Phoksundo Lake Trek passes through the Dolpo region. Trekking in Dolpo is a unique experience. You will be trekking through beautiful landscapes, snow-capped mountains, and pass through pine forests alongside wild rivers.
Dolpo has been captured beautifully on film by the famous director Eric Valli in his movie “Caravan”.
The trek takes you to Phoksundo Lake; which is enchanting deep-blue and emerald colors that shouldn’t be missed out. Close to the lake is a village (Ringmo) where you can experience Tibetan Bon culture. The village lies on the 30,000 to 40,000-year-old landslide dam that formed the lake. While you pass the dam, you will see the waterfall of over 167 meters/548 ft tall.
Phoksundo Lake
The Phoksundo Lake or Shey Phoksundo is an alpine freshwater lake situated in the district of Dolpa, Nepal. It is the deepest lake of Nepal with a max depth of 145m and located at the elevation of 3612m above the sea level. The lake, located in the Shey Phoksundo National Park of Nepal, carries sacred importance for the Buddhists and Bon-Po religions. Thousands of pilgrims and trekkers show interest in Phoksundo lake trek due to its cultural importance.
Considered as the Jewel of Dolpa, the lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains in all directions. More than 20 stupas lie in the southern belt of the lake. Annual prayers are carried out in a Gompa that sits on the eastern side of the lake. The village of Ringmo lies on the 30,000-40,000 years old landslide dam that formed the lake on the southern end. In fact, this village offers a wonderful insight into the amazing traditional Tibetan culture.
Why Phoksundo Lake Trek?
Visiting Shey Phoksundo lake is in itself a rare privilege. It is comparatively difficult and arid and offers mind-blowing experiences. There are so many activities that you can do. From camping to exploring the culture and nature, this alpine oligotrophic lake is one of the best places to be in the remote mountain area of Nepal. Some of the major attractions of the Shey Phoksundo lake trek are:-
- A waterfall that is over 164 m tall.
- More than 20 stupas in the southern belt.
- One Gompa on the eastern side.
- Shey Phoksundo National Park.
- Snowy environment.
- Tibetan culture and practices.
- Remote Ringmo Village.
- Excellent Floral and Faunal spectrums.
- Mind-Blowing natural beauty. Etc.
Best Season for Phoksundo Lake Trek
The best time to trek Shey Phoksundo lake is in the Autumn and Spring season. The months of September, October, November, April, and May are the best time to visit. These months are better in terms of visibility and climate conditions.
During the Autumn months, Shey Phoksundo Lake is best visited. The months of September, October, and November are the best suitable months for trekking in Nepal. During these months, the weather is calm and the temperature is warm in the daytime and there are high chances of clear visibility. In mid-December, there lies a probability of snowfall, which might make it harder to reach there but it’s one of the best experiences as you will enjoy the snowy mountains.
The Spring months such as March, April, and May are also the best time to visit Shey Phoksundo Lake. The moderate temperature and calm weather make it an amazing experience. The blooming trees and flowers, a wide range of floral varieties, and other sightseeing are best explored during the spring season. Monsoon is not favorable as the road and trail get slippery to trek in the mountains. However, it’s doable. To avoid harsh weather and climate, monsoon is best avoided.
Food and Accommodation at Phoksundo Lake Trek
Accommodation
Accommodations are provided on the twin-sharing basis. If you are a solo traveler, a single supplement will be served. Accommodations during the trek in the Himalayas, you will be staying at basic mountain lodges where you’ll have a nice and clean room with the warm blankets, pillows, and comfortable matrices (matrices may not be very thick size but they’re comfortable).
Meals
During the trek, we can enjoy authentic Nepalese food as well the more common international cuisine (Tibetan, Continental, Italian, Indian, etc.). Breakfast and dinner will be served from a lodge menu where we spend the night whereas lunch will be served on the way to the next destination. All meals will be provided during trekking, there will also be farewell dinner.
Required Documents
| Permit Requirements | For Foreigners | For Indian National |
| Shey Phoksundo National Park Permit | NPR 3000+13% VAT (Approx. USD 34) | NPR 1500 (Approx. USD 15) |
| TIMS Permit | NPR 1000 (Approx. USD 10) | NPR 1000 (Approx. USD 10) |
