Trekking · Rara Lake
Trek to Rara from Jumla over the passes
Walk to Rara the old way, three to four days from Jumla through Khas villages, pine forest and high pastures, crossing passes over 3,500 m before the lake appears below you.
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The Jumla to Rara trek is the classic approach and still the most rewarding. From Jumla's Khalanga bazaar the trail climbs through apple orchards and pine forest to the meadows of Chere Chaur, then over the Danphe Lagna pass, which is well over 3,500 m, before dropping through villages to the Mugu side.
On the way you pass stone villages with flat roofs, where families thresh barley on the rooftops and stack firewood for winter, and small shrines to the Masto gods. Nights are spent in simple teahouses or tents. The last day brings you over a ridge to the first view of Rara, and then down through forest to the shore.
It is a moderate trek with long days and few facilities, and it needs a licensed guide. Many people fly out from Talcha after two nights at the lake, or walk back to Jumla by a different route through Sinja. Allow eight to ten days from Kathmandu in total.
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Questions
How difficult is the Jumla to Rara trek?
It is moderate: three to four days with five to seven hours of walking a day and passes above 3,500 m. Facilities are basic and the trail is remote, so you need good fitness and some trekking experience. There are no technical sections.
Can I stay in teahouses on the Rara trek?
Partly. Simple teahouses and village homes offer rooms and dal bhat on most stages, but standards are basic and some stops may need tents. Most agencies run the route as a supported camping or mixed trek. Book through a licensed agency.
How many days does a Rara trek take from Kathmandu?
Allow eight to ten days: fly to Nepalgunj and Jumla, trek three to four days to Rara, spend one or two nights at the lake, and fly out from Talcha to Nepalgunj and Kathmandu. Add a spare day for flight delays.
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