This article is for you if trekking is your favorite sport. For anyone who loves to trek, Nepal is a dream location, with so many options that it is hard to decide what adventure to undertake. One of the favorite is in the western region of the country, in the Dolpa district. Upper Dolpo trek itinerary route is located within the world-famous Shey Phoksundo National Park. This district has a fairly scattered population. The Dolpa Airport, located in Juphal, connects the district to Nepal.
The Shey Phoksundo National Park covers an area of almost 4000 sq.km, and has been operating since 1984. While in the Dolpo district, it also covers the Mugu region in Nepal making it a Trans-Himalayan region, in fact the only one of its kind. Additionally, it is known that Upper Dolpo Trek Itinerary route has species of flora that are common to tourists who travel there.
It includes more than 25 species of butterflies and reptiles, as well as animals such as the snow leopard, the musk deer, the goral of the Himalayas, the great Tibetan sheep, and even the black bear of the Himalayas. This, along with the infrastructure and ancient artifacts, makes the area an ideal place to practice the most acclaimed sport in the region, Trekking. Among the vegetation you will find bushes, Juniper and Fir of the Himalayas, along with Willows and Caraganas in your Upper Dolpo trek itinerary route. At about 3600 meters above sea level, this well-known park contains the Phoksundo Lake, otherwise known as Shey Phoksundo, which is Nepal’s deepest lake.
As an important Ramsar Site for the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as a Waterfowl Habitat, during your Upper Dolpo trek itinerary route, it is imperative that you are respectful and cautious. There is also a well-known monastery here, built by Ladakh’s reign in 1655, which is home to a golden statue of the Shakyamuni Buddha seated. These are the main attractions, as well as trekking itself.
Upper Dolpo Trek begins
The best months to do this trek are April to July and September to December. The trip begins in Kathmandu, where after obtaining the Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) you must fly 2 hours south to Nepalgunj, a village which is located right on the border between Nepal and India, where you can rest, interact with the locals, and tour the town.
As we prepare for our first trek, we will fly to Juphal for a 50-minute flight that, if the weather permits, will offer glimpses of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. It takes about three hours from the village of Dunai to the campsite of the same name at an altitude of 2900 meters, here you rest, and most of the time you pass through the town of Dunai.
The following morning is the walk to Ankhe, following the slopes of the Phoksundo valley and the valley of the Bheri river. You can also visit a Gompa in the nearby village of Thakuri, which is dedicated to the guardian of the Mastha locale. Ankhe is the entry point of the Shey Phoksundo National Park, at which you can stay at the camp.
Sulighat is the next point on the road, leading to Ryajik, which can be reached along the riverbed of a forest river. During the crossing, the next checkpoint will be Lake Phoksundo, where it is usual to stay overnight and then to spend the following day enjoying the view, visiting the monastery of Ringmo village, as well as warming up from the high altitude. Depending on whether you decide to continue your Upper Dolpo trek itinerary route, you should decide whether to visit the Shey Gompa from Kang-La or whether to return home.
The best way to get to Shey Gompa is to go to Phoksundo Bhanjyang, cross the river Khola Phoksundo, and head north-east of the valley, where you can see the steps leading to Shey Gompa. In order to reach the starting point, you must travel to the village Regi from Ringmo near Phoksundo Lake and then return to Dunai, in your Upper Dolpo trek itinerary, you will need to follow the ascending route.
Upper Dolpo Trek Itinerary
Day 01: Kathmandu – Nepalgunj
Day 02: Nepalgunj – Juphal
Day 03: Juphal – Dunai
Day 04: Dunai – Thakuri -Ankhe
Day 07: Ankhe – Shey Phoksundo National Park
Day 08: Shey Phoksundo National Park – Sulighat
Day 09: Sulighat – Ryajik
Day 10 to 11: Ryajik – Phoksundo Lake and rest near the Lake
Day 11: Phoksundo Lake – Ringmo
Day 12: Ringmo – Dunai
Day 13: Dunai – Juphal
Day 14: Juphal – Nepalgunj
Day 15: Nepalgunj – Kathmandu
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