- Destination: Nepal
- Region: Rara
- Maximum Altitude: 3804m.
- Accommodation: Tea House/Hotel
- Activity: Trekking/Hiking
- Trip Grade: Challenging
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- Activity per day: 6 to 7 Hours
- Trek duration: 11 Days
- Best Time: September to November and March to June
- Transportation: Both way domestic fly
- Start/End Point: Nepaljung to Nepaljung
Trip Overview
Rara Lake Trekking is an exhilarating walk to remote area of Nepal via unspoiled wilderness to explore the largest freshwater lake of Nepal’s Himalayas. Basically, this trek is for those who really love trekking to the unspoiled nature and remote areas where people live their very natural life without being affected by the flame of modernization.
To witness and explore the largest freshwater lake of Nepal’s Himalayas can, definitely, be a dream to the trekkers/ travelers. The very dream will be fulfilled by Rara Lake Trekking. Taking you to Rara Lake, this trek offers you a great opportunity to explore it and its serene setting with magnificent green hills and mountain summits.
Walking through awe-inspiring landscapes, deep sal and pine forests, river beaches and ridges, local villages and terraced farmlands will be astonishing experiences during Rara Lake Trekking. The local settlements like Jumla, Sinja Valley, Nuri and Pina will let you experience another level of trekking in Nepal. You find everything fresh and natural during the trekking to Rara Lake.
About Rara Lake
Rara Lake can be reached by trekking like Rara Overland Jeep Tour. Whichever you find more exciting, can go with it. The Rara Lake is located in Mugu district and has the has a water surface of 10.8 km2 (4.2 sq mi), a maximum depth of 167 m (548 ft), is 5.1 km (3.2 mi) long and 2.7 km (1.7 mi) wide. The lake is protected by Rara National Park.
About Rara National Park
Without exploring Rara National Park, Rara Lake Trekking cannot be complete. Talking about the national park, 1074 species of floras can be found in it, of which 16 are endemic to Nepal. Talking about the faunas, 51 species of mammals and 214 species of birds can be found in Rara National Park. So, undoubtedely, the bird watchers and the animal lovers find Rara National Park a fine destination during their Rara Lake Trekking. The presence of Himalayan cypress, West Himalayan Spruce, Black Juniper and Oak and the national flower of Nepal Rhododendron make this national park more fascinating to the trekkers/visitors.
Things to experience during Rara Lake Trekking
- Experience an incredibly exciting wilderness trek to Rara Lake, one of the world highest freshwater lakes and the largest freshwater lake in Nepalese Himalayas
- Walk though Rara National Park and explore diverse species of flora fauna
- Celebrate the absolute wilderness around Rara Leke with green hills and majestic mountain peaks
- Walk past local settlements, interact with them and enjoy local accommodation and food items
- Explore popular Sinja Valley; its history and civilization
Best Time to do Rara Lake Trekking
What is the best time of the year for Rara Lake Trekking? Definitely, this query will be very common and mandatory to be raised beforehand venturing on the trail because one must know the best weather/time of the year so that they can make their Rara Lake Trekking a memorable and can accomplish comfortably. The best time to travel to Rara Lake is between Sep-Nov. These months in Nepal not only offer best time for Rara Lake Trekking but they also are the finest times of the year for trekking, hiking and all types of jeep tours. The temperature is mild, the region and the trail receives no rain and snowfall and the mountain breathtaking during the months September, October and November.
Similarly, people who are willing to travel to Rara Lake region can find the months March, April and May equally beautiful as September, October and November. The flowering rhododendron, birch, juniper and other flowering and non-flowering plants in Rara National Park make the trail and entire trek more enchanting during the trek.
Required Permits
Travelers need to collect three different types of Permits for Rara Lake Trekking. These are: TIMS Card, Rara National Park Entry Permit and Mugu Restricted Area Entry Permit. If you have time and idea to visit Nepal Tourism Boar Office, you can collect these permits on your own, or, you can ask your travel operator to collect them for you. Unless you obtain all these required permits, you cannot make your Rara Lake Trekking.
Food and Accommodation
The food and accommodation you are using during the tour will be provided by local lodges/teahouses. They have their own menus and offer what they can prepare for the visitors.
You will get to have Nepali, Asian, Indian, Some Chinese, Continental and Some Japanese items of foods on the way to Rara Lake and back to Kathmandu. They also offer you some fresh and authentic local dishes which you can enjoy.
You will be using the accommodation on the twin sharing basis. Further, you will be spending the nights at local lodges/homestays. Don’t expect to enjoy luxury accommodation with suite rooms like you do enjoy in cities.
How difficult is Rara Lake Trekking?
Rara Lake Trekking is a moderate adventure trekking in a remote area of Nepal. Actually, trekking up to 4000m high is considered as a moderate trekking. Similarly, the highest elevation the trekkers will get during this trek is Chuchamare Danda (3804m./12480fit) and second highest to Chhapri (RaRa lake) (2980m./9776fit).
There are no such technical rocky and slippery trails on the way to Rara Lake and back to Nepaljung. So, those who have experienced some easy hiking/trekking in the hills up to 3000m, going ups and downs, who are doing regular exercises like aerobics and jogging and those who have the stamina of walking 5-6 hours in higher elevation like above 3000m can do Rara Lake Trekking. Therefore, one requires to prepare accordingly.
Getting to the Trailhead and Away
Jumla is the trailhead for Rara Lake Trekking. It is located iKarnali province. We take a short domestic flight from Kathmandu for 50 minutes to Nepaljung and then another 20 minutes to Jumla. After we reach the district headquarter of Jumla, we begin trekking towards Rara Lake via Sinja ( Kalikot). Both flights: Kathmandu to Nepaljung and Nepaljung to Jumla are very scenic flight. You will come back to the same place, Jumla, to end your trek and take another short and scenic flight back Nepaljung and then to Kathmandu.
Acclimatization and Altitude Sickness
Actually, we don’t have acclimatization day while going up to Rara Lake but we have a rest and exploration day when we reach the lake (RaRa lake) (2980m./9776ft) after passing through the highest elevation of this trek, Chuchamare Danda (3804m./12480fit) .
However, some people also prefer to have a rest day to acclimatize their body with new elevation well during Rara Lake Trekking. Also, we get the elevation gradually by ascending with the proper pacing. If you ascend quickly while trekking in the mountain, there is high possibility of getting acute altitude sickness.
If you want to add another day for acclimatization, we will set Rara Lake Trekking Itinerary accordingly.
Yes, there are some cases of altitude or acute mountain sickness with the trekkers every year while doing Rara Lake Trekking. Then, what happen to them? They are evacuated safely or made okay with some first aids taking them to the lower elevation. Acute mountain sickness is sudden so that one has to adopt some important precautions:
- Get elevation gradually with proper acclimatization
- Address your health issues if you have beforehand the trek
- Don’t smoke and drink a lot at higher elevation
- Avoid having impure water and food during the trek
- Use right and reliable trekking equipment
- Have a sound sleep
- Report immediately to the leader if you have any problem during the trek
- Carry first-aid kit with some basic medicines
Internet, Phone and Wifi Services on the Trail
You can simply install local Nepali SIM card in your cell phone and take it to the mountain. You can also buy data pack to run internet on the trail. In fact, for some days at higher elevation, it may not work, but, it will help you a lot during the trek. You can buy either NT or NCELL Sim car and install call and internet on your phone. It will take no more than Rs.100 for you to get it.
You can also have the access of internet or Wi Fi on the trail at local lodges/teahouses. They may charge you Rs. 200-500 per password or per device. Few years back, there wouldn’t be these facilities on the trail and in the teahouses during Rara Lake Trekking.
You can even talk to your family, relatives and the friends from the Rara Lake Trekking Trail very easily and can share your images and the videos instantly these days.
However, you may not have good strength of phone, Wifi and internet in case of cloudy and snowy weathers at higher altitude.
Can Solo traveler do this Trek?
No. Solo independent traveler cannot do Rara Lake Trekking on his/her own. No solo traveler is permitted to do trekking in any area in Nepal by the government. But, it doesn’t mean that, single traveler cannot do this trek; one has to hire either a guide or a porter. Also, the group has to be accompanied at least a licensed guide during the trek. It means, without hiring an authorized and licensed guide, the group is not allowed to go on Rara Lake Trekking Trail. This is because of security issue during the trip. And most importantly, Rara Lake trekking is a restricted area trekking and has to obtain special/ restricted area trekking permit to do this trek.
Details Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival, Pick from Airport to Hotel
You can arrive in Kathmandu via any international flight that people recommend for you. Optionally, you can take a drive if you are using road to enter Nepal. You can use Indian and Chinese border for this. Whatever way you use for arriving in Kathmandu, our representative will receive you and takes you to the hotel. The representative will let you know about the short orientation meeting regarding your Rara Lake Trekking. Since we do not have any scheduled activities to do for today, you just rest and relax at the hotel or take a short walk around the city if time favors you.
Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing in Kathmandu/ Trekking Preparation Day
Today, largely, you will spend your time with astonishing UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in Kathmandu. You will go to explore them one by one after your breakfast. The private vehicle will come to receive you along with a professional and experienced city guide at the hotel where your stay and transfer you to the historical and religious sites which includes Swyombhunath Stupa( Monkey Temple), Patan Durbar Square, Bouddhanath Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple. You end this trip at around between 3-4 pm and prepare well for your Rara Lake Trekking. Or, you can choose not to do Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour.
Day 03: Kathmandu (1460m. /4790ft) -Nepalgung (Flight (150m/492ft.) (50min.) (150m/492ft.) Stay overnight
You are taking a short domestic flight from Kathmandu to Nepaljung. Sometimes, the flight to Neplajung may get disturbed due to bad weather condition. Otherwise, the flight will be very scenic and mesmerizing with incredible mountain views.
Arrive at Nepaljung located in Lumbini Province and stay overnight there at lodge.
Day 04: Nepalgunj (150m/492ft.) to Jumla (2540m. /8334fit.) (20mins flight) to Sherechaur (3055m./10023fit) 4 to 5hrs - Stay Overnight
Take another short flight to Jumla for 20 minutes from Nepaljung. Once you arrive at Jumla, the district headquarter, you head to Sherechaur on walk with your trekking crew. Within few hours of walk passing through beautiful landscapes, local villages and forest, you will arrive at Sherechaur. Before you get Sherechaur, you will walk though the places like Jugad Khola, Khalanga Bazzar and a temple. Stay overnight at local lodge/teahouse.
Day 05: Sherechaur (3055m./10023fit) to Chaiachaur Camp (2980m./9777fit) 6 to 7hrs- Stay Overnight
We head to the western part from From Chere Chaur. First, we ascend gradually until we get to Jaljala pass (3580m). We walk past the pass head for Jaljala Chaur. Chaur is, actually, a pastureland in the mountain. The further ascend from Jaljala Chaur crossing a steep trail; we enter the core Rara Lake area before reaching Chalachaur. Arrive at Chalachaur and stay overnight.
Day 06: Chaiachaur Camp (2980m. /9777fit) to Sinja (kalikot) (2405m./7891fit) 6 to 7hrs Stay Overnight
Walk past through several local villages and walk alongside the Jaljala Stream. Once you enter the Sinja Valley, you notice ancient houses representing age-old history and civilization. Actually, the houses, temples, palaces and the remains are there from 12th to the 14th century. It’s very exciting to explore the valley from the point of archaeology. Stay overnight at local teahouse/lodge in Sinja Valley.
Day 07: Sinja (kalikot) (2405m./7891fit) to Chuchamare Danda (3804m./12480fit) 6 to 7 hrs stay Overnight
Walk alongside of Hima River and reach Laha Village. From Laha village you will encounter a steady ascent up until you get to Ghorosingha. After Ghorosingha, you will again ascend alongside Ghatte khola and the final steep ascent takes you to the today’s destination, Chuchamare Danda, the highest elevation of this trek and stay overnight at local lodge.
Day 08: Chuchamare Danda (3804m./12480fit) to Chhapri (RaRa lake) (2980m./9776fit) 5 to 6hrs Stay Overnight
After you witness mesmerizing views of mountain panorama from Chuchamare Danda ( hill), you walk past Khatyar Khola Camp and a few local settlements including Murma. After Murma, you walk further and get to the settlement of Chhapari where the office of Rara National Park located. You admire the serene surrounding of the national park and the Rara Lake. Stay overnight at local lodge at Chhapari.
Day 09: Rest day (Explore Rara Lake and its surroundings)
You have a full day to explore the lake today. Walk up to the hills and witness mountain panoramas around. Walk around the lake, climb hills and enjoy some spectacular views of lake and the mountains including Saipal Mountain of Himalayan Range. You can also walk up to the village named Murma village and witness more mesmerizing views of mountain peaks. Most excitingly, you can hire a boat and explore the Rara Lake like people do in Phewa Lake in Pokhara city.
Day 10: Chhapri (RaRa lake) (2980m./9776fit) to Pina (2440m./8005fit) 4 to 5hrs Stay Overnight .
We first walk to Gamgadhi which is the headquarter Mugu District . Next, after we reach Gamgadhi, we walk down until we get to the village of Pina where we stay overnight at local lodge.
Day 11: Pina (2440m. /8005fit) to Nauri Ghat (Burma) (2755m. /9038fit) 6 to 7 hrs Stay Overnight
We walk down and encounter a cross named the Ghurchi Lagna pass at 3480 m. From the Gurchi Lagna Pass, we descend to Nauri Ghat which is also known as Burma. Stay overnight at local lodge.
Day 12: Nauri Ghat (Burma) (2755m. /9038fit) to Urtchu (2530m. /8300fit) 5 to 6 hrs- Stay Overnight
You will still admire the landscapes you pass through today. After spending a quality of time with wild nature for 5-6 hours ,you will arrive at the village Urtchu and stay overnight at local lodge.
Day 13: Urtchu (2530m. /8300fit) to Jumla (2540m. /8334fit.) 2 to 3 hrs Stay Overnight.
Within 2-3 hours of walk , you will arrive back to Jumla, the district headquarter and wait for the next day’s flight to Nepaljung early in the morning and then to Kathmandu.
Day 14: Jumla (2540m. /8334fit.) to Nepalgung flight (150m/492ft.) to Kathmandu (1460m. /4790ft) (total flight duration 1hrs.15min)
Take earliest flight to Nepaljung from Jumla. This flight lasts for 20-25mins. Next, you will fly to Kathmandu for around 50 minutes from Nepaljung.
Arrive at Kathmandu airport and you will be received by our representative from the Kathmandu airport and transferred to the hotel in Kathmandu.
Enjoy Farewell Dinner with our Team in the evening.
Day 15: Pick up from, hotel Transfer to airport- Farewell Departure
We drop you to the Kathmandu airport on time so that you can catch up your international flight homewards or can begin another trip to other destinations.
Cost Exclude/Includes
Question and Answer
Cost & Date
All set dates are guaranteed departures. If the following dates are not suitable for your travel plans then contact us for your custom trip dates. The private trips are available on any date of your selection at any time of the year.
Trip Map
Client Reviews
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Milan and his team made our trip to Kathmandu unforgettable. My travel partner and I got to the country having no idea what to do and how we would navigate the city until Milan came in and saved the day. His team went above and beyond to make sure we didn’t have to do any logistics and could just enjoy our vacation. With knowledgeable tour guides and the best hospitality in the city, Milan gave us an insider’s view of Nepal with an experience that left us feeling like family.