Dolpo is the most remote and least-visited district in Nepal. A restricted-area permit, a flight to a tiny airstrip and two weeks of walking through crystal mountains, ancient Bon monasteries and valleys that almost no one has seen. Not for everyone. Precisely the point.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Full briefing, gear check and permit finalisation.
🏨 Overnight: Kathmandu hotel
Fly to Nepalgunj — overnight en route.
🏨 Overnight: Nepalgunj hotel
Morning flight to Juphal airstrip (2,475m). Begin trekking.
🏨 Overnight: Camp
Trek along the Bheri River to Dunai — Dolpo's district capital.
🏨 Overnight: Camp
Enter the Tarap Valley — remote and dramatic.
🏨 Overnight: Camp
Explore the Bon monasteries and the Tarap community.
🏨 Overnight: Camp
Cross Numa La (5,360m) — the highest point of the trek.
🏨 Overnight: Camp
Descend to Phoksundo Lake — turquoise glacial waters, Shey Phoksundo National Park.
🏨 Overnight: Camp
Spend time in Ringmo — a village of 30 houses that has never changed.
🏨 Overnight: Camp
Trek to Shey Gompa — the crystal mountain monastery that gave Peter Matthiessen's book its name.
🏨 Overnight: Camp
High camp beneath the peaks.
🏨 Overnight: Camp
Long descent back through the valley system.
🏨 Overnight: Camp
Trek back to Juphal.
🏨 Overnight: Juphal teahouse
Morning flight Juphal–Nepalgunj–Kathmandu.
Included
All accommodation (teahouse/lodge)
All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Ground transport and transfers
Licensed local trekking guide
Porters (1 per 2 trekkers)
National park and TIMS permits
Sleeping bag (if needed)
First-aid kit and oxygen
Pre-departure briefing pack
24/7 in-country emergency support
Restricted Area Permit (included)
Juphal flights
Full camping equipment
Cook and kitchen staff
Not included
International flights to/from Nepal
Nepal visa (approx £30 on arrival)
Travel insurance (required)
Personal spending and tips
Single-room supplement on request
Optional activities not in itinerary
Helicopter rescue insurance (mandatory)
Questions
Experienced trekkers who have already done Everest or Annapurna and want something completely off the map. The logistics are complex and the terrain is serious.
The restricted area permit, the internal flights to Juphal, full camping equipment, cook and kitchen staff, and the remoteness all add to the cost. It is still significantly cheaper than similar remote treks in Bhutan or Tibet.
Yes — it is a condition of booking. Evacuation from Dolpo by any other means in an emergency is not practical.
