Shey Phoksundo Lake of Nepal

Phoksundo lake is one of the most popular tranquil blue water lakes situated in the Dolpo district of Nepal. It lies at an elevation of 3,660 meters above sea level beside the traditional Ringmo village. Situated inside the Shey Phoksundo National Park, It is one of the deepest lakes of Nepal. The maximum depth of the lake is 145 meters making it one of the deepest high altitude lakes of the entire globe. 

Phoksundo lake in the upper Dolpo region of Nepal. Upper Dolpo is also one of the restricted areas of Nepal. Because you will need a restricted area permit before exploring this lake. About 2 days of walk from Juphal airport will take you to this beautiful heaven on earth. 

An extra day is required to explore some of the major places near the Phoksundo lake. The lake is surrounded by 20 monasteries on all sides. And marvellous views of the lake can be seen from the top of the monasteries.

It is believed that a demoness had a run in with a rival upstream. Besides that, it is also believed that one of the demons brought down an entire mountain. The mountain blocks the Suligad River making it one of the deepest lakes situated at a high altitude. 

The Geologists also have done various research to know about the existence of the Phoksundo Lake. After doing research they have confirmed that Phoksundo Lake was formed after a huge post-glacial mountain collapse. It is believed to have occurred about 40,000 years ago. The water is collected in the lake and makes one one of the highest waterfalls of Nepal during the overflow from the hill. Made up of blocks of limestone and sediment, the rockslide detached itself from the ridgeline which is situated at an elevation of 5,700 meters above sea level. 

It is also believed that there used to be a Lama in Tibet and a demon who used to trouble the locals. Because of that the Lama offered him to leave them with peace and not to trouble them again. But the demon refused and the lama started chasing him. The demon is believed to carry a bowl of oil in one hand and a bowl of water in another. The Lama chased the demon all the way to Phoksundo from Tibet and during the process the demon spilled his bowl of water. Because of the water the Lama was trapped and a big lake was formed. Leaving the Lama behind the demon then escaped from there.

Phoksundo is one of the biggest trans Himalaya national parks of Nepal. It lies at an elevation from 2,130 meters above sea level to 6,885 meters above sea level. Besides that it is also the home of the 286 species of flowering plants which are of ethnobotanical significance.

The northern parts of the national park is covered with trees of Rhododendron, white himalayan birch, juniper, salix and caragn. Similarly, the high meadows in the conservatory are covered with silver fir. Besides that the Suligad valley is dominated by the blue pine, rhododendron, silver fir, hemlock, spruce, bamboo and poplar. 

Habitants of Shey Phoksundo

Shey Phoksundo is also a home of some of the endangered species of wild animals. Some of the common wild animals that can be found inside the Shey Phoksundo National Park include musk deer, grey wolf, snow leopard and blue sheep. Besides that, some other mammals such as himalayan tahr, tibetan sheep, jackal and himalayan black bear are also found inside the national park. 

Similarly, Shey Phoksundo national park is also the home of Parasala nepalaica and 29 different butterflies. It is one of the highest flying butterflies of the world. One of the popular places for bird watching, about 200 species of birds are found inside the Shey Phoksundo National Park.

• Turquoise blue Phoksundo lake

• Ringmo village

• Pre Buddhist Bon Po religion

• Traditional houses

• Ringmo waterfall

• 20 different monasteries surrounding the Phoksundo lake

• Thasung Tsholing Gompa

Ringmo Village

Ringmo is a traditional village of the Dolpo district of Nepal, that sits at an elevation of 3,600 meters above sea level. It is one of the popular villages of the Dolpo region that sits next to the Phoksundo Lake. It is the ultimate destination for the trekkers willing to explore the Phoksundo lake of Nepal. Besides the Phoksundo lake, the high waterfall of about 170 meters is also the main highlight of Ringmo village.

Most of the Tibetian ethnic people live in the beautiful village. Besides that most of the locals also follow the pre Buddhist Bonpo religion. It is one of the rare religions followed throughout the globe. A Bon po temple can also be found near the Ringmo village. Similarly, the name of the temple is Thasung Tsholing Gompa. This gompa consists of nine houses and it lies at the top of a steep eastern spur. The Gomps is filled with chortens on all sides. These chortens manifest devotion to spiritually and valued ancestors. Above all, these chortens also symbolize the line that separates raw nature with human habitats. 

Shey Phoksundo National Park

Known for its spectacular landscapes and breathtaking mountain views, Shey Phoksundo National park gets very few tourists every year. With an area of 3,555 square kilometers, it is the biggest trans Himalayan national park of Nepal. Located in the Dolpa and Mugu districts of Nepal, it has been open to tourists since 1989. The Headquarter of Shey Phoksundo National Park is in Palam, Dolpa.

The buffer zone of the Shey Phoksundo National Park covers an area of 1,349 square kilometers. Various species of rare flora and fauna are found inside this untouched and the unexplored national parks of Nepal. Some of the medical herbs that can be found inside Shey phoksundo National Park include Yarsagumba, Jatamasi, Panchaunle and many more. Similarly, some of the common endangered species include Snow leopard, musk deer, blue sheep, himalayan tahr, himalayan black bear, jackal. 

Dolpo Airport

One of the most dangerous airports of Nepal, Dolpo Airport lies in the mid western part of Nepal. It lies in the Dolpa district of Nepal in the Juphal village of provenance no 6. This airport is the gateways to the Shey Phoksundo national park. Besides that, it also serves for connecting the Lower and Upper Dolpo region of Nepal. Some of the aircraft that take off to Dolpo airport include DHC6, L410, Y12, C208.

Situated at an altitude of 2,804 meters above sea level, it is the only airport that connects the rural villages of Dolpa districts. The flights are operated in the morning before 12 pm throughout the air. It is because the wind and the weather for this reason makes it difficult while landing and taking off. 

Basic facilities are available at the Dolpo airport which was black topped after 2017. Before that the flights used to land on the gravelled runway. Because of that, the flight used to get cancelled every time it rains. Even now the flight to Dolpo gets cancelled frequently due to the bad weather.

Phoksundo lake Trek is one of the main highlights of the Dolpo region of Nepal. It is one of the untouched and unexplored trekking trails of Nepal. Situated inside the Shey Phoksundo National Park of Nepal, It can be explored almost throughout the year. Besides that, if you are lucky you may also get the sight of rare animals during the trek. 

Day 01: Kathmandu Arrival, Transfer to Hotel

Upon arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, you will take your luggages and move towards the exit. Our office representative will be waiting for you holding your name card. After that you will take a drive to your hotel. You will have a refreshment time and we will meet for an evening coffee. During the time you will also meet your trekking guide and he will explain to you more about the trek. 

Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing and Trek Preparation Day

Kathmandu is one of the most popular historic places around the globe. You can witness some of the ancient art and architecture in this ancient newa kingdom. Out of 10 Kathmandu holds 7 UNESCO world heritage sites of Nepal. You can explore some of these mesmerizing heritage sites inside Kathmandu valley. Besides that, this day can also be used as the Trek preparation day. You can get your trekking gears or accessories required during the trek. 

Day 03: Flight to Nepalgunj

You will take an early morning flight to Nepalgunj. Nepalgunj lies at an elevation of 150 meters above sea level and is one of the major cities of Nepal. Upon reaching Nepalgunj you will move towards the hotel and you will have free time. During the day you can also visit the Bardia National Park of Nepal. 

Day 04: Flight to Juphal, Trek to Dunai

Take an early morning flight to Juphal, Upon reaching there you will meet other staff and start your trek. During the first day of the trek you will take an easy walk to reach Dunai village. You will walk about 3-4 hours depending on your walk to reach Dunai village for the overnight stay. 

Day 05: Trek to Chhepka

During the second day of your trek you will move toward the Chhepka village. Situated at an elevation of 2,670 meters above sea level you will walk for 6-8 hours to reach this village for the overnight stay. You will also enter the Shey Phoksundo National Park during the day. The trail today ascends up and passes through the hemp fields before reaching Kageni village. The view of magnificent waterfalls, lush vegetation, and the tropical forest is throughout the trail reaching Chhepka.

Day 06: Trek to Sanduwa

After the morning breakfast at Chhepka you will begin your trek. The trail today passes through the wide meadows and forests. Marvellous views of the landscape can be seen during the day. Walking beside the Phoksundo Khola you will reach Rechi village before reaching Sanduwa for the overnight stay. 

Day 07: Trek to Phoksundo Lake

Today is the most important day of the trek as you will reach the Ringmo village. It is one of the popular villages of the Upper Dolpo situated at an elevation of 3,660 meters above sea level. The beautiful Phoksundo Lake lies near the Ringmo village. At the beginning the trail is easy. Meanwhile, you will have to take an uphill walk before reaching the Ringmo village. 

Day 08: Exploration Day

Wake up early to see the beautiful sunrise view over the Kanjirowa mountain. Mesmerizing views of the Phoksundo lake can also be seen during the time of sunrise. After having breakfast you will move towards the top of the hill to see the aerial view of the Phoksundo Lake. You can also explore the nearby monasteries during the walk. Similarly, you can also interact with the locals and learn their culture and traditions. 

Day 09: Trek to Raktang

After breakfast, we will see Phoksundo lake for the last time and leave Ringmo village. The trail today is a complete downhill walk. You will walk through the same route that you used to reach the Ringmo village. Walking beside the Phoksundo lake you will reach the Raktang village for the overnight stay. 

Day 10: Trek to Juphal

Juphal is the last destination of the trek. During the beginning of the day you will walk downhill until you reach Suligad. After that you will have to walk uphill until you reach Juphal for the overnight stay. 

Day 11: Flight to Nepalgunj, Connecting Flight to Kathmandu

Wake up early and have your breakfast. After that we will take an early morning flight to Nepalgunj. You can have the marvellous views of the mountain ranges during your flight. Upon reaching Nepalgunj airport, you will take another connecting flight to Kathmadnu. Upon arrival you will check in the hotel and have free time. In the evening we will meet and have a farewell Nepali dinner together. 

Day 12: Departure

You will have your breakfast at the hotel. After checking out you will move towards the airport. Our office representative will drop you to the Tribhuvan International Airport 3 hours before your flight.

Shey Phoksundo lake lies inside the upper Dolpo region of Nepal. The upper Dolpo is one of the restricted areas of Nepal. Because of that you will need a restricted area permit to explore the Phoksundo lake. Besides that you will also need a Tims card and the Shey phoksundo National Park entry fee. 

Lower Dolpo Restricted Permit

Lower Dolpo is also one of the restricted areas of Nepal. Because of that, solo trekking is not possible inside the Shey Phoksundo National Park. Every trekker needs to pay USD 20 per person per week to explore the lower Dolpo region.

Upper Dolpo Restricted Permit

No trekkers can walk alone in the restricted areas of Nepal. Similarly, you can't get a restricted permit by yourself. These restricted permits must be done by a trekking agency of Nepal only. Because of that you will need to contact a local travel agency to explore the Dolpo region of Nepal. 

The upper Dolpo permit costs USD 500 per person for 10 days. Besides that, the upper Dolpo permit cannot be issued for less than 10 days. Similarly, USD 50 per person per day is charged for the additional days of trek in the upper Dolpo region.

Shey Phoksundo National Park Permit

Being one of the biggest trans Himalaya national parks of Nepal, it is also known for the rare flora and fauna that are found inside this national park. Some of the rare medical herbs such as Panchaunle, Yarshagumba, Jatamasi and many more. And also some of the endangered species of wild animals are also found inside this national park. 

Shey Phoksundo national parks also preserve some of the ancient gompas and monasteries as well as the traditional village. All of these flora and fauna are protected inside this national park. Because of that you will need to pay a few dollars to enter the Shey Phoksundo National Park. The entry fee of Shey Phoksundo National Park is USD 30 and there is no time limit for the length of stay inside the national park.

Most of the treks in the Dolpo region are one of the challenging treks of Nepal. The high altitude passes and the slippery trails makes it one of the most difficult trekking regions of the world. Most of the passes around the Dolpo region are above 5,000 meters in altitude. Because of that there is a high chance of getting high altitude sickness. 

Talking about the Phoksundo Lake, It lies at an elevation of 3,660 meters above sea level. Because of that the chances of getting high altitude sickness is comparatively low then that of other trekking routes of the same region. But this trek is still one of the demanding treks because of the remoteness and the condition of the trail. Previous hiking experience is required to complete the trek. Similarly, regular exercise and jogging must be done for a few weeks before the trek.

March to May months of the year is regarded as the spring season in Nepal. During this month of the year the weather is clear and there is less chance of rainfall. Because of that it is one of the ideal times to go on a trek for the Phoksundo lake. Marvellous views of the Dhaulagiri as well as the Kanjirowa can be seen during the trek. Besides that, the colorful blooming rhododendron flowers also make it one of the best times to travel in the Dolpo region. 

Another best time to go on a trek for Phoksundo lake is during the months of September to November. The weather is clear in these months of the year too. Besides that after the monsoon season of the year you can witness some of the gorgeous waterfalls as well as the mountain view during the trek. June to August are regarded as the monsoon season in Nepal. Because of that, trekking in these months is more challenging due to the slippery trails and the unpredictable weather. 

December to February is the winter season of the year in Nepal. There is a high chance of snowfall during these months of the year . Because of that the trail is more difficult and demanding during these months of the year. Phoksundo lake lies at a lower altitude, because that trek to Phoksundo lake is still possible during this season.

Phoksundo lake trek is one of the most popular as well as the most loved treks in the Dolpo region of Nepal. Besides that there are other various unexplored trekking trails in this region. Similarly, some of the popular villages of the Dolpo region include Bhijer, Tokyu, Dho Tarap, Khani Gaun and Many more. Here are a few of the best treks that you can combine with the Phoksundo lake trek. 

Upper Dolpo Trek

Upper Dolpo trek can also be done with the Phoksundo lake trek. Upper Dolpo is also one of the unexplored as well as the untouched trekking trails of this region. Besides that it is also one of the demanding treks inside the Shey Phoksundo national park of Nepal. During this trek you will pass through several high passes above 5,000 meters. 

Upper Dolpo is a camping trek and takes about 27 days to complete. During this trek you can witness the marvellous views of the mountain ranges, Valleys, glaciers and the lakes. Besides that you will pass through some of the traditional villages such as Ringmo, Shey Gompa, Dho Tarap, Dubai, Jhuphal and many more. Kang la, Saldang la and Jeng la pass are some of the high passes that you will cross during the Upper Dolpo Trek.

Lower Dolpo Circuit Trek

Another best trek that can be combined with the Phoksundo lake trek includes the Lower Dolpo Circuit Trek. This is one of the shorter treks of Dolpo region compared with other trekking trails of the same region. Although being short you can experience the Pre Buddhist Bon Po religion as well as the warm hospitality of the locals. 

The highest point of the lower Dolpo circuit trek is Numa la pass situated at an elevation of 5,238 meters above sea level. This 17 days trek starts from Juphal and passes through various remote villages including the Ringmo village where the Phoksundo lake is situated before ending at the same point. 

Upper Dolpo to Jomsom Trek

Upper Dolpo to Jomsom is one of the challenging treks of the Dolpo region. It can also be combined with the Phoksundo lake trek. But you will need an Upper Dolpo permit as well as the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit to complete the trek.  Juphal is the starting point of the upper Dolpo to Jomsom trek.

Because of that it is one of the best treks to combine with the Phoksundo lake trek. Jomsom is the headquarters of Mustang district. Similarly, it lies in the Annapurna Conservation Area Project. Because of that you will need an ACAP permit also to complete the trek. 

Upper Dolpo Circuit Trek

One of the untouched and unexplored trekking trails of Nepal, Upper Dolpo circuit Trek is a land where life still moves around yak, mules and horses. This moderate to Strenuous difficulty level of trek starts from Jhuphal. Kang la pass, Neng la pass and Jayanta la pass are the passes that you will cross during the upper Dolpo circuit trek.

Among the 3 Neng la passes lies at the higher elevation with an altitude of 5,402 meters above sea level. The trek ends at the same point after exploring the Ringmo, Shey Gompa, Bhijer, Dho Tarap, Dunai and many other traditional villages. 

Extended Upper Dolpo Circuit Trek to Kagbeni

Extended upper Dolpo circuit trek to Kagbeni starts from the Dolpa district and ends at the Mustang district of Nepal. One of the most challenging treks in the Dolpo region as well as the Annapurna region of Nepal is a 29 days trek.

You will explore some of the ancient gumbas as well as pass through the traditional stone carved villages of the Dolpo region of Nepal. Similarly, You will also get to experience the Pre Buddhist Bon po religion which is practiced in a limited area of our planet Earth. Above all you will need to cross 9 passes throughout the trek.

Shey Phoksundo lake lies in the mid western part of Nepal. It is situated at an elevation of 3,660 meters above sea level in the Dolpa districts of Nepal. Although being the largest district of Nepal,  Dolpa district is also one of the less developed areas of Nepal. There are very few roadways as well as the infrastructure development of this part is far behind then other parts of Nepal. In spite of that you can take a ride or fly to Juphal to start the trek.

Phoksundo Lake Trek by Flight

You can easily get one of the flights to Nepalgunj from the Tribhuvan domestic airport of Kathmandu. From the 45-55 minutes of scenic flight you can witness some of the mesmerizing views of the mountain ranges. Besides that you can also have a bird eye view of the different places and the cities of Nepal. Meanwhile, only limited flights take off to Juphal from Nepalgunj. Similarly, all the flights take off before 11 am in the morning. Because of that you need to catch an early flight to Juphal. Scenic 25 minutes of flight will take you to Juphal airport from where you can start the trek. 

Phoksundo Lake Trek by Road

You can also take a bus ride or a private vehicle to reach the starting point of the trek. If you hire a private vehicle then it will be a lot easier to reach the starting point of the trek. But, if you are willing to take a bus ride then you can get a night bus to reach Nepalgunj. Most of the bus to Nepalgunj leaves at 5 pm. About 14-18 hours of long ride will take you to Nepalgunj. From here you can take another ride to reach Jajarkot. Similarly, driving through the off road you can reach Radi and start the trek from there.

The weather around the himalayan region is unpredictable. Because of that it is almost impossible to know the exact weather condition throughout the year. Generally December to the First week of March are cold around the Phoksundo lake. The temperature reaches minus during the night time. Similarly, mornings are also cold. Do check the below table to know about the average temperature and rainfall around the Phoksundo lake.

Phoksundo lake trek lies on one of the remote parts of Nepal. Because of that you may not get the appropriate trekking gears required for the trek from the starting point of the trek. You will need to pack your trekking gears from Kathmandu or Nepalgunj. Some of the required trekking gears for the Phoksundo lake trek are as follows.