---
title: "Rara Lake: Reaching Nepal's Largest and Loneliest Lake"
canonical: "https://lokoon.com/blog/rara-lake"
author: "Lokoon"
published: "2026-11-15T04:28:40.223007+00:00"
modified: "2026-11-15T04:28:40.223161+00:00"
kind: "blog"
---

# Rara Lake: Reaching Nepal's Largest and Loneliest Lake

> A deep blue lake at nearly 3,000 metres in the remote north-west, ringed by pine forest and snow peaks. What the journey involves and when to go.

Far from the main trekking regions, in the district of Mugu in north-western Nepal, lies the country's biggest lake. Rara sits at about 2,990 metres, covers more than ten square kilometres, and is enclosed by forested ridges inside Nepal's smallest national park. It has no town on its shore, very few lodges and a silence that people who have been there tend to talk about for years.
What it is like
The lake is roughly five kilometres long and three wide, and very deep. Its colour shifts through the day from pale turquoise at the edges to a dense, dark blue in the middle, and on still mornings it reflects the surrounding hills without a ripple. Blue pine, spruce and juniper come down to the waterline, with rhododendron and birch higher up. To the south and east, snow peaks show above the ridges.
A trail runs around the whole shore, a level walk of about five hours. Villages that once stood beside the lake were moved out when the park was created in the 1970s, which is one reason it feels so untouched.
Getting there by air
The quickest route takes two flights and a walk.
- Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, in the south-western plains.

- Next morning, take a small aircraft from Nepalgunj to Talcha airstrip in Mugu, a flight of around forty minutes over the hills.

- Walk from Talcha to the lake, two to three hours on a good trail through forest.

The mountain flight is the weak link. It operates only in clear conditions, schedules are loose, and cancellations of a day or more are common. Build at least two spare days into any plan that depends on it.
Getting there by road
A highway now runs north from the plains through Surkhet and along the Karnali River into the mountains, with a branch road reaching Mugu. Jeeps make the trip from Surkhet in two long days over rough, winding and sometimes hair-raising roads. It is cheaper than flying and gives a close look at a part of Nepal few outsiders see. It is also exhausting, and landslides close sections during and after the monsoon.
A classic alternative for trekkers is to fly to Jumla and walk to Rara in three or four days across passes and through villages of the Karnali region.
Where to stay
Accommodation is limited to a few simple lodges near the park office on the northern shore and in settlements on the approach. Expect basic rooms, shared facilities, solar lighting and plain food based on rice, lentils, potatoes and local beans. There is no heating beyond the kitchen stove. Bring a warm sleeping bag.
What to do
- Walk the shore. The circuit is the main activity and can be done in a day or in sections.

- Climb to Murma Top. A viewpoint on the ridge south of the lake, around 3,700 metres, reached in three to four hours from the shore. It gives the full aerial view of Rara and a horizon of western Himalayan peaks. Start early.

- Take a boat. Small boats are available for short trips on the water.

- Ride. Local horses can be hired for the walk in from the airstrip or along the shore.

- Sit. Sunrise and sunset from the bank need no further activity.

When to go
- April and May: wildflowers, rhododendron and mild days.

- September to November: clear air after the rains, autumn colour in the forest and the best mountain views.

- December to March: heavy snow, bitterly cold and frequently cut off. Only for the well prepared.

- June to August: monsoon; green and flowery, but flights and roads are unreliable.

Permits and practicalities
Visitors pay a national park entry fee at the checkpost, and foreign trekkers in protected areas are expected to travel with a licensed guide arranged through an agency. Because logistics here are complicated, most people book the trip as a package covering flights, permits, guide and lodging. Ask the agency what happens if flights are delayed and who pays for extra nights.
Carry cash for the whole trip. Mobile coverage is weak, medical help is distant, and you should have insurance that covers evacuation from a remote area. Altitude is moderate, but those flying straight to nearly 3,000 metres should take the first day gently.
Is it worth the trouble?
Rara requires a week, flexibility and tolerance for discomfort. It gives back something that has become scarce in the Himalaya: a major natural wonder where you may count the other visitors on one hand. For travellers who have already seen the famous valleys and want real remoteness, it is hard to beat.

Source: https://lokoon.com/blog/rara-lake