Overview
The Lower Dolpo Trek is a remote, restricted-region journey centered on the Tarap Valley, Dho Tarap village, and the turquoise waters of Phoksundo Lake, offering a more accessible way to experience Dolpo’s legendary “hidden valley” than neighbouring Upper Dolpo. It sits within Shey Phoksundo National Park, the largest protected area in Nepal, where Tibetan Buddhist and Bon traditions have survived largely undisturbed thanks to the region’s isolation.
The trek begins with flights from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and on to Juphal, followed by a walk to Dunai, the district headquarters of Dolpa. From there the trail follows the Barbung Khola through Tarakot, Laini, and Nawarpani to Dho Tarap, a striking Bon Buddhist village where herds of yaks and sheep graze the surrounding hills. After acclimatizing, the route crosses two of the trek’s high points back-to-back — Numa La at 5,190 metres and Baga La at 5,070 metres — before descending to Ringmo village and the famous turquoise waters of Phoksundo Lake, then following the Suli Gad River back down to Juphal.
Permits for this trek are issued under Nepal’s Department of Immigration Trekking Permit system, alongside the Shey Phoksundo National Park entry fee.
For the deeper, more remote version of this region, see our Upper Dolpo Trek and If you’d prefer a shorter trip focused only on the lake itself, our Phoksundo Lake Trek skips the high passes entirely.
Highlights
- Explore the Tarap Valley and Dho Tarap, a Bon Buddhist village little changed by the outside world
- Walk beside the turquoise waters of Phoksundo Lake, the deepest lake in Nepal
- Cross two consecutive high passes, Numa La (5,190m) and Baga La (5,070m), on back-to-back days
- Trek through Shey Phoksundo National Park, Nepal's largest protected area and home to snow leopards
- Experience the ancient Bon religion alongside Tibetan Buddhist traditions
- Walk through remote villages along the old Tibet-Nepal salt trade routes
