Popularized by Peter Mathiessen’s prize wining book The Snow leopard, and the film Caravan (or Himalaya), Dolpo lies beyond the Dhaulagiri range, a rugged, stark, and beautiful land, characterized by high passes and a community of Tibetan-stock people who follow Tibetan Buddhism and the old pre-buddhist religion of Bon, the area was restricted to outsiders until recently. The Dolpo people continue a lifestyle unchanged for centuries, subsisting by trading their meager barley for rock salt from Tibet and rice from the south. These traders cross some of the highest passes on earth during their trading trips. Trekking along these ancient trade routes, the Dolpo trek provides spectacular scenery and a deep insight into the lives and customs of this unique people.