Your Guide and Trekking Team

At Alpinist Club, your safety and comfort are our priorities. From your arrival in Kathmandu until your departure, our team will support you throughout the journey. Your trekking guide will lead the group, coordinate daily activities, explain local culture, and help manage challenges along the route.

Please follow your guide's instructions, particularly regarding weather, trail conditions, walking pace, and altitude. The guide may adjust the itinerary when necessary to protect the safety of the group.

Your trekking team may include the following members:

• Trekking Guide: An experienced, English-speaking, government-licensed guide responsible for leading the trek, coordinating the team, and monitoring group safety.
• Assistant Guide: Supports the lead guide, assists trekkers, and helps coordinate daily activities and camping arrangements when required.
• Porters: Carry the group's personal baggage and essential trekking supplies. Porter arrangements follow applicable weight limits and local regulations.
• Kitchen Team: During camping sections, the cook and kitchen assistants prepare meals, manage food supplies, and maintain the camp kitchen.

Alpinist Club arranges insurance for its Nepalese trekking staff and provides appropriate equipment according to the route and working conditions.

Personal baggage allowance: The package includes porter services for up to 15 kg per trekker. Please confirm any additional baggage arrangements with our team before departure.

Accommodation in Kathmandu

During your stay in Kathmandu, you will be accommodated in a comfortable hotel, generally in the 3-star category, on a twin-sharing basis with breakfast included. The hotel is selected according to availability and your confirmed package arrangements.

The final hotel will depend on availability at the time of booking. Similar-standard accommodation may be arranged if the preferred hotels are unavailable.

Accommodation During the Simikot to Rara Lake Trek

The trek passes through remote areas of western Nepal, where accommodation facilities are limited. Depending on the location and the arrangements confirmed for your trip, overnight stays will be in tents or local lodges where available.

• Camping Accommodation: During camping sections, our team will establish camps at suitable locations. Tents and necessary camping equipment will be provided according to the package inclusions. The kitchen team will prepare meals and help maintain the camp facilities. Facilities are basic in remote areas, and access to showers, toilets, electricity, and charging points may be limited.
• Lodge Accommodation: Where local lodges are available, you will generally stay in simple rooms with shared facilities. Comfort and services vary between villages, so please be prepared for basic conditions.

Meals During the Trek

Your package includes three meals a day—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—during the trekking period, along with tea and coffee.

During camping sections, our kitchen team prepares meals using available ingredients and supplies. In local lodges, meals are prepared by the lodge's kitchen.

A typical daily menu may include:

• Breakfast: Eggs, toast, chapati, Tibetan bread, pancakes, porridge, tea, or coffee.
• Lunch: Rice, noodles, potatoes, soup, vegetables, or other available local dishes, with tea or coffee.
• Dinner: Soup, a main course such as dal bhat or noodles, seasonal fruit when available, and tea or coffee.

Menu choices depend on food availability, location, and weather conditions. Please inform the Alpinist Club in advance about any dietary restrictions or food allergies.

Additional snacks, bottled drinks, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages are generally at your own expense unless specifically included in your package.

Drinking Water and Hygiene

Staying hydrated is important throughout the trek. Carry a reusable water bottle and follow your guide's advice regarding safe drinking water.

In remote areas, water may come from streams, springs, or local sources. Treat water using suitable purification tablets, a filter, or another recommended method before drinking it. Where treated or purified water is available, you can refill your bottle rather than relying on disposable plastic bottles.

Bottled water may be available in some villages and towns, but availability becomes limited in remote sections and the cost is generally not included. Bring personal toiletries, hand sanitizer, and any hygiene products you need. Toilet facilities may be basic, particularly at campsites.

Physical Fitness and Trek Preparation

The Simikot to Rara Lake Trek is a remote adventure involving uneven trails, steep ascents and descents, and several hours of walking each day. Good physical fitness and endurance will help you enjoy the experience.

We recommend beginning your preparation at least two to three months before departure, depending on your current fitness level.

Useful preparation includes:

• Regular walking and hiking, gradually increasing distance and duration.
• Weekend hikes lasting approximately 4–6 hours.
• Cardiovascular exercise such as cycling, swimming, jogging, or brisk walking.
• Leg-strengthening exercises and training on uphill and downhill terrain.
• Practising with the daypack you plan to carry during the trek.

Previous trekking experience is helpful, although the most important factors are adequate preparation, a steady walking pace, and the ability to adapt to remote conditions.

Medical Check-up and Personal Health

Before departure, consider a general medical check-up, particularly if you have existing health concerns or have not visited your doctor recently. Explain the planned itinerary, physical demands, remote locations, and maximum elevations so your doctor can provide appropriate advice.

A dental check-up may also be useful before a remote trek, where access to professional medical care can be limited. Bring your personal medication and inform your guide of any medical conditions or allergies that could affect your safety. For specific concerns about altitude exposure, consult a qualified medical professional familiar with mountain travel.

Altitude Awareness and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)

Although the Simikot to Rara Lake Trek does not reach the extreme elevations of Nepal's major high-altitude mountaineering routes, the trek includes substantial elevation changes and remote terrain. Altitude-related symptoms can still occur.

Common symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) include:

• Headache
• Nausea or loss of appetite
• Dizziness or unusual fatigue
• Difficulty sleeping

Walk at a comfortable pace, stay hydrated, eat regularly, and report symptoms to your guide promptly. Do not continue ascending if you develop symptoms that may indicate altitude illness.

Severe or worsening symptoms—including breathlessness at rest, confusion, difficulty walking straight, or a worsening headache with repeated vomiting—require urgent medical attention and descent when indicated.

Medication such as acetazolamide (Diamox) may be appropriate for some travellers, but it is not suitable for everyone. Consult your doctor before the trek rather than self-medicating. Your guide will help coordinate appropriate action if health or safety concerns arise.

Weather and Flight Delays

Flights to remote destinations such as Simikot and Talcha are particularly sensitive to weather and visibility. Delays, cancellations, or schedule changes can occur, sometimes requiring additional time in Nepalgunj, Kathmandu, or another location.

The itinerary includes a contingency day in Kathmandu, but this cannot guarantee protection against every disruption. We recommend keeping some flexibility in your international departure schedule.

Additional accommodation, meals, transportation, and other expenses caused by unforeseen delays are generally not included unless stated otherwise in your booking agreement.

Travel Insurance and Emergency Assistance

Travel insurance is strongly recommended for this trek. Your policy should cover trekking activities, medical treatment, accidents, emergency evacuation, and repatriation, as applicable to your itinerary.

Check that your policy specifically covers the activities and elevations planned for your trip. Standard travel insurance may exclude certain trekking activities or helicopter evacuations unless additional coverage is purchased.

Your guide will assist with coordinating emergency arrangements if necessary, but evacuation and medical services depend on weather, accessibility, and local operational conditions.

Permits and Travel Documents

Carry your valid passport and any required travel documents throughout the trip. Alpinist Club will arrange the trekking permits and documentation included in your confirmed package.

Permit requirements can vary according to the final route and current government regulations. Please provide the necessary passport details and photographs in advance so the arrangements can be completed on time.

Communication and Electricity

Mobile network coverage and internet access may be limited or unavailable in remote parts of the trek. Do not rely on continuous mobile connectivity.

Electricity and charging facilities may also be limited in villages and campsites. Bring a power bank and spare batteries for essential devices. Any paid charging or internet services available along the route may incur additional costs.

Final Advice for Your Trek

The Simikot to Rara Lake Trek offers an opportunity to experience a quieter and less-visited part of Nepal, with remote villages, mountain scenery, forested landscapes, and the remarkable beauty of Rara Lake.

Come prepared for simple facilities, changing weather, and occasional travel delays. With suitable preparation, a flexible attitude, and support from the Alpinist Club team, you can enjoy a rewarding journey through western Nepal.

Ready to explore Rara Lake? Contact Alpinist Club to confirm your preferred dates, review the itinerary, and prepare for your trekking adventure.

1. How difficult is the Simikot to Rara Lake Trek? :

2. How many days does the Simikot to Rara Lake Trek take? :

3. What is the highest altitude reached during the trek? :

4. What is the best season for the Simikot to Rara Lake Trek? :

5. Where does the Simikot to Rara Lake Trek start and end? :

6. Do I need previous trekking experience? :

7. What type of accommodation is available during the trek? :

8. What meals are provided during the trek? :

9. Is a guide required for this trek? :

10. Will porters carry my luggage? :

11. What permits are required for the trek? :

The required permits and documentation depend on the final route and current regulations. Alpinist Club will arrange the necessary trekking permits included in your package. Any special permits or additional fees should be confirmed before departure.

12. Are domestic flights included in the package? :

Domestic flights are included according to the confirmed itinerary. These generally cover Kathmandu–Nepalgunj, Nepalgunj–Simikot, and the return journey from Talcha via Nepalgunj to Kathmandu. Flights are subject to weather conditions, operational schedules, and availability.

13. What happens if a domestic flight is delayed or cancelled? :

Flights in western Nepal can be affected by weather and visibility. The itinerary includes a contingency day in Kathmandu, but significant disruptions may require additional nights or changes to travel arrangements. Extra accommodation and unforeseen expenses are generally not included unless stated otherwise in your booking terms.

14. Is travel insurance necessary? :

Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance covering trekking, medical treatment, accidents, and emergency helicopter evacuation is strongly recommended. Confirm that your policy covers the activities and elevations planned for this trek.

15. What should I pack for the Simikot to Rara Lake Trek? :

Bring sturdy trekking boots, layered clothing, a warm jacket, waterproof outerwear, trekking trousers, a sleeping bag suitable for expected temperatures, a headlamp, sunscreen, sunglasses, personal medication, and a reusable water bottle. A detailed packing list can be provided before departure.

16. Can I customize the Simikot to Rara Lake Trek itinerary? : Yes. Alpinist Club can discuss private departures, additional acclimatization or contingency days, accommodation preferences, and other practical adjustments. Any changes will depend on flight availability, local conditions, and the feasibility of the route.

17. What makes the Simikot to Rara Lake Trek special? :

This trek combines remote Himalayan landscapes, traditional villages, forested trails, and an opportunity to experience the culture of western Nepal. Its highlight is Rara Lake, Nepal's largest lake, known for its clear blue waters, peaceful surroundings, and beautiful forests within Rara National Park.

18. How can I book the Simikot to Rara Lake Trek? :