Nepal, nestled in the heart of South Asia, is a land of remarkable contrasts and cultural richness. Its diverse geography encompasses the towering peaks of the Himalayas at North, Hills and Valleys in the Central region, and flat plains of the Terai to the south. It is basically categorized in three regions i.e. Terai, Hills and Himalayas. Mt. Everest, the world’s highest peak, is also a testament to Nepal’s breathtaking natural beauty.
Nepal is a melting pot, with a mosaic of ethnic groups and languages contributing to its vibrant culture. It is a country predominated by Hinduism, but Buddhism, Islam, and other faiths also coexist peacefully. The economy of the country relies heavily on subsistence farming, but tourism plays a significant role, drawing visitors from from around the globe to explore its breathtaking landscapes and immerse themselves in its rich cultural heritage. In crux, Nepal remains a land of captivation, where the majesty of mountains converges with the warmth of its people, welcoming travelers from different places of the world to embark on the journey of discovery and wonder.
In this article, I will be elaborating you on several Trekking places of Nepal which are most famous for its natural beauty and its cultural heritages and yet adventurous. Rather than hyping about places without the facts, I will be providing you the actual details all you need to perform Trek in Nepal in this year. If you are Traveler or interested in Trek, from any place, then you must have the list of these places which you have to make a plan to visit.
Also Tourbabari will be conducting Treks and Hikes in Nepal this year. If you are interested in doing Trek with us, please feel free to reach us at our contact Email i.e. tourbabari@gmail.com.
Also, I am providing you with the Google Form Link for fulfilling all your details.
So, without making you bored, let’s start with the name of Top 9 Trekking Places of Nepal. The lists are:
- Helambu Trek
- Langtang Valley Trek
- Annapurna Circuit
- Gokyo Lakes Trek
- Upper Mustang Trek
- Everest Base Camp Trek
- Makalu Base Camp Trek
- Upper Dolpo Trek
- Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek
Here, I will be describing the following things about Trek
- Basic Details
- Beauty of the Trek
- Itinerary
- Estimated Cost for Nepali Trekkers and Foreigners
- Best Time to Visit
Because,trekking seasons for all the below mentioned trek are same, I am telling it here about the best time for Trek. As rainy roads are dangerous and winter is too cold to visit, the best time for most of the Trek is March-May(Spring) and September-November(Autumn).
1. Helambu Trek
The Helambu Trek is one of the shortest Trek in Nepal, which offers the perfect blend of Natural beauty, cultural experience, and easy trekking trails.It is located in the Langtang region of Nepal. It takes basically 5-7 days to do this trek. It is considered an easy Trek and it goes up to 3700 m altitude which makes it easier for beginners to start their trek.
Beauty of this Trek:
Helambu Region is most known for its sweet Apples. Tamangs and Sherpas of Nepal are found here to show the ethnicity and cultures of this place. We can see several mountains like Gauri Shankar Himal, Langtang Li-rung, Ganesh Himal, Dorje Lakpa, and so on.
On this Trek, you can see mesmerizing landscapes, beautiful villages with cultures, mountains, etc. , making it yours breathtaking journey.
Itinerary:
This Trek starts with the 4 hours drive from Kathmandu to Sundarijal. From Sundarijal, the trail passes through the villages like Chisopani, Kutumsang, Thadepati and Melamchi Village. And while returning, we can go to Seemanthang, Kakani, Melamchi Bazar and drive back to Kathmandu from there.
Estimated Cost:
Cost details are totally different for Nepali Citizens and Foreign Nationals. As performing several Treks in Nepal need specific permissions and several guidelines to comply, Foreign Nationals may have to pay extra dollars as compared to Nepalese. However estimated cost for 5 days will be :
Nepalese: 8-10k per person without packages
Foreigners: 15-20k per person without packages
2. Langtang Valley Trek
Langtang Valley is located in the Langtang region of Nepal. Langtang is located in Rasuwa district which is around 130 km away from Kathmandu. It is also one of the most popular yet easy Trek of Nepal. It will take up to at least 5 days to complete this Trek.
Beauty of this Trek:
Langtang Valley, located at the Langtang National Park makes you wonder about its beautiful landscapes, mountains and also the sound of Birds chirping beside the sound of flowing rivers. Langtang is also famous for its glaciers and its diverse flora and fauna.
Itinerary:
To conduct this Trek, first drive to Syabrubesi from Kathmandu for 7 hours. Then you can follow the Trails of Domen, Bamboo, Lama Hotel, Riverside, Ghoda Tabela, Langtang Valley, Kyanjin Gompa. It is approx. 56 km walking for a complete 3 days.
Estimated Cost:
For Nepalese: 8k-10k per person
For Foreigners: 15k-20k per person
3. Annapurna Circuit
The whole Annapurna Circuit Trek is moderately difficult Trek to conduct on. It takes approx 15 days to complete the Trek. Instead you can prefer a shorter Annapurna Circuit for about 7 days which will be easier to conquer as compared and also without compromising its beauty. Let’s call it the Shorter Annapurna Circuit (SAC).
Beauty of this Trek:
SAC covers several districts of Nepal like Manang, Mustang,etc. escalating the beauties of Nepal along with its altitude. You can enjoy the Panoramic views of Annapurnas, Dhaulagiri, Muktinath, Jomsom and so on. You can also enjoy the natural hot springs at Tatopani. And the most hyped, Thorangla Pass will also be covered on this Trek.
Itinerary:
As there are several ways to cover Annapurna Circuit, I am being more specific for this 7 days:
Day 1: Drive to Besisahar from Pokhara, then Trek to Chame.
Day 2: Trek from Chame to Manang
Day 3 : Acclimatize yourself in Manang. (Compulsion)
Day 4: Trek from Manang to Thorong Phedi
Day 5: Cross Thorong La Pass and reach Muktinath
Day 6: Trek from Muktinath to Kagbeni and reach Jomson
Day 7: Trek to Tatopani and Drive back to Pokhara
Estimated Cost:
For Nepalese: 15-20k per person
For Foreigners:30-40k per person
Alternate Options:
You can only try Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Poon Hill- Ghandruk Trek, Mardi Himal Trek to enjoy the same happiness with less effort and money.
4. Gokyo Lakes Trek
The Gokyo Lake Trek is the stunning trek route in the Everest region of Nepal, renowned for glacier lakes, Himalayas, and ethnic Sherpa culture.Gokyo Lakes is also considered as a substitute to the Everest Base Camp Trek with equal breathtaking sceneries but with lesser crowds. This Trek is a bit challenging than others. You can complete this Trek in around 8-10 days.
Beauty of this Trek:
This trek takes you through the scenic Glaciers, Mountains including Everest itself including Lhotse, Makalu, Gokyo Ri, etc. You can visit cultural Namche Bazar to visualize sherpas of Nepal.
Itinerary:
The Trek route for the Gokyo Lakes starts with the Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. The Trek route trails are followed by villages like Phakding, Namche Bazar, Dole, Machermo and finally Gokyo. You can also do Gokyo Ri for a greater experience which will never be forgotten.
Cost for this Trek is a bit higher than others. Estimated costs for this Trek to Nepalese are around NPR 25,000 and around NPR 40,000 to Foreigners.
5. Upper Mustang Trek
Upper Mustang Trek, also known as “Last Forbidden Kingdom” because of its isolation and preserved Tibetan culture. It provides you with a mesmerizing journey through beautiful landscapes, wonderful villages, ancient caves, and the backdrops of Himalayas.
Beauty of this Trek:
This trek takes you to the village beyond the mountains. Village named Lo Manthang is the beautiful part of this Trek to visit. The Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, flying flags in the winds of Mountains, and local people with cherished cheeks will really make this trek unforgettable experiences.
Itinerary:
However the standard duration of this trek is 12-14 days but I am providing shorter Time frame routes.
Day 1: Fly from Kathmandu to Jomsom, the starting point of Trek.
Day 2: Trek from Jomsom to Kagbeni.
Day 3: Trek from Kagbeni to Charang
Day 4: Trek from Charang to Lo Manthang
Day 5 : Acclimatize in Lo Manthang along with exploring it
Day 6 : Trek from Lo Manthang to Ghiling
Day 7: Ghiling to Jomsom
Day 8: Fly back to Kathmandu
Estimated Cost:
Cost for this Trek depends upon the Time you gave and mode of Transportation you use. But, On an average, the cost might go up to NPR 30,000 for Nepalese and may reach up to NPR 1 lacs for foreigners.
6. Everest Base Camp Trek
The Everest Base Camp Trek is one of the most iconic and popular trekking routes covering the breathtaking views of mountains, rich cultural experiences, and good sense of adventure. By the name itself we are aware that this Trek takes you to the base camp of the world’s highest peak. This trek takes 12-14 days to complete but you can have a shorter trek if you have a busy schedule.
And sorry to say but I am not gonna write about the beauty of this Trek. Instead I am typing the single word “Sagarmatha”.
Itinerary:
I am giving you the full 12 days itinerary for this Trek.
Day 1: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla and Trek to Phakding.
Day 2: Phakding to Namche Bazar
Day 3: Acclimatize at Namche Bazar
Day 4: Namche to Tengboche
Day 5: Tengboche to Dingboche
Day 6: Acclimatize at Dingboche
Day 7: Dingboche to Lobuche
Day 8:Trek to Gorak Shep and continue to Everest Base Camp and return back to Gorak Shep
Day 9: Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar and back to Pheriche
Day 10: Phriche to Namche Bazar
Day 11: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla
Day 12: Fly back to Kathmandu
Estimated Cost:
Estimated budget for International travelers might be up to more than NPR 1 lakhs where Nepalese national costs are about half.
7. Makalu Base Camp Trek
Makalu Base Camp Trek lies in the Makalu-Barun National Park, one of the least explored and most pristine areas in eastern Nepal. It is considered a challenging and remote trekking route. It might take 18-20 days to complete this Trek and only suggested for experienced trekkers.
Beauty of this Trek:
You can enjoy the breathtaking views of Mount Makalu, the world’s fifth highest peak. In Makalu-Barun, you can also witness the wide variety of wildlife including Red pandas, snow leopards,etc. Not only the culture of people living there, you can also see the hospitality and lifestyle of different communities.
Itinerary:
The trek to Makalu Base Camp starts with a flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar and continues by a drive to Chichila, the starting point of the trek. The trail passes through villages like Seduwa, Tashi Gaon, Khongma, Mumbuk and finally reaches Makalu Base Camp. Then after, you have to come back the same path again to Tumlingtar to fly over to Kathmandu.
Estimated Cost:
It might take up to more than NPR 1 lakh per person to cover this Trek for foreigners with complete setup.
8. Upper Dolpo Trek
This trek is a remote and culturally rich trekking route in the Dolpo region of Nepal, offering stunning landscapes, ancient Tibetan monasteries with enriched Buddhist cultures. For your information, Peter Matthiessen’s book “The Snow Leopard” was all about the Dolpo region of Nepal. It is considered a challenging trek as it takes about 18-20 days to complete and also has rugged terrain and high altitudes.
This trek takes you through the eye-cleansing Shey Phoksundo lake, with its turquoise waters contrasting against the barren landscapes.
Itinerary:
The typical itinerary for the Upper Dolpo Trek starts with a flight to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu, followed by the flight to Jhupal, the starting point of the Trek. From Jhupal, trek trails pass through villages like Dunai, Ankhe, Renje, Phoksundo Lake, Shey Gomba and have to return to Dunai and Jhupal followed by Jeng Phedi and Tokyu Gaon.
9. Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek
The Kanchenjunga Base camp trek is also one of the most remote and challenging treks of Nepal. It offers you the opportunity to explore the stunning landscapes, rich biodiversity, and unique cultures of Kanchenjunga region.
Beauty of this Trek:
It takes you to the base camp of the world’s third-highest peak, Mount kanchenjunga which is about 8,586 meters. This trek also offers you a unique opportunity to experience diverse ecosystems, subtropical forests, and alpine meadows.
Itinerary:
The Trek starts from Taplejung, for which you have to fly to Bhadrapur from Kathmandu and drive by Bus. Then you have to go down to Mitlung. After that you can move to higher altitude followed by Chiruwa, Gyabala, Ghunsa, Khambachen and Pangpema. Pangpema is the highest point from where you have to retrace up to Ghunsa and return to Taplejung following Sele La Pass, Ramche and Khebang. This Trek takes more than 25 days to complete.
Disclaimer:
- Cost estimated is exclusive of porter’s, guide’s fees and tips and other specific filtrations.
- The itinerary is just a brief.
- Specific permissions are mandatory for all above treks which requires additional cost
- Enquire Tourbabari for all cost related details and planning your trip with us.
So, most of the trek are felt same when reading or writing as all has same mountains, landscapes,etc. but I am gonna end this article with one of my own quotes saying “Different view points depicts different point of views”