Shey Phoksundo Lake Treak

Dolpo region situated between the Tibetan plateau and Dhaulagiri ranges is the largest territorial district in Nepal. The district borders Tibet (China) in the north and northeast, Jumla and Mugu districts of Karnali in the west, Myagdi, Jajarkot and Rukum in the south and Mustang in the East. The east and south of Dolpo is surrounded by the Dhaulagiri and Churen Himal ranges and to the west by Jumla district.  Dolpo’s trekking is famous for its religious and cultural heritages which includes snowy peaks, ancient remote villages, rich wildlife, lovely Buddhist monasteries and wonderful lakes. The people residing here are conserving the early Tibetan Buddhist teachings and rituals at present. The Oscar nominated film in foreign language “The Caravan” was shot in this region. The region is also famous for Yarshagumba - a rare and unique herb that grows in the meadows above 3,500 meters (11,483 feet) in the Himalayan region of Nepal which is a semi worm, semi fungi. Silajit, a mineral with multi therapeutic value extensively used in Tibetan medicine is widely harvested in the overhanging cliffs of Dolpo which is another speciality of this region. Dolpo is firmly tied to Tibet culturally and economically. The favourable time for trekking is the mid monsoon as it lies in the rain shadow area surrounded by Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. 

SHEY PHOKSUNDO NATIONAL PARK

Shey Phoksundo National Park established in 1984 is the largest and only trans-Himalayan national park in Nepal. this covers an area of 3,555 km2 (1,373 sq m) in the districts of Dolpa and Mugu in the Mid-Western Region, Nepal. The protected area ranges in elevation from 2,130 to 6,885 m (6,988 to 22,589 ft). Phoksundo Lake is the park's prominent feature, located at an elevation of 3,612 m (11,850 ft. 

The flora found within the park is extremely diverse. The northern regions contain barren areas of the upper Himalayas. The Trans-Himalayan slope lands consist of some rhododendron, caragana shrubs, salix, juniper, white Himalayan birch, and the occasional silver fir dominate the high meadows of the Himalayas. The Suligad Vally’s flora consists of blue pine, spruce, hemlock, cedar, silver fir, poplar, rhododendron, and bamboo. The park also contains 286 species of ethnobotanical importance.

The park provides important habitat for endangered species including the snow leopard, grey wolf, musk deer, and blue sheep. Goral, great Tibetan sheep, Himalayan tahr, leopard, jackal, Himalayan black bear and yellow-throated marten are also found in the park. The park is home to six reptiles and 29 species of butterfly, including the highest flying butterfly in the world, Paralasa nepalaica. The park provides habitat for over 200 species of birds, such as Tibetan partridge, wood snipe, white-throated tit, wood accentor and crimson-eared rosefinch. The park is home to more than 9,000 people, and their villages are among the highest settlements on earthThe local people are subsistence  farmers growing potatoes, buckwheat, mustard, beans and some barley; and keeping livestock for food and wool. They barter with Tibetans for salt and wool. Their lifestyle is typically Tibetan. Most of them are Buddhists; the people around Phoksundo area practice Bön. There are communal gompas in most of the villages.