Rara --- The beautiful and biggest lake + Rara National Park

(for more picture click Rara...)

Rara Lake (2980 m) lies in the remote Karnali region in the north-west of Nepal and is centerpiece of Rara Lake National Park. Rara Lake is Nepals largest lake and is a clear blue mountain lake with juniper, spruce and pine trees along its shores and snowcapped peaks in the distance. We fly in to Jumla and the first part of the trek takes us through forests and over alpine meadows with herds of sheep and goats. After three days we reach the stunning Rara Lake with fantastic views of Dolpo and Tibetan mountains across the deep blue water. We spend a day exploring the area with abundant wildlife and enjoy the quiet beaches and the views. The four day return trek to Jumla takes us through remote villages and alpine pastures with great views of the mountain ranges on the border to Tibet and southern part of Humla.

Trekking in Rara Lake offers the best scenery on the north-western most side of Nepal. Within its confines lie the Rara national park, the smallest park in Nepal, where in turn the country's largest lake, the Rara Lake can be found (10.8 sq. km. At 2,990 meters). Considered one of the finest parks in the world, Rara National Park abounds in coniferous forest and is the ideal habitat for the musk deer, Himalayan black bear and other faunae. The Danfe (Impeyan Pheasant) the national bird of Nepal, flies above while a variety of fish, the snow trout, inhabit the Rara lake. Adding charm to the region are its generally open-hearted and friendly people. The trek can begin in Jumla (over an hours flight from Kathmandu) or from the nearer Nepalgunj.

Rara is a good destination point for trekking in the west. The trail is very much "off the beaten path" and affords glimpses of culture and scenery very different from those in the rest of the country. The centerpiece of the park is the biggest lake of Nepal. Along mountain paths and a series of picturesque villages, one reaches the magnificent banks of Rara lake. The park includes Trans- Himalayan valley with high ridges covered with forest and alpine pastures.

view of Rara



When is the best season?

The best season for this trek is half of February to First week of June and September to early December.
 

Half of February to First week of June: From the half of February until the first part of June temperatures are relatively warm, 10° to 15° warmer than in the fall. Mornings are bright and clear with the air slowly becoming hazier as the day progresses. The rhododendron forests in springtime are spectacular, with color displays that are "Himalayan" in beauty. June is warm and green with many fewer people - the sense of solitude is much greater than other seasons.

September to half of December: September to early December is an ideal time for the best mountain  views. The days are typically sunny and clear with moderate temperatures and the evenings are usually quite cold.

Note: July to August is the Monsoon period in Nepal. However, it is possible to do trekking in rain shadow area like Mustang, Rara, Dolpo, Annapurna circuit, Lantang valley, Everest base camp and Gokyo valley respectively.

How  can you trek in Rara Lake area ?

Rara Lake Trekking can be organize only camping (Tented Camp). On a camping trek you will sleep in tents. The staff includes a guide, cook, Sherpa and sufficient porters to carry all trekking gear. Even if you have never camped before, there is no need to worry that you won’t enjoy the experience. The tents we provide are roomy, the sleeping pads/ mattresses are comfortable and international style food of a high standard is freshly prepared and served. On all of our treks a bathroom tent is provided as well as a dining tent with tables and camp stools, providing a cozy, comfortable atmosphere to eat and chat with fellow trekkers during the evening.
 

How Camping Trek is Operated? 

In a typical Camping Trek, day starts around 6 a.m. with a cup of hot tea or coffee followed by a bucked of warm water for their washing and cleaning. After packing up their stuff and daypack, the trekkers are requested to leave their camp and meet at the dinning table for breakfast. The trek started around 7.30 - 8 a.m. and the kitchen staffs go ahead of the group.
Our well trained staff pack all camping equipment and gears and the porters carry them to the next camping site. The trekkers should carry only personal belongings that they may need for the day like water bottle, rain gear, camera, etc.

The Trekkers can decide on their own on time for viewing the beautiful landscape, taking photographs  and resting or making a short pause. The walk to the lunch spot normally takes 3 hours. Our cook and assistant serves hot lunch upon arrival. The afternoon walk takes about 3 to 4 hours to reach at the night camp around 4/5 p.m. Tea and snacks are served while our sherpa pitch the camp. The dinner is served around 6/7 p.m. in the dining tent lit with a pressurized lantern and furnished with table and camping tools. We provide high quality tents, foam and mattress, and a simple toilet tent in every camp for once comfort.

Fact of the Trek                              

Place Covers                   Rara Lake
Group Size                      Min.1, Max. 9

Trek Grade                     Moderate
Min. altitude                    2370m
Max. altitude                   3500m
Season                            February to June and September to November
Transportation                 Tourist Bus (Kathmandu - Kathmandu)
Trek Duration                  14 Days
Age Limit                        10 to 70

Posted in: Lakes of Nepal