Phoksumdo includes the villages Ringmo, Pugmo, Rike and Renji. Most of the Tapriza students come from these hamlets. Thanks to the central location on the intersection of several trading routes the school is however reachable for children from all parts of Dolpo. The centrality also increases interaction and encounters between the different villagers. A large section of Phoksumdo belongs to the Shey-Phoksumdo national park and is popular among trekking groups. As they often come by the school, a camping site has been levelled out below the premise. 

The school lies at an altitude of around 3000 meters above sea level in a steep valley section running from east to west. In summers the temperature can reach around 25 degrees, while in the winter months from November to February it is too cold to teach in the unheated rooms. The school year therefore lasts from March until November.