Rara Lake Overland Tour

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57 reviews
11 reviews
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Duration
7 Days
Trip Grade
Easy
Country
Nepal
Maximum Altitude
2,990m/9,810ft
Group Size
1-45

Rara Lake Overland Tour takes you around the largest alpine freshwater lake of Nepal situated at the elevation of 3,990 metres. Rara Lake is situated in the far western region of Nepal in Karnali Province bordering with the Tibetan Plateau. This tour guides you around Rara National Park, the smallest national park of Nepal extended in 106 square kilometres. This conservation area was declared as a national park in 1976 in order to protect the alpine flora and fauna of Humla-Jumla region.

Rara Lake trekking has become one of the most popular tourist destinations of Nepal because of its natural and cultural attractions. You can reach the vicinity of Rara Lake situated within Rara National Park by flying to Jumla via Nepalgunj. You can explore the paradigm of Paradise on Earth in the Karnali Zone within a couple of weeks. The trekking to Karnali Rara Lake lets you witness the tranquil trail passing through pastoral ethnic villages en route.

However, due to the roadway transportation facilities to the remote region of Karnali, you can do Rara Lake Overland Tour. You can drive in a private jeep from Kathmandu to Rara Lake directly via the Mahendra Highway (East West Highway). The overland tour to Rara Lake takes you through Nepalgunj, Surkhet, Manma, Gamgadhi and finally to Rara Lake within 7 days and above. Some of the days of Rara Lake tour, you have to drive for about 14 hours along the Karnali Highway and off-roads.

While moving ahead along the pitched and bumpy roads, you can enjoy the Himalayan views, diverse landscapes and dense forests. The total roadway distance between Kathmandu and Rara Lake is around 822 kilometres. Although you have to drive full day along the windy roads in the complex geography, you can enjoy the mesmerizing view of nature and culture. Most interesting thing of this tour is that you can drive through Terai, Hilly and Himalayan regions of Nepal by relishing the cultural and biodiversity.

To reach the prime location of Kathmandu Rara Lake overland tour, you have to drive at least for two days. Nonetheless, once you reach there, there are many things on and around the largest freshwater lake of Nepal. Among the activities you can do there are boating on Rara Lake, cycling around the banks, horse riding, and jungle safari. Additionally, village tour around Rara National Park and hiking to Murma Top give you a lifelong memory to witness the cultural flavour of the remote area of Karnali region.

There are Rara Mugu tour packages ranging from 5 days to 15 days suitable for your vacation, budget and desire. Rara Lake jeep tour helps you experience the paradise of Karnali although you have very limited time to spend in Nepal. Moreover, you don’t have to walk for long duration through the rugged uphill and downhill trail. Orbit Alpine Adventure has presented tour to Karnali Rara Lake 7 days’ itinerary to help you choose the right Nepal tour package at reasonable cost.

Highlights

  • Driving along Terai, Hilly and Himalayan regions
  • Sinja Valley exploration
  • Rara Lake excursion for boating, village tour, fishing
  • Jungle safari in Rara National Park for diverse flora and fauna
  • Murma Top Viewpoint for unobstructed view of the entire Rara Lake, its national park and the Himalayas of the surrouding
  •  view of the Karnali Rara Lake region
  • Homestay facilities and organic food items of Murma Village
Rara Lake Overland Tour Itinerary
Day-to-DayExpand all

On the first day, you begin the journey to Nepalgunj early in the morning by driving along Prithvi Highway up to Motel Du Mugling. Then , the jeep turns the left turn along the banks of the Narayani River until you reach Narayangadh, Chitwan. From there, you drive through the Mahendra Highway (also called East West Highway) to reach Nepalgunj.  

Max Altitude: 150m/492ft Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerAccommodation: HotelDuration: 11 HoursDistance: 500km

Today’s journey is not as long as that of the previous day, so you begin the travel after breakfast. You drive further through the dense tropical forests of Terai region by crossing Bardiya National Park. If favourable, you can take a short break to see the nature and culture of Bardiya district. Following the blacktopped road except in some sections, you reach Manma, the administrative center of Kalikot district

Max Altitude: 2,033m/6,670ft Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerAccommodation: LodgeDuration: 8 HourDistance: 250km

Today, you have to drive along the pitched road for most of the voyage whereas off-road to some extent. Driving along the Karnali Highway, you can enjoy the green hills, snowcapped peaks of the far western region and mountain villages. The road passes through the Sinja Valley enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. This valley is a must-visit historical and cultural site while you are on Rara Lake trek or tour. Finally, you reach the beautiful Rara Lake premises in about seven hours. Enjoy the sunset view of the entire Mugu Karnali region. You can spend the night at a tented camp on the bank of Rara Lake or a good quality lodge established around the lake premises.

Max Altitude: 2,990m/9,810ft Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerAccommodation: LodgeDuration: 7 HoursDistance: 62km + 10km

Today is the full day exploration around Rara Lake and Rara National Park. However, you should wake up as early as you can to capture the sunrise view of Rara Lake and the surrounding in both your mind and camera as well. On the south of the lake, you see the glittering Chuchemara Peak (4,019m) plus Ruma Kanda and Malika Kanda peaks on the north side.

You can do boating on Rara Lake to explore the lake premises as well as wildlife and vegetation around it. You can experience jungle safari in Rara National Park to observe the diverse flora and fauna conserved here. Horse riding around the lake and national park is also a noble experience. If you want, swimming in the lake is also allowed but the water is cold and may not be suitable for your health.

In the daytime, you can set off for village tour around Rara National Park. You can observe the typical lifestyle, culture and tradition of the remote region of Karnali Province. Similarly, you can do a short hike to Murma Top (3,770m) to have the splendid view of the freshwater lake and its area. The snowcapped peaks of the southern and northern sides reflected on the turquoise water of the alpine lake.

Don’t forget to observe the endemic fish species of Rara Lake: the Cyprinid Fish, the Rara Snowtrout and the Nepalese Snowtrout. You can even do fishing in Rara Lake by taking the required permission from the concerned authority. You can enjoy the sunbath on the bank of the lake as well.

Max Altitude: 2,990m/9,810ft Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerAccommodation: Lodge

By enjoying the sunrise view of the Rara Lake area, you commence the retreat travel towards Manma via Sinja Valley. Within nine hours’ drive along the off-road and blacktopped highway, you reach Manma for the night station.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerAccommodation: LodgeDuration: 9 Hours

After having breakfast, you start the return journey to Kohalpur, Nepalgunj by riding along the East West Highway. You drive past Bardiya National Park en route.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerAccommodation: HotelDuration: 11 Hours

As today’s journey is the longest one, you have to start quite early from Kohalpur to Kathmandu. If the time favours and the itinerary suits, you can take a quick excursion of Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Or you can even extend the itinerary by consulting with our agency. Driving for about eleven hours, you arrive Kathmandu and go to the hotel for the accommodation.

Meals: BreakfastAccommodation: Three Star HotelDuration: 12 Hours
Rara Lake Overland Tour FAQs

Rara Lake is situated in Rara National Park extended in 106 sq. km. between Mugu and Jumla. This is the largest lake of Nepal standing as the main attraction for the national and international tourists in Karnali Province. It is around 822 kilometres from Kathmandu if you travel by road transportation. This is the alpine freshwater lake protecting three endemic fish species only found in there.

Actually, you can do Rara Lake overland tour throughout the year. However, in rainy season, the off-road may be slippery due to heavy rainfall. The best time for Rara Lake jeep tour is dry season: spring, autumn and winter respectively.

There are many major attractions of Rara Lake tour, which make this trip more memorable and meaningful. The hills covered with the coniferous trees, Chayanath Himalayas, Churemare Peak, diverse flora and fauna of Rara National Park. Likewise, turquoise water inhabited by three endemic fish species, Murma Top Viewpoint and sunrise view of the entire lake are other features.

Previously, Rara Lake trekking used to be completely a camping trekking as there was no teahouse and lodge en route. Nevertheless, nowadays, there are quality hotels around Rara Lake providing you quality food and accommodation facilities. If you want, you can also spend the night at the tented camp around the lake. Similarly, Murma Village nearby the lake provides homestay facilities for the visitors. You can find the local organic food items around the lake premises.

Murma Top Viewpoint (3,770m) situated about three hours’ walk from Rara Lake. The trail passes through Murma Village, the village providing homestay facilities. You can have the unobstructed view of the entire Rara Lake , Rara National Park and the Himalayas around it.

Yes, you can do boating on Rara Lake to explore the flora and fauna around it. However, we highly recommend you to not go alone on the boat. If you can manage the permission and anglers, you can also experience fishing in the lake as well.

There are around 51 species of mammals, two reptiles, three fish species and 241 species of birds in Rara National Park. Jungle safari in Rara National Park shows you animals like musk deer, red panda, snow leopard, Himalayan black bear and so on. Additionally, you can see diverse species of birds like Himalayan pheasant, Kalij, blood pheasant and so on.

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