Snow Leopard Trek 25 days

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu

Our airport representative will receive you with warm welcome and lead you to the hotel. A briefing by Snow Leopard specialist (Mr. Kamal Thapa) will be organized, if possibly with slide show. You can also interact with him. You will be also briefed about your schedules of the following days.

Day 02: Kathmandu to Nepalgunj flight

We take a flight on any domestic carrier that takes 55 minutes to Nepalgunj. Nepalgunj is a town in the western Terai, very close to the Indian border. It is a major trade hub for western regions of Nepal. Overnight stay will be at three star hotels.

Day 03: Fly Nepalgunj to Juphal and Juphal to Dunai (3hrs trek)

The flight takes 35 minutes to Juphal airport of Dolpa. Our trekking starts from Juphal descending through local villages of Juphal. Following the path along the riverside we reach the district headquarters of Dolpa, a small village called Dunai (2150m).

Here are the government offices, police check post and some other service centers. All the official procedures are carried out here. We stay overnight in Dunai either at Pala Guest House or Blue sheep Trekkers Inn.

Here you can also have an evening walk to the Bon Stupa, Buddhist Central Gompa and the first public school “Dunai Boarding School” just across the river Bheri.

Day 04: Dunai to Chhepka

We enter the Shey Phoksundo National Park and its headquarters at Suligard while trekking towards Chhepka, which has a few houses and lodges in the surroundings of wood.

On the way one can have fun and enjoy bird watch. The trail goes up and down along the forested riverbed and several streams on the way which soothes your heart. The trail continues along the valley to the camping site. We will camp for a night or stay in lodge at Chhepka.

Day 05: Chhepka to Polam

We start the trek to Polam through forests of big cedars towards Palam a winter settlement used by the people of Ringmo village. On the way we can also visit the Bon School “Tapariza” on the way.

Day 06: Polam to Phoksundo

We start up the dusty trail to a ridge at 3780 meter viewing the highest waterfall in Nepal (200 m). Our route then continues into Ringmo village, a picturesque settlement of flat-roofed stone houses with lots of Mani walls. We camp at the national park camping grounds to the west of the lake.

Day 07: Phoksundo Rest day

We take a day to explore the area around the magnificent Phoksundo Lake. The lakeis famous for its magnificent turquoise color and spectacular scenery. Many beautiful glaciers can be viewed above the lake.

There are many monasteries (Gompas ) and Bon-po religious sites at the park and we will visit some of the very old and important monasteries. We will explore the natural sites and enjoy our nature tour.

Moreover, if we are lucky enough and make a way around the lake we may catch a glimpse of the very precious and endangered species the Snow leopard.

Day 08: Phoksundo to Sallaghari

From Phoksundo we will start our journey by the side of lake climbing the stiff trail which you might have remarked in the movie “Caravan”, where a yak was fallen into the lake.

We trek along the precipitous and narrow trail to the western side of the lake. We can have clear views of the peaks Shey Shikkhar and Kang Chunne, both just over 6000 meters. The trail then descends to lead us to Sallaghari our camp for the night. The place is in the woods, surrounded with snow capped rocks.

Day 09: Sallaghari to Nangdalo Base camp

From Sallaghari, we trek up to Nangdalo base camp. We will go through the pine forest along with several brooks flowing through where the tunes of different chirps of birds make our walk pleasant.

Day 10: Nangdalo Base camp rest day.

The potential area in the Base camp where the snow leopard can be spotted is Perikopa where we will spend most of the day looking for it. We can observe foot prints and droppings of Snow Leopard along with its preys. We will have ample chance to see the Snow Leopard in this area.

Day 11: Nangdalo base camp to Shey Gumpa

Our trek begins towards Shey from the base camp crossing the Nangdalo Pass (5350M). Shey Gompa is one of the famous and oldest gompas of Dolpa, which is located nearby the holy mountain, called ‘Crystal Mountain’. The famous Shey Festival occurs here once in every 12 years, “The Dragon Year”. A red chorten marks the entrance to Shey, where we camp for the night.

Day 12: Shey 2 days rest

The area around the Tshakang gompa is one of the most potential areas to spot the Snow Leopard as recommended by the SL specialist Mr. Kamal Thapa. So we stay here for 2 days and wander around this area as there is a greater chance to encounter this beautiful creature in natural way.

Many people have noticed the foot marks/scratches left by the big cat near their houses. It is believed that it likes to consume salt and various marks can be found in the salty rocks found around the villages.

The abundance of Blue sheep around the area also increases the possibility of occurrence of the Snow Leopard in this area.

Day 14: Shey to Tata

After staying 2 days in Tshakang gompa and around, we head towards Tata.

Day 15: Tata to Vijer village via Shyamling Gompa

We leave Tata to lunch at Shyalming. Shyamling is actually known as the oldest Bonpo gompa of the nation. Tantrike lamas like Sherap Tenjin of this gompa is famous for his tantric knowledge. We will have an interaction with the lama.
After the lunch we will interact with the local people. One can gather interesting folklores about the snow leopard from the aged people with their mixed experience of joy and sorrows.

The people in this village know a lot about snow leopard because these people encounter them every now and then. They have good knowledge about the habits of snow leopard and they also have long experience on how to protect both their domestic animals and the endangered big cat.

WWF Nepal has assisted the locals to encourage them in the conservation programs by providing technical knowledge and financial support. They have formed the Snow Leopard conservation groups to guide the locals.

Day 16: Vijer to Nengla High Camp

Today walk to Nengla High Camp from vijer. This area is potential for Snow Leopard. The people have encountered with the big cat very often in this region.

Day 17: Neng La High Camp to Saldang

From Neng La High Camp we trek to Saldang crossing the Nengla pass 5368m. WWF Nepal has also supported the locals to form the Snow Leopard conservation groups in Saldang.

The group is active in the conservation so the numbers of snow leopard is increasing gradually in this area. Thinly Lundup the leading actor of Caravan movie who has been awarded with Abraham Conservation Award also resides in this village.

Day 18: Saldang to Rakyo (Chhore gaon)

In this trail we will have a straight walk to Chhore gaon where we camp. Though there are several villages on the way, the place where we will camp has cluster of three or four houses only.

Day 19: Rakyo to Jyanta La pass camp

Today we trek from Rakyo (Choregaon) to Jyanta La pass camp.

Day 20: Jyantala pass camp to Dho Tarap

On our way from Jyantala pass camp to Dho Tarap we will be crossing the pass Jyanta 5221m which is also known as Chyngla pass. Most of the time, we receive mild precipitation on the pass. The trail is calm without any human disturbance. On this trial we will be able to see the prey of Snow Leopard and sometimes Snow Leopard too.

Day 21: Dho Tarap to Lang village

The settlement of humans at the highest elevation is in Dho VDC the village is known as Khangar (4440m). You can gather more knowledge and legends from the villagers about the big cat. Sometimes people encounter the Snow Leopard in the village itself.

It is pleasant and wide spread valley where you can enjoy other natural and cultural heritages. After taking a glance at the glorious heritage we start the trek from Dho and enter a highly potential habitat of Snow Leopard, Lang valley and Mirbhu, the pasture lands, where the local people make the shades for their cattle.

Here we will have thorough surveillance of the area, the habitat of Snow leopard, ‘Lang’ the valley and “Mirbhu” the pasture. We have ample chances to spot the Snow Leopards around this place. We camp here for the night.

Day 22: Lang village to Thajam

The trek descends to Thajam through rocky hills surrounded by fir and pines. We will be descending towards the hilly region from the mountain desert. So, it will be a joyful walk along the riverside with beautiful sightseeing and bird watch.

Day 23: Thajam to Tarakot

We will start the trek ascending a little having the view of Putha himal and Dhaulagiri range then descends through rocky trails to Tarakot. Above the camping area there is a village where the people use to speak a typical language “Kaike”.

Day 24: Tarakot to Juphal

From Tarakot the trail gently descends through small clusters of houses on the way. You can view several places for winter settlements. Then we will re enter the district headquarter of Dolpa, Dunai Bazar. Leaving Dunai we will head the only air strip, Juphal to spend the last night in Dolpa. You can enjoy and share experiences with all your companions. The porters will depart for their homes after days of trekking.

Day 25: Fly back - Juphal to Nepalgunj to Kathmandu

You will reach Nepalgunj by an early flight. From Nepalgunj you will fly back to Kathmandu. Finally a traditional Nepali farewell dinner will be organized in Kathmandu.