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A long restricted-area camping trek from Juphal past Phoksundo Lake, over the Kang La to Shey Gompa and Saldang, and back via the Jeng La and the Tarap valley.
- Days
- 20 days
- Maximum altitude
- 5,350 m
- Difficulty
- Challenging
Dolpoसाल्दाङ
Saldang
The largest village of Upper Dolpo, scattered high above the Nankhang valley on the old salt-trade route to Tibet.
- Altitude
- 3,620 m*
- Best months
- May-Oct
- Type
- Trek stop
- District
- Dolpa, Karnali
- Permit
- Restricted-area permit
Higher seasonal exposure: other (Jun-Sep), snow (Nov-Apr), cold (Nov-Mar).
Why go
Saldang is the most populous village of Upper Dolpo, a scattering of houses, monasteries and chortens high above the Nankhang valley at roughly 3,600-4,000 m. It lies about 80 km by air from the Tibetan town of Payang and has long been a staging point for salt and grain trade across the border.
On the Upper Dolpo circuit, Saldang is reached from Shey Gompa via the Saldang La and Namgung, and trekkers usually continue east or south through Sibu and over the Jeng La to Tokyu and the Tarap valley. The village has a school and a few basic services, and is a good place to see daily life in Upper Dolpo.
History and culture
The Tibetologist David Snellgrove, who visited in the 1960s, described Saldang as scattered houses on a raised alp above the gorge and suggested that the name means raised place. People here follow Tibetan Buddhism and the older Bon tradition, farm barley at the edge of what is possible and move herds between village and high pastures. Yak caravans carrying salt and grain still pass through, though roads in Tibet and Nepal have reduced the trade.
Things to do in Saldang
Visit the village monasteries
Walk between the scattered settlements to the local gompas with your guide, asking before entering.
Watch village life
In late summer and autumn, see barley harvests and caravans preparing for the trade season.
Weather and the best time to visit Saldang
Weather in Saldang
Forecast for 3,620 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
May-Oct
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- Good month: May
- Good month: Jun
- Good month: Jul
- Good month: Aug
- Good month: Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- September and October are clear and dry; by November the high passes become cold and snow is likely.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is very cold, the passes are usually snowbound and many people move to lower villages.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- April and May are possible, but snow can linger on the passes until late spring.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August is a good season in this rain-shadow area, but flights to Juphal are often delayed by cloud and the lower trails can be wet.
Where to stay
CampingHomestays
Groups usually camp; a few homes may offer basic rooms.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Reached only on foot, more than a week from Juphal via Phoksundo Lake and Shey Gompa.
Nearest hub: Juphal
- trekFrom Shey Gompa, usually two days via the Saldang La and Namgung.
- trekFrom Dho Tarap, about three to four days via the Jeng La and Sibu, in the reverse direction.
Getting to Saldang, by mode
Nearest hub: Juphal. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By airfrom Nepalgunjabout 0.6-0.8 hDolpa (Juphal)often delayed or cancelled by weather
Small aircraft from Nepalgunj serve Dolpa (Juphal) airport at about 2,500 m, on a 663 m asphalt strip. Nepalgunj is the hub for the remote western airstrips, and the Juphal leg is weather-dependent.
When to set off: Morning flights only; most travellers fly Kathmandu to Nepalgunj the day before and allow spare days.
On footfrom Shey GompaAbout two days from Shey Gompa over the Saldang La via Namgung, or three to four days from Dho Tarap over the Jeng La; more than a week in from Juphal.
Saldang is deep in Upper Dolpo and reached only on foot, over passes well above 5,000 m in either direction.
Where people go next
- Shey Gompaon footSouth-west over the Saldang La, usually two days.
- Dho Tarapon footSouth over the Jeng La via Sibu, three to four days.
- Dolpoon footThe wider Upper Dolpo region of which Saldang is one of the largest villages.
Permits and fees
Restricted-area permit
Saldang is in the Upper Dolpa restricted area: a restricted-area permit through a registered agency is needed, and routes through Shey Phoksundo National Park need a park permit. Restricted-area permits are issued only through a government-registered trekking agency, for trekkers with a licensed guide; a minimum group of two has long been required, and changes have been reported, so confirm the current rule.
- Upper Dolpa restricted-area permit: Issued through a registered trekking agency.
- Shey Phoksundo National Park entry permit: For the approach via Phoksundo Lake and Shey.
- Guide rule: Since April 2023 foreign trekkers in national parks and conservation areas are generally required to go with a licensed guide; check the current rule.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of Immigration, Nepal: Trekking Route and Permit Fee.
On the trail
On the Upper Dolpo trek.
- Previous stop:
- Namgung
- Next stop:
- Sibu, then the Jeng La towards Tokyu
- A typical day:
- From Namgung, about 3-4 hours along the Nankhang valley with modest height change.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Saldang
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Otherhigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
Access, not rain, is the monsoon problem: cloud on the Nepalgunj-Juphal leg frequently delays or cancels the flight into Dolpa, and spare days at either end are normal.
Snowhigh in a typical yearNov-Apr
The Upper Dolpo routes cross passes above 5,000 m; these hold snow from late autumn into spring, and in deep winter they are not normally crossed.
Coldhigh in a typical yearNov-Mar
Winter at 3,800-4,200 m in Dolpo is severe and many families move with their animals to lower ground, so shelter and food along the route thin out.
Altitudemoderate in a typical yearAll year
Saldang sits at about 3,620 m, well above the roughly 2,500 m at which altitude sickness becomes common, and most itineraries go higher still. General information, not medical advice: gain height slowly (a common guideline is no more than about 300 m a day in sleeping altitude once high), learn the symptoms, descend if they get worse, see a doctor before travelling, and carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Landslideslow in a typical yearJun-Sep
Dolpo is a trans-Himalayan rain-shadow region with under 500 mm of precipitation a year, so monsoon rain and landslide exposure in the upper valleys is low; the lower Suli Gad and Bheri trails are wetter.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- At about 3,600-4,000 m altitude illness is possible. This is general information, not medical advice.
- There is no reliable mobile signal; carry a satellite communicator.
- Walk clockwise around chortens and mani walls.
- Supplies are scarce; your agency should carry food.
Treks through Saldang
Questions about Saldang
Where is Saldang?
In Upper Dolpo in Dolpa district, north-east of Shey Gompa in the Nankhang valley.
How high is Saldang?
Wikipedia gives 3,620 m, but the scattered settlement spreads up to about 4,000 m.
Do I need a permit for Saldang?
Yes, an Upper Dolpa restricted-area permit arranged through a registered agency.
More in Dolpo
All of DolpoLake · 3,612 m
Phoksundo Lake
A deep turquoise alpine lake in Dolpo, dammed by an ancient landslide, with the Bon village of Ringmo on its shore.
Temple, monastery or heritage site · 4,340 m
Shey Gompa
A remote monastery in Upper Dolpo below Crystal Mountain, reached over the Kang La from Phoksundo Lake.
Trek stop · 4,320 m
Chharka
A fortified-looking stone village in eastern Dolpo, a key stop on traverses between Dolpo and Mustang.
Trek stop · 4,080 m
Dho Tarap
A high farming village in the Tarap valley of Dolpo, a crossroads of treks between Phoksundo, Upper Dolpo and Mustang.
Trek stop · 2,090 m
Dunai
The district headquarters of Dolpa on the Thuli Bheri river, the first night for most treks into Dolpo.
Nearby
Valley or region
Dolpo
A remote trans-Himalayan region of Bon and Buddhist villages, high passes and turquoise Phoksundo Lake, behind the Dhaulagiri and Kanjiroba ranges.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Saldang, Wikipedia, Dolpo, Wikipedia, Department of Immigration, Nepal: Trekking Route and Permit Fee