Top 10 Treks in Nepal: the best routes in the Himalayas

Sophie Nicholson    Top 10s, trekkingholidays     Hiking, Himalayas, Nepal, Trek, Treking in Nepal, trekking, trekking holidays

For any true mountain lover, trekking in the Himalayas in nothing less than a rite of passage: the ultimate trekking destination. Each year, thousands of trekkers and mountaineers make their way to Nepal to see its awe-inspiring mountains first-hand and to immerse themselves in this sacred and culturally diverse land.

Trekking in Nepal. Image: Flickr/mckaysavage

Nepal is blessed with a rich and demanding landscape of lush green forests, high shining mountains, hilly foot trails, and beautiful lakes and springs. With such an abundance of trekking holidays on offer, it can be difficult to know where to start when planning a trip to Nepal.

This guide hopes to help point you in the direction so that you can find the trek best suited to you. Trekking in Nepal may be a once in a lifetime holiday, so we want to make sure you get it right, right  from the beginning….

1. Everest Base Camp (around 18 days, max altitude 5,545m)

Whilst it may be one of the most well-trodden paths in the Himalaya, there is a reason why. Trekking to Everest Base Camp is about being part of mountaineering folklore as you will tread the same path as mountaineering legends before you. From Lukla you will pass through the heart of Sherpa country, acclimatising in Namche Bazaar before arriving several days later at the base of the world’s most famous mountain: the 8,848m Mount Everest.

2. Annapurna Circuit (around 17 days, max altitude 5,416m)

The Annapurna Circuit is rightly known as Nepal’s classic trek and as such is an enormously popular option. Offering more natural variety than any other equivalent length trek, the Annapurna hiker will journey through almost every type of scenery that Nepal has to offer.

From sub-tropical through alpine to arid semi-desert, the Annapurna Circuit has it all. The climax to the trek is crossing the impressive Thorong La Pass where the hiker will reach altitudes of 5,416m – just 30m short of Everest Base Camp! This is a world renowned hike where you will experience the natural and cultural diversity of Nepal first hand – a journey into a true Himalayan paradise!

Paths zig-zag helping you gain altitude

3. Manaslu Trek (about 15 days, max altitude 5,100m)

A fantastic alternative to the busier routes around Everest and Annapurna, the Manaslu Trek is one of Nepal’s best kept secrets. Whilst the opportunity to get up close to the world’s 8th highest mountain is obviously gaining in popularity, the trails around Manaslu still remain relatively quiet. Heading northwards from either Arughat Bazaar or Gorkha Bazaar, this trek follows the valley as it opens up to reveal beautiful alpine meadows and small Tibetan-style villages with rows of prayer wheels and mani stones.

The most challenging sector of the trek is crossing the Larke Pass, a classic and tough route where you will reach altitudes of 5,100m. The Manaslu Circuit is a beautiful, challening and all round trek which takes you from 600m to over 5,000m and right up close to an 8,000m peak.

4. Langtang – Gosaikunda Trek (about 15 days, max altitude 5,333m)

North of Kathmandu and in the middle of the Great Himalayan range on the Tibetan border, lies Langtang region – home to some of the most exceptional trekking in Nepal. The area is dominated by the awesome Lantang Lirung (7,246m), the highest peak in the area and is home to unique cultures and holy lakes which are the sacred pilgrimage sites of Hindus, Buddhists and Shamans.

The Langtang National Park offers the hiker some of the best scenery in Nepal and is home to the red panda, black bear and snow leopard. The landscape is diverse and rich with magnificent rhododendron forests, wild rivers, yak pastures and alpine meadows. If it is authenticity and nature you seek then hiking in the Langtang will not disappoint.

5. The Dolpa Circuit (about 14 days, max altitude 5,318m)

Hiking the Dolpo Circuit is a life punctuating opportunity. Due to its remote location, this area is still very much an off the beaten track destination and trekking holidays here will mostly involve camping as opposed to staying in tea houses. This is a strenuous trek as there are some steep climbs along the route and it involves crossing two passes, Numa La (5,318m) and Baga La (5,190m).

Your efforts will be well rewarded as the scenery on the way, the views from the passes and the encounters with local people will make it all worthwhile. This is a stunning and authentic trek where you will encounter the Bonpo religion – the oldest spiritual tradition of Tibet. And if superlatives are your thing, you’ll also witness the highest waterfall in Nepal – the 167m Phoksundo Waterfall.

It's not just the altitude that forces you to pause...

6. Makalu to Everest Trek (about 25 days, max altitude 6,190m)

If you’ve already trekked in Nepal at an altitude of over 5,000m and are looking for a challenge, the Makalu to Everest Trek is an ideal option. Although this is an exceptional trek, not many people do it and this is indicative of the challenge involved. As the trek crosses glaciated terrain you will require a degree of mountaineering experience, especially when it comes to crossing the three high passes of Sherpani, West Col and Amphu Laptsa.

Your efforts will be rewarded as the scenery on this trek is superb with spectacular views up the Barun Valley (known as the Yosemite of Nepal) and all set against the awesome backdrop of Mt Makalu, Chamlang and Baruntse.

7. Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek (about 21 days, max altitude 5,143m)

The Kanchenjunga Region is home to the world’s 3^rd highest mountain and lies on the border with Sikkim in Eastern Nepal. Trekking to Kanchenjunga Base Camp offers a similar challenge to that of the Everest Base Camp trek but without the people. Your journey to the foot of the ‘queen of mountains’ will take you through stunning forests and wild paths at lower altitudes and up to sparsely inhabited, immense glaciers and high mountain passes. This is the trek that feels wild and un-trekked and as such is best suited to the experienced trekker and lover of wild mountain landscapes.

8. Rara Lake Trek (approx 13 days, max altitude 3,804m)

The Rara Lake Trek is the ideal option for nature lovers and bird watchers trekking in Nepal. This is a comparatively easy trek through Rara National Park, which is rich with blue pine, spruce and cedar forests. Spring is the best time to visit as this is when the wonderful nature is at its best as ducks, cormorants and other birds land here during their seasonal migration. The area is also rich in history and in some ways is considered the ancient heart of Nepal – 13^th century Nepalese written scripts were found on the cliff walks of the nearby Sinja valley.

The Rara Lake itself is Nepal’s largest body of water and it is a superb, beautiful and calm place to visit. And an added bonus is that it really is off the beaten track – only 170 visitors came to Rara in 2010 which is in stark contrast to the 88,410 who visited the Annapurna Region in the same year!

Some peaks you might not reach

9.  The Sacred Tsum Valley (about 16 days, max altitude 3,700m)

For those first time visitors to Nepal, the Tsum valley in the Gorkha region offers a perfect introduction to Himalayan trekking. This calm and peaceful valley lies in the Ganesh and Boudha Himal ranges and is rich in ancient art, culture and religion.

Considered a sacred pilgrimage valley, the Tsum Valley was only opened to trekkers in 2007 and as such offers a unique opportunity to be one of the first travelers to experience this magical area. The relatively low altitude of this unique Himalayan journey makes it an ideal first time trek set against a truly authentic and stunning backdrop.

10. Mera Peak (about 16 days, max altitude 6,476m)

Trekking peaks are defined as those which can be undertaken without previous climbing experience or technical knowledge. At an altitude of 6,476m, Mera Peak is the highest of Nepal’s official trekking peaks and offers a challenging and thrilling adventure to the wannabe mountaineer.

The hike up to base camp is spectacular, taking in juniper forests, rhododendrons and beautiful rivers and lakes before arriving on the glacier. On your way to the summit you will experience glorious views of Nepal with Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Cho Oyu all on display. The climb itself takes the north face of the glacier and rises steadily to the summit ridge where you can revel in your efforts, take in the awesome panorama before starting the descent knowing that you have stood on top of one of the peaks in the world’s greatest mountain range!

About the author

Sophie Nicholson wrote 9 articles on this blog.

Sophie left the real world for a life of adventures in the world's high places. She is passionate about the vertical wilderness, hiking, backcountry skiing, mountaineering, biking, rock climbing and ice climbing. She writes for a number of leading outdoor/adventure publications and websites and is supported by Faction Skis, Arcteryx, Go-Pro, and Mammut. She is also studying to be an International Mountain Leader and has an incurable weakness for Cadbury's Creme Eggs.

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