A nine-day loop from Jumla through the Sinja valley to Rara Lake, Nepal's largest lake, returning over Ghurchi Lagna and Danphe Lagna. Quiet forest trails, Khasa history and very few other trekkers, reached by mountain flight via Nepalgunj.
A nine-day loop from Jumla through the Sinja valley to Rara Lake, Nepal's largest lake, returning over Ghurchi Lagna and Danphe Lagna. Quiet forest trails, Khasa history and very few other trekkers, reached by mountain flight via Nepalgunj.
Rara Lake sits at 2,990 m in Rara National Park, the country's smallest national park, ringed by blue pine, spruce and juniper. It is Nepal's largest lake, about 10.6 km² and up to 167 m deep, and it remains a long way from any road. We reach it the classic way: flights from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and on to Jumla, then a nine-day walking loop through the forests and pastures of Karnali.
The outward route climbs from Jumla to the grassy plateau of Chere Chaur, crosses Jaljala La (3,585 m) and drops into the Sinja valley, the old capital of the Khasa kingdom where the Nepali language took shape. From Sinja we climb to Ghorosingha and over the Chuchemara Danda saddle (3,804 m), the highest point of the trek, for the first view down to the lake.
We spend a full day at Rara so you can walk the 13 km shore path or climb to Murma Top for the view across the water towards the Kanjiroba range. The return leg runs south through Jhari and Pina, over Ghurchi Lagna (3,445 m) to Bumra, and back over Danphe Lagna to Jumla, so you never retrace your steps.
Days are mostly four to seven hours on good trails with steady climbs rather than steep ones, and the altitude stays below 3,900 m. Facilities are simple: a mix of small lodges in villages such as Sinja, Pina and at the lake, and our own camp where there is no lodge. Your guide and crew handle the logistics, while you enjoy one of the least visited corners of Nepal.
Flights to Jumla depend on mountain weather, so we keep a spare day in Kathmandu at the end of the trip.
This trek suits reasonably fit walkers who are happy with five to seven hours on foot most days and climbs of 500 to 900 m on several days. The highest point is 3,804 m, so altitude is a factor but rarely a serious one if you follow your guide's pacing. There are no technical sections. Train for two to three months with regular hill walks or stair sessions carrying a light pack, building up to back-to-back days of five or six hours. The long days over Ghurchi Lagna and Danphe Lagna near the end are the hardest, so stamina matters more than speed. Camping nights and basic lodges mean simple food and cold mornings, so come prepared to be self-sufficient and patient with remote-area logistics.
We take the hour-long flight west from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj on the Terai plains, close to the Indian border. The morning flights up to Jumla leave before the first Kathmandu flights land, so we spend the night here. Expect heat for most of the year; the afternoon is free to rest and repack.
An early, short mountain flight takes us north into the hills of Karnali to Jumla. Khalanga Bazaar is about fifteen minutes' walk from the airstrip. We use the rest of the day to settle in, walk to the Chandannath temple and the old bazaar, and let your guide check the trail and porter arrangements.
We head north out of the bazaar past the Karnali Technical College and climb steadily for about three hours on an open trail with little shade. Chere Chaur is a broad grassy plateau above the valley, with views back over Jumla. It is a short first day and a sensible start to the altitude.
From the north end of the plateau the trail enters pine forest, reaches the Chor Khola and then climbs steeply to Jaljala La at 3,585 m. Beyond the pass a short descent leads to the open pasture of Jaljala Chaur, then the trail drops through forest into the Jaljala Khola valley and the campsite at Chalachaur.
An easier day downhill along the Jaljala Khola, passing the hamlets of Garhigoth and Chauki before reaching the Sinja valley. Sinja was the seat of the medieval Khasa kingdom and is regarded as the cradle of the Nepali language. In the afternoon there is time to visit the Kanakasundari temple and the Lamathada promontory above the river.
We follow the north bank of the Sinja Khola to Bhota, then climb beside the Ghatta Khola to the top of an old moraine wall. The camp at Ghorosingha sits in a quiet grassy valley at about 3,050 m, surrounded by pine and birch.
The longest climb of the trek takes us through beech and pine forest to the saddle on Chuchemara Danda at 3,804 m, the highest point of the route. A short traverse brings the first view down to Rara Lake, then we descend through rhododendron to the Khatyar Khola, pass Murma village and reach the lake shore. We register at the national park office on the northern shore.
A free day by Nepal's largest lake. The full circuit of the shore is about 13 km and takes five to six hours on an easy path through pine, spruce and juniper; your guide can also take you up to Murma Top for the view over the whole lake towards the Kanjiroba range. Swimming is only allowed with a buoyancy aid under park rules, and the water is very cold.
We walk back along the shore and cross the Khatyar Khola, then climb to a grassy ridge south of the lake at about 3,060 m. The trail descends through cedar forest to Jhari and the river, and a final half-hour climb brings us to Pina village.
A long day. We climb through forest to Ghurchi Lagna at 3,445 m, marked with prayer flags and wide views over the forested ridges of Mugu and Jumla. The trail drops to Chautha, then contours about 150 m above the Sinja Khola for two hours to Bumra.
We descend to the Sinja Khola bridge, then climb through birch forest to a pasture junction and on to Danphe Lagna at 3,691 m. From the pass it is downhill to Chere Chaur, where the loop closes, and on down to Jumla for a hot shower and a final evening with the crew.
We take the morning flight down to Nepalgunj and connect to an afternoon flight to Kathmandu. Mountain weather can delay flights out of Jumla, so your guide reconfirms seats the evening before.
This day is kept free in case weather holds up the Jumla or Nepalgunj flights. If everything has run to schedule, use it for Kathmandu's Durbar Square, Pashupatinath or Boudhanath, or simply to rest before your onward journey.
Permits we arrange: rara_np, TIMS card
Jumla is reached by small aircraft from Nepalgunj; there are no direct flights from Kathmandu that fit the schedule, so we overnight in Nepalgunj on day 1. Jumla flights run early in the morning and are cancelled when cloud or wind closes the valley. The baggage allowance on these aircraft is usually 10 to 15 kg including hand luggage, so pack light and leave extra kit in Kathmandu. We keep a spare day at the end in case of delays.
You need a Rara National Park entry permit and a TIMS card, both arranged by us before the trek. The park fee for foreign nationals is NPR 3,000 per person (NPR 1,500 for SAARC nationals), plus VAT, and we register at the park office on arrival at the lake. Since April 2023 foreign trekkers must walk with a licensed guide in Nepal's national parks, so independent trekking is not an option.
Jumla has bank branches, but cash machines are not reliable and there are none beyond the town. Bring enough Nepali rupees from Kathmandu for drinks, snacks, tips and any extras. Electricity on the trail is solar and limited; lodges may charge a small fee to charge devices, and on camping nights there is no power, so carry a power bank. Mobile coverage is patchy outside Jumla, Sinja and Gamgadhi.
The route stays between 2,400 m and 3,804 m, so serious altitude illness is uncommon, but headaches and poor sleep can still occur above 3,000 m, particularly at Chere Chaur on night two. Drink plenty, walk at your guide's pace and tell them about any symptoms early. The return to Jumla is downhill, which gives a straightforward escape route.
Spring (March to May) brings rhododendron in flower and warmer days; autumn (September to November) is the clearest season. In early spring and late autumn the passes can hold snow and nights at camp drop below freezing. The monsoon from June to August makes trails muddy and flights unreliable, and winter snow can close the route.
Stay on the trails, take all litter back out and do not collect plants or disturb wildlife; the park protects red panda, Himalayan black bear and musk deer. Boating and swimming are controlled by the park office, and swimmers must wear a buoyancy aid. Ask before photographing people or village shrines.
Everything is yours to bring, except items marked “We provide” or “Rent locally”.
Base layer top and leggings, merino or synthetic
Two or three trekking shirts
Fleece or light insulated jacket
Down jacketWe provide
On loan; return after the trek
Waterproof jacket and overtrousers
Trekking trousers, two pairs
Warm hat, sun hat and buff
Light and warm gloves
Broken-in waterproof trekking boots
Camp shoes or sandals
Trekking socks, four or five pairs
Sleeping bag rated to about -10°CWe provide
On loan; bring a liner
Sleeping bag liner
Daypack, 25 to 35 litres, with rain cover
Duffel bag for the porter, under 12 kgWe provide
Trekking polesRent locally
Available in Kathmandu
Headtorch with spare batteries
Two one-litre water bottles
Power bank, at least 20,000 mAh
Charging is limited on the trail
Sunglasses with UV protection
Sunscreen SPF 50 and lip balm
Water purification tablets or filter
Personal medicines and blister kit
Hand sanitiser and biodegradable wipes
Passport with Nepal visa and two passport photos
Needed for permits
Travel insurance certificate
Nepali rupees in small notes
No reliable ATMs beyond Jumla
Yes. Since 1 April 2023 foreign trekkers must walk with a licensed guide in Nepal's national parks and conservation areas, and Rara is a national park. All our departures are fully guided.
A Rara National Park entry permit and a TIMS card. No restricted area permit is needed for the Jumla route. We arrange both before you fly to Nepalgunj.
It is a moderate trek. Most days are four to seven hours, the highest point is 3,804 m on Chuchemara Danda, and there is nothing technical. The day from Pina to Bumra over Ghurchi Lagna is the longest at seven to eight hours.
Flights from Nepalgunj to Jumla leave early in the morning, before flights from Kathmandu arrive. Staying overnight in Nepalgunj is the only reliable way to make the Jumla connection.
Your guide rebooks on the next available flight. On the way in we lose a day of the trek or use the spare day; on the way out the spare day in Kathmandu covers most delays. Charter helicopters are possible at extra cost if a delay runs on.
Some. Jumla, Sinja, Pina and the area around the lake have small lodges, but Chere Chaur, Chalachaur, Ghorosingha and Bumra have little or nothing, so we camp there with our own crew, tents and kitchen.
September to November gives the clearest skies, and March to May brings rhododendron and warmer days. Avoid the June to August monsoon and the December to February snow.
Boats are sometimes available from the park area. Swimming is allowed only with a buoyancy aid under park rules, and the water stays very cold even in spring.
Jumla has mobile data and some Wi-Fi. On the trail coverage is patchy, with signal in places such as Sinja and near the lake, and none on several camping nights.
Rara Lake Trek
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