Rara Lake Trek  - 15 Days

Upon our arrival in the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, we will be greeted by a representative from Himalayan Glacier who will drop us off at our hotel. After checking in, we take a rest or visit Himalayan Glacier’s office. In the evening, there will be a welcome dinner hosted by Himalayan Glacier which will introduce you to the Nepalese cuisine.

After breakfast, we begin our sightseeing tour by visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites within Kathmandu. Kathmandu Durbar Square showcases Nepalese art and architecture at its best. The architecture is typical of the Malla dynasty who ruled over Nepal from the 12th to the 18th century. Swayambhunath Temple is popular among foreigners as the Monkey Temple owing to the large monkey population residing in the area. Pashupatinath Temple is situated on the banks of the Bagmati River and is one of the principal temples of Lord Shiva. The Bauddhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in South Asia which is built on the ancient trade route to Tibet.

After our short excursion in Kathmandu, we take an hour-long flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, located in Western Nepal. Nepalgunj, a town near the Nepal-India border, is also the gateway to Simikot, Humla. The town itself is an interesting Terai town that showcases the diverse culture of Nepal. In Nepalgunj, we visit the local market, mini-zoo and nearby villages. Overnight in Nepalgunj.

After early breakfast we leave the Terai plains of Nepalgunj and fly to the hilly landscape of Jumla, one of the least accessible districts in Nepal. Situated in the foothills of the Sisne Himalya, Jumla is also the gateway for trekkers who want to explore the remote Karnali region of Nepal.  Overnight in Jumla.

Today is the first day of our trek. We leave Jumla and ascend to Chere Chaur along the Jugad Khola. On the way, we pass Khalanga Bazzar, a small market place for the nearby villages. We also pass a couple of villages and a temple before reaching our destination. Overnight in Chere Chaur.

From Chere Chaur we take the western trail and ascend slowly until the Jaljala pass (3580m). We cross the pass and continue trekking on a relatively straight trail until reaching Jaljala Chaur. From here we ascend on a steep trail and enter the Rara Lake Circuit before reaching Chalachaur. Overnight in Chalachaur.

It is an uphill climb to Sinja Valley. On the way we pass through several villages and walk along the Jaljala Khola (stream). Sinja Valley holds an important place in the history of Nepal. The valley houses the ancient capital city of the Khasa Kingdom that ruled this area from the 12th to the 14th century. Palaces, temples, and the ancient remains of a settlement were uncovered during excavations spearheaded by the Department of Archaeology at Cambridge University. Overnight in Sinja Valley.

We leave Sinja on an uphill trail alongside Hima River. From the village we climb on a steep trail for a while followed by a relatively easy trail until Laha Village.  From Laha, it is a steep climb up until Ghorosingha alongside Ghatte khola (stream). Overnight in Ghorosingha.

We begin our steep ascent after breakfast. Our trail is alongside Chuchhemara Danda from where we get to admire the Himalayan panorama, the vast and tranquil Rara Lake, and the lush vegetation of the Rara National Park. On the way to Rara Lake, we pass through Khatyar Khola Camp and a few villages including Murma. From Murma, the ascent gets a little easier. We continue walking towards Chapri village which houses the Rara National Park Head Quarter. Overnight at Rara Lake.

Rara Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Nepal. After breakfast we investigate the azure waters of the massive lake also referred to as Mahendra Taal (Lake) after late king Mahendra. While boating we get to admire the picturesque setting of the lake and discover quite a few varieties of fish. Chuchemara Peak lies on the southern side of the Rara Lake whereas Ruma Kand and Malika Kand peaks frame its northern area. Overnight at Rara Lake.

From Rara Lake our trail is easy and we walk on a relatively straight path until Gamgadhi which is the headquarters  of the remote Mugu District of Nepal.  From Gamgadhi, we descend on a steep trail to Pina Village where we spend the night.

From Pina we descend and cross the Ghurchi Lagna pass at 3480 m. We continue our descent and pass through a few villages before reaching Bumra. The Bumra village is also known as Nauri Ghat.

We cross two suspension bridges above Hima River and walk downhill. After walking for a few hours, we get to a hot spring where we can ease our aching body with a dip. Not long after the hot spring, we cross Danphe Lagna pass at 3691 m. After reaching Cherechaur, we follow the same trail we took couple of days back and reach Jumla. Overnight in Jumla.

We take the earliest flight available to Nepalgunj from Jumla. After reaching Nepalgunj, we fly yet again to Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. After reaching Kathmandu, we freshen up and take a rest. In the evening there will be a farewell dinner hosted by Himalayan Glacier to celebrate the successful completion of the Rara Lake trek. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Our Himalayan Glacier representative will escort you to the Tribhuwan International Airport for your connecting flight home approximately 3 hours earlier than the scheduled time. Have a safe flight back home!