Lower Dolpo to Phoksumdo Lake - 21 Days

The trek that takes you through three passes passing the tranquil Phoksumdo lake. Trek through isolated western Nepal to the clear turquise waters of Dolpo's fabled Phoksumdo Lake. It is one of the highest inhabited places on earth, with scattered fortress-like villages and monasteries nestling amongst mountains of stark, ascetic beauty.

Trekking in the Dolpo region is absolutely unique. Closed to foreginers until 1989, the people here still lead a truly traditional life and it is one of few areas where the pre-Buddhist animist religion, called Bon-po, is still practiced. This shamanistic religion has survived the coming of Buddhism better here in Nepal than Tibet where you can only see its echos in icons such as bells, butter lamps and drums.

Lying in the rain shadow area formed by the Dhaulagiri & Annpurna ranges, Dolpo has vastly different terrain from the lush greenery of most of Nepal's middle hills. The landscape is similar to vast and arid Tibet as is the culture. Indeed, Ba-Yul, the hidden land of Dolpo, was first settled by Rokpa farmers and Drokpa nomads from Tibet in the 10th century. Though part of Nepal today, Dolpo remains culturally and economically tied to Tibet, as the people of this desolate area are cut of from their southern neighbours by snow-covered passes for much of the year.

Our destination of Phoksumdo Lake is simply spectacular. It is 4.8km long, 1.8km wide and said to be 650m deep. There is no aquatic life in the lake, which helps to make the waters a brilliantly clear turquoise. According to legend, Phoksumdo Lake was formed by a spiteful female demon who flooded a village after they revealed her whereabouts to the saint Padmasambhava. It is said you can see the remains of a village below the lake's surface.

The trek begins at the STOL airstrip of Juphal after a short flight from the terrai town of Nepalgunj which is well connected by both road and air from Kathmandu. The trail goes over three high passes, the Kagmara La [5115m], Baga La [5090m] and Numa La [5360m] passing the tranquil Phoksumdo Lake and finally concludes at Juphal descending the gorge-side path of Tarap Khola.

A physically fit person can do this trip anytime in April to October. After November it can be a bit risky as the passes are covered by snow.

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