DOLPO_

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Dolpa or Dolpo

Please select one (or more) of the available offers in Dolpo.

Dolpa or Dolpo comprises three different offers: Upper Dolpa (or Upper Dolpo), Lower Dolpa (or Lower Dolpo), and Dolpa/Dolpo Shey Phoksundo.

The Upper Dolpa trek is one of Nepal’s hidden treasures, in the western part of the country. Dolpo remains a stronghold of the pre-Buddhist Bon-Po religion. This is a high-mountain region of fortified villages, dzongs and many high passes. On the way to Phoksundo Lake and the legendary Shey Gompa, we pass many old monasteries and highland villages amid stunning natural landscapes.

On the Upper Dolpo trek you’ll explore alpine meadows and exotic villages that have kept the Bhotia culture alive, much as the Thakali culture survives in Mustang. The most fascinating part of this trek is experiencing the cultural differences between people in different regions, believed to have lived this way for centuries. Dolpo, the high-mountain settlement, is home to nomads who migrated into the region in ancient times. The people of Mustang, also called Lopas, migrated from Tibet at roughly the same time. Yet the contrast between the two regions’ people, both historically and in recent times, is striking enough to be a fascinating discovery in itself.

The Upper Dolpo trek is also known as “Beyul”. The area has been inhabited for over a thousand years by Tibetan nomads called Drokpas. It has remained isolated due to its remote location and only opened to trekking and tourism in 1989. The Buddhist saint Guru Rimpoche, who spread Tibetan Buddhism across the Himalaya, discovered this hidden land over 1,700 years ago. On the way to Upper Dolpo you’ll pass some of the highest settlements in the world – people here live at altitudes above 4,000m.

The Lower Dolpo trek is another of Nepal’s treasures and remote trekking destinations. Lower Dolpo is one of the most exciting and challenging treks in Nepal’s western hills. This part of Dolpo is rich in natural resources and remarkable natural gifts, including Shey Phoksundo, as well as the pre-Buddhist Bon Po culture. The trek offers a different, genuinely adventurous trail made up of steep, rugged hillsides.

The 18-day trek begins with a 25-minute flight from Kathmandu to Juphal. The Upper Dolpo trek and the Dolpo Shey Phoksundo trek are also other trekking routes in the Dolpo region. The people here are simple and warm-hearted, with a fascinating culture and traditions similar to those of Tibet. Trekking in the Dolpo region gives you the chance to explore the highlands and remote areas. The biggest highlight of this trek is Shey Phoksundo National Park, Nepal’s largest national park.

Shimmering Phoksundo Lake is another key highlight of the trek. There are no aquatic animals in this lake, and its water is crystal clear. The Numala Pass (5,115m) and Bagala Pass (5,100m) are challenging high points. From this area you can see mountains such as the Dhaulagiri range, Nilgiri and many more.

Dolpa is certainly one of the most beautiful places in the world – a stunning holiday and trekking destination. Its exotic sites and natural scenery lure people from all over the world, making it a must-visit destination. Dolpo was captured beautifully on film by the renowned director Eric Valli in his movie “Caravan”. Dolpo’s Phoksundo Lake is regarded as one of the most scenic and beautiful natural tourist destinations in Nepal – mirroring the snowy Kanjiroba massif, the turquoise lake water looks heavenly.

The Phoksundu teahouse trek is Dolpa’s one and only teahouse trek. This trek is fairly easy, as no high passes are involved. It starts from Juphal, where the only airstrip in Dolpo is located. The trail passes through wonderful Himalayan forests and picturesque traditional villages; the rivers and waterfalls along the way are some of Nepal’s most magnificent. Besides its natural beauty, the trekking area is also rich in wildlife – you may spot endangered species such as the snow leopard, musk deer, blue sheep or great Tibetan sheep.

This trek is less expensive and follows a shorter route. You’ll stay in teahouses or lodges throughout, taking simple, nutritious meals along the way. It’s also suitable for backpackers, who can optionally take a guide – if you don’t need one, the trekking permit fee is payable in addition to the offered price. We plan your trip with a high level of efficiency, so that you have the most memorable experience.

Nepal Highlights:

Best time to visit Nepal – additional information on the “Dolpa / Dolpo”

Nepal can be visited all year round, but a few natural hazards are worth noting: heavy flooding during the monsoon (mid-July to mid-August) and extreme cold in the high Himalaya (late November to mid-December). Nepal is a land of hills and mountains, and its high peaks are one reason the country is so rich in water resources – fast-flowing rivers and beautiful lakes. Heavy rain, or even several days of light rain, can cause flooding in the lowland Terai region, so extra caution is advised there during the monsoon. Away from the monsoon, the hill regions enjoy sunny days even in winter, making for a pleasantly mild travel season.

Seasons in Nepal – additional information on the “Dolpa / Dolpo”

Nepal recognises six seasons: Basanta Ritu (spring), Grishma Ritu (early summer), Barkha Ritu (monsoon), Sharad Ritu (early autumn), Hemanta Ritu (late autumn) and Shishir Ritu (winter).

Outside the monsoon (early July to late August), any season is suitable for a trip – Yetiland-nepal.de advises against travelling in the Terai lowlands during the monsoon.

Summers can be hot, with temperatures ranging from around 25 to 40°C depending on location. In the upper Himalayan region, summer temperatures reach up to about 30°C, while the lower Terai plains in southern Nepal can see highs of 40°C or more.

Winter days are mostly sunny, with cold mornings and evenings. If you’ve experienced winter in Greece, the feeling in Kathmandu is similar – from mid-December the sun keeps days pleasantly warm, while evening temperatures can drop to around 5°C. In the high Himalaya, however, temperatures fall well below 0°C.

Buddha was born in Nepal – additional information on the “Dolpa / Dolpo”

This is a matter of pride for Nepalis: neighbouring countries, India in particular, sometimes claim Buddha’s origins lie there, which stirs up debate from time to time. In fact, Buddha was born in Nepal.

Well worth a visit is Lumbini, his birthplace southwest of Kathmandu. The prince who left his palace in search of lasting peace and meaning in life attained enlightenment (Nirvana) there. His teachings have since spread across the world and are followed by millions of people; in modern Western society too, Buddhism and meditation – a path to self-awareness and inner peace – have become popular everyday practices.

Take a look at our tours that include a visit to Lumbini.

8 of the world’s 10 highest mountains are in Nepal – additional information on the “Dolpa / Dolpo”

Nepal is home to 8 of the world’s 10 highest mountains: Mount Everest (8,848m), Kanchenjunga (8,586m), Lhotse (8,516m), Makalu (8,485m), Cho Oyu (8,188m), Dhaulagiri (8,167m), Manaslu (8,163m) and Annapurna I (8,091m). Yetiland-Nepal offers three categories of trip in these regions: Expedition – climbing an eight-thousander (for experienced professionals only); Trek – trekking through the same region at much lower altitude (ideal for those who want to experience Nepal’s mountains without climbing them); and Holiday – for enjoying Nepal’s nature, scenery and leisure activities.

One of the world’s most dangerous airports

Lukla Airport, the gateway to the Everest region, is considered one of the most dangerous airports in the world. Wedged between steep hills, it makes for a genuinely challenging landing and take-off. Pilots speak of a “point of no return”, beyond which all preparation and technical alignment must already be complete to bring the aircraft in safely. Thousands of passengers fly in during peak season each month – a truly unique experience. Thanks to their extensive experience across almost all of Nepal’s hill regions, Nepali pilots rank among the most skilled in the world.

New Year in Nepal – additional information on the “Dolpa / Dolpo”

Nepal follows its own calendar, the Vikram Sambat. Nepali New Year falls around mid-April, marking the start of the Nepali summer. People also follow the lunar calendar for religious festivals and family celebrations. As Nepal is home to many ethnic groups, each with its own history, several local New Year dates exist side by side – a well-known example is Losar, celebrated among others by the Sherpa community.

Nepal’s unique flag – additional information on the “Dolpa / Dolpo”

Nepal’s flag is the world’s only non-rectangular national flag, formed of two stacked triangles bearing the sun and the moon. These symbols reflect the character of the Nepali people: the moon for humility, the sun for courage. Nepalis are famed for their hospitality towards visitors – in the hill regions, hosts will traditionally slaughter their own livestock (such as chickens or goats) to honour guests. To this day, many Nepali soldiers, known as Gurkhas, serve in armies around the world.

A one-of-a-kind weapon

The handcrafted khukuri knife is world-famous and originates from Nepal. Carried by Nepali soldiers and used in both World Wars, it is credited in veterans’ accounts with contributing to the legendary fighting prowess of the Gurkha regiments. A khukuri also makes an excellent souvenir.

Suspension bridges – additional information on the “Dolpa / Dolpo”

Nepal is famous for its many suspension bridges spanning valleys between its hills, long a practical way of life for people in the mountainous regions. The idea even inspired Germany’s own Geierlay suspension bridge in Rhineland-Palatinate, built as a nod to Nepal’s example.

Landslides

As a very hilly country, Nepal is prone to flooding and landslides during the monsoon, especially in the lower-lying Terai region with its year-round vegetation. The combination of Nepal’s fast-flowing rivers and sustained monsoon rain can trigger landslides in the hill regions, so travel during the monsoon season is best avoided.

Earthquakes

Nepal sits in a zone of high seismic risk. This doesn’t mean major earthquakes happen constantly, but history shows a serious quake roughly every 50 years. The cause lies beneath the surface: the Indian Plate shifts about 5cm against the Eurasian Plate every year, gradually pushing the Himalaya upward over millions of years. The April 2015 earthquake (magnitude 7.8, at a depth of 8.2km) was one of the most recent major quakes, causing severe economic and geographic damage, killing around 9,000 people and injuring roughly 22,000.

Flying in Nepal

Nepal’s civil aviation is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal: CAAN – Nepal.

A number of airlines operate in Nepal, including Yeti Airlines, Buddha Air, Himalaya Airlines, Simrik Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Saurya Airlines, Shree Airlines, Sita Air, Summit Air and Tara Air.

Private helicopter charters are also available, including through Air Dynasty, Simrik Air, Prabhu Helicopters, Altitude Air, Fishtail Air, Manang Air, Makalu Air, Kailash Helicopter Services and Heli Everest.

Airports in Nepal

Numerous domestic airlines operate flights throughout the year. Nepal stretches roughly 880km along the Himalayan axis and 150–250km across, covering a total area of 147,516km². With an average domestic flight time of just 1.5–2 hours, all major airports are reachable within a maximum of 3 flying hours: Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu), Tenzing-Hillary Airport (Lukla), Pokhara Airport, Simara Airport, Bharatpur Airport, Biratnagar Airport, Surkhet Airport, Nepalgunj Airport and Jomsom Airport.

Of these, Lukla Airport is considered one of the most dangerous in the world – a unique experience that thousands of travellers still make every month. When you book a complete package with Yetiland-Nepal, you don’t need to arrange any of this yourself.

Note that during winter (November to December), heavy morning fog often causes flight delays, and in some cases full-day cancellations after long waits. For this reason, Yetiland-nepal.de typically relies on tourist buses rather than domestic flights during this season.

More information on Dolpa/Dolpo
About Dolpa: Wikipedia