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Wild Path Adventure
Explore the Wilderness in the Himalayas
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Beni to Dolpo Trek

  • Overview
  • Itinerary Detail
  • Cost Info
  • Trek Info

Overview

A tough but fascinating trek with 6 passes crossings and widely contrasting terrain. Passing through rich green rice fields up to alpine meadows, the trek enters territory that is completely Tibetan in feel and look. The area is sparsely populated and you are likely to see more sheep than people. Although the high passes may still be snow-covered, spring is a particularly lovely time to trek here, as the rhododendron forests are in full bloom.

This trek follows in the footsteps of Peter Matthiessen and George Schaller as they made their way to Inner Dolpo in search of the blue sheep and the Crystal Mountain.  Matthiessen’s “The Snow Leopard” and Schaller’s “Stones of Silence” are great books to take on this trek.

The Beni to Dolpo trek can be combined with some of the other Dolpo treks for a great traverse of the region.

Itinerary Detail

Beni to Dolpo Trek Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel. A representative from WildPath Adventure will welcome you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Free afternoon/evening.

Day 02: After breakfast, enjoy a pleasant morning walk and visit to the ancient Swayambhunath or Monkey Temple, which is a fascinating blend of Hindu and Buddhist religions. From the top you can see the surrounding Kathmandu Valley. Then visit Pashupatinath, the most important Hindu temple in Nepal. After lunch, visit the famous Durbar Square in Kathmandu. In the evening, we will have a welcome dinner and a chance for you to view traditional Nepali dancing.

Day 03: From Kathmandu drive 200 km to Pokhara (827m/7 to 8 hrs) by tourist bus or private car.  Overnight at lakeside hotel.

Day 04: Drive to Baglung by bus or private car (4 hrs) and trek to Beni (830m/2 to 3 hrs). Overnight at lodge. An easy first day’s walk, following the route of the Kali Gandaki River. Along the way you may see villages making the rice paper which used to make cards and stationary.

Day 05: Trek to Babi Chaur (950m./4 to 5 hrs). Overnight at camp.  A pleasant day, walking through villages and rice fields. If time permits, stop at the hot springs near Tatopani for a relaxing soak.

Day 06: Trek to Dharapani. (1550m/4 to 5 hrs). Overnight at camp. Crossing 2 rivers, the trail climbs through a series of switchbacks, finally offering the first good views of Dhaulagiri (8167m).

Day 07: Trek to Lumsum (2150m./6 to 7 hrs). Overnight at camp. Climbing ridges and passing through several Magar villages, the trek offers great mountain views to the north.

Day 08: Trek to Jaljala La. (3390m/4 to 5 hrs). Overnight at camp. Passing through rhododendron and scrub forest, the day’s trek ends at a large meadow, where the sunset views of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri and the Annapurnas are some of the finest in Nepal.

Day 09: Trek to Dhorpatan. (2860m./6 to 7 hrs). Overnight at camp. The trail continues across a plateau with superb views of Dhaulagiri, then descends to the Dhorpatan Valley, where there are several Magar settlements.

Day 10: Trek to Takur (3190m./7 to 8 hrs). Overnight at camp. A long, hard day, the trail now enters largely uninhabited wilderness, crossing the tree line and then descending into forest again.

Day 11: Trek to Tatopani (2400m./6 to 8 hrs). Overnight at camp. Heading west through a forest of oak and fir, the trail climbs to a ridge and drops again through deep forest.

Day 12: Trek to Dhule (3340m./ 4 hrs). Overnight at camp. A short trekking day, with a steep ascent past fields of corn and marijuana.

Day 13: Trek to Seng Khola (3820m./5 to 6 hrs). Overnight at camp. Trek across alpine ridges, with superb views of Dhaulagiri, into a great wilderness area.

Day 14: Trek to Purpang (4270m./5 to 7 hrs). Overnight at camp. The trail follows a ridge and then crosses Panidol La (4530m) before dropping into another alpine basin. Watch for blue sheep on the hills.

Day 15: Trek to Sahar Tara (3010 m./5 to 7 hrs). Overnight at camp. Climbing over 2 passes, there are great views of the Dolpo mountains. The descent today is a long one, but there are a few flat sections that are much appreciated by tired knees.

Day 16: Trek to Dunai (2030m./5 to 6 hrs). Overnight at camp. An easy day, ending at the capital of the Dolpo district, Dunai.

Day 17: Trek to Juphal (3 hrs)  and fly to Nepalganj and Overnight at hotel.

Day 18: Fly or Bus back to Kathmandu (1300m./45 min flight. 9/10 hrs bus ). Overnight in Hotel. Take flight or bus back to Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy the hot showers and cold beer and then relax for the remainder of the day. Wildpath Adventure can also take you to nearby shops and help you find the best prices for your gifts and souvenirs. The company will host a fantastic celebration dinner tonight on the occasion of successfully completing your trip and Beni to Dolpo Trek!

Day 19: Final Departure to your destination.

Cost Info

The Trip Cost Includes:

  • All airport/hotel transfers
  • Guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
  • 3 nights accommodation in 3-star hotel in Kathmandu (2 before trek, 1 after trek)
  • Camping accommodation enroute
  • Breakfast in Kathmandu
  • All meals enroute and boiled water in mountain
  • Welcome and farewell dinner
  • All ground transportation as per the itinerary by private vehicles
  • Salary for all expedition staff.
  • All necessary paper work, including trekking permits
  • Travel and rescue arrangements
  • All government and local taxes
  • Duffel bag, t-shirt, trekking map

The Trip Cost Does Not Include:

  • Nepal Visa fee
  • International airfare to and from Kathmandu
  • Excess baggage charges (if you have more than 15 kg luggage, cargo charge is around $1.5 per kg)
  • Extra nights accommodation in Kathmandu, Nepalganj orJuphal
  • Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu
  • Bottled beverages, including water
  • Snacks such as energy bars, candy or chocolate
  • Travel and rescue insurance
  • Personal expenses such as snacks, laundry, battery recharge, extra porters
  • Optional trips and sightseeing
  • Tips for guides and porters

Trek Info

Accommodation

Wildpath Adventure has chosen the best accommodation with your comfort and budget in mind. This includes staying in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu and camping in comfortable, two-person camping tents along the trekking route.

All accommodation is based on twin sharing but we will provide a single supplement if there is an odd number of participants. If you simply prefer a single room, this is available by paying an additional single supplement.

Meals

One of the joys of camping treks is the wonderful food prepared for you at each meal. From the first tea of the morning to the last meal of the day, you will be treated to meals that are nutritious, healthy, fresh and suitable for a mountain expedition.

The experienced and trained cooks will provide meals from a variety of cuisines such as Nepali, Sherpa, Tibetan, Continental, Italian and Indian cuisine. Breakfast and dinner will be taken at camp, while lunch will be prepared at a suitable rest spot along the way.

Note: Before arriving in Nepal, please advise Wildpath Adventure if you have any special dietary requirements or restrictions such that we can accommodate your request.

A Typical Day on the Trek

Soon after dawn breaks, you will be awakened and offered a steaming cup of tea or coffee by your Sherpa. A nutritious and appetizing breakfast awaits you after you dress for the day. Then you will trek for 3 or more hours before stopping for lunch at a scenic spot – often near a river or stream. You will have plenty of time to relax and take photos as you enjoy the lunch meal.

Throughout the day we will take rest breaks as needed and there will always be time to stop and admire the flowers, the scenery, a village or just to soak in the pleasure of being on an adventure in Nepal.

After lunch, we will usually trek for another 2-3 hours before reaching the campsite. On arrival you will have time to rest and enjoy another welcome hot mug of tea, coffee, or one of the trail favorites, hot lemon. There is usually time to explore a village or Gompa or the surrounding neighborhood, write in your journal or simply relax. After a delicious dinner .there will be a briefing on the next day’s program before you head off to the tent for a warm and snug sleep. You may be surprised to find that you are sleeping 10 to 12 hours per night, but that is normal on a strenuous trek.

The Trekking Group

For most treks there will be one guide, one assistant guide per 4 trekkers, one cook, and one Sherpa porter per 2 trekkers. This arrangement ensures that should anybody in the group fall sick, the trip can still go ahead as planned.

The minimum group size is 2 and the maximum is 12. However, if you'd like to make a group booking for more than that, we will be happy to arrange this for you.

What to Know

Fitness Requirements

In order to maximize your enjoyment of this trek, you will need to be in good physical condition and you will need to be prepared for rough conditions. In general, trekking consists of many days of walking for at least 5-6 hours, some of it on rugged terrain. You should also be very comfortable walking with a small daypack and carrying up to 5kg of weight.

In addition to a good level of fitness, we believe you must possess: a willingness to tolerate difficult conditions, a flexible mindset, a sense of humor and good health.

Health & Safety

Your safety and well-being are of paramount concern to Wildpath Adventure. For that reason, the trek leader has the authority to change or cancel any part of the trek if it is deemed necessary for safety reasons. Wildpath Adventure will make every effort to keep to the planned itinerary; however, we simply cannot guarantee it. Changes to the itinerary can occur due to weather conditions, the health of a team member or unexpected natural disasters. The leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please understand that these events are a possibility.

It is imperative that participants with pre-existing medical problems or conditions make these known to Wildpath Adventure when booking. Medical and evacuation expenses are the responsibility of the participant and must be covered by your personal travel insurance. It is also important that you consult your doctor for vaccinations and other medical requirements for your trip. Wildpath Adventure reserves the right to require a medical certificate prior to booking your trip.

Acclimatization

Any trek to high altitude carries with it the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness, or AMS. This is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness, generally caused by going up too fast. The higher the altitude, the less oxygen there is in the air. For example, at 6500m there is only half the oxygen that there is available at sea level.

Your body needs many days to adapt to this less-oxygen environment. Our itinerary is planned to allow sufficient time for acclimatization, by going up slowly and including acclimatization days as needed. It is not uncommon to experience mild headaches, loss of appetite or nausea when ascending, but these symptoms usually disappear with rest...

Although your appetite may diminish as you trek higher, it is very important to eat enough to maintain a good energy level. Similarly it is extremely important to drink sufficient water to stay hydrated. The trek leader will advise you on what is sufficient food and water and we ask that you follow his advice.

We also advise anyone with known heart, lungs or blood diseases to consult their doctor before traveling. Our itineraries are designed to prevent AMS as much as possible, but it is important to remember that some people are more vulnerable than others.

Our team will check very carefully to determine if anyone has a serious problem. If anyone is showing signs of AMS, they will not be permitted to trek higher and will be required to descend to a safe altitude with a member of the team. If the symptoms disappear at the lower altitude, the person may be permitted to rejoin the trek after a suitable rest period.

Please Allow Extra Time

We strongly recommend that you allow a few extra days at either end of your trip. In addition to the reasons mentioned above, flights in Nepal are notorious for being delayed anywhere from a few hours (common) to one week (rare) due to bad weather. This can occur even in the best trekking months.

If all goes well, you will then have extra days to enjoy in Nepal, taking in activities such as sightseeing near Kathmandu, river rafting, or perhaps relaxing at one of the nearby hilltop resorts.

In the event of bad weather, it may be possible to arrange a helicopter evacuation, which can vary in cost from USD $300 to $3500, depending on the demand.

What to Bring

The following list is a guideline of what you should bring with you for the trek. Please note that clothing for Kathmandu and other non-trekking destinations is not included in this list. While you can bring everything from your home country, it is also possible to rent or purchase almost everything in Kathmandu. Most of the gear for sale in Kathmandu is manufactured locally and thus considerably cheaper. However, it is also possible to buy brand name clothing and equipment at quality and prices that are comparable to home country prices.

At lower elevations on the trek it is likely to be very warm and the lightest of layers can be worn. However, at altitudes above 4000m it may be bitterly cold and windy, particularly after the sun disappears. The secret to staying warm and comfortable is to layer your clothing and to avoid cotton, as it becomes very cold when wet and is slow to dry. Pack with a minimalist view, as the load limit per person for porters and on domestic flights is 15kg.

Treks in Nepal are tough on gear and clothing. We recommend that you bring well-used items that can stand a fair bit of abuse. Many people bring gear that can be given away at the end of the trek to the porters or guides. Please check with Wildpath Adventure if you are uncertain about what to bring – we will be happy to advise you.

During the trek the porters will be carrying most of your gear. On the trail you can expect to carry in your daypack item such as 1 to 2 liters of water, your camera, a jacket for rest stops, sunscreen, tissue paper, a route map and binoculars.

CLOTHING

  • T-shirts – 2 or 3, long-sleeved and short-sleeved, quick-drying
  • Hiking shorts or capris
  • Lightweight Long Hiking pants
  • Lightweight thermal inner layer – top and bottom
  • Fleece pants and jacket
  • 2 pair inner liner socks
  • 2 pair outer socks, wool, medium to heavy weight
  • Shirt with collar

OUTERWEAR

  • Lightweight gloves
  • Heavyweight gloves or mittens and waterproof outer shell
  • Wind-Stopper jacket (optional)
  • Waterproof, breathable jacket
  • Down jacket
  • Waterproof, breathable shell pants
  • Warm hat or balaclava
  • Gaiters (for high-elevation treks and passes)

FOOTWEAR

  • Hiking boots
  • Camp shoes such as sneakers or Teva-like sandals
  • Down booties (optional, but very nice at high altitude camp)

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Camera and extra battery and card
  • Sun hat or bandana
  • Sunglasses with UV protection
  • 4 season sleeping bag (rated to -15 to -20 degree centigrade. Down is preferable)
  • Sleeping bag liner (optional, but very useful)
  • Trekking Bags/Duffel bag *
  • Headlamp with spare bulbs and batteries
  • Small lock
  • Basic First Aid Kit (Wildpath Adventure staff will also carry a team First Aid kit)
  • Daypack (approximately 2500 to 3000 cubic inches)
  • Trekking Poles
  • Water bottles (2) or camel back
  • Ear Plugs
  • Sewing and repair kit
  • Sarong (optional, but very useful when washing)
  • Energy bars, chocolate, candy
  • Water-purifying tablets or water filter pump

TOILETRIES

  • Sunscreen with high UV protection
  • Lip balm for altitude (e.g. Labazan)
  • Face and body moisturizer
  • 1 medium sized quick drying towel
  • Tooth brush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
  • Multipurpose soap (preferably biodegradable)
  • Deodorant
  • Nail clippers
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Small mirror
  • Wet wipes
  • Toilet tissue
  • Ant- bacterial hands wash

FIRST AID AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES

All of the items listed here can be purchased in Kathmandu, however you may prefer to bring trusted brands from home. Note also that Wildpath Adventure will carry an extensive first aid and medical kit, so please bring the minimum required. There are many good books and websites which carry extensive lists of recommended drugs and medical supplies. We suggest that you review this material before making any purchases.

  • Plasters/Band aids
  • Moleskin
  • General-purpose antibiotic such as Cipro
  • Headache medicine – (not Codein-based)
  • Anti-inflammatory pills
  • Antibiotic cream
  • Eye drops
  • Rehydration salts such as ORS
  • Multi-vitamins
  • Throat lozenges
  • Anti-diarrheal medicine
  • Anti-constipation medicine


And if your pack is still light:

  • Binoculars
  • Journal
  • IPOD (note that recharging may not always be possible)
  • Reading material
  • Travel game or cards
  • Photos from home

Travel Insurance

All participants in a Wildpath Adventure must have travel insurance. This will protect you against the risk of comprehensive expenses which may result due to medical emergencies or accidents. This insurance should include air ambulance, helicopter rescue, and treatment costs. Please be noted that we don't arrange or sell insurance and it is best to arrange this in your home country.

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Facts

Min/Max altitude : 830m./4420m

Grade : Medium-strenuous

Season : May-Oct

Accommodation : Lodge/ Tented Camp

Duration : 19 Days

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Contact Address:

Wildpath Adventure Pvt. Ltd.

P.O. Box No: 13257

Naya Bazar, Kathmandu, Nepal

Phone: 00977-1-4381016

Mobile: 00977-9851088016

Email: info@wildpathadventure.com

Canada Contact

Jette Helin

P.O. Box 1861

Garibaldi Highlands, British Columbia, Canada

Phone: 604-313-0221

Email: jette_helin@bigfootconsultinginc.com