Upper Dolpo trekking – really worth the hard work

Trekking in Nepal’s far western Upper Dolpo province takes tourists into one of the most isolated regions of the grand Himalaya. A trip to Dolpo can be demanding as the sightseeing infrastructure is nearly non-existent, and re-formed trips are vital. But the rewards you get worth the adventure. From Tibetan Buddhist culture to some of the oldest monasteries in Nepal and the exceptional Lake Phoksundo – there is a real sense of being in the wilderness on an Upper Dolpo trekking voyage.

 

Overview of Upper Dolpo Trekking adventure:

Hiking in the Dolpo region of Nepal lets travelers to explore the splendor of Nepal’s rugged & remote far-west. The western area of the province is home to She-Phoksundo National Park, which is Nepal’s biggest.

Apart from being isolated, Upper Dolpo is also rather poor. Tourism infrastructure in Dolpo isn’t what it’s in most of Nepal, and it’s essential to camp & take your own food. Permits are costly, and you can’t hike in Upper Dolpo solely.

However, the high passes & peaks, deep valleys, the 800 year-old Shey Monastery, the turquoise Lake Phoksundo and some endangered wildlife encompassing the unidentifiable snow leopard – reward bold hikers who come here.

 

Permit and regulations:

Upper Dolpo permits are costly & strictly needed. You also require to buy a permit for Lower Dolpo, which you pass through on your way to Upper Dolpo. Apart from that, just 250 outsiders are allowed to get into Upper Dolpo every year.

• Lower Dolpo: $10 USD per week

• Upper Dolpo: $50 USD per day (10-day minimum)

There’s also a Rs. 1000 entrance fee to the popular Shey-Phoksundo National Park. As it is compulsory to hike with a guide on an organized trip in Upper Dolpo, your travel agency will organize all permits & these charges are usually incorporated in the entire expense of your trip.

Best season for Upper Dolpo Trekking:

Like most of Nepal, the ideal time to explore Upper Dolpo is the spring season (April-May) & the fall season (October-November) when temperature remains pleasant, skies seems to be the clearest, and there’s minimal possibility of snow at altitudes. Late-early snow can affect your trek in April & November, making few passes unfeasible to cross.

 

This isn’t a beginner’s trek or one to attempt if it is your first time in Nepal. But it’ll be a worthwhile challenge for veteran trekkers & repeat visitors to Nepal alike!

Ghorepani Poon Hill trek and Mustang Nepal trek are the two alternatives of Upper Dolpo trek. If you are not keen for real adventure, you better try these alternatives.

Annapurna Circuit Trekking – Important Tips

Nepal is nicknamed as “the ceiling of the world” and rightly so. It boasts eight of the globe’s 10 tallest mountains & 100 mountains more than 7200 meters.

 

The 2 most renowned treks are the Mt Everest Base Camp trek (at 5,380m) and the Annapurna trek to the climax point of ‘Thorung La Pass’ at 5,416 meters. We hiked the Annapurna Circuit to the climax point of Thorong La Pass at 17,769ft – an experience which will live in our hearts always.

Listed below are a few tips or advices from our side if you are planning Annapurna Circuit trek in the country of Nepal.

 

Hire a professional guide:

We appointed a professional guide for your trek and like to recommend you so. A knowledgeable guide will know the routes inside out, know the most dependable tea houses for accommodation & will always try to avail you the best service everywhere. He will also be able to assist you with altitude sickness & motivate you throughout the trek.

Hire a porter:

You must rent a porter to carry your stuff along the trek. It is worth inquiring your travel firm if they treat their porters well & what’s the utmost load they make them transport. you’ll quickly get familiar to witnessing this throughout your trek.

What should pack for your Annapurna Circuit Trek?

Sleeping bags and down jackets are the two most important things you must carry while opting for Annapurna Circuit trek. Apart from these, you’d also like to consider carrying adequate cash, a good backpack, sturdy trekking shoes, sunglasses, two pair of shorts which can be used as zip trousers, one light long sleeved top, general outfits like underwear and t-shirts, rain coat, quick drying towel, head torch with extra batteries, swiss army knife, camera with extra battery & charger, sun hat, thermal under layers, toiletries, toilet paper, mosquito repellents, swimming costumes, lib balm, water purification tablets, walking sticks, etc.

 

Permits for Annapurna Circuit Trek:

You require 2 sorts of permits – the ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit ) & TIMS ( Trekkers Information Management System) – which will be checked regularly on the route. Get these permits either in Pokhra or Kathmandu before your trek. In Kathmandu, the permit office is nearly 15-20 minutes walking distance of Thamel and in Pokhra it’s close to the tourist bus stop.

Both Annapurna Circuit trek and Annapurna Base Camp treks should be on your bucket list of things to do in Nepal. These two treks are in fact the most explored in Nepal.