Rara Lake Trek
Also known as Rara National Park Trek (Jumla to Rara, exit via Talcha).
Rara Lake Trek is a moderate 7-10-day teahouse/camping mix trek in the Far West region of Nepal, reaching 3,691 m. It starts at Jumla and ends at Talcha (Rara airstrip).
Key facts
- Region
- Far West (Jumla, Mugu)
- Duration
- 7-10 days, 4-6 hours walking per day
- Distance
- 65 km
- Maximum altitude
- 3,691 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate — Modest maximum altitude (~3,700 m ridges, lake at 2,990 m) and 4-7 hour days, but the region is remote, facilities are basic, and access flights/roads are unreliable. Physically moderate; logistically demanding.
- Trek type
- Teahouse/Camping mix, point-to-point route
- Best season
- Autumn (Sep-Nov) and spring (Apr-May)
- Guide
- Not mandatory
- Restricted area
- No
- Budget cost
- NPR 98,000–140,000
- Comfortable cost
- NPR 140,000–200,000
- Guided cost
- NPR 168,000–238,000
- Getting there
- Kathmandu → Nepalgunj (flight 1h) → Jumla 2,370 m (STOL flight ~35 min) → trek 3-4 days to Rara Lake → 2-3 h walk to Talcha airstrip → Talcha → Nepalgunj → Kathmandu. Overland alternative: Kathmandu/Nepalgunj → Surkhet → Manma/Talcha or Jumla by 4WD (roughly 2 days of rough driving).
- Altitude sickness
- Low to moderate: the lake sits at 2,990 m and passes reach ~3,700 m; mild AMS symptoms possible if flying straight to Jumla/Talcha and ascending quickly.
Weather
Clear, cold autumn weather is ideal; winter brings heavy snow (park HQ area can be snowbound Dec-Feb) though some visit for snow scenery; monsoon makes Talcha/Jumla flights and the Surkhet road unreliable. Nights are cold year-round at the lake (2,990 m).
Permits
- Rara National Park Entry Permit — NPR 3,000 for foreigners. Where to get it: Park entry gate (Talcha/Jumla side) or DNPWC Kathmandu
- TIMS Card — NPR 2,000 for foreigners. Where to get it: NTB Kathmandu/Pokhara via agency
Itinerary
- Day 1: Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, 0 h, 150 m — Transfer to Terai; overnight for morning mountain flight
- Day 2: Nepalgunj to Chere Chaur, 3-4 h, 3,055 m — STOL flight to Jumla (2,370 m); gentle walk into alpine meadows
- Day 3: Chere Chaur to Chalachaur, 5-6 h, 2,980 m — Cross Jaljala Pass (3,580 m), pine and birch forest
- Day 4: Chalachaur to Sinja Valley, 5-6 h, 2,490 m — Historic Sinja valley — capital of the medieval Khasa (Malla) kingdom, origin of the Nepali language (Jumli dialect)
- Day 5: Sinja to Ghorosingha, 5-6 h, 3,050 m — Hika Gad stream valley, forest climb
- Day 6: Ghorosingha to Rara Lake, 6-7 h, 2,990 m — Ridge crossing (~3,690 m) below Chuchemara Danda, first views over Nepal's largest lake
- Day 7: Rara Lake to Rara Lake, 3-5 h, 2,990 m — Exploration day: lake circuit sections, Murma Top viewpoint (~3,700 m) optional
- Day 8: Rara Lake to Talcha, 2-3 h, 2,735 m — Short walk to the airstrip settlement
- Day 9: Talcha to Kathmandu, 0 h, 1,400 m — Return flights