Duration: 15 Days
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Rara Lake Trek, located in the remote northwest part is one of the most serene treks of Nepal. The trek takes you to one of the largest lakes in Nepal, situated at an elevation of 2,990 m with an area of 10.8 km square. The serene lake is surrounded by pine forests, alpine meadows, juniper with the background of magnificent snow-capped peaks. You can witness a total of three colours of the lake as it changes its colour in the daytime according to the weather. Taking you inside the Rara national park, it is a remote off-beaten trail full of wilderness, green hills, and snow-peaked mountains. Along with the natural beauty, you also get to witness the diverse flora and faunas during the trek as the Rara national park consists of several blue pines, black juniper, oak, and rhododendron forests. The forests are also home to several rare animals along with 200 species of colourful birds and butterflies. During the trek, you'll also pass through several indigenous communities where you can witness and experience the lifestyle and culture up close.
Compared to other trekking destinations, Rara Lake can be relatively hard to access as there are several routes you can follow for the trek. Here, we have the itinerary for the Rara Lake trek of a total of 15 days starting with a one-day Kathmandu sightseeing tour. The starting point of the trek is Jumla. Jumla is two flights away from Kathmandu. First, the flight takes you to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu followed by a second flight to Jumla from Nepalgunj. From Jumla, the real trek on foot begins as you pass through several villages like; Cherechaur, Chalachaur, Sunja valley, Ghorosingha, and then, finally, make it to Rara Lake. On your way back, you'll be following the trail through Pina and Bumra followed by the flight to Nepalgunj and then to Kathmandu. The ideal trek full of tranquil beauty and wilderness, the Rara Lake trek is perfect if you're looking for a less-travelled trail in Nepal.
Travellers should be comfortable with somewhat-demanding activities.
Narayan Baniya (nature pathfinder) and Sumir Gyawali (yoga teacher) guide me in this adventure. Actually they manage perfectly my short time and all the noisy burocratic thinks like documents or Covid control. They makes me feel safely and had care of me since the moment I reserved .. now I’m at home and still feel the power of their experience, friendship and good nature. They makes me “enter” in the Nepali lifestyle, from metropolitan Kathmandu until the top of the mountain were the vibes are soo deep. Their good vibes are compatible with all, Sumir had a clinical yogi eye and Narayan the calm you need to arrive over the clouds.. it was like a day dreaming and I never forget this experience out of time. Thank you Antonio
A great & well organised experience. I highly recommend Himalayan recreation to anyone planning to trek to the Annapurna Basecamp. Everything from start to finish was all taken care of, taking away all of the stress of organisation so that I could focus on enjoying the trek. Ashok was very responsive on whatsapp at all times and was able to adapt the tour when circumstances changed. For example, when my flight to Pokhara was cancelled, Ashok arranged for a friendly driver to take me all the way there by private car instead (I did have to wait 1.5 hours for the driver, but traffic in Kathmandu is difficult). My guide Santosh and porter Bal were very friendly and accommodating and were good company during the trek. They have the English skills required to answer the majority of questions, particularly relating to the trek. Overall, a very good experience. The trek itself is very beautiful. It has everything, including rural villages with rice terraces, bamboo forests, and epic mountains. The accommodation is basic but everything you need for a trek (much better than camping). The weather forecast is inaccurate - I enjoyed decent weather despite the forecast being constant rain/thunder. I found the difficulty to be much easier than others state, and could have completed the trek in 5-6 days. Almost anyone with a decent level of fitness would be able to complete this trek (adjusting the duration to accommodate).
The Annupurna Poon Hill Trip is a lovely trek through the lower elevations of the Annupurna range of the Himalayas. Starting from Pokhara, a 90 minute drive in a taxi drops us off at the beginning of the trek and then goes up from there. My guide, Raj, was absolutely awesome and provided a lot of great information about the area during our trek over the several days that this trek takes place. The second day of the climb takes us to the small town of Ghorepani, and then an early climb the next morning to Poon Hill. I went on this trip in the 2nd year of the virus. According to my guide, the number of travelers was still way down from pre-pandemic years. So, in one way, it is a great time to travel since you will have most of the trails to yourself. The tea houses are also pretty empty. The negative side to this is that there are limited menu items and several places didn't have WiFi. There are a few recommendations I would make about this trip. The first is the ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara. I took the bus and regretted it about halfway there. While the distance is only 200 km, it took about 8 hours on the bus. If I were to do this again, I would have opted for a 30 minute flight. It costs more, but is so worth it. Second, make sure you bring toilet paper with you on the trek. The tea houses I stayed in during my trek didn't have any. So, bringing a roll of your own is a huge help. And speaking of bathrooms, most of the toilets along the route are not the western style sit-down toilets. Rather they are the hole in the grounds. So, make sure to use the bathroom before leaving the tea house since the next western-style toilet isn't until the next guest house, which could be a half day hike away. Finally, if you have time after the trek, spend an extra day in Pokhara. It is much more interesting than Kathmandu. Otherwise, the trek was wonderful and the folks at Himalayan Recreation did a great job in staying in touch, picking me up at the airport when I arrived in Nepal, and provided excellent service all the way through.
This trip was the first we took with those guys. It was very nice, guide was interesting and gave us a lot information about Bhaktapur and Nepal itself. After they arranged few more trips for us. First was Chitwan national park and jeep safari. After Pokhara and paragliding. And then return to Kathmandu. It was very helpful to have someone local there who can arrange flights, pick ups, all the activities and return wherever needed. We didn't have more time, but all the time we had, they managed to organize for us, without stressing or worrying. I truly recommend them, because they are very responsible and helpful for any situation. I firstly met them in Kathmandu for our first trip and they helped us with all the others.
This is your arrival day. One of our team representatives will be there at the airport to welcome and greet you during your arrival time. After the meet and greet, you are then transferred to a hotel in Kathmandu where you can take a rest for the rest of the day after completing the check-in procedures. In the evening you'll have a short briefing session regarding the trek with your guide. Overnight stay at Kathmandu.
Things to look out for:
Meet and greet at the airport.
Briefing session at the hotel.
Keep in mind:
The briefing session is held to provide you with detailed information about the trek. If you have any confusion regarding anything, feel free to ask your guides about it.
It is a day for you to explore Kathmandu. Today you'll be visiting some famous UNESCO world heritage sites in the city. All the places you'll be visiting today hold ancient history and showcase the beauty of Nepali arts and architecture. You'll visit Kathmandu Durbar square, a famous hangout spot for both tourists and locals. Also, visit Pashupatinath Temple, which is the oldest and biggest Hindu shrine in the country. After Kathmandu durbar square and Pashupatinath temple, you'll also be visiting the famous stupa, Swayambhunath. After the exploration of the city, you'll be escorted back to the hotel. Overnight stay at Kathmandu.
A sacred Hindu temple, Pashupatinath.
Visit the famous stupa Swayambhunath.
Explore Kathmandu Durbar Square.
This is a sightseeing day for you to explore the heritage sites and famous landmarks around the valley. You can ask your guides if you've anything you need to buy for the trek as it will be hard to buy things during the trek.
Today you have the first flight of the trip to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu. It is an hour-long flight to Far South West Nepal during which you can witness the scenic view of cities. Overnight stay at Nepalgunj.
You'll have a second flight of the trip today from Nepalgunj to Jumla. Jumla is one of the remote villages of Nepal where your trek commences. The flight duration is just about 20 minutes during which you can enjoy the spectacular sights of villages and diverse landscapes below. After arriving at Jumla, you'll spend the rest of the day exploring the village. Overnight stay at Jumla.
The real hike on foot begins today as you head towards Chere Chaur from Jumla. You'll trek through picturesque pasturelands and villages until you reach Chere Chaur today, which is an easy and short hike. After a hike of a few hours, you'll arrive at Chere Chaur where you'll be spending the night. Overnight at Chere Chaur.
Picturesque pasturelands and settlements on the way.
On this day, you’ll head to Chala Chaur from Chere Chaur. The trek starts as you follow the western trails and slowly ascend through beautiful rhododendron, and pine forests until you reach the place called Jaljala Pass (3,580 m). Jaljala Pass offers you a spectacular view of Kanjiroba Himal. After enjoying the view from the pass, you'll continue your trek and head to Jaljala Chaur before Chala Chaur. After a total of 5-6 hours of walking, you’ll finally reach Chala Chaur. Overnight stay at Chala Chaur.
Lush rhododendron and pine forests.
Jaljala pass at an elevation of 3580 m.
Spectacular views of mountains.
Today you’ll head towards Sinja Valley from Chala Chaur. Sinja valley is a remote village situated on the bank of the Hima River. You'll be walking alongside the river as you pass through several small settlements. After a continuous walk of around 4-5 hours, you'll arrive at Sinja valley. There are several ancient temples and monasteries in the valley that you can explore after reaching here. Overnight stay at Sinja valley.
Walk alongside rivers.
Temples and monasteries at Sinja valley.
Sinja valley was the capital of the Malla Dynasty from the 12th to 14th century where you can find several ancient landmarks.
You'll leave for Ghorosingha from Sinja today. The walk begins following the ascent as you head east. You'll pass through settlements like Laha and Gani before arriving at Ghorosingha. Further, following the steep trail, you’ll reach Ghorosingha where you'll be spending the night. Overnight stay at Ghorosingha.
It is a big day today as you'll finally reach the final destination of the trek. The walk starts with a steep climb leading you to Chucharmare Danda. You can get majestic views of the mountain range along with magnificent deep blue serene Rara Lake surrounded by green hills from the top. After enjoying the sight for a while, you'll continue your walk through the forested trail until you reach Majhghat. Finally, after around 6-7 hours of walking, you’ll make it to Rara lake. You can enjoy the mystical view of the lake surrounded by hills and trees once you arrive at the destination. Overnight stay at tea-house in Rara lake.
Spectacular views of mountains and Rara Lake from the hilltop.
Walk through the forested trail.
Mystical close view of Rara lake surrounded by hills.
As it is a big day leading you to your final destination, the walk can be long and little tiring compared to past days but it will all be worth it once you witness the beauty of Rara lake.
On this day, you’ll spend your whole day exploring Rara Lake and its surroundings. As the lake is surrounded by lush green forests which are home to diverse flora and fauna including several species of birds, fish, and animals. You can explore and witness the diverse range of flora and faunas. You can also choose to head toward Murma Top which offers a mesmerizing view of the lake from above. Or you can just spend all the surroundings of the lake as you witness its changing colours. After spending all day exploring and witnessing the magical nature, you'll head to the tea-house for an overnight stay.
A diverse range of flora and faunas.
Witness magical moments of the lake changing colours.
Spend a day close to serene nature
It is totally up to you if you want to hike up to Murma top or spend the day around the lake. It is a total of 5-6 hours of a round trip to Murma top.
Today you'll leave behind the beautiful lake and head toward Pina. It is an easy and pleasant walk first leading you to Gamgadhi, the headquarters of the Mugu District. You'll continue your walk further on a forested trail followed by an ascend. After around 4-5 hours of walking, you'll make it to Pina where you'll be spending the night. Overnight stay at Pina.
You'll continue your walk to Bumra from Pina today. The trail starts with a downhill walk leading you to Ghurchi Langna Pass at an altitude of 3,480 m which is the highest point of the trek. You can get some magnificent views from the pass. After enjoying the view for a while, you’ll continue your trek. After around 5-6 hours of walking, you’ll arrive at Bumra. Overnight stay at Bumra.
Ghurchi Langa Pass.
Scenic views from the pass.
You'll finally head to Jumla from Bumra today. On the way, you'll cross several suspension bridges and come across a hot spring as well. You can enjoy a bath in the hot spring. You’ll also cross the Danphe Lagna pass at 3,691 m and Chere Chaur before arriving at Jumla where your trek officially ends. Overnight stay at Jumla.
Today, you'll be heading toward Kathmandu. You'll catch an early morning flight to Nepalgunj from Jumla first. Then, again another flight from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu. Once you arrive in Kathmandu, you are free to take a rest or explore more around the city. In the evening you'll have a farewell dinner with our team. Overnight stay at Kathmandu.
It is your departure day today. One of our representatives will be there to escort you to the airport and bid you farewell during your departure time.
All ground transport in a private vehicle, including airport transfers
Three nights accommodation with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in Kathmandu
Kathmandu city tours, including tour guide, and private transportation
3 standard meals a day during the trek
Snacks of seasonal fruits during the trek
Best available twin sharing lodge for accommodation during the trek.
Domestic flights (Kathmandu to Nepalgung to jumla and Jumla to Nepalgung to Kathmandu) Round Way
Himalayan Recreation’s experienced, government licensed, English speaking trekking guide during the Rara Lake trip
Porter services during the Trek (1 porter = 2 trekkers)
All costs of staff which includes food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment’s and medicines.
Duffel bag use while trekking, Trekking map and trip achievement certificate
Required Permit fee and TIMS Fee- Trekkers' Information Management System
First aid medicine kit
Farewell dinner with Cultural show in a fine restaurant on second last day.
Government taxes & office service charge
Meals not specified in the 'Meal Inclusions' in the above itinerary
Personal Travel insurance & Personal trekking equipment or expenses
Alcoholic drinks and beverages
Tips for trekking Guides, Porters (tipping is expected)
Any other expenses that are not mentioned in the 'Price Includes' section.
Best Time to Trek Rara Lake
Weather plays a very important role while determining the trekking destinations. It is essential to research the weather condition of the destination beforehand to avoid any kind of trouble during the trek. Rara Lake Trek can trek throughout the year but the spring (September-October) and autumn seasons (March-May) are the best time for Rara Lake Trekking. During this time the weather is usually pleasant with moderate temperature. Making it perfect for you to get and enjoy the magnificent views of the Himalayas reflected in the lake. In the spring you can also witness the forest full of colourful Rhododendrons blooming. The two seasons is also the peak season as it offers exquisite views of the lake to the visitors. You can also try trekking in monsoon and winter if you want to experience a different side of nature. But make sure to study a lot and be well-prepared as it involves some risks and uncertainty.
Accommodation during Rara Lake Trek
The accommodation facilities during the Rara Lake trek are very similar to the simple food availability. During the beginning of the trek, you might be able to enjoy rooms with in-room showers, western-style flush toilets, a Free WIFI connection, and in-room plugs to charge your stuff. But after the first few days, even the electricity gets scarce in the higher elevation and there won't be the availability of Wifi connections as well. The rooms come with general facilities like warm Beds and washrooms, etc.
Food during Rara Lake Trek
Rara lake trek falls under one of the remote treks of Nepal which is also restricted. Therefore, you shouldn't expect food similar to other popular trekking trails in Nepal. The food during the trek is simple with the menu generally including traditional village foods that consist of traditional bread, eggs, potatoes, and soup for breakfast. For lunch and dinner, the menu includes Dal Bhat (lentil soup, rice, and veggies), fried rice, noodles, etc depending on the lodge and place.
Rara Lake Trek Difficulty
The Rara lake trek falls under an easy-moderate grade trek. It is the ideal and appropriate trek for any level of trekkers. The trek includes a few ascents and descents on rugged trails with the altitude being less than 4000 m. The trek can be completed by anyone having a basic level of fitness with the ability to walk for 4 to 6 hours over hilly landscapes every day. Therefore, the trekkers aren't required to have previous trekking experience for the Rara lake trek. It is a perfect choice for novices and all ages of trekkers who want to explore the remote part of Nepal while enjoying some spectacular views.
Rara Lake Trek Permit
The only permit required for the Rara lake trek following the above itinerary is Rara National Park Entry Permit which costs USD 30 with 13% government tax.