Wildlife · Nepal
Shey Phoksundo National Park
Nepal's largest park in remote Dolpo — turquoise Phoksundo Lake, snow leopards, blue sheep and ancient Bon culture.
Shey Phoksundo National Park is the largest national park in Nepal — a vast, high, trans-Himalayan wilderness in remote Dolpo built around the luminous turquoise Phoksundo Lake. Established in 1984, it protects an austere landscape behind the main Himalaya where snow leopards roam and ancient Bon and Buddhist traditions endure.
Location and landscape
The park spans roughly 3,555 square kilometres in Dolpa district, mid-western Nepal, much of it lying in the rain shadow of the high Himalaya. The terrain ranges from forested gorges to barren high plateaus, deep valleys and passes well above 5,000 metres. Its centrepiece is Phoksundo Lake at about 3,600 metres, famed for its intense blue-green water and dramatic cliff-fringed setting.
Wildlife and scenery
This is prime snow leopard country, one of the best-studied habitats for the elusive cat in Nepal, supported by healthy numbers of Himalayan blue sheep (bharal), its main prey. The park also shelters grey wolf, Tibetan argali, musk deer, leopard, Himalayan tahr and goral, along with high-altitude birds such as the Tibetan snowcock and impeyan pheasant. The scenery is the great draw — the otherworldly turquoise lake set against red cliffs, juniper and birch woods, the spectacular Phoksundo waterfall, hidden Bon and Buddhist monasteries, and the medieval stone villages of Dolpo where life follows ancient trans-Himalayan rhythms of barley, salt and yak caravans.
Why visit
Travellers come for genuine wilderness, the spellbinding lake and one of the strongest chances in the country of glimpsing wild blue sheep and, with great luck, a snow leopard. For the lake itself see the Phoksundo Lake guide, and for the demanding high route across the region see the Upper Dolpo trek.
How to get there
The standard approach is a flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, then a short flight to Juphal airstrip in Dolpa, followed by several days of trekking. There is no road access to the lake; everything beyond Juphal is reached on foot with a guide and pack animals or porters.
Best time to visit
Late spring (May to June) and autumn (September to October) offer the most stable weather and open passes. Because much of Dolpo lies in the rain shadow, it can be trekked in parts of the monsoon, but high passes are snowbound in winter and conditions are severe.
Permits and fees
Visitors need the national park entry permit plus a restricted-area permit — a lower-cost one for Lower Dolpo and a higher-cost one for Upper Dolpo — all arranged through a registered trekking agency, with a licensed guide required. Carry your passport, as permits are checked at multiple posts.
Conservation note
Dolpo is a stronghold for the snow leopard and its prey, and a focus of community-based conservation that links herders, monasteries and park staff to reduce livestock conflict. The fragile high-altitude environment and traditional culture are both vulnerable to careless tourism. Visitors should travel in small groups, hire local people, carry out all waste and respect monastic and village customs.
Shey Phoksundo is the wild giant of Nepal's parks. Compare it with the far-western Rara National Park, the lowland tiger country of Bardia National Park, or browse the full national parks of Nepal collection.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Shey Phoksundo National Park?+
Shey Phoksundo National Park is in the remote Dolpa district of mid-western Nepal, in the trans-Himalayan region behind the main range. It encompasses Dolpo, a high, arid landscape culturally close to Tibet.
How big is Shey Phoksundo National Park?+
At about 3,555 square kilometres it is the largest national park in Nepal. Its vast size protects a sweep of trans-Himalayan terrain from forested valleys to high passes above 5,000 metres.
What wildlife lives in Shey Phoksundo?+
The park is one of Nepal's most important snow leopard habitats, and also shelters Himalayan blue sheep (bharal), grey wolf, Tibetan argali, musk deer and the Himalayan tahr, along with high-altitude birds such as the Tibetan snowcock.
How do you get to Phoksundo Lake?+
Most travellers fly from Nepalgunj to Juphal airstrip in Dolpa, then trek several days to Phoksundo Lake and beyond. It is one of the most remote destinations in Nepal, reached only on multi-day treks with permits and guides.
Do you need a special permit for Dolpo?+
Yes. Beyond the national park entry permit, Lower Dolpo requires a restricted-area permit and Upper Dolpo a more expensive one, both arranged through a registered agency. A guide is mandatory; carry your passport throughout.
