20 Days of Dolpo Excursion
Trip Overview
In the fabled land of Peter Matthiessen’s ‘Snow Leopard’, behind the Dhaulagiri massif and towards the deep ends of the Tibetan plateau, lies Dolpo. The Shey-Phoksundo National Park of Dolpo is the largest of the trans-Himalayan national parks in India and Nepal. The region is cut off from the rest of Nepal with its high passes clogged with heavy snow most times of the year. Lack of express connectivity has somewhat fossilized this place with its distinctive people and cultures. Cultivation and trade in these parts of Nepal are curious and remindful of an ancient order. The people of Dolpo are of the ancient Tibetan stock who follow an extremely spiritual path in their day to day lives. Bon - the religion of the indigenous Dolpo people is an accepted branch among the fifty schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Dolpo excursion sufficiently offers an exposure to the many aspects of indigenous life in these faraway corners of the earth, living and traveling with the ‘Dolpa-pas’ or the people of Dolpo. The region is geologically akin to the sedimentary Tibetan-Tethys zone, with a distinctive moonland-like texture. Dolpo is climatically semi-arid, owing to reported annual precipitation below 500 millimeters. In the rainshadow area of the mighty Dhaulagiri Mountains, agriculture is sparse, though possible in the valleys of Dolpo. In the recent times, Dolpo has been discovered to be the endemic plantation land for ‘Yarsagumba’- a medicinal herb known for miraculous healing effects. This high-value medicinal plant is inviting a gold rush in Dolpo during its harvesting season vacating several villages as entire village communities go in its search.
However, the best-known endemic treasure of Dolpo is of course the very elusive and extremely enigmatic of all Himalayan beasts, the Snow Leopard. Established in 1984, the national park of Shey-Phoksundo is home to these stunning Himalayan big cats and the venue of a number of snow-leopard hikes being conducted round the year.
Highlights of Dolpo Excursion
- Tracing the footprints of the elusive snow leopard up the jagged mountain cliffs in Dolpo.
- The beautiful monasteries of Shey and Shyamling standing against the vast moonland-like barren mountains at the horizon.
- Nature at its most unusual, untouched, and pristine form in these unexplored corners of the earth where tourism is still catching up.
- Varieties of rare flora and fauna are found in the wilderness of Dolpo, snow leopard, the blue sheep or bharal, rare herbs of miraculous healing potential, and many other exotics.
- Eco-traveling and living amidst the mountain people o Dolpo and experiencing the unique life of the indigenous community.
Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu
- Day 2: Kathmandu to Nepalgunj
- Day 3: Trek from Nepalgunj to Juphal and Juphal to Dunal
- Day 4: Dunal to Chhepka
- Day 5: Chhepka to Polam
- Day 6: Polam to Phoksundo
- Day 7: Acclimatization Day at Phoksundo
- Day 8: Phoksundo to Sallaghari
- Day 9: Sallaghari to Nangdalo Base Camp
- Day 10: Rest Day at Nangdalo Base Camp
- Day 11: Nangdalo Base Camp to Shey Gompa
- Day 12 and 13: 2 Rest Days at Shey Gompa
- Day 14: Shey to Tata
- Day 15: Tata to Vijer Village via Shaymling Gompa
- Day 16: Vijer via Nengla High Camp
- Day 17: Nengla High Camp to Saldang
- Day 18: Saldang to Rakyo (Chhore Gaon)
- Day 19: Rakyo to Jyanta La pass Camp
- Day 20: Jyanta La Pass Camp to Dho Tarap
- Day 21: Dho Tarap to Lng Village
- Day 22: Lang Village to Thajam
- Day 23: Thajam to Tarakot
- Day 24: Tarakot to Juphal
- Day 25: Juphal to Nepalgunj to Kathmandu
Included
- Pick and Drop facilities from Kathmandu Airport by private vehicle on prior notice.
- Accommodation in hotels and teahouses on the journey.
- Three fresh meals every day during the entire journey.
- Seasonal fruits and local delicacies in the meals.
- Taxes and vehicle permits on the journey, like National Park entrance fees, Trekkers Information Management System cards, and others.
- Professional English speaking trekking guides.
- Porters for two members.
- First Aid Kit containing basic medicine, oximeter, and blood pressure measuring kit.
- Rescue and evacuation in worst case scenarios.
Excluded
- Flying fares, international transportation costs of travelling to and from Kathmandu.
- Nepal visa fees.
- Personal expense like telephone bills, laundry, internet bills, bar bills, etc.
- Food and accommodation charges in Kathmandu in case of early/late arrival and departure.
- No refund upon leaving the trek route voluntarily.
- Tips as token of appreciation.
- Cost incurred by the trekking party in case of natural calamities or situations beyond control.
Good to Know
The simplicity and hardships of life in these rugged mountain highs is the stuff of our wildest imaginations. People of Dolpo go on living in the face of extremities with immense spiritual fervor and faith in the gods. They travel for miles in yak caravans in search of resources. Salt, herbs, and medicinal plants found in these hinterlands are of great value in the outside world, which the Dolpo-pa (nomads of Dolpo) exchanges in the lowlands for food and various other essentials. To be a witness to the unique life and the exemplary inner strength and passion for survival of the Dolpo-pa people from close quarters on this trek is perhaps the most beautiful take away from this excursion.
Recommended apparels and equipments you need to carry on the Dolpo Excursion:
- Waterproof Jackets, Warm fleece jackets, pullovers
- Trekking or hiking boots of good quality
- Long sleeve shirts
- Trekking pants
- Sleeping bags
- Socks
- Shorts
- Sun hats/scarf
- Sunscreen lotions
- Rubber sandals
- Map
- Water bottles (water purification system)
- Sunglasses
- Trekking poles
- Small wash towels
- Toiletries
Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu
- Day 2: Kathmandu to Nepalgunj
- Day 3: Trek from Nepalgunj to Juphal and Juphal to Dunal
- Day 4: Dunal to Chhepka
- Day 5: Chhepka to Polam
- Day 6: Polam to Phoksundo
- Day 7: Acclimatization Day at Phoksundo
- Day 8: Phoksundo to Sallaghari
- Day 9: Sallaghari to Nangdalo Base Camp
- Day 10: Rest Day at Nangdalo Base Camp
- Day 11: Nangdalo Base Camp to Shey Gompa
- Day 12 and 13: 2 Rest Days at Shey Gompa
- Day 14: Shey to Tata
- Day 15: Tata to Vijer Village via Shaymling Gompa
- Day 16: Vijer via Nengla High Camp
- Day 17: Nengla High Camp to Saldang
- Day 18: Saldang to Rakyo (Chhore Gaon)
- Day 19: Rakyo to Jyanta La pass Camp
- Day 20: Jyanta La Pass Camp to Dho Tarap
- Day 21: Dho Tarap to Lng Village
- Day 22: Lang Village to Thajam
- Day 23: Thajam to Tarakot
- Day 24: Tarakot to Juphal
- Day 25: Juphal to Nepalgunj to Kathmandu
Included
- Pick and Drop facilities from Kathmandu Airport by private vehicle on prior notice.
- Accommodation in hotels and teahouses on the journey.
- Three fresh meals every day during the entire journey.
- Seasonal fruits and local delicacies in the meals.
- Taxes and vehicle permits on the journey, like National Park entrance fees, Trekkers Information Management System cards, and others.
- Professional English speaking trekking guides.
- Porters for two members.
- First Aid Kit containing basic medicine, oximeter, and blood pressure measuring kit.
- Rescue and evacuation in worst case scenarios.
Excluded
- Flying fares, international transportation costs of travelling to and from Kathmandu.
- Nepal visa fees.
- Personal expense like telephone bills, laundry, internet bills, bar bills, etc.
- Food and accommodation charges in Kathmandu in case of early/late arrival and departure.
- No refund upon leaving the trek route voluntarily.
- Tips as token of appreciation.
- Cost incurred by the trekking party in case of natural calamities or situations beyond control.
Good to Know
The simplicity and hardships of life in these rugged mountain highs is the stuff of our wildest imaginations. People of Dolpo go on living in the face of extremities with immense spiritual fervor and faith in the gods. They travel for miles in yak caravans in search of resources. Salt, herbs, and medicinal plants found in these hinterlands are of great value in the outside world, which the Dolpo-pa (nomads of Dolpo) exchanges in the lowlands for food and various other essentials. To be a witness to the unique life and the exemplary inner strength and passion for survival of the Dolpo-pa people from close quarters on this trek is perhaps the most beautiful take away from this excursion.
Recommended apparels and equipments you need to carry on the Dolpo Excursion:
- Waterproof Jackets, Warm fleece jackets, pullovers
- Trekking or hiking boots of good quality
- Long sleeve shirts
- Trekking pants
- Sleeping bags
- Socks
- Shorts
- Sun hats/scarf
- Sunscreen lotions
- Rubber sandals
- Map
- Water bottles (water purification system)
- Sunglasses
- Trekking poles
- Small wash towels
- Toiletries