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Helicopter tour · Kathmandu – Nepalgunj – Rara Lake

Rara Lake Helicopter Tour

Nepal's largest lake, deep blue among the pine forests of the remote far west. It's a long day by helicopter via Nepalgunj, with about an hour on the shore of Rara in its national park.

Highest point
2,990 m
Length
Most of a day
Group
Up to 5
Price
On request
Rara Lake Helicopter Tour

Rara is Nepal's biggest lake: 10 square kilometres of clear water at 2,990 m in Mugu district, ringed by blue pine and juniper. Getting there from Kathmandu takes two days by road and plane, which is why so few visitors ever see it.

By helicopter, it's a long but straightforward day. You'll fly west along the foothills to Nepalgunj to refuel, then north into the mountains of Karnali to Rara National Park. You'll have about an hour on the shore to walk along the water, watch its colour change with the light, and look out for the ruddy shelduck and grebes that winter on the lake.

Because of the distance and the fuel planning involved, we quote this flight for your chosen date. If you're already in the west, starting from Nepalgunj is much cheaper.

Facts

Duration
Most of a day
Flight time
About 4 to 5 hours from Kathmandu, including refuelling
Highest landing
Rara Lake, 2,990 m
Passengers
1 to 5 per helicopter
Time on the ground
About 1 hour
Best months
March to May, September to November

Highlights

  • Nepal's largest lake, in Rara National Park
  • About an hour on the lakeshore
  • Remote far-west Nepal in a single day
  • Start from Kathmandu or Nepalgunj

Flight route and altitude

Highest point 2,990 m

  1. 1Kathmandu 1,338 mDomestic terminal, Tribhuvan Airport
  2. 2Nepalgunj 165 mRefuelling stop
  3. 3Rara Lake 2,990 mLanding, about 1 hour
  4. 4Nepalgunj 165 mRefuelling stop
  5. 5Kathmandu 1,338 mDomestic terminal, Tribhuvan Airport

How the day goes

  1. West to Nepalgunj

    • An early pickup and take-off from Kathmandu.
    • Fly west along the hills to Nepalgunj, down on the plains, to refuel.

  2. Rara Lake

    • Head north across the hills of Karnali and on to Rara National Park.
    • Spend about an hour on the lakeshore.
    • Return via Nepalgunj, reaching Kathmandu by the afternoon.

What's included

  • Pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Kathmandu
  • The helicopter, pilot and ground crew for the whole route
  • Fuel, landing fees and airport taxes
  • Passenger insurance, carried by the helicopter operator
  • Rara National Park entry fee

Not included

  • Your Nepal visa
  • Your own travel insurance (do check that it covers helicopter flights)
  • Tips
  • Meals

Good to know

Pickup
Your Kathmandu hotel, or the airport at Nepalgunj.
Before you fly
  • In the Himalaya, helicopters fly on weight rather than seats. Please tell us everyone's weight when you book, and bring just one small bag each.
  • Flights leave early, while the mountain air is at its clearest. Safety is the pilot's call: if conditions aren't right, you'll fly on the next clear morning instead, or have your money back in full.
Weather and cancellation
If the weather grounds your flight, you can pick another day or take a full refund. Should you cancel with more than 10 days still to go, you'll get 50% back. Within 10 days of the flight, or once the trip has started, there's no refund. Booking terms

New to mountain flights? Read about altitude and safety and the best months to fly.

Questions

Why is there no fixed price?

The price depends on where the helicopter has to position from, and on the fuel arrangements at Nepalgunj for your date. Just tell us the day you'd like to fly and how many of you are coming, and we'll come back to you with an exact figure.

Can we stay overnight at Rara?

Yes. There are simple lodges by the lake, and staying the night means you'll see sunset and sunrise on the water. We can arrange your pickup for the next morning.

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