- Destination:Nepal
- Total Duration:16 Days
- Trekking Duration:16 Days
- Trip Grade:Easy
Trip Highlights
• Mesmerizing view of Nepal’s Largest high altitude lake with serene and beautiful surrounding
• Chasing the final stage of one of the World’s longest trekking trail
• Heart-warming hospitality and firsthand home stay or tent camping experience
• Rare experience of exploring isolated Yari Valley
Trip Overview
Rara Lake is the real gem of Nepal, carefully and beautifully placed in the remotest Himalayan womb. It is located in the Rara national park, Mugu district of western region some 380 km north west of Kathmandu. The lake is also known as Mahendra Taal. Rara National Park, Nepal’s smallest and most scenic national park that spreads over an area of 106 square kilometers. It is the highest lake in Nepal and proudly addressed by the Nepalese as the ‘Queen of Lakes’.
Rara Lake Trekking will take you to the largest lake in Nepal in one of the remotest districts in western region, well undisturbed by human activities. You will be taken to heavenly place of bright, high altitude lake of Rara mirrors the snow-capped Himalayas which is ringed with pine, spruce, and juniper forest.
Rara lake trek is once in a lifetime opportunity and most talked about trekking destination which rewards in a form of a wonderful time in heaven whilst still alive. 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. Well off the more popular trekking routes, this trek offers a dramatic display of clear high altitude lakes, with pine, spruce and juniper forests as well as stunning views of the snowcapped Himalayan peaks. You will take a walk in the region of more than 500 different kinds of flowers and herbs including Rhododendrons, Black Juniper, Oak, West Himalayan Spruce, and Himalayan Cypress. The national park is home to 20 different species of mammals and 214 species of birds.
Rara Lake is located in the remote area of Nepal Himalaya. You can see the most wonderful landscape while trekking on this route. It offers the glimpses of culture and scenery very different from those in the rest of the country. Distinctive culture and traditions in this remote area gives the visitor a unique experience and makes it a wonderful holiday.
September to October and April to May are the best the best months of the year for this moderate trek; good health and physical condition enough. Rara Lake trek can be either camping or home stay basic trek. Home stay trek is more affordable with simple accommodation and Nepalese dishes.
Rara Lake Trek begins with a scenic flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (around 550 km of twisting and winding road away). On the following day we will fly to mountain airstrip in Jumla 2370m. Jumla is located on the bank of the Tila Khola. You will set forth on a journey that promises greater solitude and a chance to be in the presence of the fantastic Rara Lake. During your trek, you will also be entering the Rara National Park which is considered to be one of the finest parks in the world and is an ideal habitat for musk deer, Himalayan black bear, leopard, Himalayan goral, and other exotic animals. The trail passes through the countryside, which provides glimpses of a culture and scenery quite different from that found elsewhere in Nepal and eventually leads to Rara National Park. The entire route is ‘off the beaten track’ which involves crossing of Gurchi Mara Pass at 3710m on the way to Rara Lake and a few ridges at around 3000m on the way back. This route comprises much up and down walking through forests and isolated villages, and leads to a high altitude lake surrounded by woods. This trek provides you with an entirely wilderness experience.
Outline Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu
- Day 02: Full day sightseeing of Kathmandu valley and Preparation:
- Day 3; Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj
- Day 4; Fly from Nepalgunj to Jumla 2370m.
- Day 5; Trek from Jumla to Danphe Langa 3130m
- Day 6; Trek from Danphe Langa to Chautha 2770m
- Day 7; Trek from Chautha to Dhotu 2380m
- Day 8; Trek from Dhotu to Rara Lake 3040m
- Day 9; Exploring Rara Lake 3040m
- Day 10; Rest and explore Rara Lake
- Day 11; Trek from Rara Lake to Ghorasingha 3190m
- Day 12; Trek from Ghorasingha to Sinja 2440m
- Day 13; Trek from Sinja to Jaljala 3270m
- Day 14; Trek from Jaljala to Jumla 2370m
- Day 15; Fly from Jumla to Nepalgunj and afternoon flight to Kathmandu.
- Day 16: Final Departure from Kathmandu
Detail Itinerary
Welcome. You will be greeted by our representative and transferred to your respective hotels.
We will take you for the sightseeing tour in Kathmandu Valley; Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath Temple and Baudhanath Stupa. You will get time to relax and prepare for the trek in the evening.
You take a scenic flight over the varying topography of central and western Nepal to reach Nepalgunj. The city of Nepalgunj lies next to the Indian border and is the hottest city of Nepal. A private vehicle will pick you up at the airport and take you to the hotel. Later in the evening, you can visit the nearby market of Nepalgunj.
Another exciting flight to Jumla airstrip from Nepalgunj Airport will take 45-minute. You fly over the Himalayan foothills with the views of the towering hills and vast river networks. In the afternoon, you can explore the market of Jumla.
The trail follows the north bank of Tika Khola and then turns up to another stream. Make your way through the narrow canyon to Padmara village. Climb the Khali Lagna Pass 3550m through deep pine and fir forests and then descend to reach Danphe Langa.
Descend through the thick forests walnut and birch to reach Lete Gad Bridge. After crossing the bridge, you follow the river downstream and make a serious ascend to Kabra. A short hike from here will take you to Chautha.
Today you trek uphill to Bhulbule and enter Rara National Park. During this journey, you can observe the fascinating flora and fauna of the region. From Rara National Park, you climb up to Ghurchi Langa Pass (3450m) and then descend through the forest to reach Dhotu.
It will be a short trek today. Hike through a steep north facing slope from Dhotu and cross a series of fields to reach a stream. Then you ascend to Jhyari village and climb through the cedar forest. Descend from the forest to reach the tranquil Rara Lake, one of the biggest freshwater lakes in Nepal.
Today you explore the enchanting Rara Lake and its surroundings. The beauty of the lake is surreal as it reflects the surrounding lush hills and snowy mountains on its surface. You can just relax on the ground by the lake, reading a book or meditating or simply relishing the tranquil vibes.
You take another day off trekking to immerse in the beauty of the true blue colored lake. You can explore the nearby areas and hike up the small hills surrounding the lake for a full view of the pristine beauty. The wildlife around the lake includes leopard, Ghoral, musk deer, Himalayan black bear, and red panda, which you may spot as you explore the premises of Rara National Park.
Today you bid goodbye to the beautiful Rara Lake, and start return trek towards Ghorasingha. Walking past Khatyar River, you head towards the southern side and pass through a dense forest and continue the trek to the southern ridge. Then follow the descending path to Ghatta valley and make your way into Ghorasingha.
You will descend from Ghorasingha and follow Sinja River downstream to reach Sinja. This village was the capital of the Malla dynasty from 12th to 14th century hence houses the ruins of the ancient kingdom. In Sinja, there is a large temple dedicated to Bhagwati, the goddess of justice who rides on a tiger.
Crossing the Sinja Khola on a wooden bridge the trail takes you to Dhobi Khola. Pass through a series of log bridges and small villages before heading into the forest. Afterward, you make a steep ascend to Jaljala, a gigantic meadow full of grazing horses.
You keep climbing through the forest to reach a meadow and then descend towards the few houses in Chauri Khola. Cross a stream, and then walking on a ridge, make a steep descend to reach Jumla. You will have plenty of time to explore the town of Jumla and interact with the locals.
There are no flights directly from Jumla to Kathmandu so you have to take two flights today. An early morning flight will take you to Nepalgunj, and from there, you take another flight back to Kathmandu. In the evening, you can either relax in your room or enjoy the pubs and bars in Thamel.
Our team representative will drop you at Tribhuvan International Airport for final departure.
" Dolma Treks covered all aspects of my dream trip: hotels, logistics, food, permits.
Tsering Lama is a very seasoned trip organizer and guide that knows the way things work locally, which means a hassle-free, pure joy adventure. I have traveled to Nepal 5 times so far, always with Dolma Treks. Have done a bit of everything: culture, trekking, yoga retreat, educational visits, rescue visits (Earthquake 2015). I have been solo, with friends, and even with my young son since he was 7. Everything was perfect, every single time.
I loved every second of my trips to Nepal and I simply can't wait to be back"
I would just like to say that our trekking holiday in Langtang National Park & our Bridim homestay with Tsering Lama and his wonderful porters "Lale and Mingmar" was the most memorable, amazing holiday I have ever experienced. The guidance and support given were just so great. My wish is that my Aussie friends join a trek with Dolma Tours one day to experience this amazing country of Nepal. Thank you, Tsering. Your Aussie friends, Tania, Steve & Jesse Pitt
I recently went on Tsering's 17-day tour of Nepal, in Oct/Nov 2013.
Tsering is an exceptional tour leader, very organized and a welcoming host.
He paid much attention to detail both in the planning of the itinerary and throughout the course of the trip. Right from the beginning, the pre-departure information was excellent and I felt very well-prepared. Any questions I had about the trekking were answered promptly by email.
Tsering's itinerary has a lovely variety of places to visit: in Kathmandu, trekking in the Annapurna mountains, visiting the Chitwan National Park, and a stunning flight over Mount Everest. On our trek, the porters were very helpful, friendly and spoke a little English.
Tsering was always professional and timely. We were also given great insight into the generosity of the Nepali people by being invited into his family home.
Heartfelt thanks again from me for a wonderful trip!
We joined one of Tsering's trips to Annapurna and Chitwan in October 2013, where Tsering warmly welcomed us at the airport and confidently and efficiently organized everything for us from the moment we arrived until our departure 17 days later, making the entire trip extremely relaxing and enjoyable.
His guidance with local customs and his ability to communicate clearly in English was invaluable in ensuring we were completely informed at all times of our programme. His command of local languages meant we were afforded the best treatment at the local hotels, lodges, and restaurants throughout our trip.
The trip was a wonderful balanced mix of the frantic bustle of Kathmandu, the grandeur of the Annapurna mountains, and the thrill of the Chitwan jungle, all complemented by a style of travel that exposes you to, and allows you to immerse yourself in the local culture to the extent you are personally willing and comfortable with.
The local guides Tsering organized were very competent and knowledgeable, giving us a great opportunity to absorb, understand and appreciate the breadth and depth of Nepal's history and the many cultures that make up its friendly people. Tsering gave us a marvelous insight into the recent history and of current events that gave us a wonderful context and appreciation of what makes the nation of Nepal what it is today and influences its future.
For the trek, Tsering organized a friendly team of local porters and guides who worked so hard carrying our gear over the often steep terrain of the mountains. Special mention goes to our lead guide Lale, who ensured the trek was perfectly paced to match the abilities of our relatively senior group. The guides and porters always had a friendly and smiling disposition, and we had a marvelous party with them on our last night, sharing cultural song and dance.
Tsering is generous of both time and nature, we were privileged to meet his family, and we particularly enjoyed the company of his enchanting 11yo son Jigme on our trip, and of his young friend Amod.
I would unreservedly recommend Tsering as a guide to anyone travelling to Nepal who is wanting to get to know this intriguing and beautiful country and its friendly people, and who enjoys knowing everything is confidently organized for you in a relaxed and efficient manner by a knowledgeable local who is a marvelous ambassador for his people and his country.
Thank you, Tsering, I sincerely hope we have the opportunity to visit Nepal again someday and enjoy your friendly and proficient service.
Tsering and his trekking company were brought to my attention by my daughter who had trekked with friends in Nepal. That trip was led by Tsering who was already known to one of the group. This group so recommended Tsering, that my wife and I decided upon a trekking tour under his guidance.
We were not any stage disappointed. Tsering contacted us and after considering age, fitness and wishes, designed what he thought was an appropriate tour. He emailed a comprehensive programme with some beautiful pictures and suggested dates. We arranged the flights to and from Kathmandu and brought in a couple of friends.
From our arrival until our departure, every detail was arranged. All accommodation, transport guides, porters, and dining was minutely cared for leaving us the freedom to simply enjoy ourselves. The team he engaged were known to him and endlessly strived to assist. Friendliness and honesty were so obvious.
Westerners are usually apprehensive about local cooking and food hygiene. Tsering always stationed one of the porters in the kitchens of the tea houses to oversee the cleanliness of food preparation. Some of his team are also chefs. It is a matter of pride for him that virtually all his tourists complete their trips without gastric upset.
Tsering is very kind, caring and attentive to detail. He is great fun, has a keen political insight as well as concern for the education of his young countrymen. He is honest and generous to a fault - as are his lovely family whom we met. We also enjoyed their hospitality.
If we return to Nepal there is absolutely no doubt we would ask Tsering to undertake our planning and if possible accompany us. He was faultless and thus I have no hesitation in recommending his company to your favorable attention.
