Upper Dolpo

Dolpo area is protected by Shey Phoksumdo National Park of mid- western Nepal, behind the Dhaulagiri massif, towards the Tibetan Plateau. 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. At 3555 sq km, this is the country's largest national park.

The Dolpo area is hard to match for its surreal beauty and stunning charm. Situated at the rain- shadowed side of the Himalaya, rugged scenery shows, compared to similar altitude elsewhere in the kingdom. There are no lush and green hills fed by monsoon but a thrilling hardcore landscape, guarded by impressive peaks, striving for heaven. Moreover, the Dolpo region offers visit to ancients and isolated villages, immortal to time. It provides you with sites of spectacular lakes, authentic Buddhist monasteries and plentiful wildlife.

The park stretches across all possible vegetation zones from the luxuriant forest of the lower Himalayas to the near desert of the Tibetan Plateau. Wildlife of the Shey Phoksundo Park holds a good population of blue sheep, gaur, musk deer, wild dog, marmot, weasel and snow leopard. The adjoining Tibetan region is home to such rare animals as the great sheep and wild ass. Among the many bird species in the park are chough, raven, Tibetan snow cock, Tibetan twite, brown dipper, Himalayan griffon and lammergeier. The whole of the Dolpo region lies away from main routes, affording the native people very little contact with outsiders. A trekker visiting the area feels as if he is in a different world and among people beyond normal standards of behavior. The people, very pleasant by nature, are of Tibetan descent who follow the pre-Buddhist Bon religion. Their language is closely related to Tibetan.

Itinerary

Day 01 : Flight Kathmandu - Nepalgunj.
Day 02 : Flight from Nepaljung to Juphal then trek to Dunai (2150m)
Day 03 : Trek to Hanke (2600m).
Day 04 : Trek to Sumdo (3000m).
Day 05 : Trek to Shey Phoksunmdo Lake (3738m).
Day 06 : Rest day. Today we rest to admire the beauty of this great lake. We visit nearby villages inhabited by Bon and Buddhist Settlers.
Day 07 : Trek to Numla Phedi (5000m).
Day 08 : Numla Bagala Pass (5190m).
Day 09 : Trek to Tokyu.
Day 10 : Trek to Do (4040m).
Day 11 : Trek to Guru Gompa.
Day 12 : Trek to Charka La Phedi (4900m).
Day 13 : Charka La Pass, and camp at Sachen Gumba.
Day 14 : Trek to Thajang Chu phedi.
Day 15 : Trek to Sangda phedi.
Day 16 : Trek to Sangda.
Day 17 : Trek to Phalayak.
Day 18 : Trek to Jomsom.