General Information

Trekking

'Trekking' in Nepal consists of walking along mountainous trails used by the local Nepalese for centuries. These trails, which are used for trade and travel, are often the only links to the various towns and villages in the Himalayas. Although Nepal is known as a mountaineering Mecca, trekking can be differentiated from mountaineering in that it does not involve technical climbing or require any specialized equipment. As most of the trekking routes are around or within close proximity of the Himalayas, trekkers are treated to some of the most spectacular views of the majestic peaks within the Himalayan range.

Besides the Himalayas, trekkers will soon find that the scenery of the rolling hills sculpted by rice paddies, blooming mustard fields, and temples and stupas all add to the experience Nepal has to offer. Wherever one travels, people are friendly and hospitable and trails are safe.

Here are the names of some famous Treks in Nepal:

• Annapurna Trek
• Everest Trek
• Langtang Trek
• Jumla & Rara
• Dolpa

Besides the above regions, there are other trekking regions, which have either restricted access or are not easily accessible to tourists. These regions are upper Mustang, upper Dolpo, Manaslu, Humla, Makalu base camp, Kanchanjunga base camp, etc. Organized treks on the other hand consist of fully arranged treks, which provide guides, equipment, porters, food and all the other travel arrangements and permits.

Trekking routes

Nepal offers a whole range of treks. Treks can vary significantly based on the level of difficulty, length and the various regions of the country. The trekking regions in Nepal can be broadly divided into three areas based on popularity. Each region provides a wide range of trekking routes, which can vary in difficulty and the length of the trek. Organized treks on the other hand consist of fully arranged treks, which provide guides, equipment, porters, food and all the other travel arrangements and permits.

Annapurna Trek

Nepal's most popular trek begins at the lakeside town of Pokhara and leads six or seven days northwest around the Annapurna Massif, through dramatic changes in landscape, climate and culture to the high village of Jomsom, near the isolated land of Mustang. Trekkers often continue on to the sacred shrine of Muktinath, near the 5,415-meter Thorang-La pass and down into the lovely valley of Manang. The route through Manang circles the Annapurna back to the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway. The Annapurna circuit takes one through terraced hills, forests and alpine pastures and through the villages of a number of different cultures. North of Pokhara is an area protected by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, tucked beneath the southern slopes of the Annapurna Massif. The Sanctuary is an easy trek from Pokhara and takes one through some of Nepal's most lovely rhododendron forests to the Annapurna base camp. There are also numerous one or two day treks out of Pokhara town, where one can have views of Dhaulagiri, the Annapurna range, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal.

Everest Trek

The Khumbu region of Nepal is one of the best-known treks in the world. This is the land of the Sherpa people and the world's great 8,000-meter peaks. Many trekkers walk in from the road head at Jiri, through the lovely rolling hills of the Solu region. Others fly in to the village of Lukla to start their trek. A few days above Lukla is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park and the town of Namche Bazaar, where most trekkers take a day to acclimatize to the high altitude. From here one may branch towards the village of Thame or continue on to take on of the two main Khumbu routes, to Gokyo Lake or towards the Everest base camp. Beyond Namche Bazaar is the Sherpa village of Khumjung and further on the famous monastery of Thyangboche. Here the Mani Rimdu festival of dances is celebrated every year.

Langtang Trek

Just to the north of Kathmandu are two lovely regions where one may experience Tamang and Sherpa life, temperate forest and alpine pastures, glaciers, lakes and snowy peaks. Helambu valley noted for its scenic grandeur and pleasant climate, lie in the north of the Kathmandu Valley. One can stay in highland monastery villages and small settlements in pristine forests. Above Helambu is a mountain pass through the lakes of Gosainkunda reaching the valley of Langtang. Gosaikunda Lake itself is situated at 4,380 meters. It is sacred to Lord Shiva and every summer there are thousands of Hindu devotees to take a holy dip into the waters of the holy lake. Nearby are other lakes including Nagkunda, Bhairavkunda, Saraswatikunda and Suryakunda. The trek passes through a varied landscape ranging from evergreen forests, cascading waterfalls and turbulent streams to sub-alpine grasslands and stark, beautiful mountainsides. Langtang valley stretches north of Gosainkunda. One travels through pristine forests to the village of Ghoda Tabela, then the valley opens out into a high, Himalayan river plain full of beautiful camping sites, spectacular peaks and wide glaciers. One can hike to the back of the valley or take numerous optional trips to explore glacier-filled side canyons.

Jumla & Rara

The trek to Rara Lake begins at Jumla, a village in a trans-Himalayan valley with high rides covered with forests and alpine pastures. The town has an airstrip and tele-communication facilities. The flight from Kathmandu to Jumla passes south along the Dhaulagiri range and provides lovely views of Nepal's western landscape. It is a three and half day's trek from Jumla to Rara National Park. Rara Lake (2,990 m.) has an area of nearly ten square kilometers and is surrounded with hills of pines and rhododendrons. The peaceful surroundings are enhanced by the reflections of the surrounding hills in the lake's bright blue waters. Due north, Chankheli peak (3,201 m.) looms large across the deep Mugu Karnali gorge. The usual itinerary is a loop that starts and ends at Jumla and the entire trek takes about ten days. Food has to brought from Jumla but beyond the bazaar it is often unavailable. There are lodges in Jumla and a bunkhouse at the lake, in between there are teahouses where you could stay, but camping is more pleasant and certainly more reliable.

Dolpa

One of the newest areas of Nepal open to trekkers is the southern part of Shey-Phoksundo National Park. Reached in about a week from Jumla, the center of attraction is lovely Lake Phoksundo, famous for the ever-changing colors of its waters. Here one-steps on to the edge of the trans-Himalayan plateau that extends from Tibet down into Nepal. This is the region of some of Nepal's most remarkable wildlife, including the blue sheep, the serow and the snow leopard. Dolpa lies between Dhorpatan and Rara and two of those treks could be combined into a single tour from Pokhara to Jumla. Dolpa trek on its own takes one to two weeks, assuming you fly there in and out of Dunai. Everyone heads north from there, entering the park after about a day and reaching the lake after two days. A few houses in the region offer shelter but it's a food deficit area, so you will need to be self-sufficient.