Talcha: The Airstrip and Road Head for Rara Lake, with Heights, Walking Times and Costs

Updated 22 October 2026.

Short answer: Talcha, in Mugu district, is where most Rara Lake trips start or end. It has the small airstrip that serves the lake and is the end of the Karnali Highway on the Rara side. On our trips Talcha village is at 2,260 m and the lake is at 2,990 m, a walk of 3 to 5 hours up and about 5 hours down. The 10-day trek from Kathmandu is USD 2,290 Budget, USD 2,835 Standard and USD 3,615 Luxury per person for two to four people. The 12-day trek by road is USD 1,010, USD 1,715 and USD 5,110.

I am Shreejan. Rara is the part of Nepal that fewer trekkers see than any other region of its size, and a big reason is access. There is no road to the lake itself, so almost every trip passes through Talcha. If you plan to go, this is the place you will land or arrive at.

What is Talcha, and what is nearby?

The lake has an endemic fish, the Rara snowtrout, and an endemic frog. I mention it because a lake this big, this quiet and this high is the reason you come, and Talcha is simply the door.

How do you get to Talcha?

There are two ways, and I run both.

The prices are from the live trip pages, read on 22 October 2026. Alone, the 10-day trek is USD 3,135, 3,695 and 4,780. The by-road trip costs more on Luxury because you have your own Land Cruiser from Kathmandu and back. The 10-day plan has two nights in a hotel in Nepalgunj, one on the way in and one on the way out. For both, Kathmandu hotels are not in any tier.

Flights to Rara are not reliable. According to B360 Nepal, Nepal Airlines stopped flying to Rara airport for four months and restarted on 22 September 2025. The same report says Summit Air, Tara Air and Sita Air also fly there. Flights in the far west depend on weather, so keep spare days at each end. If you want to avoid them, the road version has none. The road has its own problem. Nepali newspapers reported the Karnali Highway blocked by landslides on 24 July, 21 August and 9 September 2026, and I keep a spare day at Talcha and another in Kathmandu for that. My road guide has the hours stage by stage.

How far is it from Talcha to Rara Lake?

It depends who you ask and which way you go. Our itineraries give 3 to 5 hours up from Talcha and about 5 hours down. Other sources say about 2 hours, 2.5 hours (the airport overview) and 3 hours. For a trip plan I use our figures, so you arrive in daylight with energy to look around. On the road version, you walk up on day 3 and, with the lake at 2,990 m, you are only 730 m higher than Talcha village. That is a gentle altitude gain compared with the Everest or Annapurna regions, and altitude sickness is rarely a problem here.

Where do you sleep?

On both trips you sleep in simple teahouses and lodges at Talcha, Rara Lake and Ghorasinga, seven nights on the road version. Budget shares rooms. Standard has private rooms. Luxury has private deluxe rooms with an attached bathroom where there is one. The lodges are basic: a bed, a blanket and home-cooked food, shared toilets and limited hot water. I do not know of lodge names and prices I could stand behind for 2027, so I will not list any here.

What permits do you need?

Two: the Rara National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000 for foreigners) and a TIMS card (NPR 2,000). Rara is not a restricted area. We arrange both and include them in the price.

When is the best time to go?

Our pages list September to November and March to May as the best months. I have not seen a measured weather record for Talcha, so I am not giving you rain or temperature figures.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Talcha? In Mugu district, Karnali province, beside Rara National Park. It is the airstrip and road head for Rara Lake.

How high is Talcha? The village is 2,260 m on our itineraries. One airport listing gives the airstrip at about 2,720 m.

How far is Talcha from Rara Lake? A walk of 3 to 5 hours up and about 5 hours down on our plans. Other sources give 2 to 3 hours.

Can you fly to Talcha? Yes. The 10-day trek leaves from Talcha by air to Nepalgunj. Flights depend on weather, so allow spare days.

Can you drive to Talcha? Yes, on the Karnali Highway via Surkhet, a rough road with landslide risk. Our 12-day trek does it with a spare day for the road.

How much does Rara Lake cost? USD 2,290 to 3,615 per person for the 10-day trek and USD 1,010 to 5,110 for the 12-day road trek, for two to four people.

Do I need a permit? Rara National Park (NPR 3,000) and TIMS (NPR 2,000). Both are included.

Is Rara hard? I rate it Moderate. The highest point is the 3,585 m Jaljala pass on the 10-day plan, and the walking is 4 to 6 hours a day.

How do payment and cancellation work?

You pay a 10 per cent deposit to book and the balance when you meet us in Kathmandu, in US dollars or euros, in cash or by card. Card carries 3.5 per cent on the balance. The deposit is non-refundable, with no refund if you cancel yourself. I can move your trip to any date within a year, free, with at least 72 hours notice. If we cannot run the trip, we refund what you have paid, less taxes, bank and card charges and money already spent on flights and permits.

What is the next step?

Look at the Rara Lake Trek, 10 days if you want to fly, or the Rara Lake Trek by Road, 12 days if you do not. My Rara Lake guide and the deepest lake in Nepal page give more of the picture. Message me on WhatsApp on +977 9810351300 with your dates and whether you would rather fly or drive. I will tell you which I would choose.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.