Dolpo Trekking

• Witness the heart melting Phoksundo lake

• Experience the remarkable Bon po religion 

• Stop over at ancient villages, valleys and the Gompas

• Taste the local food and experience the culture, tradition and daily life of the people

• Walking through the untouched and unexplored trekking trails of Nepal

• Witness the amazing landscape throughout the trek

One of the restricted areas that lies inside Nepal holds some of the amazing landscapes as well as the vintage monasteries. Passing through the traditional villages of the different ethnic groups you can experience the warm hospitality of the locals. 

Besides that you can also enjoy a variety of local cuisines during your trek to upper Dolpo. Harsh weather combined with high hills makes upper Dolpo one of the most inhospitable in Nepal. But the barren and majestic hills lend it a rare beauty that is absolutely mesmerizing

The deepest lake of Nepal, Phoksundo Lake also lies in the upper Dolpo. It is also known as the deepest lake of the highest altitude in the world. Upper Dolpo is a land where life still revolves around the horses, mules and yaks. 

Similarly, the locals still wear traditional attire and jewelry and water are still divided on the basis of a dice game. Above all, the most interesting fact about upper Dolpo is that the remains of the dead are still given to wild vultures. 

Talking about the flora and fauna, upper Dolpo is full of rare herbs and wild animals. If you are lucky you can witness blue sheep, ghoral, cheetahs and many more during your trek. Some of the rare medical herbs that can be found in upper Dolpo include Yarsagumba, Jatamasi, Panchaunle, Chimailo and many more.

Lower Dolpo is one of the unexplored as well as the isolated valleys of Nepal. During your trek to the lower Dolpo you will walk through the rural mountain settlement. You will also get to experience the tasty local cuisines as well as the warm hospitality of the locals during your lower Dolpo trek. Passing through the oak and pine forests you can have mesmerizing views of beautiful scenarios. It is one of the most interesting places around the globe as the Pre Buddhist BonPo religion is still practiced here. 

The centuries-old gompas and the traditional houses are also the main attractions of the lower Dolpo region of Nepal. There are various passes above 5,000 meters in the lower Dolpo too. One of the major passes is the Baga la pass situated at an elevation of 5,169 meters above sea level. Lower Dolpo is one of the most demanding trekking trails in Nepal and the hikers must be physically fit in order to complete the trek successfully. 

Trekking in the lower Dolpo region of Nepal is a lifetime experience. As it is at the beginning phase of human civilization. Opened in 1989 it offers unique hospitality and gorgeous landscapes. Similarly, marvellous views of the Dhaulagiri and Kanjirowa ranges can also be seen from different parts of the lower Dolpo region of Nepal.

Dolpo Airport is situated at the Juphal Municipality of Dolpa district of Nepal. Similarly, It lies in the province no 6 of Nepal. This airport is the gateways to the Shey Phoksundo national park. It also serves for connecting the Lower and Upper Dolpo region of Nepal. 

Located at an elevation of 2,804 meters above sea level, it is the only airport that connects the rural villages of Dolpa districts. The flights to Dolpo airport are operated during the morning throughout the year. No flights are operated after 12 am.

Some of the types of aircraft that take off to Dolpo airport include DHC6, L410, Y12, C208. Only the basic facilities are available at the Dolpo airport. Besides that, the airport was black topped after 2017. 

Before that the flights used to land on the gravelled runway. Because of that, the flight used to get cancelled every time it rains. Even now the flight to Dolpo gets cancelled frequently due to the bad weather.

Shey Gompa

Also known by the name crystal clear mountain, Shey Gompa is a must visit place during your trek to Upper Dolpo. Shey Gompa got its name crystal clear mountain because it has positioned itself at the base of a revered crystal mountain. 

This red and white painted ancient buddhist monastery lies at an elevation of 4,370 meters above sea level. The main monastery is believed to be built in the 11th century by the great lama Tenzin Rapa. 

Besides that it is also the gateways to heaven. Shey Gompa offers an excellent opportunity to observe the ancient Bon po tradition. This culture is about to vanish but you can still experience this amazing culture here. This Gompa holds great religious values in the Chiba community. 

Shey Festival

Shey Festival is one of the most renowned festivals of the Dolpo region. It is celebrated in the Shey Gumpa that lies at an elevation of 4,370 meters above sea level. Besides that, the Shey Gumba also has a ceremony in September every year. 

Above all this festival celebrated every twelve years attracts thousands of devotees. The Shey festival is celebrated in the year of the dragon according to the Tibetian calendar. The Shey festival at Shey Gumba is celebrated grandly by inviting Rinpoches from other surrounding Gumbas. Thousands of devotees walk about 7 to 15 days to reach Shey Gumpa to witness this festival and take blessings. 

Similarly, Buddhists from all over the world flock to this festival. During this festival, devotees make a rotation of the crystal mountain which stands right in front of Shey Gumba. This mountain is also considered as the brother of Kailash Mountain.

Shey Phoksundo National Park

Shey Phoksundo National Park is the biggest trans himalayan national park of Nepal. Located in the Dolpa and Mugu districts of Nepal. It is one of the most untouched and the unexplored national parks of Nepal. Various species of rare flora and fauna are found inside this national park. 

Some of the medical herbs that can be found inside Shey phoksundo National Park include Yarsagumba, Jatamasi, Panchaunle and many more. Similarly, some of the common endangered species include Snow leopard, musk deer, blue sheep, himalayan tahr, himalayan black bear, jackal. 

Known for its spectacular landscapes and breathtaking mountain views, Shey Phoksundo National park gets very few tourists every year. It covers an area of 3,555 square kilometers. Similarly the buffer zone of the Shey Phoksundo National Park covers an area of 1,349 square kilometers. Opened to tourists since 1989, Snowfall occuring in the regions above 2,500 meters. The Headquarter of Shey Phoksundo National Park is in Palam, Dolpa.

Phoksundo Lake

Phoksundo lake is one of the most beautiful lakes of Nepal. This enchanting aqa marine blue colour of the lake has never disappointed the visitors. Sitting at an elevation of 3,589 meters above sea level, Phoksundo lake is surrounded by 20 Buddhist monasteries. This small piece of heaven on earth is often considered as the most beautiful place in the world by the hikers visiting this lake.

The icy cold water of the different glaciers and rivers are collected in the Phoksundo lake. Because of that the water of the lake is freezing throughout the year. Spread in 1,91 square kilometers, the maximum depth of the lake is 145 meters. Besides that, the  outlet of the lake forms Nepal’s highest waterfall with a height of 167 meters. It is one of the most visited places in the dolpo region of Nepal. 

Dho Tarap

Dho Tarap lies at an elevation of 4,080 meters above sea level. It is one of the most popular as well as the most developed villages of the Dolpo region. Most of the people around Dho Tarap follow the ancient buddhist culture. 

Whereas, you can also notice the mixed Tibetan culture of the locals living here. Dho Tarap is also the commercially developed village of Dolpo. Many traders and buyers meet here to sell and buy goods necessary for their daily lives. 

Carriers like horses, yaks and mules are abundant in this region. Similarly, Houses around here are specially designed as in the ancient days. The traditional architecture is used and the houses have larger living space underground with a small portion peeking above the ground surface. Dho Tarap is also the headquarters of the Dolpo Buddha Rural Municipality.

Dolpo is one of the least explored trekking trails of Nepal. Although offering one of the most amazing cultures and beautiful scenarios, the Dolpo region is not one of the most popular choices for the hikers. Dolpo region is not as developed as other popular trekking trails of Nepal. But you can always get there through various ways.

By Flight

Flight to Jhuphal is the easiest as well as the fastest way to reach the starting point of the trek for the Dolpo region. You can take a flight to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu which will take about 55 minutes. 

Meanwhile, you will have to stay overnight at Nepalgunj to take a morning flight to Jhuphal. Similarly, the flight to Jhuphal will take about 10-15 minutes from Nepalgunj.

You can also start the trek after a flight to Nepalgung and then to Jumla on the same day. Similarly, other flights that will take you to Dolpo include the flight to Jomsom and start the trek or the flight to Talcha and start walking towards Rara lake and then to upper Dolpo.

By Roadways

You can take a night bus from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj that runs at 5 pm. Then you will reach Nepalgunj at around 7 am. Then, from Nepalgunj the bus goes up to Jajarkot. Then you will have to travel on the rough roads via Jeep or tractor up to Radi.

The other way is to take a bus to Jumla from Kathmandu. It will take about 14 hours to reach Jumla from Kathmandu. After that you can start the trek to Dolpo from Dailekh and Kalikot.

By Flight and Drive

The best way to reach Dolpo by plane and Drive is to take a morning flight to Pokhara. Upon reaching Pokhara, Hire a private vehicle and move towards Jomsom. You will reach Jomsom the same day. After that, start your trek towards Kagbeni and then towards the Dolpo region.

One of the least explored regions of Nepal, Dolpo holds a variety of trekking trails throughout the year. One of the most popular trekking trails of the Dolpo region includes the Phoksundo Lake trek. 

It is one of the shortest as well as the best trek of the Dolpo region of Nepal. But if you are willing to go deep inside the Dolpo region you will be amazed by seeing the true beauty of the Dolpo region of Nepal. Some other popular trekking trails of the Dolpo region are listed below. 

Upper Dolpo Trek

One of the most demanding treks of Nepal, Upper Dolpo Trek is also the favourite trekking trails of the adventure seekers. During this trek you will pass through several high passes above 5,000 meters. 

Marvellous views of the mountain ranges, Valleys, glaciers and the lakes can be seen during the Upper Dolpo trek. Upper Dolpo is a camping trek and takes about 27 days to complete.

Some of the major vintage villages that you will pass by during the Upper Dolpo trek include the Ringmo, Shey Gompa, Dho Tarap, Dubai, Jhuphal and many more. Similarly, you will also cross some of the high passes during this trek. Kang la, Saldang la and Jeng la pass are some of the high passes that you will cross during the Upper Dolpo Trek. Besides that marvellous views of the Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and the Kanjirowa can be seen during this trek.

Upper Dolpo to Jomsom Trek

Upper Dolpo to Jomsom is another challenging trek in the Dolpo region of Nepal. The starting point of the trek is Jhuphal. It lies at an elevation of 2,475 meters above sea level. You will take a flight to Nepalgunj situated at an elevation of 150 meters. 

The next morning you will take a scenic 15-20 minutes flight to Juphal. 3 days of trek will take you to the beautiful Ringmo village where the Phoksundo lake is situated. You will also have a rest day at Ringmo village. 

Walking beside the Phoksundo Khola you will have to cross the Kang la pass to reach the Shey Gumba. It is one of the most popular villages around the area. Khong ma la is another pass you will have to cross to reach the Khonoma village. Similarly, Mola pass lies at an elevation of 5,050 meters and marvellous views of the valleys can be seen from the top.

On the 25th day you will reach the Kagbeni village of the Mustang region. Mustang region lies inside the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Because of that ACAP Permit is mandatory for all the travellers. A few hours of walking from Kagbeni will take you to Jomsom where you will stay the night. The next day you will take a flight to Pokhara and then to Kathmandu.  

Upper Dolpo Circuit Trek

One of the untouched and unexplored trekking trails of Nepal, Upper Dolpo circuit Trek is a land where life still moves around yak, mules and horses. This moderate to Strenuous difficulty level of trek starts from Jhuphal. You will take a flight to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu and then to Jhuphal. 

Kang la pass, Neng la pass and Jayanta la pass are the passes that you will cross during the upper Dolpo circuit trek. Among the 3 Neng la passes lies at the higher elevation with an altitude of 5,402 meters above sea level.  

The best time for upper Dolpo circuit trek is during the months of May, June, September and OCtober. Meanwhile, trekking can also be done in other months of the year, but the extreme weather conditions make it difficult to cross the high passes.  The trek ends at the same point after exploring the Ringmo, Shey Gompa, Bhijer, Dho Tarap, Dunai and many other traditional villages.

Extended Upper Dolpo Circuit Trek to Kagbeni

Extended upper Dolpo circuit trek to Kagbeni is a 29 days trek in the Dolpo region as well as the Annapurna region of Nepal. During the 29 days camping trek, you will explore some of the ancient gumbas as well as the traditional stone carved villages of the Dolpo region of Nepal. 

You will also get to experience the Pre Buddhist Bon po religion which is practiced in a limited area of our planet Earth. Scenic flight will take you to Nepalgunj and then to Jhuphal.

Jhuphal is the starting point of the trek and Jomsom is the ending one. You will take a flight to Pokhara from Jomsom and then to Kathmandu. You will also have a full day sightseeing of some of the UNESCO world heritage sites inside Kathmandu valley. This day can also be used as the trek preparation day. 

During this trek you will have to cross 9 passes throughout the trek. Because of that it makes one of the most difficult treks of the Dolpo region. Among these passes Jungben la pass is the highest pass situated at an elevation of 5,550 meters above sea level. Similarly, the lowest one is the Nang la pass that lies at an elevation of 4,375 meters above sea level.  

Upper Dolpo Trek from Mustang

Most of the trek to Dolpo region starts from Jhuphal. But, you can always choose to trek from Mustang or from Jumla. During this 26 days of upper dolpo trek from mustang you will have to cross nine passes. Mola, Numa la, Baga la, Kang la, nang la, Neng la, Niwas la, Jungben la and Bhima Lojun la are the passes that you will cross during the trek.

Passing through the traditional villages you can witness the beautiful lakes, waterfalls, glaciers and the mountain ranges. If you are lucky you can alo spot some of the rare wild animals such as blue sheep, cheetahs and many more. Besides that, Shey Phoksundo national park is also a home of rare medical herbs such as Jatamasi, Yarshagumba, Panchaunle and many more.

Starting from a scenic flight to Pokhara and then to Mustang, you will start moving towards Kagbeni upon reaching Jomsom. Walking through the restricted area you will reach the Ringmo village where the Phoksundo lake is situated. After walking for a few more days you will reach Jhuphal. It is the trek ending point and you will catch a flight to Nepalgunj and then to Kathmandu. 

Lower Dolpo Circuit Trek

Numa la pass situated at an elevation of 5,238 meters above sea level is the highest point of the lower Dolpo circuit trek. You will need a lower Dolpo permit as well as the Shey Phoksundo National Park permit for this trek. This 17 days trek starts and ends at Jhuphal. A scenic flight to Nepalgunj and then to Dolpo airport will take you to the starting point of your trek. 

The best time for lower Dolpo circuit trek is during the months of March, April, May, September, October and November. The weather is clear and you can have astonishing views of the valleys, glaciers and the lake during these months of the year. 

This is one of the shorter treks of Dolpo region compared with other trekking trails of the same region. Although being short you can experience the Pre Buddhist Bon Po religion as well as the warm hospitality of the locals.

Dolpo trekking cannot be done throughout the year. There are various high passes in the Dolpo region of Nepal. And most of these are blocked due to heavy snowfall during the winter season of the year. 

Similarly, during the monsoon season of the year, The path is slippery and there is high risk while ascending the pass. Because of that both of these times of the year are not suitable for trekking in the Dolpo region.

The most favourable time for Dolpo trekking is during May, June, September and October. During these months of the year any parts of the Dolpo region can be explored. Besides that the weather is clear and marvellous views of the valleys, landscape, mountain ranges, lake and the waterfall can be seen.

Lower regions of the Dolpo can also be visited during the months of March and April too. While visiting the Dolpo region during these two months of the year you can witness beautiful rhododendron flowers blooming all over the Shey Phoksundo National Park. The weather is also clear and you can listen to the birds singing while on a trek.

The height above 3,000 meters or 9,800 ft. above sea level is considered a high altitude. The trek starting point of Dolpo region is Juphal. Which lies at an altitude of 2,475 meters above sea level. Similarly, during the trek, you will pass through some of the high passes above 5,000 meters above sea level. 

Some of the popular villages such as Ringmo, Shey Gompa, Dho Trap, Bhijer etc also lie at a higher altitude. Because of that there are high chances of altitude sickness during the Upper Dolpo trek. 

Every traveller should prepare well before your trek to the Dolpo region of Nepal. Anything that happens above 3,000 meters is considered altitude sickness. Anyone can get altitude sickness if you are not prepared well. The travellers must carry enough water, food and medicine in order to avoid altitude sickness. 

Besides its natural beauty and vintage monasteries, Dolpo is also popular for the high passes. There are various passes around the dolpo region. Meanwhile, most of the passes are above 5,000 meters in altitude. Meanwhile, there are numerous passes below 5,000 meters above sea level. 

You will need to cross these high passes to explore the beautiful hidden valleys and the villages of Dolpo region of Nepal. Baga La and Numa la passes are two of the most popular passes of the Dolpo region. Situated at an elevation of 5,169 and 5,309 meters above sea level respectively. 

You will need to cross this pass to reach Dho Tarap from Ringmo village.  Similarly, Kang la pass is another high pass of the Dolpo situated at an elevation of 5,100 meters above sea level. 

Neng la pass lies at an elevation of 5,368 meters above sea level. It is one of the most difficult high passes of Dolpo that lies on the way to Saldang from Bhijer village. Similarly, Mola pass lies at an elevation of 5,027 meters above sea level. However, it is open during the months of March to November only. 

Niwas la pass lies at an elevation of 5,120 meters above sea level and you will need to cross this pass to reach Mustang from the Upper Dolpo region of Nepal. Meanwhile, Jungben la pass is one of the highest passes of Dolpo situated at an elevation of 5,550 meters above sea level. Besides that there are various other high trekking passes of Dolpo.

One of the most pristine valleys of Nepal is an unexplored and untouched region of Nepal. Lower and Upper Dolpo both of these hidden gems are one of the most excellent places around the globe to witness the ancient Bon po religion. 

Similarly, you will have to walk about 6-7 hours per day to complete the trek on time. Besides that, the hikers need to be physically fit. You will also need a previous hiking experience before planning for upper Dolpo. 

Situated at such a high altitude the high passes are the main reason that make the trekking in Dolpo region a difficult one. The passes lie at such a high altitude. Which increases the chance of having Acute Mountain Sickness (altitude sickness). Meanwhile, the narrow trails in some of the places as well as the rocky paths to the top of the passes also makes it a difficult one.

Similarly, the chances of snowfall is higher than that of other trekking trails of Nepal. Which makes it even more difficult to complete the trek during the time of snowfall. The slippery trails during the monsoon season of the year also makes the trek difficult. Besides that there are very few local teahouses and lodges and camping is required in most of the parts.

Dolpo region of Nepal is one of the untouched and unexplored trekking trails of Nepal. Various waterfalls, rivers, glaciers and lakes makes it even more astonishing and beautiful. 

Trekking Permits are required to explore most of the trekking trails of Nepal. Whereas there are also a very few trekking trails that can be explored without any extra fee. But you will need to pay a few amounts before exploring this pristine land on earth. Do check the table below to know about the permits required to visit the Dolpo region of Nepal. 

There are various trekking trails inside the Dolpo region of Nepal. Included as one of the unexplored trekking trails of Nepal, Dolpo region has high potential to attract a huge number of hikers in the coming days. 

This hidden gem of Nepal has various things to offer its visitors. Some of the major attractions of Dolpo trekking include Shey Phoksundo National Park, Phoksundo Lake, Shey Gompa, Waterfall and the beautiful mountain views and the changing landscapes. 

Besides that there are also other various factors that make Dolpo trekking a must place to visit for every hiker. The ancient BonPo religion is still practiced here. Which makes it an ideal destination to experience this religion which is in a situation of extinction from the globe. Similarly, the pastoral villages and the valley also make this an amazing place. 

Dolpo region is one of the least explored and untouched trekking trails of Nepal. During most parts of the trek you will have to spend the night at tented camps. Similarly, while staying at the local tea house or the lodges only the basic facilities are available throughout the trek. 

There are no developed cities or the places to buy almost all the things required for the trek. Because of that it is better to carry your own goods yourself. Some of the major trekking checklist that you need during your trek in Dolpo region are as follows.