The Upper Dolpo

Start from: Jumla
End at: Juphal
Grade: Challenging
Highest access of the trek: Kagmara La Pass 5100m. Mode of trekking tour: Recommended camping trek.

Most Attraction of the trek: Different Community with majority of Gurungs, Magars, Chhetri, Brahamn, Tibetan and Great Himalayan scenery.

In comparison to Lower Dolpo, few trekkers enter this upper section of Shy-Phoksundo National Park. A special permit must be obtained to enter this region. The main attraction of this area is wild and virgin landscape. Geographically, it is a part of Tibetan plateau and is dry, cold and sparsely vegetated. The park, and particularly the northern part, is home to some rare and endangered animals such as musk deer, snow leopard, and blue sheep. Likewise, the region is well known for rare Himalayan herbs. Dolpo was a popular trade route between Tibet and India until few years ago. A film called Caravan which was filmed in Dolpo meticulously captured the trading taken place in this area.

The first foreigner to trek Doplo is Ekai Kawaguchi, a Japanese traveller who travelled to Tibet via Dolpo in the last decade of 19th century. There are Tibetan style inner Dolpo village in Tarap and at Phuksundo Lake, but most of the southern part of Dolpo has Hindu influence. The lake and trail are snowbound from November to May and almost all the inhabitant of Ringmo village move to lower elevations at this time. the main attraction of this area is the wild and pristine landscape, which is unlike other parts of Nepal.