Upper Dolpo, a remote place in the far western region of Nepal, is the home to ancient Bon culture and astonishing landscape that mesmerize the visitors. It was once a forbidden land for the foreigners but now it has opened its door to all the visitors from around the world to explore the natural and cultural beauty of the region which includes the deserted landscape, monasteries, caves and ancient villages. The Upper Dolpo Trek is an off the beaten trek offering the best adventure trekking in the heart of Dolpo.
Major highlights:
How to reach:
By air: The air journey begins from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and to Juphal. Then the actual journey of Upper Dolpo begins from Juphal.
By road: There are various way to reach to Upper Dolpo. One route is by taking the direct bus to Radi from Kathmandu and change the jeep to reach Dunai.
Or
You can even drive or fly to Jomsom and begin your trek from Jomsom to Chharka via Junben La pass.
Upper Dolpo is also a famous destination for Mountain Biking which provides the unique and mesmerizing beauties as well as adventurous experience.
Permits:
Dolpo region is the restricted area in Nepal, so travelling in Dolpo requires special trekking permits. Also, Free Individual Trekker (FIT) is strictly prohibited in this region.
If you plan to trek in only the lower region of Dolpo then Lower Dolpo permit is enough. But if you want to trek in Upper Dolpo then you will require the special trekking permit for both Lower as well as Upper Dolpo.
The permit cost of Upper Dolpo is $500 per person for 10 days and an additional $50 per person days beyond 10 days.
*No TIMS card is required for Upper Dolpo.
Best Time to Travel:
Trekking in Upper Dolpo is possible any time of the year. Spring and autumn are ideal seasons as the sky is clear and weather is perfect for the trek. But during winter, due to heavy snow, high passes may get blocked which may lead in diversion of your itinerary.
Since Upper Dolpo lies in the Trans Himalayan region, it does not receive rainfall during monsoon season, making it an ideal destination to trek during monsoon. But there are chances of flight cancellation due to bad weather in Nepalgunj or Kathmandu. So, contingency days are required while traveling.
Lodges/ Tea houses
There are limited number of tea houses and lodges in the Dolpo region with basic facilities. In each stay over point, Advance Adventure will make sure to provide you with comfortable and warm accommodation. All along the trek, you will be provided with the healthy local and continental menu or you can even give the pre information for any special dietary requirement.
Place to Visit in Dolpo
Phoksundo Lake
Phoksundo Lake, a turquoise colored lake, is the major attraction of the Dolpo region. This Himalayan Lake is situated at 3612m. It is a mystical lake with no any organism living in there. Activities like boating and swimming are strictly prohibited in this lake. The lake reflects different color in different point of time in the day due to sunlight. The color changing feature of the lake is sure to mesmerize you.
Shey Gompa
Shey Gompa is another precious gem of the Dolpo region. It is also known as the Crystal monastery, which was built in the 11th century. It is situated just below the Crystal Mountain and considered as the spiritual heart of the region. This ancient gompa is famous for the 12 m tall breeze golden statue, which covers 3 floors of the monastery. It has its own historical and spiritual importance.
Shey Phoksundo National Park
The largest national park of Nepal, Shey Phoksundo is home to various species of flora and fauna. It is extended from 2130m to 6800m at the summit of Kanjiroba Himal. It houses many elusive animals like snow leopard, blue sheep, grey wolf and musk deer and also multiple monasteries along with different glaciers. It is one of the prettiest national park in the country.
Ringmo
Ringmo is a traditional village in the Dolpo region that practices Bon religion, a unique and ancient culture. It is a small village residing near the lake on the landside dam that formed Phoksundo Lake. You can also visit a Bon temple named Ringmo located just outside the town.
Suligad Waterfall
Suligad Waterfall is 167m long water fall originated from the Phoksundo Lake. It is near the Ringmo village. The water fall is a gem to look at but not many people visit the waterfall. The waterfall drops into the Bheri River forming the Thulo bheri. The place is worth the visit if you are in Ringmo.
