Nepal is a country that is uniquely blessed with natural beauty. Whether it be the glorious mountains, beautiful hills or awesome culture, Nepal has it all. This makes trekking in Nepal a wonderful prospect.
There are tons of places in Nepal to go trekking. Along the way to these trekking destinations, you will certainly encounter rich vegetation, diversity of animals, warm, hospitable people and unparalleled scenic views of the Himalayas.
Besides October and November, April and May are the most popular months for trekking in Nepal. The period during these months is considered to be the best to trek in Nepal. Even in other months trekking trails are open. With appropriate planning, you can complete your trek in any month that you feel comfortable trekking in.
There are various trekking trails in Nepal and all of these trails have their own level of difficulty. Sorter low altitude treks might not require heavy preparation. Even if you are a beginner, you can complete smaller treks easily. But if you are looking to trek in the high altitude regions of Nepal, you need to undergo some training program to complete these treks.
There were many trekking trails in Nepal that underwent various forms of damage during the earthquake. The Everest region, Annapurna Circuit, and Langtang were amongst the most popular trekking destinations which suffered some massive setback during the 2015 Nepal earthquake. But these trails have been reopened and are safe to visit.
Nepal is a country that is relatively safe. The instances of violence against tourists and solo travelers are quite rare. So if you are planning to trek in Nepal alone, you can certainly do it as long as you have planned for your safety.
But, if you trek with a travel company, your trek will be that much safer. The guides and other representatives of the travel agency will try their best to make sure that you have a wholesome trip with all the comfort that you are hoping for.
This article will be your traveler’s guide to trekking in Nepal. Here I will show you all the most popular treks in Nepal, the time it takes to complete these treks, the best time to visit these trekking destinations, the equipment you will need for trekking, the costs involved and other trekking options in these regions.
Everest Base Camp Trek
Everest Base Camp is by far the most renowned trekking destination in the world. The Base Camp of the tallest mountain in the world has inspired a generation of trekking, traveling, and mountaineering enthusiasts to this region.
Everest Base Camp lies at an altitude of 5380 meters. However, you don’t get to view the Everest from its Base Camp. In order to have a mesmerizing view of the mountains, you will have to trek to Kala Pathar, which lies at an altitude of 5644 meters. Trekking to such high altitudes means that you have to prepare extremely well for this trek.
Best Time to Trek to Everest Base Camp
Autumn and Spring are the most popular seasons for the Everest Base Camp Trek. Autumn lies in the month of September, October, and November. Spring falls in the month of March, April, and May. These two seasons have almost identical climatic conditions. In these two seasons, you will find a moderate amount of sunshine and a low amount of precipitation. This makes for ideal trekking conditions and perfect viewing of the mountains.
However, these months you will find thousands of trekkers along the trails. Thus you might not be able to enjoy your trek in quiet if you are a lover of solitude. From December-February (Winter) and June-August (Summer), there is a low number of trekkers. This makes it fit for all those who prefer to trek in peace and quiet. You should also note that the winters in the Base Camp can get really cold while the summer in the Base Camp coincides with monsoon making trekking tricky in these conditions.
Packing List for Everest Base Camp trek
If you are looking to trek to the Everest Base Camp, you should wear layered clothing. When you are in the lower altitude regions of your trek, you can put on little clothing. As you trek higher, where it gets cold, you can add layers to make you warm.
The following is a list of all the most important items you need to pack while trekking in the Everest Base Camp:
- A spacious backpack with different compartments to store and navigate all your belongings.
- Sturdy trekking boots with a firm grip.
- Waterproof down jackets and trekking trousers,
- Sunscreen and lotions to protect you from all the UV rays and bugs you might encounter.
- Basic first aid and toiletries.
Other trekking destinations in the Everest Region
Besides the standard Everest Base Camp trek which takes about 2 weeks to complete, you can also try out a short Everest Base Camp trek. Everest panorama trek is the one for you if you are looking for some light trekking in the Everest region.
Besides, there is a sumptuous valley in the Everest region known as Gokyo, which is filled with gorgeous lakes and a panoramic view of the mountains. Gokyo valley trekking is also extremely popular amongst trekkers to Everest Base Camp. If you are looking to cross a few mountain passes, you can also opt to cross the Renjo La pass trek or Cho-La pass. Along with all this, you can also attempt for one-day Everest base camp helicopter tour.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Second, only to Everest Base Camp in terms of its popularity for trekking, Annapurna Base Camp trek will take you to the astounding Annapurna Massif. This massif has more than 30 peaks that are more than 6000 meters in height.
Annapurna Base Camp lies at an altitude of 4120 meters making it lower in altitude than Everest Base Camp. Due to the lower altitude, you won’t have to spend as many days acclimatizing and the trek is also shorter than the EBC trek. While you are on your route to the Annapurna Base Camp, you have an added advantage of going to the Base Camp of Mt. Machhapuchhre, also known as Mount Fishtail.
Best Time to trek Annapurna Base Camp
Much like the Everest Base Camp, the best time to visit the Annapurna Base Camp is in Autumn (September-November) and Spring (March-May). But you should note that in the earlier days of March, the weather is still a tad colder than other months of Spring. Similarly, early September is a bit hot and prone to rain as the autumn has just started.
Packing list for Annapurna Base Camp trek
Annapurna Base Camp trek starts after a 3-hour ride from the city of Pokhara in Nayapul. Nayapul has an altitude of merely 1070 meters. Even in spring and autumn, the temperature here can be as high as 28 degrees C. So there will be a great change in how you clothe in the lower parts of the trek compared to how you clothe in the high altitude regions of the trek. Needless to say, layered clothing is what you should opt for.
The most important items you will need to pack for your trek are:
- Down jackets, trousers, and their respective rain covers.
- A 45-65 liter backpack with compartments to store and locate all your belongings like cameras, light snacks, trousers, chargers, permits, etc. easily.
- Woolen hat, woolen gloves, scarves, sunglasses, sunscreen, and lotions.
- Basic first aid for any possibility of bruises, cuts, altitude sickness, headache, nausea, diarrhea, etc.
- Toiletries, hand sanitizers, chargers, and water bottle
Other Trekking destinations in the Annapurna Region
Annapurna Circuit Trek can be completed in a various number of days depending upon how many places you are looking to explore and how quickly/slow you want to take your trek. Many trekking agencies offer you a short Annapurna Base Camp trek. This is for all those people who have some time constraints.
Besides, this you can also opt for Annapurna Circuit trek which is extremely popular amongst trekkers. Annapurna Circuit trek with Tilicho lake is a trip to the Tilicho lake and will take you close to 5000 meters as the lake is situated at a high altitude.
Mustang Trekking
Mustang is a unique trekking destination in Nepal. Opened only in 1992 for visit, the Mustang region has been able to preserve hundreds of years old Tibetan culture and lifestyle due to its isolation with the outside world.
The region is relatively dry, barren and looks like a desert. One of the major attractions of trekking in Mustang is a visit to the Lo Manthang, which is the capital of the ancient city of Lo. Lo Manthang is walled and is famous for a Royal Palace. The palace is five stories tall and has 9 corners. In addition, Lo Manthang also has various gompas, temples, and whitewashed mud-brick walls.
Best Time to Visit Mustang
Unlike most other trekking destinations in Nepal, the best time to trek to Mustang is the monsoon. High mountains in the north of the region protect it against monsoon clouds making the region dry.
Packing list for Mustang Trek
During your trek to Mustang, you won’t need to tread any snow as the trekking trails are relatively dry. Therefore, you might want to pack differently during this trek than other trails. Here’s a list of things you will need to pack:
- Trekking boots and trekking socks.
- T-shirts, hiking pants, fleece jackets, and down jackets.
- Muffler. Gloves, hats, and underwear
- Bags, sleeping bags, trekking poles, and tents (if you want to camp)
- Sunglasses, medication, sunscreen, and a headlamp.
Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trekking
Kanchenjunga Base Camp is a trek in the eastern border of Nepal. It is not as popular as other treks in Nepal but is considered to be one of the finest trekking destinations by people who have trekked here. It also is one of the longest treks in Nepal as it takes around 25 days to complete.
Your trek will start after a scenic flight from Kathmandu to Taplejung. From Taplejung, you will walk through the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. Kanchenjunga Conservation Area consists of various species of animals like snow leopard and red panda. Walking through this protected area, you will reach to Kanchenjunga Base Camp which is located at an altitude of 5388 meters.
Best Time to Visit Kanchenjunga Base Camp
Kanchenjunga Base Camp will make for a perfect visit in the months of October and November in the autumn months of the year. The next best season is spring, in the months of April and May. In the months of April and May, you might encounter people who have come here for some mountaineering expeditions.
Packing list for Kanchenjunga Base Camp
The packing list for almost all the Base Camp regions of the Himalayas is practically the same. As Kanchenjunga Base Camp lies at an altitude that is similar to that of Everest Base Camp, the packing list for these two regions are almost similar. Here’s what you need to pack:
- You will need a backpack with a large volume as you will need to carry extra clothing for this trek that takes almost 25 days.
- Breathable trekking boots that fit you well and have a strong grip.
- Down jackets, trousers, t-shirts, underwear, and fleece jackets.
- Sleeping bags, trekking poles, and tents (if you want to camp)
- Toiletries, hand sanitizers, sunglasses, medication, sunscreen, headlamp chargers, and water bottle
Langtang Region Trekking
Similar to the Kanchenjunga Base Camp, trekking in the Langtang region is quiet and peaceful. Langtang region suffered a major setback during the 2015 Nepal earthquake. Many trekking trails and villages were damaged during this natural disaster. But much of this region has undergone a transformation. Villages and tea houses have been rebuilt. Trekking trails have also seen similar changes.
Langtang region is full of lush green meadows and Tamang villages. You will also get to see wonderful views of mountains like Langtang Lirung (7245m), Langtang Kerung, Chumse Danda ridge (5122m), Dorje Lakpa (6989m), etc. Langtang region is also the home to Kyanjin Gompa, an ancient monastery of this region.
Best Time to Visit Langtang
Langtang trek is awesome during the summers. Although the trek can be a bit wet, getting to Langtang during the month of August is one of the best trips. As Janai Purnima is celebrated in Gosaikunda lake of the Langtang region, coming here this month will give you a taste of the Hindu faith and culture of Nepal.
If you want to trek in the lower parts of Langtang, then you can come here all year round. Even in the winters, the lower regions of the trek are not unbearably cold making Langtang a trek for all seasons.
Other Treks in Langtang Region
There are various options available to you if you want to trek in the Langtang region. You can choose for the Langtang Valley trek that can be completed in 12 days or the Tamang Heritage Trail that takes only 8 days. There are also other options like Langtang Helambu trek and Langtang Gosaikunda trek.
Packing List for Langtang trek
- You can pack lightly if you want to trek in the lower altitudes of Langtang. However, if you are looking to go to Gosaikunda, which has an altitude of 4380 meters, you might want to pack a bit heavily.
- A spacious backpack with different compartments to store and navigate all your belongings.
- Down jackets, trousers, and their respective rain covers.
- Toiletries, hand sanitizers, sunglasses, medication, sunscreen, headlamp chargers, and water bottle
- Muffler. Gloves, hats, and underwear
Conclusion
This is by no means the only trekking destination in Nepal. There are many more esoteric trekking regions in Nepal which you can be a part of. Nepal is a land of many trekking opportunities. As long as you plan and prepare for your trek in Nepal, it will be one of the best tours you have been a part of.
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