Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, about an hour south-west over the foothills to the hot Terai plains near the Indian border. Nepalgunj is the hub for flights to far-west Nepal, and it is often very hot and humid. Transfer to your hotel, check permits with your guide and use the afternoon to repack and rest. Flights to Juphal leave early the next morning and depend on the weather, so keep your schedule flexible. Drink plenty of water and have an early night.
Phoksundo Lake Trek (Lower Dolpo)
A 10-day trek into Shey Phoksundo National Park to Ringmo and Phoksundo Lake, with flights to Juphal and no restricted-area permit.
- Days10
- Max altitude3,640 m
- Distance90.4 km
- Ascent4,535 m
- DifficultyModerate
- Best monthsApr–Jun, Sep–Nov
- Permits2
Plan a trip with this itineraryFind partners for Phoksundo Lake Trek (Lower Dolpo)See departures by week
Photo: Kiran Dhodari · CC BY 4.0
This itinerary is a draft and hasn't been verified yet. Always confirm stages with your guide.
Written by FindTrekkingPartner teamReviewed by FindTrekkingPartner teamHow we reviewFindTrekkingPartner
Phoksundo Lake Trek (Lower Dolpo) is a 10-day trek in the Dolpo region of Nepal that climbs to 3,640 m. Foreign trekkers can find a partner for it on FindTrekkingPartner by posting a trip with their dates, budget and pace. Matches stay private until both trekkers agree, and the service is free. At mid-range rates a licensed guide costs about USD 93 per person over 10 days when four trekkers share, against USD 373 for one trekker alone. The best seasons are May–Jun, Sep–Oct. This is a restricted area, so a licensed guide hired through a registered agency is part of the permit, and the whole group travels on one agency permit. Open trips for this route are listed below, with start month, group size and spots left. Last verified: October 19, 2026. Sources: Nepal Tourism Board, DNPWC, Department of Immigration.
Sources:Department of Immigration, NepalNepal Tourism BoardDepartment of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation
Find a partner for Phoksundo Lake Trek (Lower Dolpo)
Overview
Starts from Kathmandu10 days · max 3,640 m
Best seasons: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov · Permits: Shey Phoksundo National Park entry permit, TIMS card where required
The Phoksundo Lake trek is a 10-day journey into the lower valleys of Dolpo, in Dolpa District of north-west Nepal, ending beside one of the country's deepest and most beautiful lakes. It flies from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and on to Juphal, walks along the Thuli Bheri and Suligad rivers through Dunai and Sulighat to Chhepka and Ringmo, spends a rest day at the lake at about 3,610 m, and returns the same way before the flights home. The walk covers about 90 km with 4,500 m of climbing and, unlike Upper Dolpo, needs no restricted-area permit, only the Shey Phoksundo National Park permit. It is a moderate trek with long days, simple lodges and a remote feel, suitable for fit walkers. April to June and September to November are the best months. Allow spare days for the flights, which are weather dependent.
What the trek is like
From Juphal the trail drops to Dunai, a small district town on the Thuli Bheri river, then follows the Suligad river into a deep, dry gorge. After the park entrance at Sulighat it climbs through blue pine, birch and juniper to Chhepka, a village of stone houses and fields. The last day to the lake climbs through forest and past waterfalls to a high saddle and the first view of Phoksundo, a turquoise lake in a bowl of rock and snow. Ringmo sits at the southern end, with chortens, a Bon monastery and flat-roofed houses. The return takes the same route in shorter days.
Highlights
- Phoksundo Lake, which covers about 494 hectares and was designated a Ramsar site in 2007
- The waterfall of about 167 m where the lake drains
- Ringmo village and its Bon monastery and chortens
- The Suligad gorge, dry forest and walnut and apple trees near Dunai
- A rest day with time to see the lake from several viewpoints
Permits and rules
You need the Shey Phoksundo National Park entry permit, arranged through your agency or bought at the checkpost, and a TIMS card where the local office asks for it. The Phoksundo trek is not a restricted-area trek. The Nepal Tourism Board April 2023 rule requires foreign trekkers to use a licensed guide in national parks and conservation areas, and 2026 operator reports say checkpoints enforce it in Annapurna (ACAP), Langtang (the strictest) and most other parks, but not in Khumbu, where the municipality opted out (checked 19 October 2026). See the guide rule by region. Ask for current fees and check them with the park or the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
Best season
April to June and September to November are the best months. Spring has clearer air and flowers, and autumn brings stable weather. Dolpo lies in the rain shadow, so the monsoon is milder than elsewhere, but flights are often disrupted by cloud over Nepalgunj and the airstrip. Winter is cold, with snow around Ringmo and a frozen lake.
Altitude
Ringmo, at about 3,640 m, is the highest point. Chhepka (about 2,660 m) and Ringmo are separated by a long, steep climb of nearly 1,700 m, so take it slowly. The rest day at the lake helps acclimatisation, and you sleep at the same altitude. Watch for headache, nausea and poor sleep, never ascend with symptoms, and descend if they worsen. Discuss altitude medicine with your doctor.
Getting there and away
Fly Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, then Nepalgunj to Juphal on a small plane. The return reverses this. Both flights depend on weather, and Juphal flights are often delayed, so keep one or two spare days. There is no road to Ringmo.
Lodges, food and costs
Simple lodges operate at Juphal, Dunai, Chhepka and Ringmo, with dal bhat, noodles, eggs and tea. Rooms are basic, with blankets and sometimes heating, and hot showers are rare. Many agencies still provide tents and a cook for flexibility. Prices rise with altitude, and you should bring cash for the whole trek, because Dunai has few services.
Packing list
Broken-in boots, waterproof layers, a down jacket, a sleeping bag rated to about minus 10 C, gloves, hat, sunglasses, sun cream, trekking poles, a headlamp, water purification and a first-aid kit. A sun hat is useful, because the valley is bright and dry.
Who this trek suits and how to prepare
The trek suits fit walkers who want a remote trek without extreme altitude or a restricted-area permit. The days are long, with 20 to 25 km on two of them, so prepare with hill walks and some days with a loaded pack. Previous multi-day trekking is helpful.
The plan at a glance
Days 1 and 2 fly to Nepalgunj and Juphal. Day 3 walks to Chhepka and day 4 to Ringmo, with a rest day on day 5. Days 6 to 8 return to Chhepka, Dunai and Juphal, and days 9 and 10 fly back to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj.
Extensions
Add a day or two for weather at Juphal or Nepalgunj. For a longer trek, continue from Ringmo to Lar Tsa along the lake, or join the Upper Dolpo trek over the Kang La, which needs a restricted-area permit. You can also visit the Dunai bazaar and the monasteries near Juphal.
Practical tips from the trail
- Walking times in the day plan are estimates from distance and climb, checked against operator itineraries; real times differ with pace, load and weather.
- Keep spare days for the Juphal flights.
- Start early on the long climb from Chhepka to Ringmo.
- Carry sun protection and water, because the trail is dry and exposed.
- Respect the monasteries and walk clockwise around chortens.
- Do not swim or wash in the lake, which is sacred and protected.
Responsible trekking
Take rubbish out, use filtered water, avoid wood fires in the national park and buy from local families. Ask before photographing people and ceremonies.
Highlights
- Phoksundo Lake, a Ramsar lake at about 3,610 m
- Ringmo, a Tibetan-style village beside the lake
- The 167 m waterfall at the lake outlet
- Dunai and the Thuli Bheri valley of lower Dolpo
- Bon and Buddhist monasteries, chortens and mani walls
Route map
Route data from OpenStreetMap, not yet checked by our team. Use it for planning, not navigation.
Day by day
You sleep 2,330 m higher than the night before, above the usual 500 m guideline. Take it slowly, drink plenty and watch for headache or nausea.
Take the morning flight from Nepalgunj to Juphal, about 40 minutes on a small plane over green foothills and, on clear days, the Dhaulagiri range. The airstrip lies at about 2,490 m above Dunai, the district headquarters of Dolpa. The air is cool and dry after the plains. Meet your crew, show your permits at the checkpost and sort the loads. If the flight is cancelled, you spend another night in Nepalgunj, so plan flexible days. The trek starts tomorrow. Keep warm layers at hand, because the airstrip is cool.
A long first walking day from Juphal to Chhepka at about 2,660 m. The trail drops to the Thuli Bheri, passes through Dunai and follows the Suligad river to Sulighat, the entrance to Shey Phoksundo National Park, then climbs on to Chhepka. It is about 25 km with 1,150 m of climbing, taking 7 to 10 hours, so many groups split the day with a camp at Sulighat. The valley is dry and rocky, with blue pine and walnut trees. Chhepka has simple lodges.
You sleep 980 m higher than the night before, above the usual 500 m guideline. Take it slowly, drink plenty and watch for headache or nausea.
A hard day from Chhepka to Ringmo at about 3,640 m, about 20 km with 1,670 m of climbing, taking 6 to 9 hours. The trail follows the Suligad river through Rechi and Sanduwa, with steep rock steps, waterfalls and forest, then opens to the lake basin, where Phoksundo Lake comes into view at about 3,610 m. Ringmo is a village of flat-roofed stone houses, chortens and a Bon monastery. Rest, eat well and enjoy the first evening view of the lake.
A rest and acclimatisation day at Ringmo. Walk to the shore of Phoksundo Lake, about 3,610 m, and visit the monastery and chortens in Ringmo. The water is a deep turquoise, and the waterfall below the village drops about 167 m. Take short walks to viewpoints and enjoy the views of the Kanjiroba range, but keep a slow pace. Use the afternoon to rest and wash clothes. Avoid swimming or washing in the lake, which is sacred and protected. Take the afternoon off to rest and write notes.
Descend from Ringmo to Chhepka at about 2,660 m, about 20 km with 1,680 m of descent and 700 m of climbing, taking 6 to 8 hours. The route retraces the Suligad river through Sanduwa and Rechi, with waterfalls and forest, and the air warms as you drop. The steep steps are hard on the knees, so use poles and take breaks. Chhepka's lodges are simple but welcoming. Enjoy a hot meal and an early night after the long day. Check the weather forecast with your guide before bed.
Walk from Chhepka to Dunai at about 2,090 m, about 14.5 km with a climb of 420 m and a descent of 990 m, taking 4.5 to 6 hours. The trail follows the Suligad river through Sulighat, leaves the national park and ends in Dunai, the district town on the Thuli Bheri. Dunai has a bazaar, a hospital, a small gompa and basic lodges. Use the afternoon to walk around the town, buy snacks and sort your belongings. The climate is warmer and drier than at Ringmo.
A short walk from Dunai to Juphal at about 2,490 m, about 10 km with a climb of 560 m, taking 4 to 5 hours. The trail leaves the river and climbs through dry hills and villages to the airstrip, with views of the Thuli Bheri valley and the surrounding ranges. Juphal has a few lodges, and the airport office checks your flight status. Keep a spare day in the schedule in case the weather closes the airstrip. Pack your bags and prepare for the morning flight.
Fly from Juphal to Nepalgunj, about 40 minutes over foothills and valleys, and transfer to a hotel. The air is hot and humid after the high valleys, and you may want a shower and a cold drink. If the Kathmandu flight is the same day, you connect at the airport, otherwise use the afternoon to rest. Flights from Juphal are often delayed by cloud, so keep a buffer. Your agency will arrange the hotel and onward tickets. Keep your passport and flight tickets within easy reach.
You sleep 1,240 m higher than the night before, above the usual 500 m guideline. Take it slowly, drink plenty and watch for headache or nausea.
Fly from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu, about an hour, and transfer to your hotel. The flight offers a last view of the Himalaya on clear mornings. Back in Kathmandu, you can shower, repack and explore Thamel or Patan. Keep a spare day after the trek in case of flight delays. Tip your guide and porters according to your agency's guidelines, and celebrate a short, remote journey to one of the most beautiful lakes in Nepal. Keep your passport and permit copies in your hand luggage for the airport checks.
Acclimatisation
Sleeping altitude night by night. Bars in red climb more than 500 m from the night before; rest days are marked.
- Sleeping altitude
- Gain over 500 m
- Rest day
What it costs
Estimated all-in cost per person: lodge and food by altitude, transport, permits, and the guide and porters. The more trekkers share a guide and porters, the less each person pays. As of October 2026.
| Style | 1 trekker | 2 trekkers sharing | 4 trekkers sharing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $380–$580* | $380–$580* | $380–$580* |
| Mid-range | $720–$1,100* | $580–$890* | $540–$820* |
| Comfort | $800–$1,250* | $710–$1,100* | $670–$1,050* |
Share a guide, save money
At mid-range, a solo trekker pays about $720–$1,100; four trekkers sharing one guide and two porters pay about $540–$820 each (25% less at the top of the range).
Breakdown for 2 trekkers sharing
| Item | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodge and food | $160–$280 | $230–$370 | $310–$490 |
| Transport | $200–$290 | $200–$290 | $200–$290 |
| Permits | $20–$30 | $20–$30 | $20–$30 |
| Guide | — | $80–$140 | $80–$140 |
| Porters | — | $40–$80 | $90–$160 |
Budget uses public transport and no porter; mid-range shares one porter between two trekkers and a private vehicle; comfort gives each trekker a porter. A guide is included where one is required or the style is mid-range or comfort.
Nightly lodge and food (room and a dal bhat meal)
5 nights Below 2,500 m: room $2–$9, dal bhat $4–$7 · 4 nights 2,500 to 3,800 m: room $4–$11, dal bhat $5–$11
Permit fees (official sources)
- Shey Phoksundo National Park entry permit: NPR 3,000 per entry Source
Not included
No published price found for: Nepalgunj to Juphal flight (return). Totals marked * leave these out; ask your agency.
Cost sources
- PriceNepal: Nepal Travel Cost Guide 2026 (2026-05-14)
- Third Rock Adventures: Nepal trek budget planner (2026-05-09)
- Himalayan Partner: Guide and porter price in Nepal 2026 (2026-02-10)
- Shikhar Adventure: Annapurna Circuit trek cost (2026-02-03)
- Nepal Tourism Board: Trekking Permit (2026-10-18)
Estimates from operator guides, not quotes. Tips, insurance, gear and Kathmandu hotels are not included; USD at the platform exchange rate.
Photos
Frequently asked questions
No. Phoksundo and lower Dolpo need only the Shey Phoksundo National Park entry permit. Upper Dolpo, beyond the Kang La, is a restricted area.
The Nepal Tourism Board April 2023 rule requires foreign trekkers to use a licensed guide in national parks and conservation areas, and 2026 operator reports say checkpoints enforce it in Annapurna (ACAP), Langtang (the strictest) and most other parks, but not in Khumbu, where the municipality opted out (checked 19 October 2026). Confirm with a registered agency. A guide is advised on this remote trail in any case.
Ten days from Kathmandu on this plan, including the flights to Nepalgunj and Juphal, two days of walking to Ringmo, a rest day and three days of walking back. Flight delays can add days.
About 3,611 m. Ringmo village is at about 3,640 m, and the lake is among the deepest in Nepal, measured at 136 to 145 m in surveys.
April to June and September to November. The monsoon is milder in Dolpo, but flights are often delayed, and winter freezes the lake.
Moderate. The altitude is below 3,700 m, but two days are long at 20 to 25 km, and the climb from Chhepka to Ringmo is about 1,700 m.
No. The lake is sacred and protected, and washing or swimming is discouraged.
Sources
- Phoksundo Lake Trek, 11 days (Trekking in Nepal)
- Phoksundo Lake Trekking (Himkala Adventure)
- Phoksundo Lake (Wikipedia)
- Shey Phoksundo National Park (Wikipedia)
- Dolpa District (Wikipedia)
- Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Nepal
- Nepal Tourism Board
- Himalayan Rescue Association
- OpenStreetMap (elevation tags of villages and the lake)
Along the trail
Stays, medical help, water and sights on each day of the route.
1. Kathmandu → Nepalgunj
- Tribhuvan International Airport · Airports & transport · 1,340 m
Show all 2 places
- Tribhuvan International Airport · Airports & transport · 1,340 m
- Nepalgunj Airport · Airports & transport · 165 m
2. Nepalgunj → Juphal
Nothing mapped for this day yet.Nothing mapped for this day yet.3. Juphal → Chhepka
- Dolpa Airport · Airports & transport · 2,489 m
- Drinking Water · Practical · 2,044 m
- Rupgar hotel · Stays · 2,070 m
- District hospital · Medical · 2,090 m
- Thapa Hotel · Stays · 2,091 m
- स्वास्थ्य चौकी कार्यालय परीला डोल्पा · Medical · 2,535 m
- Shyanta · Stays · 2,490 m
- Jharana Hotel · Stays · 2,666 m
Show all 9 places
- Dolpa Airport · Airports & transport · 2,489 m
- Drinking Water · Practical · 2,044 m
- Rupgar hotel · Stays · 2,070 m
- Army helipad · Airports & transport · 2,103 m
- District hospital · Medical · 2,090 m
- Thapa Hotel · Stays · 2,091 m
- स्वास्थ्य चौकी कार्यालय परीला डोल्पा · Medical · 2,535 m
- Shyanta · Stays · 2,490 m
- Jharana Hotel · Stays · 2,666 m
4. Chhepka → Ringmo
- Shey Karnali Hotel · Stays · 3,120 m
- Saijol Health Post · Medical · 3,118 m
- Phoksundo Hotel · Stays · 3,132 m
- Jharana Hotel · Stays · 3,131 m
5. Ringmo
- Stupid Hotel & Lounge · Stays · 3,626 m
- Shey Shikhahr Lakeside Hotel&Lodge · Stays · 3,632 m
- Himalayan Hotel & Lodge · Stays · 3,641 m
- Mount Kailash Guest House · Stays · 3,640 m
- Drinking Water · Practical · 3,640 m
- Phoksundo Lake · Nature · 3,612 m
Show all 10 places
- Sherpa Hotel&Lodge · Stays · 3,640 m
- Stupid Hotel & Lounge · Stays · 3,626 m
- Shey Shikhahr Lakeside Hotel&Lodge · Stays · 3,632 m
- Himalayan Hotel & Lodge · Stays · 3,641 m
- Mount Kailash Guest House · Stays · 3,640 m
- Shey Phoksundo Hotel view point · Stays · 3,637 m
- Drinking Water · Practical · 3,640 m
- Ringmo · Stays · 3,640 m
- New tourist Guest House · Stays · 3,650 m
- Phoksundo Lake · Nature · 3,612 m
6. Ringmo → Chhepka
- Drinking Water · Practical · 3,645 m
- Viewpoint · Viewpoints · 3,647 m
- Chunuwar Health Post · Medical · 3,136 m
- Amchi Hospital · Medical · 3,129 m
- Samshana Hotel · Stays · 3,055 m
- Hotel Pahuna Ghar · Stays · 3,032 m
- Keshang Hotel · Stays · 3,032 m
7. Chhepka → Dunai
- Hotel Swagat · Stays · 2,492 m
- Sunita Hotel · Stays · 2,287 m
8. Dunai → Juphal
- स्वास्थ्य सेवा कार्यालय, दुनई-डोल्पा · Medical · 2,088 m
- Dolpa District Hospital · Medical · 2,090 m
- Drinking Water · Practical · 2,174 m
- Hotel Tripura · Stays · 2,487 m
- Hotel Mount Putha & Restaurant · Stays · 2,475 m
- Dolpa Airport · Airports & transport · 2,499 m
- Mount putha · Stays · 2,482 m
Show all 8 places
- स्वास्थ्य सेवा कार्यालय, दुनई-डोल्पा · Medical · 2,088 m
- Dolpa District Hospital · Medical · 2,090 m
- Drinking Water · Practical · 2,174 m
- Jufal health post · Medical · 2,434 m
- Hotel Tripura · Stays · 2,487 m
- Hotel Mount Putha & Restaurant · Stays · 2,475 m
- Dolpa Airport · Airports & transport · 2,499 m
- Mount putha · Stays · 2,482 m
9. Juphal → Nepalgunj
Nothing mapped for this day yet.Nothing mapped for this day yet.10. Nepalgunj → Kathmandu
Nothing mapped for this day yet.Nothing mapped for this day yet.
Last verified on Oct 19, 2026Report outdated info