The Dolpo to Jumla Kagmara Expedition
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Dolpo to Jumla, Far-West Nepal -
18 Days
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An 18-day wilderness camping traverse connecting two of Nepal's most rugged districts. Witness Phoksundo Lake, conquer Kagmara La Pass (5,115m), and experience the dramatic transition from Dolpo's arid desert to Jumla's lush green valleys.
The Dolpo to Jumla Kagmara Expedition is an 18-day wilderness camping traverse that connects two of Nepal's most rugged and historically significant far-west districts. Your journey begins in the Lower Dolpo region, ascending the roaring Suli Gad gorge to witness the blinding turquoise waters of Phoksundo Lake and the ancient Bon heritage of Ringmo village. Leaving all permanent settlements and teahouse trails behind, your self-sufficient caravan will push deep into the absolute wilderness of the Kagmara valley. The physical crux of the expedition demands conquering the lung-busting Kagmara La Pass (5,115m), offering staggering, close-up views of the Kanjirowa massif. Crossing the great divide, the landscape violently transforms. You will descend from the stark, arid high-altitude desert of Dolpo into the lush, green alpine pastures and dense pine forests of Jumla, concluding your monumental traverse in one of the most historically rich agricultural valleys in the Himalayas.
Route Type: High-Altitude Wilderness Camping Traverse
Difficulty: Strenuous (Requires excellent cardiovascular endurance, isolation tolerance, and altitude acclimatization)
Maximum Altitude: 5,115 m / 16,781 ft (Kagmara La Pass)
Accommodation: Fully Supported Wilderness Tented Camping (with hotels in Kathmandu & Nepalgunj, and basic lodges possible in Jumla/Ringmo)
Permit Requirements: Lower Dolpo Restricted Area Permit (RAP), Shey Phoksundo National Park Permit, Trekkers' Information Management System (TIMS) Card
Insurance Requirement: Mandatory. Comprehensive travel insurance explicitly covering high-altitude helicopter rescue and emergency medical evacuation up to 6,000m is strictly required.
Your Himalayan adventure begins in the vibrant capital. Following an airport welcome and hotel transfer, your evening is dedicated to a rigorous gear check. Because this route involves severe high-altitude wilderness camping, your lead guide will verify your sub-zero sleeping bags and alpine layers.
You will take a short domestic flight down to the humid, subtropical plains of the Terai region. Nepalgunj is the historic gateway for goods moving between the lowlands and the high Himalayas, serving as your staging ground for the wild far-west.
A thrilling 35-minute mountain flight brings you to the tiny airstrip of Juphal. Meeting your expedition crew and pack mules, you will walk a short, descending trail through terraced fields to the banks of the Thuli Bheri River, arriving at the administrative hub of Dunai to establish your first camp.
Leaving Dunai, you pivot north and officially enter Shey Phoksundo National Park. The trail plunges into a steep, heavily forested gorge. You will trek through dense canopies of pine, fir, and walnut, crossing suspension bridges and passing isolated winter settlements before arriving at the clearing of Chhepka.
Continuing up the narrow gorge, the ascent is steady and incredibly scenic. The lush forests begin to thin out into alpine scrub as you gain elevation. You will pass cascading streams and shaded valleys, setting up camp at Jharana to the sound of nearby waterfalls.
A steep climb brings you to a high ridge offering a mind-bending viewpoint of the massive Phoksundo Waterfall (167m). Descending through birch forests, the blinding, surreal turquoise waters of Phoksundo Lake suddenly appear. You will arrive at the picturesque, mud-plastered village of Ringmo and set up camp right on the lakeshore.
A deeply rewarding day dedicated to physical acclimatization and exploring the ancient, pre-Buddhist Bon religion. You will explore the mud-plastered chortens of Ringmo and hike up the ridge to the magnificent 900-year-old Tshowa Gompa overlooking the lake.
You leave the main teahouse trails and permanent settlements entirely behind today. Veering westward away from the lake, you plunge into the deep wilderness of the Phoksundo Khola valley. The trail becomes rugged and remote as you establish a true wilderness camp surrounded by towering alpine peaks.
The environment turns completely hostile as you ascend higher into the alpine zone. Navigating rocky moraines and steep, wind-swept terrain, you will arrive at the freezing, desolate basin of Kagmara Base Camp. You will eat a heavy, high-calorie dinner and prepare your mind for the brutal alpine start.
The absolute physical climax of the expedition. Waking hours before dawn, you will tackle a grueling, oxygen-deprived slog up steep scree and snowfields to summit the 5,115m Kagmara La. The pass offers staggering, panoramic views of the Kanjirowa massif and the vast Dolpo plateau. A massive, knee-jarring descent drops you onto the Jumla side of the divide, setting up camp in an isolated high-altitude valley.
The environmental transition today is stunning. Leaving the stark, arid, rocky terrain of the high pass behind, you will descend rapidly into lush, green landscapes. You will hike through rich alpine pasturelands and dense forests, eventually arriving at the beautiful village of Chaurikot.
You are now deep in the historic Khas heartland. The cultural shift is absolute: the Tibetan Buddhist and Bon influences of Dolpo are replaced entirely by traditional Hindu villages. You will hike through the stunning, sheep-grazed meadows and dense pine forests of the Gothichaur valley to camp.
Your final day on foot. You will follow the Tila River valley, walking through highly productive agricultural lands famous for their red apples and unique red rice. You will finally march into the historic, bustling town of Jumla. Your trekking boots come off, and you will share a massive farewell dinner with your expedition crew.
Jumla is historically significant as the center of the ancient Khas Kingdom (the origin of the modern Nepali language). This day serves as a critical buffer for the unpredictable mountain flights tomorrow, while giving you time to explore the vibrant local markets and recover from the massive traverse.
You will board a twin-otter aircraft for the thrilling mountain flight out of the Jumla valley, soaring over the foothills and dropping back into the sweltering heat of Nepalgunj. You will transfer to a hotel to enjoy your first hot shower in weeks.
You will catch your connecting domestic flight back to the capital. Arriving in the sensory overload of Kathmandu, the rest of the day is yours to relax, eat heavily, and celebrate.
A final, essential safety net in case of weather delays flying out of Jumla. If you are perfectly on schedule, you have a full day to explore the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Kathmandu Valley or shop for gear in Thamel.
Your epic 18-day trans-Himalayan journey comes to an end. You will be transferred to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward journey, heading home with the elite accomplishment of completing the Kagmara crossing.
Note: Permits arranged by our team
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