Day 1
Juphal to Sulighat
4 hrs / 8 km / sleep 2,120 m
Fly to Juphal and descend to the Bheri River at Sulighat.
Dolpo
Upper Dolpo Trek
One of Nepals most remote treks through the trans-Himalayan desert of Upper Dolpo. Visit Shey Gompa, Crystal Mountain, and cross high passes in a region unchanged for centuries.
Strenuous20 days5,190 mMay - Oct
Photo: Sandesh Giri / Wikimedia CommonsOverview
Trek overview
Long-form route context for planning, pacing, and realistic expectations.
Key Highlights & Takeaways
- Shey Phoksundo Lake
- Shey Gompa & Crystal Mountain
- Kang La Pass (5,190m)
- Ancient Bon culture
One of Nepals most remote treks through the trans-Himalayan desert of Upper Dolpo. Visit Shey Gompa, Crystal Mountain, and cross high passes in a region unchanged for centuries.
This itinerary is synced from TrekGuard mobile app data and includes 20 planned days, 180 km of walking, and 9,000 m of total elevation gain.
Highlights include Shey Phoksundo Lake, Shey Gompa & Crystal Mountain, Kang La Pass (5,190m), Ancient Bon culture.
Itinerary
Daily route plan
Day 2
Sulighat to Chhepka
6 hrs / 12 km / sleep 2,700 m
Trek along the Suli Gad gorge through forests.
Day 3
Chhepka to Ringmo
6 hrs / 10 km / sleep 3,640 m
Climb steeply to Ringmo village overlooking Phoksundo Lake.
Day 4
Ringmo acclimatization
4 hrs / 5 km / sleep 3,640 m
Explore Shey Phoksundo Lake and visit the village gompa.
Day 5
Ringmo to Phoksundo Khola Camp
6 hrs / 10 km / sleep 3,960 m
Trek along the west shore of Phoksundo Lake.
Day 6
Phoksundo Khola Camp to Snowfields Camp
7 hrs / 9 km / sleep 4,500 m
Ascend through high alpine terrain toward Kang La.
Day 7
Snowfields Camp to Shey Gompa
8 hrs / 10 km / sleep 4,050 m
Cross Kang La Pass (5,190m) and descend to the sacred Shey Gompa near Crystal Mountain.
Day 8
Shey Gompa acclimatization
4 hrs / 5 km / sleep 4,050 m
Explore the ancient Shey monastery complex and kora around Crystal Mountain.
Day 9
Shey Gompa to Bhijer
6 hrs / 12 km / sleep 3,870 m
Trek to the remote village of Bhijer past mani walls and chortens.
Day 10
Bhijer to Saldang
5 hrs / 10 km / sleep 3,770 m
Trek to Saldang, the largest settlement in Upper Dolpo.
Day 11
Saldang to Jeng La BC
7 hrs / 10 km / sleep 4,510 m
Ascend toward Jeng La Pass base camp.
Day 12
Jeng La BC to Tokyu
7 hrs / 10 km / sleep 4,000 m
Cross Jeng La Pass (5,090m) and descend to Tokyu.
Day 13
Tokyu to Dho Tarap
5 hrs / 10 km / sleep 4,040 m
Trek through the Tarap Valley to Dho village.
Day 14
Dho Tarap to Tarap Camp
6 hrs / 14 km / sleep 3,760 m
Follow the Tarap Khola downstream.
Day 15
Tarap Camp to Laisicap
6 hrs / 14 km / sleep 2,950 m
Continue descent through the narrow gorge.
Day 16
Laisicap to Juphal
5 hrs / 12 km / sleep 2,475 m
Final trek back to Juphal. Fly to Nepalgunj.
Altitude profile
How high you sleep, night by night
The single biggest safety factor on a high trek is how fast your sleeping altitude rises. Here's the shape of this itinerary.
2,475 m
Start
4,510 m
Highest sleep
5,190 m
Max altitude
16
Nights
See which days climb too fast and add rest days to build a safer schedule.
Check acclimatization →Map
Interactive route preview
Leaflet route rendering with checkpoints, altitude markers, and GPX geometry where published.
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GPX and KML downloads
Static route references for offline planning.
- Duration
- 20 days
- Altitude
- 5,190 m
- Updated
- 2026
Route files are planning references only. Always follow current trail conditions, local notices, and guide advice.
Packing checklist
Use a mobile-friendly checklist for clothing, electronics, medicine, documents, and trail gear.
Altitude and safety
Prepare before pushing higher.
Climb gradually and take acclimatization seriously.
Check weather, wind, and daylight before long days.
Descend and seek help if altitude symptoms worsen.
Upper Dolpo Trek FAQ
Straight answers on length, altitude, permits, season and cost for the Upper Dolpo Trek, generated from the same route data the TrekGuard app uses.
How many days does the Upper Dolpo Trek take?
The TrekGuard planning itinerary for the Upper Dolpo Trek runs 20 days and covers 180 km of walking. That includes 2 acclimatization days where you sleep at the same village instead of climbing higher. Treat it as a baseline: weather, flight delays and how you acclimatize can add days, so build slack into your schedule.
How high does the Upper Dolpo Trek go?
The Upper Dolpo Trek tops out at 5,190 m. The highest place you sleep on this itinerary is about 4,510 m, which matters more for altitude illness than the daytime high point.
What permits do you need for the Upper Dolpo Trek?
The Upper Dolpo Trek normally requires: Upper Dolpo Restricted Area Permit, Shey Phoksundo National Park Entry Permit. Permit rules, fees and issuing offices change between seasons - confirm the current requirements with the Nepal Tourism Board or a registered agency before you travel.
When is the best time to trek the Upper Dolpo Trek?
May - Oct is the usual window for the Upper Dolpo Trek. Outside it you are trading stable weather for either monsoon cloud and leeches or deep winter cold and snow-blocked passes.
How difficult is the Upper Dolpo Trek?
The Upper Dolpo Trek is rated strenuous, with 9,000 m of total ascent over 180 km. Walking days are roughly 4-8 hours. Above 4,000 m the limiting factor is usually altitude rather than fitness, so pace and rest days matter more than training volume.
Can you get altitude sickness on the Upper Dolpo Trek?
Yes. The Upper Dolpo Trek reaches 5,190 m, well above the 2,500 m mark where acute mountain sickness (AMS) becomes possible for anyone, regardless of fitness or age. Keep sleeping-altitude gains gradual, take the built-in rest days (2 on this itinerary), and descend if headache, nausea or breathlessness get worse rather than better. This is general information, not medical advice - see a travel-medicine clinician before the trip.
Is there a GPX file for the Upper Dolpo Trek?
Yes - the Upper Dolpo Trek GPX and KML tracks are free to download from this page and open in TrekGuard, Gaia GPS, Garmin Connect, Organic Maps or Google Earth. The track is a planning reference built from route data, not a surveyed trail: verify junctions on the ground and follow local signage and guides over the line on your screen.
Where does the Upper Dolpo Trek start and finish?
The Upper Dolpo Trek starts and finishes at Juphal, in the Dolpo region.
Read next
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A detailed Nepal trek packing guide covering the three-layer clothing system, footwear, first aid, electronics battery strategy, permits, pack weight decisions, and pre-departure digital prep with TrekGuard.
Planning aid - not a guide or rescue service. GPX lines, checklists, forecasts, and altitude readouts support your judgment. Trails, weather, permits, and illness can change faster than any app. Download offline map packs before signal ends; live map tiles and fresh weather need network. SMS SOS sharing needs cellular texting - not satellite.
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Download map packs on Wi‑Fi, pull weather while online, then use GPS altitude, planner & safety tools on trail - free on Google Play. Not a guide or rescue service.
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