Rara Lake situated at an elevation of 2,990 meters above sea level, Rara Lake is the largest and most popular trekking route in the western part of Nepal. The Rara Lake lies in the center of the Rara National Park, located in the Mugu and Jumla Districts of Karnali province, which is named after the scenically mythical lake. Rara Lake is also known as “Mahendra Tal.” The trail meanders through glades of juniper, spruce, and pine, less crowded and largely unexplored, the ever-present Himalayan peaks embellishing the view to one side, and the pristine water of Rara Lake providing its reflective treasures on the other. For those seeking for "off the beaten path" experience, Global Eco Trails highly recommends the Rara Lake journey.
Rara Lake Trek Highlights
- Panoramic view of breathtaking snow-capped mountains mirrored by the lake
- Pristine water of Rara lake mirroring Himalayas
- Traverse through Rara National Park and Sinja Valley & its archology remains.
- Observe the diversity of birds, plants, and animals
- Captivating morning flight to Juphal and trek through the sun-drenched meadows.
What can you experience in the Rara Lake Trek?
The biggest highland hill town in western Nepal, Jumla, is the place where the trek starts. The journey passes through historic settlements with traces of pre-Tibetan customs and culture, as well as pine, oak, and Juniper forests with a remarkably intact plant life. In addition to a diverse range of mammals like the gaur, serow, musk deer, and yellow-throated martin, the Park is also a home to around 241 species of birds such as the Himalayan Monal, Himalayan snowcock, the impeyan pheasant, Kalij and dove. Rara National Park is encircled by the trans-Himalayan valley holding steep slopes blanketed in forest and alpine pastures. The panoramic sights of the Dhaulagiri, Kugung La and Khyung La come into view upon reaching Numla Pass. On our way towards the Rara lake, one can afford to view the magnificent snow-capped panorama of Dolpo and other great mountains overshadowing the scene across the deep, clear waters of the lake, which is Nepal's largest and the final destination of the entire trekking trip. The trek will pass through luscious alpine pastures and isolated communities decorated with prayer flags and monasteries offering the breathtaking views of Mugu, the southern Humla mountains, and the border ranges of Tibet Kailash.
Opportunity of the Rara Lake Trek
Though the Rara Lake Trek is considered quite easy and appropriate in comparison of Everest Base Camp and Nar Phu Valley Treks, the difficult topography has made development even more challenging since the western half of Nepal is less developed than the other regions of the nation. As one gets farther from civilization, trekking becomes more adventurous, inspiring, and unpredictable. When the path gets muddy in the rain and dusty in the winter, trekking becomes arduous for visitors. The Rara Lake Trek is becoming a bucket list adventure among the internal and external tourists in Nepal.
Rara Lake Trek Weather and Temperature
The best time to visit Rara Lake, April to June (Spring) and from October to December (Autumn), which are the perfect times of the year to visit Rara Lake. The weather is pleasant with clear sky, stable weather, and moderate temperature. January to March (winter season) is too cold and the temperature goes below freezing point, and snowfalls occur up to one meter causing the path to be blocked.
How to go to Rara Lake?
At present, there are two ways to reach Rala Lake and back.
Airways: By airways, the nearest airport to Rara is Talcha Airport in Mugu and Jumla Airport in Jumla. Rara Lake is mainly served by Talcha Airport, which is about 4 km east of Rara Lake. These flights leave only from Nepalgunj or Surkhet. See below the short version of the 5-day Rara Lake Trek package.
Roadways. By roadways takes three days to reach Rara from Kathmandu through the Karnali highways, following Kohalpur, Kalikot (Manma), through Sinja valley to Nagma, and a walk to Rara Lake. You will be spending too much time on road journey. So this option probably not in favour.
The Short version of Rara Lake Trek Itinerary - 5 Day
- Day 01: Kathmandu to Nepalgunj by flight (45 minutes) in the afternoon. (10 hrs drive is also possible to Nepalgunj). Overnight at the Hotel.
- Day 02: Morning fly to Talcha in Mugu and Trek to Rara Lake for 4 hours. Overnight at the Guesthouse.
- Day 03: Explore the Rara Lake, hike to Murma viewpoint, and back.
- Day 04: Trek back to Talcha. Overnight at the Hotel.
- Day 05: Fly to Nepalgunj in the morning and evening flight to Kathmandu.
How long is the Rara Lake Trek?
Embarking on the Rara Lake Trek in Jumla is an excellent opportunity to explore the remote trails of western Nepal. The 12-day Rara Trek begins from Kathmandu and is followed by a flight to Nepaljung, then a flight to Jumla, and back. Our expert team curated a 12-day itinerary with an excursion day at Rara Lake, but we are happy to customize the itinerary as per your suggestion. Experience the 5-day Rara Lake trek for a sh dayort version. The 12-day Rara Lake itinerary offers a great opportunity to learn about the Sinja Valley and its archeological remains of the medieval period. Sinja Valley is the highest rice-growing area of Nepal.
How much does it cost to go to the Rara Lake Trek?
There are several factors to determine the price of the Rara Lake trek. Group size, mode of transport, type of accommodation, and duration of the trek are the major indicators of cost. However, the 12-day package trek starts from 1125 USD per person. Please see the includes and excludes section for details.
Guide and porters:
Guide and porter are another major pillar of the trek for a safe and sound trek. Our Guide is certified by the Nepalese Government and holds wilderness training, Guide training, leadership training, and sustainable training. He is a laughter, a companion, a storyteller, and an explorer. As for the porter, we are using a local porter from Juphal. He is strong, friendly, and honest, he has done such a trek with us before. A porter assigned for two trekkers carries about 20 kg of your backpack.
Lastly, Rara Lake is an outstanding destination in the rural area of Jumla district. Make sure you have packed all recommended trek gear, make sure you have a small change to settle your additional bills at teahouses, take a moment to appreciate the beauty and solitude the Rara Lake, fill your mind and sould with breathtaking scenery and camera with photograph, utilize your excursion day at Rara Lake to visit viewpoint. After completing the Rara Trek, you will need to make your journey back to the same place at Juphal for your return fly to Nepaljung and Kathmandu. Now, Global Eco Trails is here to support your trek. Rara is a non-tourist area, and a government-approved local guide, a local trekking company to handle the necessary logistics and paperwork. Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
