|
Day 01 - Arrival in kathmandu
Upon arrival at Kathmandu International Airport
transfer to your hotel. Short briefing will follow concerning the
necessary formalities and your trekking itinerary. Depending upon your
arrival time you may spend free time visiting nearby sanctuaries or
resting.
Day 02 - Sightseeing / Cultural Day in Kathmandu Valley
Half day sightseeing around Kathmandu where your
guide will escort you on a tour of Buddhist and Hindu temples and shrines
reflecting ancient local traditions. There is time to explore the city’s
many places of interest on your own or take a rest while trekking permits
are finalised. In the evening sample a delicious traditional Nepali
dinner. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 03 - Kathmandu to Nepalgunj
We have to fly to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu.
Nepalgunj is the jumping-off place for flights and busses throughout
western Nepal. Unfortunately there is no connecting flight to Jumla (the
start of our trek), so we will spend the night here.
Day 04 - Nepalgunj to Jumla
An early morning plane will take us to the town of
Jumla, which lies on the banks of the Tila Khola river at 2370 meter.
Jumla is one of the highest rice-growing areas of the world, where the
unique ‘red’-rice is grown. We will meet our trekking crew today and make
the final preparations for our camping-trek.
Day 05 – Jumla to Gothi Chaur (2500m)
From Jumla our trail leads past several water-driven
mills before dropping to the confluence of the Tila Khola and the
Chaudhabise Khola. We cross both rivers on a cantilever bridge which looks
like it is held together by giant clothes pegs. From here our trail climbs
gently alongside rice terraces to the village of Dochal Ghara at 2530
meter. From here we follow the trail through a forest of maples and
walnuts to a meadow. In season the wildflowers seen here include
cinquefoils, terrestrial orchids, forget-me-nots, mints, buttercups,
primulas, edelweiss and gentians. Beyond the meadow the trail climbs to a
rocky cairn at Pattyata Lagna (2830m), and then descends into a
magnificent alpine amphitheatre towards Gothi Chaur close to the stream at
the bottom of the valley. At the spring here there are some 13th century
Malla dynasty stone carvings. We set up camp close to the river (5 hrs).
Day 06 - Gothi Chaur to Naphukana (3080m)
We will re-enter the Tila river valley and follow
this river slowly to its source. After ascending through fields of barley
and buckwheat we arrive at the trail junction at Muni Sangu, a small
settlement where we can see peculiar carved wooden faces, called dok-pa
and are supposed to offer protection from evil spirits. These faces can be
seen throughout the whole Dolpo region. We stay on the southern side of
the river from here as the valley slowly becomes narrower and follow our
way to Changrikot (a series of houses built into the hillside on the
opposite side of the river at 2900m). The trail then finally crosses the
river and climbs towards the grey stone houses of Chotra (3010m). The
village has typical mani walls (walls containing stones carved with
Tibetan Buddhist prayers) and a kani (arch, decorated with paintings on
the inside) over the trail. A short distance from here is the Tibetan
settlement of Naphukana where we will make our camp (6 hrs).
Day 07 – Naphukana to Balasa (3110m)
The trail becomes steeper today as it climbs past
rocky fields to forests of oaks and birch trees strangled with Spanish
moss. The climb will end at the Mauri lagna (‘honey pass’) at 3820 meter.
From this pass we have good views of the snowy peaks of Gutumba (5608m)
and Mataumba (5767m) to the north-east and Bhalu Himal (5460m) to the
south. We will descent from here to the Bheri valley to the large Khampa
settlement of Chaurikot at 3060 meter. A short time past this village
there are some excellent campsites alongside the trail (5 hrs).
Day 08 - Balasa to Kaigaon (2610m)
We will continue our trek through walnut forests;
the local people seldom eat the nuts but use them as a source for cooking
oil. We slowly descend to the village of Rimi at 2890 meter, where the
amusing faces of the dok-pa peek at us from the tops of houses. After
crossing the stream we will arrive in Kaigaon, where we will find the
first shop since leaving Jumla (3-4 hrs).
Day 09 -Kaigaon to Toijem (2920m)
We follow the west bank of the Bheri river and climb
slowly up leaving the river deep below us. The trail stays high above the
river and continues to the confluence where the Jagdula and Garpung Kholas
join to form the Bheri. We then drop to the Jagdula Khola river and cross
it on stones to our campsite near the army post at Toijem (5 hrs).
Day 10 - Toijem to Kagmara Phedi (4000m)
Today we follow the trail up the western side of the
Garpung Khola river to about 3650 meter, after which we cross it and
continue upstream on the eastern side. The valley narrows and the river
becomes a series of waterfalls as the trail climbs to a moraine at 3900
meter. We will make a high camp in the boulders at Kagmara Phedi. The
panoramic views of the peaks from here are sensational. Wildflowers are of
the hardy alpine species, including blue poppies, buttercups, mint,
gentians and puffballs. Among the birds here you may sight snow pigeons,
redstarts, ravens and griffons. This is also an excellent place to spot
blue sheep (6 hrs).
Day 11 - Kamarga Phedi to Lasa (4060m)
We start early to climb alongside the Kagmara
Glacier to Kagmara La pass at 5115 meter. Then we descend about 900 meter
along a stream into the Pungmo valley. On this side of the pass there are
sweeping scree slopes and massive rock formations that contrast with the
vertical uplifts and thrusts of the southern side. We descend further to
Lasa, a shepherds’ camp at about 4060m (7 hrs).
Day 12 - Lasa to Sumduwa (3100m)
The trail stays high above the stream, which
eventually becomes the Pungmo Khola river. The route enters birch and
juniper forests, which give away to blue pines as the trail crosses the
river on a wooden bridge. The route continues through barley fields to the
fortress-like village of Pungmo. From here we continue our way downstream
to the school at Sumduwa and descend to a camp on the banks of the
Phoksumdo Khola (5 hrs).
Day 13 - Sumduwa to Phoksumdo Lake (3730m)
We will join the direct trail to Phoksumdo lake
today climbing through forests of big cedars on to Palam (3710m), a winter
settlement used by the people of the Ringmo village. The entrance station
for the Shey Phoksumdo National Park is at the south end of the village.
The route then descends on switchbacks through open country to an
elevation of 3300 meter, and then starts up another set of dusty
switchbacks to a ridge at 3780 meter to the highest waterfall in Nepal
(200 meter high). Our route then continues on to Ringmo village, a
picturesque settlement of flat-roofed stone houses with lots of mani
walls. Just below Ringmo we cross a bridge and follow the trail to
Phoksumdo Lake, where we camp at the national park camping grounds west of
the lake (6 hrs).
Day 14 - Phoksumdo Lake
Today we rest to admire the beauty of this great
lake. We visit nearby villages inhabited by Bon and Buddhist Settlers and
can make a short excursion to the white Pal Sentan Thasoon Chholing Gompa,
a Bon-po gompa overlooking the lake, which is said to be build 60
generations ago.
Day 15 - Phoksumdo Lake to Renje (3010m)
We back track our path to Ringmo village and
continue past Palam to the Suli Gaad valley, following the stream
originating from the Phoksumdo Lake. After a descent of almost 900 meters
we will arrive in the small village of Renje, which consists of 9 houses
on the side of the river. Here we will find a good campsite about 5
minutes from the village (5 hrs).
Day 16 – Renje to Chepka (2670m)
Our route follows several ups and downs alongside
the river through forests of firs and larches as it continues downstream.
The trail then becomes a collection of rocks and sticks forming a dyke
along the river bank. We will set up camp beside a huge rock in a walnut
grove about 20 minutes away from Chepka. (4-5 hrs).
Day 17 - Chepka to Juphal (2354m)
Today we walk to the region famous for its
lotus-like plant called chuk, which is used to make vinegar and medicines.
We pass through the villages of Ankhe, Rahagaon and Parela, meaning 'eye',
'eyebrow' and 'eyelash' respectively. We keep walking downstream following
the river to Dunai. From here we ascend to Juphal climbing through wide
meadows. In Juphal we will spend the night in one of its hotels where a
well deserved hot shower awaits us (7 hrs).
Day 18 - Juphal to Nepalgunj
We fly to Nepalgunj today and connect with our
flight back to Kathmandu next day.
Day 19 - Nepalgunj to Kathmandu
We take our return flight to Kathmandu. Overnight
stay at hotel.
Day 20 - Kathmandu
Departure from Kathmandu.
Lower Dolpo Trekking Home Page |