Boating · Dolpo
Phoksundo Lake at Ringmo
Dolpo's turquoise jewel at 3,611 m above Ringmo — Nepal's deepest lake, ringed by cliffs, chortens and a Bon monastery.
Phoksundo Lake is the jewel of Dolpo — a luminous turquoise lake at about 3,611 m above Ringmo village, deep inside Shey Phoksundo National Park in Nepal's remote far west. Its almost unreal blue water, set against bare cliffs, prayer flags and a Bon monastery, makes it one of the most beautiful and photographed lakes in the country.
What to expect
Phoksundo is the deepest lake in Nepal, plunging to around 145 m, with no fish and barely any aquatic life — which is exactly why the water is so clear and the colour so vivid. From the village of Ringmo a trail climbs to a viewpoint and continues along a precarious ledge path, hewn into the cliff above the western shore, toward Upper Dolpo. An ancient Bon gompa sits near the lake, and chortens, mani walls and a small settlement give the basin a deeply lived-in, sacred feel.
The colour shifts through the day as the sun moves over the basin — milky teal in flat light, blazing cobalt under a midday sky. The lake has no significant inflow river of its own visible from the shore, and its only outflow is the dramatic plunge that becomes the Suligad waterfall just below. Most visitors spend a full rest-and-acclimatisation day here, walking the eastern shoreline to the gompa, climbing the viewpoint above Ringmo for the classic overhead photograph, or simply sitting with the silence — broken only by wind, prayer flags and the occasional yak bell.
A sacred and protected place
Phoksundo is more than a scenic stop. For the Dolpo-pa it is a holy lake, woven into local Bon and Buddhist legend, and the surrounding water and forest are strictly protected within Shey Phoksundo National Park, Nepal's largest. Swimming and boating are not part of the experience here — the water is glacial-cold and the lake is revered — so the draw is contemplation and photography rather than activity. The blue pine and birch forest around the lower shore is among the highest-altitude woodland in the region, giving way to bare slopes that climb toward the snow peaks ringing the basin.
Good to know
- Altitude: At 3,611 m the air is thin — ascend gradually from Dunai and read up on altitude sickness in Nepal.
- Access: This is restricted-area country needing a permit, the Shey Phoksundo National Park fee and a licensed guide.
- Nearby: Just below the lake, the trail passes the towering Suligad waterfall, one of Nepal's highest. See where the lake ranks among the country's best lakes in Nepal, and where it fits in the best things to do in Dolpo.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Phoksundo Lake?+
Phoksundo Lake lies at about 3,611 m above Ringmo village in Dolpa district, Karnali Province, inside Shey Phoksundo National Park — Nepal's largest. It is the centrepiece of the Lower Dolpo region in the country's remote far west.
Why is Phoksundo Lake so blue?+
Its vivid turquoise comes from its glacial origins and the near-total absence of fish or aquatic life, which keeps the water exceptionally clear. The deep basin, fine mineral sediment and surrounding cliffs intensify the colour into an almost unreal blue.
How deep is Phoksundo Lake?+
Phoksundo is the deepest lake in Nepal, reaching around 145 m. Its great depth, combined with the lack of outflow sediment and aquatic life, helps give the water its remarkable clarity and intense colour.
How do you get to Phoksundo Lake?+
Fly from Nepalgunj to Juphal in Dolpa, then trek several days through Dunai, the Suligad valley and Ringmo village to the lakeshore. There is no road, so the only way in is on foot, and a restricted-area permit and guide are required.
