Home > Trekking  
     
 

21-DAYS DOLPA TREK

Trekking Fixed Departure Date: ( 13 July, 5 Aug,)

 
 

Fairly untouched by outside influence Dolpa is the wild west of Nepal, a region that has provided the ultimate experience of solitude and wilderness to the generations of trekkers. Nowhere is this sense of untamed wilderness is more pronounced than in the trek route between Dhorpatan and Tarakot (a five day journey) in which one hardly comes across anything but nature in its untamed splendor. However, as many travelers have recounted that the experience is not the one of isolation but that of a rejuvenation with and intimate and unadulterated relationship with mother nature. There are wild walnut forest on the way and pink and red rhododendron bushes along the river valleys. The green water Phoksundo lake high up on the mountains not simply breathtaking, but as one of our American visitor remarked "place of heavenly peace".

Dormott Witten during the 50s described the Dopla experience as that of walking into a dreamy landscape painting. The only difference between the Dolpa Landscape and a painting is that the former is real and you walk through it and experience its beauty and feel part of its.

But it is not only the beautiful aspect of nature that one experiences along the track. Its dangerous and strangely attractive aspect manifest in the roar of avalanches across the Dhaulagiri range that one can hear from Tarakot. Both beautiful and challenging, dangerous and alluring, nature appears in various forms in route providing a Trekking experience that is unique both in terms of its range and variety.

This region of spectacular natural beauty is also the site of some famous religious building. At Dunai, a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess kali is one of the oldest in Nepal and at the confluence of Tarap and Bheri rivers its the Tarap Gompa, one of the oldest and biggest of its kind. Dolpa is also interesting for some of its unusual social practices. Noteworthy among these is the polyandrous marriage system as also a unique land tenure system. In this system each land owner loses two feet of his land to one of his neighbor at one end of his land area and gains two feet of land from another one of his neighbor at the other end of his land. People from Dolpa are quite enterprising and many often travel to foreign countries for trading purpose. They have their unique forms of social organization and religious worship which make a fascinating object of cultural study. In all a Trek to Dolpa is not only a physical journey across the Dhaulagiri range but also, to quote Peter Waugh (an Australian trekker of the sixties) 'a journey within'. This is a journey in which one experiences nature as an immediate presence and in complete harmony with life that it supports.

You must be minimum 2 person to get the special trek permit to do the trekking to this special area. You need Special Trekking Permit to do trekking to this area.

Overnight Details
KATHMANDU TO SETI DOBHAN
(3200 ft.)

Day 01:

 Drive or fly to Pokhara from Kathmandu. Upon arrival start trekking. After 2 and half hours walk arrive Seti Dobhan for night camp. It is a flat and beautiful area for camping.
SETI DOBHAN TO KARKINETA
(3100 ft.)		 Day 02: After breakfast start walking on a dirt to jungle seeing valley and river below and to the left, walk through the village resting under lovely Pipal Tree on the way. Lunch on the way at jungle or at phedi, continue walking up hill to Karkineta. Karkineta is on the ridge just before descent to Kusma. On the way see red houses with thatched or tin roofs of Magar people. From the top of ridge have a good view of Dhaulagiri.
KARKINETA TO KUSMA
(2800 ft.)		 Day 03: After an hour walk on rocky, broken staircase path you will reach a small village and after half an hour walk arrive at Malyangdi Khola (small stream). Continue walking on riverbed towards the village which is a combination of Magar, Brahamin, Chhetri and blacksmith people. Lunch en route. In the evening arrive Kusma for camp.
KUSMA TO BENI
(3200 ft.)		 Day 04: Almost all day walk on flat trail along the riverside. You will be passing through nice village on this day. Set up camp at Beni over looking the confluence of Myadi and Budighandaki river.
BENI TO BABICHAUR
(2950 ft.)		 Day 05: Follow the Myagdikhola for one hour to the town of Surteni. Just beyond the town you will come across large flat grassy fields. Continue the up and down trek through the villages to Babichaur. In Babichaur there is a big green field for camping.
BABICHAUR TO DHARAPANI
(4950 ft.)		 Day 06: Continue walking up and downs through Shasharada village and cross Myadi river bridge just after small town. whole day walk through forest, (mostly pine trees, bamboo and berry tree), and villages seeing red stones, black stones and large landslides en route. In the evening you will arrive at a very nice school yard for camp. This village is very beautiful and excellent for mountain views.
DHARAPANI TO LOMSONG
(6800 ft.)		 Day 07: After half an hour steep up ward trek, you will see again the massive Dahulagiri range in front of you, and after another half an hour walk down wards you will reach to a beautiful village Takum. This village looks very prosperous and charming. Continue walking to Sibang mostly up on stone staircase trail. Lunch at Dhara Khola. After lunch follow the up and down trek through village (high caste and low caste) and rhododendrons forest and arrive Lomsong (Lulang) for camp. 
LOMSONG TO GURJAGHAT
(8600 ft.)		 Day 08: This day is magnificently beautiful and is one of the highlights of the whole trek. The reason for this is the lovely, untouched Rhododendrons and Pine forest, spacious green meadows with horses, and excellent mountain view from the top the pass. After crossing Dharakhola (river) walk up very steep rocky trail to marini village. After an hour walk through Rhododendrons forest you will be entering to Dhorpatan reserve. You may get an opportunity to see Tiger, musk deer, wild-boar, barking deer while passing through this reserve. Another one and half hour of trek will take you to a pass from where you can have an amazing, Panoramic view of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna I, Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri and Gurja grassy meadows, and thick forest of pine, birch juniper, Rhododendrons and arrive Gurjaghat for camping
GURJAGHAT TO PHAGUNELA
(8900 ft.)		 Day 09: After crossing large meadow of Gurjaghat once again you will find yourself amid the pine forest for one hour walk. From the ridge you will see Dhorpatan hill .This is a Tibetian refugee area with strong big horses. After Dhorpatan (for the next 5 days) are the most difficult days of the whole trek because en route there is no settlement, and the whole area is very remote. This day you have to cross the most difficult pass "PHAGUNELA" the trail over the Phagune La is very steep and difficult. In the evening arrive Phagune Khola valley for the camp.
PHAUGUNELA TO GUSTUNG KHOLA
(7600 ft)		 Day 10:

This is the most difficult day of the whole trek. The trail all the day is steep (up and down) and very rocky, quite often with lots of Skree (small stones that makes you slip more) in many places. Whole day you will be walking through many passes having nice view of Dhorapatan valley and Dhaulagiri, Churen and Puta Himal. Evening camp near Shepherd's hut.
GHUSTUNG TO YAMAKHARAKA
(8000 ft.)		 Day 11:

This morning you have to walk a long way to reach the lunch spot. On the way enjoy with water falls and steep down hill walk, through pine forest. Crossing Ghustung Khola walk steep up and down and arrive at Pelma. Pelma is very interesting town. After one hour walk cross Pelma Khola and arrive Yamakharka for the camp.
YAMAKHARKA TO SENG KHOLA
(12700 ft)		 Day 12:

Very long walking day. Whole day walk up zig-zag trail and rocky narrow gorge, jumping from stone to stone and arrive Dhule village (5 wooden houses with one family) for lunch. After 2 hours walk arrive at a little crest from where you can see Dhaulagiri ridge and Gurja Peak. In the evening arrive at the campsite of Seng Khola.

SENG KHOLA TO JANG LA
(14400 ft.) 		Day 13:

Walk steep up crossing highest pass and arrive Saura Khola for lunch. After one hour walk again cross another pass and come down to a large meadow with stream for night camp.
JANG LA TO TARAKOT
(7600 ft.)		 Day 14:

Today you have to walk down from camp to Tarakot. Dirt trails are slippery but not so difficult. Continue down the trail to the Barbung Khola and to by pass to Tarakot. On the way you will see one old Gompa and monastery. These remains probably belongs to the old King to Tichurong. Also see the castle of Tarakot and beautiful Gompa near the river bank. After crossing Barbung Khola arrive at the Tarakot Camp site.

TARAKOT TO DUNAI
(6800 ft.)		 Day 15:

This day is easy. All day flat riverside walking with nice river view and rocky mountain. After 2 and half hour walk arrive at a small village in Saharbensi and cross wooden bridge for lunch stop. After lunch continue walking towards Dunai through Bhotiya, Tibetan, Magar and Chhetri village. The town itself is fairly dirty but the people are friendly and hospitable. For camp cross suspension bridge and set camp above the army post.
DUNAI TO WALNUT GROVE
(8600 ft)		 Day 16:

Now starts the highlight of the whole trip, as you enter into the valley leading up to lake Phoksundo. The first hour walk is very steep up to reach Sulighat Khola. Crossing Rohagaon and Shey Phoksundo National Park headquarter arrive in a lovely camp site.

WALNUT GROVE TO SUMDOWA
(10200 ft.)		 Day 17:

Today the valley gets narrower and even more beautiful, full of pines and walnuts following the restling blue Sulighat river. After crossing village, river passes, (Kagmara Lekh) arrive an excellent large green meadow for camping.
SUMDUWA TO LAKE PHOKSUNDO
(11700 ft.)		 Day 18:

This day is probably to "CLIMEX" day of the trip. Half day walk is enough to reach Phoksundo lake for lunch and relaxation. After 2 hours walk through juniper and pine forest you will reach the town of Ringmo (11600 ft.). You can see a lot of Tibetan influence here with colorful chortens and prayer flags. Also visit "CHULUNG" a Buddhist Gompa camp near the beautiful lake side.

LAKE PHOKSUNDO TO WALNUT GROVE Day 19:

Just retrace your steps back down to the valley on the same trail
WALNUT GROVE TO DUNAI (NEAR JUPHAL) Day 20: 5 hours back down to the Daunai
  Day 21:

Fly to Nepalgunj from Juphal Airport. On arrival in Nepalgunj drive back to Kathmandu or connect flight to Kathmandu.
 
  COST
  Group Size Price (Per day)
  1 Person USD 30.00
  2 Persons USD 27.00
  3-5 Persons USD 25.00
  6-9 Persons USD 24.00
  10 and above* USD 22.00 (Team Leader complementary)
booking | request more info. | tell friend
 
For further details & booking information, please write at aitasingh_lamawaiba@yahoo.com
 
Other Information: What needed in trekking?
 

Price Includes

  1. Welcome Drinks.

  2. Hotel in Kathmandu with 2 stars bed & breakfast.

  3. Hotel in Pokhara with tourist standard bed & breakfast.

  4. Meal (breakfast-lunch-dinner) during the trek best available lodge/hotel.

  5. One experience trekking guide & one porter for each two tourist.

  6. Transportation from Kathmandu to Kathmandu or flight as itinerary area wise

  7. Insurance for Guide & Porters

  8. All accommodation during the trek best available hotel/guesthouses.

  9. Airport -Hotel-Airport transfer

  10. Our service charge

  11. Farewell Dinner

Not Includes:

  1. National Park Entrance fees (if applicable).

  2. PERSONAL equipment for Trekking/climbing

  3. Personal Insurance for travel to Nepal

  4. Lunch & dinner in Kathmandu

  5. Emergency Rescue evacuation

  6. Trekking Sleeping bag

  7. Personal expenses

  8. Tipping (Tips)

  9. Bar bills, Mineral water

  10. Departures taxes

booking | request more info. | tell friend

GO TO BACK

For further details & booking information, please write at aitasingh_lamawaiba@yahoo.com