How difficult is Shey Phoksundo lake trekking?

Shey Phoksundo Lake is considered to be one of the Moderate treks in Nepal. The terrain is less challenging compared to other trekking and the best thing is it doesn’t go as high as 3611 meters which has very little chance of getting Altitude sickness

How is the accommodation in Phoksundo lake trekking?

Shey Phoksundo lies in Lower region of Dolpa trekking region but it is also listed as one of the off the beaten path treks so, the accommodation found in this trek is least developed compared to other popular trekking region in Nepal

How is the food in Phoksundo Lake trekking?

The trekking to Phoksundo Lake has basic lodges and so as the food found in this trek. They have limited choices of food menu which are mostly locally grown grain-based.

Can I solo the Phoksundo lake trek?

Yes you can, but it is not recommended as this region lies in a quieter trekking region so, it is recommended at least to have a trekking companion or Hire a guide.

Do we need a guide for Phoksundo lake trek?

No, it is not mandatory however, it is recommended. Until Shey Phoksundo you can do it yourself but beyond the lake, it is mandatory to have a guide and arrangement through the company.

Phoksundo Lake Trekking 12 days lies in Western Nepal, Dolpa

Phoksundo Lake is in Dolpo district in the northwest of Kathmandu in the western part of Nepal which falls in Shey Phoksundo National Park, the largest national park in Nepal established in 1984.

Shey Phoksundo Lake is considered to be the second largest lake in Nepal with an area of 494 hectares. It is considered the most beautiful destination in the Dolpa district which is famous for its magnificent turquoise color.

Situated at an altitude of 3611 meters above sea level, this mesmerizing Shey Phoksundo Lake truly makes you feel peaceful and calm in the piece of paradise on earth.

The cultural highlight of this trek is the Thashung monastery dates back 900 years and is located near the lake. This monastery is based on the Bon-Po religion which is an ancient religion and it is believed that from which the entire cultural base for Tibetan Buddhism formed.

Trekking to Phoksundo Lake offers stunning mountain views of snow-capped mountains like Kanjiroba and an exciting walk along the Thulo Bheri and Suligad rivers.

This trek also provides an opportunity to enjoy beautiful mixed forests of blue pine, spruce, rhododendron, cedar, and silver firs, and if you are lucky enough you also can encounter wildlife like musk deer, Himalayan Thar, leopard, jackal, blue sheep, and Himalayan Black bear!

How to get to the trailhead of the Phoksundo Lake trek?

To begin the trek first you need to get to the far-western city of Nepalgunj for which you can either take 55 minutes flights from Kathmandu or take the bus ride which takes more than 16 hours. Then again you can choose 4 days to walk to get to Dunai or take a 35 minutes flight to Juphal then it's 3 hours walk to Dunai. Dunai is the main gateway to Shey Phoksundo Lake trekking.

Phoksundo Lake trek route.

The trek begins from Juphal(2475m) and continues to Dunai(2140m) for the first night in the mountain. Dunai is a popular gateway to Dolpo trekking as for the Phoksundo Lake trek. Then the trek goes onwards to Chhekpa(2678m) and to Chunuwar(3110m) for the second and third nights of the trek which goes along the Thuli Bheri River and the Suligad River (Phoksundo River).

After this our trek ascends to Phoksundo Lake (3611m) which is our final destination of the trip, we spend two nights exploring the Ringmo village, visiting Thashung monastery, and hiking up to the viewpoint which provides a stunning overlook of the lake, snow-capped mountains, and surroundings. the second leg of the trek in which we retrace back the same way to descend, spending nights at Shyanta(2520m) and Juphal(2475m) from where we fly back to Nepalgunj and Kathmandu.

What are the Shey Phoksundo Lake trek permits and fees?

To trek to Phoksundo Lake, you have required two kinds of permits one is a “TIMS CARD” (trekking information management system) which costs USD 10 for organized trekkers per head and USD 20 for independent trekkers per head. The second one is the “Shey Phoksundo National Park entrance fee” which costs 3000 rupees per head.

Trekking essentials for Phoksundo Lake trekking.

You need a duffel bag that is supposed to be waterproof with a strap along with a TSA lock. In your duffel bag, you keep all the clothes and essential gear while trekking up to Naya Kanga base camp which will be carried by our porter. Regarding the size, you can choose from 100 liters to 140 liters duffel as this size all you to fit most of the things you need for trekking.

Sleeping bag

It is the most important piece of equipment for trekking and climbing. Normally the smaller and lighter the size, the more expensive it is. Regarding the warmth of sleeping bags, sleeping bags are warmer than synthetic ones. You need to bring a sleeping bag that rates up to -20c and a liner just in case it feels colder.

Daypack bag

It’s a daypack bag that you carry while waking where you put your wallet, camera, water bottle, rain cover, fleece jacket, and windproof jacket. Regarding the size of the daypack bag, the size of a small-medium 30 to 40-liter day bag with some side pockets where you can fit your water bottle or gloves is good. Moreover, if you can fit your Camelbak in your daily carry it is more efficient in the coldest weather as your water doesn't get freeze.

Water bottle

You can bring two water bottles in which you can drink in one and treat water in another to refill again. (Nalgene water bottle is good as you can put hot water as well if you want) you also can bring Camelbak which can be very handy for climbing.

Upper body

Short sleeve synthetic t-shirts*3(while trekking you sweat a lot so, synthetic t-shirts are best to bring as they are light and dry fast)

Wind shirts*1

Long sleeve Merino wool t-shirts*2

Synthetic insulated jacket (you can use it for climbing as well)

glove

Sunglass

Sun hat

Fleece hat

Rain gear or poncho.

Lower body

Trekking shoes (prober boots with grip is recommended as trail are rough so you might twist your ankle)

Slipper or lightweight shoes (it is handy to wear when you have done day trekking)

Cotton hiking shocks

Hiking pants*2

Fleece trouser

Underwear trousers

Underwear

Waterproof paint

Miscellaneous items

Items for drinking water treatments such as Steripen, iodine tablets, chlorine liquids, or water filters. (If you using liquids or tablets it might bring a different taste in water so you can bring some juice-powder to bring a nice taste)

Fast-drying camp towel (most guesthouses don't provide a towel for a shower so it's good to have one)

Body wipes (it comes in handy if you don't take a shower, especially in higher altitudes where there are no showers)

Lip balm

Sunscreens (minimum of SPF 40 plus as in higher altitude sunlight are direct and more penetrating.

Mobile phone (you can use it as an alarm or there are internet services in most of the guesthouses so, you can use it if you want to communicate)

Diary

Chargers with an adapter (you can charge your gadgets along the trail with hydro-powered electricity in the lower region and sun-powered in the higher region)

Camera

Medical kit (Diamox, Imodium, ibuprofen, throat lozenges, tape, scissor.( although we carry)

Zip-lock plastic bag (Although you put your all stuff in a duffel bag, Zip-lock bag can come in handy when you want to separate your items like toiletries, socks, underwear, and smelly clothes)

Headlamp or torchlight

Hand sanitizer

Trekking sticks (most people use them and it is very helpful while walking rocky trails and especially for knees going downhill.

Sandal

Pocket knife

Best Season for doing Phoksundo Lake trekking.

Autumn season: September, October, November.

Spring season: March, April, May.

The winter season is not considered to be a good time of year to do Phoksundo Lake trekking. From late December till January normally remains cold and the lake might be frozen so, the typical color of the lake may fade due to ice.

Trip Reviews

Write a Review

5based on 55 reviews

Your search for a trekking company can stop here!

I can’t say enough great things about Kumar and Santosh at Discover Altitude. They set my trip up with minimal notice, even made some custom changes and everything went perfectly. They have great connections for everything tourism in Nepal. If you want a guide to show you around Kathmandu-they’ve got you. If you want to go for a trek-it’s their bread and butter. If you want to go for an expedition at half the cost of western companies with guides whose experience will blow your mind-easy day. Whether you’re planning a trip for next year or next week they will take care of you like family. They took the time to have tea with me and discuss my trip from start to finish over a map, they held my luggage safely while I was in the mountains, and they checked in at possible friction points (like flights) to make sure everything was going well.

I’ve heard horror stories from backpackers who used other companies and there are a ton around here. It was overwhelming for me to pick one, but Discover Altitude was recommended to me so I figured I’d give them a try. This is now the second trip they planned for me. I also recommended them to some friends who did a luxury Everest view trip with them and had nothing but good things to say. You can roll the dice and try someone else, but if you want to take the safe bet and know that you’ll have an amazing trip at a competitive price there’s no other option.

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency.

I had the incredible opportunity to complete 4 different treks with Discover Altitude: Three Passes, ABC, Annapurna Circuit and Langtang. Each time, the experience exceeded my expectations! The owners, Kumar and Santosh, along with their guides are exceptionally professional, knowledgeable and attentive to every detail. Everything was very well planned for all treks, and I felt safe even at the highest altitudes, thanks to their friendly and supportive guides.

There are many agencies to choose from, and I visited many, but when I met Kumar and Santosh the quality of their personalities quickly became evident. They treated me as a friend they genuinely wanted to support, not just a client, caring only about the money. Even if I hadn’t signed up, they would have treated me the same, not as potential or lost business. This authenticity is why I chose them! This was the only agency where I had that gut feeling, which turned out to be correct. They always went the extra mile. Before each trek, they spent a lot of time going through all the details with me to ensure I had everything I needed and was ready to go. They also checked up on me along the way. During all these times, they truly became my friends!

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency. They are also very competitively priced for both solo and group trips! I cannot recommend them highly enough!

Mustang - Kagbeni, Muktinath 6-day tour

We chose a 6-day course that tours Kagbeni and Muktinath, the gateway to Mustang from Kathmandu. It takes 3 days to actually walk, so it's a safe course even for beginners.

Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom (30-minute flight), then hike 3 hours to Kagbeni. Hike 5-6 hours to Muktinath. Return to Jomsom via a different route. Take a lunch break at Rupna on the way. Fly to Pokhara. Fly back to Kathmandu.

It was late May before the rainy season, but we were blessed with clear skies and were able to see the beautiful mountain ranges of Nilgiri and Annapurna. The desolate landscape of Mustang was very beautiful, and it was a very interesting experience to get a glimpse of the life of the villagers in Kagbeni.

It was quite hot during the daytime walks in late May. Short sleeves are fine. If you don't want to get sunburned, wear thin long sleeves. Since it gets cold in the mornings and evenings in Muktinath, I wore a light down jacket, but if you layer up a warm long sleeve jacket, you can wear a hiking jacket instead of a down jacket.

Our trekking guide, Amar, was very kind and not only guided us on hiking but also carefully explained the history and people's lives. (In English) He always took care to make the trek comfortable, and the walking pace was adjusted to suit our physical strength, so we were able to enjoy it without any strain.

Kumar handled advance reservations and questions, and he responded to emails very quickly. After arriving in Kathmandu, I visited the office and Kumar gave me a brief explanation of the schedule. In Kathmandu, Santosh handled my communications and accompanied me to the transfer between the hotel and the airport. Both of them were cheerful and kind.
During the tour, I asked to change my plan to stay in Pokhara for two nights after the trek (of course, the additional hotel fee was at my own expense), and I am grateful that he quickly and readily responded to my request, such as changing my flight on the return trip.

A short walk from Jomsom to Muktinath.

We had great dealings with Kumar and the team at Discover Altitude. Kumar was our initial contact, and Santosh was our day to day contact on-the-ground. Their communication was great, and everything went smoothly.

Before departing for Nepal, we emailed Kumar about what we had in mind, and he presented us with different options. We settled on a short trip from Jomsom to Muktinath - flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara and on to Jomsom the next day to commence our hike. (We took the same air-route in reverse on our way back.) In total, the trip was six or seven days, with three days hiking. (This worked out well due to our schedule, but next time we might spend a few more days walking.)

Our guide on the trip was Amar Magar. We really recommend him. (Ask for him by name!) He was thoughtful, organised, and provided clear information on what we were doing each day. His patience and pleasant manner made the trip really enjoyable.

The hike itself was good. The area from Jomsom to Kagbeni (where we stopped for the first night) was primarily along the road and the riverbed, and the scenery was primarily the dry and desolate scenery one might expect of the Mustang area. Kagbeni was a nice village to rest. (There are a number of tea houses, and an interesting temple where one of the monks showed us around.) The walk up to Muktinath the next day was a little bit tough - being a climb of about 1,000 meters. (Not 'technically' tough; more of a challenge due to low fitness levels!) After resting, we visited the Hindu pilgrimage site, which was quite an interesting experience as it attracts a lot of visitors. We stayed the night at a tea house in Muktinath, and then walked back to Jomsom via a different route, stopping at a village called Lupna on the way back. The route from Muktinath to Lupna was probably the highlight of our trip, with much more diverse terrain, including great alpine scenery, fantastic rocky cliffs and forests, and the picturesque village of Lupna itself, with a very old temple and some caves used for solitary retreats.

If you have limited time, then I would recommend the approach we took. It provides a glimpse of the Mustang region (without getting in to the Upper Mustang region, which requires more time and an expensive permit), and a taste of walking in the region. On our walk, we met a number of people who had walked the Annapurna Circuit, taking around two weeks. We might plan better and aim to do that next time!

In terms of practical considerations, noting it was mid-May, we found that we were able to walk in t-shirts and long pants. We carried a lot of warm clothing with us, but didn't need really it. (We were a bit cold briefly after arriving at Muktinath, but generally we didn't use our warm clothing. It would be smart to take something - but no need to take too much.) The bedding provided in the rooms was more than adequate, and we didn't need our own sleeping bags. (Taking a sleeping bag liner might suffice from a cleanliness perspective if this is a concern.)

A Once-in-a-lifetime EBC Trekking Trip

What a once-in-a-lifetime trek to EBC! Waking up at midnight to dogs barking or in the morning to birds chirping and singing and the sound of rushing river, looking out the window and seeing the mountain so close as if within reach, roaming around Namche Bazaar and checking out the local markets, setting off in the sound of school children's morning drill, crossing rivers and valleys over the suspension bridges, passing the mani stones in the villages and the stupas on the trail, watching porters with oversized load strapped on their heads stepping to the lively beat of loud Nepali songs, navigating rocks uphill inside the dark clouds and white-out snow, trekking on the winding trail through dusty forests, misty mountain passes, wide open scrub land, and rugged and rocky barren land, with the famous and mysterious mountain peaks seemingly around every corner or suddenly elusive behind the wandering clouds, and flying down in helicopter provided every moment to admire the mountainous landscape and appreciate local life in this harsh environment. It’s been almost two weeks since I came back yet the sceneries and sounds on the trail still linger.

The EBC trek was also grueling - the long distance, the high elevation, the thin air at times mixed with dust or animal smell, the coldness at night, the completely unpredictable weather that could change by the minute – and every little inconvenience could pile on the exhaustion from a long day of trekking, but the thoughtful services by my guide Krishna made all these bearable. Every day after arriving at the tea house he made sure food was ordered and I had a spot to sit next to the stove to warm up. Every morning before we leave the tea house, he made sure bill was paid and everything was packed and ready. On the trail he was patient, watchful, and protective when the yaks and horses approaching. My tour company Discover Altitude was very flexible and allowed me to change my trekking schedule on the fly, including booking tea houses during peak season and securing single room occupancy. In fact, the three unplanned tea houses in Jorsalle, Phungi Thenga, and Dughla, allowed me to enjoy the real serenity near nature and away from crowds. The company also booked a helicopter, outside of my original plan, to fly me out back in Kathmandu in time. Their flexibility was crucial for me to have a successful and enjoyable EBC trekking trip.

Thank you Krishna for your kind-hearted service.

And thank you Santosh for showing me the street food, the hidden temples, and the vibrant life around the old town of Kathmadu.

EBC with Amar, the best guide!!

I did the Everest Base Camp trek (8 days to reach EBC, Day 9 was to Kala Patthar). Started at the end of April and finished in May. We had great weather that time of year. The early days in the trek were warm enough for leggings and a lightweight shirt. A few people were in shorts. Day 7 was the first day I needed to wear down clothing items, gloves or a warm hat. Other days could be done with a baseball cap and a few layers - started the day with a windwall jacket and would switch to a vest or just my long sleeve dry fit top while trekking. The cardio keeps you pretty warm. Taking altitude sickness medication is key. Start taking it a day before you leave. We had no issue with altitude sickness but several people at the tea houses were not as lucky.

Kumar, the owner of Discover Altitude, organized everything for us and it was planned perfectly. He booked the best tea houses for us and everything was so well-organized that all we had to think about was making it to the top. Amar was our AMAZING guide. His brother Shukla was the porter. They were the nicest, most professional duo. Amar took very good care of us and it was obvious that he was one of the most well-respected guides on the trail. He knew everyone and was so experienced that we had a lot of tips and guidance that I don’t feel everyone else had on the mountain. Definitely request amar as your guide. We quickly realized how important the planning is and who your guide is for success on this trek.

Great experience and recommend doing Kala Patthar early the next morning for sunrise views of Everest!

Awesome 10 day EBC trekking experience

I’m towards the tail end of my 10 day EBC trek arranged by Discover Altitude. Overall, I’ve been very happy with the trip so far. Santosh did his best to make sure my trip went according to plan. He was also extremely accommodating to my request for alterations to itinerary during the trip. Always ready to help, no questions asked.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank my guide, Sandip Lama. He is an energetic and hardworking young man that went above and beyond to make me trip as comfortable as possible. He’s also flexible in accommodating my last minute change request. For example, when I saw Ama Dablam for the first time, I was blown by its beauty and came up with the idea of doing a side trip to its base camp. It’s require at least half a days time. Sandip agreed without any hesitation and helped with the trip planning. In the end, the side trip didn’t happen simply because I ran out of steam. As a guide, Sandip’s main responsibility is leading me with the trip. But he also offered to carry my bag when I got very tired. This is what I call above and beyond. Again, thank you Sandip and I hope we’ll embark on my adventures in the future!

Discover Altitude is the best!

Discover Altitude is the best trekking guide / tour operator in Nepal. Two days ago my friend and I reached Everest Base Camp on May 4th (trekking day 8).

On day 9, helicopter picked us up at Gorakshep - last tea house before EBC. Helicopter transported us back to Kathmandu via Lukla — 2.5 hour stop for refueling and other logistics. Hiking back down 3 extra days is not for everyone.

Reaching EBC was a small miracle for me. I was the biggest person (XXL) trekking. I trained for over a year… lost significant amount of weight to even attempt EBC. Everything had to go perfectly and it did. Planning was key. Some days were incredibly challenging and required very-very slow / steady pace.

At every step my guide was right there to support as needed. On some hills my guide was 12 inches behind me in case I lost balance from exhaustion.

We were blessed to have Amar as our guide and his younger brother, Shukla, as porter. They did everything for us … from finding bathrooms, ordering meals, dealing with hotels, first aid, and fun to talk with too. Multiple times during the trek other guides whispered to us that Amar is one of the best guides in the region.

We opted for the luxury tour with nicer hotels + helicopter ride to Lukla to start + helicopter return from the top. Paying extra for luxury tour is worth every penny. We met some hikers not having a good experience. Painfully obvious they chose the wrong guide / tour operator.

If you are in perfect shape and you’ve trekked Nepal many times before- maybe having the best guide isn’t as critical. But for us we relied on our guides for every decision … even down to what to eat and drink at different altitudes.

TIPS:

1- take diamox right from the start (1 day before starting the trek)

2- take helicopter to/from Lukla. If you don’t take helicopter, be prepared to sit around for days waiting on weather to clear for airplane flight. People stuck at the airport waiting multiple days to get out aren’t having a good time.

3- go vegetarian. You’ll love ra-ra noodle vegetable soup

4- bring tons of electrolyte packets and drink 5 liters/day

5- pack for very cold days at the end (EBC). Both outer-wear gear and warm jackets for nights at the hotel. Be prepared for extremely dry air at night. Bring nasal spray to help breath through your nose.

6- get plenty NPR cash in Lukla or Kathmandu. In a pinch, tea house hotels can run your CC to give you NPR cash… will cost 10% extra charge.

7- tip your guides as generously as you can

8- don’t bring huge camera unless you are ok lugging the extra weight. Newer iPhone or Android do fantastic job.

9- go slow. Don’t skip rest (acclimatizing) days.

10- Book your trip with Discover Altitude. Kumar will email you immediately with details to help you customize your trip. He will work through every question / idea with patience. We had at least a dozen unusual requests including special activities in Kathmandu after the trek. Kumar and our guides made them all happen. Remember to request booking at nicer hotels.

11- go with friend or family you really enjoy being with for two weeks. Having someone to motivate you and just hang out together makes the trip so much better.

12- day 2 to Namche might be your hardest day, particularly after Hillary Bridge… 1-2 hours straight uphill at the end. Don’t give up. Go slow and ask for help (horse available if can’t make it up that hill).

No. of Person	Price Per Person
2 people	US$2349
3 - 7 people	US$2149
8 - 16 people	US$1849

Phoksundo Lake Trekking

How to get to the trailhead of the Phoksundo Lake trek?

Phoksundo Lake trek route.

What are the Shey Phoksundo Lake trek permits and fees?

Highlights

Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1:Your arrival in Kathmandu airport.

Day 2:Sightseeing around Kathmandu city in Historical places.

Day 3:scenic flight to Nepalgunj.

Day 4:Morning flight to Juphal airport and trek to Dunai.

Day 5:Trekking to Chhekpa.

Day 6:Trekking to Chunuwar

Day 7:Trekking to Shey Phoksundo Lake.

Day 8:Exploration Day around Shey Phoksundo Lake and Ringmo village.

Day 9:Descend to Shyanta.

Day 10:Trekking back to Juphal Airport.

Day 11:Contingency Day for if We can't fly.

Day 12:Fly back to Nepaljunj and Back to Kathmandu

Day 13:Your Final Departure

Not happy with this regular itinerary?

Cost Details

Included

Excluded

Useful Info

Trekking essentials for Phoksundo Lake trekking.

Best Season for doing Phoksundo Lake trekking.

Trip Reviews

Your search for a trekking company can stop here!

Alden S, United States

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency.

Eva B, Hungary

Mustang - Kagbeni, Muktinath 6-day tour

Hito, Japan

A short walk from Jomsom to Muktinath.

Nick O'Connell, New Zealand

A Once-in-a-lifetime EBC Trekking Trip

Jackie Z, United States

EBC with Amar, the best guide!!

Stephanie S, United States

Awesome 10 day EBC trekking experience

Hongtao Chen, United States

Discover Altitude is the best!

James T, United States

FAQs

Q1. How difficult is Shey Phoksundo lake trekking?

Q2. How is the accommodation in Phoksundo lake trekking?

Q3. How is the food in Phoksundo Lake trekking?

Q4. Can I solo the Phoksundo lake trek?

Q5. Do we need a guide for Phoksundo lake trek?

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