Overview

Hidden behind the high passes, inner Dolpo is one of the least accessible and yet most alluring corners of Nepal. Few travellers have penetrated to the heart of Dolpo, a region beautifully portrayed in Eric Valli's excellent film - 'Caravan'. This is very much the land that time forgot, with a mix of ancient Tibetan religions and a hardy people who make their living through farming and trade with both Tibet and Nepal. 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. Legend says it's a beyul, one of the "hidden valleys" created by Guru Rinpoche as a refuge for devout Buddhists in troubled times.

Surrounded by Dhaulagiri massif to the southeast and other high passes in the other directions, Dolpo's easiest access is from Tibet, from where its people emigrated perhaps thousand of years ago. Upper Dolpo shelters about 5,000 people, and their villages over 4,260 meters are among the highest settlements on earth. A large portion of Dolpo has been set aside as "Shey-Phoksumdo National Park," covering an area of 3,555 sq. km. The park shelters different fauna like; blue sheep, himalayan black bear, leopards, wolves and the elusive snow leopard.

At the base of the mountain sits the 11th century Shey Gompa, and it is said to have been constructed by a Tibetan Buddhist teacher who arrived here on the back of a flying snow lion. Whatever its origin is, Shey Gompa is widely revered and every year hundreds of pilgrims come here to visit the gompa and make a ‘kora' or circuit of the ‘Crystal Peak'. A visit to the Shey Gompa – dedicated to the ancient Bonpo religion, will be a memorable experience.  Phoksundo Lake situated at 3,627m is another most fascinating part of the whole trek in Dolpo. The lake is a basin of unearthly turquoise blue ringed by rocky crags and forest, framed by snow-capped peaks. The trek into the restricted inner Dolpo offers a variety of trail conditions from maintained trails well trodden by local people to lesser used routes over shale and scree with several high pass crossings though the views are highly rewarding. A reasonable level of fitness is required for this trip.

Dolpo - Shey Gompa Trek Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.
Day 02: SSightseeing or Free day for trek preparation
Day 03: Kathmandu - Nepalgunj by plane or by bus
Day 04: Fly Juphal from Nepalgunj and trek to Dunai
Day 05: Dunai Bazar - Yelakot
Day 06: Yelakot - Orar
Day 07: Orar - Dho Tarab
Day 08: Acclimatization day
Day 09: Dho Tarab - Jhya Kongma (4680m).
Day 10: Jhya Kongma - Chhulung Sumana
Day 11: Chhulung Sumana - Ting Kyu
Day 12: Ting Kyu - Shimen
Day 13: Shimen - Kowa
Day 14: Kowa - Saldang
Day 15: Saldang - Phedi
Day 16: Phedi - Shey Gompa
Day 17: Rest day
Day 18: Shey Gompa - Phoksundo Khola
Day 19: Phoksundo Khola - Ringmu
Day 20: Explore around
Day 21: Ringmu - Chepka
Day 22: Chepka - Dunai
Day 23: Dunai - Juphal Airport
Day 24: Juphal Airport-Nepalgunj by plane & back to Kathmandu.
Day 25: Free day in Kathmandu for Shopping
Day 26: Transfer to the airport for journey back home