Mugum Hidden Valley Trek Via Rara Lake (KK)

Overview

Located on the northern part of Mid Western Nepal, the region of Mugum hidden valley and Rara National Park is very interesting for classic Buddhist and Hindu culture and exotic nature. We see beautiful traditional villages and classic Hindu culture in Gamgadi valley nearby the Rara National Park whereas traditional villages, colorful chhortens, artistic monasteries, monastic culture, typical lifestyle, trans-human system and rare flora and fauna in interesting Mugum hidden valley surrounded by majestic snowy mountains. Classic Buddhist culture of Mugumpa or Mugali Bhote tribe in Mugum hidden valley is very interesting. We may see snow leopard, musk deer, wolf, marmot, mouse hare, rabbit, Himalayan griffin, raven, blue sheep, ghoral, Himalayan monal and wild horses in Mugum hidden valley. Mugum valley in the western Nepal Himalaya is virgin land for foreigners and even for Nepali people that has dozens of unexplored isolated valleys and interesting monastic culture yet to be explored and visited. Lower Mugu is famous for Nepal’s biggest lake Rara with the smallest national park named by the lake, and Hindu and shamanist culture whereas the upper Mugu is famous for interesting glacial hidden valleys and classic monastic culture interlinked with Dolpo in the east, Humla in the west and Tibet in the north. This region partly falls in Great Himalaya Trail (GHT).

Rara National Park is named by the lake Rara- the biggest lake of Nepal. This is a natural paradise where you see wonderful panorama of Kanjirowa, Mangri, Saipal, Sisne Himal, Chanki Lek and small hills and hillocks. Surrounding Himalayan beauty, tranquility of Rara Lake (biggest lake of Nepal), exhibition of rare flora and fauna in Rara National Park and vibrant color of nature allure everyone. Ripley rediscovered the most famous spiny babbler from this region, which was not reported for 150 years. The park is famous for the most beautiful, peaceful and biggest lake of the country and its unique formation, musk deer, Himalayan black beer, leopard, Danfe - national bird of Nepal, goral, Himalayan thar, yellow throated marten, wild boar, langur (black faced white monkey), rhesus macaque, the migrant waterfowl, great-crested grebe, black-crested grebe, red crested grebe, snow cock, white crested pheasant, blood pheasant, chukor and other Himalayan wetland species, dense forest, pasturelands, beautiful landscape and great Himalaya panorama and its reflection on the lake.

Best choices for Jumla and Rara region are popular trekking areas in mid west Nepal west of Dolpo, these days the area is accessed by road, so we can visit lower Mugu region by private vehicles. But trekking is only option to visit upper Mugu and its isolated beautiful hidden valleys, its classic culture and exotic nature. In the lap of Kanti Himal and behind the Kanjirowa Himal, this trekking is ideal for anthropologists, adventure trekkers and wanderers.

Package Itineary

Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu (1310m), hotel

Arrive Kathmandu, transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day02: Sightseeing in Kathmandu, fly to Surkhet (680m), hotel

After breakfast, visit UNESCO heritage site Pashupatinath complex, transfer to airport then fly to Surkhet. You admire the wonderful Himalaya range from the right side window of the plane. Transfer to hotel. Have lunch then visit Deuti Bajei Temple, Bulbule Lake colorful botanical garden and Kakre Bihar- 8^th century monument of Hindu and Buddhist in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight.

Day 03: Fly to Talcha (2735m), hike down to Srinagar (1810m), camp

Have breakfast, transfer to airport, fly to Talcha, meet the local crew with donkeys, pack up everything, hike down to Mugu Karnali River valley through Karkibada traditional village, Gamgadi - the district headquarters of Mugu district and terraced farmlands. Have lunch on the way or late lunch at the camp in Srinagar by the Mugu Karnali River. Dinner and overnight.

Day 04: Hike to Dhunge/Mangri (2245m), camp

After having breakfast, hike along the Karnali River valley through Roba and Pumfa traditional villages, grassy hill slope, farmlands and rivulets. Have lunch on the way, arrive the camp. Explore classic culture and typical lifestyle in nearby village. Dinner and overnight.

Day 05: Mangri to Pulu (2290m), camp

After breakfast, hike to Pulu along the Karnali River valley. You see traditional villages, new settlements along the trails, locals working in farmlands and cutting grass in the steep hills for cattle. You can hike further but due to shortage of camping space, we stay little early today just after Pulu and before Kimri Namlang Khola confluence. Lunch at camp. Village tour in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight.

Day 06: Hike to Takla Khola (2650m), camp

Breakfast, hike continue along the Mugu Karnali River valley through some settlements and rivulets. After Namlang Mugu Khola confluence, follow the left valley of Mugu Khola. We camp by the teahouse just before Takla Khola. Dinner and overnight.

Day 07: Hike to Lower Mugum valley (3190m), camp

After breakfast, staying left along Mugu Khola valley, hike to Lower Mugu valley. About an hour passing the Babar Mugu confluence, we camp in the beautiful spot. We can hike further but due to altitude concern, it is better to camp here. Relax in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight.

Day 08: Hike to Mugum valley (3365m), explore Mugali tribe lifestyle, camp

Have breakfast, hike to Mugum - the last village in the valley. Today is short distance and gentle hiking along smooth Mugu Khola valley. After lunch at the camp, explore beautiful traditional village, monastic culture, lifestyle of Mugali tribe and exotic nature in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight.

Day09-10: Explore classic monastic culture and exotic divine nature, camp

First day explore village, monasteries, monastic culture and surroundings. Hike up to artistic colorfully decorated Drakngon Pema Choeling monastery (3655m) just above the village. From the monastery, you see great view of wider Mugum valley, steep cliffs, hanging icefalls, glaciers, serene Himalayas, river channels and beautiful settlement. Today, you will explore and observe thundering waterfalls, colorful chhortens, Serkhang Sungjhyon Gompa, beautiful traditional village, typical lifestyle of Mugumpa or Mugali Bhote tribe.

Next day is dedicated to explore Upper Mugum Puran valley where you see herding sheep, yaks and horses, interesting geomorphology, hidden glacial valley surrounded by pristine majestic Himalayas, hanging icefalls, tapering ice, waterfalls and steep cliffs. You may also see Himalayan griffin vulture, raven, kite, snow partridge, Danfe- national bird of Nepal, snow goose, marmot, blue sheep, Himalayan thar, musk deer, snow leopard and wolf. The valley is really long extended to Nagsa La- the Tibetan border. There are dozen of glacial lakes by the border. It takes about 2 more days to get there.

Day 11-14: Hike down to Srinagar (1810m), camp

Hike back to Srinagar on the same way with the night stop at Takla Khola, Pulu and Mangri. Depending on time and guests preference, night stops can be changed.

Day 15: Srinagar to Karkibada (2800m), camp by the national park entrance, camp

After breakfast, hike up to upper end of Karkibada through Gamgadi and Karkibada village. The distance is short but it is long ascend today. So we camp by the park entrance before the Rara Lake. If guests prefer to hike continue to the lake, we camp by the lake and we will have one more day to explore the pristine nature. Dinner and overnight.

Day 16: Hike to Chhapri, Rara Lake (2980m), explore Rara Lake, queen of mother nature, camp

After breakfast, hike to Rara Lake, have lunch then explore Rara Lake and its pristine nature. This is the biggest lake of Nepal located at the top of the mountain surrounded by dense forests. It seems very interesting that how it is formed! The reflection of Kanjirowa, Kimri and Magri Himal as well as nearby forested hills on the lake surface is heart alluring. If you are interested to view the overall geomorphology of the lake you can go to Murma Top (3665m) that provides wonderful scenery of the lake and its surrounding. There is also boating service in the lake. Relax in the afternoon.

Day 17: Hike to Milichaur, Rara Lake (2990m), camp

After breakfast, hike along the shore of the lake towards Milichaur at the base of Ghurchi Lek. The water of the lake flows out through the southwest narrow neck of the valley. After crossing this neck, we hike continue along the lake shore. Today you have pleasant gentle walk and enough time to explore the lake and its magical beauty. Have lunch, then relax in the afternoon by the lake shore. Dinner and overnight.

Day 18: Hike to Talcha airport (2735m), camp

Have breakfast, hike down to Talcha airport through beautiful meadows, forests, hills and valleys. Arrive Talcha, have lunch. Afternoon free for relax and hang around. Today is the last day of the trek, so we release the local crew in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight.

Day 19: Fly to Nepalgunj and then fly to Kathmandu, hotel

After breakfast, we fly to Nepalgunj then to Kathmandu from another flight. Depending on time of the flights, we have lunch in Nepalgunj or in Kathmandu. Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swoyambhunath stupa in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight.

Day 20: Explore Kathmandu, hotel

The day is dedicated to explore medieval era architectural cities of Bhaktapur and Patan where you see interesting artistic temples, palaces, water fountains, paved streets, interesting Thanka paintings, wooden, stone and metal arts shops, clay pottery, traditional Newari houses and their classic culture, and feasts and occasionally wheeled chariots festivals. Have Nepali lunch with host family. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 21: Fly back home.

Have breakfast, transfer to airport, end of service, fly back home.

Detailed Trip Cost

Entire trip cost per person (USD): $4,399 (including restricted area permit)

1pax free for above 10 paid guests group

Trip cost includes:
All accommodation (twin sharing basis) & food; three meals a day -breakfast, lunch and dinner (except bar bill), insured crew (guide, porters, donkeys, dzopa, yaks and necessary kitchen crew for camping trek), all essential permits, all domestic transportation as per the itinerary, service charge and government taxes.

Trip cost does not include:
Personal expenses (like laundry, communication, alcohol, cold drinks and bottled water during trekking), gratuity to serving crew, emergency evacuation, international airfare, visa, your travel insurance and any kind of gifts and donation.

Payment system

80% of total trip budget must be paid in advance (the amount should be appeared to our account just two weeks before the trips) for domestic transportation, permits, hotel bookings reconfirmation and essential preparations.
Balance can be paid before or during/after the trip.

Refund system
In case of trip cancellation in the last 10 days of group arrival, 50% of the deposited amount will be deducted. If the trip cancels 10 days before the group arrival, we settle the full amount in next trip.

Special Feature

8^th century monuments in Surkhet, traditional watermills, unique culture and ancient human civilization, exotic nature, fabulous Kanjirowa Himalaya, Saipal and Kimri Himal, beautiful Mugum hidden valley and its interesting monastic culture and rare flora and fauna, queen of mother nature Rara - the biggest lake of Nepal, beautiful Rara National Park and its floral and faunal species, scenic mountain flights.