Upper Dolpo Trek - 27 Days

About Trip:

This is an exciting trek full of adventure through one of the most remote areas of Nepal. Upper Dolpo is like nowhere else on the planet and a special area of rugged contrasts and astonishing beauty. Its geography and culture has been compared to Tibet before the Chinese arrived in the 1950s. The spectacular region has received international recognition through the prizewinning film, Caravan, filmed on location in Dolpo, and fascinating books about the area, including The Snow Leopard, by Peter Matthiessen, and Himalayan Pilgrimage by David Snell grove. Even still, because it is remote and requires special permits, a limited number of people visit Dolpo each year. The isolated area was opened to trekkers in 1989, but few people have witnessed the timeless way of life there and the culture retains much of its mystique.

Dolpo is bordered by the Tibetan plateau to the north, and has long maintained trade with its northern neighbor. The residents of the region share many similarities with Tibetans with their Buddhist culture and life style is influenced by the Bon religion that predates the modern practices of Tibetan Buddhism.The journey starts with a scenic flight to Jhupal, in Lower Dolpo. We then begin our trek, which passes through rich forests and magnificent villages as we make our way north. Along the way we will have views of Dhaulagiri, Churen, Kanjiroba, the Annapurnas and Nilgiris and Macchapuchre among many others as we cross remote passes with breathtaking viewpoints.
A main attraction of the journey is the deep-blue Phoksundo Lake and its nearby waterfalls and the regal village of Ringmo. We follow an ancient trade route over a high pass to the famous Shey Monastery next to Crystal Mountain. This is the ultimate destination of our journey and we will spend an extra day here with an optional kora(circumambulation) of Crystal Mountain. The name of the monastery has been shortened from She Re Drugda, which means Crystal Mountain of the Dragon’s Roar.

We enjoy more Himalayan landscapes with mountain views as we head east over another remote pass and descend to the airport at Jomsom, headquarters of Mustang District. From there we take a scheduled flight back to Kathmandu.

Upper Dolpo is a camping trek,and we will have porters to carry supplies, a dining tent, sleeping tent and more for your comfort. The Himalaya Hikes chef will prepare delicious meals and the camp will be a cozy place to reminisce about of the day’s highlights over food and drink, under the heavenly stars.
There are many choices for more trekking in the Dolpo and Mustang areas, and if you would like to extend your travels, just let us know and we will arrange according to your schedule!

We have fixed departures and custom treks that can be arranged any day to suit your needs and schedule. Himalaya Hikes looks forward to guiding you into the spectacular Dolpo Region and the most breathtaking scenery in Nepal!