Dolpo Trek

Time travel in Buddhist lands to the turquoise waters of Phoksundo Lake

The Dolpo Phoksundo trek and Dolpo Mustang Naar crossing are immersive trips into Tibetan culture. Until the 19th century, a part of Dolpo was a province of Tibet. Dolpo has long been closed to tourists. Its openness remains limited so that the region has maintained a great natural diversity and preserved its traditions, culture, and religion.

At the start of the journey, we follow the road to Tibet, where the inhabitants of Dolpo once used their yaks laden with salt and other goods that Nepalese and Tibetans sell or trade. Then from Dho to High Camp, we discover the great desert areas bordering Tibet. Then it is the mountain part or rather altitude where we cross the passes of Num La and Basia La to more than 5000 m. The land of Tibetan and Buddhist culture with many monasteries, Dolpo is a region close to Tibet. Today we can say that Dolpo is a more Tibetan region than present-day Tibet. Many monasteries, including Thashung Gompa on Lake Phoksundo, were built 900 years ago.

Nepal’s deepest lake, Phoksundo, is lined with cliffs and dense forests. The path that overlooks it is one of the most extraordinary routes to appreciate the beauty of this emerald lake. The Dolpo – Dolpo – Mustang – Naar crossing is a major route. Craggy ridges, peeled mountains and arid contrast with grassy islands irrigated by glaciers and peaks over 6000 m are the magnificent landscapes of this crossing. North of a Dho Chharka line is Haut Dolpo.