Dolpa Region

One of the newest areas of Nepal open to trekkers is the southern part of Shey-Phoksundo National Park. Reached in about a week from Jumla, the centre of attraction is lovely Lake Phoksundo, famous for the ever-changing colors of its waters. Here one-steps on the edge of the trans-Himalayan plateau that extends from Tibet down into Nepal. This is the region of some of Nepal’s most remarkable wildlife, including the blue sheep, the serow and the snow leopard. Peter Matthieseu’s “The Snow Leopard” and Snellgrove’s “Himalayan Pilgrimage” have contributed in revealing the mystery and attraction of Dolpo. Dolpo lies between Dhorpatan and Rara and two of those treks could be combined into a single tour from Pokhara to Jumla. Dolpo trek on its own takes one to two weeks, assuming you fly there in and out of Dunai. Everyone heads north from there, entering the park after about a day and reaching the lake after two days. A few houses in the region offer shelter but it’s a food deficit area, so you will need to be self-sufficient.