Contact us

Your shopping cart is empty

Cart summary

Items in cart: 0
Total items: € 0,00

SHEY GOMPA FESTIVAL

Peter and Cecilia are travel photographers and filmmakers, always searching for stunning landscapes and unique experiences. 
In 2023 they spent five months in Nepal and at that time they heard about a festival that immediately caught their attention.It’s held in one of the most remote Himalayan regions and only happens every 12 years and it sounded like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They knew they had to see it for themselves and capture it on camera. The Shey Festival seemed like the perfect mix of exploring an off-the-grid area and documenting a truly special cultural event.
And here they there are... Telling us how it went and what they witnessed.


 

THE DOLPO REGION

The Dolpo region in western Nepal, situated in the heart of the Himalayas, is one of the country's most remote areas and renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty. It is a high-altitude region that is difficult to access, requiring long treks to reach. The inhabitants of Dolpo are predominantly of Tibetan origin and adhere to ancient Buddhist traditions that are integral to their daily lives. Here you can find the Shey Gompa Monastery, a significant pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists and the Phoksundo Lake, Nepal's deepest lake, known for its crystal-clear blue waters and stunning surroundings.
Dolpo is among the world's most isolated places where time seems to have stood still, fostering a unique culture and way of life amidst the rugged yet stunningly beautiful landscape.

Trekking in Dolpo is a transformative odyssey that defies the ordinary definition of trekking. Each step becomes a pilgrimage through high mountain passes. This extensive trek takes explorers through traditional villages where the rhythm of life echoes ancient traditions and Buddhist influences. The trail offers a physical journey and a cultural immersion into the soul of Dolpo.


 

THE TRAVEL

Our adventure kicked off in the lively capital of Kathmandu. From there we hopped on a flight to Nepalgunj, a city in southern Nepal. There are direct flights from Nepalgunj to the Dolpo mountain region but they only operate when the weather cooperates.
Unfortunately we weren’t lucky and for two days in a row heavy clouds kept our plane grounded.
After losing those crucial days we decided to take the long, bumpy road to our destination. It took us two days in jeeps to reach Dunai, the capital of Dolpo. We had to switch vehicles four times because we encountered river crossings where we could only get across on foot so another car was always waiting for us on the other side. Since it was still monsoon season, the slippery, flooded mountain roads made our journey even tougher. Later on the hiking was challenging too thanks to all the rain and even some snow.
Once we finally reached Dunai our three-week camping adventure was about to begin.

We started our trek at an altitude of 2,150 meters and after a few days we made it to Dho Tarap which sits at 3,950 meters and is one of the highest inhabited villages in the world.
On the way to Dho we traveled through Lower Dolpo where alongside Tibetan Buddhists, we met some Hindus, especially from diverse ethnic groups like the Thakuri and Magar. These communities often live together, sharing cultural practices while still holding on to their unique religious traditions.
Most of the farming activity in the region happens in Lower Dolpo and locals transport goods to higher altitudes using donkeys and mules. During the first five days we got to know our team better. In this region it’s necessary to have a local Nepali team with all the required permits to enter the restricted Dolpo area. We had a guide, a chef, kitchen helpers and a group of mules to carry tents and supplies. The team was super friendly and we were thrilled to enjoy delicious and varied meals every day.
As mentioned we faced heavy rain during our three-week trek and at first our tent started leaking. After some collaborative Nepalese - Hungarian effort we managed to fix those issues.



After leaving Dho Tarap we headed towards our first high mountain pass on this journey. We successfully crossed the Jyantala Pass at 5,220 meters and entered the enchanting Saldang Valley, marking our official entry into Upper Dolpo.
Walking through the old and lively Tibetan villages where local life is really active and remained the same as in the ancient times. The entire valley was dotted with Buddhist structures and symbols from right around us to up in the mountains. The traditional villages and rich Tibetan culture surrounded us making it feel like we were walking in a movie scene. With all the ancient buildings, monasteries and stupas everywhere it reminded me of a medieval forbidden kingdom. In Upper Dolpo only Tibetan Buddhists live and we started spotting more and more yak herds.
Our next important stop was the village of Saldang, located at 3,770 meters, bringing us closer to the halfway point of our journey.
The locals lead a lifestyle focused on farming and animal husbandry and the settlement offered breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. We really felt like we had arrived in the heart of the Himalayas.
Our trek ran from mid-August to the first half of September and thanks to the summer rains the scenery was incredibly lush and green.
From Saldang we faced our next big challenge: the Sela Pass at 5,100 meters. It was a long day for the team. Since we lost those two days at the start of our journey due to flight cancellations we had to push ourselves harder and trek longer.
We made it to Shey just in time the evening before the festival began.


 

THE FESTIVAL

The next morning we were really excited to see what the event had in store.
Prestigious Lamas (religious leaders) from all over Nepal were invited and their arrival was always marked by spectacular welcome ceremonies.
Their speeches and presence were highlights of the event. Over the four days we spent at the festival we witnessed many memorable pujas (religious rituals) that were deeply spiritual experiences. One of our favourite parts was watching the local villagers perform cultural dances and music while dressed in their traditional attire. The absolute peak performance was the grandiose lama dance. It was an incredible few days and our cameras were rolling non-stop.

The second day of the festival was especially important because that’s when the Crystal Mountain Kora took place. It’s a significant pilgrimage where locals and pilgrims walk around the sacred Crystal Mountain, believed to hold spiritual powers.







After four unforgettable days at the Shey Festival we were ready to tackle the last high mountain pass of our trip. The Nagadala Pass at 5,350 meters was probably the toughest part of the trek but we crossed it without any issues and continued our long walk to our next highlight: the stunning Phoksundo Lake.
The lake is famous for its gorgeous turquoise waters and dramatic mountain backdrop, making it one of the deepest lakes in Nepal. It’s considered sacred by the locals.

Nearby, Ringmo Village is a charming Tibetan settlement known for its traditional architecture and vibrant culture. It serves as a gateway to the lake, giving visitors a glimpse into local life including agriculture and animal husbandry while also showcasing the area’s religious heritage. The monastery in Ringmo Village, known as Ringmo Monastery is an important center for Bon religion which predates Tibetan Buddhism. It’s an ancient spiritual tradition of Tibet that incorporates shamanistic and animistic elements. Practiced by local communities throughout Dolpo, Bon emphasizes harmony with nature and ancestral worship. The monastery was established in the 12th century initially to protect wildlife against hunters.



On a three-week journey without electricity figuring out how to charge our camera and drone batteries was a major challenge. To tackle this we brought our own solar system with batteries and an inverter. However due to the cloudy weather we struggled to get enough power to keep shooting. It was tough but we always found a way to make it work and we were super happy with the footage and photos we captured.

We left Dolpo with heavy hearts, filled with all the incredible experiences from the past three weeks. It’s rare to find places in the world that remain so untouched by modernity where people still live as traditionally as possible, preserving their ancient culture and customs.
 
The pristine Himalayan scenery of Dolpo will stay with us forever and we’ll cherish these memories for years to come.
 

📸 Peter and Cecilia
Share
{CATEGORY}
{COUNTRY}

{NAME}

Discover more

{BIO}

{CATEGORY}
{COUNTRY}

{NAME}

Discover more

{POST_TITLE}

Discover story
{BOLD_INTRO_MOBILE}
{VERTICAL_TITLE_1}
{BOLD_INTRO}
{SIDE_INTRO}
{EXTRA_CONTENT_1}
{VERTICAL_TITLE_2}
Quotation_SX {CITAZIONE} Quotation_DX
{EXTRA_CONTENT_2}