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Beni - Dolpo - 19 days
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Dolpo is also called “Ba Yul” or the Hidden
valley is a land of mystery, scenery and peace.
Surrounded by Dhaulagiri and Tibet from south
and north, The Dolpo region is the natural
embodiment of high passes, rare flora and fauna
and sweeping vistas. The medicinal plant,
Yarchagumba (Coerdiopsis sinensis) a type of
wild mushroom is found in abundance in this
region. Extracts from Yarchagumba is believed to
significantly improve health and fitness. This
trekking is for combination of natural and
cultural phenomena which is enriched by the
traditional Tibetan cultural heritage. It is a
rain shadow area and was opened in 1991 for
trekking. The whole trekking areas in this
region stretches through and around Arun River
whose origin dates back to prehistoric period.
The Arun valley is one of the most beautiful
regions to trek in Nepal.
Dolpo is protected by Shey-Phoksundo National
Park. It lies to the north of the Dhaulagiri
Range bordering the Tibetan Plateau. Here one
can find a well-preserved eco-system of plants
and wildlife, including the blue sheep and the
elusive snow leopard. The view of Kanjiroba
peak, Phoksumdo Lake, and the Dhauligiri massif
is one of the most rewarding moments of this
trek. A visit to the Phoksumdo Gompa – dedicated
to the ancient Bonpo religion, local to Dolpo
and Tibet, is a memorable experience.
Facts of the Trek
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Duration: 19 Days
Trek type: Camping trek
Max Altitude: 4050 m.
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Minimum Pax: 2 +
Mode of travel: Flight -
Land
Grade: Strenuous
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Itinerary in Detail
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Day 01 : |
Drive from Kathmandu to Beni which takes about
eleven hours.
As you climb out of the Kathmandu valley, only
to quickly descend again to the Trisuli River,
you follow upstream to its junction with the
Marsyangdi River. You follow the Marsyandi
gently up through heavily terraced fields and
small hill towns to the Seti River that takes
you directly into Pokhara. Having pleasant
weather, Pokhara is tourist's paradise with full
of natural as well as cultural heritage sites
such as lakes, caves, temples of Buddhist and
Hindus along with mountains. You can observe
views to the north across the hills and Phewa
Tal (lake) to the white peaks of the Annapurna
and Dhaulagiri ranges. The drive from here goes
through uphill into zigzag road all the way to
Naudanda. It then descends through zigzag road
up to Nayapul with views of Annapurna South,
Fish tail, green hills, terraces and villages.
To reach Beni, your drive moves along the bank
of Mardi river. This is one of the picturesque
road journeys.
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Day 02 : |
Trek from Beni (770m.) to Tara Khet (970m.)via
Singa Bazaar (850m.) which takes about seven
hours.
To reach Singa Bazaar you have to follow past
the hot spring along the bank of Beni river with
views of villages at some distance. Singa Bazaar
is a village with tea shops, lodges, hotels,
beautiful terraces and typical houses. There is
a small market which provides minimal supplies.
Leaving Singa Bazaar, you move through quite
flat land all the way to Tara Khet passing
through villages. On the way, you can see mules
carrying loads. Tara Khet is another village and
it is famous for Marijuana.
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Day 03 : |
Trek from Tara Khet to Danyga Khola (1125m.) and
it takes about six hours.
This day you trek through gentle ascent path
until you reach Panchey (1700m.) passing
villages, few trees and green hills. Now
crossing a suspension bridge over Beni river you
arrive at Tokra (1820m.), a village. Descending
gently for couple of minutes, you reach Junla
(2020m.), mostly considered as a pass. The trail
appears to be quite flat passing through
villages, sparse forests and green hills and you
reach Danyga Khola. Danyga village lies at the
bank of Danyga Khola. There are few typical
houses and you can see local people, who mostly
belong to Magar community, are involved in
farming.
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Day 04 : |
Trek from Danyga Khola to Dharapani (1470m.)
which takes about six hours.
The trail is ascent and descent as well at the
beginning and later moves through flat land all
the way to Dharapani. En route you can enjoy the
spectacular views of green hills, forests,
typical houses and mountain views of Dhaulagiri,
Mana Pathi Himal and other unnamed mountains.
Dharpani is a village with good infrastructure.
There is a tap (dhara) at Dharapani and village
is named after this. Local people of this area
belong to Magar, Chhetri and few other
communities.
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Day 05 : |
Trek from Dharapani to Muna (1850m.) via Sibang
(1610m.) and it takes about six hours.
At first you trek through gentle flat land with
green hills on both sides. After some distance,
the path goes quite up for a long distance
passing through villages, forests covered with
pine, oak, rhododendron and local vegetation.
Before you enter Muna, you have to trek through
flat for couple of hours. Muna is a big village
with good infrastructure. Mostly people here are
devotee of Hindu God and Goddess.
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Day 06 : |
Trek from Muna to Jaljala La (3390m.) via Lumsum
(2100m.) and Moreni (2670m.) which takes about
seven hours.
To reach Lumsum you have to trek through steep
ascent path passing through the oak and
rhododendron forests with views of Dhaulagiri,
Mana Pathi and few other unnamed mountains. The
path is steep up until you reach Jaljala La
passing through Moreni, a village where people
follow Tibetan life style. Jaljala is alpine
grass land atop a ridge where people of
surrounding villages bring their domestic
animals such as yak, sheep for grazing. This is
best described as hunting area. From the top you
are speechless to see at the panoramic views of
Dhaulagiri range.
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Day 07 : |
Trek from Jaljala La to Dhorpatan (2990m.) via
Gurjakot (3070m.) and it takes about seven
hours.
The trails until Gurjakot are steep descent and
then it moves through flat land all the way to
Dhorpatan. You walk along the bank of river
passing through forests covered with oak, pine,
rhododendron, juniper and other local
vegetation. Gurjakot is a small village mostly
dominated by people who follow Tibetan culture.
There are chortens, mani walls and prayer flags
fluttering in the bridge. On the other hand,
Dhorpatan is a point where roads from Baglung,
Beni, Rolpa and Rukum meet. There is small
airport. You can see apple orchard and wheat,
buck wheat, maize and mostly potatoes growing in
terraces. One of the most significant features
about this place is that anyone can go for
hunting by paying certain fees to the Government
authority. As Dhorpatan is the only area for
hunting in Nepal.
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Day 08 : |
Rest day at Dhorpatan. Excusion in and around
places.
You can visit monastery, chortens and local
markets. Hiking green hill will give you another
pleasure. The typical houses with wooden roofs
attract you. You can learn about the social and
cultural life style of local inhabitants.
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Day 09 : |
Dhorpatan to Takur (3190m.) via Phagune Dhuri
Pass (4061m.) which takes about six to seven
hours.
Leaving Dhorpatan you head uphill up to Phagune
Dhuri Pass passing grass land and sparse
forests. This pass is surrounded by green hills
and you can see villages at some distance from
the top. Now the trail goes steep down passing
villages, terraces and a suspension bridge over
Pelma Khola (stream). As you cross bridge you
begin to follow gentle ascent path through
terraces and local villages all the way to
Takur. This is a small village where you find
local people being involved in their daily
activities.
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Day 10 : |
Trek from Takur to Pelma (2600m.) and it takes
about six hours.
The supposed trail moves down all the way to
Pelma crossing a wooden bridge over Pelma Khola.
On the way, you can see several villages,
terraces, green hills and local people. Pelma is
a village and people living in and around this
area are not well to do.
As you can see not well managed houses and
people being involved in farming.
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Day 11 : |
Trek from Pelma to Dhule (3340m.) via Yamakhar
(2480m.) and Gorba Khola (2930m.) which takes
about seven hours.
Crossing Pelma Khola the trails go steep up all
the way to Dhule. En route, you pass through
picturesque villages, terraces and green hills.
Dhule is yet another village at a certain
height.
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Day 12 : |
Trek from Dhule to Seng Khola (3820m.) via
Nautale Bhanjyang (3961m.) and it takes about
six hours.
The beginning part of the trail moves through
the pine, rhododendron, juniper forests along
the steep ascent path until you reach Nautale
Bhanjyang. You can enjoy the panoramic views of
Dhaulagiri range and other unnamed mountains.
Nautale Bhanjyang, atop a ridge is a grass land
where local people bring yak and sheep for
grazing. To reach Seng Khola you trek through
gently ascent for couple of hours and the trail
turns steep up all the way to your destination.
Seng Khola is a village which lies at the bank
of Seng river. You can see terraces with wheat,
buck wheat and mainly potatoes growing in it.
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Day 13 : |
Trek from Seng Khola to Purpang (4050m.) via
Paanidal Pass (4412m.) which takes about seven
hours.
You trek steep ascend all the way to Purpang
following rocky and dry land. En route you come
across alpine grass land. From Panidal Pass you
can have panoramic views of Dhaulagiri range,
Kantagaton Himal, Nurbukang Himal and other
unnamed mountains. While heading towards Purpang,
you cross rocky and slippery trail. Purpang is
an open rocky grass land surrounded by
spectacular mountains.
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Day 14 : |
Trek from Purpang to Sahar Tara (3010m.) via
Jangla Bhanjyang (4530m.) and Tokar (3740m.) and
it takes about seven hours.
The trail you follow is steep ascent up to
Jangla Bhanjyang passing through rocky trails.
You are accompanied by panoramic views of Norbu
Himal, Kantagaton, Dhaulagiri, Serkeam Himal and
few others. After you Jangla Bhanjyang, you are
quite surrounded by above mentioned mountain
views. Crossing Jangla Bhanjyang, you begin to
follow gentle descent path all the way to Tokar.
It is a small village surrounded by hills. To
reach Sahar Tara, you again follow steep descent
path passing through few villages and sparse
vegetation. Sahar Tara is yet another village
with terraces which lacks necessary
infrastructure and far from modernization.
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Day 15 : |
Trek from Sahar Tara to Kanigaon (2540m.) via
Tarakot (2550m.) and Yalkot Khola (2520m.) which
takes about seven hours.
Crossing several villages you walk downhill all
the way to your destination. Tarakot is a small
village which falls en route. Yalkot Khola is
also a village which lies at the bank of Barbung
Khola. The camping spot Kanigaon is yet another
small village where you find a small market with
shops, tea houses and lodges.
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Day 16 : |
Trek from Kanigaon to Dunai (2150m.) which takes
about seven hours.
Leaving Kanigaon, you begin to follow gentle
descent path along the bank of Thulibheri river
passing through villages and terraces. Dunai,
headquarter of Dolpa district lies at the bank
of Thulibheri river. There are lodges, tea
houses, hotels, government offices, hospitals
and other infrastructure.
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Day 17 : |
Trek from Dunai to Juphal (2490m.) and it takes
about two and half hours.
After walking through flat level path for some
hours you begin to follow gentle ascent path
passing through villages, terraces and sparse
vegetation. You find farmers cultivating paddies
around this area. There are airport, offices,
lodges, tea houses, hotel and typical houses of
local people.
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Day 18 : |
Fly from Juphal to Nepalgunj which takes about
35 minutes.
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Day 19 : |
Fly from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu and it takes
about 40 minutes.
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Services
Included
National Park entry permit, Trekking permit,
Land transportation to and fro, Accommodation in
lodges during the trek, Food: three meals a day,
A guide & required number of porter(s),
Essential equipment.
Services
Excluded
Personal expenses, Insurance, Tips, Emergency
evacuation by Helicopter, Alternative
transportation in case of heavy rain, landslide,
strike, road blockade etc.
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