Traverse Nepal's largest national park to the deep turquoise waters of holy Shey Phoksundo Lake (3,611m), ancient pre-Buddhist Bon po monasteries, and across 5,350m glaciated passes into Upper Dolpo. Explore Geography →
Encompassing 3,555 km² in the Karnali Province, Shey Phoksundo National Park is Nepal's largest protected area. Immortalized in Peter Matthiessen's book The Snow Leopard and Eric Valli's Oscar-nominated film Himalaya (Caravan), Dolpo is a trans-Himalayan desert sanctuary where time stands still.
Dolpo divides into two distinct trekking zones:
Accessible without the expensive $500 RAP fee. Follows the Suli Gad river gorge past Suligad Waterfall (167m) to the spellbinding turquoise waters of Lake Phoksundo and Ringmo Bon village.
Crosses the glaciated Kang La (5,350m) to reach sacred Shey Gompa beneath Crystal Mountain, continuing across high desert passes to Saldang, Yangjer Gompa, and Dho Tarap.
From accessible 10-day lake journeys to grand 24-day trans-Himalayan wilderness expeditions.
GRAND EXPEDITION
Nepal's ultimate remote circuit. Cross glaciated high passes, circumambulate Crystal Mountain at Shey Gompa, and trek through ancient Bon po settlements untouched by modern road construction.
TURQUOISE JEWEL
An accessible, teahouse-supported trek to Nepal's most visually stunning alpine lake. Visit 900-year-old Ringmo Bon Gompa, marvel at the 167m waterfall, without paying the $500 RAP fee.
WILDERNESS LOOP
Cross Numa La (5,190m) and Baga La (5,070m) to combine the deep gorge of Tarap with the turquoise shores of Lake Phoksundo on a complete high-altitude wilderness loop.
Lower Dolpo requires standard permits; Upper Dolpo requires a Special Restricted Area Permit (RAP).
Required for Upper Dolpo beyond Phoksundo Lake ($50/day after 10 days). Minimum 2 trekkers required with certified guide.
Required for Lower Dolpo & Lake Phoksundo. Excellent value for money.
Approx. USD $23 per person. Shey Phoksundo National Park conservation permit.
Upper Dolpo features some of Nepal's most continuous high-altitude plateau walking (consistently 4,000m+).
Like Mustang, Upper Dolpo sits in the trans-Himalayan rain shadow, making Summer (June–August) an exceptional trekking window.
| Season | Months | Plateau Temp | Conditions | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Apr – May | -5°C to +12°C | Pass snow melting; wild flora blooming in Lower Dolpo. | Excellent |
| Monsoon | Jun – Aug | +5°C to +18°C | Rain-shadow dry weather in Upper Dolpo! Ideal for high passes. | Prime Window |
| Autumn | Sep – Oct | -8°C to +10°C | Crystal clear turquoise water reflections, golden barley fields. | Peak Season |
| Winter | Nov – Mar | -25°C to -5°C | Heavy snow cuts off high passes; Phoksundo Lake freezes over. | Closed |
Dolpo is the world's last stronghold of Bon Po — the indigenous pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet founded by Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche. Bon practitioners circumambulate stupas and sacred chortens anti-clockwise (counter-sunwise), distinct from orthodox Tibetan Buddhists.
Lower Dolpo offers simple rustic teahouses; Upper Dolpo is a full wilderness camping expedition supported by our kitchen crew and pack mules.
Four-season Mountain Hardwear expedition tents, dining tent with gas lamps, toilet tent, and sleeping mattresses provided for Upper Dolpo.
Our trained expedition cooks prepare 3 hot, balanced, hygienic meals daily including fresh breads, porridge, soups, pasta, curries, and desserts.
With zero cellular coverage in Upper Dolpo, our expedition leaders carry Garmin inReach satellite communicators and emergency beacon systems.
Due to extreme remote conditions, comprehensive self-sufficient equipment is required.
Everything you need to know about Juphal flights, RAP permits, camping logistics, and booking terms.
We fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj in the southern lowlands (50 min), stay overnight, and take an early morning twin-otter mountain flight into Juphal Airport (2,475m). From Juphal, our trekking expedition commences along the Suli Gad River into Shey Phoksundo National Park.
Lower Dolpo (including Phoksundo Lake) requires a nominal RAP fee of USD $20/week plus national park permit. Upper Dolpo (crossing Kang La to Shey Gompa and Saldang) requires the full government restricted area permit of USD $500 per person for 10 days. Both are fully arranged by Best Treks Nepal.
All our Upper Dolpo expeditions are equipped with satellite communication terminals and pulse oximeters. In the event of acute mountain sickness or injury, emergency helicopter evacuation is coordinated immediately with Kathmandu dispatch. High-altitude travel insurance is strictly mandatory.
Yes! Much like Mustang, Upper Dolpo lies entirely north of the Dhaulagiri rain shadow. June, July, and August offer warm, dry weather in the high desert, with vibrant green alpine meadows and full village life during barley harvesting season.
In Upper Dolpo, our full expedition camping crew pitches robust 4-season Mountain Hardwear dome tents with thick insulating mattresses. Our trained camp chef prepares three hot, freshly cooked, high-nutrition meals daily in our dedicated kitchen tent.
Nepal immigration requires a minimum of 2 trekkers and a certified government guide for the $500 RAP permit. We match solo travelers with scheduled fixed departures to ensure all permits are successfully approved.
Our Kathmandu operations team and veteran expedition leaders are available 24/7.
Connect with our Kathmandu operations team to arrange your restricted area permits, secure internal flight tickets to Juphal, and reserve your departure date.
