Faq of Upper Dolpo Trekking

» How long is Upper Dolpo Trekking Trek?

Generally, Upper Dolpo Trek is 25 to 30 days long but you can customize/personalize the trekking days and the itinerary according to your requirement with Nepal Mountain Trekkers.

» What is so special about Upper Dolpo Trek?

Upper Dolpo Trekking is off the beaten path and welcomes fewer visitors compared to other popular trekking regions. Upper Dolpo is the largest district of Nepal on the basis of land; that comprises geographical structure quite similar to Tibetan highlands. Visit the deepest lake of the world, Shey Phoksundo, get insight to authentic lifestyle of local inhabitants, encounter rare floras and faunas along strenuous ascend and descend makes this trek one hell of an amazing experience.

» What is the minimum budget for Upper Dolpo Trek?

The budget for Upper Dolpo Trek ranges from USD 4,000.00 up to USD 6,000.00 or more depending upon the group the size, services you choose, and as per your requirements and specifications.

» How difficult is Upper Dolpo Trek?

Upper Dolpo Trek is long and challenging off the beaten path adventure around remote areas of Nepal. Therefore it requires a high level of physical fitness along with trekking experience around Himalayan surroundings.

» Is it safe to go for Upper Dolpo Trek after Earthquake?

The earthquake of 2015 had an adverse effect on the trekking trails and the local inhabitants back then but now after the patience and positive attitude of the people along with their effort and collaboration from several donors, the trails are totally recovered and fine for trekking again. Though the lifestyle of people is somehow still lagged behind in some reasons because of trekkers and their contributions, they’ve got a light of hope that they will rise again.

» What is the best time for Upper Dolpo Trek?

Upper Dolpo Trek could be organized anytime around the year but to experience the very best of this trek, we recommend you to trek in between August to the first week of October. During then, the dust would be vanished by the rain and the blossoming of floras and faunas would be picture-perfect so you will experience this trek at it's best. 

» Are there any hospitals or medicals during Upper Dolpo Trek?

Since Upper Dolpo is an isolated area of Nepal, there are barely several health posts along the trail where very basic medical facilities are available. Hence, it is recommended to have your own first-aid kid and regular medical supplies along with you during this trek.

» What will happen in the case of emergency during Upper Dolpo Trek?

In the case of emergency, our highly experienced and determined trekking staffs and guides who are the inhabitants of this region and are professional in these fields would guide you with the best instruction according to the situation. They are well aware of every kind of risks and the solutions and they would be in touch with the company along with your trekking session, so there is no reason to worry about, just enjoy the trek. On the other hand, we can also offer helicopter rescue service if required.

» What foods and accommodations can we expect during Upper Dolpo Trek?

During Upper Dolpo Trek, you would be staying overnight at tea-houses or lodges as well as in tent-camps and you will be majorly served with traditional Nepali dishes like Dal-Bhat.

» Why to choose Nepal Mountain Trekkers for Upper Dolpo Trek?

Nepal Mountain Trekkers is a travel agency formed with the involvement of highly experienced and professional trekkers with an experience of more than two decades in trekking in the Himalayas. Moreover, we do have staffs from all the special parts of the country to provide you with the proper and adequate information and make you enjoy the best of your trip. In our years of experience, none of our clients had any complaint or dissatisfaction from our company and till now all our previous clients highly recommend our team to their friends and family which is the reason behind our dedication and diligence. Once you trek with our team, you will surely think of visiting Nepal time and again with us as our other clients.

» Why do we need guide and porters for Upper Dolpo Trek?

It is necessary to take a highly experienced and licensed guide to instruct you and help you explore the best of this trek as well as to take care of you during the trek. If you go trekking without a guide then you won't get to know the things you ought to explore as well as there might arise several problems on the trail. On the other hand, to enhance the comfort of trekking, you might need porters to carry your loads. 

» Is the water safe to drink?

Since the trail of this trekking is mostly rural, the drinking water available during this trek would be tap water, well water or hand pumps and should be purified prior to drinking them. Hence, you should buy bottled waters or should have water purifying pills or any other equipment to ensure drinking safe water.

» What gears and equipment are required fro Upper Dolpo Trek?

HEAD

Sun hat or scarf
Light balaclava or warm fleece hat
Sunglasses
Head Torch
Suncreams(40+) and Lip Balms

UPPER BODY

Cotton t-shirts and thermals
Fleece jacket
Waterproof jacket
Down jacket

LOWER BODY

Lightweight cotton pants (long)
Waterproof pants
Inner thermals

FEET

Thin inner socks (3 pairs)
Thick, warm wool hiking socks
Comfortable hiking boots
Shower sandals

HANDS

Gloves (Cotton and Waterproof)
Creams
Sanitizer

ACCESSORIES

Sleeping bag rated to -10°C +
Trekking bag (Rucksack)
Duffel bag
Large plastic bags (for keeping items dry inside trek bag)
Trekking poles (optional, recommended)
Water bottle or camel bag
Toiletries and Tissue Papers

First Aid Kits 

Personal Regular Medicines
Knee Caps
Bandages
Ointments
Blister Tape

MISCELLANEOUS

Medicines: We recommend you to bring your regular medicines; we will provide first aid kit from our side.
Light-weighted Towel
Swiss Knife
Passport and extra passport photos
Water Purifying Iodine Tablets, Drop or Sterilizer

» Is it important to have insurance before going to Upper Dolpo Trek?

Well, it is not compulsory to be insured but as we already know “Prevention is better than cure”. If you are insured then you can have a relaxed trip without worries and enjoy with a free mind.

» Is it possible to get shower during the trek?

Yes, it is possible to get showers during Upper Dolpo Trek on the lodges you would be staying overnight or during acclimatization.

» Is Upper Dolpo Trek itinerary customizable?

Yes, of course, with Nepal Mountain Trekkers you can customize/personalize the trek itinerary and services to be provided according to your requirements.

» Is Upper Dolpo Trek safe for solo trekker or solo female trekker?

The trek could be extremely adventurous and exciting for solo trekkers and since you will be walking through off-the-beaten paths, it is somehow risky for the solo trekker and solo female trekkers. You need to be aware and capable of handling several situations in order to prevent from obligations and challenges during the trek. And since it is a restricted area and requires at least two trekkers in a group as well as a highly experienced and certified trekking guide is also needed for this trek. 

» Do we need a special permit for Upper Dolpo Trek?

Yes, you will need a special permit for Upper Dolpo Trek because you have to walk thru Shey Phoksundo National Park and Upper Dolpo itself is a restricted area. You would require Shey Phoksundo National Parks, Upper Dolpo Special Permit and Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) for Upper Dolpo Trekking.

» Will I get altitude sickness during Upper Dolpo Trek?

There is a possibility of getting altitude sickness during Upper Dolpo Trek but with proper acclimatization and health care as well as the guidance from trekking staffs, you shouldn’t face the trouble of altitude sickness.

» Could I use ATM and Credit Cards during the trek?

ATMs and credit cards are accessible only on the major cities of Nepal, so during your Upper Dolpo Trek, you can use ATMs and credit cards only while you are in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj.

» How much should I tip to my guide and porter?

Well, the tip for guide and other trekking staffs like porters and drivers is not mandatory but since they contribute their time apart from family to make you enjoy the best of your trip ensuring your safety and satisfaction, we recommend you to contribute some amount of tip for them. In Nepal, it is practiced that 10% of the total amount you pay for your trek and tour is contributed as a tip.

» How busy are the trails?

The trail is not quite busy at all since it is still not discovered by many people as well as it is a restricted area. Hardly few people have knowledge about this trek so it is perfect for the trekking seeking for peaceful and virgin trekking routes. 

» Is it possible to access the Internet during Upper Dolpo Trek?

Yes, you can certainly get access to WiFi in lodges and also mobile data during Upper Dolpo Trek for the Internet and to communicate with your friends and family.

» How do I charge my electronic devices during Upper Dolpo Trek?

While you are on Upper Dolpo Trek, you can get access to electricity or solar energy for charging your electronic devices at lodges and tea-houses but you can only get access to the two-pin adapter so you should bring conversion plug or another converter if your device charger is not suitable with two-pin plug. And while you stay overnight in tent-camps, it is recommended to have your own power supply if possible. 

» How much extra money should I take with me?

The extra money to be carried with you depends upon your daily expenses as well as the package you choose. On the full-board package, you will only need to carry around USD 20.00 to USD 50.00 for alcoholic and soft drinks, chocolates and other dry foods, toilet papers, souvenir shopping, and so on. Whereas, if you book the BNB package then the meals are not included in that package so you will need to have enough amount of extra money for your meals as per your requirement. The amount for one meal ranges from USD 5.00 to USD 15.00. 

» How should I greet people during Upper Dolpo Trek?

“Namaste” is the common form of greeting in Nepal which is often spoken as Namaskar. It is a traditional Hindu greeting and it is used both for salutation and valediction. Namaste is usually spoken with a slight bow and hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards, thumbs close to the chest.