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Thirty years ago, Peter Matthiessen wrote The Snow Leopard, one of the most acclaimed nature travel books ever written. This story is a peaceful, spiritual account of Matthiessen and zoologist George Schaller's search for the elusive snow leopard of the Himalaya.
On September 7, 2010, fans and followers of Matthiessen and his snow leopard experience will have the opportunity to embark on a reconnaissance journey mirroring the steps Matthiessen and Schaller took during their 1973 expedition into the remote Dolpo region of the Himalaya. The trek is both a cultural journey and Himalayan exploration ripe with pristine mountain vistas, high pass crossings and adventurous, challenging territory. For 22 days, travelers walk through the last enclave of pure Tibetan culture on earth into the heart of the least developed district in Nepal. This committing and physically demanding trek crosses four 5000-meter (17,000 foot) passes and maintains camp primarily above 10,000 feet. It provides access to centuries-old monasteries and gompas rarely seen by Western eyes, some that even predate the Buddhism religion so devoutly celebrated throughout the region.
Beginning at the village of Juphal, our trek goes north through Rohagoan, and to the waters of Phoksumdo Lake. From Phoksumdo we journey over the great Kanga La, the first of Matthiessen's major obstacles, crossing the pass a towering 17,630 feet above the sea. The trail continues toward Shey and cuts west for a two-day circuit around the Crystal Mountain Kora that ends in the village of Shey, where Matthiessen and Schaller spent several weeks tracking the snow leopard footsteps that appeared outside the Shey Gompa. From Shey we follow Matthiessen's trail to Saldang - where he and Schaller parted ways - and detour north for a visit to the Yangjer Gompa. Head south then along the Nagon Khola to the village of Rakyo, where Matthiessen left the main trekking trail for an exploration into the Nagon Khola Valley and Chhula Lek, en route to Maduwa. The trek follows Matthiessen's tracks through this remote region as closely as current maps will allow and brings us back to the waters of Phoksumdo, then south to our starting point in Juphal.
In addition to exposure to some of the Himalaya's most isolated peaks, oldest monasteries, and difficult mountain terrain, the trek travels through the Shey Phoksumdo National Park, known for having one of the highest snow leopard populations on earth. Trekkers are treated to an extremely high likelihood of seeing one of the most majestic, elusive mountain animals in the world.
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Dolpo - the Snow Leopard Trek
BOOK THIS TRIP!Private Guiding:Available daily. Please contact us directly to make your reservation.Group Departures:
OREmail us or call us at (877) 790-2777 TODAY to reserve a spot or for more information. |
SNAPSHOT
Trip length: 32 days (US to US) Dates: September 7 to October 5, 2010 Cost: Land Only price from: $4375.00 Difficulty: Strenuous Trip Rating:
  Includes: An experienced Western guide(s) and a professionally trained English-speaking Sherpa trekking leader. Kathmandu Airport transfers, chartered internal flights, transfers, any land transport involved in the itinerary, hotel accommodation in Kathmandu and Nepalganj, a guided half-day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu and all breakfast meals while in Kathmandu and Nepalganj. Once on trek, your trip includes a full service staff, all food and all group equipment and the Restricted Area Permit Fee for Dolpo.
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What you should Know:Typical ItineraryGo To: previous page > dolpo - the snow leopard trek |
