Trip Highlights:
Scenic and cultural walks to Nepal largest Rara Lake within amazing country landscapes. Walk into pristine woodland around traditional lovely villages of Thakuri-Malla tribes. Explore immense ancient Hindu culture of great fascinations with ancient cultures. Photogenic landscapes of beautiful scenery around high terrain with high peak range. Walk into Rara National Park within serene forested surrounding facing superb views. Within-country of great beauty visiting impressive ancient Hindu rural farm villages. Exciting walks facing wonderful scenery of unique landscapes and crossing scenic pass. Panoramic flights to and from Kathmandu-Nepalgunj-Jumla with awesome mountain views”.
Brief Trip Profile:
Mode of Trekking: On Hotels and Lodge or camping.
Trekking Grade : Moderate to Adventurous.
Highest Altitude : At Daphe Lagna pass at 3,691 m high.
Activities : Sightseeing tour, exciting flights and scenic trekking.
People and Culture : Populated by Thakuri-Malla, with some Magar tribes of Hindu and Buddhism religions with varied culture and custom.
Area of Trekking : Nepal Far North West around Jumla and Mugu areas.
Trekking duration : 10 Nights and 11 Days (with both ways flights Jumla to Jumla).
Total Trip : 14 Nights and 15 Days (Kathmandu to Kathmandu).
Season : April to May and September to November months.
Introduction:
Rara Lake Trekking with Mountain Challenger Treks and Expeditions takes you to most fascinating and scenic country around Far West Nepal Himalaya, enjoying a wonderful time and moments within beautiful Rara Lake. Rara Lake, largest lakes of Nepal of 10.08 sq. km with an area of 106 sq.km as well the deepest of more than 70 meters located within pristine environment surrounded by coniferous forest with blue pine, black juniper, Himalayan spruce, oaks, Himalayan cypress, and other associated species. Rara Lake situated within Rara National Park the smallest park of the country located within a 371 k.m air distance from the capital Kathmandu which falls within Jumla and Mugu district of Far-West Nepal around Karnali Zone with altitude of 2,990 m high, where elevation extends from 1,800 m to 4,048 m in some areas of the park, where on this trek our route leads at high Daphe Lagna pass above 3,691 m on return journey to Jumla. Starting Rara Lake Trekking with a sweeping flight to Nepalgunj city around Nepal Far South West where connecting flight reaches you at the main town of Jumla, where our actual adventure begins walking into remote farm areas and nice villages with lasting views of rolling green hills and snow-capped mountains. As walk continues heading past Bota crossing high Jaljala pass at 3,585 m and to the lovely village of Ghorasinga 3,050m to reach at Rara Lake, after walking past serene woodland through ancient rundown Malla kingdom, with ruin temples and monuments, old sculptured stones, covered with thick moss and weeds. Finally capturing interesting moments reaching at beautiful Rara Lake a magnificent place surrounded by dense forest where mountain antelopes and other wildlife often spotted on walks with varied species of birds and ducks that dwells around Rara Lake. After a wonderful and pleasant time at Rara lake return journey leads higher hills into the cool shade of alpine woodland with amazing scenery of mountains and surrounding landscapes as our trek finally completes at Jumla town. From Jumla where short scenic flight takes you low warmer areas at Nepalgunj city for connecting flight back to Kathmandu with mesmerizing and marvelous experience on Rara Lake Trekking.
Outline Itinerary:
Day 01: Reach Kathmandu 1,340 m via respective airlines and transfer to hotel.
Day 02: Morning free for a flight to Nepalgunj city towards Jumla.
Day 03: Fly to Jumla 2,540 m then trek to Chaurasia Chaur 3,055 - 05 hrs.
Day 04: Trek on route Bota via Jaljala pass at 3,585 m - 06 hrs.
Day 05: Trek to Bota 2, 680m via Sinja Khola 2,440 m -06 hrs.
Day 06: Trek to Ghorasinga 3,050m near Rara Lake - 06 hrs.
Day 07: Trek to Rara Lake 2,980 m - 06 hrs.
Day 08: At Rara Lake rest day for an excursion around the lake.
Day 09: Trek to Pina 2,440m via Jhyari 2,635 m- 05 hrs.
Day 10: Trek to Chauta 2,807 m via Ghurchi Lagna pass 3,480 m.
Day 11: Trek to Khalifa on 3,685 via Tharamara 3,270 m - 06 hrs.
Day 12: Trek back to Jumla via Daphe Lagna 3,691 m - 06 hrs.
Day 13: Fly back to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj and transfer to hotel.
Day 14: In Kathmandu free day with an optional sightseeing tour.
Day 15: International departure for homeward bound.
Day 01: Reach Kathmandu 1,340 m via respective airlines and transfer to hotel.
On arrival at Kathmandu and Nepal International airport received by our Mountain Challenger staff and guides for short transfer and drive in the heart of Kathmandu city to your respective hotels. After checking into your rooms meet at the briefing hall where our guide or leader will brief you regarding Rara Lake trekking. Include information of hotels, lodge and do’s and don’ts with group welcome dinner in a nice authentic Nepalese Restaurant with various Folk programs of Nepal as entertainment.
Day 02: Morning free for a flight to Nepalgunj city towards Jumla.
A leisure morning at Kathmandu getting ready with preparation for Rara Lake trekking, as per mid-day flight time or in the afternoon, transfer to Kathmandu domestic airport for sweeping scenic flight to land at Nepalgunj city airport. Mind-blowing panorama of Himalayan Mountains during 50 minutes on air, then landing at Nepalgunj airport, located Nepal Far South West with sub-tropical temperatures and close to Indian border of UP (Utter Pradesh). On arrival get transferred to nearest hotels with time to explore Nepalgunj city, and observe the culture and traditional life of Indian origin, at Nepalgunj preparation for next morning flight to Jumla.
Day 03: Fly to Jumla 2,475 m trek to Chaurasia Chaur 3,055 - 05 hrs.
Early breakfast for another short connecting flight to Jumla, on reaching Jumla after 40 minutes on air, received by our trekking staff that has traveled here taking a long overland drive and walks, on reaching Jumla after 40 minutes on air, received by our trekking staff that has traveled here taking a long overland drive and walks, Jumla main headquarter town of Jumla district. From Jumla trek begins with a short climb walking past nice farm villages to reach our first overnight camp at Chauriya Chaur a nice farm village on route Lake Rara and its beautiful surroundings.
Day 04: Trek on route Bota via Jaljala pass at 3,585 m - 06 hrs.
After a pleasant first overnight stop on the high hills of western Nepal, morning starts with an uphill walk into the forest of rhododendron, birch and pine trees towards a green hill top ridge, a small pass called Jaljala Bhanjyang with wonderful views of Kanjiroba Himal. Trek continues into a wilderness with a downhill walk for few hours to reach a summer pasture for overnight camp, a nice spot of a grassy field in the middle of nowhere.
Day 05: Trek to Bota 2, 680m via Sinja Khola 2,440 m -06 hrs.
Morning walk descends to Sinja area for few hours following Jaljala Khola (stream) downstream into forested area of dense pine forest leading to terraced farm areas a Sinja village (this was an old kingdom during Malla era), one can notice ancient rundown, ruin temples and monuments, old sculptured stones, covered with thick moss and weeds. From here walking upstream to a small village of Ganj, after a nice stop continue to walk through an interesting gorge to the overnight stop at Bota village.
Day 06: Trek to Ghorasinga 3,050m near Rara Lake - 06 hrs.
After steady walk for several days, a pleasant walk this morning to Ghorasinga near the entrance of Rara National Park, on leaving Sinja Khola following a stream of Ghatte Khola further north, then a short climb to reach a wonderful valley with farmlands and interesting primitive water mill. From here walk to overnight camp at Ghorasinga on the outer rim of Rara National Park with a small police post, afternoon at leisure for short walk or just relax and catch up with the dairy.
Day 07: Trek to Rara Lake 2,980m - 06 hrs.
Today walk leads to our main destination at Rara which is Nepal’s largest Lake, starting the morning walk into pristine area heading uphill to Chuchemara Danda at 4,260 meters high with great views of landscapes and snowcapped mountains, from here downhill through forest of bamboo and birch trees, crossing Khatyar Khola upstream to reach our destination at Rara Lake for overnight stops. Around this lake, there is few lodge and guest built by the Park and village community for visitors.
Day 08: Rest day for an excursion around the lake.
A perfect and ideal place for rest days, morning explore this fabulous area where trekkers seldom visits, climb a wooden tower for best views of Rara Lake with surrounding beautiful rolling green hills and snowcapped peaks.
Day 09: Trek to Pina 2,440m via Jhyari 2,635 m- 05 hrs.
After an enjoyable and relaxing time at Rara Lake, return trek to Jumla leads via the high route, morning starts with a climb walk to a ridge at Jhyari with a small farm village. From here following Jhyari Beri Khola downstream for a short while and then crossing Dhauligar Khola valley, towards our overnight camp at Pina another nice small farm village with few moderate size houses serving as a lodge, tea shops.
Day 10: Trek to Chauta 2,807 m via Ghurchi Lagna pass 3,480 m.
Morning walks leads uphill into serene woodland with gorgeous vista of mountains, and then reaching at Ghurchi- Lagna pass the highest point of this wonderful trek, the top festooned with Buddhist prayer flags, walk descends across a nice grassy meadow into walnut groves heading to a steep and narrow valley to Chauta village for overnight stop, a small place with few shops, simple lodges.
Day 11: Trek to Khaligaon 3,685 via Tharamara 3,270 m - 06 hrs.
After a pleasant and interesting time at Chauta village, morning trek follows Sinja khola to Bumra village leading past overhanging rock at Kamra, this is a source of an important herbal medicinal mineral called as Silaji. From here a long descend to Sinja Khola, walking past Nyawre village, with a refreshing stop, continue to walk following the river with 600 m climb to Tharamara ridge top and then heading higher at Khaligaon with fabulous views of surrounding dramatic landscapes with snow clad peaks overnight on this nice Khaligaon village.
Day 12: Trek back to Jumla - 06 hrs.
Today the last trek of this wonderful journey heading back to Jumla, morning starts with long downhill walk to reach a green valley lined with rhododendron, oaks and pines trees, on leaving the forested area bac into fertile farm country with well tended terraces, walk leads past several smaller villages of Padmara and then following the same river for sometime leading to Jumla town for last overnight.
Day 13: Fly back to Kathmandu via Nepalgunj.
As per morning flight time for Nepalgunj, then transfer to Jumla airstrip after bidding goodbye to most of the camping staff and porters, where short scenic flight takes you to southern Nepal within Terai belt at Nepalgunj. From Nepalgunj with short transit stops and then fly back to Kathmandu facing panorama of mountains during air and then reaching at Kathmandu airport where you get transferred back to your hotels with the afternoon free at leisure.
Day 14: Free and contingency day in Kathmandu and for individual activities.
A free and spare day in Kathmandu for contingency, in case of flight delay and cancellation at Jumla, which happens sometimes due to Himalayan unpredictable weather. To be safe with an extra day in Kathmandu, if all goes well as per our itinerary days, enjoy the rest day with individual activities or join in for another exciting sightseeing tour around Kathmandu-Patan or Bhaktapur.
Day 15: International departure for home ward bound.
Last day in Nepal country of high mountains and varied colorful culture, as per your international flight time, our staff transfer you to the airport for final departure homeward bound with fabulous and unique memories and adventure on Rara Lake Trekking.
