Where to trek in Nepal?

“Destination is never a place. But a new way of seeing things”

You can practically trek anywhere in the world but some countries are just made for walking and trekking. Whether you’re a novice or a serious explorer there are treks everywhere for all levels. Pack those walking boots as we explore the best places for trekking in Nepal. The best treks in Nepal are a veritable bucket list of amazing places. The country’s best trekking routes stretch elegantly in an east-west line across northern Nepal’s Himalayan belt, but, this is Nepal, the roads are in bad condition and move slowly, and two hours late is considered on time.

Nepal actually has 8 of the 14 Himalayas including Everest: the world’s tallest mountain which can take up to two weeks to complete. In terms of trekking there are mainly two distinct regions famous in Nepal for trekking i.e. the Annapurna Region and Everest Region. and the highlight for many going to Everest Base Camp is that you get to walk in the footsteps of intrepid summiteers, get to see where lots of other trekkers are walking up from and of course get to see Mount Everest, which gives incredible views, but the views are more barren in that area. If you trek in the Annapurna’s, because you’re starting from a much lower altitude, you’ll see a greater variety of landscape on your way up starting with rainforest, through alpine moorland and then finally you get to see the peaks too, so I’d say the trekking in the Annapurna region is a bit prettier compared to that in the Everest region, which is incredible, but a bit more stark.

Below are some of the popular treks at Annapurna, Everest and other equally astonishing regions in Nepal:

1) Annapurna Circuit

A whopping 55.8% of Nepal’s 140,000 annual trekkers trek the Annapurna Circuit. It’s known for its diverse landscape, leading from jungle to alpine forest, and entails a 125km circumnavigation of the breathtaking Annapurna range. Despite controversy over road construction, the circuit’s popularity is proof of its position as one of Nepal’s greats.

2) Annapurna Sanctuary Trek

This incredible trek has peaks that stand at 7,000m, allowing you to visit the world’s roof and then climb all over it. The range forms a natural amphitheatre, reached via a testing combination of steep stone steps and forested hillsides ablaze with color, and is circled by Himalayan giants like the infamous twin-peaked Macchapucchare.

3) Everest Base Camp

Everest, and the camp at its base that meets intrepid climbers as they begin and end their ultimate mountain adventure, needs little introduction, but deserves a lot of credit. A moment’s reflection at base camp, standing breathlessly close to the mountain itself is a vision of awe, possible danger and ultimately, triumph, all rolled into one.

4) Gokyo Lake

The Gokyo Lakes are a body of water so clear and turquoise-blue it’s as if there’s a mirror reflecting the sky itself. The route to reach it takes trekkers through Sherpa heartland, stopping at the villages of Namche Bazaar and Dole before the ascent of Gokyo Ri, whose summit gives clear views of Everest’s awesome bulk.

5) Poon Hill

Poon Hill is one of Nepal’s least physically demanding treks and is a shorter, circular route through hot springs and friendly local villages. And the highlight of this whole trek is Poon Hill itself, where you can wait and watch the sun come up revealing, like the curtains being drawn back on a stage, unparalleled views across soaring Himalayan peaks.

6) Upper Mustang

Upper Mustang only opened for trekking in 1992 and remains culturally sensitive, so you’ll need a restricted area permit to trek there. A former desert kingdom, Mustang is a river valley that pours down from Tibet; the landscape of steep cliff walls is stark and dramatic, peppered with ancient monasteries and hidden caves.

Other than the Annapurna Region and Everest Region, there are some other few places where trekking is carried out but not in huge figures as Everest and Annapurna. One of the main advantages of these treks are that unlike Everest and Annapurna, they do not have a huge number of tourists coming in so it’s a perfect place for those who like traveling with less number of people. For your information some of those trekking destinations have been listed below:

7) Langtang Trek

The Langtang Valley offers alpine trekking that runs from east to west, only whiskers from the Tibetan border. A shorter, easily accessible trek, the Langtang Trek itself can be done in a week and what it lacks in super high peaks, it makes up for in amazing scenery - think oaks and rhododendrons; soft moss and larch trees, and yaks plodding their way home.

8) Helambu Trek

As with Langtang, you can literally walk out of Kathmandu Valley and into Helambu, a sacred and relatively hidden mix of valleys and ridges with a lot of up and down, but nothing over 3,200m, so no acclimatization problems. A green and peaceful land of pine forests and quiet villages, the local Sherpa’s who dwell here have a unique culture long separated from larger Nepali groups.

9) Kanchenjunga Trek

Sat right out east straddling Nepal’s border with Sikkim and Tibet, wild and remote Kanchenjunga is one of the least populated regions in Nepal. It’s also the third highest peak in the world. The area is inhabited by Rai and Limbu Nepalese of Tibetan descent, who live side by side with musk deer, red panda and blue sheep.

10) Ganesh Himal Trek

Trekking in Ganesh Himal not frequented by many tourists and it situated in central Nepal, northwest of Kathmandu. It’s quite easy trek so normally any person with a normal fit body can approach ahead for this trek. The terraced hillsides seem to climb to the sky. Many interesting ethnic groups a mixed of lifestyle offer you a glimpse into real Nepali life and this gives visitors an opportunity to observe the rich Nepalese cultural tradition from the closest quarter and intermingle with locals, hence giving the visitor a sense of satisfaction.

11) Manaslu Trek

A long and challenging trek that’s higher than Annapurna and making great strides as a relative new kid on the block, Manaslu is the eighth highest mountain in the world and a brilliant teahouse trek, taking in as much local culture as it does bright glacial terrain across dramatic mountain valleys with very few crowds

Nepal’s amazing Trekking regions are what every trekker dreams of getting. Trekking here is a just a way of life for the Himalayan people. So it ensures that you will get a warm feeling of joy from the Himalayas and the people living there. In the context of Nepal one can truly say that you’ll need a great pair of Trekking boots, a lot of patience and a sound knowledge that conquering every trek you want to in Nepal will take more than one visit.