Limi Valley and Dolpo are the two great remote treks of western Nepal. Limi, in Humla, takes 16 to 20 days from Simikot, has one main pass of about 5,000 m and follows part of the old route to Kailash. Dolpo takes 16 to 26 days from Juphal, has several passes above 5,000 m and includes Phoksundo Lake and Shey Gompa. Limi is slightly easier and less known; Dolpo is larger and more varied.
Limi Valley and Dolpo at a glance
- Days. Limi Valley: 16 to 20. Dolpo: 16 to 18 Lower; 22 to 26 Upper.
- Gateway. Limi Valley: Simikot. Dolpo: Juphal.
- Passes over 5,000 m. Limi Valley: one. Dolpo: two to five.
- Signature sights. Limi Valley: Halji monastery, stone villages, the Karnali gorge. Dolpo: Phoksundo Lake, Shey Gompa, Dho Tarap.
- Permit. Limi Valley: Humla restricted permit, weekly fee. Dolpo: low for Lower Dolpo, high for Upper Dolpo.
- Style. Limi Valley: camping with some homestays. Dolpo: camping.
Landscape
Humla is green lower down, with pine forest and walnut trees along the Karnali, turning to open, grassy highland in Limi. Dolpo is drier and barer, a landscape of brown and ochre ridges, deep gorges and intensely blue water.
Culture
Both are Tibetan Buddhist, with Bon also strong in Dolpo. Limi's three villages are small and closely knit, and many families trade across the border. Dolpo is spread over a much wider area, with many more settlements and monasteries.
Difficulty
Limi has one hard pass day and otherwise moderate walking. Lower Dolpo has two pass days close together. Upper Dolpo is the hardest of the three, with pass after pass.
Access and delays
Both begin with a flight to Nepalgunj and a second to a mountain airstrip. Simikot and Juphal are both prone to delay. Neither Humla nor upper Dolpo has a dependable road out, so buffer days are essential.
Cost
Limi and Lower Dolpo are comparable. Upper Dolpo is the most expensive because of its permit and length.
Season
May to October for both.
Which is less visited?
Limi, by some distance. Dolpo has a reputation, a famous book and a film behind it. Limi is known mainly to trekkers who have already seen most of Nepal.
Monasteries
Halji's Rinchenling monastery, in Limi, is among the oldest in Nepal and has been threatened in recent years by flooding from a glacial lake above the village. Dolpo's best known are Shey Gompa, the Bon monastery at Ringmo and Ribo Bumpa at Dho Tarap.
Camping and supplies
In both regions almost everything is carried from the airstrip. Mules are used in Humla and yaks or mules in Dolpo. Fresh food runs low after the first week, and the cook's skill matters a good deal.
For repeat visitors to Nepal
If you have done Dolpo and want something of the same spirit, Limi is the natural next trip, and the reverse is equally true.
Getting fit for either
These are treks for people who already walk regularly in hills. Three months of preparation, with long weekend walks carrying a pack, stair or hill repeats and at least one trip sleeping above 3,000 m, will make the difference between enduring the trek and enjoying it.
Health and safety
Carry a personal medical kit and discuss altitude medication with a doctor before you go. A satellite phone or messenger is standard for groups in both regions, since mobile signal is absent for days at a time.
Choose Limi Valley if
- You want the least-visited option.
- You prefer one high pass to several.
- You are interested in the Kailash pilgrim route.
- You have about 18 days.
Choose Dolpo if
- You want Phoksundo Lake.
- You want a longer, harder journey.
- You are interested in Bon as well as Buddhism.
- You can commit three weeks or more.
Plan it
See the Limi Valley guides and Upper Dolpo, or ask us for both plans with flight buffers.
Common questions
Which is harder?
Upper Dolpo, then Lower Dolpo, then Limi.
Which is cheaper?
Limi and Lower Dolpo are similar; Upper Dolpo costs most.
Are there lodges?
Very few in either. Plan to camp.
Can the two be linked?
Only by a very long traverse through Mugu, part of the Great Himalaya Trail.
Heights, days, fees and rules are approximate and can change, so confirm the current details with us before you book.
