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Nepal

Phoksundo Lake (Dolpo)

Turquoise high lake of Dolpo, with a Bon village and a tall waterfall below

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Best time to visit Phoksundo Lake (Dolpo)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: May and September to October
  • Shoulder: April, June to August and November, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: December to March

Planning a specific month? MaySeptemberOctober

Phoksundo Lake (Dolpo) season by season

Winter December to February Do not go

Avoid: snow and deep cold, many Ringmo families move down the valley and Juphal flights are unreliable.

Summer March to May Prime time

Mar is still snowbound; Apr and May open the trail with clear skies and the lake at its most vivid turquoise.

Monsoon June to September Prime time

Dolpo sits partly in the rain shadow, so treks run, but Juphal flights cancel often; Sep is greener and calmer.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Prime season: crystal water, golden birch forest and clear trails before the cold sets in by late Nov.

What Phoksundo Lake (Dolpo) is actually like

Basic lodges and camping at Ringmo, Bon chortens and gompas, and a handful of guided trekking groups.

Things to do in Phoksundo Lake

The local places worth your time in and around Phoksundo Lake, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Ringmo

    Village · 3 km out

    Bon village of stone houses at the south end of the lake, where most trekkers stay the night.

  • Tshowa Gompa

    Monastery · 1 km out

    Old Bon monastery on the lakeshore a short walk from Ringmo, with the turquoise water right below.

  • Phoksundo Waterfall

    Waterfall · 4 km out

    Tall falls below the lake outlet, about 167 m, seen from the trail as you climb up from Chhepka.

  • Chhepka

    Village · 16 km out

    Riverside hamlet in forest on the way up, the usual first or second night out of Juphal.

  • Juphal

    Village · 27 km out

    Airstrip village above the Thuli Bheri where flights from Nepalgunj land and the treks begin.

Getting to Phoksundo Lake (Dolpo)

Fly Nepalgunj to Juphal, then 2 to 3 days on foot. Shey Phoksundo park permit; Lower Dolpo RAP via an agency.

Practical ways in: flight

Trip facts

How long to stay
7 days
Budget
Splurge
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Doable solo with some planning
Altitude
3614 m
Country
Nepal
Coordinates
29.1959, 82.9522

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Phoksundo Lake (Dolpo)?

May and September to October is peak season in Phoksundo Lake (Dolpo). April, June to August and November is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid December to March. Mar is still snowbound; Apr and May open the trail with clear skies and the lake at its most vivid turquoise.

How many days do you need in Phoksundo Lake (Dolpo)?

7 days is the usual stay. Basic lodges and camping at Ringmo, Bon chortens and gompas, and a handful of guided trekking groups.

How do you get to Phoksundo Lake (Dolpo)?

Fly Nepalgunj to Juphal, then 2 to 3 days on foot. Shey Phoksundo park permit; Lower Dolpo RAP via an agency. Practical ways in: flight.

Is Phoksundo Lake (Dolpo) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Splurge by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Doable solo with some planning.

What are the best things to do in Phoksundo Lake?

Ringmo, Tshowa Gompa, Phoksundo Waterfall, Chhepka and Juphal. Bon village of stone houses at the south end of the lake, where most trekkers stay the night.

Nearby, and where to go next

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