Far West & Karnali · Light, height and the right hour
Photography in Far West & Karnali
Autumn's clear air, spring rhododendrons, festival chariots, the walled city of Lo Manthang and the mountain views at Poon Hill, Kala Patthar and Gokyo Ri, timed for the light.
Trips
Bardia and Shuklaphanta Safari
Seven nights across the two national parks of Nepal's far western plain. Four nights at Bardia for tigers, the Karnali and Tharu …
Bardia Tiger Safari
Four nights at Thakurdwara on the edge of Bardia National Park, Nepal's largest lowland park. Full-day jeep safari, a guided walk on …
Far West Grand Overland
Fourteen nights by private jeep from the grasslands of the far western Terai to Nepal's largest lake. Swamp deer at Shuklaphanta, the …
Khaptad Meadows Trek
Seven nights to the Khaptad plateau, a rolling upland of meadows and fir forest at about 3,000 m in the far west. …
Ramaroshan Lakes and Dullu
Six nights by jeep and on foot across the hills of the far west. Through Doti to Ramaroshan in Achham, an upland …
Rara Lake by Air
The shortest way to Rara. Fly from Nepalgunj to Talcha airstrip in Mugu, walk about three hours to the lake, and spend …
Far West & Karnalimax 3,700 mRara Lake Trek from Jumla
Nine nights on foot from Jumla to Rara, Nepal's largest lake. The route crosses the Jaljala pass at 3,580 m, drops into …
Places
Bardia National Park
Tiger forest on the Karnali, with Tharu villages at the gate
Ghodaghodi Tal
A Ramsar lake chain beside the highway, full of birds and crocodiles
Khaptad National Park
High meadows where Khaptad Baba meditated for fifty years
Ramaroshan
Twelve lakes and eighteen meadows in the hills of Achham
Rara Lake
Nepal's largest lake, ringed by pine at almost 3,000 m
Shuklaphanta National Park
The world's largest swamp deer herds on Nepal's western edge
Experiences
Full-day tiger safari along the Karnali
A long day by jeep and on foot to the river channels of the western park, with naturalists, binoculars and …
Walking safari with two naturalists
Walk into the forest and grassland on foot with two licensed naturalists, reading tracks, dung and alarm calls. Slower than …
Rafting the Karnali for dolphins and gharial
Float the Karnali below the Chisapani gorge in a rubber raft or wooden canoe, looking for the endangered Gangetic dolphin, …
A night with a Tharu family near Thakurdwara
Walk or cycle through the Tharu villages around Thakurdwara, then spend a night in a community homestay, eating ghonghi and …
Birding walk around the main lake
Walk the forest path along the main lake at dawn with binoculars and a local guide, watching wintering ducks, herons, …
Spotting mugger crocodiles on the far banks
On sunny winter days the mugger crocodiles of Ghodaghodi haul out to bask on the banks. Scan the far shores …
Evening lamps at the lakeside temple
Visit the small temple near the main lake in the evening, when local families come to offer flowers and light …
Cycling the Tharu villages around the lakes
Ride a bicycle along village lanes and field paths around Ghodaghodi, past Tharu homesteads, fish ponds and rice fields, with …