Food Accommodation During Trek

Beautiful Rara Lake is located in the far west region of Nepal. It is the largest fresh water lake in this country. Food and accommodations are available along the way and, of course, at the lake itself.

Rara Lake Trek Food

In this region food is quite basic, but enough to satisfy a trekkers appetite. You can expect to find vegetable dal bhat and cooked noodles almost everywhere. In Nepalgunj, the gateway town to the Rara region, there are many restaurants ranging from low budget to high end.

You have the choice! Once you leave Nepalgunj the choices are less, and it is a good idea to stock up on some canned foods for the trip. You will find the food to be very inexpensive along the way, and can expect to pay no more than two hundred rupees for dal bhat, meatless. That is USD 2! If you must have meat it is possible to buy a live chicken from any of the villages for about USD 20.

Rara Lake Trek Accommodation

Accommodations are also readily available and varied. Nepalgunj is a large industrial town, and a hub for pilgrims journeying to the holy Mount Kailash and Manasarovar Lake in Tibet. It is also a border town to India. Hotels and guesthouses range in price from USD 10 to 65. I stayed in the lovely Hotel Sneha, mid range prices, with a swimming pool, restaurant and casino!

Check booking.com or trip advisor for costs and availability. Once you leave Nepalgunj the guesthouses are more basic but decent. In Kalikot I paid USD 6 for a room. The dal bhat was good, and of course, as everywhere in Nepal, beer could be bought. Some friends who trekked to Rara Lake from Jumla told me that they could find a free room in hotels along the way. Nepalese hospitality!

Once you reach Rara Lake you will find the only two guest houses there. The food is fine, the rooms are well maintained, and the setting is beautiful at the Lake’s edge. A room here will cost you somewhere between USD 8 and 12. The number of people in your party and the time of year will determine the cost. Check the best time for Rara Lake. The airport for your departure, if you chose to fly, is in Talcha. Rooms here will cost you about USD 6, and there are many hotels available.

Altogether food and accommodations will cost you approximately USD 15a day per person, and this includes meals, rooms and snacks. I went to Rara Lake in early September 2016. You can read my Rara Lake trek report. To learn more about alternative ways to get to the lake, check how to go Rara Lake from Kathmandu.