Karnali Province, Nepal
Dolpo Travel Guide
A remote trans-Himalayan region of turquoise Phoksundo Lake, ancient Bon culture and the elusive snow leopard, hidden behind the high Himalaya in Nepal's far west.
Dolpo is the wildest corner of Nepal — a high, arid trans-Himalayan region of Dolpa district in Karnali Province, hidden behind the main range in the country's remote far west. Locked in the Himalayan rain shadow, it is a land of bare ochre slopes, fluttering prayer flags and whitewashed villages whose culture, split between Tibetan Buddhism and the older Bon faith, feels far closer to the Tibetan plateau than to the green hills of the south.
The undisputed centrepiece is the luminous turquoise Phoksundo Lake above Ringmo village, sitting at about 3,611 m inside Shey Phoksundo National Park — Nepal's largest. Below the lake, the long plunge of the Suligad waterfall is one of the highest in the country, while the trail to the timber-and-stone houses of Ringmo village threads past mani walls and chortens. Further north, beyond passes over 5,000 m, lies the sacred Crystal Mountain and Shey Gompa, the spiritual heart of Dolpo's Bon and Buddhist monasteries.
Dolpo is also prime snow leopard and blue-sheep habitat, immortalised in Peter Matthiessen's The Snow Leopard. Getting here is half the adventure: almost everyone flies into the cliff-top Juphal airstrip before walking in. Because this is a tightly controlled border region, start with our guide to Dolpo permits and restricted-area access, then sort logistics with how to get to Dolpo and where to stay in Dolpo.
For the full picture, browse the best things to do in Dolpo and time your trip with our guide to the best time to visit Dolpo. Dolpo features in our national round-ups of the best treks in Nepal and remote Himalaya treks — plan ahead and read up on altitude sickness in Nepal before you go.
Where to stay in Dolpo
Sights & attractions in Dolpo
Boating in Dolpo
What to do in Dolpo
Wildlife & nature in Dolpo
Getting around in Dolpo
Plan your trip in Dolpo
Frequently asked questions
Where is Dolpo in Nepal?+
Dolpo is a high, arid region in Dolpa district of Karnali Province, in Nepal's remote far west. It sits in the trans-Himalayan rain shadow behind the main range, which makes its landscape and Tibetan-Buddhist and Bon culture feel closer to the Tibetan plateau than to the green hills of the south.
Do you need a permit for Dolpo?+
Yes. Lower Dolpo, including Phoksundo Lake, needs a restricted-area permit plus the Shey Phoksundo National Park entry permit. Upper Dolpo around Shey Gompa needs a far more expensive restricted-area permit. A licensed guide and a registered agency are mandatory in both.
How do you get to Dolpo?+
Almost everyone flies from Nepalgunj to the Juphal airstrip in Dolpa, then trek on foot, as there is no through road. From Juphal the trail drops to Dunai and follows the Suligad valley past Ringmo village to Phoksundo Lake and beyond into Upper Dolpo.
When is the best time to visit Dolpo?+
Spring and autumn give the most settled weather, but because Dolpo lies in the rain shadow it is also one of the few Nepal regions worth trekking in the summer monsoon. Winter is bitterly cold and snowbound, and many high villages empty out.
Is Dolpo worth visiting?+
Yes, for travellers who want Nepal's wildest, most untouched corner. The luminous Phoksundo Lake, centuries-old Bon and Buddhist monasteries, the sacred Crystal Mountain and genuine snow leopard habitat make Dolpo one of the most atmospheric and remote regions in the country.