Upper Dolpo Trek

The Upper Dolpo Trek is a grand trip into the valley where Tibetan Buddhism and shamanistic pre-Buddhist culture still exists. Upper Dolpo Trek is also known as the Shey-Gompa Trek because the Gompa is one of the outstanding attractions during the journey.The landscape of the trek lies beyond the Dhaulagiri Peak, where the rugged trail leads you through the arid area of the Dolpo region. The region is situated between the Tibetan plateau and the Dhaulagiri ranges. In his book The Snow Leopard, Peter Mathesons describes his journey through the beautiful land of Dolpo. Nepal’s first English subtitle movie and Oscar nominated Himalaya or Caravan was also shot in this region.

This adventurous trekbegins with a flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and then to Jhupal. The trail then passes through pine, oak and rhododendron forests, beautiful valleys and local villages.  We pass by the incredible Shey Phoksundo Lake, the deepest in Nepal at 145m.  As mentioned before, we will see centuries-old Buddhist monasteries.  Also, we will pass a holy mountain called “Crystal Mountain,” which is a holy pilgrimage site that sees hundreds of visitors per year.  Finally, the trail includes severaly high and technical mountain passes.  Although they are a bit challenging, they are invigorating and give you incredible views.

This trip is suitable for the adventure lovers and having a long trekking vacation.  This itinerary is rather quick, and we are open to slowing down depending on the wants and needs of the trekkers.  The best times to hike Upper Dolpo Trek are Spring, Summer (Monsoon season), and Autumn. The restricted trekking in Upper Dolpo requires a special trekking permit for your trip. It costs $500 for the first 10 days, and $50 per day after that.  The price of this permit is included in the cost of the trek.  Ascent Holidays arranges the trek with complete management, including TIMS card. Please, feel free to contact us for the detailed information.