Rara Lake Trek

Rara Lake 17 Days

About Rara Lake Trek

Country

Nepal

Duration

17 Days

Difficulty

Moderate

Activity

Trekking

Max. altitude

2,490 m / 8,169 ft

Best season

Mar–May, Sep–Nov

Accommodation

Tea house and lodge

Meals

Included

Start/End point

Kathmandu

Rara Lake Trek is a journey to one of Nepal's most stunning and picturesque lakes. Jumla and Rara are located northwest of Kathmandu in the Karnali region. Rara Lake Trek is a great way to get off the main path and see cultures and scenery that are extremely distinct from the rest of Nepal. The crystal-clear, high-altitude lake is surrounded by trees of pine, spruce, and juniper, and it reflects snowcapped Himalayan peaks.

Summer rainfall is minimal, making it perfect for trekking. The hill around the lake is frequently covered in winter snow, but the fall trekking rewards us with a profusion of alpine flowers. Since the government resettled the residents of Rara and Chapra when the region was proclaimed a national park, nobody has lived at the lake save the troops deployed to the park.

Rara Lake Trek is a fantastic choice if you are seeking wilderness seclusion and can face the region's logistical challenges.

Highlights of Rara Lake Trek

  • Trekking

    140 km

  • Stay

    11 nights in tea houses and lodges

  • Mountains visible

    Api, Saipal, Nampa

  • Altitude gain

    2,490–3,270 m (8,169–10,728 ft)

  • Destinations

    Nepalgun, Ghumurti, Danphe Lagna, Chautha, Dhotu

  • Activities

    Tea house stays, Sherpa and Himalayan village visits, Sunrise viewpoints, Prayer flags, stupas and monasteries

Seasonality for Rara Lake Trek

The best months to go are shown in green and the months to avoid in red. Weather in the mountains can change at any time of year, so ask us about your dates.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar (best)
  4. Apr (best)
  5. May (best)
  6. Jun (unfavourable)
  7. Jul (unfavourable)
  8. Aug (unfavourable)
  9. Sep (best)
  10. Oct (best)
  11. Nov (best)
  12. Dec

Best seasons: Mar–May, Sep–Nov (shown in green color)

Unfavourable seasons: Jun–Aug (shown in red color)

Altitude Profile of Rara Lake Trek

Hover, tap or drag along the chart to see each stop
2,000 m3,000 m4,000 m1357911131517Kathmandu2,540 m8,333 ftDay
Curated day-by-day experience

Detailed Itinerary of Rara Lake Trek

  1. You will be welcomed our representative at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Kathmandu is the capital city that is also the starting point of the trek. You can pay a visit to many UNESCO world heritage sites that includes Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Swoyambhunath Stupa, Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, and Bhaktapur Durbar Square.

  2. From Kathmandu, we take an hour long flight to Nepalgunj, located in the western part of Nepal. At an elevation of only 150m, Nepalgunj has a hot and humid climate.

  3. The flight from Nepalgunj to Jumla takes off right after breakfast. After the 20 minutes of flight, we reach Jumla at an elevation of 2540 meters. From Jumla, we begin our trek to Ghumurti at an elevation of 2540 meters. We spend the night here.

  4. From Ghumurti, we make our way through forests of Sisnamul and then reach the pastures of Chere. The trail gets steeper and we enjoy the views of Patrasi Himal and Jagdula Himal. We descend gently through forests of rhododendrons and finally reach Danphe Lagna.

  5. This day comprises mostly of descents as we pass through birch, fir and bamboo forests, cross a bridge and then follow a river downstream. Then, we make a climb passing through water-driven mills along the way. Our steep climb continues and then levels as we reach Bhara village. Then, we descend to Chauro river and then to the village of Chautha.

  6. Humla To Simikot Trek

    After breakfast, we start the day’s trek following a stream uphill that leads to Bulbule(3130 m). We keep climbing to reach Ghurchi Lagna Pass (3450 m). From the pass, the trail descends through spruce forests to finally reach Dhotu village. We camp in the village.

  7. We traverse a steep slope from Dhotu and cross several fields to reach a stream. We cross a bridge and climb to a village called Jhyari. Then, we climb steadily through cedar trees to reach a meadow atop a hill.

  8. We follow the northern trail of the lake from here. After breakfast, we begin our exploration of the largest lake of Nepal which is about 13 km. We can go boating to see the various species of fishes and otters found in the lake. Chuchemara peak to the south and Ruma kand and Malika kand peaks to the north are other highlights of the day. We also visit the Rara village.

  9. The trip from Rara Lake to Majhghatta is a short one. We take the route from the western part of the lake and follow Khytar Khola. We finally reach Majhghatta where we spend the night.

  10. From Majhghatta, we take a trail that descends to the river and leads to a hill. We walk through pine, spruce, and rhododendrons to reach the top from where we can admire the views of Rara Lake and mountains. We reach the ridge of Ghuchi Mara and take the long route that follows the main trail and reaches Ghatta valley. After a while, we reach Gorusinghe at 3050 meters.

  11. Lower Dolpo Trek

    From Gorusinghe, we follow Sinja Khola throughout the day as we follow a varied trail with scenic views. We climb up to Lumsa and then take a short, easy walk down to the valley. We walk trails that lead us to the Brahmin and Chhetri village of Sinja. Sinja was the capital of Malla rulers in western Nepal and also boasts an old Malla Palace and a temple of Tripura Sundari. We spend the night here.

  12. From Sinja, the trail crosses Sinja river over a wooden bridge and then continues on a long walk to Dhobi Khola. We pass through different villages and then cross the river several times over log bridges. We make our way through oaks, birch, pines, and fields of barley and corn. Then, the trail climbs up to Jaljala Chaur with a large meadow. We camp at an altitude of 3270 meters.

  13. We make a final descent as we pass through villages to reach Ghumurti. We spend the night here before returning to Jumla the next day.

  14. We trace our steps back to Jumla and spend the night there as the trekking comes to an end.

  15. The flight from Jumla to Nepalgunj is a scenic one that lasts 45 minutes. From Nepalgunj, we take a connecting flight to Kathmandu.

  16. Upper Dolpo Trek

    We have an entire day to explore Kathmandu valley. We visit different cultural, historical, and religious spots. We can also shop for souvenirs Thamel and other tourist hubs.

  17. One of our representatives will drop you off at the airport.

What's included and excluded

What's included

  • Airport pick-up and drop-off by private vehicle
  • Hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast
  • Licensed trekking guide and porters
  • Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek
  • Tea house and lodge accommodation on the trail
  • Trekking permits and national park fees
  • Domestic flights or transfers as listed in the itinerary
  • First-aid kit and 24/7 support from our office

What's excluded

  • Meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara
  • Extra nights in the city because of early return or flight delays
  • Hot showers, battery charging and Wi-Fi on the trail
  • International flights and visa fees
  • Travel and rescue insurance
  • Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry and phone calls
  • Tips for guides, drivers and staff
  • Meals not mentioned in the program
  • Any costs caused by weather, strikes or other events beyond our control

Equipment and things you need

Clothing

  • Down jacket (warm enough for below -10 °C)
  • Waterproof shell jacket and trousers
  • Base layers and a fleece
  • Warm hat, sun hat, gloves and buff

Footwear

  • Broken-in waterproof trekking boots
  • Spare socks (wool or synthetic)
  • Light shoes or sandals for the lodge

Gear

  • Sleeping bag rated for the altitude
  • Trekking poles
  • Headlamp with spare batteries
  • Sunglasses with UV protection and sun cream
  • Refillable water bottle and purification tablets

Health and papers

  • Personal first-aid kit and your regular medication
  • Travel and rescue insurance covering your maximum altitude
  • Passport, spare photos and copies of your documents

Frequently asked questions

Customer reviews

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Perfect

Creative Adventure Nepal provides excellent service and truly professional support in the tourism industry. Their team is friendly, knowledgeable, and well-organized, making every trip smooth, safe, and memorable. From planning to execution, everything is handled with care and passion. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an amazing travel experience in Nepal!

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Google

5.042 Google reviews

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