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Outline Itinerary

Day 1	Arrival in Kathmandu
Day 2	Kathmandu- Nepalgunj / fly
Day 3	Nepalganj- Juphal – Dunai camp
Day 4	Dunai- Chhepka
Day 5	Chhepka- Shumdhuwa
Day 6	Shumdhuwa- Phoksundo Lake(3600m)
Day 7	Phoksundo – rest day, Nature Treks»
Day 8	Phoksundo- Sallaghari
Day 9	Sallaghari – Mandala Camp -Kangla BC
Day 10	Kangla BC – Kangla (5240m) pass- Shey gompa 4280m
Day 11	Shey Gompa- Saldang Pass / Namgong gompa
Day 12	Namgong Gumpa- Yangjer Gumba / 3890m
Day 13	Yangjer Gumba- Komash Village
Day 14	Komash Village- Simen Lunch- Tinze village
Day 15	Tinze Village- Yak Kharka
Day 16	Yak Kharka – Chhoila BC- Chhoila Banjyang
Day 17	Dho Tarap- Rest day
Day 18	Dho tarap- Chhegur Cave
Day 19	Chhegur Cave- Tarakot
Day 20	Tarakot- Juphal
Day 21	Juphal- Nepalganj- Kathmandu
Day 22	Depart Kathmandu

TRIP FACTS

Trip duration	:	22 Days
Grade	:	Strenuous
Maximum altitude	:
Activity	:	Sightseeing and trekking
Starts in	:	Kathmandu
Ends in	:	Kathmandu
Trek type	:	Camping
Accommodation	:	Hotel and Camping
Meals	:	Hotel/ Camp
Transportation	:	Flight/tourist bus

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- Nepalgunj / fly

From Kathmandu we take a bus or fly on any domestic carrier 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 or lodge.

Day 3 Nepalganj- Juphal – Dunai camp

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 4 Dunai- Chhepka /6hrs

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

Day 5 Chhepka- Shumdhuwa / 6hrs

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 reflect this as ‘sum’ in Tibetan means three and ‘duwa’ means trail. It is also the Shey Phoksundo National Park’s headquarters.

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

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 7 Phoksundo – rest day

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 will explore the natural sites and enjoy our nature tour.

Day 8 Phoksundo- Sallaghari/ 5-6hrs trek

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

Day 9 Sallaghari – (Mandala Camp) Kangla BC

From Sallaghari, we trek up to Kangla BC. We camp at Mandala Camp.

Day 10 Kangla BC (Mandala)– 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 11 Shey Gompa- Saldang Pass - Namgong Gompa / 6-7hrs

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, where 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 12 Namgong Gompa- Yangjer Gumba 3890m/ 6 hrs

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 13 Yangjer Gumba- Komash Village/ 6 hrs

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

Day 14 Komash Village- Tinze village/ 6hrs walk

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.

Day 15 Tinze Village- Yak Kharka

From the village of Tinze we trek to Yak Kharka. Yak Kharka is an open grazing ground for yaks and sheep. The grassy meadow of Yak Kharka makes for an excellent camping site.

Day 16 Yak Kharka – Chhoila BC- Chhoila Bhanjyang

Today we make an arduous and difficult trek to Chhoila Bhanjyang.

Day 17 Dho Tarap- Rest day

Today we spend a rest day at Dho Tarap. Dho Tarap is a large village decorated by colorful prayer flags. There are chortens, mani walls and monasteries. Villagers grow wheat, buck wheat, barley, potatoes and green vegetables in terraced fields. There are tea houses, shops with minimal supplies and lodges. The people closely resemble the Khampas of Tibet, the men with a ponytail and red tassel coiled around their head. The women sport musk deer teeth necklaces. Dho Tarap has a maze of mud-brick Tibetan houses which was featured in Eric Valli’s famous movie 'Caravan', the village where Karma and his band of young Dolpo-pa, and Thinley and his older group of Dolpo-pa, set off with their salt to trade for barley over the high passes. We will enjoy a nature tour and a cultural program consisting of traditional Tibetan dances and songs presented by the villagers.

Day 18 Dho tarap- Chhegur Cave

Today we depart from this beautiful village and trek till we reach Chhegur Cave. We shall camp for the night here.

Day 19 Chhegur Cave- Tarakot

From here we make our way to the ancient village of Tarakot, the old headquarters of Dolpo.

Day 20 Tarakot- Juphal / 6hrs

We trek downhill along the Bheri river all the way to Kala Gaunda, 2090m. We then hike uphill to about 300m until we reach Juphal.

Day 21 Juphal- Nepalganj- Kathmandu

From Juphal we fly to Nepalganj and then finally to Kathmandu.

Day 22 Depart Kathmandu

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