Dolpo is a remote and spectcular corner of the Himalaya, bound to the east and south by the huge Dhaulagiri and Churen Himal ranges, to the west by Jumla district and isolated from the rest of Nepal by high passes to the south. It is a huge area that occupies 15% of Nepal and forms Nepal's largest district, Dolpa. (Dolpo is the local name for the region).

Dolpo has long been bypasses by development and until recently, by tourism. Although a few anthropologists and geographers explored the region, the entire district was closed to trekkers until 1989, when the southern part of Dolpo was opened to organized trekking groups. Individual trekking is permitted until to Ringmo (Phoskundo) Lake. The Trans-Himalayan region for inner Dolpo is restricted to group trekking only.

Much of the region is protected by 3555 sq-km Shey Phokundo National park, Nepal's largest protected area. It was established in 1984 to preserve a unique Trans - Himalayan ecosystem with a diversity of flora and fauna. The park's climatic different zoogeographical regions support a diverse range of biotic system. The National Park provides a diversity of spectacular landscapes. Elevation of the Park Range from 2130m in Ankhe to 6883m at the summit of the Kanjiroba Himal. Much of the park lies deepest and second largest Lake, Phoskundo lies in the Upper regions of Suligad. Near the lake's outlet is the country's highest waterfall. The major rivers in the parks are the Khung, Nmajung, and Panjang; the Suligad and Jugdula rivers, which are the major tributaries of the Thuli Bheri River; and the Langu Rive, which drains the high Dolpo plageau to the east and flows westward. Phoskundo Lake is famous for its magnificent turquoise color and the spectral scenery clearly rank it with the most scenic mountain parks in the world. Ringmo village, a typical Tibetan village, is scenically nestled in the area. Many beautiful glaciers can be found near and above the lake area. The park contains many gompas and religious area. The most famous, Shey Gompa was established in the11th Century. Thashung Gompa located near Phoskundo Lake was built about 900 year ago to conserve wildlife.

The park provides important habitat for endangered species including the snow leopard, grey wolf, musk deer, and blue sheep, goral, great Tibetan sheep, Himalayan thar, leopard, jackal, and Himalayan black bear found in the park. The park is home to six species of reptiles and 29 species of butterfly, including the highest flying butterfly in the world, Parasasa Nepalaica. The park provides habitat for over 200 species of birds, among which include yellow-throated marten, Tibetan partridge, wood snipe, white-throated tit, wood accentor and crimson eared rose finch.

Similarly It provides 286 species of ethno botanical e.g. rhododendron, Caragana shrubs and Salix, Juniper, white Himalayan birch, blue pine spruce, hemlock, cedar, silver fir, bamboo, occasional silver fir dominate the high meadows of the inner Himalaya.

Dolpo is also know to Tibetan Buddhists as a bae-yul, or hidden land'. Peter Matthiessen's The Snow Leopard and David Snellgrove's Himalayan pilgrimages have crystallized Dolpo's mystique in many Western minds.

The Tibetan style villages of Tarap and Phoskundo Lake boast impressive gompas and Bon monasteries, where yak caravans remain the main form of transportation. While much of the region remains culturally and religiously linked with Tibet and the people continue to trade with Tibet on the ancient 'grain for salt' trade routes, the southern part of Dolpo is a region of Hindu influence.

You can reach Dolpo on foot from Jumla to Phoskundao Lake via Kagmarala within six days, from Beni to Tarakot within twelve days, from Surkhet to Dunai within nine days. Similarly, through airline Kathmandu to Nepalgunj midday and Nepagunj to Juphal next day morning are best option to reach Dolpo Trek.

You can combine these treks into various permutations; 20 days trek from Dunai - Do Tarap - Numa La pass, Bagala Pass, Yak Kharka, Phoskundo Lake to Dunai; 28 days trek from Dunai - Phoskundo Lake - Sallaghari - Shey Gomba- Saldang (also Saldang to Yanger gomba) - Tenjegoan - Chakra Bhot - Kagbeni - Mustang - Jomsom; 26 day Trek from Dunai - Tarakot - Do Tarap - Yak kharka - Saldang - Sallaghari - Phoskundo lake - Dunai are fantastic trekking route of Dolpo.