Karnali · Sudurpashchim · rural west Nepal
The roads, flights and permits that get you to Rara, Dolpo, Humla and the far west.
District by district: the airstrip or highway that reaches each headquarters, the months it stays open, the paperwork for restricted areas and the treks beyond the road end. Every fee, fare and road note carries the date it was checked.
District guides
All 19 districtsMugu
Mugu district guide for Rara Lake: Gamgadhi, Talcha airport, getting in from Surkhet and Jumla, the best months, the permit and where to stay.
हुम्लाHumla
Humla district guide: Simikot, how to reach it by air and on foot, the route to Hilsa and Kailash, the restricted-area permit fee and who can issue it.
जुम्लाJumla
Jumla district guide: Chandannath, Jumla Airport, the Karnali Highway from Surkhet, the history of the Khas kingdom and dated road reports for travellers.
कालीकोटKalikot
Kalikot district guide: Manma, the Karnali Highway through Kalikot, the dangerous Dahikhola to Galjebazaar stretch and dated road reports from 2025 and 2026.
बैतडीBaitadi
Baitadi district guide: Dasharathchand, the Mahakali Highway from Dhangadhi, municipalities, Tripura Sundari, population and Khaptad park fees.
दैलेखDailekh
Dailekh district guide: Pancha Koshi shrines, the Bhurti temple complex, Dullu, Mahabu, how to reach it from Surkhet and dated reports on the Karnali Highway.
जाजरकोटJajarkot
Jajarkot district guide: Khalanga headquarters, access via Chaurjahari and the Jajarkot-Dunai road, best months, sights, permits and what the sources record.
कैलालीKailali
Kailali district guide: Dhangadhi airport, distance from Kathmandu, Ghodaghodi Lake, Godawari, Tharu villages, municipalities, climate and population.
कञ्चनपुरKanchanpur
Kanchanpur district guide: Mahendranagar, Shuklaphanta National Park fees, the road from Dhangadhi airport, best months, municipalities and population.
सल्यानSalyan
Salyan district guide: Khalanga, the bus from Nepalgunj, Kupinde Lake, Chattreswori temple, the best months, population and park-entry rules.
अछामAchham
Achham district guide: Mangalsen headquarters, the paved road from Dhangadhi, the Mid-Hill Highway, Khaptad and what to know before you go.
सुर्खेतSurkhet
Surkhet district guide: Birendranagar, Bulbule Lake, Kankrebihar, the airport, the Ratna and Karnali highways and dated road reports for onward travel.
पश्चिम रुकुमWestern Rukum
Western Rukum district guide: Musikot headquarters, bus times from Dang Tulsipur and Kathmandu, Chaurjahari airport, Syarpu Lake, best months and permits.
बाजुराBajura
Bajura district guide: Martadi headquarters, Badimalika municipality, the Safebagar-Martadi road, the Saipal range and seasonal landslide risk.
डोटीDoti
Doti district guide: Dipayal Silgadhi headquarters, the Seti Highway from Amargadhi, Doti Airport, Khaptad park fees and the Doti Kingdom's history.
डडेल्धुराDadeldhura
Dadeldhura district guide: Amargadhi headquarters, the Seti and Bhimdatta Highway links, altitude and climate, municipalities and Ugratara temple.
बझाङBajhang
Bajhang district guide: Chainpur headquarters, the Saipal permit, flights and roads in, Surma Sarobar, Saipal Himal and climate by elevation.
दार्चुलाDarchula
Darchula district guide: Khalanga on the Mahakali, Api Nampa Conservation Area fees, the Darchula permit, Byans villages and when to go.
डोल्पाDolpa
Dolpa district guide: Dunai, Juphal airport, the road to Rukum and Jajarkot, Shey Phoksundo National Park, and the Lower and Upper Dolpa permit fees.
Getting there
All 12Nepalgunj: the airport hub for flights into west Nepal
Nepalgunj guide for west Nepal: Ranjha Airport, flights from Kathmandu, onward flights to Jumla, Simikot, Dolpa and Mugu, climate and the new terminal.
Getting thereFlights to Jumla: Nepalgunj and Surkhet schedules and airport facts
Flights to Jumla from Nepalgunj and Surkhet: the Nepal Airlines October 2026 timetable, other operators, Jumla Airport facts and past incidents.
Getting thereFlights to Simikot: Nepalgunj and Surkhet schedules for Humla
Flights to Simikot, Humla: the Nepal Airlines October 2026 timetable from Nepalgunj and Surkhet, other operators, airport facts and the way on to Hilsa.
Getting thereFlights to Talcha: the airstrip for Rara Lake from Nepalgunj and Surkhet
Flights to Talcha airport for Rara Lake: Nepal Airlines October 2026 timetable from Nepalgunj and Surkhet, flight times, the walk to the lake, incidents.
Getting thereRara Lake by road: Kathmandu and Nepalgunj to Gamgadhi, times and costs
How to reach Rara Lake by road from Kathmandu and Nepalgunj: bus and jeep legs via Surkhet, Kalikot and Gamgadhi, journey times, fees and the best months.
Getting thereFlights to Dhangadhi: Kathmandu schedules, flight time and airport facts
Kathmandu to Dhangadhi flights: Buddha Air and Shree Airlines schedules as seen October 2026, flight time, fares on record, and Dhangadhi Airport facts.
Getting thereFlights to Juphal: Nepalgunj to Dolpa for Phoksundo and Dolpo
Flights to Juphal airport in Dolpa: the Nepal Airlines October 2026 timetable from Nepalgunj, operators, airport facts, the walk to Dunai and weather closures.
Getting thereKarnali Highway: route, dated closure reports and safety record
Karnali Highway (NH58) from Banke to Hilsa: the route, how it opened, dated landslide and collapse reports from 2025 and the July 2026 accident figures.
Permits and fees
All 6Restricted-area permits for west Nepal: fees for Humla, Mugu, Dolpa, Bajhang and Darchula
Restricted-area trekking permits for west Nepal: Department of Immigration fees for Humla, Mugu, Dolpa, Bajhang and Darchula, covered wards and the rules.
PermitsTIMS card: fee, the 2023 guide rule and which west Nepal routes need one
TIMS card fee for SAARC and other trekkers, how agencies issue it, the March 2023 guide rule and the Dolpo and Humla routes that need a card.
PermitsNational park fees: Rara, Khaptad, Shey-Phoksundo and Api Nampa
Park entry fees for Rara, Khaptad, Shey-Phoksundo and Api Nampa by visitor type, with the date each fee was seen, how to pay and how to book online.
PermitsKailash via Humla: permits, the Simikot to Hilsa route and what pilgrims are told to carry
Kailash Mansarovar through Humla: the Nepal restricted-area permit fee, Chinese visa and Tibet travel permit, the Simikot to Hilsa legs and health advice.
PermitsKhaptad National Park: entry fee, how to reach it and when to go
Khaptad National Park guide: the entry fee for Nepalis, SAARC nationals and foreigners, Silgadhi access, the Triveni and Sahasra Linga sites, season and safety.
PermitsApi Nampa Conservation Area: entry fee, permits and how to reach it
Api Nampa Conservation Area in Darchula: entry fee for Nepalis, SAARC nationals and foreigners, the Darchula permit row, access from Dhangadhi, best months.
Treks
All 10Rara Lake trek: route, days, season, permits and cost
Rara Lake trek guide: the 8-day operator route from Talcha, the highest point, the best months, park and permit fees and what the trip costs.
TreksJumla to Rara trek: days, route, season, permits and cost
Jumla to Rara Lake on foot: how many days it takes, a stage table from an operator itinerary, the season, park and permit fees and what trips cost.
TreksLimi Valley trek: route, days, season, permits and cost
Limi Valley trek in Humla: a day-by-day stage table from Simikot, the passes, the best months, the Humla permit fee and what an operator charges.
TreksHumla to Kailash: Simikot to Hilsa route, days, season and permits
Simikot to Hilsa on the Humla route to Kailash: the 4 to 5 day walk, a jeep itinerary stage table, Dolma La, the season, permits and extra costs.
TreksUpper Dolpo trek: route, days, passes, permit fee and cost
Upper Dolpo trek guide: a 27-day operator itinerary from Juphal, the high passes, the season, the USD 500 permit and park fees, and group prices.
TreksLower Dolpo trek: route, days, season, permits and cost
Lower Dolpo circuit from Juphal: a 15-day operator stage table, the passes, the best months, the Lower Dolpa permit and park fees, and what it costs.
TreksShey Phoksundo Lake trek: route, days, permits and costs
Shey Phoksundo Lake trek in Dolpa: the Juphal to Ringmo stages, the lake's altitude, the best month, the Lower Dolpa permit, park fee and operator prices.
TreksKhaptad trek: route, days, season and costs from Silgadhi
Khaptad National Park trek from Silgadhi in Doti: operator stages and altitudes, Sahasra Linga, the best months, park entry fee and 2026 trek prices.
Rural roads
All 7How rural roads are built in Nepal's hills
How hill roads in Nepal are planned and built: the rural road standards, labour-based Green Roads, dry stone walls, phased widening and who decides.
Rural roadsRoad maintenance groups: who keeps Nepal's hill roads open
How Road Maintenance Groups keep Nepal's rural roads in working order: who joins, what the crews repair, how they are paid and how a road is inspected.
Rural roadsDistrict Transport Master Plans: how Nepal plans its rural roads
What a District Transport Master Plan is, why Nepal updated it in 30 districts, the core road network it defines and how municipalities now plan roads.
Rural roadsMugu-Humla link road: the 67 km road to Chankheli
The Mugu-Humla link road explained: who built it, its length and width, the bridges, the monsoon, and what was reported on Humla's road links to 2026.
Rural roadsLandslides and road safety on Nepal's hill roads
Why unplanned hill roads trigger landslides in Nepal, what a 2018 study found within 100 m of roads, and the night-time travel bans of September 2026.
Rural roadsTrail bridges in Nepal: how many, who builds them, what they change
Nepal's trail bridges explained: a government count of 8,444 against 10,000 plus elsewhere, how they are built, who runs them and what they changed.
Rural roadsWhat roads changed in remote Nepal: markets, work and landslides
What rural roads changed in Karnali and Nepal's hills: markets and work after the Karnali Highway, the evidence from 200 wards, and the landslide cost.
How these pages are made
Permit rules and park fees on Roads to Rara come only from the Nepal government bodies that set them. Flight schedules, fares and trek prices come from the airlines and operators, with the date they were seen. Road and landslide notes come from dated reports. Every one of them carries a numbered note linking to its source. Read the editorial policy.