Raute Ethnic Group Research Tour - 5-15 Days

Kings of the Forest: Life with the secretive Nepalese tribe who survive by eating monkey meat, Continue their own native culture, and speak a language that has never been written down.

One of the rarest ethnic groups of Nepal and probably the only people living in the jungle, are the Raute. They are known for subsistence hunting of langur and Macaque Monkeys. They gather wild forest fruits, Tubers, and greens on a regular basis. For other necessary goods like Rice, Salt, Cloths, iron, and jewelry, they carve Wooden Bowls, Boxes, small tanks, drums, and Handicrafts for nearby villages and Farmers. The Raute people keep moving to different forests very often.

Raute Ethnic Group doesn’t spend more than 6 months and sometimes not more than a few days at 1 place at a time. They will keep looking for better water sources and villages where they can sell their wood products, and if someone in the community dies, they move to another place. They speak their own Raute Language. The leader and a few of them can speak Nepali language too.
Rautes always wish to remain Full-Time Foragers, and they don’t want to assimilate into the surrounding farming population. Their estimated population is about 650. They are living around the Doti and Darchula districts of Nepal.

Raute Ethnic Group Exploration in Nepal

The Raute Ethnic Group Exploration Tour offers a rare opportunity to observe and learn about one of Nepal’s most unique and protected indigenous communities. The Raute are the last remaining nomadic hunter-gatherer tribe in Nepal. They live deep in the forests of western Nepal and move frequently from one place to another, following their traditional way of life. Because of their nomadic lifestyle, visiting them requires careful planning and coordination with local authorities.

As of March 2026, the Raute community is living between the border of Gurbhakot Municipality and Lekbeshi Municipality in Surkhet District in western Nepal. This area is surrounded by forested hills where the Raute temporarily set up their camps. Their location may change over time, so the exact camp location is always reconfirmed with local authorities before the visit.

The journey begins with a scenic flight from Kathmandu to Surkhet, one of the main towns in western Nepal. From Surkhet, travelers continue by private jeep for about 4 to 5 hours toward the forest area where the Raute are currently staying. The final access to the camp depends on their current settlement and local permissions.

This exploration focuses on understanding the daily life, traditions, and survival skills of the Raute people. The Raute are known for their deep connection with the forest. Traditionally, they make wooden bowls, hunt monkeys, gather forest food, and avoid permanent settlement. They do not farm or live in fixed houses like most other communities in Nepal. Their culture, language, and social structure remain very different from mainstream society.

During the visit, you will observe the Raute lifestyle respectfully, learn about their traditions through local experts, and understand the challenges they face in the modern world. Since the community is protected by the government, visits are organized carefully with the necessary permissions to ensure the experience remains respectful and responsible.

This journey is ideal for cultural travelers, anthropologists, researchers, photographers, and explorers who want to understand one of the most fascinating and least-known indigenous communities in Nepal.

The Raute Ethnic Group Exploration Tour is more than a trip. It is a rare chance to witness a disappearing nomadic culture and learn directly about a community that continues to live closely connected to the forest and their ancestral traditions.