- Nepal
- Tibet
- Bhutan
- Company
- Plan Your Trip
The Rara Lake Trek is an 8-day journey to Rara Lake, Nepal’s largest lake, set at 2,990m inside Rara National Park in the Mugu and Jumla districts of Karnali Province. Unlike a straightforward there-and-back trek, this itinerary is built around a slower, more immersive route through the Karnali region: yoga sessions, an organic agro-tourism farm stay, a stretch of Karnali River rafting, horse riding, and cultural exchange with local women’s groups, alongside the trekking itself.
The journey starts overland from Kathmandu by tourist bus to Surkhet, then continues by jeep into the Karnali hills to the Center for Agro-Tourism at Piluchaur, a working organic farm along the Karnali River. A full day here combines morning yoga, an eco-farm visit, a 15km rafting stretch on the Karnali, and a discussion session with local women entrepreneurs, closing with a cultural performance in the evening.
From the agro-farm, the route to Rara Lake itself is genuinely mixed-mode: part jeep, part horse riding, part trekking, climbing steadily out of the Karnali valley and into the pine and juniper forest that rings the lake. Rara Lake, also known locally as Mahendra Tal, is the largest freshwater lake in Nepal and a Ramsar-listed wetland, ringed by the peaks of Chuchemara, Ruma Kand, and Malika Kand. A full day at the lake is left free for yoga and exploring its shoreline, considered by many to be one of the most tranquil spots in the Nepal Himalaya.
The return route treks and jeeps south into Bajura district, ending at Kolti’s Olive Eco Village, where the itinerary builds in a second cultural day: a walk through Kolti’s old village, another yoga session, organic local food, an eco-farm visit, and a further discussion meeting with women’s groups in the area. The trip closes with a short flight from Kolti to Nepalgunj and on to Kathmandu, arriving back the same day.
This is a trip for travelers who want Rara Lake’s remoteness and scenery without a purely mountain-focused itinerary — closer to a wellness and cultural immersion trip through Nepal’s far-western hills, with the lake itself as the centerpiece.
The Rara Lake Trek is priced on request, since jeep, horse, rafting, and yoga logistics in the Karnali region vary by group size and season more than on standard teahouse treks. Contact us via WhatsApp or the enquiry form for a tailored quote.
Group Size: Sharing jeep hire, rafting guides, and yoga instruction across a larger group brings the per-person price down. Solo travelers and small groups pay a higher rate due to less cost-sharing on the overland legs.
Trekking Duration: The standard itinerary is 8 days from Kathmandu. It can be extended with additional days at Rara Lake or shortened by flying directly into Talcha Airport near Rara instead of the full overland route, on request.
Transportation: The Kathmandu–Surkhet tourist bus, jeep transfers within the Karnali region, horse riding on the Piluchaur–Rara stretch, and the Kolti–Nepalgunj–Kathmandu return flights are included as part of the package.
Yoga & Cultural Programme: A dedicated yoga instructor and local facilitators for the women’s group meetings and cultural performances are included throughout the trip, not just at Rara Lake.
Trekking Season: Spring and autumn offer the clearest weather for both the rafting stretch and the Rara Lake sections. Monsoon rafting conditions and winter snow at Rara affect scheduling — ask us about season-specific adjustments to the itinerary.
Planning your Rara Lake Trek? Since the itinerary combines rafting, horse riding, and lake-based trekking, season affects more parts of this trip than a standard mountain trek.
Autumn (September–November) — Best Overall
Spring (March–May) — Also Good
Monsoon (June–August) — Not Recommended
Winter (December–February) — Limited Access
Preparing for the Rara Lake Trek? Because the trip mixes rafting, horse riding, yoga, and trekking, pack for a wider range of activities than a standard lodge trek.
General Gear
Head & Upper Body
Torso & Layers
Lower Body
Hands & Feet
First Aid & Toiletries
Travel Documents
Tip: Pack a separate small dry bag just for the rafting day at Piluchaur — anything you don’t want to risk getting wet should stay at the farm rather than in the raft.
