Upper Dolpo Trek with Ganda La

Overview And Highlights

Trip Facts

Duration

20 Days

Trip Type

Camping Trek

Grade

Strenuous

Max. Elevation

4800 m.

Transportation

Kathmandu -Â Nepalgunj -Â Juphal and Juphal -Â Nepalgunj -Â KathmanduÂ by flight

Min. Group Size

2 or more

Best Season

Spring and Autumn

The Upper Dolpo trek with Ganda La is a challenging trek that takes you to a highest altitude of 4850m. The Upper Dolpo Trek will offer all the major attractions of the region including Shey Phoksundo National Park, Phoksumndo Lake (3660m.) splendid views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri massif, rich biodiversity and local culture.

Dolpo is largest district in Nepal and is sparsely inhabited by Bhotiya and Sherpa people. It has the most pristine of biodiversity that is home to such wild animals as snow leopard and Himalayan blue sheep. The district contains more Buddhist gomaps than anywhere in Nepal.

Yatsher Monastery is the oldest and biggest monastery in Dolpo believed to have been established by Buddhist Guru Chogyal Pasang in 13th century. The monastery has well preserved artifacts of statues, sacred manuscripts, masks and mural paintings.

The legendary ‘The Snow Leopard’ was written by Peter Mathiessen based on his travel experience in Dolpo and the surrounding area. The movie Himalayan Caravan directed by Eric Valli was shot here in Dolpo and received worldwide acclaim and was even nominated for Oscar.

Day to Day Itinerary

Day1Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. Stay overnight at hotel in Nepalgunj.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Hotel

Max Elevation

150 m.

Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. Stay overnight at hotel in Nepalgunj.

Day2Fly from Nepalgunj to Juphal (2600m.) and trek from Juphal to Dunai (2100m.). You camp for the night.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

2600 m.

Fly from Nepalgunj to Juphal and trek from Juphal to Dunai.You camp for the night.

Day3Trek from Dunai to Shyanta (2520m.) takes about six hours.You camp for the night.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

2520 m.

Trek from Dunai to Shyanta (2520m.) takes about six hours.You camp for the night.

Day4Trek from Shyants to Somdu (2940m.) takes about seven hours.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

2940 m.

Trek from Shyants to Somdu (2940m.) takes about seven hours.

Day5Trek from Somdu to Phoksundo (3733m.) takes about five hours.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

3733 m.

Trek from Somdu to Phoksundo (3733m.) takes about five hours.

Day6Trek from Phoksundo to Sallaghari (3756m.) takes about seven hours.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

3756 m.

Trek from Phoksundo to Sallaghari (3756m.) takes about seven hours. You camp for the night.

Day7Trek from Sallaghari to Yak Kharka (3856m.) takes about seven hours.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

3856 m.

Trek from Sallaghari to Yak Kharka (3856m.) takes about seven hours.You camp for the night

Day8Trek from Yak Kharka to Shey Gompa (4160m.) takes about six hours.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

4160 m.

Trek from Yak Kharka to Shey Gompa (4160m.) takes about six hours.This day you will cross over the Ganda La. You camp for the night.

Day9Trek from Shey Gompa to Namdo (4800m.) takes about five hours.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

4800 m.

Trek from Shey Gompa to Namdo takes about five hours. You camp for the night.

Day10Trek from Namdo to Saldang (3620m.) takes about four hours.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

3620 m.

Trek from Namdo to Saldang takes about four hours. You camp for the night.

Day11Rest day at Saldang.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

3620 m.

Rest day at Saldang. You camp for the night.

Day12Trek from Saldang to Yak Kharka (3965m.) takes about seven hours.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

3965 m.

Trek from Saldang to Yak Kharka (3965m.) takes about seven hours.You camp for the night.

Day13Trek from Yak Kharka to Thaksema (4702m.) takes about seven hours.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

4702 m.

Trek from Yak Kharka to Thaksema (4702m.) takes about seven hours.You camp for the night.

Day14Trek from Thaksema to Dho Tarap (4100m.) takes about eight hours.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

4100 m.

Trek from Thaksema to Dho Tarap (4100m.) takes about eight hours.You camp for the night.

Day15Trek from Dhotarap to River side (3756m.) takes about six hours.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

3756 m.

Trek from Dhotarap to River side (3756 m.) takes about six hours.You camp for the night.

Day16Trek from River side to Odar (3475m.) takes about seven hours.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

3475 m.

Trek from River side to Odar (3475m.) takes about seven hours.You camp for the night.

Day17Trek from Odar to Eklebhatti (2970m.) takes about six hours.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

2970 m.

Trek from Odar to Eklebhatti (2970m.) takes about six hours.You camp for the night.

Day18Trek from Eklebhatti to Dunai (2100m.) takes about six hours.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

2100 m.

Trek from Eklebhatti to Dunai (2100m.) takes about six hours.You camp for the ight.

Day19Trek from Dunai to Juphal (2600m.) takes about three hours.

Food/Meals

Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Accommodation

Camp

Max Elevation

2600 m.

Trek from Dunai to Juphal (2600m.) takes about three hours.You camp for the night.

Day20Fly from Juphal to Nepalgunj and Nepalgunj to Kathmandu.

Food/Meals

Breakfast

Max Elevation

1400 m.

Fly from Juphal to Nepalgunj. On the same day you fly from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu.

Price includes the following services

All airport pick-up and drop-off services by private vehicle
Trekking guide
Camping crews (Cook, Sherpa, kitchen helper)
Porters (1 porter carries 25 kilograms of luggage)
All meals three times a day (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Accommodation: Partly in teahouses and most of the nights camping
Required equipments: Tents, mattresses, sleeping bags, down jackets, duffle bags, cooking utensil and trekking poles
Cooking fuel
Camping charges
Cargo charge
Special trekking permit for Dolpo region
Entry permits for She-Phuksundo National Park
Trekkers' Information Management system (TIMS) card
Flight tickets: Kathmandu - Nepalgunj - Juphal and Juphal - Nepalgunj - Kathmandu
Insurance and equipments for the guides and porters
First aid kit
Tax, VAT and our service charge
Rescue assistance (In case of emergency, we will organize prompt and professional rescue services. To arrange timely evacuation/rescue by helicopter, you must be well insured from a reliable travel insurance company that covers both helicopter evacuation and medical treatment cost.)
Farewell dinner in Kathmandu with live cultural performance at authentic Nepali restaurant on the last evening
Souvenir

Service Excludes

Personal nature expenses (Telephone calls, internet, toiletries, battery recharge, hot shower, laundry, soft drinks, beers and any alcoholic beverages)
Travel insurance
Tips for involved staffs
Meals and hotel accommodation in Kathmandu (even in case of early arrival or late departure, early return from trekking due to any personal reason than the scheduled itinerary)

Explore the route

Altitude & route map

Select a preview to open a large, zoomable view.

Upper Dolpo Trek with Ganda La Altitude Graph

Additional Information

Below is a list of equipment and clothing required for trekking. The necessity of these items depends on the type, altitude, timing and destination of trekking. Appropriate trekking gears are not only required for the comfort/pleasure of your trek but also to improve safety factor. Please have a look over these items in order to fully prepare and thoroughly enjoy the trekking.

General Items:
Daypack, Rucksack, Sleeping bag, Duffel bag, Walking Poles, walking boots, sandals, Toiletries (Soaps, Toilet papers, Sanitizers, toothpaste, tooth brush, etc.)

Clothing Items:
Thermal underwear, Down jacket, Shorts, Trekking trousers, Towels, Woolen gloves, Gaiters, Fleece jacket or Pullover, Wind/water proof jacket, Raincoat, Warm socks, buff

Sun-worn Items:
Sun hat, Sunglasses, Snow goggles, Sunscreen, Lip balm

Gadgets:
Headlamp, Flash light, Binoculars, Cameras (chargers and batteries),

Liquid/Snacks:
Water bottle/bladder, Water purification Iodine tablets, Energy bars and snacks

Medical Essentials:
First Aid Kit

Optional:
Altimeter, Compass, Binoculars, Books/magazines, GPS, Pocket knife, Candles (for lodges), Notebook with pencil/pen, etc

Additional items for camping trek:
Tent, Stove and fuel, Utensils for cooking, eating and drinking, sleeping mattresses

Note: We can also provide sleeping bag, down jacket, duffel bag, walking poles, and First Aid Kit in case if you don’t have one. These items are inclusive of total package price.