Dolpo Region
Dolpo Region
Captured beautifully in the Oscar-nominated picture ‘Caravan’: Dolpo is a land of untouched beauty and history. Dolpo is home to ancient monasteries, secluded valleys, and most famously, the pristine Phoksundo Lake. It is home to the highest settlement in the world and adherents of the primitive Bön tradition. Dolpo lies in Western Nepal and shares its borders with China. The agro-pastoral population of this region is mostly Tibetan. Despite being a hard place to reach, it is a popular trekking destination. Dolpo connects with other parts of the country via Juphal Airport, roughly a three-day journey on a horse.
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Dolpo and its people
Part of Dolpo lies within the Shey Phoksundo National Park in the Dolpa District towards the west of Nepal. The region is partially arid and agriculture is sparse at such an altitude. The Dhaulagiri mountain ranges cover the western front and Mt. Sisne & Kanjiroba lie to the west. The only connection to the outer world is the Jufal airport.
Dolpo opened up to tourists only in 1989 and since then has been a unique experience for foreigners into the primitive Tibetan region. Dolpo is perhaps the only region where the Bon Buddhist traditions are still found. The people of Dolpo are ethnically Tibetan and speak their own Dolpo dialect of Tibetan.
Highlights for this Region
Phoksundo Lake :
Phoksundo Lake lies at 3,611.5m above sea level and is one of the most beautiful lakes in the entire world. It is an iconic turquoise-colored freshwater lake that covers an area of 1.91 sq miles. It is also revered sacred by Buddhist and Bon practitioners alike.
Shey Gomba :
Shey Gomba lies in the heart of Dolpo’s religious scene. The name ‘Shey Gomba’ means ‘Crystal Monastery’ and is one of the most important monasteries in Dolpo. It was constructed in the 11th century and is situated at 4,200m.
Primitive Tibetan Culture and Bon Traditions :
The people of Dolpo still follow a primitive lifestyle that they adapted to the remote harsh conditions since their ancestors migrated to the region. Dolpo is one of the few places where Bon tradition still exists. Bon predates Buddhism and is said to have come from Tibet. While Bon and Buddhism share aspects of rites and rituals, it is still worth experiencing the isolated Bon traditions in Dolpo.
The Highest Human Settlement, Dho Tarap :
Dho Tarap is the world’s highest settlement at 4,080m. The people there are natives and continue their ancient traditions till date. Exploring Dho Tarap is almost like walking back in time.
Shey Phoksundo National Park :
Dolpo lies within the Shey Phoksundo National Park and is sparsely covered with lots of vegetation as the region is semi-arid. It covers an area of 3,555 sq km. and the elevation ranges from 2,130m to 6,885m. The flora and fauna is pretty diverse. Himalayan white birch, juniper, rhododendron are found spread over the lower valleys of the region, and wildlife such as the Himalayan black bear, Himalayan tahr, Blue sheep, etc can be spotted in them.
Why trek with us
Years of experience
We have 15+ years of running treks in different parts of Nepal. We started out as a small trekking company run from our own home, focused and determined to make every trek memorable.
Your experience first
We have a passion for running meaningful and memorable treks in Nepal and so we make sure to keep your experience of Nepal over other things. We also provide custom itineraries to fit our clients’ different needs and requirements as well as their goals and interests.
Health and Safety is a priority
We make sure that our treks are run following proper hygiene standards and protocols. Getting you to your destinations is our goal and making sure that our clients are healthy and in safe hands is our topmost priority.
Safety record and easy helicopter evacuation
We focus on each and every detail of our treks and make a commitment to maintaining our safety record. Being an experienced company, we understand the importance of time during any sort of emergency. That is why we make sure to get our helicopter evacuations as quickly as possible if ever needed.
Close relationships with locals in different regions
We keep a close relationship with the locals in our trekking destinations. That is one of the reasons why our clients get to experience some sides of Nepal and the Nepalese people that most companies ignore. Also, it is always a good time when you’re greeted with the warmth of the people in the Himalayas as one of their own.
Custom Itineraries for you
Not sure or confused which trek you want to embark on? Get in touch with us and we can tailor a custom itinerary for you. We take into consideration your needs and requirements and build your private itinerary that fits your timeframe as well.
