National park · Nepal
Shey-Phoksundo National Parkशे-फोक्सुण्डो राष्ट्रिय निकुञ्ज
Go only if you are already trekking in Dolpa: fly Kathmandu–Nepalgunj–Juphal, then walk to Phoksundo Lake (allow 2–3 days in; check the onward duration), and budget park and permit fees on top; April–May and September–October are the windows, and the lake is the one thing not to skip.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
3,555 km² (1,373 sq mi)1,373 sq mi (3,555 km²)
approximate
Established
1984
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- Nepal ↗Get visa information only from the Department of Immigration; visa-service lookalike sites charge extra, and the rules differ by nationality.
- Nepal ↗At stupas walk clockwise; at temples and homes remove shoes where there is a rack or a raised floor; cover shoulders and knees.
- Nepal ↗Carry Nepalese rupees in small notes: many stalls, taxis and tea shops are cash-only, and shops rarely take foreign notes.
- Nepal ↗Strikes (bandh) and protests can close roads without notice: check the news and your hotel the night before any airport or highway day.
At a glance
- Country
- Nepal
- Area
- 3,555 km² (1,373 sq mi)1,373 sq mi (3,555 km²)
- Nepal's largest national park, in Dolpa and Mugu districts; the boundary runs from about 2,130 m near Ankhe up to 6,883 m on Kanjiroba Himal.
- Established
- 1984
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Pokhara
Shey-Phoksundo is Nepal's largest national park, a trans-Himalayan block of Dolpa and Mugu where the monsoon gives out and the land turns dry, high and Tibetan. Its centrepiece is Phoksundo Lake, a deep turquoise lake at 3,660 m ringed by cliffs, with the Bon village of Ringmo and its gompa on the south shore. The park also holds Shey Gompa, the Kanjiroba Himal and a snow leopard population counted in the dozens. There is no road in and no lodge chain: you fly to Juphal, walk, and sleep in village lodges or tents.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Ramsar wetland · 2007Phoksundo Lake and its surroundings, a Ramsar wetland of international importance.
Size and age
3,555 km² (1,373 sq mi)1,373 sq mi (3,555 km²) · national park since 1984
Nepal's largest national park, in Dolpa and Mugu districts; the boundary runs from about 2,130 m near Ankhe up to 6,883 m on Kanjiroba Himal.
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Pokhara.
Why go
- Phoksundo Lake: a 145 m deep alpine lake at 3,660 m, turquoise from glacial silt, with stupas and a Bon gompa along the south shore.
- Suligad waterfall, about 167 m, drops from the lake outlet — one of the tallest in Nepal and right beside the trail.
- Shey Gompa, an 11th-century monastery on the old salt route, reached on the longer circuit through the rain-shadow country.
- Real wildlife odds: blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, musk deer and a snow leopard population estimated at about 90 animals in a 2019–2022 survey.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanDeep snow above 2,500 m; many lodges shut
- FebColdest weeks; passes blocked
- MarThaw starts; snow still high on the passes
- AprClear, dry, lodges reopening
- MayWarm days; haze builds before the monsoon
- JunMonsoon reaches the southern valleys; the north stays dry
- JulWettest on the approach; leeches low down
- AugCloud on the lake; flights unreliable
- SepClearing skies; the classic window
- OctDry, cold nights, best mountain views
- NovStill clear; temperatures dropping fast
- DecCold; some lodges close for winter
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow leopardOct–Apr · About 90 animals were counted in the 2019–2022 survey; winter snow pushes them lower and makes tracks easier to find. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Blue sheep and Himalayan tahrApr–May, Sep–Nov · Common on the cliffs above Phoksundo and around Shey. | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Musk deer, goral and Himalayan black bearApr–Jun, Sep–Oct · Forest species, mostly in the lower Suligad valley. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Migratory and high-altitude birdsApr–May, Sep–Oct · Over 200 species recorded in the park. | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Kathmandu
Fly to Nepalgunj, then a small aircraft to Juphal (Dolpa) with Nepal Airlines, Sita Air, Summit Air or Tara Air; from the airstrip it is a half-day walk to the first lodges, then further days to the lake.
1 day of flying, plus several days walking
Open the page →
From Pokhara
Flight or bus to Nepalgunj, then the Juphal flight; some seasons have direct Pokhara–Juphal flights (check).
1–2 days
Open the page →
From Nepalgunj
Juphal flights run in the morning, weather permitting; when they cancel, ask locally about the road alternative to Dunai plus a walk in, as timings vary (check).
Flight time and road alternative both to confirm locally (check)
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Suligad valley and Phoksundo Lake | The main trekking corridor: pine and birch forest, the Suligad gorge, then the lake at 3,660 m with Ringmo village and its gompa. | Open to independent trekkers with a park ticket; lodges in Ringmo and near the lake. |
| Shey Gompa and the inner Dolpa plateau | The 11th-century monastery, open yak country and the Kanjiroba foothills on the far side of the passes. | Restricted-area permit and a licensed guide; camping only. |
| Kanjiroba Himal and the high peaks | The 6,883 m summit and glacier basins along the Tibetan edge. | Expedition permits only; no trekking route. |
| Mugu side | The eastern half of the park, remote and rarely visited, with no lodge infrastructure. | Permit and full camping logistics. |
Sketch map
- 1Juphal airstrip · Ranger station≈29.209, 82.817Approximate; the eastern entry point and start of the walk.Map ↗
- 2Dunai · Town≈29.118, 82.879Approximate; district town with the park counter and guesthouses.Map ↗
- 3Suligad waterfall · Viewpoint≈29.160, 82.929Map ↗
- 4Ringmo village · Village≈29.183, 82.938Approximate; Bon village on the south shore of the lake.Map ↗
- 5Phoksundo Lake · Viewpoint≈29.190, 82.940Approximate; 3,660 m, up to 145 m deep.Map ↗
- 6Kanjiroba Himal · Summit≈29.392, 82.753Approximate; 6,883 m, expedition access only.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for orientation only; the park spans a large area of Dolpa and Mugu and trail GPS points vary between maps.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| National park entry | Free | person per week | Rate not confirmed here; pay at the park counter in Juphal or at DNPWC in Kathmandu and confirm the current amount before you fly (check). |
| Lower Dolpa restricted-area permit | Free | person per week | Dolpa is a restricted area, so a permit and a registered agency are required; Upper Dolpa costs more. Confirm the current rate with your agency (check). |
| TIMS card | Free | person | Issued through a trekking agency or the Nepal Tourism Board; confirm the current fee (check). |
| Domestic flights Kathmandu–Nepalgunj–Juphal | Free | person one way | Juphal flights are weather-dependent and often cancelled; confirm fares and schedules with the airline (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
National park entry ticket permit or guide
Lower Dolpa restricted-area permit permit or guide
TIMS card permit or guide
Park rules
- Restricted area
- Dolpa needs a restricted-area permit and a registered agency; confirm the current guide and minimum-trekker conditions before you book (check).
- Phoksundo Lake
- The lake is sacred to Buddhist and Bon communities: keep to the path past the stupas, take all litter out, and follow local guidance on swimming or washing.
- Camping and fires
- Camp only at established sites; no wood fires, and carry out all rubbish including plastic and batteries.
- Wildlife
- Stay on marked trails and keep distance from blue sheep, tahr and any livestock; keep dogs away from wildlife.
- Drones
- Permission requirements are not confirmed here; check with the park office and the Civil Aviation Authority before flying (check).check
Where to stay
In the park
Ringmo village lodges
Simple family lodges with dal bhat and shared rooms, a short walk from the lake shore.
In the park
Lama Hotel and Lodge
A lodge with a restaurant and bar on the trail below the lake, around 29.1697, 82.9361; horse riding can be arranged.
Near the park
Juphal and Dunai
Guesthouses at the airstrip and the district town for the first and last nights of the trek.
In the park
Camping at Shey Gompa
Tented camps only on the inner circuit; your agency carries everything.
Safety
Altitude sickness high
Flight cancellations high
Landslides and shaky bridges medium
Cold and snow medium
No phone signal medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- There is no road access and no wheelchair-accessible trail; the park is reached on foot over rough ground.
- The lake shore walk from Ringmo is the flattest section, but it is still uneven dirt and stone.
Visiting lightly
- Pay the park fee and keep the receipt; the money funds the snow leopard survey and local conservation work.
- Sleep in Ringmo and Dunai lodges and buy meals there so the villages earn from the park.
- Carry out all plastic; there is no waste collection beyond Juphal.
- Do not buy or accept wildlife products, and do not pay for staged snow leopard sightings.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Shey-Phoksundo National Park?
The park entry fee is charged per person per week and is paid at the park counter in Juphal or at the DNPWC office in Kathmandu; the current rate is not confirmed here, so check it before you fly. On top of that, Dolpa is a restricted area, so a Lower Dolpa permit and a TIMS card are also required, both arranged through a registered trekking agency, with Upper Dolpa costing more. Ask your agency for the current total.
What are the best hikes in Shey-Phoksundo National Park?
The standard trek runs from Juphal to Ringmo and Phoksundo Lake, with lodges most nights; allow 2–3 days in and 2 days out. From the lake, the flat half-day walk along the south shore past the stupas and gompa is the easiest. The harder option is the Shey Gompa circuit over two high passes, which needs a restricted-area permit, a guide and full camping kit.
When is the best time to visit Shey-Phoksundo National Park?
April–May and September–October. Those months give clear skies, open lodges and passable trails. June–August brings monsoon rain to the southern valleys and unreliable flights, and December–March is severely cold above 2,500 m with snow blocking the passes.
Can I trek Shey-Phoksundo independently?
Not on the permit routes. Dolpa is a restricted area, so you need a permit through a registered agency; confirm the current guide and minimum-trekker conditions before you book. Independent walking is only realistic on the short lake-shore paths once you are inside the park.
How do I get to Shey-Phoksundo National Park?
Fly Kathmandu–Nepalgunj, then take a small aircraft to Juphal airstrip in Dolpa with Nepal Airlines, Sita Air, Summit Air or Tara Air. From Juphal it is a half-day walk to the first lodges, and further days to Phoksundo Lake. Flights are weather-dependent, so keep spare days.
Will I see a snow leopard?
Probably not. A 2019–2022 survey with WWF support estimated about 90 snow leopards in the park, but they are shy and the terrain is huge. Winter gives the best odds of tracks and distant sightings; any operator promising a guaranteed sighting is not being honest.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go