Nepal has some of the best trekking in the world, to and around several of the world's highest mountains, including Mount Everest. Many people visit the country just to trek and the tourism industry is well prepared to facilitate all manner of trekking styles and destinations. On the one hand you could spend a year planning an expedition to wild and lofty places; on the other you could land in Kathmandu with no plans and be on the trail to EBC in a matter of days.
"Teahouse trekking" along the main trails is the most common style, with decent lodges in every settlement (and between), it is possible to trek in comfort with minimal preparation, equipment and support. There is no need to camp and a selection of western style foods are readily available from a menu system. No special permits are required, just national park entry tickets. The main areas for these treks are Everest/Khumbu, Annapurna and Langtang/Helambu.
Facilities available in remote areas are less extensive than in the more popular areas. Off the main trails where there are no lodges and food from menus a Nepali guide becomes essential, and it may be advisable to visit such regions with organised groups, including guide, porters and full support. Mustang, Kanchenjunga, Manaslu, Dolpo and Humla are in remote areas. Many of them require also special permits.
There are lots of agencies in Kathmandu and Pokhara who are always keen to broker the services of a guide and/or porter. During the main seasons the agencies run regular group treks, both teahouse and camping styles, and it generally possible to join a group doing a trek of your choice. Independent trekking is quite easy with straight forward preparations.
"Teahouse trekking" along the main trails is the most common style, with decent lodges in every settlement (and between), it is possible to trek in comfort with minimal preparation, equipment and support. There is no need to camp and a selection of western style foods are readily available from a menu system. No special permits are required, just national park entry tickets. The main areas for these treks are Everest/Khumbu, Annapurna and Langtang/Helambu.
Facilities available in remote areas are less extensive than in the more popular areas. Off the main trails where there are no lodges and food from menus a Nepali guide becomes essential, and it may be advisable to visit such regions with organised groups, including guide, porters and full support. Mustang, Kanchenjunga, Manaslu, Dolpo and Humla are in remote areas. Many of them require also special permits.
There are lots of agencies in Kathmandu and Pokhara who are always keen to broker the services of a guide and/or porter. During the main seasons the agencies run regular group treks, both teahouse and camping styles, and it generally possible to join a group doing a trek of your choice. Independent trekking is quite easy with straight forward preparations.
Main "teahouse trek" regions, in each of these areas there are a number of trail options, there is plenty of scope for short treks of less than a week to much longer if you have time and wanderlust.
Khumbu - Bus to Jiri or fly to Lukla then hike up to Namche Bazzar, capital of the Sherpa lands at the foot of Everest. The most popular trek is up to Everest Base Camp and an ascent of Kalar Patar. Visit the Buddhist Tengboche monastery for the Mani Rimdu festival in November. Explore the Gokyo valley with its sacred lakes and stupendous views of four 8000m peaks. Or a circuit of the region crossing the high passes or Cho La and Renjo La.
Annapurna - North of Pokhara, from lush middle hills into high mountains. A circuit leads up the Maryangdi river to Manang, over Thorung La (5400m) to the Hindu temples at Muktinath. Down the Kali Gandaki on the Jomsom trail enjoying Gurung and Thakali hospitality. Up through spring rhododendron blooms to Poon Hill for a dawn Himalayan vista. Trek up into the very heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary for an awesome 360' high mountain skyline.
Helambu Langtang - a short taxi ride from Thamel to the roadhead at Shivapuri leads to a trail through the middle-hills countryside of Helambu, either circuit around and return to Kathmandu or cross the pass to the sacred lake at Gosainkhund, descend and then hike up the Langtang valley beneath mountains that form the border with Tibet. Descend back to catch a bus on a rough road through Trisuli to Kathmandu.
Other more remote regions will require a bit more planning and probably local assistance, not least as the required permits are only issued via Nepali guides/agents. Camping is required on one or more nights.
Kanchenjunga - far eastern Nepal, accessible via Taplejung (from Kathmandu 40min by plane, 40hrs by bus), a strenuous trek through sparsely populated country to the third highest mountain.
Dopla - Upper Dolpa is the remote Land of the Bon, almost as Tibetan as Nepali. Lower Dolpa is more accessible and can me reached by plane
Manaslu - Unspoiled trails through remote villages and over a wild pass to circuit an 8000m mountain
Trekking Peaks require a qualified "climbing guide", permits and deposits to cover camp waste disposal
Island Peak Trek - The Island Peak trek in the Khumbu region takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in the Himalayas.
Mera Peak Climbing - Enjoy panoramic views of Mt. Everest (8,848 m; 29,030 ft), Cho-Oyu (8,201 m; 26,910 ft), Lhotse (8,516 m; 27,940 ft), Makalu (8463 m; 27,770 ft), Kangchenjunga (8,586 m; 28,170 ft), Nuptse (7,855 m; 25,770 ft), and Chamlang (7,319 m; 24,010 ft).
Why trekking?It's good for your spirit, It's excellent for your health. You'll see amazing sorts of lanscapes and beautiful views. You'll meet kind and interesting people. It is undoubtfully going to be the greatest experience in your trip, and maybe in your whole life!
And seriously, the whole concept of "trek" is something we don't really meet in our regular western way of travelling. So if you walked four days in woods in Canada or slept six nights under the skies of Sinai desert, it is still nothing like trekking (particularly trekking in the region we are going to speak about here).
What is a trek anyway?The trek is simply a walking route. In nepal most of the walking routes that we, as tourists, use in our treks, are actually the "roads" of the Nepali people that live in the mountains. This "roads" are of course just paths, usually carrying people and donkeys, but - it won't take long until those paths will turn into real roads, carrying real motor-vehicles.
That's why you should go for a trek in Nepal as soon as possible, because the progress in some areas is really dramatic, therefore some places won't be so unique as they are today.
So- there are no motor vehicles in the trek, that's why you won't hear a single motor noise even if you try hard, there is no polution, and the air is so clean you actually wonder if it really exists.
The touristic treks, such as the Annapurna sancuary and Around Annapurna , go through paths and trails that connect villages along the route. That's why the trek takes you to amazing landscapes, but still don't leave you for days with no place to eat and sleep. You will always find villages on the way, usually containing one or more guest-houses that will be happy to give you a place to sleep and usually a really good food to eat.
The trek can take few days or few weeks, it all depends on your mood, strength and will.
You set the pace - you can walk 15 kilometers a day or just four kilometers a day, and spend the night in the village you reach on the way.
Another advantage of going through inhabited places is that you also meet the local Nepalies.
You'll see them working in their fields, learn about amazing irrigating technics, walk with the children on their way to their schools - sometimes so far as a walking day you'll walk, and enjoy their lovely hospitality at night.
The starting and ending points of the touristic treks can be accessed usually by car, bus, or plane.
Annapurna - North of Pokhara, from lush middle hills into high mountains. A circuit leads up the Maryangdi river to Manang, over Thorung La (5400m) to the Hindu temples at Muktinath. Down the Kali Gandaki on the Jomsom trail enjoying Gurung and Thakali hospitality. Up through spring rhododendron blooms to Poon Hill for a dawn Himalayan vista. Trek up into the very heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary for an awesome 360' high mountain skyline.
Helambu Langtang - a short taxi ride from Thamel to the roadhead at Shivapuri leads to a trail through the middle-hills countryside of Helambu, either circuit around and return to Kathmandu or cross the pass to the sacred lake at Gosainkhund, descend and then hike up the Langtang valley beneath mountains that form the border with Tibet. Descend back to catch a bus on a rough road through Trisuli to Kathmandu.
Other more remote regions will require a bit more planning and probably local assistance, not least as the required permits are only issued via Nepali guides/agents. Camping is required on one or more nights.
Kanchenjunga - far eastern Nepal, accessible via Taplejung (from Kathmandu 40min by plane, 40hrs by bus), a strenuous trek through sparsely populated country to the third highest mountain.
Dopla - Upper Dolpa is the remote Land of the Bon, almost as Tibetan as Nepali. Lower Dolpa is more accessible and can me reached by plane
Manaslu - Unspoiled trails through remote villages and over a wild pass to circuit an 8000m mountain
Trekking Peaks require a qualified "climbing guide", permits and deposits to cover camp waste disposal
Island Peak Trek - The Island Peak trek in the Khumbu region takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in the Himalayas.
Mera Peak Climbing - Enjoy panoramic views of Mt. Everest (8,848 m; 29,030 ft), Cho-Oyu (8,201 m; 26,910 ft), Lhotse (8,516 m; 27,940 ft), Makalu (8463 m; 27,770 ft), Kangchenjunga (8,586 m; 28,170 ft), Nuptse (7,855 m; 25,770 ft), and Chamlang (7,319 m; 24,010 ft).
Why trekking?It's good for your spirit, It's excellent for your health. You'll see amazing sorts of lanscapes and beautiful views. You'll meet kind and interesting people. It is undoubtfully going to be the greatest experience in your trip, and maybe in your whole life!
And seriously, the whole concept of "trek" is something we don't really meet in our regular western way of travelling. So if you walked four days in woods in Canada or slept six nights under the skies of Sinai desert, it is still nothing like trekking (particularly trekking in the region we are going to speak about here).
What is a trek anyway?The trek is simply a walking route. In nepal most of the walking routes that we, as tourists, use in our treks, are actually the "roads" of the Nepali people that live in the mountains. This "roads" are of course just paths, usually carrying people and donkeys, but - it won't take long until those paths will turn into real roads, carrying real motor-vehicles.
That's why you should go for a trek in Nepal as soon as possible, because the progress in some areas is really dramatic, therefore some places won't be so unique as they are today.
So- there are no motor vehicles in the trek, that's why you won't hear a single motor noise even if you try hard, there is no polution, and the air is so clean you actually wonder if it really exists.
The touristic treks, such as the Annapurna sancuary and Around Annapurna , go through paths and trails that connect villages along the route. That's why the trek takes you to amazing landscapes, but still don't leave you for days with no place to eat and sleep. You will always find villages on the way, usually containing one or more guest-houses that will be happy to give you a place to sleep and usually a really good food to eat.
The trek can take few days or few weeks, it all depends on your mood, strength and will.
You set the pace - you can walk 15 kilometers a day or just four kilometers a day, and spend the night in the village you reach on the way.
Another advantage of going through inhabited places is that you also meet the local Nepalies.
You'll see them working in their fields, learn about amazing irrigating technics, walk with the children on their way to their schools - sometimes so far as a walking day you'll walk, and enjoy their lovely hospitality at night.
The starting and ending points of the touristic treks can be accessed usually by car, bus, or plane.
Which trek should I choose?Nepal is a beautiful country, and offers lots of trails you can trek. The decision which trek to do depends on:
- the time you want to spend - there are short treks of 2-3 days and long treks that can take a month if you want.
- physical strength - if climbing to the fourth floor by stairs makes your heart close to explosion, don't take a hard trek. Choose a trek that doesn't take you through too many steap slopes, take a shorter trek, and - take it easy! don't rush to finish it as fast as you can. And - you'll also have more time to enjoy it.
- the kind of places you prefer - actually most of the treks in Nepal are in the mountains, but there are differences in forms of lanscapes and people between the areas of the treks.
Treks of NepalNepal offers lots of treks. There are three major trekking areas in Nepal - Annapurna region, Langtang-Helambu and Everest area. The "Everest Base Camp" trek as well as the "Around Annapurna" trek are regarded some of the best trekking routes in Nepal and actually all
Everest base camp trek
upper mustang trekking one of the protected tibetan cultural heritage by the people of the Tibetan origin in upper mustang area
Trekking guide in Nepal
Everest base camp trek
upper mustang trekking one of the protected tibetan cultural heritage by the people of the Tibetan origin in upper mustang area
Trekking guide in Nepal
Wow!! You have very nice blog.
ReplyDeletemanaslu trekking
manaslu trekking,
Explore the mini Tibet in Nepal, manaslu trekking give you grand chances. Manaslu become the prefect tea house in Nepal. Tibetan village Samagaon and Samdo reflect with the Tibet because it is very close to the Tibetan market.