Rara Lake is Nepal’s best-kept secret — the largest lake in the country, surrounded by pristine forest in the remote far-west, visited by fewer than 1,000 tourists per year. This 10-day expedition combines domestic flights, jeep drives, and moderate trekking to reach a turquoise lake at 2,990m that most Nepalis have never seen.
The lake is sacred to the Thakuri people and surrounded by blue pine and juniper forests where musk deer, red pandas, and Himalayan black bears roam. The reflection of the snowy Chuchemara Danda in the lake’s still waters is one of Nepal’s most photographed natural scenes.