Upper Dolpo Trek

Arrive in Kathmandu for the start of one of Nepal's most extraordinary remote treks. Upper Dolpo — the restricted Tibetan plateau of western Nepal, immortalised in Peter Matthiessen's 'The Snow Leopard' — is accessible to only a small number of visitors each year. Special restricted area permit required. Welcome dinner. Meals: Dinner.

Morning flight to Juphal in western Nepal's Dolpo region (via Nepalgunj if required). Trek to Dunai — the district headquarters of Dolpo. Meals: All included.

Trek up the Barbung Khola valley through wild, semi-arid terrain. Stone and mud-brick villages clinging to cliffs above the river. The landscape recalls Tibet more than Nepal. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Enter the Upper Dolpo restricted zone. Tibetan Buddhist chortens, mani walls and prayer flags mark the increasingly Tibetan character of the landscape. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Ascend to Dho Tarap — one of the most remote inhabited villages in Nepal, sitting on a wide plateau at 4,080 metres. The village monastery is one of the most important in Dolpo. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Rest and acclimatisation day. Explore the village monastery, meet the community and adjust to altitude. Walking time: Short hike. Meals: All included.

Ascend towards the Num La pass — the highest point of the trek. Camp at high altitude below the pass. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Cross the Num La pass (5,190m) — the entrance to the hidden inner plateau of Upper Dolpo. The descent to Saldang passes through the most remote and beautiful landscape in Nepal. Walking time: 7–8 hours. Meals: All included.

Trek to Shey Gompa — the legendary Crystal Mountain monastery, one of the most sacred sites in Tibetan Buddhism and the spiritual heart of Upper Dolpo. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Full day at the Crystal Mountain monastery. Attend morning puja with the resident monks, explore the ancient thangkas and butter statues, and hike to the crystal rock above the monastery for extraordinary views of the Dolpo plateau. Meals: All included.

Continue west through the high Dolpo plateau towards Phoksundo Lake. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Arrive at Phoksundo Lake — Nepal's deepest lake and one of the most visually stunning places in the entire Himalaya. The water is an extraordinary shade of translucent turquoise-green, surrounded by steep cliffs and juniper forest. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Rest day at one of Nepal's most beautiful natural wonders. Hike around the lake shore, visit the Ringmo village monastery, and simply absorb the extraordinary colour of the water and the silence of the plateau. Meals: All included.

Begin the descent south from the lake, following the Phoksundo Khola river through increasingly dramatic gorge terrain. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Continue descending through the gorge. The vegetation changes from high-altitude desert to juniper and rhododendron forest. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Return to Dunai — a significant altitude drop that brings warmth and easier breathing. Walking time: 5–6 hours. Meals: All included.

Trek to Juphal airstrip and fly back to Kathmandu (via Nepalgunj). Celebration dinner. Overnight: Kathmandu. Meals: Breakfast, dinner.

Explore Kathmandu Valley heritage sites. Meals: Breakfast.

Buffer for weather delays or free time in Kathmandu. Meals: Breakfast.

Additional buffer day. Meals: Breakfast.

Spare day for any remaining activities. Meals: Breakfast.

Final full day in Kathmandu. Last shopping and sightseeing. Meals: Breakfast.

Last buffer before departure. Meals: Breakfast.

Airport transfer for your international departure. Upper Dolpo — the Crystal Mountain, Phoksundo Lake, the most remote plateau in Nepal — is a journey to the edge of the known world. Meals: Breakfast.