A trek to Rara Lake takes you to a pristine off-the-beaten-track destination of Nepal. With majestic blue water that is draped by gorgeous hills on its sides, Rara is the largest and deepest freshwater lake in the Himalayas of Nepal.
Rara Trek takes you through Rara National Park. This is the smallest national park in Nepal and The forest lights up with the signature red colour of the rhododendron forests that are found plenty in this national park.
The national park is also home to 240 species of birds and 51 species of mammals. This makes it a popular destination for bird watchers and animal lovers.
Your Rara trek starts after a flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and another connecting flight to Jumla. Rara lies in the remote parts of Nepal which give you a taste of the authentic rural lifestyle of Nepal.
Rara lake lies at an altitude of 2990 meters. It has a depth of 167 meters and covers an area of 10.8 square kilometres. But during the trek, you will cross two mountain passes i.e. Danphe Lagna Pass and Ghurchi Lagna pass. They have altitudes of 3691 m 3480 m respectively.
Rara lake trek is an unforgettable experience in the wilderness of the western part of Nepal. Trekking there is a sumptuous experience with views of the snow-capped mountains, wonderful lakes, and culture of this region.
RARA LAKE TREK HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit UNESCO world heritage sites like Durbar Squares, temples and stupas
- Walk in the off-the-beaten-path of western Nepal
- Pass two beautiful mountain passes Danphe Langa Pass(3691 m) and Ghurchi Langa Pass (3480 m)
- Explore diverse flora and fauna of the regional flora and fauna in the region
- Cance to learn about the lifestyle of the people who reside in remort villages of western Nepal.
- Notice different types of climatic variations in the same trip
- Walk past the lush forests of pines and oaks, and diverse vegetation
- Catch the enticing views of many snowcapped mountains
- Enjoy the scenic flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj
What to Expect:
1. Food and accommodation
During Rara Lake trek, you will have to isolate yourself from luxurious things as the Lake falls in one of the most remote of Nepal. Teahouses are available to spend the night run by local peoples. They provide you with very basic accommodation service and food items. You can expect to have Dal Bhat, fried rice, soup, noodles, pasta, potatoes, vegetables, eggs etc.
However, while in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj, you will stay in 3-starred hotels with breakfast service. For lunch and dinner, you can explore various traditional and modern dishes available in the cities.
2. People and their lifestyle
During your Rara Lake trek, you pass through many rural and isolated settlements of western Nepal. Most of the people here depend upon agriculture for survival. Some of the villagers extract medicinal herbs and sell them to make the living. Most of the villages here are dominated by Thakur society. There is also a temple of Thakur Baba in the south corner of Lake. It is interesting to explore these communities with there own and unique belief system and lifestyle.
3. Rara Lake
Rara Lake is the biggest freshwater Lake in Nepal. The dark blue water surrounded by dense forest is the heavenly place to visit. This Lake is situated at the isolated place of Jumla district so te trail to get there is strenuous but the view of the Lake is so gorgeous that will make you forget the lethargy of the whole trek. As it is surrounded by the forest in every direction, you can get to see some exotic wild animals and birds in their natural habitat. With the heartwarming beauty of the lake and the surrounding environment, it is the most serene place to spend your time.
4. Rara National Park (Wildlife exploration and Bird Watching)
Rara National park is the smallest National Park of Nepal whose sole purpose is to protect the Rara Lake and the floras and faunas surrounding it. The jungle consists of 1070 species of floras mainly dominated by rhododendron, pine, oak and fir trees. Many rare species such as musk deer, red panda, snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, Indian leopard, jackal, Himalayan tahr, yellow-throated marten, otter, dhole, grey langur, and rhesus macaque etc reside in the jungle of the park. Apart from floras and faunas, 241 different species of birds are recorded to be found in the park. So, Rara National Park is a paradise for wildlife exploration. Apart from the park, you may encounter many species of animals and birds along the way as most of the trail is covered by forest.
5. Daphne Langha Pass and Ghurchi Langha Pass
To get to Rara Lake, you will have to pass two mountain passes namely Daphe Langha Pass (3691 m) and Ghurchi Langha Pass ( 3480 m). They will provide you with an amazing view of the surrounding landscapes. You can see the snow-capped mountains and the landscapes covered in Lush forests from these passes. These are some of the beautiful vantage points throughout the journey to Rara Lake.
6. Glorious views of Himalayas and Landscapes
Rara Lake Trek provides you with the plethora of the amazing view of mountains and landscapes. Most of the trek route passes through the forest of Rhododendron, oak, pine and fir forests. You will cross some beautiful river valleys, ridges etc accompanied by snowcapped mountains in the backdrop. You are guaranteed to have beautiful views of the green landscapes and mountains from almost every step of your trek journey except when you get caught up in dense forests. You will also get a thrilling bird’s eye view of the landscapes during your plane flight to Nepalgunj.