As there are no direct flights from Kathmandu to Juphal, the journey requires two separate flights. The first leg takes you from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, located in the far southwestern region of Nepal.

Upon arrival in Nepalgunj, you will be transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay.

You will begin the day with an early morning transfer to the airport for a 35-minute scenic flight to Juphal, soaring over the Himalayan foothills with stunning views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri peaks to the north. Upon arrival in Juphal, at an elevation of 2,475 meters, you will be welcomed by our support crew, who have made a 5 to 6-day trek to transport the camping gear and supplies.

While the equipment is being organised and loads are distributed, we begin our trek with a mostly downhill section. The trail descends for approximately one hour, passing through the village located below the airstrip and continuing through terraced fields to reach the Bheri River. We then follow the river along a narrow gorge, and after about three hours of trekking, we arrive at Dunai (2,141 meters), a small township that serves as the administrative headquarters of the Dolpo region.

Today’s destination is Tarakot, an ancient fortress town situated at an elevation of 2,560 meters and surrounded by vibrant terraced fields. The trail follows the course of the Bheri and Barbung Rivers, leading us through a dramatic gorge adorned with pine forests. An impressively engineered trail, carved into the cliffs approximately seven meters above the rushing river below, guides us safely through this striking landscape.

Today, we continue our journey by following the Bharbung Khola upstream for approximately 3 to 3.5 hours, arriving at our lunch stop near the settlement of Laisicap—a small farming community nestled along the valley slope. This location marks the main river crossing for the Dolpo Circuit.

After lunch, we leave the main trekking route and proceed along the southern bank of the Bharbung Khola. Our day concludes at a serene pasture area (kharka) near the Musi Khola, where we set up camp for the night.

After crossing the Masi Khola, a tributary of the Barbung Khola, we continue our journey through Lower Dolpo. The trail follows the Barbung Khola, which originates from the glaciers of Dhaulagiri and its surrounding peaks, including our ultimate destination—Mukot.

We cross back to the northern bank via a traditional Nepali suspension bridge and proceed along an undulating trail that weaves around several river spurs. After about an hour of trekking, the narrow valley begins to widen, offering our first views of the majestic Dhaulagiri Range.

Continuing onward, we pass through the picturesque village of Kakot and trek a short distance further to reach a nearby monastery, where we set up camp at an elevation of 3,285 meters.

Our traverse through Dolpo continues as we ascend the Barbung Khola valley. The trail crosses once again to the southern side, alternating between sections that run close to the river and others that climb high above it to navigate spurs and side valleys.

Shortly before lunch, we cross back to the northern bank via a traditional wooden Dolpo bridge spanning a narrow gorge. In the latter part of the day, the trail ascends steadily along the northern side of the river. As we gain elevation, we are rewarded with magnificent views of the Dhaulagiri Range.

Our ascent culminates at Gharegoan Village, situated at an altitude of 3,941 meters. This is a small, remote settlement consisting of a few stone houses and potato fields, where we set up camp for the night.

Today’s trek is relatively short as we follow the trail around a broad bend in the Barbung Khola valley, eventually arriving at the picturesque village of Terang Gaon. Upon reaching our campsite, we enjoy lunch followed by a relaxing afternoon.

Guests are free to explore this charming Dolpo village, with its traditional stone-paved streets and terraced fields, a place where life has remained largely unchanged for centuries.

Departing from the Barbung Khola, we now head southeast, following the Mukot Khola through a dramatic and visually stunning landscape. Along the way, we are treated to panoramic views of the six majestic Dhaulagiri peaks, ranging in elevation from 7,268 to 8,167 meters, as well as Sita Chuchura (6,611 m) and Gurja Himal (7,193 m).

This is a day of steady ascent, and after approximately 5 to 6 hours of trekking, we arrive at Mukot Village, located at an altitude of 4,022 meters. As the final settlement in the valley, Mukot is a remote and culturally rich village where we set up camp for the night in one of the most isolated corners of the Himalayas.

As we continue our ascent, we reach an altitude of approximately 4,000 meters, necessitating careful management of our sleeping altitude to prevent altitude sickness. Today, we relocate our camp above the village to a sparse grazing area known as Neni Goth, situated at around 4,530 meters.

We follow a faint trail across rocky terrain, and depending on the snowmelt, we may encounter icy streams that we will need to cross. At a steady pace, the trek will take approximately 4 to 5 hours to cover the 4.5 kilometres to our campsite.

In the afternoon, there will be an opportunity to climb slightly higher, which will aid in the acclimatisation process before we return to Neni Goth for the night.

Today’s trek involved a short but challenging ascent, following faint herders’ trails and navigating boulders across the moraine. The journey offered spectacular mountain views in every direction. We reached the base of the glacier descending from the western side of Mukot Himal, with a breathtaking view of the towering North West face of Dhaulagiri. Our base camp (5180m) is set up on a cleared section of the moraine, where we will remain for two nights, immersing ourselves in this awe-inspiring mountain environment.

We will dedicate today to preparing for our upcoming climb of Mukot. After a leisurely start to the day, we will begin by organizing our gear and engaging in skills practice, focusing on essential techniques such as walking roped together on the glacier and ascending and descending fixed ropes safely. Following lunch, we will take the opportunity to attend to practical tasks such as laundry and diary writing. Meanwhile, our Climbing Sherpas will have already installed the fixed ropes on the peak and will use this day to ensure everything is in place before the summit attempt.

We have allocated an additional day for further acclimatisation and rest before the climb of Mukot Peak. This day also serves as a contingency to accommodate any potential delays that may have occurred up to this point in the schedule.

Today offered an exceptional climbing experience, predominantly on gently sloping snowfields, culminating in an exhilarating ascent of a steeper summit ridge where fixed lines were used for safety. The views throughout the day were nothing short of breathtaking, with the majestic Dhaulagiri dominating the landscape. After capturing photographs at the summit, we began our descent back to base camp.

This day is designated as a contingency in the event of any delays to our schedule. If not required up to this point, it may be utilised as a rest day or to shorten certain stages of our traverse to Jomsom. The trip leader will determine the most appropriate use of this day.

From our base camp, we begin our descent before heading north toward the Mu La Pass. Along the way, we are treated to spectacular views of the imposing Dhaulagiri massif. We continue by following the Mukot Khola until it reaches its source, the Mula Tal Lake. From there, we ascend a hanging valley to reach our camp, situated near the approach to the Mu La Pass.

From our camp, we begin a gradual ascent across snow and/or scree slopes, eventually making a high traverse to reach the col that guards the entrance to the Thansan Khola Valley. This marks the Mu La Pass at 5,716 meters, where the panoramic views unfold, offering a breathtaking outlook over Dolpo and Mustang ahead, with the majestic Dhaulagiri looming behind us. We then descend steeply along the rocky mountainside to our next campsite, located at a summer grazing area (Yak Kharka) at 4,987 meters.

We begin the day with a gentle ascent, gradually climbing up a high shoulder as we make our way toward the Jungben La (5,555 meters). Along the way, we are treated to stunning views of Dhaulagiri and Mukot, as well as the upper Mustang Valley. A steep descent brings us to the Beri Khola for lunch. Afterwards, we embark on a short climb to reach our next pass, the Lower Sangda La (5,035 meters), before beginning a steep descent toward our camp at Ghalden Ghulden.

Leaving Gowa Phedi, we descend steeply along the river trail, eventually crossing the river via a suspension bridge. We then climb back up to the valley shoulder. Afterwards, we enjoy lunch in the village of Sangda.

From Sangda, we begin our ascent to a small ridge, continuing along a series of ridges as we travel down the valley toward Kagbeni. After approximately an hour, we are rewarded with stunning views of the Kali Gandaki Valley and Thorong La. Upon reaching the tenth ridge, the vista becomes even more spectacular, with views of Thorong Peak, Nilgiri, and Annapurna. We then climb 100 meters to a cairn above the pass, offering panoramic views into Upper Mustang, as well as down to Muktinath and Kagbeni. From this vantage point, we descend via a jeep road to the village of Phalek.

The final stage of our journey takes us over a small pass, as we ascend towards Tagarchong village. From this vantage point, we are greeted with the towering presence of Mount Nilgiri. After crossing the pass, we descend steeply toward Jomsom. Upon arrival, we check out our ACAP permit and conclude our trek.

Departing from Jomsom, we embark on a breathtaking mountain flight through the scenic Kali Gandaki Valley, ultimately arriving at the picturesque lakeside town of Pokhara. Shortly thereafter, we proceed with our journey to Kathmandu.

This day is reserved as a buffer before you depart from Nepal, giving you time to relax, prepare, and explore. It serves as a contingency in case of delays and allows for last-minute packing, shopping, or shipping any items home. You can take this opportunity to enjoy a bit more of Kathmandu’s charm, visit cultural landmarks like Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, or Patan Durbar Square, or simply wander through the lively streets of Thamel on your own.

Our representative will shuttle you to the Tribhuvan International Airport.