Rara Lake Trek

All menu selected meals will be provided during trekking while only breakfast will be available in Kathmandu. There will also be welcome dinner with typical cuisine and Menu selected farewell dinners. While on trek, we have breakfast and dinner in the same tea-houses/lodges we spend the night and lunch on our way to the next destination. Nepalese, Tibetan, the more common continental and Indian cuisines are common choices in the menu.

16 days Everest Base Camp Trek is a moderate for those travelers who can walk up to 6-7 hours (10-15km) a day on an uphill and downhill trail will find this trek fulfilling. It is best that we prepare ourselves for the Everest trek by morning jogging and 1 hours exercising regularly at least a month prior to the start of the trek. Trekking to the Everest Base Camp should be relatively easier for those who have experience walking/trekking in a high altitude environment. Past hiking experience would be an asset but no technical skill is required for this trip. It is also important that we consult our doctor. Participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, and blood diseases should inform Himalayan Glacier before booking the trek.

Below is the temperature table for various places you will encounter on your trek to Rara Lake. Note that the temperature is just an approximate average.

Rara Lake | A Majestic Treasure in the Himalayas

The Rara Lake trek’s major highlight is the Rara Lake itself. It is the largest freshwater lake in Nepal and is located inside the Rara National Park. It covers an area of 10.8 square kilometers and sits at an altitude of 2,990 meters. The lake is about 5.1 Km in length and 2.7 Km in width. Forested hill-like Chuchemara Danda and Murma surround it. The Saipal mountain sits beyond the hill, providing the mountain backdrop to the lake. Rara Lake is home to endemic animals like the Nepalese Snowtrout, Rara Snowtrout, and Rara Lake frog. Similarly, there are about 214 species of birds found in the region. In your trek, you can participate in activities like horse riding, jungle safaris, and boating around Rara Lake.

Sinja Valley

Sinja Valley of Jumla was once the capital of the Khasa Kingdom back in the 14th century. Your trek to Rara Lake will take you through this valley, which holds great historical significance as it is the birthplace of the Nepali Language. The cliffs near Dullu in Sinja are the earliest examples of Devanagari scripts. There are also caves in the valley with inscriptions and Buddhist Chaityas. The place was added to the tentative UNESCO World Heritage list in 2008.

Rara National Park

You must trek through the Rara National Park to reach the Rara Lake. It is the smallest national park in Nepal, including sub-alpine and high-temperate vegetation. It is home to oak, juniper, rhododendron, hemlock, and spruce. More than 214 species of birds can be found in this park, along with around 20 mammals. It is also home to animals like Himalayan Tahr, Red Panda, and Yellow-throated marten. Trekking through a diverse landscape amidst diverse flora and fauna will allow us to connect with nature.

Chuchemara Danda

Chuchemara Danda is another major attraction of the Rara Lake trek. It is a forested hill at 4,087 m that surrounds Rara Lake. During your trek, you will ascend this hill to reach the summit, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Rara and the snow-capped peaks of Saipal and other surrounding mountains. The viewpoint offers the perfect backdrop for the photograph.

Saipal Mountain

Saipal Mountain (7,031 m) is a mountain that you can witness from the Rara Lake. It is a distant Himalayan range in the northwestern Bajhang district of Nepal. You will come across this mountain from various vantage points on the Rara Lake trek.

No direct roads will take you to Rara Lake. So, you must first reach the Jumla trek from there. You can reach Jumla either by air or by road.

By Air

The flight to jumla doesn’t operate from TIA, Kathmandu. First, you must fly to Nepalgunj, from where you can fly to the Jumla airport, where your trek commences. The one-way flight would cost you around USD 100 to USD 150. An alternative route to reach Rara Lake is Talcha, where you must fly to Talcha airport from Nepalgunj. From Talcha, you can trek to reach the lake.

By Road

An adventurous option to get to Rara Lake would be by road. Traveling by road on either a public bus, tourist bus, or private vehicle takes 2-3 days to reach the starting point of the trek. You first have to reach Nepalgunj from Kathmandu or any other part of the country. It would take around 20 hours to reach Nepalgunj from Kathmandu. You have to take another road trip from Nepalgunj to reach jumla, which can be equally strenuous. However, traveling by road is more budget-friendly than traveling by air.

Your day on the Rara Lake trek will begin with the freshness in the air. Far from the city and pollution, the environment will provide a sense of newness to your day. After you wake up, you will join your guide and the trekking group (if there is one) for a quick breakfast. The guide will brief you about the next destination and the paths ahead. After you are all set to go, you will trek through the diverse landscape of the Jumla and Mugu districts. You will be trekking through the Rara National Park for most of the trek. So, you can expect to encounter changes in vegetation as you ascend/descend.

You will stop at some tea houses en route to your destination for lunch, which will refuel you with the energy to move forward on your journey. The itinerary is made so that you don’t have to trek till the evenings. So, you will reach your destination in the late afternoon, when the sun has not yet set. After locating your accommodation, you can explore the nearby settlements or rest before dinner.

While most of your days during the trek look like what is mentioned above, few are different. For example, you can explore Nepalgunj city on the second day after reaching it. After the trek, you can take a separate day sightseeing in Kathmandu. You can also go shopping and enjoy your time at pubs or clubs in Thamel. Overall, your trekking days include walking through the rugged terrain which might seem difficult but actually is adventurous.

Rara Lake is about 370 Kilometers northwest of Kathmandu. However, you must take a flight to Nepalgunj, about 500 km from Kathmandu. From Nepalgunj, you must reach Jumla to start the trek to Rara Lake. It is about 40 minutes of flight and covers a distance of 150 km. You have to trek from Jumla to reach the lake. The total distance from Jumla to Rara is about 50 Km.

The initial package for a 15-day Rara Lake trek at Nepal Base Camp Trek is USD 950. However, the cost might vary depending on your itinerary, chosen services, and personal expenses during the trek. A budget solo trek would be cheaper, ranging from USD 500 to USD 800. Below is the cost breakdown for the Rara Lake Trek.

You will need to obtain two specific permits for the Rara Lake trek. They are:

Rara National Park Permit

The Rara Lake lies inside the Rara National Park, which is a protected piece of land. You need to obtain a permit to trek in such areas. In this case, you must get a Rara National Park permit. You can obtain the permit from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) or at the park’s entrance gate. The price of this permit (per person) is as follows:

• NPR 3,000 (~ USD 22) for non-SAARC nationals
• NPR 1,500 (~USD 11) for SAARC nationals
• NPR 100 for Nepalese
• Free for children below 10 years

Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card

You must also obtain Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS) card to trek to Rara Lake. This card ensures your safety and helps locate you in an emergency evacuation. You can obtain this card either from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) or the Trekking Agencies’ of the Association of Nepal (TAAN). You can also get the E-TIMS card from the E-TIMS card portal. The TIMS card costs NPR 2,000 (~USD 15) for foreigners and NPR 1,000 (~USD 8) for citizens of the SAARC countries.

Rara Lake trek is a moderately difficult trek due to its remote location, altitude (depending on itinerary), and limited infrastructure facilities. Other difficulties include weather, trekking duration, distance, and trail conditions. But they are all that you can easily deal with with proper preparation. So, here are some of the challenges you will face in your trek.

Limited Number of Infrastructure Facilities

Remoteness is the major difficulty of the Rara Lake trek. Due to its remote location, a limited number of infrastructure facilities are available in the trek. First, you must take two flights to reach the starting point of the trek. Second, there are fewer tea houses along the way with a limited number of food options. So there is not much to choose from. And third, no major hospitals and health posts are along the trail. So, even a slight health issue can become serious due to a lack of medical care.

Altitude

Rara Lake is relatively easier in terms of altitude than other popular treks. The highest elevation of the trek is Chuchemara Danda at 4,087 m, which is manageable for any experienced trekker. Even beginners with good fitness can climb the hill. However, altitude becomes a problem if you don’t have a habit of sedentary lifestyle and do not exercise. If taken lightly, it can be an issue and pose a risk of altitude sickness. You can simply focus on improving your cardiovascular health and are all set to explore one of Nepal’s largest and deepest lakes.

Trail Conditions

Reaching the largest lake in Nepal comes with the challenges of traversing through the steep ascents and descents. Some sections are rocky and hard to navigate. Hence, the risk of sprain or injuries is a possibility. The forested path can be slippery, especially in the summer/monsoon season. Accidents might occur at any time with one wrong footing. So, navigating these trails requires you to be physically fit.

The best time to undertake the Rara Lake trek entirely depends upon your preference, i.e., what you want from the trek. If you want a comfortable trekking experience, then Autumn (September to November) might be the right time. But if you want to witness the white blanket surrounding the blue lake, Winter (December to Feburary) is your season. It all comes down to what you want. Now, let us see what each season has to offer so that you can decide which season to choose for your journey to Rara Lake.

Spring (March to May)

It is in Spring that Rara comes to life. The blooming rhododendrons, wildflowers, trees at their finest form, clear sky, and azure water in the lake all add to the beauty of Rara Lake. The mild temperature of around 10°C to 20°C is also comfortable for trekking.

Autumn (September to November)

Another good time to explore this stunning lake is in autumn when nature takes on the vintage form. The trees are golden, and the sky is crystal. Additionally, it is the festive season and perfectly fits cultural exploration. The moderate temperature of the daytime, ranging from 10°C to 18°C is ideal for hiking, and the nighttime temperature, ranging from -3°C to 5°C is ideal for obtaining a sound sleep.

Summer/Monsoon (June to August)

Trekking to Rara in the monsoon invites the adventure your way. If you take this trek in summer, it will be all about rain, mud, greenery, and Rara in its biggest form. However, you must prepare for extremely hot temperatures up to 25°C during the daytime, maybe even more so in lower elevations. Handling the temperature is insufficient: you must handle the heavy rain and slippery trail. So, if you are trekking in summer, you must be cautious.

Winter (December to February)

Like the monsoon trek, the winter trek to Rara is also challenging and advantageous. The first challenge is the freezing temperatures. The nighttime temperature can reach up to -10°C or more. Getting proper sleep that heals your body might be difficult in this season. Moreover, the trails will be covered in snow, making navigating harder. But, if you can handle all of those, the peaceful trails will take you through the stunning snow-covered landscapes to the lake, whose beauty is unmatched by any other season.

Hotels, lodges, guest houses, tea houses, and camping are the accommodation options in the Rara Lake trek. You will stay at least a three-star hotel in Kathma ndu and Nepalgunj. You don’t have to compromise on facilities during your hotel stay. You will be staying in a guest house or a lodge in Jumla, the starting point of the trek. However, the facilities decrease after the trek begins and you hit the trails. The only accommodation option available is tea houses, which are family-run and mostly made of wood and stones.

The tea houses offer enough bedding to keep you warm. They usually have two to three beds in a single room. So, you might have to share a room with a fellow trekker. You can receive other amenities like charging and showers at an extra price. The cost of these tea houses is around USD 5 just for the lodging.

Camping as an Accommodation Option

Another accommodation option for the trek is camping. Our itinerary includes Camping as an option during the trek. After reaching Rara Lake, the staff will set up camps on the shore of the Lake. You can enjoy a short night walk across the lake with the stars in the sky. In addition to camping in Rara Lake, you can also stay at set campsites in scenic locations to obtain an immersive natural experience. Here are a few things you must bring for safe and enjoyable camping.

• Tent
• Sleeping bag and pad
• Camping stove and fuel
• Cookware
• Water filtration system
• Multi-tool
• Ropes

Similar to accommodation, there are multiple food options at Kathmandu, Nepalgunj, and Jumla, ranging from traditional Nepali dishes to international cuisine. However, the options get limited after your trek starts, as the only means to get food to the tea houses along the trails is by foot. Nepalese dal, bhat, tarkari, and achar (Lentil soup, rice, curry, and pickle) are your options for lunch and dinner. Some tea houses might offer Thukpa, noodles, and mo: mo. You can expect bread, porridge, eggs, chickpeas, and oats with tea and coffee for breakfast. You can carry dates, dry fruits, energy bars, and protein bars to deal with hunger when tea houses are not nearby.

For drinking water, you have three options. You can easily buy bottled water at tea houses. However, this can be inconvenient if you are out of water and have no tea houses nearby. Another option is to get a water bottle and refill it in the tea houses where you stayed. The last option is to use water from natural resources, which can be risky and might cause gut problems. So, if you are going for a third option, you can carry water purification tablets.

Precaution plays a major role in a successful trek. The experience of the journey to the mesmerizing Rara surrounded by the verdant landscape shouldn’t be compromised because of some mistakes. So, here are a few things you need to consider for your Rara trek.

• Ensure that your visa has enough days left. If it is expiring, you should apply for a renewal to cover the trekking days.
• You should apply for the permits at least a week before the trek starts. You can do so from the NEB or TAAN online portals. While it is not compulsory, it will save you time and hassle.
• The tea houses in the trails don’t accept e-payments or credit cards. Hence, you should exchange your currency in Kathmandu. If possible, carry changes of hundreds and fifties.
• Each place has its norms. Hence, try to abide by those rules. For example, do not enter the temples with shoes on. You can ask the locals about the rules and restrictions or ask your guide.
• During the trek, you might need emergency evacuation in case of medical urgency, which can be costly. Hence, ensure that you have travel insurance that covers emergency rescue.
• DO NOT leave behind your waste. You can carry a trash bag to collect your waste. You can bring it back and throw it where it belongs.