Short flight into Juphal’s airstrip, then an easy first walk down to Dunai, the district headquarters.
Phoksundo Lake Trek
11
Days
Overview
- NTB-certified guides with real Dolpo trekking experience
- A rain-shadow region, genuinely trekkable later into monsoon than most routes
- Full camping crew, since teahouse infrastructure is minimal here
- All-inclusive pricing: permits, camping gear, meals and porters
- A close look at Shey Phoksundo, one of the least-visited national parks in Nepal
The Phoksundo Lake trek is an 11-day trek in the remote Dolpo region of western Nepal, reaching Shey Phoksundo Lake at 3,611m, the deepest lake in the country at 145m. It's a restricted-area trek through some of Nepal's driest, least-visited terrain. Full itinerary and permit details are below.
The Phoksundo Lake trek reaches a lake whose colour genuinely surprises most first-time visitors: a deep turquoise set against pale limestone cliffs, sitting inside Nepal's largest national park by area. It's remote enough that Lower Dolpo only opened to foreign trekkers in 1989.
One honest advantage of this region: it sits in a rain shadow, meaning it stays trekkable through parts of the monsoon season when most of Nepal's other trails are unreliable.
Trip snapshot
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Duration | 11 days (trek only, Juphal to Juphal) |
| Max altitude | 3,611m (Phoksundo Lake) |
| Difficulty | Moderate to strenuous, remote, 5 to 6 hours walking most days |
| Best season | April to June, September to October |
| Group size | 2 to 10 people |
| Price basis | Per person, full camping support included |
| Permits required | National park entry and Lower Dolpo Restricted Area Permit |
Booking
Email contact@aqtreks.com or visit aqtreks.com, flight seats into Juphal book up early in season.
Itinerary
Day 2 :
Dunai to Chhepka (2,660m)
Following the Suli Gad river into the national park proper. 6 hours.
Day 3 :
Chhepka to Rechi (2,900m)
Through pine forest, with the valley narrowing steadily. 5 hours.
Day 4 :
Rechi to Phoksundo Lake (3,611m)
The final climb, with the lake’s colour visible well before you reach its shore. 5 hours.
Day 5 :
Rest day at Phoksundo Lake
Free day to explore the lakeshore, visit Ringmo village, or hike up toward the waterfall above the outflow.
Day 6 :
Retrace to Dunai and Juphal
Descend the same valley back through Rechi, Chhepka and Dunai to Juphal, over 5 days.
Day 7 :
Contingency day in Juphal
Built in for flight delays, since Juphal’s airstrip is weather-sensitive and cancellations happen.
The cost includes
- Shey Phoksundo National Park entry permit and Restricted Area Permit
- Full camping equipment: tents, kitchen tent and dining tent
- All meals prepared by our trekking crew
- Licensed English-speaking trekking guide
- Porter and kitchen staff for the full 11 days
- Nepalgunj to Juphal flights, both directions
The cost excludes
- International flights and the domestic flight to Nepalgunj
- Nepal visa fee
- Travel insurance with high-altitude evacuation cover
- Personal trekking and camping gear
- Tips for guide, porters and kitchen crew
Before You Go
Best time to go
April to June and September to October both work well. What's genuinely useful about this region is that it sits behind the main Himalayan range, in a rain shadow, so it stays walkable through parts of the monsoon when the rest of Nepal is soaked. We still don't recommend peak monsoon, since the Nepalgunj-Juphal flight itself can be delayed by weather elsewhere on the route.
Check flight-relevant weather on Windy.com before you travel.
Permits and practical info
You'll need the Shey Phoksundo National Park entry fee (NPR 3,000) and the Lower Dolpo Restricted Area Permit (USD 20 per person per week, plus USD 5 per extra day). This is a different, separate permit from Upper Dolpo, which requires its own USD 500 fee and isn't part of this itinerary. We arrange the correct permits for the route you're actually doing.
Juphal's airstrip is short and weather-dependent, so we build a contingency day into every departure rather than promise a schedule the weather can't guarantee. For general trekking guidance, see the Himalayan Rescue Association, and check the Nepal Tourism Board for current Dolpo permit rules.
Ready to plan it? Email contact@aqtreks.com or book at aqtreks.com.
Departures
No fixed departure dates published yet for this trek — send us an enquiry for a private departure.
Routes
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Phoksundo Lake?
Phoksundo Lake reaches 145 metres deep, making it the deepest lake in Nepal. It sits at 3,611 metres inside Shey Phoksundo National Park, the largest national park in the country by area, in the remote Dolpo region of the far west.
How many days does the Phoksundo Lake trek take?
Our itinerary runs 11 days, trek only, from Juphal back to Juphal, including a rest day at the lake itself and a contingency day for flight delays. Some faster versions exist at 9 days, but we build in the buffer since Juphal's flights are genuinely weather-sensitive.
Where is Phoksundo Lake located?
Phoksundo Lake sits in Dolpa district, in Nepal's far-western Karnali Province, inside Shey Phoksundo National Park. It's reached by flying from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, then a second short flight to Juphal, followed by 4 days of trekking through the Suli Gad valley to the lakeshore.
What permits do I need for the Phoksundo Lake trek?
A Shey Phoksundo National Park entry fee (NPR 3,000) and a Lower Dolpo Restricted Area Permit (USD 20 per person per week, plus USD 5 per additional day). Upper Dolpo requires a separate, more expensive permit not needed for this specific route.
Is the Phoksundo Lake trek suitable during monsoon?
Partly, yes, which makes it unusual among Nepal treks. The Dolpo region sits in a rain shadow behind the main Himalayan range, so the trail itself stays relatively dry even in summer. The main monsoon risk is flight delays into Juphal caused by weather elsewhere on the route.
How much does the Phoksundo Lake trek cost?
Our all-inclusive package starts at USD 1,700 per person for two trekkers, dropping to around USD 1,220 per person in a group of 7 to 10. That covers permits, full camping support, all meals, a licensed guide and crew, and the Nepalgunj-Juphal flights.
Can I camp at Phoksundo Lake?
Yes, camping is permitted at designated sites near the lake within park regulations, and it's how we run this trek, since teahouse infrastructure in this part of Dolpo is minimal. Our crew carries full tents and kitchen equipment for the whole route.
How do I get to Phoksundo Lake from Kathmandu?
Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, then take a second short domestic flight to Juphal, followed by a 4-day trek up the Suli Gad valley to the lake. There's no direct road access to this part of Dolpo, so the two flights are genuinely the only practical route in.
Is the Phoksundo Lake trek difficult?
It's moderate to strenuous, mostly because of the remoteness rather than technical terrain. The walking itself is on clear trails at a manageable altitude, 3,611m at its highest, but the region's isolation means fitness and self-sufficiency matter more than on busier routes.
What is the difference between Upper Dolpo and Lower Dolpo?
Lower Dolpo, which includes Phoksundo Lake, requires a cheaper weekly permit and sees more visitors. Upper Dolpo lies further north toward the Tibet border, requires a separate USD 500 restricted-area permit, and involves a longer, harder trek. This itinerary covers Lower Dolpo only.
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