Phoksundo Lake Trek

Overview

Starting and ending on the same route as the Jumla-Phoksundo Lake hike, this trek is  definitely more challenging.  The route features a high pass, visits the gorgeous Phoksundo Lake (the deepest in Nepal), and passes through a park renowned for its wildlife.

The first week of the trek follows rivers and valleys and gently climbs through sparsely populated areas. In the second week, the route climbs to the Kagmara Pass, from where there are magnificent views of the Kagmara Himal and Dhaulagiri. The pass marks the transition to a culture and land that is clearly Tibetan.  From there, the trek goes to Phoksundo Lake for a well-earned rest and then finished at Dunai.

Itinerary Detail

Phoksundo Lake Trekking Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu. Overnight at hotel. A representative from WildPath Adventure will welcome you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Free afternoon/evening.

Day 02: After breakfast, enjoy a pleasant morning walk and visit to the ancient Swayambhunath or Monkey Temple, which is a fascinatingblend of Hindu and Buddhist religions. From the top you can see the surrounding Kathmandu Valley. Then visit Pashupatinath, the most important Hindu temple in Nepal. After lunch, visit the famous Durbar Square in Kathmandu. In the evening, we will have a welcome dinner and a chance for you to view traditional Nepali dancing.

Day 03:From Kathmandu fly to Nepalgunj (1610m). Overnight at lodge. Nepalganj, the largest town in western Nepal, is a hub for flights and located just 6km from the border with India.

Day 04: Fly to Jumla (2030m/). Overnight at lodge. Spend the day stocking up on trek necessities and goodies for the coming days, as there are few facilities from here on in.

Day 05: Trek to Gothi Chaur (2700m./6 to 7 hrs). Overnight at camp.  The trail climbs through terraced rice fields and into a forest of maple and walnut trees. The wildflowers are fantastic here when in season.

Day 06: Trek to Naphukana. (3080m/6 to 7 hrs). Overnight at camp. Following the Tila Khola, today’s trek climbs through fields, meadows and forest, ending beyond the Tibetan settlement of Naphukana.

Day 07: Trek to Balasa (3080m./5 to 6 hrs). Overnight at camp. Today the trail climbs through mixed forest to the pass at Mauri Lagna (3802m.), where there are fine mountain views.

Day 08: Trek to Toijem (2920m/5 to 6 hrs). Overnight at camp. Splitting from the Dunai trek near Kaigaon, the trail stays on the west bank of the Bheri Kholi, and then enters the Shey Phoksumdo National Park.

Day 09: Trek to Kagmara. (3500m./3 to 4 hrs). Overnight at camp. The trek today is short, following the Garpung Khola. It may be possible to continue on to Kagmari Phedi, but at this altitude it is wise to ascend slowly.

Day 10: Trek to Kagmari Phedi (4000m./3 to 4 hrs). Overnight at camp. Trekking up a moraine, the views become spectacular. Alpine flowers are plentiful in season and there are good chances to see many species of birds and the elusive blue sheep.

Day 11: Trek to Lasa (4060m./7 to 8 hrs). Overnight at camp. Cross the Kagmara La pass (5115m.) after ascending alongside the Kagmara glacier. Descend via steep scree slopes to Lasa, a small shepherds ‘ camp.

Day 12: Trek to Sumduwa (3100m./ 5 to 6 hrs). Overnight at camp. Descend through forests of birch, juniper and blue pine to the river junction at Sumduwa.

Day 13: Trek to Phoksumdo Lake (3620m./6 to 7 hrs). Overnight at camp. Climb through forests of cedar and then open country to a ridge at 3730m. where the highest waterfall in Nepal can be seen up close. Then descend through forest to reach the shores of the beautiful lake. 

Day 14: Rest day at the lake. Spend the day relaxing and taking small hikes around the lake area, some leading to beautiful mountain views.

Day 15: Trek to Renje (3010 m./5 to 6 hrs). Overnight at camp. Retrace the route from day 11, then continue down the Suli Goad Valley to the small village of Renje.

Day 16: Trek to Chepka (2670m./3 to 4 hrs). Overnight at camp. An up and down day through forests and along the river, ending at the tiny settlement of Chepka.

Day 17: Trek to Dunai (2030m./3 to 4 hrs). Overnight at camp. An easy day, ending at the capital of the Dolpo district, Dunai.

Day 18: Trek to Juphal (3 hrs)  and fly to Nepalganj. Overnight at hotel.

Day 19: Fly or Bus back to Kathmandu (1300m./45 min flight. 9/10 hrs bus ). Overnight in Hotel. Take flight or bus back to Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy the hot showers and cold beer and then relax for the remainder of the day. Wildpath Adventure can also take you to nearby shops and help you find the best prices for your gifts and souvenirs. The company will host a fantastic celebration dinner tonight on the occasion of successfully completing your trip and Phoksundo Lake Trek!

Final Departure to your destination 

Cost Info

The Trip Cost Includes:

• All airport/hotel transfers
• Guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
• 3 nights accommodation in 3-star hotel in Kathmandu (2 before trek, 1 after trek)
• Camping accommodation enroute
• Breakfast in Kathmandu
• All meals enroute and boiled water in mountain
• Welcome and farewell dinner
• All ground transportation as per the itinerary by private vehicles
• Salary for all expedition staff.
• All necessary paper work, including trekking permits
• Travel and rescue arrangements
• All government and local taxes
• Duffel bag, t-shirt, trekking map

The Trip Cost Does Not Include:

• Nepal Visa fee
• International airfare to and from Kathmandu
• Excess baggage charges (if you have more than 15 kg luggage, cargo charge is around $1.5 per kg)
• Extra nights accommodation in Kathmandu, Nepalganj orJuphal
• Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu
• Bottled beverages, including water
• Snacks such as energy bars, candy or chocolate
• Travel and rescue insurance
• Personal expenses such as snacks, laundry, battery recharge, extra porters
• Optional trips and sightseeing
• Tips for guides and porters

Trek Info

Accommodation

Wildpath Adventure has chosen the best accommodation with your comfort and budget in mind. This includes staying in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu and camping in comfortable, two-person camping tents along the trekking route.

All accommodation is based on twin sharing but we will provide a single supplement if there is an odd number of participants. If you simply prefer a single room, this is available by paying an additional single supplement.

Meals

One of the joys of camping treks is the wonderful food prepared for you at each meal. From the first tea of the morning to the last meal of the day, you will be treated to meals that are nutritious, healthy, fresh and suitable for a mountain expedition.

The experienced and trained cooks will provide meals from a variety of cuisines such as Nepali, Sherpa, Tibetan, Continental, Italian and Indian cuisine. Breakfast and dinner will be taken at camp, while lunch will be prepared at a suitable rest spot along the way.

Note: Before arriving in Nepal, please advise Wildpath Adventure if you have any special dietary requirements or restrictions such that we can accommodate your request.

A Typical Day on the Trek

Soon after dawn breaks, you will be awakened and offered a steaming cup of tea or coffee by your Sherpa. A nutritious and appetizing breakfast awaits you after you dress for the day. Then you will trek for 3 or more hours before stopping for lunch at a scenic spot – often near a river or stream. You will have plenty of time to relax and take photos as you enjoy the lunch meal.

Throughout the day we will take rest breaks as needed and there will always be time to stop and admire the flowers, the scenery, a village or just to soak in the pleasure of being on an adventure in Nepal.

After lunch, we will usually trek for another 2-3 hours before reaching the campsite. On arrival you will have time to rest and enjoy another welcome hot mug of tea, coffee, or one of the trail favorites, hot lemon. There is usually time to explore a village or Gompa or the surrounding neighborhood, write in your journal or simply relax. After a delicious dinner .there will be a briefing on the next day’s program before you head off to the tent for a warm and snug sleep. You may be surprised to find that you are sleeping 10 to 12 hours per night, but that is normal on a strenuous trek.

The Trekking Group

For most treks there will be one guide, one assistant guide per 4 trekkers, one cook, and one Sherpa porter per 2 trekkers. This arrangement ensures that should anybody in the group fall sick, the trip can still go ahead as planned.

The minimum group size is 2 and the maximum is 12. However, if you'd like to make a group booking for more than that, we will be happy to arrange this for you.

What to Know

Fitness Requirements

In order to maximize your enjoyment of this trek, you will need to be in good physical condition and you will need to be prepared for rough conditions. In general, trekking consists of many days of walking for at least 5-6 hours, some of it on rugged terrain. You should also be very comfortable walking with a small daypack and carrying up to 5kg of weight.

In addition to a good level of fitness, we believe you must possess: a willingness to tolerate difficult conditions, a flexible mindset, a sense of humor and good health.

Health & Safety

Your safety and well-being are of paramount concern to Wildpath Adventure. For that reason, the trek leader has the authority to change or cancel any part of the trek if it is deemed necessary for safety reasons. Wildpath Adventure will make every effort to keep to the planned itinerary; however, we simply cannot guarantee it. Changes to the itinerary can occur due to weather conditions, the health of a team member or unexpected natural disasters. The leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please understand that these events are a possibility.

It is imperative that participants with pre-existing medical problems or conditions make these known to Wildpath Adventure when booking. Medical and evacuation expenses are the responsibility of the participant and must be covered by your personal travel insurance. It is also important that you consult your doctor for vaccinations and other medical requirements for your trip. Wildpath Adventure reserves the right to require a medical certificate prior to booking your trip.

Acclimatization

Any trek to high altitude carries with it the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness, or AMS. This is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness, generally caused by going up too fast. The higher the altitude, the less oxygen there is in the air. For example, at 6500m there is only half the oxygen that there is available at sea level.

Your body needs many days to adapt to this less-oxygen environment. Our itinerary is planned to allow sufficient time for acclimatization, by going up slowly and including acclimatization days as needed. It is not uncommon to experience mild headaches, loss of appetite or nausea when ascending, but these symptoms usually disappear with rest...

Although your appetite may diminish as you trek higher, it is very important to eat enough to maintain a good energy level. Similarly it is extremely important to drink sufficient water to stay hydrated. The trek leader will advise you on what is sufficient food and water and we ask that you follow his advice.

We also advise anyone with known heart, lungs or blood diseases to consult their doctor before traveling. Our itineraries are designed to prevent AMS as much as possible, but it is important to remember that some people are more vulnerable than others.

Our team will check very carefully to determine if anyone has a serious problem. If anyone is showing signs of AMS, they will not be permitted to trek higher and will be required to descend to a safe altitude with a member of the team. If the symptoms disappear at the lower altitude, the person may be permitted to rejoin the trek after a suitable rest period.

Please Allow Extra Time

We strongly recommend that you allow a few extra days at either end of your trip. In addition to the reasons mentioned above, flights in Nepal are notorious for being delayed anywhere from a few hours (common) to one week (rare) due to bad weather. This can occur even in the best trekking months.

If all goes well, you will then have extra days to enjoy in Nepal, taking in activities such as sightseeing near Kathmandu, river rafting, or perhaps relaxing at one of the nearby hilltop resorts.

In the event of bad weather, it may be possible to arrange a helicopter evacuation, which can vary in cost from USD $300 to $3500, depending on the demand.

What to Bring

The following list is a guideline of what you should bring with you for the trek. Please note that clothing for Kathmandu and other non-trekking destinations is not included in this list. While you can bring everything from your home country, it is also possible to rent or purchase almost everything in Kathmandu. Most of the gear for sale in Kathmandu is manufactured locally and thus considerably cheaper. However, it is also possible to buy brand name clothing and equipment at quality and prices that are comparable to home country prices.

At lower elevations on the trek it is likely to be very warm and the lightest of layers can be worn. However, at altitudes above 4000m it may be bitterly cold and windy, particularly after the sun disappears. The secret to staying warm and comfortable is to layer your clothing and to avoid cotton, as it becomes very cold when wet and is slow to dry. Pack with a minimalist view, as the load limit per person for porters and on domestic flights is 15kg.

Treks in Nepal are tough on gear and clothing. We recommend that you bring well-used items that can stand a fair bit of abuse. Many people bring gear that can be given away at the end of the trek to the porters or guides. Please check with Wildpath Adventure if you are uncertain about what to bring – we will be happy to advise you.

During the trek the porters will be carrying most of your gear. On the trail you can expect to carry in your daypack item such as 1 to 2 liters of water, your camera, a jacket for rest stops, sunscreen, tissue paper, a route map and binoculars.

CLOTHING

• T-shirts – 2 or 3, long-sleeved and short-sleeved, quick-drying
• Hiking shorts or capris
• Lightweight Long Hiking pants
• Lightweight thermal inner layer – top and bottom
• Fleece pants and jacket
• 2 pair inner liner socks
• 2 pair outer socks, wool, medium to heavy weight
• Shirt with collar

OUTERWEAR

• Lightweight gloves
• Heavyweight gloves or mittens and waterproof outer shell
• Wind-Stopper jacket (optional)
• Waterproof, breathable jacket
• Down jacket
• Waterproof, breathable shell pants
• Warm hat or balaclava
• Gaiters (for high-elevation treks and passes)

FOOTWEAR

• Hiking boots
• Camp shoes such as sneakers or Teva-like sandals
• Down booties (optional, but very nice at high altitude camp)

MISCELLANEOUS

• Camera and extra battery and card
• Sun hat or bandana
• Sunglasses with UV protection
• 4 season sleeping bag (rated to -15 to -20 degree centigrade. Down is preferable)
• Sleeping bag liner (optional, but very useful)
• Trekking Bags/Duffel bag *
• Headlamp with spare bulbs and batteries
• Small lock
• Basic First Aid Kit (Wildpath Adventure staff will also carry a team First Aid kit)
• Daypack (approximately 2500 to 3000 cubic inches)
• Trekking Poles
• Water bottles (2) or camel back
• Ear Plugs
• Sewing and repair kit
• Sarong (optional, but very useful when washing)
• Energy bars, chocolate, candy
• Water-purifying tablets or water filter pump

TOILETRIES

• Sunscreen with high UV protection
• Lip balm for altitude (e.g. Labazan)
• Face and body moisturizer
• 1 medium sized quick drying towel
• Tooth brush/paste (preferably biodegradable)
• Multipurpose soap (preferably biodegradable)
• Deodorant
• Nail clippers
• Feminine hygiene products
• Small mirror
• Wet wipes
• Toilet tissue
• Ant- bacterial hands wash

FIRST AID AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES

All of the items listed here can be purchased in Kathmandu, however you may prefer to bring trusted brands from home. Note also that Wildpath Adventure will carry an extensive first aid and medical kit, so please bring the minimum required. There are many good books and websites which carry extensive lists of recommended drugs and medical supplies. We suggest that you review this material before making any purchases.

• Plasters/Band aids
• Moleskin
• General-purpose antibiotic such as Cipro
• Headache medicine – (not Codein-based)
• Anti-inflammatory pills
• Antibiotic cream
• Eye drops
• Rehydration salts such as ORS
• Multi-vitamins
• Throat lozenges
• Anti-diarrheal medicine
• Anti-constipation medicine

And if your pack is still light:

• Binoculars
• Journal
• IPOD (note that recharging may not always be possible)
• Reading material
• Travel game or cards
• Photos from home

Travel Insurance

All participants in a Wildpath Adventure must have travel insurance. This will protect you against the risk of comprehensive expenses which may result due to medical emergencies or accidents. This insurance should include air ambulance, helicopter rescue, and treatment costs. Please be noted that we don't arrange or sell insurance and it is best to arrange this in your home country.