Rara Lake Trek - 13 days

On this day, you'll take an hour's beautiful trip to Nepalgunj (150 m) from Kathmandu. Today, you'll have sufficient opportunity to explore Nepalgunj, a multi-ethnic city of Nepal. You'll get a nearby glimpse of the culture and way of life of Terai individuals, which is quite different from the people living in the capital city. You can visit Grasscutters' Lane or enjoy some tasty street foods. You can also visit Royal Bardia National Park, which is a short distance from the main market of Nepalgunj. Here, you can go on elephant safaris and experience the local wildlife. We will spend the night at Nepalgunj.

• Scenic flight to Nepalgunj (gateway to far-western Nepal).

• Explore the city (optional visit to local markets).

• Overnight in hotel 

After having early morning breakfast, you'll take a departure from Nepalgunj to Jumla. It is a short 20-minute flight, and you'll reach Jumla at a height of 2,540 m. You'll notice a big change in the landscape as you fly from the flat land of Terai to the hilly area of Jumla. Jumla is one of the remote and less developed regions in the Karnali area of Nepal. You'll spend the whole day exploring this less-visited place to help your body adjust to the altitude. The center of the town, called Khalanga Bazaar, is paved with large stone slabs and is a busy trading area for the region. Beyond the many shops, there are two interesting Hindu temples: Chandan Nath, dedicated to Vishnu, which honors the yogi who introduced rice farming to the valley about 900 years ago, and Bhairavnath, a newer temple dedicated to Shiva. These temples were built at the beginning of the Malla Empire, a Khas dynasty that ruled parts of western Nepal, Tibet, Ladakh, and Kashmir for many years. In the afternoon, strong winds blow through the valley, so if you arrive early enough, it's a good idea to prepare for tomorrow’s trek. We will spend the night at Jumla.

• Short mountain flight to Jumla (starting point of the trek).

• Meet the trekking crew (guide, porters).

• Short acclimatization walk around Jumla.

• Overnight in a local teahouse.

Today is the main starting day of our trek. After early morning breakfast, we leave Jumla and begin our trek to Chere Chaur (3055 m), which is at an altitude of 3,055 meters. The trail follows along the Jugad Khola, and since it’s the first day of the trek, it's important to walk slowly and drink plenty of water. On the way, we pass through Khalanga Bazaar, a small marketplace, and continue through a few small villages and temples. After about 4.5 hours of walking, we reach Chere Chaur, where we will spend the night.

• Gradual ascent through pine and cedar forests.

• Pass traditional villages with terraced fields.

• First views of snow-capped peaks.

• Overnight in Chere Chaur

Today we'll follow the western trail, gradually climbing through beautiful forests of rhododendron, birch and pine to reach Jaljala Pass. After crossing the pass, we'll descend slightly to reach the open grassy field of Jaljala Chaur. Continuing along the northern tree line, we'll cross a stream to reach some buildings at the far end of the field. The trail then descends steeply through the forest into the Jaljala Khola valley, where we'll find a good campsite at Chalachaur. Be prepared to cross several small streams and some marshy ground along the way. The total walking time today is about 5 hours, with our highest point reaching 2980m at Jaljala Pass. We'll spend the night in a lodge and enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner with coffee or tea.

• Trek through lush meadows and grazing lands.

• Cross small streams & suspension bridges.

• Possible sightings of Himalayan wildlife (musk deer, pheasants).

• Overnight in Chalachaur.

After breakfast, we'll walk through beautiful forests along the sparkling Jaljala Khola river. About 45 minutes into our hike, we'll pass farmland and a large side valley coming in from the right. As we continue through villages, we'll see the valley end ahead with great views from a rocky outcrop. The trail goes around this outcrop, then down to a bridge crossing the Jaljala Khola. We'll camp near a health post (2405m) on a piece of land between two rivers - it takes just 45 minutes from here to cross another bridge to reach the main part of Sinja village. Today's 5.6-hour walk takes us through changing landscapes up to 2490m, with all meals and lodge accommodation provided.

• Descend into the historic Sinja Valley (ancient Khasa Kingdom capital).

• Explore ancient temples & inscriptions.

• Experience local Thakuri culture.

• Overnight in Sinja.

Today we'll explore the fascinating Sinja valley, an important site from Nepal's medieval history. This area was once the center of a powerful Himalayan kingdom before Nepal's unification. We'll visit the remains of an ancient royal palace and the historic Kankasundri Temple perched atop Lamathada hill. From this viewpoint, you can look down into a deep gorge and see caves where the 5th Dalai Lama is believed to have meditated. The old Tibetan border is nearby in the Mugu Karnali valley, and local stories tell of when Sinja was the most important place in the Himalayas. We'll spend the day discovering these remarkable sites while staying at the same elevation of 2490m, with all meals and lodge accommodation included.

• Steeper climb towards the high-altitude trail.

• Enter Rara National Park (dense forests, possible wildlife sightings).

• Overnight in Ghorosingha

After breakfast, we will begin our exciting climb towards the magnificent Rara Lake. The trail takes us past Chuchhemara Danda, where we'll enjoy breathtaking views of the Himalayas, the stunning Rara Lake, and the lush forests of Rara National Park. Along the way, we'll pass through Khatyar Khola Camp and several small villages including Murma. This rewarding 6.5-hour trek brings us to our highest point of 3010m today, where we'll spend the night in a comfortable lodge. All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) with coffee or tea are included.

• Final ascent to Rara Lake – breathtaking first views!

• Walk along the lakeshore, enjoy the serene beauty.

• Overnight at a lakeside teahouse.

Today we'll discover the breathtaking beauty of Rara Lake, with its crystal-clear waters surrounded by lush forests - a true paradise for nature lovers. Walking around the lake's edge is a magical experience, where you might spot mysterious stone markers showing the cardinal directions. On the northeastern shore stands the beautiful Rara Mahadev Temple, decorated with intricate wood carvings. Local legend says the god Thakur created the lake, and you can still see what locals believe are his footprints in the swirling rock formations. If we're lucky, we might use the old boats near the army camp (with life jackets, as required) for a refreshing but chilly swim in the lake's clear waters. We'll spend the night at a lodge (3010m) with all meals included, enjoyin

• Full day to explore the lake and surroundings.

• Optional hike to Chuchamara Hill (3,700m) for panoramic views.

• Interact with locals, learn about their culture.

• Relax by the pristine lake.

g this peaceful natural wonder.

Today we say goodbye to beautiful Rara Lake and begin our 4-hour trek to Pina village. The pleasant trail first takes us to Gamgadhi, the administrative center of Mugu District, then continues through lovely forests along the Jhyari Khola river. After some gentle uphill walking through peaceful pine forests, we'll reach our destination at Pina (2440m). We'll spend the night in a cozy teahouse, enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner with coffee or tea along the way.

• Descend through forests & remote villages.

• Follow the Khatyar River valley.

• Overnight in Pina.

After breakfast, we'll leave Pina for our trek to Bumra or Nauri Ghat. The trail first descends before climbing to Ghurchi Langna Pass at 3,480m - the highest point of our entire trek. Here we'll see colorful prayer flags and enjoy stunning views of the Karnali River below. After taking in the scenery, we'll descend through Bulbule and pass the small settlement of Chautha. The 5-6 hour walk ends at the beautiful village of Bumra (2850m) where we'll spend the night.

• Gradual climb through terraced fields.

• Pass traditional Tibetan-influenced settlements.

• Overnight in Bumra

We'll start early from Bumra village on our last trekking day, first crossing the Hima River. After a few hours of downhill walking, we'll reach a natural hot spring - the perfect spot to relax and refresh. Continuing our journey, we'll climb to Danphe Lagna pass (3,691m), then descend through familiar trails past Chere Chaur. Retracing part of our earlier route, we'll complete our 7-hour hike by arriving back in Jumla (2,540m) for our final night's stay, with all meals provided at the lodge.

• Final trekking day – return to Jumla.

• Celebrate trek completion with the crew.

• Overnight in Jumla.

After arriving in Jumla, please reconfirm your flight details. If everything goes as planned, you'll take a morning flight to Nepalgunj, then connect to one of the frequent afternoon flights back to Kathmandu. We'll spend the night at a comfortable hotel in Kathmandu (1400m), with breakfast, lunch, and dinner including coffee/tea provided.