Lower Dolpo

Trip Facts:
Trek Code: BATE NEP 24
Trek Name: Lower Dolpo
Grade: Strenuous
Max Elevation: 5360m/17585ft
Accommodation: Hotel/Camp
Meal: Breakfast in Hotel & All Meal in Trek
Transport: Flight or Private vehicle
Trek Days: 22
Total Days: 26

Trip Summary:

An outstanding trek in the isolated area of west Nepal where trek can also be done even in the mid monsoon as it lies in the rain shadow area formed by the Dhaulagiri & Annapurna ranges. The trek begins at the STOL airstrip of Juphal after a short flight from the terrain town of Nepalgunj which is well connected by both road and air from Kathmandu. Trekking in the Dolpo region has its own charm, people here still leads a primitive life, yet they are friendly. This is also one of few areas where pre-Buddhist Bon Po religion is still practiced. The trail goes over three high passes, the Kagmara La [5115m], Baga La [5090m] and Numa La [5360m] passing the deep-blue tranquil Phoksumdo Lake and finally concludes at Juphal descending the gorge-side path of Tarap Khola. A physically fit person can do this trip anytime in April to October. November can be a bit risky as the pass is covered by the snow.

Trek begins with warm traditional welcome and quick safety briefing followed by comprehensive trip briefing next day, introduction to your guide and entertain last minutes questions.

Outline Itinerary: 

General Information on Treks:

Best Time to Trek:

Spring (February-April) 

Spring is a good time to trek especially the latter half. This is the time for a wide variety of wild flowers to bloom. Along the trek routes, many hillsides look spectacular with rhododendrons blossoming in many hues. During this season, the hillsides above 5000 meters turn into beautiful landscapes. It is mildly warm at lower elevations, and as you climb higher (above 4000 meters), the mountain views are superb and the temperature is quite moderate.

Pre-Monsoon (May-mid June) 

It gets that much hotter, hazier and unsettled in May & early June. The warming Asian landmass has begun drawing up air from the south, ushering in the pre-monsoon – a season of erratic weather and increasingly frequent afternoon storms. If you are looking for solitude on your trek, this is a good time to go. It is also a good time for going high but be prepared for rain, especially in the traditionally wet areas of Annapurna and eastern Nepal. 

Monsoon (mid-June to September) 

Few foreigners trek during this period because of the rain, mud, leeches, travel difficulties caused by landslides and general lack of mountain views. However, some treks in Nepal’s far west are sheltered from the impact of the monsoon. And even in wet areas, mornings are often clear, and wild flowers and butterflies can be seen in abundance.

Autumn: (October to November)

Autumn is the possibly the best time to trek and visit Nepal in terms of weather, festival activities. The main festival of Nepal takes place during October and November called Dasain and Tihar (festival of light). The disadvantage of this season is heavy tourist traffic, BATE have been encouraging valued guest to visit in spring if possible in order to avoid busy tourist season. 

Winter: (December to January)

This is consider cold season, there are many group visit Nepal to celebrate Christmas and New Year. Trekking is possible in most of the area including Everest base camp. This season is ideal to visit Pokhara and Chitwan National Park where temperature is much warmer than Kathmandu. 

Clothes and Other Tips:

While having the right kit with you for a trek is important, high-tech kit is not essential, especially for the lower treks which some people do in trainers, especially in the warmer months. Mountain Travel treks provide porters who will carry personal belonging but it is an idea to have a day-pack for essentials such as a water bottle, torch, gloves, hat, sun cream etc. Bring plenty of sun screens and never underestimate the power of the sun at high altitude. (We shall send you detail check-list on request)

Packing:

We recommend that the best type of luggage on trek is a good sized, strong, cylindrical bag with a top-length zip. In addition you will require a day-pack and an additional bag for things that you may wish to leave in Kathmandu.

What to leave in Kathmandu: 

Basically, leave whatever “smart” clothes (if any) you have brought for evening and city day wear. Things are very informal at even the best hotels in Kathmandu and many visitors wear clean trekking clothes throughout the day. Bags can be left in the safe-keeping of your hotel whilst on trek as hotels in Kathmandu hotels are well-versed in the habits of trekkers and mountaineers. Do not leave valuables in your luggage. Arrange with the manager for them to be deposited in the hotel safe. We suggest leaving valuable documents, ornament, original passport and anything you think that you do not need on trek.

What to wear on trek:

You must anticipate your daily clothing requirements at the beginning of each day and you will be assisted in this choice by your Sherpa leader or sirdar. Mornings and late afternoons are cool in the mountains, so you will start the day’s walk warmly clad and proceed to shed clothes as the sun’s heat increases. For example, you may start the day in trousers and pullover but by midday shorts and a light shirt will do. This is where the day pack comes in handy.

What you carry on trek:

On an organized trek you will just need to carry your day pack which should be a small, soft, light rucksack, comfortable enough to carry throughout the day. Fully packed it should weigh 5-7 pounds and should hold your warm or lightweight clothing, jacket, pullover, trousers or shorts. Also, a lightweight waterproof, water bottle, camera, notebook, map and other personal effects should be kept with you - try to anticipate what you will need for the day as the rest of your luggage will be ahead or behind you with the porters. Keep your day pack light or else misery will result!

What will be carried for you?

The porters will carry your bag containing clothes and personal items not required during the day and are carried from camp/teahouse to camp/teahouse in a pannier on a porter’s back.

Once you have packed your duffel bag in the morning, you will not see it until the next camp or teahouse is reached in the late afternoon. A duffel or soft canvas bag should be used, not a suitcase as it has to be packed into a basket. Crushable or fragile items in the bag are prone to damage if not well-padded with clothes...

Food and drink: 

BATE Full Support treks provide each person with substantial and delicious food throughout the day. Early morning your Sherpa leader will wake you with tea and coffee and hot water for washing. A light breakfast of bread, butter, jam and crackers will then be served - the point of the light breakfast is that the early start allows you to make the most of the day on the trail, frequently the best mountain views are in the morning.

Brunch on the trail will consist of porridge, eggs (usually with sausage or meat and beans), potatoes, bread, jam etc. with tea or coffee. On arrival at the campsite it is possible to have tea consisting of a hot drink, bread, crackers, jam, peanut butter and probably cheese (depending on local supply). The evening meal will consist of soup, main course, sometimes a dessert and hot drinks. 

For those doing a teahouse trek, the teahouses are well stocked for trekkers offering a staple diet of eggs, porridge, custard, chocolate and muesli amongst other foods. Often, the international delicacies promised on the menu are unavailable… Local dishes of dal bhaat, chowmein, packet noodles and seasonal vegetables are readily available unlike much of the western food on offer.

Trek Permit:

Due to a recent change in government regulations many areas no longer require trekking permits. However, should one be required we will forward you a trekking permit application form which should be completed as soon as possible and returned to us with 3 passport sized photographs and photocopy of the relevant pages of your passport. Your actual trekking permit will be handed over in Kathmandu.

For those planning to trek independently you will need to look into whether or not you need a permit. Permits are no longer required for the standard routes in the Annapurna, Everest and Langtang/Helambu/Gosainkunda areas. However, National Park Fees and TIMS (Trekkers Information Management System) are required before entry.

Permits are still required for treks passing through the restricted areas of Kanchenjunga, Olangchung Gola, Rolwaling, Manacle, Upper Mustang, Dolpo, Mugu, Humla and Api-Saipal. Permits for these routes must be obtained by or through a registered agency, and for some routes a government liaison officer is required

Different Types of Trekking Arrangement: 

Trekking, the meaning of which is “travel by foot along mountain trails”, can be done for just a few days or for a month or more, in the same style as exploratory or mountaineering expeditions. Whilst trekking, Sherpas serve as guides, interpreters, cooks and camp staffs. Porters, horses or yaks carry all food, fuel, camping equipment and your personal belongings so that you need only carry what you might want during the day. At night either you can stay in tents or local lodges known as tea-houses and sleep in sleeping bags, all of which are carried with the trekking party.

Full Support Treks: 

Full Support treks provide a charming angle to trekking in the Himalayas. Accommodation is in the form of luxury tents, which are put up at the end of each day by BATE’s expert porters who carry the equipment from place to place throughout the trek with the help of pack animals. 3-course meals are prepared and cooked for you by our trained chefs that accompany you on your trek. Fresh supplies of vegetables, eggs and meat are purchased locally wherever available. Warm water is provided for washing in the mornings and evenings.

Full Support Group Treks & Expeditions: 

We have offered some popular trekking and tours in Nepal and Tibet on a fixed departure basis. These trips are joined by our valued clients from all around the world and are normally comprised of between three and ten participants. Most of the trips are guaranteed to operate with only two persons without affecting the cost. 

Tailor - Made Full Support Treks:

BATE designs customized itineraries for individuals, families, and small groups of friends wishing to trek alone with full support services.

Full - Arrangement Tea House Treks: 

BATE highly recommends this Eco-friendly arrangement of trek wherever the lodges have been built so money can be spent locally. During this trek client will spend night in a cozy tea houses which is a normally built in a traditional Nepali house with private room with 2 beds with bedding, bathroom normally shared by 2 or 3 rooms. We provide with a guide as well as a porter for your personal belongings and sleeping bags. Meals are taken in the restaurant of tea houses.

Part - Arrangement Tea House Treks: 

We also arrange guide, porter, accommodation support for the more independent-minded trekker who do not mind organizing their own meal as per their budget.  We set you on your way with one of our experienced guides and a porter to carry your equipment.

Expedition Services:

We cater for major full scale Himalayan expeditions. Our involvement can be tailored to suit the budget of the Expedition but in most cases we cut out the bureaucratic hurdles involved with obtaining permission as well as provide the support of some of our top Sherpas.

Expedition Support Treks:

For major Himalayan expeditions we also organize special support treks to expedition base camps for families & supporters of the expedition members.

Recreational Climbing: 

Today, many of the smaller Himalayan peaks can be successfully climbed by recreational mountaineers on a relatively short holiday expedition. Considering the distances one must fly, the costs can be quite reasonable, and a small expedition to Nepal need no longer be an impossible dream. We organize short-duration expeditions to a number of 20,000-foot Himalayan peaks.

School Expeditions:

We also offer a complete Himalayan treks & expedition service to schools. We can advise on the appropriate region and destination in the Himalayas to suit the school's objectives. We will handle all the arrangements, supplying detailed itineraries, comprehensive information booklets and equipment lists. 

Gap Year Programme:

• BATE have been successfully organising long and short term Gap Year program for both student experience individual since 2001. 
• BATE is official Nepal representative for Oyster Worldwide, United Kingdom. www.oysterworldwide.com
• BATE is the official Travel partner of Future for Nepal, an INGO that has organized charity treks to raise funds for their charity activities www.futurefornepal.com/charity treks
• BATE also provides logistic support to volunteers from (FOTWA) friends of Tibetan woman association. www.artrefugee.com 

Special Interest Treks:

Many individuals or organizations want to arrange a special interest trek which is precisely tailored to suit their particular interest. These trips might be culturally orientated or specifically for bird watching and the like. Together with our associate companies we are also able to provide trek leaders with expert knowledge on specific subjects. BATE have already organized Ayurvedic Tour, Buddhist Pilgrimage tour both in Nepal and other outbound destination, Tour of Power places.  

Quid Pro Quo for Trekking:

It is up to the trekker as to what sort of trek he/she would like to do and this can be discussed with BATE’s expert team of advisors when you come to book your trek. Trekking does involve an element of fitness and obviously, the more strenuous the trek, the better it is to be fit. People of all ages, standards and abilities trek through the Himalayas - whatever your specifications, BATE can fulfill them.

If your trek goes through any of the national parks or conservation areas a separate entry ticket is required. In most cases the fee is simply collected at entry point; however, for Annapurna treks tickets must be bought in advance in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Children under 10 receive free admission.

Other considerations before embarking on a trek include good insurance that covers “hazardous sports”. It is also a good idea to register with your embassy in Kathmandu as this will speed up the rescue process in the highly unlikely event that you will need rescuing. 

Trek Cost: 

Full support trek prices include:

• All meals on treks cook by our chef.
• All communal equipments such as sleeping, dining, toilet tents, chair and table, crockery etc. 
• The service of an English speaking guide, Sherpa crew, cooks and all portage. 
• Trek staff insurance. 
• Trekking permit. 
• National Park Fee and government formalities.
• Back up support of BATE in case of emergency.
• Overland transportation to and from trek initiation point as necessary.

Full arrangement tea house treks include:

• Accommodation in Lodge en-route.
• The services of an English speaking guide and all Porterage. 
• All meal major meal en-route (breakfast, lunch and dinner). 
• Trek staff insurance. 
• Trekking permit. 
• National Park Fee and government formalities.
• Back up support of BATE in case of emergency. 
• Overland transportation to and from trek initiation point as necessary.

Part arrangement tea-house trek include:

• Accommodation in Lodge en-route.
• The services of an English speaking guide and all Porterage. 
• Trek staff insurance. 
• Trekking permit.
• National Park Fee and government formalities.
• Back up support of BATE in case of emergency. 
• Overland transportation to and from trek initiation point as necessary.

Note: All part arrangement tea houses and meals must be paid for directly.

Health:

No inoculations are legally required for Nepal. However, we recommend shots against Typhoid, Tetanus, Meningitis, and Polio & Hepatitis. Please also check on your polio immunization. Please consult your doctor well in advance of departure as some jabs require 3 doses over a period of 3-6 weeks. And carry certificates as proof of immunizations, should they be required.

Malaria: 

Malaria is present throughout India and lowland Nepal, especially in the more heavily populated plains. Anti-malaria courses in tablet form are advised during the warmer period (February – May).

Health on trek: 

Blistered feet, coughs, colds and minor stomach upsets are the most common troubles on a trek in Nepal. If your feet feel sore, sit down at once and apply a moleskin or fabric Elastoplasts. Do not delay or a blister will form and cripple you for days. We cannot emphasis too strongly the need for comfortable well-fitting training type shoes on low altitude treks and well-broken in boots for those higher altitude treks. Look after your feet!

Sore throats must be guarded against since they are common and can often lead to long-lasting colds and coughs. Ensure that you keep warm especially in the evenings and early mornings.

Stomach troubles do occur while trekking and water is the usual culprit – you need to drink plenty of fluids on your trek. However clean and clear a mountain stream looks assume that all running water is contaminated and is in need of being treated. Bring a supply of purification tablets or iodine crystal solution as an extra precaution if you like. Given sufficient time these will sterilize possibly-contaminated water. To make it more palatable orange-flavored tablets such as Redo on (available from chemists) are a good idea.

For Full Support treks do not on any account drink water that is not boiled for you first by your trek Sherpas. Upon request, water will be boiled in the evenings for use in your water bottles the following day.

Fitness: 

Prior to embarking on a trek it is best to have a medical check-up especially if you are in any doubt about your health. Certain chronic heart and respiratory complaints may be aggravated by physical exertion at high altitudes so inform your doctor of your intentions and the altitude to be reached.

Mountain or Altitude Sickness: 

Mountain or Altitude sickness normally manifests itself at altitudes in excess of 11,000ft and respects no one. A young fit sportsman may suffer when the other older less fit members of the party do not. Every year we arrange treks for many people well into their 60s and 70s and they experience no discomfort; in fact they are probably less susceptible for they tend not to race around the routes as the younger generation do and are more willing to admit they feel unwell. The golden rule is doing go too high too fast. Take things at a leisurely pace in the mountains for trekking is not a forced route march and with this basic rule adhered to, altitude sickness should not be a problem. Above 3000m, the daily net elevation gain should be no more than 500m. Drink plenty of fluids at altitude as the air is extremely dry – the rule of thumb is that unless your pee is clear, you are not drinking enough. Symptoms of Mountain sickness include headaches, dizziness, insomnia, nausea, loss of appetite, shortness of breath and swelling of the hands and feet. One or two of these shouldn't be cause for panic but they are a sign that your body hasn’t yet adjusted to the elevation. You shouldn’t ascend further until you start feeling better or if you do keep going, be prepared to make a hasty retreat if the conditions get worse. Serious symptoms (persistent vomiting, delirium, loss of co-ordination, bubbly breathing and bloody sputum, rapid heart rate or breathlessness, blueness of face and lips) can develop within hours and, if ignored, can result in death. The only effective cure for Mountain Sickness is descent. Anyone showing serious signs of the illness should be taken downhill immediately, regardless of the time of day or night, preferably by porter or pack animal. Recovery is usually dramatic, often after a descent of only a few hundred vertical meters. Barraged by medical advice and horror stories, trekkers all too often develop altitude paranoia. The fact is that just about everyone who treks over 4000m experiences some mild symptoms of mountain sickness but serious cases are very rare and the simple cure, descent, almost always brings immediate recovery. In addition to being physically fit, trekkers should also be prepared to adopt a mental flexibility during the trip. Nepal is a beautiful country with delightful people but a developing country nevertheless and world apart from home. One must adapt accordingly when traveling through a region where there will be different cultures, customs and values.

Other health considerations on the mountain: 

Understandably, much emphasis is placed on the prevention of Altitude Sickness but frostbite and hypothermia also pose a threat to trekkers, especially those trekking above 3000m.

The symptoms of hypothermia are similar to those of Mountain Sickness – slurred speech, fatigue, irrational behavior and loss of co-ordination. Low body temperature is the surest sign. Heat is the treatment. Put the victim in a good sleeping bag, preferably with another person for body heat, and ply with warm food and drink.

Frostbite appears initially as small white patches on exposed skin, caused by local freezing. The skin will feel cold & numb. To treat, apply with warmth. Avoid a second dose of frostbite as this can lead to permanent damage.

Getting into shape: 

For all but the most strenuous routes, walking is the best training for trekking. Do as much as you can in the weeks prior to your trek. If you are a regular hill walker or rambler you can cope with almost any trek in the Nepal Himalayas. Trekking is not a tough, masochistic exercise, but a slightly strenuous walk through some of the world’s most magnificent mountain scenery. If you are reasonably fit and healthy you will enjoy it all the more. However, for long treks at high altitude you cannot be fit enough and we advise a serious training programme. 

High altitude treks are quite safe provided that you are physically fit and prepared for walking. Treks follow trails through the mountains and merely require walking not climbing. Going too fast is a certain recipe for trouble and this is why our expert Sherpa sirdar gauges the pace of the trek according to the physical abilities of each individual.

Water: 

On camping trek, our staff will boil and cook meals treated by potassium permanganate or iodine. On half arrangement lodge trek, you will be able to buy safe hot drinks in the tea house. We recommend you to bring water purification pills iodine tablet to treat water, use one each tablet for one liter of water and leave half an hour to enable iodine to be effective. You can now buy iodine and neutralizer in one pack in local pharmacy. Speak to your BATE guide for assistant.

Important note:

In the event that you have an accident or become seriously ill whilst on trek it may be necessary to bring you back to Kathmandu by helicopter. Should this happen you are required to pay for the helicopter and any other subsequent charges plus the mandatory 10% service fee. These costs should be paid directly before you leave Nepal. We require all participants on trek to sign a “Risk and release guarantee” form prior to departing on trek to agree to this and other matters.

Insurance: 

Please note that it is essential that you are fully insured. Proof of insurance may be requested after your arrival in Kathmandu. We advise that helicopter evacuation is also included. Insurance is not readily available in Nepal.

First Aid Kit:

We supply a first aid kit with standard medicines prescribed by trekking doctors. It would be better if you bring your own medical supplies. We suggest that you take some pain-killing pills with you and enough medicine for cold, diarrhea, nausea and fever. Some nasal ointment and throat-moistening pills will greatly be of help for those who are sensitive to chilly or freezing weather conditions and enough medicine if you are taking any routine medicine. Age is no barrier to take an unforgettable trekking experience.

Finance: 

Whilst credit cards are now widely accepted we suggest that you rely on traveler’s cheques or cash.

On arrival, change some money into small denominations – useful for tipping ( new regulation 10% services charge normally included in restaurant, hotel bills) and paying taxis (no-one ever has any change). A word of warning – do not accept any torn or damaged notes as these will be difficult to pass on.
Discourage begging: you will notice many beggar

Rescue/Evacuations: 

In case of a serious sickness or a casualty, which we believe will not happen; we will do everything to transfer you to the nearest hospital. Since you are entirely liable for all the expense incurred in evacuation please make sure that it is covered by your insurance before assigning for it or be prepared to pay on your own after getting back to Kathmandu.

Insurance: 

you must bring insurance covering cancellation, medical expenses, helicopter evacuation, burglary and emergency repatriation.

Responsible Travel:  

The beautiful environment of the Himalayas is also an extremely fragile one.  BATE is extremely conscious about the environment and aim to minimize the detrimental impact on the environment as much as possible. 

As deforestation is one of the greatest environmental threats. We also discourage trekkers from using wood-fuelled hot showers in lodges along the way. Many lodges, however, now provide solar hot showers, a far more eco-friendly alternative.

Garbage disposal is another major problem. Some of the busier trails are at times strewn with litter and garbage thrown by irresponsible trekking groups. Our staff members are well motivated towards eco-friendly practices. We carry the non-biodegradable garbage, apart from that which can be safely and easily burnt at the campsite. Our aim is to help protect and preserve this beautiful environment for future generations of trekkers to enjoy.

Trip Extensions: 

In addition to your trek, we can organize extensions both within Nepal and other neighboring countries. You may want to try rafting or a jungle safari in Nepal or Nepal Cultural Tours .If you wish, you may as well take a trip to Tibet, India or Bhutan. 

Social Responsibility: 

BATE has been involved in various social activities working closely with some dedicated local NGO and INGO to help underprivileged communities with various activities including community work. BATE currently maintain garden belong a refugee camp.  BATE have been also engaged in community development project through its gap year project since 2001. BATE provide all the necessary logistic travel arrangement of Future for Nepal... www.futurefornepal.com 

Care for Porters and Staff: 

We ensure that all porters and all other staff going into high altitude conditions are provided with adequate clothing and equipment. We make sure each of our field staff are insured and continue providing training to improve their efficiency and for their personal development. 

Leader(s) & Staff Arrangements:

All our Trek Leaders are well experience and professional. They are humble but highly respectful in trekking field and capable of handling extreme situation. We request our valued customer not to underestimate their capability and treat them with respect.

A Typical Day on Trek:

• Early morning your Sherpa will knock on your door offer bed tea.
• Followed by a basin of hot water to wash in. 
• Then it's time to order breakfast.
• Pack up your kit. 
• Trek Begins.
• Reach next overnight place, check-in lodge or camp. 
• Serve tea/coffee.
• Dinner is served.
• Trek briefing for next day, some leisure time.
• Good night sleep.

Pre Trek Briefing:

Prior to all our expeditions and treks, we host a Pre-Trip meeting here in Kathmandu on the 2nd day.   We will that that point introduce you to your trek Leader and will provide an opportunity for individuals to ask questions about the trek and to introduce you to other team members.

Accommodation:

During lodge trekking accommodation are mainly in lodge. We provide twin bedded room with shared bathroom. Most Lodges now provide hot shower for extra charge. 

In cities, we provide accommodation in one of the best known Hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara and of course per our client's preferences.  For best value we use Hotel Nirvana Garden www.nirvanagarden.com located in a quiet area of famous district of Thamel where all facilities are in walking distance and in Pokhara we use Hotel Meera, a landmark of Pokhara located in the Lake Side owned by ex. British Gorkha officer.  www.hotemeera.com.