Phoksundo Lake Trek
Date of Departure
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Date of Departure
Trip Information
Duration
12 days
Max Altitude
Ringo Village 3460
Difficulty
Moderate
Starts from
Kathmandu
Trips Ends at
Kathmandu
Activity
Trekking
Unique landscapes and exotic cultures.
Phoksondo Lake lies in the heart of the Dolpo Region.
Kanjiroba Mountain Range's shadow falls on the Phoksondo Lake, which reflects truly mesmerizing views.
Species like snow leopard, musk deer, blue sheep, great Tibetan sheep, and Himalayan Thar.
An Oscar-nominated movie named 'Caravan' was made inspired by the Dolpo region.
Dolpo region was opened for tourists only after the 90s'.
Phoksundo Lake Trek Overview
Phoksundo Lake Trek, in the mid-western region of Nepal, has become a very popular tourist attraction as it offers trekkers its scenic landscape views, stunning mountains, and hypnotic beauty. Among the 75 districts of Nepal, Dolpo is the largest, and the region is also known for its unique landscape and exotic culture.
Phoksundo Lake is an alpine freshwater lake at an elevation of 3,611 m. The area covered by the lake is 1.91 square miles. The depth of the lake is 145 m. This lake looks more stunning with the reflection of the Kanjiroba mountain range. The lake is a sacred pilgrimage site for Buddhists as well as followers of the Bon religion.
Parts of the trail are protected areas and come under the Shey-Phoksundo National Park. Some common species of wildlife fauna found in this region include, but are not limited to are snow leopard, musk deer, blue sheep, great Tibetan sheep, and Himalayan tahr.
Your 12-day Phoksundo Trek in Dolpo begins after a flight to Juphal from Nepalgunj and goes around Ringo and other villagers before reaching the Turquoise lake of Phoksundo. Tented camping will add more of an exotic experience to this trek.
Why Choose Phoksundo Lake Trek?
Unique landscapes and exotic cultures.
Phoksondo Lake lies in the heart of the Dolpo Region.
Kanjiroba Mountain Range's shadow falls on the Phoksondo Lake, which reflects truly mesmerizing views.
Species like the snow leopard, musk deer, blue sheep, great Tibetan sheep, and Himalayan Thar.
An Oscar-nominated movie named 'Caravan' was made inspired by the Dolpo region.
The Dolpo region was opened for tourists only after the 90s'.
Trip Outline
Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu
Day 02: IN Kathmandu
Day 03: Flight to Nepalgunj
Day 04: Flight to Juphal and trek to Dunai
Day 05: Trek to Chhepka (2670m)/ 6-7 hrs. Trek
Day 06: Trek to Jharana Hotel/ 5-6 hrs. Trek
Day 07: Trek to Ringo (3460m)/ 5-6 hrs. Trek
Day 08: Explore around Phoksundo Lake
Day 09: Trek to Chhepka (2520m)/ 6-7 hrs trek
Day 10: Trek to Juphal
Day 11: Flight to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj
Day 12: Departure from Kathmandu
Best Seasons Phoksundo Lake Trek
The best seasons for the Phoksundo Lake Trek are during the two peak seasons. Each of these seasons offers a different experience. You can trek to Phoksundo Lake during autumn and spring for maximum pleasure.
Autumn: The "Crystal Clear" Season
Autumn is best known for its reliable weather. As such, we can have a certain flight window for Juphal. These flights are highly weather-dependent. Similarly, we get to trek in a comfortable temperature, neither too hot nor too cold.
Fall offers crisp air with the crystal clear view of the ranges. You find the Phoksundo Lake with the famous hypnotic turquoise hue. Also, the snow-capped Kanjiroba range heightens the beauty of the lake.
Spring: The Wildflower Window
The flora of Shey-Phoksundo National Park comes alive during spring. It offers the best nature trails in the Himalayas. During spring, you can witness the Himalayan Tahr and Blue Sheep migrate to the Shey-Phoksundo National Park.
Summer/Monsoon: Rain Shadow Benefit
The only issue for the summer Phoksundo Lake Trek is the flight to Juphal. Phoksundo Lake is in the Upper Dolpo region. The area is famous for being in a rain shadow. It is very few rains during the season, keeping the trails dry.
The trek is lush after spring. But due to being in the rain shadow, the Phoksundo Lake Trek is the best alternative trek during the wet monsoon season.
Season to Avoid Phoksundo Lake Trek: Winter
Winter is the only season trekkers should avoid the Phoksundo Lake Trek. Phoksundo Lake is an alpine lake that freezes during winter. The temperatures drop well below -20°C, and the tented camps become dangerously cold. Most villagers from Ringo migrate to lower elevations, leaving tents as the only option.
Phoksundo Lake Trek Difficulty
This short trek to Phoksundo Lake is between moderate and difficult in difficulty level. It means you need to walk around 5-6 hrs a day on average due to the gradual rise in elevation and remoteness. Nevertheless, we always walk before we run!
The true challenge of the Phoksundo Lake trek is the remoteness. You find few teahouses here due to the isolation, unlike the Everest or Annapurna region.
The altitude gain isn’t much on the Phoksundo Lake trek. The trek only reaches 3,611 meters. The pathway in this trip involves steep ascents on narrow trails. This trail “hugs” the cliffs, as seen in the movie Caravan.
Permits For Phoksundo Lake Trek
Dolpo is a highly regulated region, and here are the permits you need for the Phoksundo Lake Trek:
Lower Dolpo Restricted Area Permit
Shey-Phoksundo National Park Entry Permit
TIMS Card
Note:
The cost for these permits is included in the package.
Why choose us, Himalayan Trekkers, for the Phoksundo Lake Trek?
Himalayan Trekkers have been in the industry for over 20 years. With years of experience, we offer you the best itinerary. You can choose to customize this itinerary to your liking.
You can trust us with all the logistics of this trip and focus on the trek. We will book the flight from Nepalgunj to Juphal for you. We prioritize early bookings, but if all comes to fail, we have a backup plan, which is jeep transfers. It ensures the schedule is on track.
We work with only the best guides and camping crew. This is a tented trek that our team provides high-quality mountain tents and professional cooks. They will serve nutritious, hygienic meals in remote wilderness.
Guides trekking with you will be native to the region. They will offer in-depth knowledge on the Bon and Buddhist communities. We offer a deeper understanding of the exotic culture.
So, book a Phoksundo Lake Trek today! Contact us today on WhatsApp or via Email for any queries on this trek or our other trekking packages.
Itinerary Detail
What is Included / Not Included
- TIMS
- Permit
- Transportation
- Guide and Porter
- Meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with Tea)
- Accommodation
- First-Aid Kit
- Welcome/Farewell Dinner
- All Taxes
Himalayan Trekkers promises to manage the best, most comfortable, and preferred accommodation. Generally, in cities like Kathmandu and Nepalgunj, we arrange basic three-star facilities. If available, you can opt for a more budget-friendly option or upgrade to a more luxurious hotel by paying a little extra.
Although not all the places may have all the modern facilities, we will make sure to arrange safe and comfortable accommodation. In general, hygienic and safe tea houses/local lodges/home-stays with all the basic facilities are arranged. But you can, if possible, personalize according to your preference.
If your itinerary includes camping or you choose to experience camping during your travel, a proper camping site will be pre-decided. If required, we also provide the basic equipment, which is refundable. Please check the Gear-List and Requirement List for more information.
Meals
Breakfast is usually included with your B&B Accommodation within the cost that is evident. For other meals in the city, you would have to pay separately. Often in the cities, you can choose from many different cuisines and varied food services. We can always help you find the right place to fit your taste.
In more remote areas, usually, there are not many options. But you can always find hygienic and well-prepared food. Moreover, almost all the meals during the trek are included in the cost. We can help you make changes according to your preference and budget, but only if choices are available!
On top of that, Himalayan Trekkers also organizes Welcome and Farewell Dinners as a symbol of warm greetings. Please go through the detailed itinerary for more information. We are always there to help you travel to your heart’s content.
Drinking Water
For the drinking water, we suggest you carry a reusable 2 Litre bottle/filter bottle and water purifying tablets. You can refill as much as you can from the available sources once it is empty. Another alternative would be to ask for boiled water at the homestays.
The last and least recommended option is buying bottled water. If you do take bottled water, remember to practice sustainable trekking. You must carry the plastic bottle back instead of leaving it on the trail.
