trip Overview
Rara Trek: A Journey to the Jewel of Northwestern Nepal
Discover the Beauty of Rara Lake
The Rara Trek is one of Nepal’s most scenic and rewarding trekking adventures. It leads to the beautiful Rara Lake in the remote northwestern region of the country. Unlike Nepal’s busier trekking routes, this trail offers peaceful landscapes, rich culture, and a true Himalayan experience. Moreover, the trek combines mountain scenery, forests, and traditional villages into one unforgettable journey.
Rara Lake is located in the Mugu District and is the largest lake in Nepal. It lies inside Rara National Park at an altitude of 2,990 meters and covers 10.8 square kilometres. In addition, pine, spruce, and juniper forests surround the lake, creating a peaceful setting. As a result, the park provides a safe habitat for many birds, fish, and rare wildlife.
Journey from Kathmandu to Jumla
The adventure begins with a flight from Kathmandu, Nepal’s heritage capital, to Nepalgunj. From there, a short scenic flight takes travellers to Jumla, the starting point of the trek. Besides being the trekking gateway, Jumla has a rich history and was once an important kingdom during Nepal’s unification.
The region is also famous for Marsi rice, locally known as Jumli red rice. This traditional variety was once served to Nepal’s royal family. Today, it remains one of the area’s most valued local products.
Trek Through Remote Villages and Forests
The trek from Jumla to Rara Lake usually takes about four days. Along the way, the trail passes through peaceful villages, alpine meadows, dense forests, and high mountain ridges. Since accommodation is limited in many areas, most groups complete the trek as a camping adventure.
Camping allows trekkers to experience the region more closely. During the evenings, travellers often gather around a campfire and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. At the same time, they can learn about the traditions and daily lives of local communities.
Mountain Views and Local Culture
The Rara Trek offers excellent views of Himalayan peaks, including Api and Saipal. Meanwhile, trekkers also enjoy rolling green hills, rivers, and untouched landscapes throughout the journey.
The region is home to Brahmin, Chhetri, and several other ethnic communities. Therefore, visitors can experience unique customs, warm hospitality, and traditional lifestyles. These cultural encounters, in turn, make the trek even more rewarding.
Why Choose the Rara Trek?
The Rara Trek is more than a mountain walk. Instead, it is a journey into one of Nepal’s most peaceful and unspoiled regions. Whether you seek natural beauty, cultural experiences, or a quiet Himalayan escape, Rara offers an unforgettable adventure.
Finally, if you are looking for more trekking adventures in Nepal, explore our popular Everest Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Base Camp Trek, and Langtang Valley Trek packages. Each of these treks offers spectacular mountain views, rich local culture, and unforgettable experiences in the Himalayas.
Related Treks
Short Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu and Transfer to Hotel
Day 02: Sightseeing in Kathmandu & Evening flight to Nepalgunj.
Day 03: Fly to Rara Airport(2,735 m) & Trek to Gumgadi.
Day 04: Trek to Rara Lake from Gumgadi.
Day 05: Rara Lake Exploration Day
Day 06: Trek from Rara Lake to Gorosingha (3050m)
Day 07: Trek from Gorosingha to Sinja (2490m)
Day 08: Trek from Sinja to Chala Chaur (2980m)
Day 09: Trek from Chala Chaur to Chere Chaur (3055m)
Day 10: Trek from Chere Chaur to Jumla(2,514 m)
Day 11: Early morning flight to Nepalgunj and Afternoon flight to Kathmandu
Day 12: International Departure.
Detail Itinerary
1 hr drive BB Plan Hotel/Resort
A hot welcome to you in the beautiful city of Kathmandu. On your arrival, our representative from Nepal Dream path will receive you at Tribhuvan Airport and transfer you to the Hotel in a comfortable private vehicle. In the afternoon, we will organize a welcome dinner and inform you of all the necessary information you need during your stay in Nepal. We will introduce you to all the individuals who will be part of this Rara Lake trek. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Today, we will take you sightseeing in the world heritage sites of Kathmandu with our well-trained guide. Visiting Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath Stupa, and Kathmandu Durbar Square are the day's main highlights. In the evening, we would fly to Nepalgunj.
30 min fly BB plan Hotel/Resort
We will fly from Nepalgunj to Talcha Airport and we would walk towards the Gumgadi.
You can enjoy a semitropical warm climate along with the different cultures and traditions of far southwest Nepal. Also, you can visit local markets, mini zoos, and indulge yourself in street food. Overnight stay in a hotel.
05 hrs walk All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee] Tea House
After breakfast, we will take a walk to Rara Lake. We can see panoramic views, natural landscapes, and beautiful sights throughout the journey.
Today, after having breakfast, we will spend our whole day exploring Rara Lake and its surroundings. We can visit a wooden viewing tower for the panorama of the emerald, picturesque lake. Also, we can go hiking in the surrounding hills and witness different species of flora, fauna, and birds. Boating on the crystal clear water of the lake, watching various types of endemic fish, water birds, and frogs, will make you feel like you are in heaven. The greenery of the forest surrounding Rara Lake is covered by surrounding mountain peaks; one cannot expect more than this from nature. Overnight camping at Rara Lakeshore.
6-7 hrs walk All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee] Tea House
On this day, leaving behind the majestic Rara Lake, we will trek to Gorosingha. We will continue our Rara Lake trek uphill through Chapri village, the headquarters of Rara National Park. From there, we will ascend, crossing many beautiful settlements and the Khatyar Khola camp to Chuchemara Danda. From there, enjoying the beautiful distant panorama of the Himalayas, we will descend to Gorosingha for an overnight stay.
4-5 hrs walk All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee] Tea House
On this day, after having breakfast, we’ll leave Gorosingha for Sinja. Following the downstream trail, we’ll reach a small settlement of Gani. From Gani, the Rara Lake trek continues to Laha. Further, we’ll continue following downhill trails leading to Sinja Valley for an overnight stop. Sinja Valley is a beautiful settlement located on the bank of the Hema River. Sinja Valley used to be the capital of the Malla Dynasty from the 12th-14th century and offers lots of historic and religious places to explore for trekkers.
4-5 hrs walk All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee] Tea house
Leaving beautiful Sinja Valley behind, we’ll head towards Chala Chaur passing many small settlements. The trail goes back and forth across the Jaljala River.
Finally, after a trek of 4-5 hours, you’ll reach Chala Chaur for an overnight stay.
5-6 hrs walk All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee] Tea House
From Chala Chaur, the Rara Lake trek goes downhill to the Jaljala Chaur, which will present you with a gigantic meadow full of horses. After some rest at Jaljala Chaur, we will hike on a moderately straight trail until the Jaljala pass (3580m), which offers a beautiful view of Mt. Kanjiroba. From Jaljala pass, we will descend downhill passing through beautiful rhododendron, Birch, and Pine forest until Chere Chaur. Chere Chaur is a high-altitude meadow that offers a gorgeous view of Jumla. Overnight stay at Chere Chaur.
05 hrs walk All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee] Tea House
This walk is the final day of our Rara Lake trek, as we will trek back to Jumla. From Chere Chaur, our path gradually climbs up, passing through green forests, ancient monasteries, and beautiful villages all the way to Khalanga Bazaar. Khalanga Bazaar is a small marketplace for the people living in the surrounding villages. From here, we will continue downhill until Jumla for the overnight stop.
20 min and 30 min fly BB Plan Hotel/Resort
After having breakfast at Jumla, we will fly back to Nepalgunj in the early morning. After the days of the Rara Lake trek, today we will spend our day resting at a hotel in Nepalgunj and enjoying the city. In the afternoon, we will have another flight to Kathmandu from Nepalgunj. On reaching Kathmandu, our representative from Nepal Dream Path will transfer you to the Hotel. We will organize a farewell dinner tonight, as you are spending your last night in Nepal, and to celebrate the success of your trek. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Today, with a heavy heart we will transfer you to Tribhuvan international airport about 3 hours earlier than your scheduled flight time. Farewell and have a safe journey back to your home. Hope we will meet again and have a great time together.
Equipment List
- Sun Hat
- Worm hat (it means worm one to protect your head from cold)
- Headlight
- Sun Cream/lip guard
- Sunglasses
- Tooth pest/Brush/soap
- Gloves
- Down Jacket
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Jumper/fleecy jacket
- T-shirt
- Long underwear
- Windbreaker trouser
- Towel
- Wool socks
- Cotton socks
- Trekking boots
- Sewing kits
- Water bottle
- Swiss knife
- Extra batteries
- Flip flops
- Raincoat/ Umbrella
- Rucksacks(For a Day)
- Sleeping Bag
- Medical & first aid kit
- Trekking Crampon (If you are going to do a trek in winter then you need a Crampon for your trekking.)
What's included?
- All transportation and Arrival, Departure transfers are as per the Itinerary.
- Hotel accommodation with BB plan in city and Tea house or Camping in Trekking as per itinerary.
- Full-day guided tour of Kathmandu including private vehicle, Entry permits, and a well-experienced city guide.
- All meals are included during the Rara Lake trek (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Tea/Coffee).
- Guide, porters, and other support staff as per your requirement and out the agreed price.
- National Park Fees and all required permits.
- General First-Aid Kits for All.
- All taxes and fees are required for the program.
What's not included?
- Meals in the cities.
- Personal expenses (Laundry, bar bills, water, etc).
- Travel Insurance (Essential).
- Personal trekking gear is not mentioned in the contract.
- Tips for staff.
- Personal first aid kit.