Nepal Visa and Passport Information:
All foreign citizens who are travelling in Nepal for the Phoksundo Lake Trek must obtain a Nepal tourist visa. You can obtain a visa from your home country, but getting an arrival visa will be easier. You can get the visa in just around 5 minutes after the submission of the form and pay fees. The cost of the tourist visa depends on the number of days that you spend here.
- For 15-day tourist visa: Cost USD 30
- For 30 Days Tourist visa: Cost USD 50
- For 90 Days Tourist visa: Cost USD 120
Travel and Health Insurance Requirements:
There is no mandatory health insurance from the government for the Phoksundo Lake Trek. But when you travel with High Route Adventure, it is mandatory to have insurance, and you must show proof of insurance. Your insurance must have:
- High altitude trekking risk up to 5,000m
- High-altitude trekking coverage up to 5,000 meters
- Emergency medical expenses, including hospitalization and treatment
- Helicopter rescue and evacuation in case of illness or injury
- Coverage for accidents, injuries, and unforeseen health issues
- Trip cancellation or interruption due to weather, illness, or other emergencies
- Loss, theft, or damage of personal belongings and trekking gear
- Delays or cancellations of domestic flights (especially Kathmandu–Nepalgunj–Juphal routes)
- Repatriation expenses in case of serious emergencies
- 24/7 emergency assistance and support services
- Coverage for trekking in remote areas with limited medical facilities
Getting Local Sim For Foreigners in Nepal:
All foreign citizens who wish to buy a local SIM during their stay in Nepal can purchase one from the airport or an authorized vendor. Getting the SIM is very easy here. You have to fill the form, submit your passport copy and a 2 pp size photograph. Then pay a fee of around 1 USD. For the datapack and other services, you can load them later.
Where to Exchange Foreign Currency in Nepal:
The easiest place to exchange your foreign currency is at the airport. Also, there are several money exchange counters in the Thamel area. In some city areas, you can also find the exchange counter. For the best rate and convenience, we recommend that you exchange from the Thamel area.
How To Book the Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek:
To book the Shey Phoksundo Lake trek with High Route Adventure, you can click on the " Book Now " button. Then fill out the form and make a payment of 20% to confirm the booking. After making a payment, send us the screenshot and then after that, we will send you official confirmation. For the cancellation, we suggest you read our company policy in detail.
For the payment, we accept:
- Bank Transfer (wire transfer)
- Credit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, etc.)
- Debit Cards
- Cash (in major currencies)
- Online Payment from our website.
Notes
How Difficult is Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek?
The Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek is graded as moderately challenging, with a difficulty rating of around 5–6/10. This trek is in the moderate range, so it's a good choice for both beginners who are in good shape and experienced trekkers. You don't need any technical climbing or mountaineering skills, but you should be ready to walk 5 to 7 hours a day on different kinds of terrain that isn't always smooth.
The highest point on this trek is about 3,600 meters, which is lower than many other Himalayan routes. Because of this, there is a chance of getting altitude sickness, but it is usually easy to avoid with the right acclimatization.
The Dolpa region is far away, which makes this trek hard. The travel logistics are longer, the infrastructure is limited, and the trails are sometimes steep or rough.
In short, the trek doesn't require advanced trekking skills, just good stamina and consistency. This makes it perfect for people who want a peaceful, off-the-beaten-path Himalayan adventure without the stress of high mountain passes.
How To Prepare for the Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek?
You need to get stronger, more fit, and more endurance before the Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek because you'll be walking for hours every day on different types of ground. Here's a simple and helpful way to get in shape:
Build Cardiovascular Endurance:
Do things that help you breathe better and last longer, like:
- Walking quickly, jogging, or running slowly
- Swimming or riding a bike
- Taking walks on the trails in the area
Do it for 30 to 60 minutes four to five times a week. Gradually increase the intensity so your body can get used to hiking for long periods of time. 2. Do long walks as practice (Trek Simulation)
Practice Long Walks (Trek Simulation):
Once a week, go for a walk that lasts between 5 and 7 hours. Start with a light load in your backpack and add weight until it weighs 5 to 8 kg. Try walking on stairs, hills, or paths that aren't level. This helps your body get used to carrying things around all the time. 3. Getting your legs and core in shape
Strength Training for Legs & Core:
- Lunges, squats, and step-ups
- Planks and other core exercises
- Climbing stairs
To get better at balancing and feel less tired on rocky trails, work out two to three times a week. 4. Work out on hills
Train on Inclines:
- Go up a hill or use a treadmill that goes up. Practice going down carefully (this is good for your knees).
- This makes the muscles you need for mountain terrain stronger. 5. Improve your balance and flexibility
Improve Flexibility & Balance:
Stretch after every workout. Do some yoga or simple balance exercises. 6. Follow your plan for six to eight weeks. Begin training at least one to two months before your hike. Don't push yourself too hard too soon; instead, slowly raise the intensity.
Listen to your body:
- Take breaks to relax. Drink a lot of water. Don't work out too much
In short, you should work on your endurance, leg strength, and hiking skills on a regular basis. You don't have to be an athlete to enjoy the hike, but being in good shape will make it more fun and less tiring.
Accommodation in the Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek
During the Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek, you will stay in simple, traditional places that are very much a part of life in the remote Dolpa region, especially around the lake.
The tea houses and homes you see are one of a kind and well-suited to the harsh Himalayan climate. They are usually one or two stories high and are made of mud and stone. The roofs are flat and are made of wood, mud, and sometimes stone slabs. These roofs have many uses: they keep the cold out, protect against strong winds, and are used to dry crops like barley and buckwheat.
The way these houses are set up is useful and traditional:
- Livestock and storage are on the ground floor.
- Guests and families stay on the upper floor.
Even though they are simple, these buildings are surprisingly strong and protect against strong winds and heavy winter snow.
What to Look for in Tea Houses
- Rooms: Most of them are twin-sharing rooms with simple wooden beds, a mattress, a bedsheet, and a warm blanket.
- Bathrooms: Most places don't have attached bathrooms; instead, you'll find shared toilets, which are usually just basic squat-style ones.
- No luxury: There is no AC or heating in the room. There may be a stove in the main dining area, but the bedrooms stay cold, especially at night.
- Limited availability: There aren't many tea houses, so there aren't always a lot of places to stay, especially during the busiest times of year for trekking.
Things You Should Know
- Toiletries: Most tea houses don't have toiletries like soap, hand wash, or toilet paper, so you should bring your own.
- Sleeping bag: It is highly recommended to bring a good sleeping bag for extra warmth and cleanliness.
- Wifi and Mobile network: Works fine in the lower region, but is limited or not available at high altitudes of the Dolpo region.
- Water and showers: Hot showers are rare and may not be available in some remote areas.
Food in the Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek
Being on the most remote trek in Nepal, you will not find a wide variety of meals as you can find in the tea houses of Everest base camp and Annapurna in the Phoksundo Lake Trek. In this trek, you will stay in a simple room and eat simple but fresh and nourishing items. Veg and non-veg items can be found, but gluten-free items are not guaranteed. We recommend that you carry cash from the lower regions, as shops are also limited in this region.
Typical Meals on the Trek
- Dal Bhat (Staple Meal) with unlimited refill
- Noodles, garlic soup, and vegetable soup
- Boiled, fried, or curried potatoes
- Tibetan Bread & Chapati:
- Egg Dishes:
- Fried eggs, omelets, or boiled eggs are commonly available.
Drinks:
- Black tea, milk tea, and herbal teas (like ginger or garlic)
- Cold drinks( coke, fanta, etc) and energy drinks
Safe Drinking Water On Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek
During the trek in the Dolpo region, you can find a natural source of water. But we recommend that you use the water purification tablets to make it safe for drinking. Also, you can buy the water bottle from the tea house or the local shop. Water might be a luxury due to the remote location. Make sure to carry a reusable water bottle.
Altitude Sickness and Acclimatization Tips
Compared to other high-altitude trekking destinations in Nepal, the chances of altitude sickness(AMS) are low, but we still need to take care of it. The early symptoms of AMS are headache, dizziness, vomiting, etc. If you feel any of these symptoms during the trek, make sure to inform your trekking guide.
With proper acclimatisation tips, you can easily cure AMS, and here is how:
- Follow the standard itinerary, avoid shortcuts.
- Walk at your own pace
- Take enough rest during the trek
- Drink water regularly to stay hydrated
- Avoid the use of alcohol and smoking
Our Trekking Team for Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek
If you make us the travel partner for the Shey Phoksundo Lake trek, we will provide you:
- Licensed trekking guide: Our trekking guides are licensed by the Nepal government. They know the trekking routes very well. Also, they are knowledgeable about the local culture, region, landscape, traditions and valuable information. Your safety will be taken care of by our guide, and during an emergency, we provide on-the-spot assistance and arrange necessary support.
- Porter: For our trekkers to make their journey smooth and load-free, we arrange a special porter for you. Our porter can carry a weight up to 20 kg, and 1 porter will be divided among two trekkers. Our porters are trustworthy and insured.
Internet Communication On Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek
Wifi can be found in the tea house, but is limited to some villages. Also, the wifi might be slow and unreachable due to the remote location. For the internet, relying on the mobile internet will be the best idea. We recommend that you carry a local NTC SIM and use it during the Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek.
Kathmandu To Nepaljung and Nepaljung to Dolpa (Juphal) Airport Flight Details
Kathmandu to Nepaljung: Your first journey of the Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek starts from Kathmandu with a short flight to Nepaljung. The flight duration from Kathmandu to Nepaljung is around 50 to 60 minutes. For the Nepaljung flight, our team will transfer you to the domestic terminal of TIA on our private vehicle. The flight fare from Kathmandu to Nepaljung costs around NPR 10,000+ for a one-way ticket for foreign citizens.
Nepaljung to Dolpo (Juphal) Airport: The Nepaljung to Dolpo (Juphal) Airport distance is around 150–180 km. The flight duration is around 35–45 minutes.
Note: All the domestic flight fares will be included in the Shey Phoksundo Lake Trek package. We will handle the ticket for you to make your journey hassle-free.
