About SHEY PHOKSUNDO LAKE TREK (9 DAYS)

The Shey Phoksundo Lake trek offers an in-depth exploration of one of Nepal’s most remote and pristine areas, located in the Dolpo region of northwest Nepal. This trek takes you through rugged, untamed landscapes, where human habitation is sparse, and the natural environment dominates in its rawest form. Shey Phoksundo, a turquoise-colored lake situated at the foot of the Himalayas, is the main draw of this trek, but the journey there is equally compelling for those willing to venture into its far-flung corners.

Your trek starts in Juphal, a small airstrip town that acts as the gateway to Dolpo. From here, the trail follows the narrow paths that cut through terraced fields and gradually ascend into the more remote parts of the region. The trek is defined by its gradual transition from the lower valleys, where farming and settlements exist, to the rugged, high-altitude landscapes where the environment becomes more austere and wild. As you climb, the forests begin to thin, and the terrain opens up into wide valleys dotted with small villages that seem to exist in quiet isolation. The people here, mostly of Tibetan descent, live in a way that is distinctly shaped by both the harshness of the landscape and the profound influence of Tibetan Buddhism. Along the way, you’ll pass chortens, prayer flags, and monasteries, which mark the spiritual undertone of the journey. The architecture of the villages is simple, built to withstand the extreme weather conditions, with flat roofs and stone walls. At higher elevations, the geography becomes increasingly dramatic. The trail weaves its way through narrow canybouldered hillsides as the altitude increases. In the high pastures, you might come across herders with their yaks and sheep, whose presence adds a touch of life to the otherwise stark surroundings.

Situated in a quiet, secluded basin, at an altitude of 3728 meters, Phoksundo Lake is surrounded by towering peaks and rocky hills, with dashes of greenery, that rise dramatically against the massive sky. The lake is vast, stretching approximately 4 kilometers in length and 1.8 kilometers in width. The lake’s waters are incredibly clear, almost surreal, shimmering in hues of turquoise and sapphire. Just before reaching the lake, a few kilometers away, the water flowing from the lake turns into a magnificent waterfall of the Suligad river, falling from a height of about 150 meters. When the first view of Phoksundo Lake reveals itself, it feels as though you have entered a sacred realm, where the boundaries between the physical world and the divine are blurred. Pilgrims from the local area make their way to the lake to perform kora, a sacred ritual of walking around the lake in a clockwise direction. This journey is said to accumulate merit and invoke blessings. You might see locals, dressed in traditional attire, making this pilgrimage with a deep sense of devotion, as they chant mantras softly. It is a place where time seems to stand still, and one can’t help but feel a sense of awe and reverence for the forces of nature that have shaped this landscape over millennia.

After spending a day exploring the lake and its surrounding areas, you will journey back to Kathmandu following the same route unless stated otherwise in your itinerary.