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Rara Lake Trek Itinerary

Nepal's largest lake, in a quiet national park of pine, spruce and rhododendron. A 5-day plan from Kathmandu with daily stops, altitudes and walking times, an altitude profile, warnings and permits. Pick your start date and add it to your calendar.

Duration

5 days

1 walking, from Kathmandu

Highest point

2,990 m

Rara Lake

Difficulty

Easy

Rara National Park (far west)

Best months

March to May + September to November

Spring and autumn

Planning guide, not a substitute for a guide. Altitudes and walking times are compared from several operator itineraries and differ between sources by 10 to 150 m and by an hour or more. Weather, trail damage and road changes alter plans. Confirm your route, permits and fees with a licensed agency or guide.

Plan your dates

Add rest or spare days

Altitude profile

The height you sleep at each night. Dots: green rest day, amber and red a bigger climb than the usual guideline. Triangles mark the highest point of a day.

0k1k2k3k4k3,000 m: altitude guidelines startDay 1: Nepalgunj, about 150 mDay 2: Rara Lake, about 2,990 mDay 3: Rara Lake, about 2,990 mDay 4: Nepalgunj, about 150 mDay 5: Kathmandu, about 1,400 m12345Day

No day exceeds the usual altitude guidelines on this plan.

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Kathmandu to Nepalgunj

    Sleep: Nepalgunj · about 150 mFlight about 1 h

    Fly to Nepalgunj on the southern plains. It is hot in the pre-monsoon months.

  2. Day 2

    Nepalgunj to Talcha and walk to Rara Lake

    Sleep: Rara Lake · about 2,990 m (sources: 2,990 to 3,040 m)Walking 2 to 4 hFlight Nepalgunj to Talcha about 45 min (limited daily flights, weather dependent)

    From Talcha airport walk up through pine forest to the lake. Sources give between 1 and 4 hours for the walk, so allow half a day. The lake is about 2,990 m (some sources 3,010 to 3,040 m).

  3. Day 3 · rest day

    Rest day at Rara Lake

    Sleep: Rara Lake · about 2,990 m (sources: 2,990 to 3,040 m)Walking 4 to 5 h

    Walk around the lake (about 5 hours with breaks) through forest of spruce, pine and rhododendron. Keep this day for the lake circuit, or use the extra night for the Murma Top sunrise.

  4. Day 4

    Rara Lake to Talcha, fly to Nepalgunj

    Sleep: Nepalgunj · about 150 mWalking 2 to 4 hFlight Talcha to Nepalgunj about 45 min

    Walk back to Talcha for the flight to Nepalgunj. Flights are limited, so some itineraries spend a night at Talcha. Keep a spare day.

  5. Day 5

    Nepalgunj to Kathmandu

    Sleep: Kathmandu · about 1,400 mFlight about 1 h

    Fly back to Kathmandu.

Permits

  • Rara National Park entry permit
  • A TIMS card is listed by some operators, so check at the time of travel
  • Bring your passport and passport-size photos

Fees and rules change, so this page does not quote prices. Check the current fee with your agency or the permit office.

Altitude sickness basics

  • Above 3,000 m, raise your sleeping altitude by no more than about 500 m a night, and rest about every 1,000 m of climbing.
  • Headache, nausea, dizziness and unusual tiredness are early signs. Do not go higher with symptoms.
  • If symptoms get worse, or you feel confused or unsteady, go down immediately.
  • Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and do not travel alone. Ask a doctor about medication before you go.

General information, not medical advice.

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Rara Lake Trek Itinerary from Kathmandu

Rara Lake (Mahendra Tal), at about 2,990 m, is the largest lake in Nepal and lies in Rara National Park in Mugu district, far west of Kathmandu. This plan uses the short route: flights to Nepalgunj and then Talcha airport, and a short walk to the lake, followed by days to walk around the lake and climb Murma Top for the sunrise view.

Getting there is the hard part. Flights are weather dependent and Talcha has only a few flights a day, so allow spare days. The longer classic trek starts at Jumla and takes about 8 to 10 days of walking over the Danphe Lagna pass (about 3,500 to 3,700 m), sleeping in tented camps. Sources give no reliable day-by-day walking times for that route, so this page covers the shorter Talcha route.

Day-by-day itinerary (5 days)

  1. Day 1: Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. Sleep at Nepalgunj (about 150 m). Flight about 1 h.
  2. Day 2: Nepalgunj to Talcha and walk to Rara Lake. Sleep at Rara Lake (about 2,990 m). Walking about 2 to 4 h. Flight Nepalgunj to Talcha about 45 min (limited daily flights, weather dependent).
  3. Day 3: Rest day at Rara Lake. Sleep at Rara Lake (about 2,990 m). Walking about 4 to 5 h.
  4. Day 4: Rara Lake to Talcha, fly to Nepalgunj. Sleep at Nepalgunj (about 150 m). Walking about 2 to 4 h. Flight Talcha to Nepalgunj about 45 min.
  5. Day 5: Nepalgunj to Kathmandu. Sleep at Kathmandu (about 1,400 m). Flight about 1 h.

Altitudes and walking times are compared from several operator itineraries and differ between sources. Confirm your route, permits and fees with a licensed agency or guide.

Best time

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best seasons. The monsoon (June to August) brings muddy trails and transport delays, and winter is cold with snow around the lake.

Permits

  • Rara National Park entry permit
  • A TIMS card is listed by some operators, so check at the time of travel
  • Bring your passport and passport-size photos

Altitude sickness

Above 3,000 m, raise your sleeping altitude by no more than about 500 m a night and rest about every 1,000 m of climbing. Do not go higher with symptoms, and descend if they get worse. This is general information, not medical advice.

Frequently asked questions

How many days is the Rara Lake Trek from Kathmandu?

This plan takes 5 days from Kathmandu back to Kathmandu, with 1 days of walking and the rest for travel and rest. Itineraries from operators vary, and you can add extra rest days on the page.

How high does the Rara Lake Trek go?

The highest point most itineraries reach is Rara Lake, at about 2,990 m.

What is the best time for the Rara Lake Trek?

March to May and September to November. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best seasons. The monsoon (June to August) brings muddy trails and transport delays, and winter is cold with snow around the lake.

Do I need a permit for the Rara Lake Trek?

Rara National Park entry permit. A TIMS card is listed by some operators, so check at the time of travel. Bring your passport and passport-size photos. Fees change, so confirm the current amounts with your agency.

How do I get to Rara Lake?

Most visitors fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and then to Talcha airport, about 45 minutes. From Talcha it is a short walk, which sources give as 1 to 4 hours, to the lake. The overland route to Jumla is long and rough, and from Jumla the trek to Rara takes several days.

How high is Rara Lake?

About 2,990 m, with a few sources giving 3,010 or 3,040 m. Some trails near the lake reach about 3,500 m, so altitude sickness is possible but uncommon.

When is the best time to visit Rara Lake?

March to May and September to November. The monsoon months bring muddy trails and transport delays.