Upper Dolpo Trek: Full Details
Upper Dolpo Trek
The Dolpo region is the most remote and least developed district in Nepal. Although a few anthropologists and geographers had explored the region, the entire district was closed to trekkers until 1989, when the southern part of Dolpo was opened to organized trekking groups. Peter Matheson’s books, The Snow Leopard and Snell Grove: Himalayan Pilgrimage, have contributed to the mystique and attraction of Dolpo.
The Dolpo region, situated between the Tibetan plateau and the Dhaulagiri Himalayan range, is the highest inhabited land in Dolpo. Geographically a southern extension of Tibet, it lies within the borders of the state of Nepal and, since 1984, has been the country’s largest national park and conservation area. The park sustains an abundance of wild life, including Musk Deer, Himalayan Blue Sheep, and the legendary elusive Snow Leopard, as well as being home to a fascinating race of Tibetan-speaking people. The hardy highlanders of Dolpo are traders, exchanging barley for Tibetan rock salt, and they take their yaks onto the Tibetan plateau during the summer for grazing.
Nepal’s first English-subtitled movie on Dolpo, “The Caravan” or “The Himalaya,” was a huge success and was nominated for the Oscar Award in the best foreign-language film category. The boundaries of the park include 3,500 square kilometers of land, mostly above 4,000 meters. Before 1989, when the southern regions were opened to trekking groups, very few explorers had visited the area. Two notable visits were the first mountaineering expedition by Dr. Herbert Tichy in 1953, based in Saigon, and the other visit by John Tyson in the early sixties. Dolpo is one of the most beautiful treks in the remote areas of Nepal and is very rarely visited by an outsider.
Journey to the Upper Dolpo Region
Most people fly from Kathmandu or Pokhara to Nepalgunj. We ride to Juphal from Nepalgunj. The most organized tours of the region fly from Kathmandu. (It is not possible to fly directly from Kathmandu to Juphal, although expensive charter flights are available from Pokhara.) Remember that the Juphal airport is just a small mountain airfield, which often causes bad weather to disrupt flights. Nepalgunj can be reached by lane, but from Kathmandu or Pokhara, it is a long journey. Roads in Western Nepal develop, but Juphal has been on the nearest road for several days.
Highlights of the Upper Dolpo Trek
- The Dolpo region’s main attraction is the captivating Shey Phoksundo Lake.
- Experience Nepal’s extremely unusual cultural
- Take the opportunity to see a snow leopard in Shey Phoksundo National Park.
- Read about the 800-year-old Shey Gompa at Crystal Mountain Base.
- Starting with the legendary Yarsagumba hunt. Look at the hunt for Yarsa.
- Nepal’s largest lake, Rara Lake
- It is worth skiing at a peak like Mt. Putha.
- The Tibetian culture and ethnic society have been preserved in their primeval stages.
What’s the price for food in the Upper Dolpo?
Likewise, you may figure out a budget of approximately USD 8–10 per meal. So maybe 28–33 USD a day. Of course, it will determine how much appetite you might have for each lunch and your drinks.
Upper Dolpo Trek Best Time
Like many of the trekking routes in Nepal, spring and autumn are the best times to head for Upper Dolpo.
Upper Dolpo Trek Difficulty
Difficulty. Trekking in Upper Dolpo is considered strenuous. There are steep ascents, three passes above 5000 m, and several nights spent above 3500 m.
How expensive is it to trek Upper Dolpo?
Total Upper Dolpo Trek Permits Cost US$ 570 Per Person
In the Dolpo Region, there are telecommunications and wifi facilities.
Only a few places in the area of Dolpo have a mobile phone signal. Some villages, however, have an emergency satellite telephone. But some lodges in the Dolpo region provide wireless Internet access for an additional fee only at Dunai.