One of the best treks I've ever done was a couple of years back for the Western Nepal chapter of Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya. A superb 24-day walk from the Annapurna region, over seven high passes (highest 5318m) across west-central Nepal into lower Dolpo and across the Transhimalaya to Do Tarap and Phoksumdo Lake. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in getting off the beaten trek in Nepal. The pictures below are in order and show the dramatic changes from subtropical rice-growing valleys to high-altitude Tibetan desert. Click on the photos for larger images and a day by day progression. For a trek description see the Lonely Planet Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya guide.
Beni To Dolpo Trek
(click on the photos for a larger slideshow)
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Tajikistan
Classic Pamiri Scenery of Gorno Badakhshan
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ReplyDeleteWonderful photos of your trek, thank you! Do you think it is ok to trek without a tent in this region and stay in tea houses or lodges or is it it too primitive for that? Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi Sharon,
DeleteI think it would be very difficult to do this trek without a tent and stove. There are only a couple of simple teahouses en route and there are several days' of almost complete wilderness. I think this is a trek to do with an agency's help. For a teahouse trek off the beaten track I would recommend Manaslu, which can now be done without a tent. Have a great trek!
Beautiful !!! Thanks so much for the pictures. What time of year was this? I'm guessing October.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Jake
No wait !! Early summer?
ReplyDeleteActually, I bought a specialised guide book to the Dolpo region, and it made me realize how well written your Lonely Planet book is. In your section on Western Nepal you give more information, with more detail, and more clearly presented, than the whole book on the Dolpo region. So thanks again.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jake, much appreciated. I did the trek in late spring/early summer, around May I think from memory. One of my favourite treks, you'll love it.
DeleteBradley
ReplyDeleteI have the 2009 lonely planet you wrote and states no restricted area permits are required in the beni-dunai, dunai-pokhsundo,jumla-dunai. Although some people have been posting on permits being required. Could you please confirm that info? Much appreciated. And i can say the guide is a very nice piece of work, followed it in the annapurnas and three passes and really made it easier.
Hi. The 2009 and 2015 trekking guides state that you need a US$10 trekking permit for Do Tarap to Phoksumdo, but no restricted permit for Beni to Dunai or Jumla to Dunai. I think that's still the case. You need a TIMS permit for all treks. Both permits are easy to obtain, though the $10 permit youll need trekking agency help for. Hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are beautiful! I am looking to do this trek next month. What agency did you book your guide through? There are so many online and I'd love your reccomendation. In addition, did you bring food for the entire trek or were you able to stock up at all? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
ReplyDelete