Trip Overview
Rara Lake Trek is the most interesting trekking in the western Nepal. It’s interesting because it presents a chance to visit the country’s biggest lake (the Rara Lake) situated inside the country’s smallest national park, (the Rara National Park). The lake shares its name with the national park. It’s interesting, as it provides home to 1070 species of flora (rhododendron, fir, birch, blue pine, spruce, juniper, Himalayan cypress to name a few), 51 species of mammals, 241 species of birds, two species of reptiles and amphibians, three species of fish and 241 species of birds. It’s interesting because it exhibits pure remoteness of the area. Glimpses of picturesque typical villages, culture and scenery, are not be missed, while counting this trekking attraction. Nevertheless, along with experience of the coniferous forest, and high alpine meadows, trekkers will also get to enjoy one of the highest human settlements of the world, the Sinja Valley and the cradle of the Malla civilization. Therefore, this trekking is the most suitable trekking for both adventure and cultural enthusiast.
Adventure Mountain Explore Treks and Expedition’s Rara Lake Trek is a 15 days package that promises the benefits of bed and breakfast in Kathmandu and full board (meal and accommodation), during the trek, an English speaking guide and ground and air transportation. Accommodation in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj is in a tourist standard hotel on a twin-share basis and during the trek is in a very basic teahouse. Food during the trekking is very basic. However, this package is a fully customizable package, thus, can be customized as per the requirements of customers.
Spring and autumn are the best season to plan this trekking. Any physically fit person with good stamina can attempt this trekking. Rara Lake trekking is one of the best remote trekking packages in Nepal that guarantees 100% satisfaction to trekkers, who are looking to explore the least explored trail and remote life in Nepal. Since, this is one of the remotest area in Nepal, we suggest you to travel in groups. Solo travelers have the option to join our existing groups. Plan your Rara Lake trek with AME Treks and Expedition for adventure and more.
Trip Includes
- Airport Pick-up and Drop-off service in a private vehicle
- 3 nights twin-sharing accommodation in Kathmandu at tourist standard hotel with breakfast
- Full day guided city tour in Kathmandu (Day 2) by a private vehicle
- Welcome and farewell dinner at one of the best Nepalese restaurants with traditional, ethnic music and dance
- Airport transfer for domestic flight
- Special travel permit
- Kathmandu-Nepaljung (to Jumla) and return to Kathmandu flight tickets and departure tax
- Three meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek
- All accommodations on a trek (Lodge/Tea house/Tent)
- Fresh seasonable fruits after dinner (while on a trek)
- Tea/Coffee (Served in a cup only)
- Purified drinking water (medicated safe to drink) during the trek
- Government licensed and well trained English speaking guide and his entire expenses
- Porters (One porter for each 2 members) and his entire expenses
- Insurance of Guide and Porter
- All required local and government taxes
- Down jackets and sleeping bags (if required)
- AME duffel bag if required
- AME Trekking T- Shirt
- Trekking route map
Trip Excludes
- Nepal arrival visa
- Meals in the city except breakfast and other mentioned special dinner
- Personal expenses like all kinds of drinks including mineral water, and alcoholic and soft beverages
- Extra Hot showers, Wi-Fi & battery charging while on a trek
- Extra baggage excess (only 15 kg included)
- Extra porter if you required (it cost USD20 per day)
- Monument entrance fees while on a tour in Kathmandu (aprox USD25 per person)
- Your travel insurance that covers Helicopter evacuation
- Any other extended trips and accommodation
- Tipping to staff (as an appreciation)
Useful Information
Useful Information:
Travel Insurance:
Planning the Rara Lake Trek in Nepal? Please get a travel insurance that covers all the additional expenses that might occur as a result of different injuries or accidents (including ambulance, helicopter rescue and other treatment cost) and various other health related issues. Additionally, the policy should cover the cost of the entire extra activities that you are planning to undertake, during your stay in Nepal. The policy should also finance misplaced luggage, theft and liability, cancellations, medical treatment (including hospital charges, cost of the medicine and doctor’s fees), death and repatriation cost as well. All unforeseen expenses during the trek is solely the trekker’s responsibility and is not included in the trip cost.
Health, fitness and experience requirements:
Rara Lake trekking is a remote trekking in Nepal. Some sections of the trekking route are challenging and some days require 6-7 hours of walking. Therefore, best health condition, excellent stamina and the highest level of mental determination is a must.
Although the trek is considerably moderate and attainable, it is highly recommended that you seek advice, medication and permission from your doctor before the trek. You can also take the help of a local General Practitioner, in order to consult the necessary guide walks, before planning the trek. (Running, cycling, or a few hours of uphill walking are considered as some of the best ways to practice for your next trek. This also helps in minimizing the potential effect of Altitude Mountain Sickness.) In the absence of GP, various travel clinics can also assist you with the needed guidance. However, this trek can be easily attained even without any technical knowledge, but prior hiking, trekking and camping experiences will definitely prove to be an additional asset.
Note:
We kindly request you to submit your medical fitness certificate (which must include your present health condition, medical situation, preceding illness, and the medications you are taking), before booking the packages. We also request you to be honest so that we can get prepared and take quick action in case of any emergencies. Nevertheless, we run regular first aid courses for all our trekking guides so that they can provide the first aid treatment in emergencies.
Meals and Accommodation:
In order to ensure a comfortable stay and relaxed ambiance, we do the booking in one of the best tourist standard hotels in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj. The rooms offered by these hotels are normally twin shared, which requires you to share your room with another member of your group. However, this totally depends upon the size of your group and the availability of rooms in the hotel. Triple share is also available on request and a single supplement room is also available at an additional cost.
However, during the trek, your accommodation is arranged in a very basic tea house (with shared amenities) en route to the Rara Lake as this area is one of the most remote areas of Nepal. A full board meal (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and tea & coffee) will be provided during the trek, while only breakfast will be served in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj. The food served during the Rara Lake trek will be very basic. Typical local Nepali food made using ingredients will be served during the trek. The meal will be plentiful.
Our attempt while you are on a trek:
Our guides will make every possible attempt to make your Rara Lake trek successful and for this purpose they strictly follow the itinerary provided to you (except for any formidable situation). The Rara Lake Trekking takes you to those remote areas of Nepal, where communication facilities are very rare. Internet facility is nill. However, to maintain regular contact our guides are also provided with cell phones, which can be used by trekkers to send messages that you want us to deliver it to your family, friends or relatives. We can also help you reschedule your international flight (extra charge applicable) if you are looking to extend the days to complete your trek.
Why trek with us?
Adventure Mountain Explore Treks and Expedition offers a fully customized packages that are specifically designed to meet each individual trekker’s needs, requirements and budget. Partnering with AME directly allows you to deal with someone who has an in-depth practice of walking and knowledge regarding the track that are generally followed. This in turn will definitely benefit you as you can get information based on their personal experience. We also team up with the local residents, who can take you to the unexplored areas of the region to help you explore more of the area. It is simply a bonus trip for you.
We only hire professional, experienced and knowledgeable guides and team leaders that are dedicated to offering their trekking experience to make your trip successful. Moreover, the most important thing during the entire trek is trekkers’ safety. Therefore, we provide those trekking leaders that possess the highest level of qualification in Advanced Wilderness First Aid so that they can take every possible safety measures required to respond rapidly to changing situations during the trek. We also try our best to communicate with you, to help you with your additional requirements during the trek.
To provide a top level of food and accommodation experience, we partner with some of the best tea houses and local people en route that can produce local culinary delights. We also make sure that the food provided to you is hygienic and balanced and the living space clean and cozy.
Moreover, all the formalities required during the trek will be taken care of by the team leader assigned to your group. Therefore, partnering with AME gives you the opportunity to enjoy a hassle-free trek.
Our legal documents:
AME Treks and Expedition is a certified company and is registered under the government of Nepal. We have special authority of the government of Nepal to operate treks, tours, expedition and other tourism related programs in Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. Besides, we are also a very active member of other professional organizations like;
Ministry of Finance, Department of Taxation
Company Registration Office, Pvt. Ltd.
Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Department of Tourism Industry
Central Bank of Nepal, Nepal Rastra Bank Foreign Exchange Department
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)
Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN)
Kathmandu Environment Education Project (KEEP)
What are the best seasons to plan this trek?
The Rara Lake Trek can be planned any time of the year. However, spring and autumn are considered the best season in terms of trail, weather, climate, and visibility. Winters are very cold and snowy and the trails affect during the monsoon season.
What should I bring?
Along with warm clothes you will also need other equipment for the sufficient protection of your body. Below is the list of necessary items that you need to pack before commencing your trek.
Head- Hat (with a wide brim), Sunglasses (with UV protection), Sunscreen lotion and Lip balm
Upper body- T-shirts (2), light and expedition weight thermal tops, Fleece jacket and pullover, Fleece wind-stopper jacket (Optional), waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket, down vest/jacket (included)
Hands - Lightweight gloves, heavy-weight gloves/mittens with a waterproof outer shell
Lower Lbody - Underwear (4), hiking shorts (2), lightweight cotton long pants, light and expedition weight thermal bottoms, Fleece or wool pants, waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell pants
Feet - Thin, light-wear inner socks (4), thick, warm wool hiking socks (4), hiking boots with spare laces, camp shoes (sneakers and/or sandals), gaiters (only for winter)
Accessories - Sleeping bag rated to zero degrees F (included), headlamp with spare bulb and batteries, small padlock or combination lock, basic first aid kit, large plastic bags (for keeping items dry inside trek bag), day pack, water bottles (2), hiking pole/walking sticks, small ear plugs
Toiletries – Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, small wash towel
Extras - Cameras with extra batteries and cards, binoculars, light balaclava or warm fleece hat, reading books, trip map/guide book, journal & pen, iPod & travel games (like cards, chess, and backgammon)
Passport and Visa Information:
It is very easy to obtain Nepal’s visa. You may either apply for a visa at your nearest Nepalese Embassy/Consulate or Mission offices in your own country or you can buy this upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. To apply for a visa, you need 2 passport size photographs, Visa fees in US dollars and your passport that is valid for at least 6 months before the trip. However, nationals of SAARC countries (India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Afghanistan) and China do not require any visa to visit Nepal. Transit visa for foreign nationalities is only provided for 3 days. Therefore, visa is required for longer stays. However, for the convenience or foreign nationals, a visa is also provided from the borders listed below:
Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu)
Kakarvitta, Jhapa (Eastern Nepal)
Birgunj, Parsa (Central Nepal)
Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border of Nepal)
Belhiya, Bhairahawa (Western Nepal)
Jamuna, Nepalgunj (Mid Western Nepal)
Mohana, Dhangadhi (Far Western Nepal)
Gaddachauki, Mahendranagar (Far Western Nepal)
Tourist Visa Fees:
Transit visa (3 days) – Free of cost
Multiple entry (15 days) – 25 USD or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry (30 days) – 40 USD or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry (90 days) – 100 USD or equivalent convertible currency
(For more information, please contact the Department of Immigration, Maitighar, Kathmandu.
Tel: 00977-1 4221996/4223590/4222453. You can also download visa form from – www.immi.gov.np)