Mountain Trekking in Nepal - 30 Suggestions

Whether you’re into rock climbing or birdCentral Nepal
watching, on a tight budget or have money to15. Trishuli - GorkhaThe easy way: 4 days along
hire porters and guides, you can always find athe route that Prithvi Narayan Shah took in 1768.
suitable trekking route in Nepal. A trip to the NepalApparently has village lodges and stays under
Himalayas is a fantastic experience for most of2000 m all the way.
us, offering views of snow-capped mountainThe hard way: 2-3 weeks on remote, off the
peaks and a chance to meet indigenous mountainbeaten track. Passes over Sing La (3570 m) and
peoples who live almost cut off from the rest ofby the Jogeshwar kund (4500 m). Camping gear
the world.required.
All that’s required of you is that you like16. Ganesh HimalNo lodges, rough and remote. But
walking in the nature. You don’t have to bewow, wouldn't I like to go there! The highest peak
super fit for every trek, but the better shapeis well over 7000 meters, and it’s prominent
you’re in, the easier your trek will be. The topview from Kathmandu makes it all worthwhile if
season for trekking in Nepal is October-Novemberyou like to brag about your adventures when you
and February-April. In the summer months theget back to civilization!
monsoon clouds obscure the grand views most of17. Tamang Heritage Trail8 days, lodges still under
the time and in the winter months the highconstruction.
mountain passes are closed by heavy snow-fall.18. Langtang & Gosaikunda / Panch
But with the right knowledge, you can always findPokhari1-2 weeks minimum. Third most visited in
a good trek in Nepal. Just browse through this listNepal, after Annapurna and Everest. Fairly easy,
to get an overview of your options.not too crowded, especially the Gosaikunda lake
Nepal’s Western Regionarea (4400 m) which is arguably the most scenic.
1. Simikot, HumlaYou can fly in from NepalganjLangtang Valley has lodges every hour or so all
and maybe read --Spy on the roof of the world--the way to Kyanjing Gompa (3900 m), the
by Sydney Wignall before you go. Permits areGosaikunda trail has fewer, but still enough for
90$ /person /week.short days. Gosaikunda features the annual Janai
2. Rara Lake4 days walk from Jumla to this thePurniam festival and from there, you can walk
largest lake in Nepal. Getting to Jumla though isback to Kathmandu in 2-4 days. Entry fee 1000
either a plane/helicopter trip or a several daysrupees.
long jeep ride on a mountain road that’s still19. Helambu½-1 week, more jungle than
under construction -- and will be for anymountains but still a rough trail. Tea-houses
foreseeable future.available if you don't get lost like that Australian
3. Upper DolpoFirst of all, see the movieguy. Distant, but awesome mountain views
--Himalayan Caravan - L'Enfance d'un chef-- (Ericbefore you get too close to the mountain bases.
Valli 1999, Oscar nominated). It's mandatory! Might--Walking distance-- from Kathmandu, circuit from
want to pick up one of his books as well. HavingSundarijal to Nagarkot (4 days).
done that, you'll want to go to the Phoksundo20. Namobudda1 day, one of the few quickies you
Lake, which you can do in 1 week or as part ofcan do when the noise and pollution of Kathmandu
either the 15 day Dolpa Experience Circuit or thestarts to get on your nerves. Take the bus to
20 day Dolpa Heritage Trek, all out of JuphalDhulikel and start walking.
--airport--. Another couple of one-week'ers are21. Rolwaling & Gauri Shankar2 weeks or so.
the Sundaha Nature Trek and the Sahartara Tour.Get up close and personal with Gauri Shankar
Expensive permit are required, as in Upper(7130 m) and it’s glacial lakes. Good view of
Mustang it's $70 /person /day with minimum 10Everest etc. Unspoiled landscape, permission still
days. No lodges. Annual number of visitors are inrequired but check with Nepal’s Tourism
the low hundreds.Board when you get here. There’s rumors
4. Lower DolpoPermits are 10$ /person /week.that they’re making this one permission free.
You might have to fly in from Nepalganj. Don't22. Chitwan Chepang Hills7 days in the Middle Hills.
expect lodges here, so bring your own campingNo Himalayas and no higher than 2000 meters so
gear.it could be a good winter trekking possibility. Good
5. Upper Mustang10 days. Home to the ancientview of the (distant) Annapurna, Dhaulagiri,
kingdom of Lo, still in existence - sort of. HeftyGanesh Himal, Gauri Shankar, Gurja Himal and
permit required north of Kagbeni, $70 /personManaslu, but the main attraction is the nomadic
day with minimum 10 days.Chepang people who live as hunters and
Annapurna Regiongatherers. There's also a fort, a waterfall and
6. Dhaulagiri20-30 days to complete the circlesome caves along the route together with 400
around this 8000+'er. Bring good boots andbird species. Start in Hugdi on Prithvi Hwy, end
sleeping bag!Shaktikor in Chitwan. Homestays are on the route.
7. Annapurna Circuit2-3 weeks minimum. This isEverest Region
where everyone goes. Except me. In the high23. Everest Base Camp & Kala Pathar2
season it gets rather crowded and is moreweeks out of Lukla, 3 out of Kathmandu/Jiri with
appropriately named the Annapurna Circus. Lodgesreturn flight from Lukla. If you don't have a spare
and tea-houses are everywhere. The Thorung La$50.000 lying around for an Everest climb permit,
high pass (5400 m) usually closes down in the endyou can just settle for this Base Camp trek. Most
of November. If you bring your own campingpeople seem to choose the Tengpoche route to
gear, there's also good possibilities of doing sideKP, which stands at 5630 m.
trips off the beaten track. ACAP entry fees24. Mera Peak2-3 weeks out of Lukla, 6500 m. A
stand at 2000 rupees.popular expedition/climb that requires some basic
8. Jomsom & MuktinathYou can fly into ormountaineering skills, but without being too
out of Jomsom, a days walk from Muktinath, andtechnical. Long march in, 2 high camps.
hike to or from Pokhara in about 1 week.25. Island Peak3 weeks out of Lukla. At 6100
Muktinath is an important pilgrimage site nestled atmeters, this trek is not for everyone. Although
3800 m. It's on the Annapurna Circuit.not very technical, it is a demanding snow climb.
9. Annapurna Sanctuary & ABC10-14 days,Views are everything you could ever dream of.
2000 rupee ticket. Another popular option, since26. Gokyo Lakes, Peak & Renjo La2 weeks
it’s shorter and a little less demanding thanout of Lukla. High pass at 5400 m. Lakes at 4800
doing the full Annapurna Circuit.m, peak at 5500 m. Some lodges along the trail.
10. Ghorepani, Poon Hill5 days out of Pokhara, itGreat Everest views.
reaches 3200 meters and is accessible all year27. Pikey & Dudhkunda Trail1 or 2 weeks in
round. Famous for it's views of Annapurna,the less -much less- visited southern part of
Dhaulagiri and rhododendrons in the spring.Solukhumbu. Both the Chiwong and the
11. Panchase Peak & GhandrukAnother holyThuptenchoeling Buddhist Monasteries are world
mountain, this one a couple of days walk west ofrenowned, the former famous for the Mani Rimdu
Pokhara. Ghandruk is 3 days further and it's homeDance Festival, the latter is the biggest
to the Annapurna Conservation Project and amonastery in Nepal.
whole lot of Gurung people.Nepal’s Eastern Region
12. The Royal Trek4 days out of Pokhara. With28. Arun Valley - Makalu Base Camp3 weeks out
altitude no higher that 2000 meters it's open allof Tumlingtar/Khadbari. You'll get up to 5000
year round.meters and still be 3500 meters short of the
13. Siklish, Begnas Lake, Lamjung1 week returnsummit! Either go same way back or climb a
trip from Pokhara, 10-12 days through Lamjung tocouple of 6000'ers into the Khumbu region.
Besisahar. Lodges should be available, 2000 rupee29. Kanchenjunga3 weeks out of Taplejung, 3rd
ACAP permit required.highest mountain in the world. Don't rely on finding
14. Manaslu3 weeks, circle around this 8000+ many lodges here. Permits are 10$ /person /week.
twin peak that can be seen all the way from30. Pathibhara1 week out of Taplejung. The
Kathmandu. Pass over Larkya La at 5110 m.Pathibhara Devi shrine is a pilgrimage site for
There's no lodges and the mandatory permitHindus and Buddhists alike. There is lodges along
stands at almost $100 /person /week.the route.