Rara Lake Tour – A complete Guide

With the immense love of growing local tourists, Rara Lake is coming slowly as the main highlight of the tourism industry of Nepal. It is nature’s gift to the Himalayas which is the biggest lake in Nepal situated 2990 m above sea level. Over the past few years, the growth of local tourists in Rara seems remarkable; whereas the appearance of foreigners is pitiful in the region. The flow of foreign trekkers is five times as low as Everest Region. But why?

The main reason behind the appearance of low foreign tourists in Rara is that it is far away from the capital Kathmandu of the country. Moreover, travel agencies and promoters only focus on the Khumbu region, Annapurna Region, and Langtang Region. That is why it’s been shadowed behind adventure activities like Everest Base Camp Trek and Annapurna Circuit Trek.

Mid Western and Far Western Regions’ Mountain areas are still the remotest place of Nepal even it can be the remotest place in South Asia.

Rara Lake Facts:

Name: Rara Lake
Max Depth: 167 m
Area: 9.8 km square
Surface Elevation: 2990m
District: Mugu
Highest Point/Best Viewpoint: Manma Top (3120 m approx.)

Rara Lake Tour

Rara Lake visit can be possible with several options like one can visit Rara using either Jeep Tour, Domestic flight to Talcha, or Trekking from Jumla.

Rara Lake Jeep Tour

By using a Jeep, you can visit Rara but we suggest you have a four-wheeler jeep as the road condition of the Karnali Highway is so harsh. If it is the rainy season, then you can’t think of doing a jeep tour to Rara because your vehicle can fall on the slime of the road. Or it is even risk of falling down from the road.

We nine people were on the way back from the Rara tour when we heard that two-vehicle fell down from the road though we did not see the incident.

Itinerary of Kathmandu to Rara Jeep Tour

• Day 01: Kathmandu to Kohalpur by Jeep: (9 – 10 hrs) – It is a too long trip by a jeep. So I think you can stay somewhere around Butwal.
• Day 02: Kohalpur to Kalikot via Surkhet (Birendranagar) and Guranse Danda: 9 – 10 hrs – Today, you will touch a small part of Bardia National Park where you may get lucky to see Pate Bagh (Bengal Tiger). So, be aware when you get off your Jeep. The road is pretty awful after Dailekh. So that it takes 8 to 10 hrs to reach Kalikot while it is only about 77 km far from Surkhet. During the trip, you will be mesmerized by the beauty of Mid Western Region. You will pass by touching some parts of the Surkhet, Dailekh, Achham, Jajarkot, and Kalikot districts. I was literally scared in somewhere between Dailekh and Achham District as we pass through such a narrow road that a driver should be so cautious while driving. Otherwise, anything can happen there as the landslip was about 60 feet down from the road. When you see Glittering in Kalikot Headquarters, then you feel an amazing experience. I am assuming you will reach Kalikot in the evening. So, you can stay here in Kalikot Headquarters which is a hill station. You can even go directly to Nagpa Bazaar and stay there. It is 6 kilometers away from Kalikot Bazaar, situated on the bank of the Mugu Karnali river.
• Day 03: Kalikot to Rara Lake: 8-9 hrs
• Day 04: Hike to Manma Height and Visit Manma Village – Meet local people and enjoy the cultural program
• Day 05: Rara to Nagpa Bazaar
• Day 06: Nagpa Bazaar to Kohalpur
• Day 07: Kohalpur to Kathmandu

Rara Lake Tour by Flight from Nepalgunj to Talcha Airport

If you take a flight from Nepalgunj to Talcha Airport, it will definitely reduce all your driving journey, but you can not experience and see how Karnali actually is. Because you miss seeing the Surkhet, Dailekh, Kalikot, and Jumla as well as Sinja Valley. Sinja Valley is believed that the Khas Arya people of Nepal and currently Uttarakhand, India originated. So, it is one of the most important places in Nepal.

Itinerary of Kathmandu to Rara Lake with a flight from Nepalgunj to Talcha airport, Mugu

• Day 01: Kathmandu to Nepalgunj drive (or you can take a flight to Nepalgunj)
• Day 02: Fly to Talcha airport, Mugu (30 – 40 min) and hike Rara Lake (45 min), then walk toward the Rara Resort which is on the bank of Rara Lake (2 hrs approx). Now visit around the Lake
• Day 03: Hike to Manma Height and Visit Manma village
• Day 04: Fly back to Nepalgunj, and drive back to Kathmandu

Rara Lake Trekking from Jumla

Trekking is popular in Nepal as it has a wide lower and upper Himalayan range. Unlike Everest Base Camp Trek and Annapurna Base Camp Trek, the journey to Rara Lake by trekking is literally a long exhausting trip but the beauty of Karnali avoids all your tiredness of trekking.

Itinerary of Rara Lake Trek

• Day 01: Fly to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu
• Day 02 Fly to Jumla from Nepalgunj (2540 m)
• Day 03: Trek to Chere Chaur (3055 m)
• Day 04: Trek to Chalachaur (2990 m)
• Day 05: Trek to Sinja Valley (2490 m)
• Day 06: Trek to Ghorosingha (3050 m)
• Day 07: Trek to Rara Lake (3010 m)
• Day 08: Exploration Day at Rara Lake (3010 m)
• Day 09: Trek to Pina (2440 m)
• Day 10: Trek to Bumra (2850 m)
• Day 11: Trek to Jumla (2540 m)
• Day 12: Fly back to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj

Rara Lake Tour Cost for Nepali citizens

If you travel in a group, then obviously the surprising amount will decrease on your budget planning of the Rara Lake Tour. I already told you that we nine people in a group visited hiring a Jeep (Scorpio jeep) which cost approx. Rs. 11000 for each of us including food, accommodation, transportation, and also horse riding. I don’t think it exceeds more than Rs. 18000 for each person if you travel by land transportation. Indeed, the cost of the Rara Tour also depends upon your trip type, trip duration, and your nature of expenditure.