Upper Dolpo Trek - 24 Days
Upper Dolpo is one of Nepal's most remote trekking regions, known for dry landscapes, old Buddhist culture, long camping days, and a trail that still feels far from the usual routes.
Country
Nepal
Duration
24 Days
Difficulty
Challenging to Strenuous
Activity
Trek
Max. altitude
5,110 m/16,765 ft
Best season
Mid-April to May, Sep-Oct
Accommodation
Tea house, lodge & camping
Meals
Full board on trek
Start/End Point
Kathmandu via Nepalgunj/Juphal
Signature Moments
Upper Dolpo Trek Highlights
- Enter Nepal's restricted Inner Dolpo, where travel must be arranged through a registered trekking agency.
- Reach turquoise Phoksundo Lake inside Shey Phoksundo National Park, Nepal's largest national park at 3,555 sq km.
- Cross major passes on the classic route, including Kang La/Nangdalo La at about 5,110 m and Jeng La at about 5,090 m.
- Visit Ringmo, Shey Gompa, Saldang, Yangze Gompa, and Dho Tarap, key settlements of Upper Dolpo's Tibetan-influenced culture.
- Trek through a rain-shadow landscape where spring and autumn are best, with some summer departures also possible.
Trek Brief
Upper Dolpo Trek Overview
A remote 24-day trans-Himalayan trek linking Phoksundo Lake, Shey Gompa, high passes above 5,000 meters, and some of Nepal's most intact Tibetan-influenced culture.
Upper Dolpo Trek is one of Nepal's most demanding classic treks. Most itineraries begin with flights from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and on to Juphal, then follow the Lower Dolpo approach through Dunai, Chhepka, and Ringmo before entering the restricted Upper Dolpo section.
The standard commercial route then continues toward Phoksundo, Shey Gompa, Namgung or Namduna Gaun, Saldang, Yangze Gompa, Jeng La, and Dho Tarap. Camp names and village order vary slightly by operator, but the classic trip is usually 24 days and tops out at about 5,110 meters.
Permit rules are one reason the trek is expensive and tightly managed. Nepal Tourism Board and the Department of Immigration currently list Upper Dolpa at USD 500 per person for the first 10 days and USD 50 per day beyond that, while the Lower Dolpa permit is charged separately at USD 10 per week.
This route suits experienced trekkers who are comfortable with flight delays, multiple nights above 4,000 meters, limited services, and a mix of tea houses and camping support. If you want a less commercial trek with real cultural depth, Upper Dolpo remains one of Nepal's standout expeditions.
What Is Included
Kathmandu and Logistics
- Airport pick-up and drop-off in Kathmandu.
- Hotel nights in Kathmandu plus domestic flight coordination via Nepalgunj and Juphal.
- Upper Dolpo and Lower Dolpo permit processing through a registered trekking agency.
Trek and Camping Support
- Licensed guide support for the full trek, as required for restricted-area travel.
- Camping setup with shared tents and kitchen support where lodge infrastructure is limited.
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the trekking section.
Staff and Accommodation
- Experienced trekking guide, porters, and support staff.
- Tea house or simple lodge stays on lower sections, with camping or basic local accommodation deeper in the route.
- Staff wages, meals, insurance, and operational expenses.
Permits and Entry Fees
- Upper Dolpo Restricted Area Permit: USD 500 for the first 10 days, then USD 50 per day beyond that.
- Lower Dolpo permit for the approach section: USD 10 per week per person.
- Shey Phoksundo National Park entry permit and related local paperwork.
Ground Reality
- Juphal flights often shift due to weather, so a time buffer is smart.
- Independent trekking is not allowed in the restricted Upper Dolpo section.
- Charging, hot showers, and food variety become much more limited once you move beyond the lower approach villages.
What Is Not Included
- International flights to and from Nepal.
- Nepal visa fees and personal travel expenses in Kathmandu.
- Personal trekking gear, clothing, sleeping bag, and other equipment.
- Travel insurance with high-altitude rescue coverage.
- Personal snacks, drinks, tips, charging, hot showers, and private room upgrades.
Arrival, hotel check-in, and trek briefing in Kathmandu.
Fly to western Nepal and prepare for the Juphal mountain flight.
Fly to Juphal, then begin trekking on the Lower Dolpo approach toward Dunai or Suligad, depending on the operator's exact camp plan.
Follow the Suligad valley through forest and river gorge terrain.
Continue upward through cedar and pine forest toward the upper valley camps.
Reach Ringmo and Phoksundo Lake, the turquoise landmark that defines many Dolpo journeys.
Rest day for altitude adjustment before entering the higher Inner Dolpo route.
Leave the lake basin and move into a drier, more alpine landscape.
The route steepens as you climb toward the main high-pass approach camp.
One of the biggest days of the trek, crossing the route's usual high point before descending to Shey Gompa.
Spend time in the sacred Shey basin and around the historic monastery.
Cross another pass and descend to one of Upper Dolpo's culturally important villages.
Reach Saldang, one of the largest and most important settlements in Upper Dolpo.
Make the side trip or onward walk to Yangze Gompa, another major religious site in the region.
Return from the Yangze side and continue toward the Jeng La approach.
Climb to the base camp area below Jeng La for the next morning's crossing.
Cross the pass and descend into Dho Tarap, one of Dolpo's best-known villages.
Acclimatization and village exploration day in the broad Tarap valley.
Start the long descent through the Tarap valley and gorge.
Continue downstream through narrower canyon terrain and lower settlements.
Rejoin the main lower valley route and return to Dunai.
Complete the walking section and overnight near the airstrip.
Weather permitting, connect back through Nepalgunj to Kathmandu.
Use this day for departure, or keep it flexible because Dolpo flights are often delayed by weather.
Before You Book
Upper Dolpo is best for experienced trekkers who are comfortable with long remote days, basic facilities, and multiple nights above 4,000 meters.
Most operators rate it challenging or strenuous because it is long, remote, and includes major passes above 5,000 meters.
No. Nepal's restricted-area rules require an authorized trekking agency, a licensed guide, and a minimum of two trekkers for Upper Dolpo permits.
Spring from mid-April to May and autumn from September to October are the most reliable windows. Dolpo lies in the rain shadow, so some summer departures are also possible.
The official restricted-area permit alone costs USD 500 for the first 10 days, and the trek also needs Lower Dolpo permits, park entry, domestic flights, guide support, and more logistics than standard tea-house routes.
On The Mountain
On many 24-day itineraries, the high point is Kang La or Nangdalo La at about 5,110 meters. Jeng La is usually crossed later at about 5,090 meters.
Not always. Lower sections have lodges in places like Dunai, Chhepka, and Ringmo, but deeper Upper Dolpo departures are often run as mixed lodge-and-camping trips.
You need travel insurance that covers trekking above 5,000 meters and helicopter evacuation in Nepal.
Juphal flights commonly shift or cancel due to weather, so a Kathmandu buffer day at the end of the trip is strongly recommended.
The route combines Phoksundo Lake, Shey Gompa, remote villages such as Saldang and Dho Tarap, and a dry trans-Himalayan landscape that feels culturally and geographically closer to Tibet than to Nepal's greener trekking regions.