A mysterious and incredible land opened to foreign tourist as recently as 1998, Dolpo lies in the western region on the Nepalese Himalayas. Dolpo, comprising of both Upper and Lower regions also incorporates the amazing Shey Phoksundo National Park. The Dolpo Region is surrounded by the Dhaulagiri Mountain range (8167m) and acts as a shield against much of the wetter weather coming from the south. This creates a more arid environment and can be suitable for trekking almost all year round, though maybe prohibitively cold in the winter months of January and February. One will find this area more akin to the high and dry Tibetan Plateau as it shares the border with Tibet.
The Dolpo region has four distinct areas, where the area around the Karnali River and Kali Gandaki River tend to see many trekkers every year. Trekking in the Lower Dolpo area includes views of peaks covered in snow, remote villages, rich wildlife, and a chance to see the Tibetan culture in its purest form. In the national park also lies a lake with the same name, Shey Phoksundo Lake, which is devoid of all aquatic life, but sparkles with turquoise water. Most trekking begins in Juphal, continues on to Dunai, and then into the Upper Dolpo region. Upper Dolpo is full of many antique monasteries and quaint villages situated in the lap of barren hills bordering Tibet. The trekking elevation ranges from as little as 1,650 meters to over 5,136 meters. Treks tend to be longer to allow exploration of this beautiful region but can be explored in as little as 11 days.
Any time spent in this enigmatic area with be full of wonder and surprises at every corner. The untouched and little-explored areas of Dolpo make this a grand adventure for ardent travelers.