Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek: An Introduction to Dolpo

Duration

10 Days

Grade

Moderate

Max Altitude

3,600m

Walking Days

6 Days

Region

Dolpo

Dolpo, the door that most travellers never think to open.

While many queue for teahouse beds on the Everest and Annapurna trails each season, a quieter Himalayan world sits largely untouched in Nepal's far west. The Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek carries you into Lower Dolpo, a Trans-Himalayan region of Bon-po villages, juniper forests, and the turquoise waters of Nepal's deepest lake. This guide breaks the trek down day by day — flights, trails, altitudes, and where you'll rest your head each night — so you can see exactly what a journey to Phoksundo Lake actually involves.

Please Note: This is a suggested itinerary which can be tailored to suit you.

Why This Trip?

Nepal's deepest lake: Phoksundo Lake sits at 3,600m, its aquamarine water fed entirely by glacial melt with no aquatic life to cloud its colour.
A living Bon-po culture: Villages like Ringmo still practice Bon-po, the spiritual tradition that predates Buddhism in the Himalayas.
Genuine remoteness: No direct flights, no crowded lodges, just a short window to fly into Juphal and walk the rest.
Rare wildlife habitat: The surrounding national park shelters blue sheep and, for the fortunate few, the elusive snow leopard.
Trans-Himalayan scenery: Terraced fields give way to pine and rhododendron forest, then to the stark, dry highlands that mirror the Tibetan plateau.

Our Suggested itinerary

1

Namaste, Nepal — Welcome to Kathmandu

Touch down at Tribhuvan International Airport, where your private transfer will smoothly carry you to your hotel
Settle in and refresh
Meet your trip leader who will brief on your days ahead
Enjoy a celebratory dinner marking the beginning of this meaningful journey

Accommodation: Kathmandu Guest House OR Choice of Accommodation.

Included Meals: Welcome Dinner

2

To the Plains — Flight to Nepalgunj

45-minute flight to Nepalgunj, if the weather is clear witness stunning views of the Himalayas, including Dhaulagiri and Annapurna range
Nepalgunj is Nepal's last real transport hub before Dolpo — flatter, warmer, and closer in feel to India than to the mountains
Time to wander the bazaar, where goods and people move steadily across the nearby border
Settle into your hotel for the night

Note: Reaching Dolpo takes patience before it takes legwork. There's no direct flight into the region, so the route is layered. An overnight in Nepalgunj isn’t optional: there's simply no way to connect Kathmandu to Juphal on flight in a single day.

Accommodation: Hotel Siddhartha

Included Meals: Breakfast

3

The Gateway — Flight to Juphal, Trek to Kageni

Fly over sheer, snow-capped mountain ridges to Juphal airport (approx. 35-minute), an airstrip hewn out of the dramatic surroundings
Crisp cold Himalayan air fills your lung, a stark contrast from the hot, steamy plains left behind
On foot from here: wheat and vegetable fields lead down to the Barbung Chu River, heading for Sulighat, the lowest point of our journey
Quick lunch stop at Suligaht before continuing along the gorge of the Sulagad River
Teahouses, terraces, rhododendron and juniper mark the path into Kageni (2,350m)

Total trek time is approximately 4hours.

Accommodation: Teahouse

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

4

Deeper Into Dolpo — Trek to Renje

The trail begins to climb as we pass through a forest of oak and pine until we find ourselves on a gently sloping trail that leads down to Chhepka, reached after crossing Anke Khola
Continue upwards along the Suligad River, following the narrow gorge as it passes through Gurung and Tibetan villages towards Renje (3,090m)

Total trek time is approximately 6 to 7hours.

Accommodation: Teahouse

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

5

Nepal's Deepest Lake — Trek to Shey Phoksundo Lake

Today head to the deepest lake in Nepal, where the clear, aquamarine waters of Phoksundo (3,600m) shimmer within a ring of snow-capped mountains
As we climb up to our final destination the landscape before us is simply breathtaking and, at the southern end of the lake, we find the Tibetan village of Ringmo
Set on the crest of the landslide dam that formed the lake, the village is occupied by a mix of yak herders and traders who practice the Bon po faith, a form of spiritual tradition that predates the arrival of Buddhism

Total trek time is approximately 5 to 6hours.

Accommodation: Teahouse

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

6

Simply Being Here — Acclimatisation at Phoksundo Lake

Devoid of any form of aquatic life, Phoksundo Lake is nonetheless held in deep reverence by the local people
Stunningly beautiful and fed by glaciers from the surrounding peaks, the lake is almost 5 kilometres in length, nearly 2 kilometres wide and drops down to a depth of some 650 metres
Beautifully captured in Eric Valli's film 'Himalaya', the lake is the second largest in Nepal and at its outlet a roaring cascade plunges 167 metres down into the valley below
With a day set aside to acclimatise to the higher elevations, we have the perfect opportunity to explore something of this pristine wonder today

Accommodation: Teahouse

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

7

Familiar Routes — Trek to Chhepka

Following familiar routes we trek back down to the village of Chheoka (2,838m)
Featuring a blend of Tibetan and Magar cultures, you will find this remote village follows the Bon-po religion
Nestled in lush birch and pine forests, the area is rich in flora and fauna, offering a chance to spot rare animals like the blue sheep, and is known for the highly sought-after Yarchagumba (caterpillar fungus)

Total trek time is approximately 6 to 7hours.

Accommodation: Teahouse

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

8

The Last Miles — Trek to Juphal

Taking the picturesque route that hugs the edges of Bheri River with tall stands of conifer trees adding to the allure, we have an enjoyable last day
One last effort we negotiate the last slope up into the town, safe in the knowledge we have now completed the trek
Later in the day explore the bazaar area

Total trek time is approximately 7 to 8hours.

Accommodation: Teahouse

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

9

Farewell to Dolpo — Flight to Kathmandu

Take an early morning flight to Nepalgunj (35minutes) from where you will get on a connecting flight to Kathmandu (50minutes)
Transfer to the hotel in Kathmandu, where the rest of the day is free at leisure

Accommodation: Kathmandu Guest House OR Choice of Accommodation.

Included Meals: Breakfast

10

Dhanyabad, Nepal — Departure

A private transfer will take you to the airport for your return international flight (approx. 3hrs before departure).

Included Meals: Breakfast

This itinerary is fully customisable, allowing flexibility for travel style and personal pacing.

Ready to make this journey your own?

Address

Pipal Marg, Bansbari Kathmandu, Nepal.

whatsapp

+977-9841612787

Email

info@rural-heritage.com

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Curious About This Trip?

How long is the Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek?

This itinerary runs 10 days including flights, with 6 days of trekking between Juphal and the lake, plus a built-in acclimatisation day.

How difficult is the trek?

It's a moderate-to-challenging teahouse trek, with days averaging 4-8 hours of walking and one rest day to acclimatise before heading back down.

Why does the trip require an overnight in Nepalgunj?

There's no direct flight from Kathmandu to Juphal. The only connecting flight departs Nepalgunj early each morning, so an overnight stop is unavoidable on the way to Dolpo.

What makes Phoksundo different from other Himalayan lakes?

At 3,611m, it's Nepal's deepest lake, fed entirely by glacial melt, with no aquatic life at all, which is exactly what gives its water that unusually vivid, clear blue-green colour.

Is this trip suitable for a first Nepal trek, or better suited to experienced trekkers?

It rewards those with some trekking experience already, given the remoteness and daily walking hours, though normal fitness and a spirit of patience matter more than prior altitude experience.

Ready to Trek Dolpo?

Phoksundo isn't a trek you stumble onto. It takes planning around limited flight windows, and a genuine appetite for off-the-beaten-path Nepal trekking rather than a crowded trail with a view at the end. For travellers who want that quieter Himalaya, living Bon-po culture, and water that still looks unreal in photographs, Dolpo offers something increasingly rare in Nepal.