is taking a day off today. On its western side, Kanjiroba or Kanchen Ruwa, a huge snowy peak, towers over it. An historic monastery with a view of the lake is reached through a trail that passes through a juniper tree forest. In addition to Buddhist artwork and statues, the temple and chapels also contain remnants of the historic Bon-po faith.

Retracing your steps until you reach Ringmo, you take an easterly trail through juniper and blue pine forests. You will arrive at the base of the Baga La after hiking along a track that follows the river up a valley to a waterfall.

To reach the top of the Baga La, the second of the high passes, you must make a steady three-hour ascent from your camp. The descent begins gradually but quickly descends sharply to a creek before rising once again to the base of the Numa La.

You keep climbing across parched terrain until you reach the Numa La, the last of the high passes. If the weather is clear, you may see as far as Dhaulagiri, which is marked by mani stones. The path now drops through a sizable mani wall to the Tarap region, where you can continue walking through the Tarap Valley’s barley fields to the village of Dho.

Days off at Dho. It has multiple gompas and is Tarap’s main hamlet. The Ri Bhunpa Gompa is located on the ridge above the settlement, and just to the east is the town of Shipchhok, which features a Bon-po gompa that is definitely worth visiting. Many of the local ridges offer fantastic chances for seeing the valley and neighboring snowy peaks.

Days off at Dho. It has multiple gompas and is Tarap’s main hamlet. The Ri Bhunpa Gompa is located on the ridge above the settlement, and just to the east is the town of Shipchhok, which features a Bon-po gompa that is definitely worth visiting. Many of the local ridges offer fantastic chances for seeing the valley and neighboring snowy peaks.

As it clings to the cliffs today, the trail is treacherous, narrow, and steep, and the bridges here are frequently washed away. As you get closer to Khanigaon, the valley eventually opens and the path gets simpler. After there, you ascend dramatically above the river before dropping to the BarbungKhola and Tarakot, a town built around a fort.

You walk several more hours to reach Dunai by following the BarbungKhola downstream along the south bank to the village of Lawan, where you then cross to the north bank.

You trek today from Dunai to Juphal. You may reach Juphal by traveling downriver from Dunai. To reach the modest hotels at Kala Gaura (2090m), you must ascend a hill through meadows and pass a few residences. The culmination of our adventure through Lower Dolpo is Juphal, which we reach after several hours of walking.

From Juphal, a flight is taken to Nepalgunj. After that, you fly from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu on a subsequent flight.

In case of airline delays, today is a backup day. You can relax after a strenuous Himalayan journey if you have free time. You can stroll through Thamel for a taste of local culture, visit surrounding monasteries, unwind at a spa, or browse the local bazaar for souvenirs while you explore the city’s heritage attractions.

We will drive you to the airport to catch your trip home with our Nepali support staff. If you’d rather stay longer, you can take short tours like a game drive in a national park, go rafting, go on a Tibet tour, go mountain biking, etc. – just ask us.