Destination
Nepal
Accomodation
Hotel, Lodge, Tea house & Homestay
Walking Distance
120 km ~
Duration
13 Nights 14 Days
Max. Elevation
3450 m
Meals Included
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Best Season
March-May August-November
Grade
Moderate
Overview
Situated at an altitude of 2990 meters, Rara Lake is the largest lake in Nepal. It is located in the Rara National Park premises, which is a sanctuary for several plants and animals. The park, established in 1976, houses about 51 species of mammals and 214 species of birds. Hence, due to the abundance of dense forest and a variety of birds, it is an ideal destination for bird watching. Moreover, it is also a natural habitat for the musk deer and Himalayan black bear. The landscapes are mostly high ridges covered with dense forest and pasture lands. We begin our Rara Lake Trek from Kathmandu as we fly to the Nepalgunj Airport. We then hike northwards through green forests and ridges. The woods are mostly covered by pine, spruce, and juniper and surrounded by gorgeous views of the snow-clad mountains. Furthermore, the trail is mostly uninhabited with only a couple of small villages on the way.
This trek through the remote wilderness of western Nepal offers a superb experience of nature and a visit to Rara Lake, Nepal’s Largest Lake at 3062 meters. Beginning the trek from the mountain airstrip of Jumla after flying from Kathmandu via Nepalgunj, the trail passes through the green countryside. Jumla – Rara Lake Trek throughout caters unusual glimpses of a culture and scenery quite different from that found elsewhere in Nepal and eventually culminates at the Rara Lake inside Rara National Park. This beautiful high-altitude lake is surrounded by alpine meadows and forests of pine, juniper, and spruce, whilst in the background, you can view the magnificent snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas.
Jumla Rara Lake Trek: Majestic Rara Lake Photo
Jumla Rara Lake Trek Itinerary
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day 1
Arrival at Kathmandu and transfer to hotel
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day 2
Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (150 m)
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day 3
Nepalgunj to Jumla (2540 m)
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day 4
Jumla to Chere Chaur (3055 m)
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day 5
Chere Chaur to Chala Chaur (2980 m)
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day 6
Chala Chaur to Sinja Valley (2490 m)
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day 7
Sinja Valley to Ghorosingha (3050 m)
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day 8
Ghorosingha to Rara Lake (3010 m)
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day 9
Exploring Rara Lake
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day 10
Rara Lake to Pina (2440 m)
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day 11
Pina to Bumra (2850 m)
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day 12
Bumra to Jumla (2540 m)
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day 13
Flight to Nepalgunj and then to Kathmandu
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day 14
Farewell
Rara Lake Trek Map and Altitude Graph
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Fully Catered Camping Trek (FOT).
- National park fees.
- All domestic airfare.
- Airport transfers and escort.
- All guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu with entry fees.
- 3 nights accommodation at 3-star hotel in Kathmandu on double sharing with breakfast.
- Transfers as per the itinerary in private vehicle.
WHAT’S EXCLUDED
- International flight.
- Tips, any expenses of personal nature.
- Client’s insurance.
- Anything not included in the What's Included section.
Trip info for Jumla Rara Lake trek.
Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, our company’s representative will pick you up and drive you to the hotel.
Optionally, you can do sightseeing in Kathmandu if you want where we visit world heritage sites including Swayambhunath, Bouddhanath, Pashupatinath and Durbar squares. Kathmandu is called the city of temples. You will be seeing rituals and culture from close to which devotion will touch your heart.
If you want to skip the sightseeing around Kathmandu, we will begin our journey by taking an hour's flight to Nepalgunj. The next day, from Nepalgunj we will take another flight to Jumla of about 20 minutes. Jumla is a gateway to the Karnali region. We will spend the night in Jumla.
The real hike begins from Jumla when we ascend along Jugad Khola and pass Khalanga Bazaar to reach Chere Chaur. After spending the night at Chere Chaur, the next day we will hike for about 5 hours to Chala Chaur via Jaljala pass.
On the 7th day, our target will be Sinja valley which takes 7 hours to reach Chala Chaur.
On the 8th day, from Sinja valley we climb uphill by the Hima River. Climbing the steep trail we reach Laha village after ascending further we reach our destination for the day which is Ghorosingha.
After about 6 hours, of walking across Khatyar Khola camp and the village of Murna, we reach our destination; the stunning Rara Lake. The next day too we enjoy the breathtaking view that the lake and this place offer. Rara lake is the largest lake in Nepal with a surface of 10.8 square kilometres. We will also boat across the lake while admiring the view and aquatic wildlife.
On the 11th day of our trekking journey, we start our way back by hiking from Rara to Pina. It is 6 hours of the hike which will be on a relatively straight trail to reach the district headquarters at Gamgadhi. From there we climb downhill to Pina village.
From Pina, we hike for about 6 hours to reach Bumra. The next day from Bumra it is about 5-6 hours of hike to Jumla.
From Jumla we take a flight back to Nepalgunj and then to Kathmandu.
Trek difficulty
Rara lake trek is an easy trek and can be done by people with moderate physical fitness. You will be hiking for 4-6 hours a day with a light bag pack. However, some prior practices will be highly beneficial on the journey.
Travel Insurance Policy
This trip comes with high-altitude trekking risks such as potential altitude sickness. Hence, travel insurance is compulsory.
All trekkers must provide a copy of their comprehensive travel insurance policy to North Nepal Trek. The policy must cover medical and emergency repartition above 3000 metres- including heli rescue and evacuation expenses.
Written by: Mohan Bhandari
Frequently Asked Question
Months from March to May and from October to December are the best time to commence this trek. During March-May, the weather is usually clear and most of the hills are covered with green vegetation and blooming Rhododendrons. Also, snowfall is pretty common in this season.
But, the clearest and mind-boggling view of the Himalayas along with Rara Lake can be seen in October as the skies are very clear with no rainfall and meagre fog. However, the trekking routes are usually more crowded from October to December than in any other season.
Trekking is often very difficult during monsoon because the trails are muddy and slippery so, there is a high chance of injury or accident.
You will find basic food in the mid-western region but have the necessary nutrition for your trekking journey. Dal Bhat Tarkari is the leading food you will see almost everywhere you trek in Nepal.
We will be staying in a hotel till Nepalgunj. After we leave Nepalgunj we will be spending the night at a teahouse accommodation and as the trek continues the food choices and accommodation will also get short.
Thakur society is dominant in this region. The main occupation of people living here is agriculture, and rearing goats.
Yes, you need a permit to enter this region. You have to pay US$ 90 per person for the first 7 days and after that US$ 15 will be imposed per person for each day of your stay.
The trek is not entirely impossible for the children but may have to endure many hardships along the way. The paths are steep and rocky and are very physically demanding.
With children, one must always be vigilant for possible accidents and injuries. Though the trek is difficult, it can be completed with extra care and attention or one can hire a special guide to look after the children.
Solo travelling is very risky in the high Himalayas so, all the agencies will hand over you to a guide and porters if necessary to supervise and navigate your expedition.
Guides usually have comprehensive knowledge of all the available trails and have good contact with locals. Also, they are equipped with first-aid kits and medicines for commonly occurring diseases, in addition to that, they can contact the respective officials required during emergency cases.
Moreover, the guides bear the responsibility of keeping their trekkers safe throughout the journey. It is mandatory to travel with a guide or in groups for safety purposes. Most importantly, we need someone to take care of us during emergency accidents, altitude sickness, and injuries.
Yes, you could hire an oarsman along with a boat to explore the Rara Lake, the largest lake in Nepal in terms of Area.
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