Nepal’s best lakes are Rara, the largest at 10.8 km², Tilicho at 4,919 m, Shey Phoksundo, the deepest at about 145 m, Phewa and Begnas in Pokhara, sacred Gosaikunda in Langtang and the Gokyo Lakes in the Everest region. Phewa and Begnas are easy visits all year. The high lakes are best in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). Swotah’s lake treks run from USD 900 (7-day Rara) to USD 3,895 (Lower Dolpo) per person on group departures.
- Lakes in NepalMore than 5,300 (government map inventory)
- LargestRara, 10.8 km² at 2,990 m
- Highest well-knownTilicho, 4,919 m
- DeepestShey Phoksundo, about 145 m
- Most visitedPhewa Lake, Pokhara
- Ramsar wetland sites10 in Nepal, including Rara, Gokyo, Gosaikunda and Phoksundo
- Best months for high lakesMarch to May, September to November
- Swotah lake treksFrom USD 900 (group departure)
Nepal is a landlocked country, but its lakes more than compensate for the absence of a coastline. Scattered from the Terai plains below 300 metres to the high Himalaya at around 5,000 metres, Nepal’s lakes range from shimmering lowland fishing waters to sacred glacial tarns encircled by eight-thousanders. A government map inventory counts more than 5,300 lakes in the country, but only about 470 have names on the topographic sheets, and just a few dozen sit on trekking routes. Here are seven of the most spectacular.
7 Most Beautiful Lakes in Nepal
Rara Lake: Nepal’s Largest Lake
Photo: Surrounding Area of Rara Lake
Rara Lake, in the remote Mugu district of western Nepal, is the largest lake in the country, covering 10.8 square kilometres at an elevation of 2,990 m (9,810 ft), with a maximum depth of about 167 m. It is also a Ramsar wetland. It is the main reason behind the steady flow of visitors to Rara National Park, Nepal’s smallest national park, even though the journey is long. You can walk in over several days from Jumla, or fly from Nepalgunj to Talcha airport, about 4 km from the lake, and walk the last 2 to 3 hours. You can be keen on the pristine beauty of the lake or you can also prefer trekking and sightseeing in and around the national park.
Related Package: 7-Day Rara Lake Trek (from USD 900 per person, group departure), 14-Day Rara Lake Trek (from USD 2,675, group departure). For more on the district, read our guide to Mugu and Rara.
Tilicho Lake: One of the Highest Lakes on Earth
Photo: Tilicho Lake
Tilicho Lake sits in Manang district at 4,919 m (16,138 ft), making it one of the highest large lakes on Earth. The title of "world's highest lake" is debated, and nearby Kajin Sara, first reported at around 5,200 m in 2019 (later estimates put it nearer 5,000 m), is among the contenders. Tilicho is prized for its setting as much as its altitude: the lake is ringed by Khangsar, Muktinath Peak, Nilgiri, and Tilicho Peak, and it hosted one of the highest scuba dives ever recorded. Most visitors reach it as the classic side trip from the Annapurna Circuit, a demanding but spectacular detour of 3 to 4 days from Manang. Our Tilicho Lake trek guide covers the route day by day.
Related Tour Package: Annapurna Circuit with Tilicho Lake (20 days, from USD 1,855 per person, group departure)
Shey Phoksundo Lake: Nepal’s Deepest Lake
Photo: Shey Phoksundo Lake
Phoksundo Lake sits at 3,611.5 m (11,849 ft) inside Shey Phoksundo National Park, with a reported maximum depth of about 145 m (476 ft). It is usually described as the deepest lake in Nepal, and it lies in the Dolpa district. In September 2007, this lake was designated as a Ramsar site. It is not only famous for its depth but also for its exotic turquoise blue colour, a greenish-blue lake. It lies in the Kanjiroba Himal, north-west of the Dhaulagiri range, and is surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The usual route is a flight from Nepalgunj to Juphal and then 2 to 3 days on foot to Ringmo village on the lakeshore. Treks deeper into Dolpo need a restricted-area permit and a licensed guide. It can be said to be a hidden gem or wonder of Nepal.
Related Tour Package: Lower Dolpo Trek (19 days, from USD 3,895 per person, group departure)
Phewa Lake: Pokhara’s Famous Lake
Photo: Phewa (Fewa) Lake
Phewa Lake is also written as Fewa Lake (Phewa Tal) and is often called Baidam Tal. Tal is a Nepali word for lakes. Phewa Lake is usually listed as the second-largest lake in Nepal, though Shey Phoksundo and Tilicho cover a similar area. It lies in the south of the Pokhara Valley at an altitude of 742 m (2,434 ft) and covers about 4 to 4.4 square kilometres. A 2019 satellite study found it has shrunk by roughly an eighth since 1961 as silt washes in from the hills. It is famous for the reflections of mountains such as Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range on its surface, and for the Tal Barahi Temple, which stands on a small island in the lake. Together they make Phewa the most visited lake in Nepal. You can also take in the whole lake from the World Peace Pagoda, “The Shanti Stupa” or go for a walk around the lakeside in the evening. Boats and kayaks are easy to hire, and our canoeing and kayaking guide has current prices.
Related Tour Package: Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek (10 days, from USD 899, group departure, with time in Pokhara to explore Phewa Lake) or the shorter 4-day Poon Hill Trek from USD 300 (group departure)
Begnas Lake: The Quieter Pokhara Lake
Photo: Begnas Lake
Begnas Lake is one of the freshwater lakes of Pokhara and is often listed as the third-largest lake in Nepal. It is the second-largest of the nine lakes in the Pokhara Valley after Phewa Lake, and all nine were listed together as a Ramsar site, the Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley, in 2016. The elevation of the lake is 650m (2133ft), and it covers an area of 3.28 square kilometres. The water level always fluctuates seasonally due to rain and is used continuously for irrigation purposes. This is one of the popular tourist destinations of Pokhara, where some parts of the lake are still used as caged fisheries. It is about 45 minutes by road from Lakeside and far quieter than Phewa, and little Rupa Lake sits just over the ridge.
Gosaikunda Lake: The Sacred Lake of Langtang
Photo: Gosaikunda Lake
Gosaikunda Lake is the main attraction of Langtang National Park, which is situated at an altitude of 4380m (14,370ft) in the Rasuwa district of Nepal. It is an alpine freshwater lake that remains frozen for six months in winter. It was designated as a Ramsar site, together with its associated lakes, in September 2007. There are numerous lakes in this area, about 108 in number, with diverse sizes. It is a holy lake and holds religious significance for Hindu pilgrims. Hindu tradition describes this lake as the place where Lord Shiva cooled his burning throat after he swallowed poison during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan). Thousands of pilgrims walk up for the Janai Purnima full moon in August. This lake is not only important from a religious point of view but also plays a vital role in promoting the field of tourism. The Gosaikunda Trek is often known as one of the best trekking trails of Nepal. After the 2026 monsoon floods, the trail reopened on 22 October 2026 with treks now starting from Thulo Syabru. Our flood trekking update has the latest status.
Related Tour Package: Langtang Gosaikunda Trek (10 days, from USD 1,399 per person, group departure)
Gokyo Lakes: The Highest Freshwater Lake System
Photo: Gokyo Cho Lake
Gokyo Lakes are the world’s highest freshwater lakes system situated in Sagarmatha National Park. The lakes lie between about 4,700 and 5,000 m (15,400 to 16,400 ft), and Gokyo village on the shore of the third lake sits at 4,790 m. It comprises six main lakes, namely, Gokyo Cho, Thonak Cho, Gyazumpa Cho, Tanjung Cho, Ngojumba Cho, and Longbangu Cho, among which Thonak Cho is the largest, at about 65 hectares, and Gokyo Cho is the main lake. In September 2007, it was also designated as a Ramsar site. The lake system sits in an ecologically sensitive zone, and visitors are asked to follow Leave No Trace principles and stick to designated paths. The lakes are sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Most visitors are trekkers, but some Hindu pilgrims make the long walk to bathe in the lakes during the Janai Purnima festival, which usually falls in August. Our Gokyo Ri trek guide covers the route and the lakes in detail.
Related Tour Package: Gokyo Ri Valley Trek (15 days, from USD 1,675 per person, group departure)
Nepal’s Lakes at a Glance
This table compares the seven lakes above. Areas are rounded and some, like Phewa’s, change with the seasons. Prices are the booking-card “from” prices per person on Swotah’s group departures.
| Lake | Altitude | Area | District | How to get there | Swotah trek |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rara | 2,990 m | 10.8 km² | Mugu | Fly Nepalgunj to Talcha, then 2 to 3 h on foot, or trek in from Jumla | 7 days, from USD 900 |
| Tilicho | 4,919 m | About 4.8 km² | Manang | Side trip of 3 to 4 days from Manang on the Annapurna Circuit | 20 days, from USD 1,855 |
| Shey Phoksundo | 3,611 m | About 4.9 km² | Dolpa | Fly Nepalgunj to Juphal, then 2 to 3 days on foot | 19 days, from USD 3,895 |
| Phewa | 742 m | About 4 to 4.4 km² | Kaski (Pokhara) | On the edge of Lakeside, Pokhara | Poon Hill, 4 days, from USD 300 |
| Begnas | 650 m | 3.28 km² | Kaski (Pokhara) | About 45 minutes by road from Lakeside | Easy day trip from Pokhara |
| Gosaikunda | 4,380 m | About 14 ha | Rasuwa | 2 to 3 days on foot from Dhunche or Thulo Syabru | 10 days, from USD 1,399 |
| Gokyo Lakes | 4,700 to 5,000 m | Six main lakes, largest about 65 ha | Solukhumbu | Fly to Lukla, then about 5 to 6 days on foot | 15 days, from USD 1,675 |
How High Are Nepal’s Best Lakes?
Altitude decides how hard each lake is to reach. The bars run from 0 to 5,000 m, and anything above about 3,000 m needs time to acclimatise.
| Lake | Altitude | 0 to 5,000 m |
|---|---|---|
| Tilicho | 4,919 m | |
| Gokyo (village) | 4,790 m | |
| Gosaikunda | 4,380 m | |
| Shey Phoksundo | 3,611 m | |
| Rara | 2,990 m | |
| Phewa | 742 m | |
| Begnas | 650 m |
Swotah can arrange any of these lake treks as a private trip on your own dates.
More Lakes Worth Knowing
Three more lakes deserve a mention for travellers going deeper. Tsho Rolpa (4,580 m), in the Rolwaling Valley below Gaurishankar, is often called Nepal's largest glacial lake, at roughly 1.5 square kilometres, and it has grown dramatically with glacial melt and is one of the most closely monitored lakes in the Himalaya, with an early-warning system for the valley below. Panch Pokhari, a cluster of five sacred ponds at about 4,100 m in Sindhupalchok, draws Janai Purnima pilgrims each August and remains one of the quietest short treks from Kathmandu. And Kajin Sara, high above Manang at somewhere between about 5,000 and 5,200 m, was only reached by a survey team in 2019. If its height is confirmed, it may yet claim the "highest lake" crown that Tilicho long wore informally.
When to Visit Nepal’s Lakes
The best time depends on altitude. Phewa and Begnas Lakes in Pokhara are enjoyable year-round, though June to September is very wet. The high-altitude lakes, Tilicho, Gosaikunda, and Gokyo, are snowbound or inaccessible from December to February and are best visited in spring (March–May) or autumn (September–November). Rara is best from March to May and September to November, and winter snow can close the trails from Jumla. Shey Phoksundo is best from May to October, because Dolpo sits partly in the rain shadow, and the high villages empty out in winter. Both need domestic flights via Nepalgunj to reach their remote districts.
For more on planning your Nepal trip, read our guide to 18 reasons to visit Nepal in 2026 or explore fascinating facts about Nepal. To book a lake-focused trek, browse our full range of Nepal treks and tours.
Lakes of Nepal: FAQs
Which is the largest lake in Nepal?
Rara Lake in Mugu district is the largest, at about 10.8 square kilometres and 2,990 m. Phewa Lake in Pokhara is usually listed second.
Which is the highest lake in Nepal?
Tilicho Lake, at 4,919 m, is the highest well-known large lake. Kajin Sara above Manang may be higher, but its height has not been officially confirmed.
Which is the deepest lake in Nepal?
Shey Phoksundo Lake in Dolpa is usually described as the deepest, with a reported maximum depth of about 145 m. Rara is also very deep, at about 167 m by the national parks department’s figure.
Is Nepal landlocked? Does it have a sea?
Yes, Nepal is landlocked between India and China and has no coastline. Its lakes and rivers take the place of the sea, and the country has more than 5,300 lakes by one government count.
Which lake can I visit without trekking?
Phewa and Begnas in Pokhara need no trekking at all. Rara can be reached with a flight to Talcha and a walk of 2 to 3 hours, while Tilicho, Gosaikunda, Gokyo and Shey Phoksundo all need a multi-day trek.
