Rara Lake by Air
Photo: Samdesherpa, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
About
Rara is the largest lake in Nepal, deep blue among pine and juniper forest at about 2,990 m in the far north-west, inside the smallest national park in the country. Reaching it on foot from Jumla takes a week. This short trip flies instead: to Nepalgunj in the plains, then by small plane to the airstrip of Talcha, and an hour or two on foot to the lake. Two nights by the water, a day to walk around it and up to Murma Top, and the quiet of one of the least visited corners of Nepal.
A private journey
Your holiday in Nepal, travelled your way
Namaste, and welcome to Nepal. A week or two here can feel like a race when you are one of thirty on a coach. With your own guide it becomes a journey: the same face every morning, a car that stops for tea in a village, a slow day when you need one, and someone who knows the country and wants you to feel at home in it. I would like you to go home feeling that Nepal was kind to you.
- Room for the weather
- Flights to Talcha are few and often late; I plan a spare day and change the order when I must.
- At the lake's hours
- We walk the shore at dawn, when the water is still.
- No rush
- Two nights at the lake, not one.
- Just you, and the people you came with
- No strangers to wait for, no group to keep up with.
- The same guide from the first day to the last
- You never start again with someone new.
- Rest days when you want them
- We add one, or move the plan, whenever you need it.
- The country between the places
- Villages, rivers and roadside tea, not only the famous sights.
- Someone to look after the details
- Tickets, permits, rooms and roads are arranged for you, so your mind is free.
With warmth, Rujan Neupane
Along the way
What this day is known for.
- Rara, Nepal's largest lake
- Pine, spruce and juniper forest all around
- The view from Murma Top
- Mirror-still water at dawn
- Small-plane flights over the far west
- Very few other visitors
Day by day, night by night
Where we go, how long on the road, and where you sleep each night.| Day | The day | On the road | The night | Room + meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Day 1 · Fly to NepalgunjA one-hour flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, in the plains near the Indian border. An evening in the town.
|
About 1 hour by plane | Nepalgunj | Flight |
| Day 2 | Day 2 · Fly to Talcha, walk to RaraAn early small-plane flight north over the hills to Talcha, then 1 to 2 hours on foot through forest to the lake.
|
About 45 minutes by plane; 1 to 2 hours on foot | Rara Lake (about 2,990 m) | Flight; park entry |
| Day 3 | Day 3 · Around the lake and Murma TopA slow day: the shore path through the forest, and the climb to Murma Top for the view over the whole lake.
|
4 to 6 hours on foot, with stops | Rara Lake | — |
| Day 4 | Day 4 · Back to Talcha, fly to NepalgunjA last morning by the water, then the walk to Talcha and the flight down.
|
1 to 2 hours on foot; about 45 minutes by plane | Nepalgunj | Flight |
| Day 5 | Day 5 · Fly to KathmanduThe morning flight back to Kathmandu.
|
About 1 hour by plane | Flight |
Is this tour for you?
Walking, steps, heat and access, honestly.Not sure? Tell me who is coming, and I'll tell you honestly. Write to me
The honest downsides
What I'd want to know before booking.- Flights to Talcha are few and often delayed or cancelled; you may lose a day, or more.
- Lodges at the lake are simple, and cold at night.
- Nepalgunj is very hot from April to June.
- The flights cost more than the rest of the trip together.
Photos from this tour
More about this tour
Best time to go
April to May, and September to November.- GoodJAN
- GoodFEB
- GoodMAR
- BestAPR
- BestMAY
- GoodJUN
- RainJUL
- RainAUG
- GoodSEP
- BestOCT
- BestNOV
- GoodDEC
In winter there is snow around the lake and some lodges close; in the monsoon flights are cancelled more often.
Time of day
Festivals worth planning for
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year; I confirm the date when you ask.
Before you go
The small practical things.Visiting with respect
These are living places of worship, not museums.- Walk around stupas, monasteries and temples clockwise.
- Ask before photographing people at prayer, or inside temples; some do not allow it.
- Take off your shoes where others do, and dress with shoulders and knees covered at holy places.
- In the parks, keep quiet and keep your distance from animals; follow the nature guide.
- Rara is a national park: no fishing, no swimming, no fires, and take your rubbish back.
Staying away: 4 nights
You pay me only my guide fee. Rooms and meals are paid at what they actually cost, with nothing added by me.Where your money goes
Every amount, and who receives it. I charge only my guide fee; the rest is paid at cost.| What | Who receives it | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guide fee | Rujan Neupane | My day rate × 5 days, plus my overnight allowance × 4 nights away from Kathmandu | For your whole private group |
| Flights Kathmandu–Nepalgunj–Talcha and back | The airlines | Their prices | Paid at cost |
| Porter, if you want one | The porter | His day rate | Paid to him |
| Entry tickets and park fees | Paid at the gate | Official price | See Entrance fees |
| Rooms and meals | The hotels, lodges and homestays | What they charge | You pay them directly, or I book at their price |
I don't sell packages. I guide, and I help you arrange the rest (rooms, transport, permits) at what it actually costs. If you would like it all put together as one package, ask me: I make one only on your request, and we confirm it by email.
Photo notes
From a guide who is also a photographer.The places in detail
The history and stories behind what you will see.Rara Lake
Rara is the largest lake in Nepal, about 10 square kilometres, at about 2,990 m in Mugu district in the far north-west. It lies in Rara National Park, the smallest national park in the country, surrounded by forests of pine, spruce and juniper. Above its southern shore, Murma Top gives a view over the whole lake and the far hills.
Getting there
Talcha, a small airstrip, is 1 to 2 hours’ walk from the lake. Flights from Nepalgunj are few, small, and depend on the weather. The other ways in are long: a week on foot from Jumla, or days by road.
Entry tickets and park fees are at the official price: see entrance fees in Nepal.
My promises
Written down, so you can hold me to them.- No pressureAsk me anything. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing, and I will never rush your decision.
- Nothing hiddenEvery cost is written down before you pay anything, and nothing is added later without your agreement.
- Your day, your paceWe stay longer where you want to, and skip what doesn't interest you.
- Reviews as writtenEvery review here is published as the guest wrote it. I don't edit reviews or remove critical ones.
Frequently asked questions
What if the flight is cancelled?
We wait, or change the order of the days. Keep a spare day in your plans.
Is it high?
About 2,990 m. Most people feel fine; we walk slowly.
Can we walk instead of flying?
Yes, from Jumla in about a week: see my Rara trek.
Is the guide fee for each person?
No. One rate for your whole private group of 1 to 5 people.
Can you book everything?
If you want, I book the car, rooms and flights at their own price and send you every price by email first. You can also book them yourself.
When is best?
April to May, and September to November.
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- +977 984-3808583
- Phone
- +977 984-3808583
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More than 5 of you? Write to me. I guide up to 5 people at one rate. For a bigger group we can talk it through by email. I reply myself, usually within a day. On the trail there is often no network, so it can take a few days.
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