An adventure in the Nepal’s Far North West with Team Himalaya expert
guides trek and climb on Dhampus/ Thapa Peak & Hidden Valley, an
overwhelming trip on the least visited and explored region of massif
Dhaulagiri mountain region above the world’s deepest gorge of
Kali-Gandaki River Valley.
Dhampus / Thapa peak stands soaring at
6,012 meters in between huge giant peaks of Dhaulagiri, Tuckuche and
Nilgiri’s Himalaya, where the top summit offers tremendous panorama of
snow clad mountains that encircles the amazing spot of the climb.
Team
Himalaya Dhampus / Thapa Peak & Hidden Valley adventure starts from
the picturesque Pokhara Valley with an interesting drive towards North
West following the old Trans Himalayan Salt Trade Route between Nepal
and Tibet where caravan trail leads through Upper Mustang and beyond to
South Western Tibet where the trade between the borders still exists as
it was for hundreds of years.
This awesome journey to Dhampus /
Thapa Peak & Hidden Valley with Team Himalaya continues passing
lovely traditional villages and towns of Beni, Tatopani, Ghasa, Tukuche
and charming Marpha village famous for its apples orchards and its
products, the villages enrich with old cultures and Buddhist religions
visiting its old monasteries, after few days of enjoyable time leaving
the human settlement for complete wilderness towards remote area of
Hidden Valley in perfect isolation in the harmony of nature and huge
mountain landscapes, this area offers excellent panorama of array of
snow capped peaks from Mukut Himal,Tukuche peak and the world’s 7th
highest Mt. Dhaulagiri 8,167m, Nilgiri’s to world’s 10th highest
Annapurna and its massive mountain range. The trek involves crossing the
high Dhampus / Thapa pass at 5,250 meters with awesome panorama of
mountains and valley. After few days of acclimatization and preparation
our Team Himalaya expert guides will lead you to the summit of Dhampus /
Thapa Peak at 6, 012 meters high, although the climb is rated PD +
which is straight forward climb with some technical section to overcome
where our guides will paved the route of the climb by fixing ropes and
making ice ledges to make it more accessible for the climb. From the top
summit grand panorama awaits you, after marveling the views feeling
high and top of the world descent by the same route and trek all the way
to Marpha and to Jomsom for the scenic flight back to Pokhara and
Kathmandu after an enjoyable and experience of a life time with Team
Himalaya to Dhampus / Thaps Peak & Hidden Valley adventure.
Details itinerary:
- Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu received by Team Himalaya staff.
On arrival meet our TH staff for courtesy transfer to respective hotels
in the heart of Kathmandu at Thamel area, an interesting place for
shopping and having meals in one of the many world class restaurants,
pubs and bakery.
Our guide will inform on details regarding trek and climb of Dhampus / Thapa Peak & Hidden Valley.
Day 02: In Kathmandu with sightseeing tour at places of interest.
Morning after breakfast at given time our city and cultural guide will
guide you in and around Kathmandu at places of interest and importance,
as Kathmandu Valley is full of World Heritage Sites the holy
Pashupatinath temple, Bouddhanath (Little Tibet), Swayambhunath (Monkey
Temple) & monasteries, ancient Kings Palaces and courtyard in
Kathmandu; after an interesting sightseeing back to the hotel,
preparation for the trip to Dhampus / Thapa Peak & Hidden Valley
trek and climb.
Day 03: Drive or fly to Pokhara 950m 6 hrs ride.
With an option of driving or taking a flight, whatever your choice and
interest a scenic drive takes about 6 hours to Pokhara, which is quite
interesting on the Nepal’s main highway following the Trisuli river for a
while and then heading west with views of Ganesh, Langtang Himal as it
gets closer to Pokhara with Annapurna and Manaslu range of peaks. In
Pokhara the haven for tourist a scenic place with mountains and lakes,
here in Pokhara transfer to hotel by the lake Phewa (Fewa) for
overnight.
Day 04: Fly to Jomsom 2,715 m and drive to Marpha 2,630 m.
Early morning transfer to Pokhara airport for the sweeping, scenic short
flight to Jomsom, the flight taking 22 minutes with awesome views from
the plane overlooking Mt. Dhaulagiri, Tukuche, Nilgiri’s peaks with
massive Mt. Annapurna, Lamjung and Manaslu Himalaya range of mountains,
after a short flight landing at Jomsom town the headquarter of Mustang
district where the treks to Manang, Muktinath and upper Mustang starts.
Jomsom
town located on the main Annapurna circuit route beneath the towering
peaks of Tukuche and Nilgiri’s Himalaya. This area is famous for apples
and its products. On reaching at Jomsom meet our trekking and
expeditions staff for a short drive to charming Marpha village inhabited
by Thakali people, as this village lies in the main old Salt Trade
Route or the Trans Himalayan Trade of Nepal / Tibet the villages here
are prosperous and neat with white washed houses with an old monastery
above the village.
Afternoon free at leisure to explore this nice Marpha village.
Day 05: Trek to Yak Kharka 4,915 m – 05 hrs.
Morning walk leads to a steep uphill climb through the beautiful
rhododendron, birch and pines forest the walk continues with more climb
with amazing views of Kaligandaki river valley and high snow clad
mountains on the both side of the valley, after a strenuous first day
walk of 4-5 hours reaching at an open area of grass land with small
stone huts shades at Yak Kharka which is summer pasture fields for Yaks
and cattle’s, overnight camping on the pasture.
Day 06: Rest day for acclimatization and short hike.
An important to have a rest day here at this high altitude for proper
acclimatization before heading more higher ground towards Hidden valley
and climb of Dhampus Peak after going over the high pass of Dhampus or
Thapa pass at 5,250 meters. This lovely spot offers tremendous views of
Tilicho and Nilgiri’s peaks and as far to Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains.
Day 07: Trek to Hidden Valley 4,900m via Thapa / Dhampus Pass.
After a nice break at Yak Kharka starting the morning walk with further
climb and leaving the vegetations and tree lines behind with fantastic
scenery of Dhaulagri I, Tukuche Peak and adjoining mountains across the
Kaligandaki river valley, after a vigorous climb over Dhampus / Thapa
pass at 5,250 meters the walk gets gradual for few hours towards hidden
valley for the overnight camp taking 4-5 hours of hard climb.
Day 08: At Hidden Valley preparation for Dhampus / Thapa peak.
Another rest day which to be used for preparation for the climb of
Dhampus or Thapa peak, this valley offers grand scenery which lies on
the route of around Dhaulagiri trek crossing French pass which near to
hidden valley, from here wonderful views of North face of Dhaulagiri I,
while to the west the peaks of Dhaulagiri II (7,751 m.), III (7,715 m.)
and IV (7,618 m.) stand soaring to the sky, and the desolate Ice Fall
descending from the col between Dhaulagiri and Tukuche Peak, stunning
view of Sita Chuchura, the mountains of Mukut Himal, and Tashi Kang
(5,386 m.), all of which surrounds the Hidden Valley.
Day 09: Trek to Dhampus / Thapa peak High Camp 5,460 m- 04 hrs.
Morning trek and climb to set up the high camp with grand views along
the route afternoon survey the route, while our guide will fix ropes
where necessary, the walk for few hours on the same trail retracing the
route from Yak Kharka and the pass, on reaching at base or high camp at
near the height of 5,460 meters probably the highest camping of this
adventure, afternoon our guide and leader will scout the area for best
possible route for the climb next early morning.
Day 10: Climb of Dhampus / Thapa Peak and return to base camp.
After being well acclimatize and in sound physical conditions climb
starting early before the break of dawn following our climbing guide and
over the icy sections and climbing the rumble of rocks over the
moraines with good support of Team Himalaya expert climbing guides using
ice axe and crampons, if the weather is fine can be done in a day with
great effort and reaching the top of the summit of Dhampus Peak at 6,012
meters with
rewarding panorama of surrounding peaks including Mt.Dhaulagiri massif
range towards south, Tukuche peak, Mukut Himal and to the North east
views of Annapurna and Manaslu mountain range, after the great ascent
and with marvelous views descend by the same route to base camp.
Day 11: Reserve day in case of unfavorable weather conditions.
Contingency or reserve day, in case if there’s problem or difficulty on route.
If it goes well with the program, can have rest day here to explore
around this Hidden Valley, depending upon the weather as well or move to
lower camp.
Day 12: Trek to Yak Kharka 4,915m – 06 hrs.
After a wonderful time at Hidden Valley, adventure continues to cross
Dhampus Pass at 5,250m. The trek follows on the gradual path for an hour
with short climb in between, and it gets narrow on the scree section
for an hour, then towards the high traverse across Dhampus Pass at
5,250m overlooking the deep cleft of the Kali Gandaki Valley and the
Annapurna peaks beyond. On reaching the top ridge at Dhampus Pass, view
of Mukut Himal is visible from the pass as the Hidden Valley is being
over looked behind the Col. Its a steep down hill along the rock covered
mountain side until to the campsite at Yak Kharka. Yak Kharka, a summer
pasture, Dhaulagiri I is hidden by the bulk of Tuckche Peak, but
Nilgiri and the western end of the Annapurna massif are visible.
Day 13: Trek to Marpha and walk to Jomsom 2,715m – 05 hrs.
From Yak Kharka walk leads towards a steep down along the narrow
mountain path up to a ridge from where Dhaulagiri I and the Tukche Peak
become visible again. Today follow the path in the left banks along the
Kali Gandaki River up to Marpha Village, following the winding mountain
trail that goes downwards to the right side and crossing a stream to
reach a little settlement of Alubari with some numbers of small stone
huts. Winding around further and keeping still to the right, descend a
steep zig-zagging along the narrow mountain side. The final descent,
eventually reaches to the center of the village of Marpha, one of the
most charming villages on this route, famous for its apple and its
product. From Marpha hike for few hours to the large town at Jomsom the
headquarter district of Mustang area, afternoon free at leisure.
Day 14: Fly to Pokhara and transfer to hotel.
Morning transfer to Jomsom airport for a short scenic flight to scenic
Pokhara, Pokhara valley another highlight of this fabulous trip, Pokhara
regarded as the most beautiful place on this globe with awesome
mountain views and natural surrounding with its serene lake Phewa.
Day 15: Drive back to Kathmandu – 06 hrs.
Morning a scenic drive to Kathmandu, after a wonderful memorable trip in
the high mountains of Annapurna area, then on reaching Kathmandu
transfer to respective hotels with afternoon free at leisure.
Day 16: In Kathmandu with sightseeing tour at places of interest.
We have reserved this day to relax and enjoy your last day in Kathmandu
with another sightseeing tour in and around Kathmandu at places of
interest and importance, as Kathmandu Valley is full of World Heritage
Sites the holy Pashupatinath temple, Bouddhanath (Little Tibet),
Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) & monasteries, ancient Kings Palaces
and courtyard in Kathmandu; after an interesting sightseeing back to
hotel.
Day 17: International departure homeward bound.
Last day in Nepal with wonderful memorable time in Himalaya trekking and
climbing Dhampus / Thapa Peak & Hidden Valley with Team Himalaya
and then transfer to airport for the flight back home or to respective
destination.
