Dolpa Airport in Nepal, Airport Guide, Travel
Perhaps one of the smaller airports in Nepal, Dolpa Airport is a neat little airport that offers travelers only the most basic of services. However, despite its diminutive size its importance to local communities and travelers should not be underestimated. The Dolpa Airport provides a much needed air service to Dolpa and the surrounding areas.
Dolpa is one of Nepal’s most remote and sparsely populated districts. It is situated within the Karnali zone and has its headquarters in Dunai. The terrain in Dolpa falls between 1,525 meters above sea level to 7,625 meters above sea level and so is characterized by steep valleys and a dry climate. Dolpa is Nepal’s largest district and it shares a portion of its borders with Tibet in China. A large section of the district falls under the authority of the Shey Phoksundo National Park who works hard at protecting the wildlife, plant life and historical monuments found in the region. The two most notable attractions here are the Shey Monastery, which dates back to the 12th century, and the Phoksundo Lake, which is the deepest lake in the country. The National Park’s name is a combination of both these attractions and the park is the only trans-Himalayan national park in the country. This makes the airport in Dolpa one of special significance since it provides some of the only year-round access to this important national park.
The Dolpa Airport usually makes use of the airport code “DOP” and is situated at an elevation of 8,200 ft. The runway is approximately 1,500 ft in length and this means that only small aircraft may take off and land here. The flight options in Dolpa are limited without only one airline – Yeti Airlines – operating from the airport. Yeti Airlines offers one flight to Nepalganj and back daily aboard a small aircraft with enough space for only nineteen passengers. Some travelers may wish to investigate the option of traveling into Dolpa by road from Rukumkot, Nepalganj, Jomsom, Pokhara, Jumla, Simikot and Surkhet. However, it is usually quite a bit easier to just fly directly to the Dolpa Airport. So if you want to visit this remote part of Nepal and spend time at one of the most spectacular national parks in the country, start booking your ticket for Dolpa Airport today.
