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Outline Itinerary

Day 1	Arrival in Kathmandu
Day 2	Kathmandu sightseeing
Day 3	Kathmandu- Nepalgunj flight/ hotel Batika
Day 4	Nepalganj- Juphal airport – Dunai
Day 5	Dunai – Chhepka
Day 6	Chhepka- Shumdhuwa
Day 7	Shumdhuwa- Phoksundo Lake (3600m)
Day 8	Phoksundo- rest, Nature Treks»
Day 9	Phoksundo- Sallaghari
Day 10	Sallaghari-Mandala Camp- Kangla Base Camp
Day 11	Kangla Base Camp- Kangla pass 5240m- Shey Gompa 4280m
Day 12	Shey Gompa- Saldang Pass 5010m/ Namgong Gompa
Day 13	Namgong Gompa – Yanger Gompa 3890m
Day 14	Yanger Gompa – Komash Village
Day 15	Komash Village - Tinje village 4550m
Day 16	Tinze- Raman Kheng 4550m
Day 17	Raman Kheng (Mala pass 5036m) - Chharka
Day 18	Chharka – Yak Kharka 4780m
Day 19	Yak Kharka- Ghok Pass
Day 20	Ghok Pass- Sangda Village 5909m
Day 21	Sangda Village- Phalek Village
Day 22	Phalek Village- Jomsom
Day 23	Jomsom- Pokhara /fly
Day 24	Pokhara- Kathmandu / fly or drive
Day 25	Depart Kathmandu

TRIP FACTS

Trip duration	:	25 Days
Grade	:	Strenuous
Maximum altitude	:	5500m
Activity	:	Sightseeing and trekking
Starts in	:	Kathmandu
Ends in	:	Kathmandu
Trek type	:	Camping
Accommodation	:	Hotel and Camping
Meals	:	Hotel/ tented camps
Transportation	:	Flight/tourist bus/Pack animals

 

Detailed itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Kathmandu

As you fly into Kathmandu, the views of snow-capped mountain peaks greet you. A representative and driver from our office will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. The representative will help you check into your designated hotel. At the hotel you will be briefed about your daily activities.

Day 2 Kathmandu sightseeing

We explore the major tourist sites in Kathmandu valley today. We climb the many steps to Swayambhunath (the monkey temple), with its commanding views of Kathmandu (at 1420 m). We isit Boudhanath , set amidst traditional gompas, with long strings of multi-colored prayer flags.Boudhanath attracts Sherpas, Tibetans and tourists alike for daily circumambulations (koras) of the stupa. Durbar Square, one of the old capitals of the Kathmandu valley, is a synthesis of Hindu and Buddhist temples, stupas and statues, and is often the site of festivals, marriages and other ceremonies. Hindu temple of Pashupatinath is a sacred temple on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Here, monkeys run up and down the steps of the burning ghats, and saddhus sit serenely meditating.

Day 3 Kathmandu- Nepalgunj flight/ hotel Batika

From Kathmandu we fly to Nepalgunj. Nepalgunj , a town in the western Terai , is very close to the Indian border and the Bardia Nationl Park. It is a major transport hub for western, mid-western and far-western regions of Nepal. Overnight at Hotel Batika.

Day 4 Nepalganj- Juphal airport – Dunai/ 4 hrs walk

Today we take a 35 minutes long flight to Juphal .Our trekking starts from Juphal .The trail descends and winds through local villages. We trek by the riverside and pass Roop Ghar with the water mill and finally reach the village of Dunai(2150m).Dunai has a village school, police check post and some government offices. We stay overnight in Dunai at Pala Guest House.

Day 5 Dunai – Chhepka / 6 hrs

From Dunai we trek to Chhepka , which has few houses and lodge. We will stay overnight at the local lodge.

Day 6 Chhepka- Shumdhuwa / 6hrs walk

Today we follow a trail that goes up and down along the forested riverbed. There are several streams on the way that offer a chance to cool off. The trail continues along the valley floor to the confluence of the Phoksundo and Pungmo kholas (rivers). We cross to the western side of the Phoksundo khola and reach the village of Shumdhuwa. Shumduwa is a major trail junction and its name reflects this as ‘sum’ in Tibetan means three and ‘duwa’ means trail. It is also the Shey Phoksundo National Park’s headquarters.

Day 7 Shumdhuwa- Phoksundo Lake (3600m)/ 5-6hrswlk

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 Phoksundo 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.

Day 8 Phoksundo- rest

Today we explore the area around the magnificent Phoksundo Lake. The lake is famous for its magnificent turquoise color and spectacular scenery. Ringmo village, which looks like a typical Tibetan village, is scenically nestled in the area. Many beautiful glaciers can be found near and above the lake area. There are many monasteries (Gompas ) and Bon-po religious sites at the park and we spend our time visiting some of these. The most famous, Shey Gompa was established in the 11th Century. Thashung Gompa located near Phoksundo Lake was built about 900 years ago. We also explore the natural scenery and enjoy our nature tour.

Day 9 Phoksundo- Sallaghari / 5-6hrs wlk

From Phoksundo we trek for five to six hours till we reach Sallagari, or camp for the night.

Day 10 Sallaghari-Mandala Camp- Kangla Base Camp

From Sallaghari we trek to Kangla base camp traversing through Mandala camp.

Day 11 Kangla Base Camp- Kangla pass 5240m- Shey Gompa 4280m 5-6hrs

Today we trek to the fabled Shey Gompa and the nearby 'Crystal Mountain', the most sacred peak in Dolpo which Dolpo pilgrims circumambulate each summer before the harvest. We are now entering the real Dolpo, and to enter into this mystical land we have to cross the Kangla pass. We trek along the precipitous and narrow trail to the western side of the lake, otherwise known as the 'Devil's Trail'. Cresting a 4000 meter ridge, we are treated to views of Sonam Kang. We have views of the peaks Shey Shikkar and Kang Chunne, both just over 6000 meters, before descending steeply down to the valley floor and along the river. A red chorten marks the entrance to Shey, where we camp for the night.

Day 12 Shey Gompa- Saldang Pass 5010m/ Namgong Gompa /6 hrs

Shey Gompa is said to be about 800 years old, with murals inside and an ancient scroll describing the mythology behind the Crystal Mountain, locally called Riu Dhukta, and the gompa. Peter Mattheissen wrote quite a lot about his stay in Shey in 'The Snow Leopard', and it was shown in Eric Valli’s movie ‘Caravan' as Thinley's son's gompa. After crossing the Ge La (Se La) Pass west of Shey, we are treated to magnificent views of Mustang to the East, Tibet to the North and Kanjiroba, Kagmara and Riu Dhukta, or the Crystal Mountain, to the West. We spend our night at Namgong, a local nomadic herding settlement.

Day 13 Namgong Gompa – Yanger Gompa 3890m /6hrs walk

From Namgong Gompa we trek to Yanger Gompa, which lies on the old trade route to Tibet. We follow the Namga Khola past more summer herding spots, to the large village of Saldang. We'll get a chance to visit some local houses, drink some salt butter tea or chang (Tibetan barley beer) and sample the local fare. Heading north along the Nagon Khola, we finally reach Yanger Gompa, where we set up camp for the night.

Day 14 Yanger Gompa – Komash Village/6hrs

Today we trek for six hours and reach the village of Komash , a village which bears similarity to a Tibetan village.

Day 15 Komash Village - Simen lunch- Tinje village 4550m/ 6hr

As we trek from Komash village we may sight some endangered animals like snow leopard or Blue sheep. On the way we pass small villages. We stop at Simen village for lunch. We make a long trek upriver through Pha (4090m) to Tinje , our camp for the night.

Day 16 Tinje- Raman Kheng 4550m/ 6 hrs

We trek past Tinje to a trail junction at 4130m, where a high route leads to Tarap. We continue our trek to a camp site at Raman Kheng (4550m).

Day 17 Raman Kheng (Mala pass 5036m)- Chharka/ 7-8 hrs

From Raman Kheng we traverse through Mala Pass at 5036m. We continue on the trail descending along the side of the valley, then make a big drop into a side valley at 4290m. You then make a long traverse down to the picturesque village of Chharka on the banks of Barbung Kola at 4120m.

Day 18 Chharka – Yak Kharka 4780m/ 5hrswlk

We descend to a river and follow the right fork southward, climbing in and out of side valleys on a rough trail. The valley narrows, we then emerge into a big meadow and climb to our campsite at Yak Kharka.

Day 19 Yak Kharka- Ghok Pass /5hr

We begin the day climbing to a yak pasture at Molum Sumna (4860m) and on to a crest at 5130m. We then make a long traverse across meadows , then a long, steep final climb to Ghok pass at 5460m. Switchbacks descend down to our camp site by a stream at 5100m.

Day 20 Ghok Pass- Sangda Village

We climb to a lower Sangda La at 4990m, then descend through loose shale towards the village of Sangda (4190m). You drop to the Chalung Khola, crossing it at 3750m, and then climb steeply up the opposite bank. A long high traverse leads to a cairn at 4090m, we then come to a set of steep switchbacks that descends to a stream at 3580m. We ascend to the compact settlement of Sangda where we settle for the night.

Day 21 Sangda Village- Phalek Village/ 5-6hrs

We climb the hill behind Sangda and spent most of the day making a high traverse, crossing nine ridges to a final crest at 4280m. We then descend into the Kali Gandaki valley, traversing under high cliffs and descending to the large village of Phalek.

Day 22 Phalek Village- Jomsom

We climb to a ridge at 3360m and make a final descent on a challenging trail of loose rocks to Jomsom at 2670m.

Day 23 Jomsom- Pokhara / fly

We take an early flight from Jomsom to Pokhara and fly right along the Kali Gandaki Gorge between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. In Pokhara we check into a hotel.

Day 24 Pokhara- Kathmandu/ fly or drive

We take the 35 minute flight to Kathmandu or the six hour drive.

Day 25 Depart Kathmandu

Our representative will drive you to the airport for your return flight.

The price includes the following services

• Hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast as per the programme.
• Three meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) with hot beverage and snacks during treks.
• Experienced fluent English speaking guides, cooks, sherpas and proters.
• Shey-Phoksundo National Park, lower Dolpo permits
• Domestic airfare & airport tax.
• Staff food, accommodation, clothing, salary & insurance.
• Airport transfers.
• All governmental procedure.
• Farewell dinner in Kathmandu at typical Nepali restaurant.
• Medical kits & first aid

The price does not cover the following services

• Meals at Kathmandu.
• Personal nature expenses.
• Bar and beverage bills
• Client’s Travel Insurance.
• Rescue & Evacuation.
• Gratitude (tip) for staff.

Note:

The conditions stated above are applicable for the visitors who prefer full package programme. We can also tailor make a program based on your choice of itineraries, budget and time and other interests.