Nepal is home to several world-class trekking routes. Thousands of tourists visit Nepal for adventure, spiritual healing, and unique cultural heritage every year. And so the country offers various travel options, ranging from trekking to mountaineering to rafting. Besides, several magazines refer to Nepal as one of the best destinations for trekking and hiking in the Himalayas. You find towering mountain massifs on the roof and plain fields on the ground in Nepal.
All in all, trekking in Nepal gives you a wilderness of gorgeous mountain ranges, biodiversity, and uncountable species of flora and fauna.
Moreover, many Nepal trekking destinations pass through ethnic villages and national parks. Teahouses and lodges are common on numerous popular Nepal trekking routes, but some demand camping too.
In any case, every hiking route is unique and different and the good news is Nepal has trekking trails for all levels of hikers, from novice to experience. In this blog post, we will discuss the best trekking destinations in Nepal from an easy feat, the Annapurna Sanctuary, to a more challenging one, the Manaslu Circuit Trek. If you are looking for the best trekking in Nepal, you are in the right place.
Perks of trekking in Nepal
Some highlights of the most famous and overall best Nepal trek trails include:
- Admiring the breathtaking views of ten mountains over 8000 meters above sea levels such as Mt. Everest, Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Manaslu, Mt. Dhaulagiri, and Mt. Makalu
- Approaching several glacial lakes like Gokyo, Tilicho, and Shey Phoksundo
- Getting familiar with Sherpa, Gurung, Thakali, and Tamang cultures
- Experiencing clean and clear hiking routes
- Getting close to Himalayan wildlife and biodiversity
- Passing through several roaring rivers, suspension bridges, and gorges
- Exploring the ancient city Lo Manthang- the forbidden kingdom in Upper Mustang
- Exploring Nepal Trekking Routes’ restricted and remote areas.
- Enjoying accommodation in guest houses/hotels
- The possibility of hiring expert Nepal trekking guides and porters
Overview of 7 of the most popular Nepal hiking routes out there
Everest Base Camp Trek
Facts
- Duration: 15 days
- Main attractions: Mount Everest (8849 meters), Everest View Hotel, Sagarmatha National Park
- Maximum altitude: 5364 meters
- Trekking grade: Moderate
- Best seasons: spring and autumn
- Accommodation: hotels and homestays
- permit: TIMS
- trailhead: Lukla
Joining the Everest Base Camp Trek is often listed as one of the most thrilling and life-changing adventures in the world. This very popular Nepalese trail offers stunning views of the mighty Everest mountain and its surroundings.
Due to being that legendary, It has been featured in many well-known travel magazines, including National Geographic and Lonely Planet. As the trek follows a trail that passes through local Sherpa villages and suspension bridges, it’s possible to get to know the unique culture and lifestyle of the Sherpa people, an ethnic community who live in the mountain ranges of Nepal and Tibet. This is partly why they have earned the nickname ‘mountain people’.
In addition to being Buddhists, they have also constructed numerous pilgrimage sites within their communities.
Many trekkers have said that the Everest trek is more than just a physical journey – to them, it is a spiritual one with the potential to heal pain and suffering.
The Khumbu Himalayan range, Everest View Hotel, and Sagarmatha National Park are some of the trek highlights.
Many tourists hike this popular trek in its peak season (spring and autumn), which can make the route overcrowded. That’s why serial trekkers prefer to go in the off-season.
Its difficulty level is medium, which makes it feasible for most age groups and fitness levels, however a word of caution: Train yourself to encounter the high altitude of Everest before signing up for the trip.
Annapurna Circuit Trek
Facts
- Maximum altitude: 5416 meters (Thorung La Pass)
- Days: 15 days
- Difficulty level: Moderate-hard
- Accommodation: Teahouses
- Permits: TIMS, ACAP
- Best season: March-May and October-November
- Start point: Syangje, Lamjung
- End point: Jomsom, Mustang
The Annapurna region is usually the second best choice for amateur hikers after the Everest trekking region, being best-suited for novice trekkers due to its moderate difficulty level.
This one is also a teahouse trek, where visitors stay in local lodges with cozy shared rooms.
On the trek, hikers make their way uphill to the highest point at Thorung La Pass, which stands at 5416 meters. From the top of the pass, travelers can see the spectacular views of towering Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs, peaks, and valleys. However, if there is an issue with altitude sickness, extra care should be taken while crossing the pass as the wind can be somewhat strong and help cause altitude-related sickness.
After crossing the pass, they reach another Himalayan region, the Muktinath valley of Mustang. Here, one can witness Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims paying their respects, as Muktinath is a famous location for spiritual tours revered by both Hindus and Buddhists.
Manaslu Circuit Trek
Facts
- Maximum altitude: 5115 meter(Larkya Pass)
- Days: 17 days
- Trekking grade: Challenging
- Remoteness: Remote
- Accommodation: camping, tea house
- Restricted permit: required
- Start/End: Soti Khola/Besisahar
Manaslu region is a hidden gem in central Nepal. The round trek to Manaslu is the least popular but gives a fantastic view of Manaslu, Annapurna, and Lamjung Massif. Mount Manaslu is the world’s eighth-highest peak in the world. It is a restricted region trek that requires a special permit.
The Manaslu trails pass through lush forests and Tibetan-influenced villages. And the gorge of Buri Gandaki river- the deepest river in Nepal. Its route is remote and diverse but enriched with Himalayan panorama and wildlife sanctuary.
Himalayan blue sheep, deer, rhododendron, and pine trees appear en route to the Manaslu circuit trek. The trek starts at Soti Khola of Dhading district after a four-hour drive from Kathmandu. And it ends at Syangje, Lamjung. This Nepal trekking route 16 days trip can be undertaken throughout March-May and September-November.
Everest Three High Passes Trek
Facts
- Maximum altitude: 5545 meter(Kongma La Pass)
- Days: 19 days
- Trekking grade: Challenging
- Remoteness: Remote
- Accommodation: tea house
- Start/End: Lukla
The hike to the three high passes of Renjo La, Cho La, and Kongma La is an adventurous task. This trek is fit for experienced and professional mountain hikers and climbers only. An extended variant of the Everest Base Camp trek is suitable for those who can spend three weeks on the trail. The track follows the same route as EBC with the addition of three high passes and Gokyo valley.
A high level of endurance and strength are required for this trip. In addition, picking up climbing gear to cross these three passes over 5000 meters is highly recommended. Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Cho Oyu, and Gokyo Ri are the main attractions of this trip.
Langtang Valley Trek
Facts
- Maximum altitude: 3870 meters (Kyangjin Gompa)/4773 meters (Kyanjin Ri)
- Days: 9 days
- Trekking grade: Challenging
- Remoteness: Remote
- Accommodation: tea house/ camping
- Start/End: Lukla
- best season: spring/autumn
The trek to the Langtang valley is one of the closest treks from Kathmandu. Due to this reason, many trekkers preferred the Langtang trek before the 2015 Nepal quake. However, the earthquake and subsequent landslides destroyed villages killing 80 tourists and 186 Nepalese people. The natural disaster also destroyed centuries-old Kyanjin Gompa.
In any case, Langtang has been brought back to life with the help of national and international supporters. And so, these days Langtang visitors not only do get beautiful scenery but also help support the livelihood of locals.
The nine-day-long Langtang trailhead is Syabrubesi, Rasuwa. As they make their way through bamboo groves, waterfalls, Yala Glacier, and the Tamang community, trekkers may also take part in the popular Tamang heritage trek. Some also opt to visit the holy lake Gosaikunda, which stands at 4400 meters and is covered by an ice-capped massif.
Upper Mustang Trek
Facts
- Maximum Altitude: 3810 meters
- Days: 14 days
- Trekking level: Medium
- Remoteness: Remote
- Accommodation: guest house
- Start/End: Jomsom, Mustang
- best season: spring/autumn
- Restricted permit: required
Upper Mustang is a restricted trekking area in Nepal. It was closed until 1992 due to geopolitical reasons. Now, it is open for trekking but requires a special permit. The landscape and artifacts of this area are unique from other Nepal trekking routes. It features desert-style rock caves, towering Dhaulagiri and Annapurna massifs, and Tibetan-influenced villages.
Locals are rich in Buddhist culture. Upper Mustang’s ancient city, Lo Manthang, is on the Nepal-Tibet border. King Jigme Dorje Palbar Bista was the unofficial king of Lo Manthang from 1964 to 2008.
On the Lo Manthang trek, visitors can explore artificial caves, the Royal Palace, and centuries-old Buddhist shrines. It is a teahouse trek, where one can expect warm hospitality from the locals. The exciting journey to Lo Manthang starts with a visit to the sacred temple at Muktinath, before continuing towards Jomsom, via the Gorge of Kali Gandaki and the village of Kagbeni.
The trek’s difficulty is medium. Furthermore, the altitude never exceeds 4000 meters, making it suitable for those who are wanting to explore the Himalayan ranges and Tibetan culture of Nepal without the need for an outstanding fitness level.
Alternatively, there is also the possibility of traveling to Lo Manthang by joining an Upper Mustang jeep tour.
Annapurna Sanctuary Trek
Facts
- Maximum Altitude: 4130 meters (Annapurna Base Camp)
- Days: 6 days
- Trekking level: Easy
- Accommodation: hotel/guest house
- Start/End: Nayapul, pokhara
- best season: spring/autumn
This tour is a shorter version of the Annapurna Base Camp trek. The Annapurna Sanctuary Trek is an ideal option for novice hikers. It takes one through dense forests and ethnic community villages while providing a stunning view of the Annapurna Himalaya and surrounding peaks.
The trekking route starts at the lakeside hotel of Pokhara, where one can reach the trailhead of Nayapul in just 30 minutes by taxi.
From there, they will pass through bamboo forests, rhododendron trees, rice fields, and suspension bridges, before reaching the Machhapuchre Base Camp.
At the top of the base camp, trekkers can see a panoramic view of Annapurna, Hiuchuli, Machhapuchhre, and their surrounding mountains. In addition to this, the journey also allows for glimpses of the wildlife and Himalayan flora and fauna.
The trek can be hiked throughout the year, although for those looking to admire the blooming of the colorful rhododendron flowers, spring is the best season to visit.
Keep reading: Thru-hiking for beginners
