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 one of the
highest inhabited plateaus in the world, was closed to
trekkers until 1989. Those that did get to visit this
area needed special permission from the Government. With
the changes in the regulations governing visits, a
remarkable part of Nepal, hitherto almost unknown, has
suddenly become a major destination for trekkers and
mountain lovers. It is an area of
roughly 2100 square miles inside Nepal's northwestern
frontier with Tibet, encompassing some thirty villages and
monasteries at altitudes if eleven to fifteen thousand feet.
Dolpo is in Nepal but, its people - in race, religion and
culture, are Tibetan Buddhists descended from nomadic tribes
who settled in this area around the tenth century. Being in
Nepal, the Chinese occupation and subsequent "cultural
revolution" of Tibet did not affect the Dolpo-pa (People of
Dolpo), and their religion and culture has survived as one
of the best preserved examples of Tibetan Buddhism in the
world. In fact, people living in certain pockets of the
religion practice Bon Po, an animistic religion that
pre-dates Buddhism and which, some believe, is actually the
precursor to Tibetan Buddhism as we know it.
Lower Dolpo, the area opened to trekkers, is thickly
forested with conifers and cut by gushing rivers. The upper
portion of Dolpo, however, is an extension of the Tibetan
Plateau and has the same wild, windswept, open spaces
characteristic of Tibet. The region was declared a National
Park in 1984, making it Nepal's largest National Park and
the only one encompassing a Trans-Himalayan eco-system. The
National Park status has helped preserve not only the
culture but also the wildlife. The lower Dolpo is home to
the endangered musk deer, which may be glimpsed along the
trails and to a great variety of birds. Though rarely seen
the blue sheep, the Himalayan black bear, snow leopard and
the Himalayan Wolf are also found in Dolpo.
Your journey to the land of the Dolpo-pas begins with a
flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, followed the next day by
another flight to the STOL airstrip at Jumla. From Jumla the
trail follows a south-easterly direction through the
villages of Gothichaur, Chaurikot and Hurikot. Then heading
north-east, it crosses the Kagmara La at 5115m to the
villages of Pungmo and Ringmo to culminate at the Shey
Phoksumdo Lake. Trekkers are not allowed to go north beyond
the lake. The return journey will bring you south through
the villages of Sepka and Aankhe to Dunai for the flight
back to Nepalgunj and then to Kathmandu.
Ascend Himalayas operates a 20 days trek to Dolpo. A detail
itinerary is given below. The best season for this trek is
beginning of August till the end of September when the wild
flowers are in full bloom.
A minimum of 4 pax is required to operate this trek.
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Popular Trekking Routes & Itineraries in Dolpo Region |
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LOWER DOLPO EXPLORATION TREK |
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Duration: 20 Days Grade: Moderate/Strenuous Type:
Camping Max Height: 5115m Kagmara
La |
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DOLPO TREK ( Lower plus Upper ) |
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Duration: 28 Days Grade: Strenuous Type:
Camping Max Height: 5320m
Do
Tarap |
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JUMLA RARA LAKE TREK |
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Duration: 12 Days Grade: Moderate Type:
Camping Max Height: 3710m
Rara Lake |
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