The Lower Dolpo Trek is a spectacular journey into Nepal’s largest district: Dolpo. Despite its size, Dolpo is the most under developed, remote territory in the country. There are very few roads in the entire district, leaving plenty of room for the pristine nature that exists there. The area does not only have allure to westerners or trekkers. Even Tibetan Buddhists call the land “bae-yul,” meaning ‘hidden land.’ The Lower Dolpo Trek takes you into land that is truly unique – unlike any other place in the world.
Roughly 5,000 people live in Dolpo. Their ancestors came to the area hundreds of years ago from Tibet, bringing with them Tibetan culture, language, and dress. They practice Bon Po religion, a shamanistic religion that has some parallels with Tibetan Buddhism. Today, villagers live off the fruits (i.e. veggies and starches) of the land for survival. They also rely on trade with Tibet, a relationship that has existed for hundreds of years.
It takes some time to even begin the Lower Dolpo Trek, a testament to its remoteness. Take a flight from the Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Nepalgunj and then drive to Dunai. From here, the footpath begins. Pass fields and forests, rivers and villages, as you gain altitude. Signs of Bon Po religion are seen along the trail, including a phallus themed bridge in honor of Masta, the mountain deity.
