2019 Wilderness Travel Catalog of Adventures

Dolpo: The Hidden Himalaya TREKKING IN A LEGENDARY LAND

FRANCK CHARTON

It is both an adventure and a privilege to trek into the rare Himalayan enclave of Dolpo.

HIGHLIGHTS • Trek into a remote Himalayan realm accessible only on foot • Visit otherworldly Phoksundo Lake, with its cliffside monasteries • Meet the nomadic herders of Dolpo, see yak caravans on the trails • Enjoy the rarified air and light that make Dolpo like no other place on Earth • Hike past beautifully decorated chortens (shrines) and mani (prayer) walls • Explore Kathmandu’s extraordinary Buddhist and Hindu temples DETAILS • 19-day trip begins and ends in Kathmandu • 4 nights first-class hotels, 1 night lodge, 13 nights camping • All meals included except 3 lunches and 3 dinners

BILL ABBOTT

Mystical, hidden, and one of the most isolated realms in the inhabited world, Dolpo is a remote corner of Nepal that is a vision of Old Tibet. This rare land is accessible only on foot, and our epic trek brings you deep into Dolpo on ancient trails to high-altitude villages where people live as their Tibetan ancestors did. We hike over high passes (the highest is 17,416 feet!), but our special route is designed for gradual acclimatization. The rewards are countless, including time at Phoksundo Lake (11,808'), whose surreal beauty was captured in the Oscar-nominated film Himalaya . Dolpo is one of the last places in the world where a remote and extraordinary trek like this is still possible. Days 1-9 Kathmandu / Juphal / Tarap Valley From Kathmandu, we fly to Juphal (7,872') and trek through juniper forests and the hamlets of Nepal’s hill tribes. Climbing above treeline into the Tarap Valley, we enter the ethereal world of Dolpo, with its mysterious canyons and cliffside monasteries. Many Dolpo villages still practice Bon, the ancient shamanic religion that predates Buddhism. As we trek, we may see yak caravans a hundred strong carrying barley or salt in the centuries-old method of transporting goods across these high plateaus.

DATES Sep 10-28, 2019 Sep 29-Oct 17

BILL ABBOTT

In the highland hamlet of Dho Tarap (13,251'), we’ll have an Exploration Day to visit the fascinating monasteries that vary from Buddhist to Bon and keep an eye out for bharal (blue sheep) on the cliffs. Days 10-12 Numa La / Baga La We enter high moorlands punctuated by ochre-colored cliffs as we cross the Numa La (17,416'), our highest pass, where we are rewarded by views of snow-clad Dhaulagiri (26,795') and its satellite peaks. Crossing the Baga La (16,699'), we descend into the lovely Sanu Bheri Valley, almost lush and alpine in contrast with the sere Tarap Valley. Days 13-16 Phoksundo Lake / Ringmo Gompa Our trail to the turquoise waters of Phoksundo Lake (11,808') is a magnificent one, with wonderful views every step of the way. Our Exploration Day here will include Ringmo Gompa, a mystical Bon-po monastery overlooking the shimmering waters. Days 17-19 Sepka / Juphal / Kathmandu Descend to the lowlands, fly to Kathmandu on Day 17, and depart on Day 19.

TRIP COST $5795 (4-12 members) Single supplement: $625 Internal airfare: $830 (subject to change) TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 13-day trek on moderate to steep trails, 5-8 hours a day, altitudes between 7,000-17,416 feet

FOR A DETAILED ITINERARY: 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL ASIA@WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM 90