Dolpa Circuit Trek

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OVERVIEW

Introduction:

For a variety of reasons, Dolpa is one of Nepal’s most popular trekking destinations. First, with a surface area of 7,889 sq. Kilometers, this is Nepal’s largest district, and yet one of the sparsely populated areas. Its topography is particularly interesting. It includes Nepal’s largest lake, Lake Phoksundo, which also happens to be the world’s deepest high-altitude lake. Dolpa is one of the few Nepali districts behind the Himalayan mountains, and it gets very little rain because of this. Most of the hills are therefore flat, with little vegetation. Hiking the Dolpa Circuit is a never-forgetting trekking route of Nepal. You will be allowed to explore life in the remote highlands. The trail passes through a range of landscapes ranging from grassy fields (resembling in some respects the European Alps) to barren rocks reaching into the Tibetan plateau. The Phoksundo Lake is of incomparable elegance, surrounded by steep, bold rocks with its dark blue and emerald colors. You will find small authentic Tibetan culturally and historically steep villages. Buddhism and Bonpo are very important to those who live in these villages and are mixed in daily life. Religion at Bonpo is Tibet’s oldest spiritual practice. It is closely related to Buddhism but has more shamanistic and animistic elements that add much to the supernatural appeal of the region. Dolpa remained an “off the beaten track escape” due to its remote location. Tourists, particularly in the summer months, are few and far between. The Dolpa circuit is favored from April to November. If lodges will be open in April and pass open in November as the current weather conditions will depend on them, however, please check with a local tour operator about the trek. This is an excellent walk in the Monsoon Season because of the rain shadow of the Upper Dolpo region. With some steep climbs, the Dolpa Circuit is very strenuous trekking. Two high passes climb the trail, Numa La (5318 m) and Baga La (5190 m). These crossings involve long ascents and long downhills. That said, the scenery on the way, the views from the passes, and the interactions you will have with people from the Dolpa will make it all worth it. Dolpa is well known for: the film ‘Himalaya,’ the breathtaking, turquoise Phoksundo Lake, Shey Gompa, said to be 800 years old and its Tibetan desert. However, be careful to remember that the trail can be interrupted by bad weather in the lowlands, so you can take a day or two to accommodate flight cancellations and road blockage on both sides of your journey.

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ITINERARY

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu

When you land at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport, you will find our representative to welcome you to the airport, so you can travel to your chosen Kathmandu hotel without delay. In the evening you will meet your guide, he will provide some required details about the trek to Dolpa Circuit Trek.
Day 02: Arrangement Day in Kathmandu

Before heading towards Dolpa Circuit trek, you'll have an extra day in Kathmandu. You should spend the day as you wish. A day will suffice to visit some of the famous heritage sites, restaurants, in Kathmandu. You can also buy some personal trekking equipment such as medicine, Trekking shorts, sunscreen
Day 03: Flight to Nepalgunj

Far from Kathmandu, we booked early morning flights to Nepalgunj. It is located at 85.297655 longitudes, and 27.697655 latitudes. Nepalgunj is a Nepal town located at 81.604325 longitudes and 28.037655 latitudes. The total distance from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj is 365 KM (km) and 63.21 meters.
Day 04: Flight from Nepalgunj to Juphal (2475 m), trek to Dunai (2140 m) 3 hrs.

The trek started as soon as our flight landed at Juphal airport, Ranjha. From Juphal you'd embark on a motorized road where you rarely come across a motor and you'll hit the gates of Shey Phoksundo National Parks within an hour. After we have checked out permits, we enter the restricted area. You will find teahouses in good quantity on this section of the trail which is not the same in the days ahead. You will either stop in Khalaripi or Kageni or Sangta in between. It takes about 3 hours to walk from Juphal to Dunai headquarters in Dolpa. The first hour and a half is a steep descent, and then the trail is flatter and becomes a comfortable walk. Overnight in Juphal
Day 05: Trek from Dunai (2140 m) to Lingdo (2391 m) 5-6 hrs.

Very quickly, the scenery turns beautiful with pine trees in the surrounding area and high hills and mountains in the distance, after you leave Dunai. Much of the time you'll follow the Bheri River and make your way through hamlets settled by Magar's Terali Buddhist families with close links to Tibet. The path is arid and rocky after Byasgar and often the trails get very narrow and are built on the rock face of the mountains and hills. The narrow roads open to Lingdo village where there are few tea houses with running water installations. We will either set up the tents or enjoy accommodating in concrete structures depending on your situation and will. Overnight at Lingdo.
Day 06: Trek from Lingdo (2391 m) to Lahini Odar (3370 m) 7 hrs.

Today you will be effectively ascending most of the time. The trail traverses hamlets that will be the last settlements before entering Dho Tarap. The terrain constantly changes and shifts dramatically from green to arid. You will get a glimpse of snow-clad Kang Tokal on this very section of the trail. Also, keep your eyes open to grey monkeys. Making your way through juniper trees and pine trees, you navigate the Bheri River up to a suspension bridge to the top. Further on, the trail leads to Laisicap which is filled with hotels and campsites with tents and shops selling snacks, drinks, and other products. From here it is a 3-hour long walk back to Laina Odar. However, the trail is surrounded by pine trees and a few very big ones. You ascend to the top and abandon the river below to rejoin the river on top. After entering the river, you will see a tented hotel called Laina Odar. Laina Odar, overnight.
Day 07: Trek from Lahini Odar (3370 m) to Toltol (3523 m) 6-7 hrs.

From laina Odar you walk through a beautiful pine forest that is sparse and soon vanishes in a matter of hours. Take your way through some beautiful waterfalls and gradually ascend in 4-5 hours to the top of the hill. From here the landscape changes and the lush green soil is dry and arid. The trail descends steeply from the peak of the hill to the confluence of two rivers and a Tangum campsite. From here, a stroll to Toltol is comparatively easy and worth an hour. Night down in Toltol.
Day 08: Trek from Toltol (3523 m) to Dho Tarap (4080 m) 6 hrs.

We are embarking on the same route we left the day before. The path leads straight after Dho into a windy gorge. The trail is almost flat at the start, but we start climbing slowly and steadily on a steep rocky cliff. From the top, you can see the river shifting course through the gorges and occasionally it even disappears between cliffs rising on both sides. You will even come across several small valleys and horse caravans if lucky witness tents. You can however travel further down to open junctions that are also used as a rest area for yaks and mules. One such junction is our day destination, namely Toltol. A night out in toltol.
Day 09: Trek from Dho Tarap (4080 m) to Numa-La Phedi Base Camp (4440 m) 4-5 hrs

There's not a lot to do but a lot of detours to just see the scenery and gompas. A century-old Mekyem gompa, with a massive statue of an incarnation of the Buddha, is your first gompa. You can enter the trail via a private, crystal-clear mountain school. You can also ascend to Phurba Dorje gompa, the village of Gakar. We left behind the highly decorated gompa with old weapons and headed for Tokyu village. The trail branches from here to the restricted Upper Dolpa forest. Tokyo is a great place to stay, but the next day you will move to Numa La Phedi base camp, which is a long and boring one. You are surely fascinated by the view of the scenery and the surrounding mountains.
Day 10: Trek from Numa-La Phedi Base Camp (4440 m) to Danigar (4631 m) via Numa-La pass (5238 m) 7 hrs

From the start, the trek is steep, and the snow stays almost every time, making it a little hard to cross. Afterward, the trek will slowly take you to the shape of bowls. View in the best angles of the area from Dhaulagiri, north Annapurnas, and Kanjiroba. The trail goes steep and climbs further up the ridge in the direction of Panglanka Khola. Keep your eyes open and keep calm as possible, as many blue sheep as snow leopards have been seen in this section of the Dolpa circuit. The road leads straight to Danigar 's beautiful meadow where we camp in the evening. The very close river flows, which blends into Phoksundo lake and offers spectacular views of Norbu Kang.
Day 11: Trek from Danigar (4631 m) to Yak Kharka (3860 m) via Baga-La (5190 m) 7 hrs

At all times of the year, the trail is likely to be covered with snow or frost to make your ascent to Baga La base camp harder. On the way, you cross rocky paths with some native rhododendron bushes. You will cross another pass, namely Baga La, to get to the final destination. Much of the descent is steep and lined by loose rocks. You'll nevertheless find waterfalls which flow wildly down the rocks, a gigantic rock with om mani Padme hum painted there and zigzag trails, which are often focused on by trekkers. The path opens up to a valley and a flat land wrapped around prayer flags like Bagala Phedi or Dajok Tang, after walking down on these beautiful landmarks. From here it's a quick walk to our final yak kharka destination, which is a seasonal yak herders' campsite. At Yak Kharka, overnight.
Day 12: Trek from Yak Kharka (3860 m) to Ringmo village near Phoksundo Lake (3641 m) 4 hrs

On this day, it's a relief for your legs. You will spend more time walking with spectacular views of the mountains compared to the previous days. The valley will shortly open to Juphal, and you will be bound in the south. But you do not miss the 200 m of the waterfall that comes from the lake outlet itself. you climb towards Phoksundo lake. Also, pines and yellow birches that open into the barrel fields of the village of Ringmo will be presented from this stage. The village of Ringmo also provides basic hotels. You can either camp again or enjoy our accommodation in a concrete but traditional home.
Day 13: Trek from Ringmo village to Chepka (2838 m) via Rechi

When we walk along Phoksundo Khola and pass through green vegetation, the path gets easier. You are always expected to go downhill on this day but nothing like the days you have spent on the trial before. The highest point of today's trek is the 330-meter waterfall which is the country's largest. The trek is about 6 hours long, and the walk is mostly flat or downhill. When do we call it a night in Chepka?
Day 14: Trek from Chhepka (2838 m) to Juphal (2475 m) 6 hrs

It is fun to walk for about 7 hours from Chepka to Juphal. The road passes through beautiful lotuses like flowers used for vinegar and other medicines. You are going through the little villages this day and don't forget to ask your guide about their villages' names. Astonishingly, Ankhe, Rahagaun, and Parela are the villages that are identified, meaning the eye and eyebrows. You must climb to Juphal down to the River Dunai. Night in Juphal.
Day 15: Flight from Juphal to Nepalgunj to Kathmandu

From Juphal to Nepalgunj, you are boarding an early morning flight. You're going to board another flight from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu later that day. We will drive you back to your hotel while in Kathmandu. On the last evening, we'll meet for a farewell dinner and discuss the trip and experience in Nepal during the meal.
Day 16: Departure from Kathmandu

Our representative will drive you back to the international airport of Tribhuvan before your departure flight. You should visit a few places or restaurants in your spare time if you like.

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COST

TRIP INFO

Trek Overview:

Trek Duration: 16 days
Trek Grade: Strenuous
Highest Altitude: 5,360m
Accommodation: Lodge/tented house/homestay
Transportation: Overland & flight
Group size: 2 to 12 (maximum)
Best Season: April to November
Trek cost: ****

Trek Highlights:

Explore life in the remote highlands.
Witness Nepal’s largest lake, Lake Phoksundo, which also happens to be the world’s deepest high-altitude lake.
Enjoy of landscapes ranging from grassy fields (resembling in some respects the European Alps) to barren rocks reaching into the Tibetan plateau
Observing Religion at Bonpo is Tibet’s oldest spiritual practice.
Visit Nepal’s largest district, and yet one of the sparsely populated area. Its topography is particularly interesting.
Witness Phoksundo Lake, which is of incomparable elegance, surrounded by steep, bold rocks with its dark blue and emerald colors.
Find small authentic Tibetan culturally and historically steep villages

WHAT IS INCLUDED

WHAT IS EXCLUDED

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MAP

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EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST

RECOMMENDED GEARS

Here are some necessary trekking apparatus that can be required for accomplishing your trek effortlessly. They are shortlisted below.

PERSONAL AND CLOTHING ITEMS

Accessories and Technical items

Binoculars
Camera
Diaries and Journal to write experiences in words
Books/GPS navigators
Credit cards/ATM cards
Umbrella (if it’s too hot or if it rains)

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