LOWER DOLPO
Tarap Valley and Phoksumdo Lake
Dolpo is a region of Tibetan culture of Bonpo religion very isolated in Nepalese territory, cut off from Tibet and Mustang by high passes. These mythical high valleys were long forbidden to foreigners. Their paths were traveled by caravans of yaks because they still practiced the exchange of salt from Tibet against spices and cereals from the middle valleys. Nowadays the rush to harvest Yarsagumba - a caterpillar parasitized by a fungus - with aphrodisiac virtues in Chinese medicine - has supplanted these ancestral activities. Apart from two high passes over 5,000m, this trip will culminate with the discovery of the Tarap Valley and the turquoise waters of Lake Phoksumdo, the setting of Eric Valli's famous film "Himalaya"
HIGHLIGHTS
- Tarap Valley and Phoksumdo Lake
- One of the most preserved and wild regions of Nepal
- Hike punctuated by monks' gongs in a Tibetan atmosphere
- In the footsteps of the salt caravans and Eric Valli's film "Himalaya, The Childhood of a Chef"
Dolpo is a region of Tibetan culture of Bonpo religion very isolated in Nepalese territory, cut off from Tibet and Mustang by high passes. These mythical high valleys were long forbidden to foreigners. Their paths were traveled by caravans of yaks because they still practiced the exchange of salt from Tibet against spices and cereals from the middle valleys. Nowadays the rush to harvest Yarsagumba - a caterpillar parasitized by a fungus - with aphrodisiac virtues in Chinese medicine - has supplanted these ancestral activities. Apart from two high passes over 5,000m, this trip will culminate with the discovery of the Tarap Valley and the turquoise waters of Lake Phoksumdo, the setting of Eric Valli's famous film "Himalaya"
- Tarap Valley and Phoksumdo Lake
- One of the most preserved and wild regions of Nepal
- Hike punctuated by monks' gongs in a Tibetan atmosphere
- In the footsteps of the salt caravans and Eric Valli's film "Himalaya, The Childhood of a Chef"
Gallery
Itinerary
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Day
Welcome and transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel Holy Himalaya or similar on BB basis
Accommodation: Hotel Holy Himalaya or similar on BB basis
Flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (approximately 50 minutes flight).
- Accommodation: Travelers Inn Hotel or similar in Half board
- Accommodation: Travelers Inn Hotel or similar in Half board
Morning flight to Juphal (2,440m), about 35min flight. It is in Juphal that our trek begins, we walk to Dunaï (2,090m); the chief town of the district of Dolpo. In Juphal, we are already in a different universe. Towards the end of October, the dolpopa dry the red peppers on the earthen roof terrace. The path descends to the Bheri river, we cross fields of buckwheat, barley, millet, and corn.
- Descent: 400m
- Number of hours of walking: 3h
- Accommodation: Tented Camp
- Descent: 400m
- Number of hours of walking: 3h
- Accommodation: Tented Camp
We cross the Barbung Chhu (Bheri) river and the small villages of the valley. After lunch, we have a magnificent view of Puth Himal (7,246m) and Dogari (6,536m), little-known peaks that belong to the Dhaulagiri massif.
- Ascent: 500m
- Descent: 100m
- Number of hours of walking: 6h
- Accommodation: Tented camp
- Ascent: 500m
- Descent: 100m
- Number of hours of walking: 6h
- Accommodation: Tented camp
In the morning, gradual climb along the fields of corn, buckwheat, and amaranthus (until mid-October). We have lunch at Lapsicape where the Tarap Chu and Barbung Chu rivers mix; we also cross the longest suspension bridge in the valley. After lunch, a small part of the path is a bit steep crossing the forest of junipers, pines, firs, and birches...
- Ascent: 1095m
- Descent: 340m
- Number of hours of walking: 6h30
- Accommodation: Tented camp
- Ascent: 1095m
- Descent: 340m
- Number of hours of walking: 6h30
- Accommodation: Tented camp
In the morning, we start the trek with a fairly steep climb of around 500m. Then, the path is an alternation of small climbs and descents. Sometimes the path is a little dizzying.
- Ascent: 800m
- Descent: 430m
- Number of hours of walking: 5h30
- Accommodation: Tented camp
- Ascent: 800m
- Descent: 430m
- Number of hours of walking: 5h30
- Accommodation: Tented camp
Up to the Lang, the path is chaotic then relatively flat; we meet nomads and their herds (until mid-October).
- Ascent: 805m
- Descent: 335m
- Number of hours of walking: 7h
- Accommodation: Tented camp
- Ascent: 805m
- Descent: 335m
- Number of hours of walking: 7h
- Accommodation: Tented camp
Day of rest and walk in the valley of Tarap, visit small Tibetan monasteries (there are no more monks in the monasteries) and Tibetan houses. Visit Buddhist and Bonpos monasteries. To complete our acclimatization, we climb up to 4,400m. We spend the night at the same camp, where a small part of the film "Himalaya, the childhood of a chef" was shot.
- Ascent: 400m
- Descent: 400m
- Number of hours of walking: 2 hours
- Accommodation: Tented camp
- Ascent: 400m
- Descent: 400m
- Number of hours of walking: 2 hours
- Accommodation: Tented camp
After a free morning in Dho, we leave at the foot of the Num La pass which we cross the next day.
- Ascent: 350m
- Descent: 3h30
- Accommodation: Tented camp
- Ascent: 350m
- Descent: 3h30
- Accommodation: Tented camp
We gradually climb up to the Num la pass at 5,185m. From up there, we dominate the entire Himalayan chain: Dhaulagiri I (8,167m), Churen Himal (7,310m), Tukuche Peak (6,920m), Annapurna massif, Damodar, Kanjiroba (6,612m), Kang Chune, Guras Himal, Norbu Kang (6,140m) and the Tibetan plateau to the north. After the pass, the descent is steep, sometimes on the screen until the torrent. After a small gradual climb and flat, we arrive at our bivouac, a very beautiful view of Norbu Kang.
- Ascent: 950m
- Descent: 910m
- Number of hours of walking: 8h
- Accommodation: Tented camp
- Ascent: 950m
- Descent: 910m
- Number of hours of walking: 8h
- Accommodation: Tented camp
We pass the Baga La pass (5,170m), and the mineral landscape is magnificent. The end of the descent is a bit steep.
- Ascent: 800m
- Descent: 1,095m
- Number of hours of walking: 6h30
- Accommodation: Tented camp
- Ascent: 800m
- Descent: 1,095m
- Number of hours of walking: 6h30
- Accommodation: Tented camp
The arrival on Lake Phogsumdo (3,800m) and the village of Ringmo (3,600m) is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Himalayan panoramas. Beautiful forest of pines, firs, and birches around the lake.
- Ascent: 200m
- Descent: 330m
- Number of hours of walking: 4h
- Accommodation: Tented camp
- Ascent: 200m
- Descent: 330m
- Number of hours of walking: 4h
- Accommodation: Tented camp
Day of a stroll around the lake and visit the Bönpo monastery of Ringmo in a splendid setting.
- Accommodation: Tented camp
- Accommodation: Tented camp
After passing an impressive waterfall more than 300m high, we radically change scenery and find the greenery when the path plunges into the gorges and the forest. It's a long day of walking without difficulty.
- Ascent: 570m
- Descent: 1470m
- Number of hours of walking: 7h30-8h
- Accommodation: Tented camp
- Ascent: 570m
- Descent: 1470m
- Number of hours of walking: 7h30-8h
- Accommodation: Tented camp
Easy walk along the river but the trail is rough at times. We cross a village whose inhabitants seem straight out of a wonderful tale where time has stopped. Last climb to reach the beautiful village of Juphal where the terraces are connected by ladders cut into rough trunks.
- Ascent: 400m
- Descent: 700m
- Number of hours of walking: 6h
- Accommodation: Tented camp
- Ascent: 400m
- Descent: 700m
- Number of hours of walking: 6h
- Accommodation: Tented camp
Flight to Nepalgunj then flight to Kathmandu. Transfer to the hotel.
- Accommodation: Hotel on BB basis
- Accommodation: Hotel on BB basis
- Accommodation: Same Hotel on BB basis
Transfer to the airport. End of our services
NOTES
- In Kathmandu, we use hotels of good category *** well located in the center of Kathmandu.
- The stay in Kathmandu is always done in B&B to give you your choice of restaurants that offer you traditional and continental cuisine according to your choices.
- During the trek, you will be in full board and accommodation according to the itinerary.
What's included
- Full board trek in bivouac / Camping
- Collective camping and kitchen equipment (mess tent, toilet tent, kitchen tent and two-seater tents, tables and chairs, stove, gas, etc.)
- Special permits Lower Dolpo ($40) entrance to Phoksumdo & TIMS park ($40 US)
- 1 night at the Traveler's village hotel or similar in half board in Nepalganj
- 3 nights at the Holy Himalaya Hotel or similar in B&B
- Trekking guide for the entire trip
- Trekking team: cook, kitchen boys, Sherpa(s), mules or porters
- Insurance of the staff
- Domestic airport taxes
What's not included
- International flights & domestic flights are indicated separately
- Nepal Visa ($50 and photos for 30 days) but recommend to do in advance
- Mandatory personal repatriation insurance (5000 USD coverage including covid). PCR test…
- Personal expenses, tips, drinks, sleeping bags, etc.
Suppliments
(Airfare subject to change without notice from the airlines)
>>> Supplement per single room for 4 nights in a hotel: $137
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