Dolpa, a virgin territory for trekkers, offers an endless variety of landscapes, cultures and great people.
Dolpo region is a culturally Tibetan region in western Nepal Valleys (south), and the Phoksumdo and Mugu Karnali Valleys (west and northwest). To the southwest lies Dhaulagiri, the sixth highest mountain in the world (8172 meters). Dhaulagiri massif and its outliers create a rain shadow that determines much of Dolpo’s climate.
Trekking in Lower Dolpo offers an off-the-beaten-path experience. The rugged and unspoiled landscapes cater sights of immaculate snowy peaks, ancient and isolated villages, rich wildlife, pristine Buddhist monastery and wonderful lakes. Likewise, Upper Dolpo shelters villages among highest settlements on earth.
- Dolpo region is opened for trekkers in 1989. One needs to get trekking permit from Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or Pokhara to visit this fascinating region. Trekking into this region gives an exposure to the high and isolated Himalayan valleys, resembling the Tibetan highlands.
- Dolpo is home to some of the highest villages on earth; almost ninety percent of the region lies above 3,500 meters. The region provides the opportunities to visit ancient villages, high passes, beautiful lakes, isolated Buddhist monasteries.
- Dolpo region has given birth of Peter Matthiessen’s bestselling book’ Snow Leopards’ and Eric Valli’s Oscar nominated movie CARAVAN (HIMALAYA) was featured in this isolated Himalayan sanctuary.
- The Dolpo region is hard to match for its pristine beauty and rugged charm, where one can still have opportunity to meet the nomadic people and their life style almost untouched and unexplored.
- The focal point of this region is Shey Phoksumdo National Park. Dolpo is located inside the Shey–Phoksumdo National Park of mid–western Nepal, behind the Dhaulagiri massif, adjoining the Tibetan Plateau.
- The people of this area are simple and warm-hearted with enthralling culture and traditions. The cultural traditions of this area are basically linked with Tibetan.
- The best known of the many isolated high Himalayan valleys across the northern Nepal, Dolpo preserves one of the last remnants of traditional Tibetan culture. One of the highest inhabited realms on the planet, Dolpo is also still a stronghold of the pre-Buddhist, shamanistic Bon-po religion as well as Tibetan Buddhism.
- Dolpo remains a truly isolated corner of Nepal: time has stood still here for centuries as the inhabitants of Tibetan stock continue to live, cultivate and trade the way they have done since time immemorial.
- Dolpo’s agro-pastoral livelihood determines survival at such inhospitable landscape.
- Dolpo region preserves Eco-system that encompasses a wild and wonderful variety of flora and fauna, including Blue sheep, Mountain Goat, Jackal, Wolf and the legendary Snow Leopard.
