🏔️ The Lower Dolpo Circuit: Across the High Passes

Dho Tarap • Numa La (5,309m) • Baga La (5,170m) • Phoksundo Lake

For the adventurer who wants more than just the lake. This is the ultimate 12-14 day circuit connecting the cultural hub of Dho Tarap with the turquoise jewel of Phoksundo via the wild high passes of the Kanjiroba range.

🗺️ Trip Overview (From Dunai)

• Trek Duration: 11 – 13 Days (Dunai to Dunai/Juphal).

• Difficulty: Strenuous / Challenging. (Requires crossing two 5,000m+ passes).

• Max Elevation: 5,309m (Numa La Pass).

• Accommodation: Teahouses (Village sections) & Basic Shelter/Camping (Pass sections).

• Best Season: Spring (April–May) & Autumn (Sept–Nov). Monsoon trekking is possible (rain shadow), but flights to Juphal are risky.

📋 Essential Logistics

1. Permits Required (2025)

You do not need the expensive $500 Upper Dolpo permit for this specific circuit, provided you do not go north of Shey Gompa.

1. Lower Dolpo Restricted Area Permit: USD 20 per week (plus $5/day for extra days).

2. Shey Phoksundo National Park Entry: NPR 3,000 (Foreigner).

3. Guide Policy: Mandatory. You cannot trek this route solo.

2. The Accommodation Reality Check

• Dunai to Dho Tarap: Good Teahouses available.

• Dho Tarap: Excellent local lodges.

• The High Passes (Days 6-8): WARNING. There are no luxury lodges here. You will sleep in Basic Bhattis (stone huts with dormitory mats) or tents.

  • Note: We highly recommend hiring a "Camping Support" crew (tents/cook) for these 3 nights for comfort, or be prepared for very rough, cold nights in porter shelters.

• Ringmo (Phoksundo): Good Teahouses.

🗓️ Detailed Itinerary (Dunai to Dunai)

Phase 1: The Tarap Valley Ascent

Day 1: Dunai (2,140m) to Tarakot (2,540m)

• Walk: 5–6 Hours.

• The Trail: Follow the Thuli Bheri river upstream. The trail is well-engineered and gradual.

• Highlight: Tarakot is an ancient fortress village standing on a hillock. It was once a capital of the Tichorung kingdom.

• Stay: Teahouse in Tarakot.

Day 2: Tarakot to Laini (3,370m)

• Walk: 6–7 Hours.

• The Trail: The path enters the narrow gorge of the Tarap Chu river. You cross impressive suspension bridges. The valley becomes a steep V-shape.

• Stay: Basic Teahouse or Camping at Laini (Odar).

Day 3: Laini to Nawarpani (3,475m)

• Walk: 5–6 Hours.

• The Trail: A thrilling day walking on paths carved into cliff faces. In some sections, the gorge is so narrow you can almost touch both sides.

• Stay: Basic Teahouse / Bhatti.

Day 4: Nawarpani to Dho Tarap (4,080m)

• Walk: 7–8 Hours.

• The Trail: The valley suddenly opens up into a vast, arid plain reminiscent of Tibet. You trek past mani walls and chortens to reach Dho Tarap.

• Highlight: Dho Tarap is one of the highest permanent settlements in the world. It is a major junction of Bon Po and Nyingmapa Buddhist culture.

• Stay: Established Lodge (e.g., Tara Guest House).

Day 5: Acclimatization Day in Dho Tarap

• Activity: Mandatory rest day for altitude safety.

• Explore: Visit Ribo Bumpa Gompa (1,000 years old) and explore the village architecture (stone houses). Observe the women weaving traditional rugs.

Phase 2: The High Passes (The Crux)

Day 6: Dho Tarap to Numa La Base Camp (4,440m)

• Walk: 4–5 Hours.

• The Trail: Follow the Tarap Chu upstream to Tokyu Village (the last settlement). Then, turn west and ascend grassy slopes to the base camp.

• Accommodation: VERY BASIC. Usually a stone shelter or tent. Prepare for a cold night.

Day 7: Cross Numa La (5,309m) → Pelung Tang (4,465m)

• Walk: 7–8 Hours.

• The Challenge: A steep, long climb to the summit of Numa La.

• The Reward: Incredible views of Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and the arid peaks of Inner Dolpo.

• Descent: Steep descent into the Gyambo Khola valley to Pelung Tang (a meadow).

• Accommodation: Camping / Basic Bhatti (Seasonal).

Day 8: Cross Baga La (5,170m) → Dajok Tang (4,080m)

• Walk: 6–7 Hours.

• The Challenge: Another steep climb to the Baga La pass.

• The Reward: First views of the Kanjiroba massif and the distant Phoksundo valley.

• Descent: A scenic descent past waterfalls to Dajok Tang (Yak Kharka).

• Accommodation: Camping / Basic Bhatti.

Phase 3: The Lake & Return

Day 9: Dajok Tang to Ringmo / Phoksundo Lake (3,640m)

• Walk: 3–4 Hours.

• The Trail: A beautiful walk through pine forests. The trail eventually leads you to the edge of the cliffs overlooking the famous waterfall and the lake.

• Arrival: Ringmo Village. A return to civilization (WiFi, good food).

• Stay: Teahouse near the lake.

Day 10: Rest & Explore Phoksundo

• Activity: Walk the shores of the deepest blue lake in Nepal. Visit the Tshowa Gompa on the eastern ridge. Relax.

Day 11: Ringmo to Chhepka (2,670m)

• Walk: 6–7 Hours.

• The Trail: The standard descent route past the waterfall and Rechi village.

• Stay: Teahouse in Chhepka.

Day 12: Chhepka to Juphal (2,475m)

• Walk: 5–6 Hours.

• The Trail: Exit the park at Suligad and hike up to the airstrip at Juphal.

• Celebration: Farewell dinner with your guide and porters.

Day 13: Fly Juphal -> Nepalgunj -> Kathmandu

💰 Estimated Cost (Lower Dolpo Circuit)

Prices are higher than the standard Phoksundo trek due to remoteness and duration.

🎒 Gear Alert: What’s Different?

Unlike the standard tea house trek, for the Lower Dolpo Circuit, you must bring:

1. Sleeping Bag: Rated -15°C / -20°C. The high camps (4,400m+) are freezing.

2. Water Purification: Tabs or Filter. You will be drinking from streams between Dho and Ringmo.

3. Power Bank: 20,000mAh+. There is zero electricity for 3-4 days over the passes.

4. Crampons (Micro-spikes): If trekking in early Spring (April) or late Autumn (Nov), the passes may have ice.

❓ FAQ: Is this trek right for me?

• "I've done Annapurna Circuit. Can I do this?"

  • Yes, but expect facilities to be much more basic. The scenery is wilder and the culture is more raw.

• "Can I do it solo?"

  • No. It is a Restricted Area. You must hire a guide through a registered agency.

• "Do I need a tent?"

  • We strongly recommend having a tent for Days 6, 7, and 8. Sometimes stone huts are available, but they are dirty, cold, and unreliable.

Ready to cross the passes? Contact us to arrange your Lower Dolpo Permit and hire a trusted local guide who knows the status of the high camps!