Karnali Province
Remote wilderness, ancient kingdoms and Nepal's last frontier
Karnali is Nepal's largest and most sparsely populated province, its landscape running from Surkhet's lowland valley to Humla's high Tibet-border passes, with much of its territory reached only on foot.
The province holds Rara Lake, Nepal's largest lake, inside Rara National Park in Mugu district, and Shey Phoksundo Lake, Nepal's deepest, in the remote Upper Dolpo region; Jumla's high-altitude valley is known for its apple orchards and links to the historic Khasa Malla kingdom.
Karnali is Nepal's frontier for genuine remoteness: trek to Rara or Shey Phoksundo, raft the wild upper Karnali River, follow ancient trade routes toward Tibet from Simikot in Humla, or explore the hill temples and terraced farmland around Dailekh.
For travellers seeking Nepal's least-visited landscapes and a slower, more demanding kind of adventure, Karnali Province offers wilderness, culture and scenery found almost nowhere else in the country.
Nature and Mountains
Karnali is Nepal's largest and most sparsely populated province, spanning trans-Himalayan terrain from Surkhet's lowland valley to Humla's high passes on the Tibet border. Rara Lake in Mugu, Nepal's largest lake, sits at nearly 3,000 metres inside Rara National Park, while Shey Phoksundo Lake in Dolpo, within Shey Phoksundo National Park, is Nepal's deepest lake and lies near the Kanjiroba Himal. The Karnali River, Nepal's longest, rises in this province and cuts through remote gorges before reaching the Terai. Jumla's valley, at around 2,300 metres, is known for its apple orchards, a rarity at this altitude in Nepal.
Culture and Communities
Karnali's remoteness has preserved distinct cultural traditions. Bhotia communities in Dolpo and Humla follow Tibetan Buddhist and Bon traditions, with Humla's Simikot serving as a historic trade town linked to Tibet. The mid-hill and valley districts of Jumla, Kalikot, Dailekh, Jajarkot and Salyan are predominantly home to Khas Arya (Chhetri and Thakuri) communities; Jumla in particular is associated with the historic Khasa Malla kingdom and is considered a cultural cradle of the wider Khas heritage found across western Nepal. Limited road access across much of the province has kept local dialects, festivals and farming practices distinct from the rest of Nepal.
Things to Do
Trek to Rara Lake, Nepal's largest lake, inside Rara National Park
Trek through Shey Phoksundo National Park to Phoksundo Lake in Dolpo
Visit Jumla's apple orchards and Khasa Malla-era temples
Raft or kayak the remote upper Karnali River
Trek toward the Tibet border trade routes around Simikot in Humla
Explore the hill temples and terraced farmland of Dailekh
Major Destinations
Mugu
Rara Lake, Nepal's largest lake, inside Rara National Park
Jumla
Khasa Malla heritage and high-altitude apple orchards
Humla
Simikot and the historic trade routes toward Tibet
Surkhet
The provincial capital and the Karnali river valley
Dailekh
Hilltop temples and terraced farmland
Dolpa
Gateway district to Shey Phoksundo National Park
Best Time to Visit
Oct–Nov — Autumn
stable, clear weather and the best conditions for high trekking
Mar–May — Spring
rhododendrons bloom in the lower valleys as snow melts on the passes
Dec–Feb — Winter
heavy snow closes many high routes, bitterly cold at altitude
Jun–Sep — Monsoon
wetter in Surkhet's lowlands, while Dolpo stays largely dry in its rain shadow
Why Visit Karnali Province
Nepal's most remote province
Trans-Himalayan terrain with some of the country's least-visited trails
Rara and Phoksundo
Nepal's largest and deepest lakes, both inside protected national parks
Bhotia and Khas heritage
Tibetan Buddhist communities in the north, Khas Arya culture in the valleys
The Karnali's headwaters
Source of Nepal's longest river, threading remote gorges toward the Terai
Sinja Valley, birthplace of the Nepali language
The seat of the medieval Khas kingdom and the linguistic root of modern Nepali.
Highlights of Karnali Province
Districts in Karnali Province
Select Your Path
Expeditions in Nepal
9 Days / 8 Nights
Nepal
1,650m
Nepal's Wild Frontier: Bardiya, Pokhara & the Annapurna Foothills
Nepal's Wild Frontier: Bardiya, Pokhara & the Annapurna Foothills is a premium 9-day, 8-night tour from Singapore that joins Bardiya National Park in Nepal's…
On request
quoted for your dates
View Trip
7 Days / 6 Nights
Nepal
1,600m
Wild Nepal & Himalayan Lakes: Chitwan to Pokhara
Nepal changes completely in seven days if you let it. This trip starts in the steamy lowland jungle of Chitwan and finishes beside a lake in the hills, with…
On request
quoted for your dates
View Trip
5 Days / 4 Nights
Nepal
1,400m
Into the Wild: A Chitwan Safari Escape
Chitwan is the gentlest way into Nepal's wild side, and this premium package makes it a comfortable one. You spend your first night at Hotel Barahi Kathmandu…
On request
quoted for your dates
View Trip
9 Days / 8 Nights
Nepal
2,175m
The Himalayan Wellness Journey: Yoga, Mountains & Spiritual Retreat
The Himalayan Wellness Journey is a premium 9-day, 8-night yoga and wellness tour of Nepal from Singapore, travelling from Kathmandu to Nagarkot, Pokhara, the…
On request
quoted for your dates
View Trip
7 Days / 6 Nights
Nepal
2,200m
The Sacred Himalayas: Meditation, Monasteries & Inner Peace
The Sacred Himalayas: Meditation, Monasteries & Inner Peace is a premium 7-day, 6-night tour of Nepal from Singapore that joins meditation, Buddhist…
On request
quoted for your dates
View Trip
5 Days / 4 Nights
Nepal
2,175m
Himalayan Renewal: Yoga, Sunrise & Wellness Escape
Five days is a short break, and this trip treats it as one. It is a premium package built around premium 4-star hotels: three nights at Hotel Barahi Kathmandu…
On request
quoted for your dates
View Trip
9 Days / 8 Nights
Nepal
1,600m
Nepal's Cultural Legacy: Kathmandu, Pokhara & Lumbini
Nepal's story is wider than its capital, and this is the journey for travellers who want to follow it further. Nine days take you from the royal history and…
On request
quoted for your dates
View Trip
7 Days / 6 Nights
Nepal
1,600m
The Art of Nepal: Bandipur, Pokhara & Living Traditions
Most visitors drive between Kathmandu and Pokhara in a single long day and see the road as something to get through. This trip breaks the journey at Bandipur…
On request
quoted for your dates
View Trip
5 Days / 4 Nights
Nepal
1,400m
Kathmandu Heritage & Cultural Immersion
Five days is not long for Nepal, but you do not need to leave the Kathmandu Valley to understand a great deal of it. UNESCO inscribed the valley in 1979 as a…
On request
quoted for your dates
View Trip
12 Days / 11 Nights
Tibet
5,248m
Tibet & Nepal Grand Journey
Twelve days is enough to see the best of two Himalayan countries without rushing either. This journey starts and ends in Kathmandu , spends three days among…
From
SGD 3,890
per person
View Trip
19 Days / 18 Nights
Everest Region
5,545m
Everest Three Passes Trek
Three Passes is the Everest region's most complete high altitude route, linking the Base Camp trail, the Gokyo valley and the classic Khumbu villages by way of…
From
SGD 1,520
per person
View Trip
12 Days / 11 Nights
Everest Region
5,357m
Gokyo Lakes Trek
The Gokyo route branches off the main Everest Base Camp trail toward a series of turquoise, glacier fed lakes rarely seen on the standard itinerary, ending…
From
SGD 1,260
per person
View Trip
14 Days / 13 Nights
Annapurna Region
5,416m
Annapurna Circuit Trek
The Annapurna Circuit is less a single trail than a full transect of the Annapurna massif, starting in green mid hill farmland, climbing through Manang's high…
From
SGD 900
per person
View Trip
7 Days / 6 Nights
Annapurna Region
4,500m
Mardi Himal Trek
Mardi Himal sits on the same Annapurna massif as the main Sanctuary trek, but the trail up to its base camp at 4,500m stays quieter throughout, climbing…
From
SGD 430
per person
View Trip
11 Days / 10 Nights
Nepal
4,773m
Langtang Valley Trek
Escape the pace of city life and journey from Singapore to the peaceful landscapes of Nepal's Langtang Valley. After a comfortable stay in Kathmandu, travel by…
SGD 1,450
From
SGD 1,100
per person
View Trip
15 Days / 14 Nights
Nepal
5,364m
Everest Base Camp Trek
Your calendar in Singapore runs in 30-minute blocks and your commute is timed to the minute the train app promises. The Everest Base Camp Trek asks for the…
SGD 1,350
From
SGD 1,229
per person · on 8 Nov 2026
View Trip
15 Days / 14 Nights
Nepal
5,160m
Manaslu Circuit Trek
Trekking in the Manaslu region is one of Nepal’s most rewarding Himalayan experiences. The Manaslu Circuit Trek takes you around Mount Manaslu (8,163 m), the…
From
SGD 1,400
per person
View Trip
15 Days / 14 Nights
Nepal
4,130m
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
The Annapurna Base Camp Trek takes you from the foothills of Nepal into the heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary, reaching 4,130 metres (13,550 feet) beneath some…
SGD 880
From
SGD 801
per person · on 1 Dec 2026
View Trip
12 Days / 11 Nights
Nepal
3,210m
Ghorepani Poonhill Wildlife Trek
The Ghorepani Poon Hill Wildlife Trek pairs two of Nepal’s most iconic landscapes into a single, comprehensive 12-day journey. Experience the snow-lit peaks of…
SGD 1,535
From
SGD 1,382
per person
View Trip
Other Regions in Nepal
Good to know