The 9 Most Spectacular Lakes of Nepal!

Updated January 3, 2022

Do you have a hard time choosing between the soothing water bodies and the glistening snow-capped mountains? You don’t have to if you visit Nepal.

Thanks to the majestic Himalayas that form stunning high-altitude lakes above 4,000 meters above sea level. It creates the heaven feeling of the lake reflecting the snow-white mountain and the blue sky!

Alpine pastures, glacial lagoons, pilgrimage sites… We go through several lakes in Nepal that draw visitors’ attention. Below are highlights of the 9 most amazing Nepal lakes to visit and the ways to reach there (Most require many day hikes)!

Gokyo Lake

Nepal Gokyo Lake
Gokyo Lake Nepal. The view descending from Gokyo Ri.

What is more epic than the views of Mt Everest, the emerald-green lakes, and the glacier highway!

At an altitude of 4,700-5,000 meters above sea level, The Gokyo Lakes combine six lakes including Longonga Tsho (4650m), Taujung Tsho (4730m), Gokyo Tsho (4750m), Thonak Tsho (4835m), Ngozumba Tsho (4980m), Gyazumba Tsho (5150m). These glacier-fed lakes get the water from the Ngozumba Glacier, with the Gokyo Tsho being a major attraction.

We recommend spending several days in Gokyo village to discover the place.

  • Sit inside the dinning hall of the lodge, staring at the scenic lake outside the window.
  • Stand at the shore of the Gokyo Lake, see the majestic azure of the blue lake and the snow mountain reflected in the surface in a calm day.
  • Hike the Gokyo Ri for epic views of the world’s highest, the Ngozumba glacier and the scenic blue lake.
  • Walk to the sacred lakes that both Hindus and Buddhists worship.

Getting there: The 6-day trek to Gokyo Lake starts with a flight to Lukla. It might be once in a lifetime adventure into the heart of Sagarmatha National Park.

Tilicho Lake

Tilicho Lake Nepal
Tilicho Lake Nepal. This view will take your breath away!

Famous for the title “World’s highest lake” for its size, Tilicho Lake sits in the lap of Annapurna Himalaya at an altitude of 4,919 meters. Hindus believe the lake holds a spiritual story, hence it is famous for pilgrimage journeys.

The landscape around this high-altitude lake is magnificent that get features in some of Nepal’s popular music videos and films. The shining water blends with the blue sky and the backdrop of the “Great Barrier” of Khangsar Kang (7485m) and Nilgiri North (7061m).

The trail to Tilicho Lake is hair-raising, but the reward awaits. The place offers one of the most beautiful sceneries that remains in your heart for a long time.

Getting there: It takes 5 days walk to the lake from Chame. Tilicho Lake is an adventurous Annapurna add-on to the Annapurna Circuit Trek or Nar Phu Valley Trek. The trek to the lake branch off the main trail from Manang.

Rara Lake

Rara Lake
The crystal clear waters of Rara Lake in Nepal, one of the biggest lakes in Nepal.

Nestled at an altitude of 2,990 meters, Rara Lake lies in the heart of Rara National Park. This largest and deepest lake in Nepal is a perfect place if you want to find the wilderness and remoteness of the far west.

The sparkling blue lake crown the queen of lakes of Nepal. The landscape is breathtaking with the lake surrounded by dense forest and snow-covered mountains. Go there and you will see Rara is more than just a lake. You get the most stunning view of Rara Lake from the Murma viewpoint after a short hike to the top.

Getting there: Journey to Rara Lake requires two domestic flights, from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj followed by a quick flight to Jumla. The trek to the lake takes 3-4 days.

Gosaikunda Lake

Gosaikunda Lake
The holy glacier lake of the Gosaikunda in Nepal.

The holy Gosaikunda Lake sits at an altitude of 4,380 meters, is one of the most visited lakes in Nepal. It lies in the Langtang National Park in the Rasuwa district.

The religious people believe that they would wash their sins off if they bathe in this holy lake. Thousands of Hindus visit this lake once a year in August during the Janai Purnima festival.

Getting there: Gosaikunda Lake Trek start at Dhunche, six hours Kathmandu.  It takes 2-3 days from Dhunche to trek the Gosaikunda Lake. The beautiful views of the Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, and the holy lake – Gosaikunda makes it a nice trek.

Phoksundo Lake

horse eating grass phoksundo lake nepal

The stunning beauty of turquoise water and the unique Tibetan culture draw trekkers to visit Phoksundo Lake. The lake lies in Shey Phoksundo National Park at 3,611 meters above sea level.

The creation of the lake is interesting.

A huge mountain collapse creates a natural dam that blocks the river, forming one of the most breathtakingly beautiful lakes in Nepal.

Getting there: Trek to Phoksundo Lake starts from Jugal, after a short flight from Nepalgunj. The trek leads to the dense forest along the banks of the Bheri River. After reaching a place called Dunai, the trek leads to the place called Kagbeni passing through a wooden bridge. The trails of the trek are mostly narrow and lead to the village of the Ringmo. The Ringmo village is the passageway to Phoksundo Lake.

Tsho Rolpa Lake

Tsho Ropa Lake
Tsho Ropa Lake in the clouds. Looks like a scene from Everest, but it’s real and you can visit it!

Any solitude-loving trekker would love the trek to Tsho Rolpa Lake, as it is the least visited trekking route. It is the biggest glacier lake in Nepal at an altitude of 4,580 meters.

The lake lies between Langtang and Everest mountain range. It is the most dangerous lake in Nepal for its highly unstable dam. The lake presents a panoramic view of the Gaurishankar Himal and is very famous among the trekkers who love the adrenaline rush.  

The Tsho Rolpa Lake lies in the center of the hills and mountains. The varieties of the religions and ethnic groups can be seen as the regions that lie along the Tibetan border.

The major attraction along the trail is the vivid culture and lifestyle of various groups, the varieties of the vegetation, and the meadows covering the small hills of the Rolwaling Valley. The Valley is peppered with varieties of natural resources, which cannot be seen in the other trekking routes. This makes this trek memorable and uniquely pleasant.  

Getting there

After an eight-hour drive from Kathmandu, the trek starts from the Charikot. The trek leads to the Rolwaling Valley, which provides serene views of the Gaurishankar Himal. The trail is along the Tama Koshi River, and along the banks of the Rolwaling River as we move further down the trail.

Phewa Lake

Phewa Lake
Phewa Lake, Nepal. On a clear day like this, you can see Mt. Annapurna! It’s really hard to capture it on camera though.

Adding elegance to the city of tourists, Phewa Lake lies in the heart of the Pokhara. The major attraction of this tourist city is Phewa Lake. The Phewa Lake is the second largest lake in Nepal with a religious temple Tal Barahi sitting in the center of the lake. It locates it at an altitude of 742 meters and is the most visited lake in entire Nepal. The beautiful image of Machhapuchhre Range and the Annapurna Range on the Fewa Lake enhances its beauty to the next level.

The amazing boat ride, the gateway to hiking, the White Peace Pagoda, and the Tal Barahi Temple makes this place a little bit more special than other lakes in Pokhara. The banks of Phewa Lake are mostly covered with relaxing cafes and pubs. The adventure lovers and trekkers usually visit this place to chill and relax after long tiring hikes and treks. The banks of Phewa Lake provide the best place to bring a book and relax after a long day.

Getting there: The easiest way to get to Phewa Lake is by taking a bus to Baidam from Prithvi Highway. The lake is a 30-minute walk from the Pokhara Airport. Finding a taxi is easy in Pokhara, and it is just a 10-minute ride from the airport.

Begnas Lake

It is amazing how we can never get enough of the beauty of nature. Begnas Lake lies in the southeast of the Pokhara district. At 650 meters from sea level, Begnas Lake is the second most visited lake in the Pokhara valley. The endless banks of the Begnas Lake, the relaxing breeze, and the peaceful environment make this lake serene. The people also visit this lake for tasting the delicious trout fish.

Unlike Phewa Lake, this lake has clear water, and people spend their time swimming in the lake. On the other side of the hill of the Begnas Lake lies Rupa Lake, which is a smaller lake and provides a wonderful ambiance. There are few local shops in the area, and the place is famous for its solitary environment. You can do boating or fishing in this lake.

Getting there: Begnas Lake is just half an hour ride from the Lakeside. We can either hire a cab or take a ride on the bus to the area called Begnas Bazaar in Lekhnath area. We can easily walk for a couple of minutes and reach the place where we can hire boats or hike uphill to see the picturesque Rupa and Begnas Lake.

Conclusion

Nepal is home to some of the most beautiful, exotic lakes in the world. The 9 that we’ve listed here are just a few of the many stunning bodies of water that can be found in this majestic country.

If you’re looking for a new place to visit with your family or friends, it’s worth considering one of these lakes as their beauty and variety will not disappoint!

Read our article below for more information best places to visit in Nepal.

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