Dear all trekkers,
Namaste! Welcome, for an adventure tented camping trek at upper Dolpa to Kalagandaki valley Jomsom region.
Upper Dolpo is one of the remote and restricted trekking region at west Nepal, This trek is allow only for the arrangement camping trek with special permit which is cost higher than other region. There is a trade border from Simen village to Tibet but not official.The local people buy necessary foods, clothing and cattle from Tibet in summer time.
Highlight the journey: For this trek flight from Nepalgunj to Jufal airport (Dolpa), there is direct motor road until Dolpa Dunai but the road condition is really worse and danger. After the flight trek will start from Jufal airport (alt. 2,475m.) trek pass through small villages, Phoksumdo lake, Shey Gomba, Saldang, Charka village. trek will ending at Jomsom airport.
During the trek, you have to cross three high passes. Some places you may cross cold Himalayan River without bridge too. The upper Dolpa region’s landscape, local houses, farming and culture are same as Tibet. All the local people they believe Buddhism.The local people from upper Dolpa region they follow two different Buddhist religion, Vazarayana and Bon.
"In this region, there are several Buddhist monasteries, one of the most famous and oldest being Shey Gompa, where entry is not allowed. In recent days, there is a motor road from Jomsom to Charka, which is helpful for local people but not good for such beautiful nature, environment and trekkers"
During the journey, you have to cross three high passes above 5,000 meters in elevation.
1. Nangda la pass 5,350m. 2.Charka pass 5,035m 3.Sangda pass 5,123m.
Himalayan panorama: At upper Dolpa region there are not many Himalaya views as Mt. Everest or Annapurna region, which is interesting for landscape, beautiful nature and local settelment.
From Charka pass you can see spectacular views of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Annapurna, Tilicho peak and Mustang border Himalayan peaks.
About Phoksumdo Lake: Located in the remote reaches of West Nepal, Phoksumdo Lake is the deepest lake in the country. Situated at an altitude of 3,612meters near the traditional Ringmo village, its crystal-clear turquoise waters are framed by dramatic, rugged mountain peaks.
Shey Phoksundo National Park: Established in 1984, this is Nepal’s largest national park, sprawling across 3,555 sq. km. While it is a vast sanctuary for biodiversity, the local wildlife can be elusive. Though the park faces challenges from its remote nature, the opportunity to see rare birds and few blue sheep.
A Journey into living history: The "Little Tibet" of Nepal, Beyond the turquoise waters of Phoksumdo Lake, the landscape transforms into a high-altitude desert. This dry, rugged terrain is home to a culture that is almost perfectly preserved.
A Tibetan Soul: The religion, architecture, and traditions here are nearly identical to those found in Tibet. This trek offers a deep "Tibetan-style" experience without the logistical hurdles of crossing the border.
Ancient Traditions: In the villages of upper Dolpa region, you will encounter a society that still practices ancient customs rarely seen elsewhere. This includes fraternal polyandry, where brothers in a family share a single wife to keep land and heritage together.
The cycle of life: The spiritual connection to the land is profound. In keeping with ancient Buddhist traditions, the communities still practice sky burials, where the deceased are offered back to nature and the vultures a sacred ritual representing the ultimate act of generosity.
The authentic tented experience: The upper Dolpa region, remains wonderfully untouched by modern tourism; you won’t find luxury lodges or fine dining in these remote heights. While basic teahouses and local homestays exist.
To truly embrace the spirit of the Himalayas without compromising on comfort, a fully serviced tented camp is the premier way to experience this wilderness. While a camping trek requires a higher investment than lodge-based trekking, the reward is an unparalleled, private journey with us.
Note: See below for an overview of the 25-day, Phoksumdo Lake to upper Dolpa / Jomsom journey. For complete details on Kathmandu hotels, trekking routes, elevation, walking times, meals, and accommodations, refer to the "Day-by-Day Itinerary" at the bottom of this page.
Safety Note - Animal caravans: In the lower and upper Dolpa region, you will frequently encounter caravans of Mules or yaks transporting goods. If you hear bells ringing in the distance, start looking for a wide spot in the trail to step aside immediately.
It’s much easier to find a safe spot early than to scramble when the caravan is right on top of you. Always move to the mountainside (the inner wall) of the trail and wait for the animals to pass. Never stand on the cliff-side edge.
High Altitude sickness occurs when your body cannot get enough oxygen due to the lower air pressure at high elevations, especially if you ascend too quickly. It is a common condition that can affect anyone at any time, regardless of fitness level. While there is no need to be nervous, it is vital to stay attentive to your body.
How to recognizing the major symptoms? If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop your ascent immediately:
1. Persistent headache or dizziness. 2. Nausea or vomiting. 3. Loss of appetite. 4. Difficulty sleeping.
What to do if symptoms appear: Do not climb higher. The best remedy is descending to a lower altitude as quickly as possible. While preparing to descend or resting, follow these steps:
• Hydrate: Drink plenty of hot fluids.
• Eat: Try garlic soup, a popular local remedy for circulation.
• Rest: Allow your body time to acclimatize and recover.
• Climb slowly: Avoid going from low altitude to over 2,500 meters (8,000 feet) in a single day if possible.
• Limit sleeping elevation: Above 3,000 meters (10,000 feet), increase your sleeping altitude.
• Climb high, sleep low: Hike to higher elevations during the day for acclimatization, but return to a lower altitude to sleep.
• Take rest days: Schedule a dedicated rest day every 3 to 4 days, or every 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) of total gain.
Our Safety guarantee: Most trekkers recover with a rest day or by descending slightly. If your condition doesn't improve, your guide will take immediate action. In serious cases, your guide will contact our Kathmandu office directly to dispatch a rescue helicopter.
Emergency rescue: Your safety is our top priority. In the event of serious illness or injury, ground transport is too slow due to the remote terrain. The fastest and most reliable option is emergency helicopter evacuation.
We can arrange an emergency helicopter evacuation from any point on the trail back to Kathmandu within a few hours (weather permitting). To ensure a smooth and life-saving rescue.
Travel insurance: Unfortunate illness or injury can happen to anyone, anywhere. In the remote mountain regions where we trek, your safety is paramount. Because ground transport to the nearest clinic can be slow, we rely on rapid aerial response.
• Helicopter rescue: From Kathmandu, offers the fastest rescue service but is extremely expensive.
• Action required: We strongly advise you to issue a comprehensive travel insurance policy from your home country or in Kathmandu. Your policy must specifically cover emergency helicopter evacuation and medical expenses at high altitudes up to 5,000 meters.
Our team will handle all the logistics with your insurance provider and the helicopter operators so that you can focus entirely on recovery.
Pro Tip: Please Always carry a digital and printed copy of your insurance certificate and the 24-hour emergency contact number for your provider.
Communication & Safety: In the event of a serious illness or injury, a rescue helicopter must be dispatched from Kathmandu. Because there is no mobile network coverage in Upper Dolpa, we equip each group with a satellite phone featuring sufficient prepaid credit, spare batteries, and a solar charger for emergency communications.
Due to the effects of global warming, mountain weather has become increasingly unpredictable. However, the Himalayan seasons generally follow these patterns:
Autumn Season (September - November): one of the spectacular, uninterrupted views of the mountains and high Himalaya. Perfect temperatures for trekking, making days enjoyable.
Spring Season (March - May): Spectacular clear views. The stable weather brings excellent visibility. Above 3,000m, beautiful landscape with Himalayan rhododendrons and various wildflowers in full blossom.
Summer Season (June – August): Expect heavy rainfall and lush greenery. Low-elevation trekking is generally not recommended due to torrential rain, poor visibility, landslides, and swollen rivers that can block trails and roads.
However, the monsoon does not affect the Upper Dolpa region, as it lies in a rain-shadow zone-making trekking fully possible during these months.
Winter Season (December to February): In the winter season it is not possible to complete the upper Dolpa trek. But clear skies at low elevations, the air is clean and visibility is excellent. Temperatures drop significantly in the morning and night.
Trekking Permit and other fees: For lower Dolpa Phoksumdo region, required a trekking permit, you need Shey-Phoksumdo National Park, entry permit a TIMS card (Trekkers' Information Management System). We will handle the arrangement of these for you.
Local government Municipality entry fees will be managed and arranged by your trekking guide on the spot.
We will process the necessary trekking permits prior to your arrival in Kathmandu. To arrange the permits, please email us a copy of your passport (valid for at least 6 months) and a passport-size photo.
Tented camping equipment: For this trek, we provide two-person shared tents (or single-supplement high-altitude tents) equipped with double mattresses (foam and waterproof), a dining tent, a kitchen tent with all cooking utensils, a toilet tent, and dedicated tents for our staff and porters.
We also supply specialized high-altitude gear for the crew, along with a hot water bag in your tent each night to keep you warm.
Daily meals during the trek: A separate kitchen tent fully equipped with all necessary utensils and hygienic food preparation tools. Our kitchen staffs will perfear fresh meals (breakfast - lunch and dinner) evry day for you.
Trekking Crew: For this trek, we send a complete trekking team, including an experienced guide who has completed this route before, a cook, kitchen helpers, Sherpa assistants, and porters. Our entire Nepali team is highly experienced and works seamlessly together - even at altitudes above 4,000 meters, to ensure you have a safe, worry-free journey.
Domestic flight: To maximize your time this itinerary includes about one hours afternoon flight between Kathmandu / Nepalgung. Next morning 35 to 40 minutes flight between Nepalgunj / Jufal airport (Dolpa). After trek 20 to 25 minutes morning panorama flight from Jomsom to Pokhara.
Having a direct flight between Kathmandu and Dolpa would be much more convenient and time-saving for trekkers.However, there are no scheduled direct flights on this route - only chartered flights are available.
Ground transportation: We provide reliable private transportation, including cars, jeeps, and vans as your group size for airport pickup / drop transfers to hotel and travel to and from trekking starting points.
From Pokhara to Kathmandu 200km. drive by tourist bus service. For the trekking crew, we provide local bus as itinerary.
Life on the trail follows a peaceful, structured rhythm designed to keep you energized and immersed in the landscape.
• Morning a refreshing Start: Your day begins early as our staff brings a hot drink (coffee or tea) directly to your tent, followed by a bowl of warm washing water to freshen up. While you pack your duffle bag for the day’s journey, our kitchen team prepares a fresh, hot breakfast. You will enjoy your meal at the table, surrounded by a stunning mountain panorama.
• During the day: During the trek, you can stroll at a peaceful pace, capturing scenic photos and visiting local villages, monasteries, or schools with your guide. A freshly prepared lunch with hot drinks will be served between 11:00 and 13:00. After an hour of rest to recharge, we continue the journey.
• Afternoon at camp: Upon arriving at the campsite, you will find your tent already set up with your mattress and luggage placed inside. After freshening up with warm water, you can relax in the dining tent with hot drinks, biscuits, and cheese.
• Evening dinner: Each evening, our cook prepares a fresh buffet dinner, starting with warm soup followed by at least five different local and international dishes. During dinner, your guide will discuss the day's highlights and brief you on the itinerary for the next morning.
For this high elevation upper Dolpa region, we suggest you take along with you: Trekking boots, light shoes / trainers, woollen socks (x 3) woollen caps, warm hand gloves, warm or fibre pile jacket, down jacket, windproof jacket & trouser, fleece or sweater, shirts (x 2), long and short trekking trousers (and /or long skirt for women), waterproof poncho or umbrella, sun hat, (3x) underwear etc.
Other essential items: Kitbag and padlock, small rucksack, water bottle (1 litre capacity), head torch, personal first aid, sun and snow glasses, sun cream (factor 15+) & lip slave, towel & wash kit, whistle, passport, passport-size photographs, plastic bags, money belt.
Optional: Camera (with high-capacity memory cards and extra batteries), trekking poles / walking sticks, binoculars, notebook, pen etc.
Sleeping Bag: We strongly recommend a down sleeping bag rated to at least -20°C, along with a silk or fleece inner liner for extra warmth. If you do not have your own, high-quality sleeping bags are available to rent or purchase in Kathmandu to suit your size.
We are a team of experienced Sherpas who have been leading Himalayan treks and expeditions for many years. Trekkers from all over the globe trust us and return year after year for another trek or expedition.
• In Kathmandu, there are many trekking agencies: some charge high prices without delivering quality service, while others offer low rates but lack experience and support. Regardless of the cost, the mountain views remain the same. But the quality of service that makes all the difference.
• We offer reasonable prices and ‘top-tier’ service across every aspect of your journey without compromise. That is why our clients keep coming back to trek with us again and again.
• When you trek with our team, your investment does more than just book a trip-it ensures a seamless, high-quality experience defined by a warm, family-like atmosphere and total peace of mind.
• While some trekkers explore the Himalayas independently to save money, they often overlook a critical question: "If something goes wrong, what is the plan?"
Trekking in Nepal is vastly different from hiking in Western countries. The landscapes are rugged, conditions are extreme, and weather can change in an instant.
In wilderness, unexpected challenges - from different sickness to sudden weather change can arise at any moment. Without professional support, these situations can quickly become dangerous. We provide the essential safety net and emergency logistics required to keep you safe.
• Expert Guidance: Professional guides who are fluent in local culture, hidden trails, and shifting weather patterns.
• Reliable Support: Dedicated porters to handle the heavy lifting, allowing you to walk freely and focus on the scenery.
• Stress-Free Logistics: We manage every detail, from your arrival to your departure, so you never have to worry about the "what ifs."
Your journey with us isn’t just a holiday; it’s a commitment to quality, safety, and an unforgettable experience on the trail.
This trek is designed for anyone who is physically fit, healthy, and passionate about exploring the high Himalayas. We warmly welcome adventurers between the ages of 18 and 70 to join us with confidence. Whether you are traveling with a group of friends, as a family, a senior traveller, a photographer, or a solo explorer with a guide, this journey is for you.
Immersing yourself in this pristine, organic Himalayan environment is a life-changing experience. It is proven to leave you feeling energized, happy, and stress-free—filling your life with sweet, unforgettable memories.
Preparation and Support: You are never alone in your journey. We provide comprehensive information and a full briefing in Kathmandu before you set off. Once on the trail, your guide will provide clear, day-by-day explanations of the plan to ensure you are always informed, comfortable, and safe.
Get in touch: The trekking regions mentioned here are just the beginning. For more information regarding trekking seasons, exact durations, and a competitive, reasonable cost for your group (large or small), please contact us directly.
We pride ourselves on providing a service that is faster, more personal, and more reliable than the rest. We will reply to your email within 24 hours.
Contact us via:
Email: hellokirken@gmail.com
WhatsApp / Messenger: Kirken Sherpa +43 664 55155 46
Direct Call: +43 664 55155 46 / +977 970 5843 789
4 nights in Kathmandu at 3-Star hotel with bed & breakfast on twin sharing basis.
1 night in Nepalgunj at 3-Star hotel with dinner + bed & breakfast on twin sharing basis.
1 night Pokhara at 3-star hotel with bed and breakfast.
18 nights tented camping trek all the meals (breakfast- lunch - dinner) with hot drinks.
❌ Main meals (lunch + dinner) and drinks in Kathmandu.
❌ Personal climbing equipment.
❌ Personal expenses alcoholic beverages, drinks, laundry services and hot shower.
❌ Medical and travel insurance for the trekkers.
❌ Emergency helicopter rescue charges for the trekkers if necessary.
❌ International airfare (flight ticket) and taxes.
❌ Any kinds of visa for Nepal.
❌ Tips for trekking & climbing staffs.
Warm Welcome: Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan international airport, Our representative will meet you at the airport terminal with a personalized sign, handling your luggage, welcome you with colourful flowers, drive to star hotel as your booking. Upon arrival at your hotel, you will be served a refreshing welcome drink at reception while our team assists with your check-in.
First Evening & Briefing: In the evening, you can enjoy dinner at your hotel or a local restaurant. During this time, our Tour Manager will conduct a comprehensive briefing, covering your trekking itinerary, safety protocols, and any other essential information for your upcoming adventure.
3-star hotel as your booking at Kathmanduu.
Himalayan Experience Trek welcomes you to Nepal, the land of Himalaya, where we can offer a variety of experiences to make your holidays a truly memorable one in Nepal, India and Tibet, especially adventure trip, remote mountains region of Nepal.
Breakfast + lunch + dinner with hot drinks. 
Approx. 5 to 6 hours.
Bfreakfast + lunch with hot or cold drinks. 
Farewell Dinner: Evening our representative will take you for a farewell Nepali typical dinner with a culture program. After dinner back to hotel.
3-star hotel with bed and breakfast at Kathmandu.
Breakfast with hot or cold drinks. 
