Shey Phoksundo Trek Package for Nepali

Shey Phoksundo is home to a wide range of natural resources. Trekking in this area is considered offbeat as it is yet to be explored by many people. Not-so-commercialized trekking routes and indescribably amazing natural landscapes are some other things that make the trek unique from other trekking trails in Nepal. 

Most importantly, trekking in the Shey Phoksundo lake area allows you to witness nature that is best preserved in its original form. Besides that, the cultural and traditional dimensions of local people are something to admire. The isolated life in the remote settlement not only provides you with an insightful learning opportunity about human habitats but also opens up the opportunity to understand the best-kept secret of west Nepal.

Shey Phoksundo Lake is situated in the Dolpa district of Nepal. Situated at an elevation of 3611 m. above sea level, the lake offers pristine freshwater and incredible natural reflection. The lake is one of the popular high-elevation oligotrophic lakes in Nepal and is known for its pristine origin. The Shey Phoksundo National Park is the major protected area that houses a wide range of biodiversity and wildlife including the Phoksundo Lake. 

The lake area also acts as a transition zone from the arid climate in the upper parts to the monsoon-dominated area on the southern side. The northern part of the protected area is mostly barren due to the trans-Himalayan geography created by Kanjiroba and Dhaulagiri Peaks, whereas the southern part of the national park has a wide range of vegetation. The caragana shrubs, rhododendron, juniper, salix, occasional silver fir and white Himalayan birch are mostly seen around the forest areas. The national park is home to some wildlife that includes various species of birds and butterflies, mammals and reptiles. 

It is believed that the lake was formed about 35,000 years ago due to a landslide that formed a dam on the southern side. Modern-day Ringmo resides in the dam area which is purportedly a village built on a dam. The lake is 495 Ha in size and 5.64 KM in length. It has a maximum depth of over 136 m. 

The Dolpa district of Nepal is the largest of all, nonetheless, the smallest in terms of human habitation. It covers 5.36% of the total landmass of Nepal and is regarded as one of the most beautiful places to visit. Though it is a large area of the country, the place is mostly rural and isolated, and even the road accessibility is very less. In terms of development, the Dolpa is yet to witness even basic infrastructures. 

There are two sides to the same coin. On one hand, Dolpo is very isolated and remote and on the other hand, it is very rich in natural resources. The best thing to explore in the Lower Dolpa is the natural beauty of Nepal. The authentic exploration of pristine landscapes that are completely virgin in terms of human interference is the best part of trekking in this area. 

Trekking to Fantastic Phoksundo Lake provides a peek into this remote beauty. Exploring the entire Dolpo is a mere wish if you are thinking of visiting most areas in Dolpa. However, this trek allows you to explore the most beautiful wonder of Dolpo - The Phoksundo Lake. 

There are many memoirs sculpted, written and visualized about the Dolpo of Nepal. ‘The Snow Leopard’, ‘Dolpo Girl’, ‘Caravan’ etc. are some of the noteworthy creation that provides a wonderful literary image of Dolpa. 

While trekking in Phoksundo Lake is widely admired for its natural beauty, it has brought up forth issues of pollution, waste and garbages in pristine nature. 

The detailed itinerary for the Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek for Nepali is provided here. It is designed keeping in mind the Nepali trekker's trekking preferences and other necessities during the trek. If you need more information regarding the trip, you can directly contact us through the details provided on our website. 

Day 1: Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj 

At 08:00 AM: Trek Preparation, gathering and preparing the backpack. 

At 12:00 PM: Drive to Airport for your flight to Nepalgunj. After 40-45 min flying time, you will reach Nepalgunj. 

At 01:00 PM: Drive to your hotel. Check-In at the hotel. In the evening, you can explore the surrounding areas of Nepalgunj city in the lowlands of Nepal. 

Overview: Before starting your trip to the Upper Dolpo area, you will fly to Nepalgunj. The flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj takes 40 to 45 minutes. You'll be staying in Nepalgunj today to take in the surroundings. The following day, when you arrive in the outlying districts where even locating a nice restaurant is impossible, nature will be the only luxury you will experience. 

Day 2: Fly from Nepalgunj to Juphal, Trek to Raktan 

At 07:00 AM: Have your breakfast at the hotel. Prepare for the flight to Juphal. 

At 08:30 AM: Fly to Juphal. It takes about 30 min. of flight time to reach Juphal from Nepalgunj Airport. Upon landing, you can explore the local tea shops. Explore the surrounding areas. 

At 12:00 PM: Have your lunch in Suligad. Begin trekking towards Raktan. 

At 05:00 PM: You will reach Raktan from Suligad where you will have an overnight stay. 

Overview: You can get a flight early from Nepalgunj to Juphal. Juphal itself is where the amazing splendor of Dolpa starts. Juphal is accessible via flight as it is in a remote region. However, you may get food and drink from a few hotels and stores. The breathtaking Sunrise above the mountains is the best sight to behold because the flight is early. After reaching Juphal, you will trek towards Suligad. You will have some lunch in this beautiful place. From Suligad, you will trek to Rakten for your overnight stay. The total trek distance this day is about 13 Km. 

Day 3: Trek from Raktan to Rechi 

At 07:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. Prepare to trek towards Rechi. 

At 08:00 AM: Begin trekking to Rechi. It takes about 7 hours of trekking to reach Rechi from Raktan. On the way, you can enjoy beautiful waterfalls and juniper forests and rivers alongside the trail. 

At 12:30 PM: Have your lunch along the trail. Begin trekking towards Rechi. 

At 05:00 PM: You will reach Rechi from Raktan where you will have an overnight stay. You can explore the surrounding and beautiful greenery around Raktan. There are several teahouses that offer accommodation facilities. 

Overview: The total trek distance this day is about 15 Km. At the end of the trek, you will reach an elevation of 3100 m. in Rechi. You can explore the surroundings and greenery of Shey Phoksundo National Park around the area. Also, you can witness a wide range of flora and fauna during the trek. The river banks playing hide and seek alongside the trail make the experience magnificent and it is also a very enjoyable part of the trek. 

Day 4: Trek from Rechi to Ringmo 

At 07:00 AM: Have your breakfast at the hotel. Today, you will be trekking towards Ringmo. 

At 08:00 AM: Begin trekking to Ringmo. It takes about 6 hours of trekking to reach Ringmo from Rechi. During the trek, you can explore a wide range of flora and fauna. Beautiful waterfalls and vegetation are the major attractions of the trek. 

At 12:30 PM: Have your lunch along the trail. Then continue trekking towards the beautiful Ringmo village. 

At 03:00 PM: You will reach Ringmo from Rechi after walking for about 6 hours. The total trek distance of the day is about 11 KM. 

Overview: Today, you will be trekking from Rechi to Ringmo. You will be covering a distance of 11 Km and reach an elevation of 3640 m. above sea level. Ringmo village is the dam side of the Phoksundo lake. So, you can enjoy the natural scenery and explore the lake area in the evening. Overnight stay in Ringmo Village. 

Day 5: Ringmo exploration

At 08:00 AM: Have your breakfast in the naturally rich Ringmo village. 

At 09:00 AM: You will be exploring Phoksundo lake and the surrounding areas on this day. Enjoy the natural scenery and explore the stupas around Phoksundo Lake. 

At 12:30 PM: Have your lunch in Ringmo. Enjoy nature. 

At 07:00 PM: Dinner and prepare for the trek tomorrow. 

Overview: On this day, you will be exploring the Ringmo village and the surrounding areas. Ringmo is one of the most beautiful villages in the Phoksundo Lake trek. You can enjoy the surrounding vistas, the lake itself and the vegetation of Shey Phoksundo National Park. 

Day 6: Trek from Ringmo to Chhepka. 

At 07:00 AM: Breakfast at the teahouse. Prepare to trek towards Chhepka. 

At 08:00 AM: You will begin trekking towards Chhepka village. Today, the trek will be mostly downhill and you can witness a wide range of vegetation, flora and fauna, wildlife and natural waterfalls along the way. 

At 12:30 PM: Have your lunch along the trail. And continue trekking towards Chhepka. 

At 05:00 PM: You will reach Chhepka after walking for about 19 KM from Ringmo village. You can enjoy the village life and explore the culture of the locals in the evening. 

At 07:00 PM: Dinner and prepare for the trek tomorrow. 

Overview: The trek today is mostly downhill and you will lose elevation to reach 2665 m above sea level from 3640 m. at Phoksundo Lake. After exploring the beautiful Phoksundo lake, you will begin your trek towards Chhepka village. It is a small village at an elevation of 3640 m. Along the trail, explore the vegetation of the protected area and enjoy the natural beauty. Overnight stay in a teahouse in Chhepka. 

Day 7: Trek from Chhepka to Juphal 

At 07:00 AM: Have your breakfast in Chhepka. Today is the last day of trekking in the Dolpa region. You will be trekking to Juphal today. 

At 08:00 AM: Begin trekking towards Juphal. It is about 19 Km away from Chhepka. Since most of the trekking part is downhill, you can easily reach there from Chhepka.  

At 12:30 PM: Have your lunch along the trail. And continue trekking towards Juphal. 

At 03:00 PM: You will reach Juphal after walking for about 6 hours from Chhepka. Explore the surroundings in Juphal. 

At 07:00 PM: Have your Dinner and prepare for the flight back tomorrow. 

Overview: This is the last day of trekking. You will begin trekking from Chhepka in the early morning and have your lunch somewhere along the trail. It takes about 6-7 hours of trek to reach Juphal from Chhepka. Explore the natural atmosphere, rivers and waterfalls alongside the trails. In the evening, you can interact with locals and explore the amazing natural beauty of the village settlement in Juphal. 

Day 8: Fly back to Nepalgunj, fly to Kathmandu.

At 07:30 AM: After having breakfast in Juphal, you will fly to Nepalgunj by taking an early flight. 

At 08:20 AM: After reaching Nepalgunj, you will prepare for a connecting flight that will take you back to Kathmandu. 

At 11:30 AM: Have your lunch in Nepalgunj. 

At 12:30 PM: Take a returning flight back to Kathmandu. It ends our trek and in the evening, you can depart to your home destination.

Overview: Today, you will be returning to Kathmandu valley after exploring the mind blowing natural beauty of Phoksundo Lake in the Dolpa district of Nepal. You will take a flight to Nepalgunj from Juphal and another connecting flight from Nepalgunj will take you back to the Kathmandu valley. This ends our trek. 

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• Air transfer from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, Nepalgunj to Juphal and return. 
• All Meals are included as mentioned in the trip itinerary. 
• Standard hotel/tea house accommodation in Nepalgunj and during the trek. 
• Professional and experienced local trekking guide during the trek. 
• Availability of first aid kit. 
• National park entrance fee.
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• Personal expenses. 
• Energy drinks, bar, chocolates and beverages. 
• Arrangement of a mule to carry trekkers' baggage with additional surcharges. 
• Services that are not mentioned in the includes section.
• The amount incurred due to additional stay in unforeseen circumstances.
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•  We do not bear responsibility in case of unforeseen circumstances that are beyond our control.
• Natural calamities, cancellation or delaying of flights and weather issues are beyond our control. In such cases, if the stay gets elongated, the amount raised thereof shall be borne by the trekkers themselves. 
• The cost mentioned here is subject to change, having the determinant factors the hotels and airfares. 
• We only provide the trekkers with the amenities and services that are mentioned in the itinerary. Services beyond that may produce extra costs. 
• To confirm the booking, we need at least 10,000 rupees in advance to ensure the trip. 
• This is an all-inclusive trip where your stay, food and guide charges during the trek time are included. 
• You may obtain insurance on your own. The company holds no responsibility for the nature of situations such as personal issues, health issues and unpredictable situations.

The trek to Shey Phoksundo Lake is moderately difficult. There is enough time that you can utilize for photography and leisure around the mountains. The trek will not be extremely rushed, however, managing time to reach the predetermined destination is important. You will be reaching elevations that are below 4000 m above sea level. So, the chances of high altitude sickness are low. However, having a first aid kit and basic knowledge about altitude sickness can be helpful. 

If you have any health concerns, please consult your doctor before planning a trip to Shey Phoksundo. Consider obtaining insurance for the uncertainties. 

The best months to go trekking in the Dolpo region are March, April and May as well as September, October and November. There are fewer chances of snowfall and rainfall during these months. The temperature is moderate and the weather is quite dry. Therefore, the months of March, April, May, September, October and November are ideal for exploring the Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek. 

However, planning the trek in other months of the year will not deter you from the enjoyment of a less crowded trek. You can instead enjoy a peaceful and amazing natural beauty in your off time as well. The trek is a short one. So, there’s no bar to planning a trek to Shey Phoksundo at any time of the year. 

Having good trekking gear helps you attain the ultimate trekking goal. It is important that your basic trekking gears are along with you. Carrying a backpack with necessary items is important as it will be helpful during the trek. However, we suggest you travel light as it is a short trek and you will not be in need of huge gear and clothes during the trek. For more information on Trekking Checklist, Visit Nepal Trekking Gear Checklist.