Journeys of culture, spirituality and exploration

Journeys in the footsteps of Peter Matthiessen

Bespoke Journeys with indigenous guides to explore the physical and intellectual journey behind Peter Matthiessen's iconic book The Snow Leopard. Built on our work with Lance Richardson who has recently published his acclaimed 2025 biography TRUE NATURE: THE PILGRIMAGE OF PETER MATTHIESSEN

Journey highlights

Be led by local and indigenous guides who are part of the communities you will visit.
Be hosted by and have meaningful interaction with local communities and local culture in Dolpo.
Travel through little visited Mountain Shamanic Hindu Villages that were visited by Peter Matthiessen in 1973.
Arrive in the Land of Bonn religion and visit the traditional and spectacular Tibetan style villages of Rike and Ringmo which of which Matthiessen writes.
Meet the lamas, elders, village leaders and communities along the way to gain a true understanding of the life and culture of this area.
Participate in and watch local ceremonies, festivals and events that are likely to happen throughout the year and which our guides will take you to.
Be among the snow capped high Himalaya in a land of deep spirituality and tradition and in the habitat of the ever present but illusive snow leopard
Visit stunning Bon monasteries, stupas and religious sites.

If you choose the longer and more arduous journey across to the Crystal Mountain

Cross a high mountain pass of over 5000m to reach 'Upper Dolpo'
Visit the iconic and sacred Crystal Monastery - Shey Gompa - beside the Crystal Mountain
Visit the stunning Tsakhang Monastery perched on a cliff above Shey
Potentially undertake a wider and longer circuit of some of the highest inhabited valleys in the world.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

"A unique experience, very much into the heart of the Dolpo-pa, unlike other treks which speed through the landscape and seldom touch the culture."

Anne Ince

"It's as if we were part of a BBC documentary on the indigenous people of Dolpo. An amazing experience."

Jeanette Arnott

“Incredible journey to one of the most beautiful places on earth with the opportunity to interact in a meaningful way with locals— gaining deeper insights and enjoying the warmest of welcomes.”

Linda Di Maio

Dolpo - Remote Tibetan Nepal

Get in touch

In 2022, Nomadic Skies teamed up with US based author Lance Richardson to assist him with mapping and following the route that Peter Matthiessen and George Schaller took through Dolpo to the sacred Shey Gompa. We were accompanied by our local guides and linked to our local community contacts and friends.

For author Lance Richardson: this was a trip to support his research for his major biography 'True Nature: The pilgrimage of Peter Matthiessen'. An opportunity to not only retrace Matthiessen's journey physically but to get a sense of the journey spiritually, culturally and intellectually. For Gavin Anderson and James Appleton from Nomadic Skies: This was an opportunity to introduce the people and culture of Dolpo and perhaps to redress some of the misrepresentations we felt there were within the 1978 Snow Leopard book.

We came away from Dolpo with a greater understanding of the people, an appreciation of Matthiessen's skill as a writer in conveying place, landscape and nature - despite what we felt was a misrepresentation of the Dolpo-pa people.

We are now offering intrepid and experienced travellers who would like to travel far off the beaten track and make their own Matthiessen inspired journey in the Dolpo area. Tailored to your needs, interest and capabilities - Dolpo remains an area of stunning High Himalayan landscapes, natural beauty and deep culture and spirituality. An area that we believe merits slower and more thoughtful travel.