Rara Lake trekking is a trip to the heavenly place in Nepal to the Far North West in the least visited and undisturbed area. Rara Lake ‘known as Queen of Lakes’ lies amidst the enchanting alpine forests where the snowcapped mountain panorama play hide and seek with the lake every now and then.
The Rara Lake is Nepal’s biggest and deepest freshwater lake with a total area of 9.8km2 located inside Rara National Park and within Jumla and Mugu districts of Nepal. Trekking to Rara Lake offers the fantastic views of hidden peaks Api 7132m, Saipal 7031m, Kagmara Himal 5115m and Kanjibroba 6883m. After an epic flight to Nepalgunj and Talcha, the journey leads through interesting villages and heavily cultivated farms with amphitheater of terraces. We will be trekking through enchanting woodlands of rhododendron, spruce, maple, oak, pine and fir trees to reach Rara National Park and the charming Rara Lake. This peaceful lake is surrounded with heavily woodlands and is home to many wild lives and exotic birds.
Chuchemara Danda 4090m, which can be accessed with few hrs of hiking is one of the best vantage points offering the magnificent views of the deep blue clear lake beneath the snowcapped peaks surrounded by thick forested hillside. Even though the spring and autumn is the best time to be around but one can also visit the other times of the year. During winter, one can witness the migratory birds from various regions around the world while during summer, the Himalayan flowers grow around the lake creating a vibrant landscape.
Day 01:Arrival day in Kathmandu 1400m, Hotel
Day 02:Half day sightseeing and fly to Nepalgunj 150m, B, Hotel
Day 03:Fly to Talcha 2950m 25mins and trek to Rara Lake 2990m 3hrs, BLD, Teahouse
Day 04:Day hike to Chuchemara Hilltop 4090m and local excursion, BLD, Teahouse
Day 05:Explore Rara Lake, BLD, Teahouse
Day 06:Trek back to Talcha, BLD, Teahouse
Day 07:Fly to Nepalgunj and to Kathmandu, BLD, Hotel
Day 08:International departure, B, Flight
OPTION 2:
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu, Hotel
Day 2: Half day sightseeing and fly to Nepalgunj (150m), B, Hotel
Day 3: Fly to Jumla and trek to Chere Chaur (3055m), BLD, Teahouse
Day 4: Trek from Chere Chaur to Chalachaur (2980m), BLD, Tented Camping
Day 5: Trek from Chalachaur to Sinja Valley (2490m), BLD, Tented Camping
Day 6: Trek from Sinja Valley to Ghorosingha (3050m), BLD, Tented Camping
Day 7: Trek from Ghorosingha to Rara Lake (3010m), BLD, Tented Camping
Day 8: Exploration day at Rara Lake, BLD, Tented Camping
Day 9: Trek from Rara Lake to Pina (2440m), BLD, Teahouse
Day 10: Trek from Pina to Bumra (2850m), BLD, Tented Camping
Day 11: Trek from Bumra to Jumla (2540m), BLD, Teahouse
Day 12: Fly back to Nepalgunj and to Kathmandu, BD, Hotel
Day 13: International Departure, B, Flight.
Day 01: Arrival day in Kathmandu 1400m, Hotel
In this short Rara Lake Trekking, we welcome to you all. You will be picked up by our cheerful staff and transferred interestingly to the hotel. Most importantly, don't forget to look out for your name placard once you get out of the arrival section.
Day 02: Half day sightseeing and fly to Nepalgunj 150m, B, Hotel
Until the flight time, we go for half day sightseeing Kathmandu valley. The visit includes Kathmandu Durbar Square and some of other UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the valley. At the very first step, we visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, full of ancient Nepalese arts, architectures and cultures. It was under the rule of Malla Dynasty from the 12th to 18th century. Then we visit Pashupatinath Temple which is one of the famous temples of Lord Shiva including world’s tallest Lord Shiva statue. On the other side, we visit Boudhanath Stupa which is one of the largest stupas in South Asia built on the ancient time. Then we take our flight to Nepalgunj. Overnight in hotel at Nepalgunj.
Day 03: Fly to Talcha 2950m 25mins and trek to Rara Lake 2990m 3hrs, BLD, Teahouse
We leave in the early morning for our flight to Talcha (2950m). Talcha is a small town located at Rara National Park in Mugu District. It lies in the North west part of Kathmandu valley. It has a tiny airport in the heart of Rara National Park serving its whole regions where our flight lands. After lunch here, we start our first trek day ascending our steps up the hills. We spend the night in a teahouse near Rara Lake.
Day 04: Day hike to Chuchemara Hilltop 4090m and local excursion, BLD, Teahouse
The hike starts again after early morning breakfast. The trekking path takes us through dense forest of Rara National Park and alpine coniferous vegetation of this region. The national Park is mainly shelter of animals like Red Panda, Ghorals, Musk Deer, Leopard, Black Deer, etc. The first point we reach is Chuchemara Hilltop (4090m). From here, we witness the spectacular and breathtaking views of Himalayan Panorama, the vast and tranquil Rara Lake in the center of National Park and the lush vegetation of the Rara National Park. On the way, we pass through Khatyar Khola Camp and villages including Murma. We continue the walk again towards Chapri village and to the Rara National Park headquarter.
Day 05: Explore Rara Lake, BLD, Teahouse
We explore the mighty Rara Lake starting from the early morning. Rara Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Nepal located at the altitude of 2,990 m, distributed to the area of 9.8 square km and with the maximum depth of 548 ft. We enjoy the day also by boating on lake and explore different kinds of fish available in the lake. While boating in the lake, we get to admire the stunning and picturesque view of the Lake. After completely exploring the whole area around the lake, we return back to our local hotel and prepare for next day trek back to Talcha.
Day 06: Trek back to Talcha, BLD, Teahouse
After a wonderful and memorable day at Rara Lake, we follow the traces back to Talcha. We again descend back through the alpine vegetation of the National Park. We get to witness wildlife like Musk Deer, Himalayan Black Bear, Leopard, Himalayan Tahr, Red Panda etc. on the way if we are lucky trekkers. Once again we enjoy the scenic view of Himalayas, vegetation of Rara National Park and beautiful Rara Lake from Chuchemara Hilltop and follow back steps to the local hotel in Talcha.
Day 07: Fly to Nepalgunj and to Kathmandu, BLD, Hotel
Today, we take a double flight to return back to Kathmandu valley. After early morning breakfast, we head towards the airport and take the flight to Nepalgunj. Here, we will have our lunch and a short rest and then we take the flight back to the valley. Once in Kathmandu, you can have your rest at hotel and at the end of the day, we will have the final dinner. Overnight at same Hotel. Farewell dinner is served.
Day 08: International departure, B, Flight
Finishing our short yet the most beautiful Himalayan journey in Rara Lake, we get ready to depart for your home country. With the heavy heart, we will drop you to the airport and say goodbye for this time. See you.
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu, Hotel
In this short Rara Lake Trekking, we welcome to you all. You will be picked up by our cheerful staff and transferred interestingly to the hotel. Most importantly, don't forget to look out for your name placard once you get out of the arrival section.
Day 2: Half day sightseeing and fly to Nepalgunj (150m), B, Hotel
Until the flight time, we go for half day sightseeing Kathmandu valley. The visit includes Kathmandu Durbar Square and some of other UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the valley. At the very first step, we visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, full of ancient Nepalese arts, architectures and cultures. It was under the rule of Malla Dynasty from the 12th to 18th century. Then we visit Pashupatinath Temple which is one of the famous temples of Lord Shiva including world’s tallest Lord Shiva statue. On the other side, we visit Boudhanath Stupa which is one of the largest stupas in South Asia built on the ancient time. Then we take our flight to Nepalgunj. Overnight in hotel at Nepalgunj.
Day 3: Fly to Jumla and trek to Chere Chaur (3055m), BLD, Teahouse
After early morning breakfast, we take a flight to Jumla. After being on the air for an hour, we reach Jumla airport. Then we get received by our trekking staff here on the airport. Then we travel a long overland drive and walking for a while, we reach main headquarter town of Jumla district. We take a lunch here and a short observation over the city. Here you get to see a drastic change on the hilly landscape of Jumla comparing to the plain Terai of Nepalgunj. Then we start the very first steps of our trek heading towards Chere Chaur. Passing through several small villages and temples we finally reach Chere Chaur. Overnight at lodge in Chere Chaur.
Day 4: Trek from Chere Chaur to Chalachaur (2980m), BLD, Tented Camping
We leave for Chalachaur in the early morning after a breakfast in same lodge. Following our steps to western trails we make a slow ascend through beautiful Rhododendron, Birch and Pine forests. Crossing this beautiful forest, we reach the place called Jaljala Pass (3,580 m) offering spectacular view of Kanjiroba Himal (6,883 m). Following the paths ahead, we join the main trail of Rara Circuit and finally reach Chalachaur.
Day 5: Trek from Chalachaur to Sinja Valley (2490m), BLD, Tented Camping
Today’s hike starts in the early morning with climbing uphill. Sinja valley is a remote village located on the bank of Hima River. During the trek, we pass through several settlements. We walk along the Jaljala stream and we finally reach Sinja valley, an ancient capital city of Khasa Kingdom that ruled this area during ancient time from 12th to 14th century. Overnight in valley on tented camp.
Day 6: Trek from Sinja Valley to Ghorosingha (3050m), BLD, Tented Camping
After a breakfast in the early morning, we start the trek again stretching our trek with uphill trail along Hima River. We have to cross Laha village on the way including forests and beautiful valleys. The trekking path then goes ahead and pass a suspension bridge leading us to Ghorosingha. Overnight on tented camp.
Day 7: Trek from Ghorosingha to Rara Lake (3010m), BLD, Tented Camping
We begin our trek again after early breakfast. Our trail goes through Rara National park along the alpine vegetation of this region. Then in the middle of our trek, we reach Chuchemara Hilltop, one of the finest view points to enjoy the stunning view of Rara Lake, Lush vegetation of Rara National Park and beautiful Himalayan ranges. Then we reach Murma village crossing which we reach Rara Lake. We stay overnight on the tented camp in an edge of Rara Lake.
Day 8: Exploration day at Rara Lake, BLD, Tented Camping
Today we explore Rara Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Nepal located at the elevation of 2990 m, extended to the total area of 9.8 square km. The maximum depth of the lake is 548 ft and by boating on the lake, we get to explore different varieties of fish. While boating on the lake, we get to admire the stunning and picturesque view of the entire Lake. After exploring the Lake, we return back to our camps and rest the remaining day.
Day 9: Trek from Rara Lake to Pina (2440m), BLD, Teahouse
After a wonderful day exploring the entire lake, we begin our hike with easy and straight trail until the headquarter of the remote Mugu District. Here, all the government offices are located. From here, we descend on our path to Pina village where we spend the night at local teahouse.
Day 10: Trek from Pina to Bumra (2850m), BLD, Tented Camping
We leave for Bumra after early breakfast. The trekking path goes through downhill and leads us to Ghurchi Langna Pass at an elevation of 3480 meters. You get to view the colorful and beautiful prayer flags from the top of the pass and beautiful Karnali River (Longest River of Nepal). Then, we continue our walk and pass through a few villages before reaching Bumra. Overnight at Bumra in tented camp.
Day 11: Trek from Bumra to Jumla (2540m), BLD, Teahouse
After a breakfast in the morning, we continue the trek back to Jumla. We continue the walk enjoying the final day of our Rara Lake Trek and cross two suspension bridges over Hima River. After a few hours of walking downhill we reach hot spring where we can take a bath and have rest. Then we continue our trek and reach Chere Chaur and we follow the same trail back that we walked before and finally we reach Jumla town. Overnight in Jumla at a lodge.
Day 12: Fly back to Nepalgunj and to Kathmandu, BD, Hotel
We walk towards the airport in the early morning for our flight to Nepalgunj. We fly twice to reach to the Kathmandu valley. After landing on Nepalgunj, we take our lunch and then wait for our next flight time. After finally arriving in Kathmandu, you can enjoy your leisure time buying some gifts for your family, friends and to your loved ones. Then we prepare you for your next day flight to your homeland.
Day 13: International Departure, B, Flight.
Finishing our short yet the most beautiful Himalayan journey in Rara Lake, we get ready to depart for your home country. With the heavy heart, we will drop you to the airport and say goodbye for this time. See you.
Kathmandu airport pick up and drop services
Nature Lovers Treks and Tours’ staffs will pick you up from the airport as per your flight arrival time and similarly drop you off in the airport for international departure according to your flight schedule. During arrival, please don’t forget to look for your name placard hold by the team, outside the airport arrival gate. Our staff will be impatiently waiting for your arrival to greet you and warmly welcome you in Nepal. ‘NAMASTE’ is the foremost and the most commonly used greeting word in Nepal which you will hear from our staff at the very first moment you meet him.
Customized Trips and Trip departure
Rara Lake Trekking departs from Kathmandu as per our fixed departure dates. You can join any available fixed departure groups if you are a solo or small group travelers if you wish to, when the trips cannot be customized.
But if you are in a private group, fixed departure dates are not suitable for you and so you need to choose your own dates and packages, when you can customize the trek as per your travel needs. For further information, please kindly contact your own friendly neighbor, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours.
Accommodations in Kathmandu and during trek
You will be staying in the 3 star hotel in Kathmandu while in the teahouses or the tented camps during the trek.
Route Map and Company T-shirt
Nature Lovers Treks and Tours offers you a complimentary trekking map and the company t-shirts.
Safe Drinking Water during Rara Lake Trekking
Hydrating yourself is the most important thing to do during the trek. You should drink at least 3 liters of water every day or more. The main reason is to avoid the altitude sickness and to avoid other health issues. Nature Lovers Treks and Tours provides you water purification tablets or liquids to purify the water in the mountains. You can even buy mineral water or boiled water on extra cost.
Your trekking guides and porters
Nature Lovers Treks and Tours has the best guides and porters in the whole tourism industry. We can guarantee you on that. Ask yourselves a question. What do you look for in a guide and a porter? Are they fully insured and are they paid well? Well, they are the staffs of Nature Lovers Treks and Tours so they are hundred percent happy with their treatment by the company. They are experienced, licensed and knowledgeable in the field. They are well paid and fully insured for their journey as well as for the medicals.
Now, let’s talk about our backbones. The leader or a guide should have a significant knowledge in the climbing and trekking so that he can wonderfully and safely lead you, clearing any obstacles on the way. We, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours can proudly say that our guides (climbing, assistant, trekking guide) are highly qualified for the role. They are fully trained, experienced and licensed. They have undergone through a whole lot of training to make themselves useful in various situations and to make your journey a smooth and pleasant one.
Our guide knows the local areas, the cultures, the traditions and the lifestyles much more than anyone do. Some of the things he tells you, might even be hard to find in the travel guide books. Depending upon the situations and weather conditions, the daily plans might change slightly which when happens, he will inform you beforehand. You should always be flexibly ready to accommodate to your guides’ instructions. Let him know if you have any health problems as well since he will act accordingly to the situation. Depending upon the group size, we will also provide you assistant guides and extra Sherpas if needed.
Our porters are always fully equipped with the gears they need and as per the company policy, they are always insured and completely looked after. They are our backbone. We allow maximum weight of 25/30 kg to be carried by one porter. They are the strongest in our group with less communication skills. We also closely work with IPPG {International Porter Protection Group} and follow their ethics and guidelines.
Your safety
Nature Lovers Treks and Tours puts your safety as the top priority. We provide you our own comprehensive first aid medical kit bag along with the professional team of guides and porters. We are always in communication with our field team members to keep track of your safety and concerns. Your entire journey will be monitored by us and we make sure you enjoy your journey in full scale. We are available 24/7 for your health and safety checks during Rara Lake Trekking.
Important point to note
We always suggest you to keep extra one or two days in your trek since we are taking the domestic flights. The weather in the mountains is unpredictable and can change anytime drastically which means your flight can be delayed or at worst cancelled and postponed for the next day. Therefore, this goes to all the Rara Lake Trekkers, that extra days are needed.
How much does the Rara Lake Trekking cost?
The cost of the Rara Lake Trekking varies from $1000-$2000 depending upon the number of days you choose to trek. The longer the trek, more expensive it will become. Similarly, the price will differ with the group sizes. Normally, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours offers a comprehensive package which is inclusive of all the cost and expenses for the entire journey from the moment you land in Nepal till the moment you fly back home. However, you could also choose to buy only service-based package from us when we will be providing you only the supporting field staffs plus trekking / climbing permits and you have to arrange the rest by yourselves.
How is the Accommodation during the Rara Lake Trekking?
In Rara Lake Trekking, we will provide you the teahouse accommodations as per availability in some days as well as tented camps. A teahouse is typically a mountain lodge which is a combination of a lodge or a guest house and a restaurant or a café with basic furniture and interiors suitable for the social hangout. Many teahouses are without attached bathrooms. Few teahouses provide the European toilets these days while Asian style of toilets are available in every teahouses. Hot showers are available but on extra cost. The same goes with the hot drinking water. Sleeping blankets are usually provided but we recommend you to carry your own sleeping bags for the hygienic purpose {can be arranged on request}. At the same time, it’s better to carry your own toiletries including the towels.
During the camping days, you will be sleeping in the camps set up by our field Sherpa staffs. There will be separate kitchen and dining tents. Your meals will be freshly cooked and you will be served day and nights by our Sherpas. Our staffs will carry the sleeping bags, pillows and mattresses for you to sleep in the tents. Undoubtedly, you will have a perfect camping trek experience with Nature Lovers Treks and Tours.
What are the permits that I need for Rara Lake Trekking?
For Rara Lake Trekking, you will need to make only two permits: Rara National Park fee and TIMS Card (Trekkers' Information Management System).
How does this tipping system in Nepal works and do I have to tip?
Tipping is not compulsory for Rara Lake Trekking however tipping is all about showing your gratitude and appreciation. We care about our staffs in the fields so we expect you to look after them in return for them looking after you throughout your journey. They are your closest friend in the remotest parts and also your protector whenever anything seems to happen to you. So tipping is highly expected and we’ve made it mandatory too. The amount of gratuities can be determined by yourselves. Normally, a guide expects around $5 or more per day per person while a porter expects $4 or more per day per person.
Can I charge my phones, batteries or other electronic devices during Rara Lake Trekking?
The charging of your electronic devices can be hardly done in this trek but in some days when you stay in the teahouses you can do so. Don’t forget to buy a plug adapter or socket fittings before you leave Kathmandu.
Is there WiFi and mobile signal on the Rara Lake Trekking?
Rara Lake Trekking route has decent mobile networks in most of the days. And you can buy one of the NTC or Ncell Sim cards from any local phone shops in Kathmandu which has coverage in most parts of Nepal. It is wiser to buy a sim card with around 4 GB data in Kathmandu and use the mobile data in the trek if available.
When is the best time to trek to Rara Lake?
Rara Lake Trekking can be done throughout the year. However in average, Spring {March, April and May} and Autumn {September, October and November} are the best times or seasons to trek to Rara Lake. Spring and Autumn are known as the Peak season or Busy season in Nepal. It’s because the temperature is moderate during these seasons and the best panoramic mountain views are guaranteed while during other Summer {June, July and August} and Winter {December, January and February} season, the clear weather is not guaranteed. But if you are an explorer, a photographer and a peace lover, less busy season can also be the right time to do Rara Lake Trekking.
Do I have to worry about the altitude sickness in Rara Lake Trekking?
The itinerary of our Rara Lake Trekking is perfectly designed by Nature Lovers Treks and Tours and has separated enough time in the places to let the body acclimatize well in high altitudes. As long as you follow the guide, you should be fine. Altitude sickness in fact can affect anyone regardless of the age or the fitness level, so it is very important to walk slowly and gradually as you go higher. Learn more in details about Altitude Sickness to prepare yourselves for the upcoming Rara Lake Trekking.
Do I need to be healthy and physically fit for Rara Lake Trekking?
When it comes to trekking in the mountains, health and fitness of a person plays a vital role. If you are a healthy person without any serious medical problems, Rara Lake Trekking is for you but if you have any sorts of medical issues, please consult to your doctor before coming to Nepal for the trek. We will be gaining the high altitude of 4090 m above the sea level which is not a joke. People normally start to have breathing problems above 3000 meters from the sea level, if they have pre-existing health conditions.
Now when it comes to the fitness level required, Rara Lake Trekking demands moderate physical fitness. The trekking includes daily walks of about 4-8 hours and involves many ascents and descents which means you need some practices before you start the trekking journey. If you do not have the previous trekking experience, that’s fine but obviously if you have previous experiences, it will be lot easier. For those not having previous trekking experiences, please exercise regularly for at least few weeks prior to your trekking departure. Go for the morning walks, do some jogging as you get time, participate in some cycling activities, etc. This way, you will be good to go for Rara Lake Trekking.
What kind of food items or meals can I eat on Rara Lake Trekking?
Only breakfast is included in Kathmandu while full board meals or full meals are included during the trek. Tea and coffee will also be provided during the entire trip. During the trek, you will have your breakfast and dinner in the same teahouses or tented camps where you spend the night while the lunch will be served en route towards the next destination of the day. Freshly cooked meals will be served in most of the days and usually the foods are basic and with few choices but they will certainly be healthy and nutritious. During teahouse accommodations, there will be some good choices from Nepali, Tibetan to Continental dishes.
Do I need a travel insurance for Rara Lake Trekking?
Travel insurance is a must when you do Rara Lake Trekking. Therefore before you come to Nepal, please make sure you have your insurance documents with you since our insurance companies cannot insure foreign nationals. Because of the reason that they cover all the expenses, if you face some unfortunate happenings and you have to be rescued or medically assisted during the trip or if your belongings are lost or stolen. We strongly advise you to take out an insurance which covers any medical risks as well as the medical evacuation from the mountains.
What gears and equipment do I need to pack for Rara Lake Trekking?
Choosing the right gear and equipment is important as well for the successful trek. Pack the right gears and equipment but remember, packing as light as possible is the best way to go when doing Rara Lake Trekking. You should read this What to take for travel to get all the details on what you need to pack or carry for Rara Lake Trekking.
Email : info@natureloverstrek.com
Contact : +977 9869836541 (Subarna)
WhatsApp : +977 9851254172 (Rabin)