Senast uppdaterad: 2011-06-29

Itinerary

GREAT HIMALAYAN TRAIL

The ultimate adventure at high altitudes

During this trek we will be exploring the most isolated high Himalayan valley - Dolpo. Situated in north-west Nepal, this region is surrounded by high mountains including Dhaulagiri Massif to the southeast and Tibet to its north. Steep paths carved into rocks and several 5000 meters high passes is what 'connects' Dolpo with the rest of the world. Yaks carry your luggage.
Our aim is not only to make a straight forward trek, but instead we will see, observe and most importantly interact with the local people and the environment. We will encounter a well preserved Tibetan culture. In fact not more than 6000 people live in this area above 4200 meters altitude, which are the highest settlements in the world. With no roads and harsh geographical conditions, day to day living seems very challenging for the local people. However they are more than happy to welcome foreigners who come to their hidden valleys.
The trekking is focused on offering you a combination of natural and cultural experiences. During the trek we are almost certain to meet big herds of Yak caravans, their backs heavily loaded with sacks of salt. They travel all the way from Tibet for trading in the south. This trade has been going on since hundreds of years. Until 1991 foreigners were not allowed access to Dolpo and still only a few come this way as it demands much time, is very strenuous, and the most expensive you can do in Nepal (except climbing the high peaks). The local community has a rich history, largely affected by Tibetan cultural heritage. So, during the course of trek you will visit many Buddhist and Bonpo (religion that existed in Tibet before Buddhism) monasteries. Some of them are believed to be built 60 generations ago.
It is fundamental to understand that this trek is only suitable for those who are exceptionally fit and prepared for the challenges that are to be faced in order to complete the Great Himalayan Trail.


I had a dream...

Perhaps a pathetic first line? But getting to Dolpo was a dream for me back in the 1970s when I visited Nepal several times. I came to Nepal 1969 for the first time, I had just turned 22 but then I didn't have the knowledge about Nepal. Later I read a lot about Nepal and Dolpo was the most fascinating place. I still remember the pictures in the book "Dolpo - the hidden land". I saw photos from the Inner Himalayas with its stone desert and a Tibetan people with a prebuddhist culture. Moreover, they said Dolpo was the world's highest inhabited area. Of course I was attracted! But getting there at this time was unthinkable. But it remained a dream! A Dolpo trek would require a lot of time and be both exhausting and dangerous. It would also cost a lot of money. Moreover, Dolpo was off limits for foreigners at this time.
Time has changed and it is now possible to reach Dolpo. It still requires a lot of time and it has not become less exhausting. However, it is not dangerous anymore and it is now affordable because a larger group can share the costs. The reason we are now organizing this trip is partly purely selfish - if everything goes as planned, I will do this trek together with you!

If you don't know anything about Dolpo I really recommend that you watch Eric Vallis's movie Himalaya. You will understand why I had had this dream for so long. The film is included in the tour literature package, but you can also borrow it at our office.

/Christian Jutvik

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu airport and transfer to hotel

Arrival in Kathmandu, Tribhuvan airport. At the immigration you purchase your visa (60 days validity). Cost is 40$. You need two pp size photos. Bring this amount in cash. In arrival hall you should change and get a few thousand in Nepalese currency. Use your card at the ATM in the arrival hall. It may be a little chaotic outside the airport, many taxi drivers and hotel representatives will try to get your attention and your money. Try to find a friend and share a taxi to your hotel. The cost can be in the range of 500 - 700 NPR. You are now in the Kathmandu valley. Unlike most other visitors, you will not stay in Kathmandu. Instead in the ancient town of Bhaktapur, a typical Newar community. This small town is much more quiet than the city of Kathmandu, which is bustling with tourist trade, commerce and heavy traffic. In Bhaktapur you can see craftsmen working in their shops or in the street. The Hindu religion is practiced around the temple grounds outside your hotel during mornings and evenings. Go for a walk in the evening and you will hear small orchestras playing outside the temples. Here little has changed during the last 200 years. A lot of tourists visit Bhaktapur during daytime, but mornings and evenings are quiet. You can reach Kathmandu 16 km from Bhaktapur, in 45 minutes, by bus, minibus, or taxi. Price of ticket is quite nominal. However all local buses stop running around 8 pm. After that you have to take a taxi. You will stay at a guesthouse situated inside the old town of Bhaktapur. It has a splendid location facing the old courtyard and several temples. There are two ATM machines just outside your hotel.

Day 2: Sight seeing around Bhaktapur

Together you make a walk in this ancient town.

Day 3: Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalganj

You fly from Kathmandu to Nepalganj which is located in the southwest part of the Nepal, right on the border to India. You take a bus from the airport towards Bardia National Park which takes around two hours. Once you find your rooms in the resort you unpack your bags and get enough rest so that you can take a short walk to a Tharu village and explore their way of living. Tharu is an ethnic group in the southern lowlands (Terai) region. You will spend your night in the resort inside the national park.

Day 4: A long walk inside Bardia National Park

Bardia National Park is situated in the southern lowlands (Terai). It is a world apart from the mountainous region - hot, humid and often quite lush. Here you find elephants, tigers, leopards, rhinos, crocodiles, deer, bears, monkeys and more than 300 species of birds.
You will head out for a walk in the forest with a guide who will inform you about the species that we encounter during our walk. Do not forget your binoculars as you will spend a nice day out in the wild.
More about Bardia

Day 5: Fly from Nepalgunj to Juphal and trek from Juphal to Dunai

You have to be in the airport very early for the flight to Juphal. Dolpo flights are always early in the morning because of strong winds which starts around 10 am, making later flights impossible. After landing at the narrow mountain airstrip you will meet the trek crew. There will be an experienced mountain guide, cooks and many porters, the number depending on group size. Once you have taken your luggage out of the Twin Otter in Juphal (2500 m), you start walking through the terraced fields towards Dunai. You camp near Dunai and explore this big village for the rest of the afternoon.

Day 6: Trek from Dunai to Chepka

7 hours. You start trekking by crossing the big steel suspension bridge. Follow the trail north up the east bank of the Suli Gaad (2070 m) towards the teashops which are run by the wives of army personnel in Dunai. After a while, you cross to the west bank and continue passing through rough stone houses of village Jyalhasa, a wintering spot for the villagers of Ringmo. Further along you reach the grassy campsite at Chepka in a small Tibetan village.

Day 7: Trek from Chepka to Renje

6 hours. Today you walk near the river on a narrow path, high up in the valley. Alongside the river at 2900 m, the trail becomes a collection of rocks and sticks forming a dyke along the river bank. After several more ups and downs through forests of firs and larches you are now approaching to the village of Renje on the opposite side of the river at 3010 m.You camp at a good camp site.

Day 8: Trek from Renje to Ringmo

7 hours. From camp you pass Palam (3710 m) which is a deserted winter settlement. The houses are almost buried in sandy soil. You continue climbing for another hour to the ridge about 3,800 meters where you will see the highest waterfall in Nepal flowing out from Phoksundo Lake. The entrance station for Shey Phoksundo National Park is at the south end of the village.
Now you will head gently towards Ringmo village, a picturesque settlement of flat-roofed stone houses with lots of mud-plastered walls. Just below Ringmo, you cross a bridge and follow a trail north to the ranger station at Phoksumdo Lake (3730 m). You continue to the shores of the lake near the point where the Phoksumdo River flows out of the lake. There are national park camping grounds on both sides of the river on the south-east shore of the lake. You will love to take a swim and wash the dirt off. Do not mind the temperature.

Day 9: Rest and exploration

Today you can visit the nearby Bonpo monastery overlooking Phoksumdo Lake (that was built 60 generations ago) and then explore Ringmo Village. There are five other private gompas (monasteries) in various houses of a small monastic community near the lake. The insides of the temples contain dusty Buddhist paintings and statues which existed since ancient times.

Day 10: Trek from Ringmo to Chunemba

6 hours. This is a superb trekking day, following the western side of Phoksundo Lake along a narrow cliff trail which is known as Devil's trail in Eric Valli's film Himalaya.
As you cross the stream, look up at the glacier descending from the upper slopes of Kanjeralwa (6612 m). You climb to a crest at 4060 m for a spectacular view of the lake and the snowy peaks of Sonam Kang in the background. The trail descends through birches and blue pines to the western edge of the lake at 3630 m where the Phoksumdo Khola (River) enters. You camp in a forest of blue pines at Chunemba at 3630 m.

Day 11: Trek from Chunembe to Lar Tsa

5,5 hours. Leaving camp you head north through a glacial valley crossing the east bank of Phoksumdo Khola. You follow the main valley for another hour to Kang Gompa then start to climb steeply until you reach the grassy ridge to rest. It's a long climb up the ridge past a few groves of birch trees. There are spectacular mountain views with Shey Shikar (6139 m) and Kang Chunne (6443 m) dominating the skyline to the west. You will continue on a crest at 4200 m then the route descends gently on a rocky trail to Lar Tsa, where you camp beside the river at 4120 m. It's possible to continue walking, but you have now ascended more than 500 m in a day and should spend the night at Lar tsa for acclimatization.

Day 12: Trek from Lar Tsa to Mendok Din

3 hours. Today you cross a new bridge and climb to the top of a scree slope at 4490 m, then make your way up a grassy ridge to a crest at 4640 m. You catch your breath and then drop gently into Mendok Ding (flower valley). You will climb again in order to reach the camping site which will be at an altitude of 4610 m. You are almost certain to spot herds of blue sheep on the slopes above the camp.

Day 13: Trek from Mendok Din to Shey Gompa

8,5 hours. You begin to turn north towards the peak of Riwo Drugdra (Crystal Mountain). Here you follow the more scenic pilgrim route across the Sehu La to the west of Crystal Mountain, walking around this sacred peak.
After a long climb up to Mendok Ding La at 5160 m the trail descends a scree slope to a grassy meadow besides a stream valley. Moreover a series of long up's and down's across the ridges awaits around Crystal Mountain. After a steep, rough climb to a crest at 5010 m and another at 4860 m, you begin the descent to the Tar valley. The final descent is on a wide trail to a campsite in a large meadow near a few nomads huts at (4310 m), just below Shey gompa.

Day 14: Rest and Exploration day

Today you have time to explore Shey Gompa (4390 m), relax and also do some laundry if you like. The gompa itself is not large but said to be around 800 years old. In the afternoon we recommend that you consider visiting Tsakang gompa which is situated on a cliff, a few hours walk from Shey. You are most likely to see several herds of blue sheep along the trail.

Day 15: Trek from Shey Gompa to Namgung

7,5 hours. You leave the camp and trek east from Shey gompa and across the 5010 m Shey La. From here you will head north and descend before climbing again to Namgung (4430 m).

Day 16: Trek from Namgung to Karang

6 hours. Today you will traverse high above the Namgung Kola to Karang (4050 m).

Day 17: Trek from Karang to Mugaon

7,5 hours. You start the trek by descending to Torak Sumdo (3670 m), the union of the two rivers (Namgung and Polang kholas), and cross to the northern bank. You continue climbing towards Yanger gompa at 3750 m and trek along the river side valley. You will camp at one of the camp sites alongside the stream at about 4100 m before Mugaon.

Day 18: Trek from Mugaon to Shimen

8.5 hours. Leaving the camp you continue up the valley to Mugaon and climb towards the Mushi La at 5030 m. Then you descend towards Shimen village. You end the day at a good camp site in pastures above the village at 4010 m.

Day 19: Trek from Shimen to Tinje

8 hours. Today you will drop down to Shimen village at 3870 m. Shimen village has large areas of terraced fields planted with buckwheat, barley and potatoes. Look out for the new school and the mani wall over 600 meters long. You will now make a long trek upriver through the village of Pha (4090 m) to Tinje (4150 m).

Day 20: Trek from Tinje to Rakpa

8 hours. You leave the camp and trek past the runway of mysterious Tinje airport to a trail junction at 4130 m. Continue southward to a camp site on the banks of the river at Rakpa (4530 m).

Day 21: Trek from Rakpa to Chharka

8 hours. You start your day with a long climb to the Chharka La (4920 m). Then continue on the trail descending along the side of the valley making a big drop into a side valley at 4290 m. Now you are about to make a long traverse down to the picturesque village of Chharka on the banks of Barbung Kola (river) at 4120 m.

Day 22: Trek from Chharka to Norbulung

7 hours. Today you descend again to a river. You will follow the route southward, climbing in and out of side valleys on a rough trail. The valley narrows at this point but soon you will emerge into a big meadow and climb to the campsite at Norbulung (4750 m).

Day 23: Trek from Norbulung to Sangda Phedi

8 hours. Leaving the camp site, you begin the day climbing towards a yak pasture at Molum Sumna (4860 m) and on towards a crest at 5130 m. Soon after that you continue trekking to make a long traverse across meadows to the foot of the Sangda La, then a long, steep final climb to the pass at 5460 meters. This is the highest altitude you will reach, so it will be a cold overnight camping.

Day 24: Trek from Sangda Phedi to Sangda

8 hours. Today you climb to lower Sangda La at 4990 m, and continue the trek towards the village of Sangda Ghunsa (4190 m). You drop evenmore to the Chalung Khola, crossing it at 3750 m, and then climb steeply up the opposite bank. A long high traverse leads our way at 4090 m, where once again you will descend to a stream at 3580 m. You climb further more to the compact settlement of Sangda, where you finally end a long day at 3700 m.

Day 25: Trek from Sangda to Dhagarjun

8 hours. You start to climb the hill behind Sangda and spend most of the day making a high traverses, crossing nine ridges to a final crest at 4280 m. You descend into the Kali Gandaki valley, traversing under high cliffs and descending to the large village of Dhagarjun (3290 m).

Day 26: Trek from Dhagarjun to Jomson and fly to Pokhara

You leave the camp site early and start climbing towards a ridge at 3360 m. Very soon you will make your final descent on a challenging trail of loose rocks to Jomsom at 2670 m which takes around three hours.
From Jomsom you take a flight to Pokhara - a fantastic way to round off the trek, flying right along the Kali Gandaki Gorge between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. Here you have the highest difference in altitudes in the world. It is 15 km between two peaks at 8000 m ant the valley inbetween is at 2500 m. In Pokhara we check into a hotel, get the dust of the last three weeks washed off and head out for a nice dinner..! You may also take a swim in warm Phewa Tal (lake).

Day 27: Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu

7 hours. Together you will travel back to Kathmandu by bus that takes about seven hours. A route, you will enjoy the mountain views, green sceneries, rice terrace fields, vegetable fields and people being engaged in their daily life activities. Back to Bhaktapur and your hotel.

Day 28: Tour ends

This is the first day you may book your returnflight. Or you may wish to stay on a few days.