A trekking trail connecting two beautiful national parks, Rara National Park and Khaptad National Park Rara NP is famous due to the country's largest natural lake.
Khaptad NP is famous due to its scenic grasslands, sacred pilgrimage sites and varieties of medicinal and aromatic plants.
Kolti used to be the vibrant hub serving the traders of the north-south salt trade.
The region also preserves the last remaining Khasha culture, traditions and rituals. Here, visitors can enjoy local and organic food.
Highlights
On off the beaten trail from picturesque Rara Lake to scenic Khaptad park..
Enjoy tranquil surroundings of pristine Rara Lake and on route to Khaptad.
Explore the unspoiled and undisturbed areas of Nepal Far Western Himalaya.
Within both beautiful national parks of Rara and Khaptad on less ventured trails.
Adventure to Nepal largest Lake Rara and holy hermitage sites of scenic Khaptad.
Itinerary (19D, 18N)
Nepal Intrepid Treks will be your dedicated travel companion until you return to your home country. Once you arrive at Kathmandu airport, we will be there to pick you up and take you to your hotel. Accommodation for our valued customers includes room and breakfast in a three star hotel in Kathmandu.
Take in the impressions of Nepal as we drive you from the airport to your hotel. We will assist you with the check-in and provide you with further information regarding your Everest Base Camp Trek. You may then have a rest or stroll through the bustling, colorful streets and alleys of Kathmandu.
Before starting your trekking journey, we have set aside a day in Kathmandu to help you learn about the unique art, culture, and architecture of Nepal. You will be guided to the UNESCO-listed heritage sites in Kathmandu. First, you will be escorted to Kathmandu Durbar Square, where you can visit the museum, palace, its premises, and the temples built around it. Next, you will be escorted to the monkey temple – Swayambhunath. We walk up the stairs to the stupa. From the height, we can get an excellent view of Kathmandu city. Then, we visit a popular Hindu temple – Pashupatinath temple and head towards the largest stupa in the world – Boudhanath stupa. In the evening, we return to our hotel for an overnight stay.
Morning in Kathmandu, after breakfast as time for flight to Nepalgunj transfer to Kathmandu domestic airport for scenic flight to land at Nepal Far South West in Nepalgunj city airport. During air for about 50 minutes, enjoy panorama of Himalaya mountain range as you land at Nepalgunj city airport.
Located around low sub-tropical climate, the areas of much Indian influence, due to close border of Indian states UP (Utter Pradesh). On landing at Nepalgunj city airport transfer to respective hotels within city limit, afternoon with time to explore around the city of Nepalgunj.
Early morning after breakfast catch another short flight of 40 minutes to land close to Rara National Part at small airstrip in Talcha.
After getting organized, as our porter will take care of heavier baggage, and then follow our guide to enter Rara National Park.
As walk leads into lovely forested area and through nice farm village to reach on the shore of huge Rara Lake, and then transfer into one of its many good simple lodges and hotels. Arriving in time for late lunch and overnights, enjoy the afternoon marveling at the beauty of Rara Lake and its tranquil surroundings.
A free day for hike and excursion around marvelous locations and enjoy scenery of dramatic landscapes with views of high mountains. Walk around beautiful Rara
Lake, the lake with few lodges built by the Park and village community for visitors. A perfect and ideal place to enjoy rest day. Explore around the shore of the lake, might spot some wild-life with various species of birds, including resident and migratory ducks. Climb to a tower for grand views of Rara Lake with scenic backdrop of scenic rolling green hills and snowcapped peaks.
After an exciting and pleasant staying at beautiful location around Rara Lake, next adventure takes you at the far end of Rara National Park. As morning takes you further west past nice villages populated by Hindu Thakuri Chettries, Brahmin and Rokas the main hill tribes of Western mid-hill with some Magar and Daliti tribes.
Walk heads towards smaller farm areas and villages to reach our overnight stop at a place called Serkot, from here, on tented camping with meals served by our cook and kitchen hands with separate kitchen unit.
Enjoying overnights with first nights in the comfort of tented camps, with lovely meals and breakfast. Morning starts heading past smaller rural villages to enter into forested area and large grazing fields. As route leads to climb above a ridge of Juga-La at above 2, 400 m, facing lovely views of surrounding country and then descend to the base of Juga-La hill for overnight camp, in a grassy meadow.
A place away from human settlement and villages in complete wilderness with only the sound of nature.
From the base of Juga-La hill and a small pass, walk on gradual pleasant path, where it enters into pine forest to reach back into farm areas and smaller villages with few short climb and downhill to reach at small farm village of Kolti.
A low warm farm country, where villagers will be more than excited to see foreign visitors passing through to their villages. As they hardly come across new faces of travelers traveling through the villages, overnight camp near the farm field with time for short walk around the village outskirt.
After a pleasant stop at Kolti, walk begins to enter forested areas of pines and oaks, with the sound of birds call facing views of distant snow-peas as walk continues further west to reach much cooler areas of Parekh Lekh.
In Nepal Lekh means a high hilly or mountainous areas, enjoy grand scenery around you facing beautiful views of surrounding landscapes and distant snow peaks. Camping is pitched on a wide grassy field near the grazing area and temporary shelter of cow and cattle herders.
From this isolated spot of Parekh Lekh, a short climb to a hill offers more views of the western sides towards Khaptad country, as walk heads downhill on nice winding path to reach a small farm areas of Martadi for overnight camp.
With pleasant overnight in Martadi small farm village, walk leads towards a high hill covered in dense forest, and following as crossing some streams to reach a large grazing field, where our camping and kitchen staff will prepare simple hot lunch by a stream. After a refreshing lunch stop, continue walk to short ups and then down to reach another small farm village of Dhuralsen.
Overnight camp is set on a wide farm fields, with time for short exploration of this new country, where foreign travelers not have ventured this far around remote corners of far western Nepal.
Morning after hearty breakfast in the camp, get ready for another nice pleasant walk, where route leads you closer to our next beautiful destination at Khaptad and the national park. From Dhuralsen to Laske Chaur more of winding path into dense tree lines of lush green vegetation, with chances of spotting some wild-life with various species of exotic birds.
Walk reaches much cooler areas to reach at Laske Chaur, means a wide field and popular grazing land for local village’s domestic cattle. Overnight camp in a large grassy meadow within scenic wilderness of green hills and tall tree lines with views of snow-peaks of far western Himalayas.
Today walk leads to higher hills walking into cool shade of alpine forest enriched with tall rhododendron and pines trees with other species of vegetation and tree lines. Walk leads into serene and tranquil surroundings as route leads towards last final climb of for few hours. From the top offers magnificent scenery of dramatic landscapes. From here a slow easy walk to enter Khaptad National Park entrance, where our camp for two nights pitched on a beautiful green valley with moors within its vast pasture land.
A great place for extra free day, after leisure time for breakfast morning explore around its beautiful pristine wilderness within Khaptad National Park. Visit the holy Hindu temple and its nice premises of Khaptad Baba. A saint and a hermit who migrated from India, who lived around this beautiful areas in early 1940 and spend his whole life around this scenic haven at Khaptad, meditating and worship of natural spirits.
A perfect place for rest day and hike around this wonderful serene area where you can spot some wild animals and bird life, after a peaceful walk return to the camp for last overnight at Khaptad National Park.
Enjoying most wonderful time and experience at Khaptad National Park, walk leads towards our return journey to reach several farm village via Bichpani village and then end the day at Simal-Pani a small rural farm village.
Situated on a beautiful landscapes and terrain and full of bird life with views of excellent surrounding scenery.
After Simal-Pani, walk today leads to larger villages and towns as route follows southward with much downhill to reach around more farm areas and villages.
As walk heads through mixed terrain of ups and down within forest, farm land, enjoying views along the way with cheerful greeting by the villagers, and then after a good day end the last day walk of the adventure on reaching Tamil a small hill town with overnight camp or in a local simple lodge / guest-house.
The final day of this marvelous adventure on Rara Lake and Khaptad National Park Trekking completes, taking an early morning long exciting drive to reach the city of Dhangadi, located Far South West within Terai belt, the low-land and tropical areas of Nepal.
Drive leads on winding narrow road to reach warmer areas past many farm villages and hill tops, then finally on good flat road to reach at Dhangadi for last overnight in the comfort of nice hotels.
Morning or afternoon time as per flight time for Kathmandu transfer to Dhangadi airport and then fly back to Kathmandu, with grand views of Himalayan mountain range. On reaching Kathmandu domestic airport, transfer back to your hotel with time in the afternoon for rest and short walks.
you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the international airport for your final departure. Make sure to have your travel documents ready and arrive at the airport at least three hours before your flight. Therefore, this is the end of your trek and journey in Nepal. Safe travels, and hope to see you again.
Trekking Map
Altitude Profile
Inclusions & Exclusions
What's Included
All airport pick-up and drop-off by private vehicle
Twin/double shearing deluxe accommodation on BB in Kathmandu
Guided sightseeing tours with car and necessary entrance fees in Kathmandu
01 night Twin/double shearing deluxe accommodation on BB in Nepaljung
Flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj to Talcha and Dhangadi to Kathmandu
Tamil to Dhangadi by local bus/jeep
National Park entrance fee and Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS card)
A highly experienced, helpful, knowledgeable, friendly, English-speaking, well-trained government licence holder guide with all his salary, food, drinks, accommodation, transport, and insurance.
02 guests = 01 porter with their Insurance, Salary, Food, accommodation and equipment.
Accommodation in the mountain during the trekking
Three meals a day; breakfast, Lunch, and dinner, and tea/coffee during the trekking.
Safe drinking water
All applicable government and local taxes per the itinerary.
What's Excluded
Your Nepal Visa fees (should bring small, accurate fees in USD and two passport size photos)
All the international air fares from and to Kathmandu (no need to pay departure tax for international flight)
Lunch and Dinner in Kathmandu and in Nepaljung
Personal travel and health insurance; insurance for helicopter evacuation
In case of extra nights’ accommodation, lunch and dinner in city due to early arrival and late departure as well as early return from trekking (due to any reason) than the given time period of itinerary
Your personal expenses such as laundry, baggage charge, phone calls, battery recharge, bar and beverage bill, boiled or bottle water, hot and cold shower, extra porter, etc.
Tips to the trekking crews and drivers
Extra expenses due to flight delays, strikes, weather conditions or any event out of our control
Anything not included in service includes column.
Equipment List
Clothing
Footwear & Sleeping Gear
Trekking Gear
Personal Essentials
Electronics & Food
Frequently Asked Questions
Nepal’s largest and deepest lake
Crystal-clear blue water
Surrounded by pine, rhododendron, and alpine forests
Peaceful, quiet trails
Opportunity for stunning sunrise and sunset photography
Known as the Land of the Meditating Saint—Khaptad Baba
Rolling green meadows (Khaptad Patan)
Dense forests with rare flora
Spiritual sites including Khaptad Baba Ashram
Peaceful, off-the-beaten-path trekking experience
Simple meals such as:
Dal Bhat
Noodles
Veg soups
Chapati and eggs
Homemade local meals
During camping days, the trekking crew prepares meals.
Both regions are extremely remote, peaceful, and untouched by mass tourism. Expect fewer trekkers, limited shops, and authentic local life.
This trek is a unique journey through Rara Lake (Nepal’s largest lake) and the sacred, peaceful Khaptad National Park, combining untouched nature, cultural villages, rolling hills, wildlife, and spiritual sites connected to Khaptad Baba.
Rara Lake: Mugu District, in the far-western region of Nepal
Khaptad National Park: Borders four districts—Bajhang, Bajura, Achham, and Doti
Both regions are remote and less commercialized, offering pristine landscapes.
Rara and Khaptad regions are not extremely high, but some trails reach above 3,000m. Altitude sickness is possible but less common than in Himalayan treks.
