Upper Dolpo Trekking-24 Days

Dolpa is located in the central-west area of the country. The main attraction of this area is the wild and pristine landscape, which is very different from all other parts of Nepal. Geographically it is part of the Tibetan Plateau and it is generally dry, cold and sparsely vegetated. The national park area and northern part is home of many rare and endangered animal species, including the snow leopard, musk deer and blue sheep.

The most obvious group of people seen in the northern parts of the area are of Tibetan origin. Similar to Tibetans and Sherpas they rely on making a living by subsisting on the high pastures and supplementing this with trade, both to the north and the south. For years, their salt caravans have been a common site along the mountain passes. Their religion is a mixture of Tibetan Buddhism and the ancient, pre-Buddhist Bon religion, a largely animistic faith. Their language is based on the Tibetan dialect spoken in Kham, a province of old Tibet.

Lower down the people are a mixture of ethnic groups, such as the Magar, Gurung and hill people of Hindu caste origin. Of particular interest are the Thakuri, the royal family caste. Again they are quite different in culture and language to their cousins further east.  The area is generally very isolated and few tourists visit the area.  Even few Nepalese from outside the area make a visit.  For this reason, it's a privilege to be able to see this landscape and culture.  There is nowhere else on Earth like the Upper Dolpo area.  If you have the chance to visit, you must take it!