Everything You Need To Know About Trekking In Nepal | Best Guide
Trekking in Nepal is especially promoted by the presence of Mount Everest which is the tallest peak in the world. A lot of people travel from all over the world to capture a glimpse of the world’s tallest peak. Mountain trek to the Everest Base Camp has been one of the major attractions for tourists who travel to Nepal. Your trekking trip to Nepal can be planned according to your length of stay in Nepal. Nepal offers varieties of short treks ranging from 5 days, medium treks up to 12 days and long adventurous trek of 20 days or more.
While Annapurna Base Camp Trek has always been a popular choice among the travelers for trekking in Nepal, the demand for trek to the Everest Base Camp is seen to be increasing. Some of the most popular short treks are Ghandruk Trek, Dhampus Trek, etc. The most challenging is the Great Himalayan Trails, an extensive trail system that covers Nepal from Humla and Darchula in the west to Kanchenjunga in the east. For travelers who love adventure, trekking in Nepal has been on the top of the list of things to do in Nepal.
Trekking in Nepal is famous not only for the picture perfect landscapes and challenging trekking trails. To enjoy the full beauty of the trekking trails, you need to research on the best time to trek in Nepal. The country rich in world heritage sites invites thousands of tourists every year also through its rich culture. Cultural tourism is also a major source of tourism for Nepal. Culture of Nepal is reflected specially through sacred pilgrimage sites, historical monuments and memorials. Different parts of Nepal has its own cultural settings.
Hiking in Nepal is another options for people looking for things to do in Nepal. If you are not a long trek lover, you can choose from many hiking destinations for hiking in the Himalayas. In simple words, trekking consists of multiple day schedule, while hiking starts and completes in a single day. Nepal attracts thousands of tourist every year who are interested in hiking in Nepal.
Hiking in the Himalayas take you to beautiful green valleys, villages, White Water Rivers, diverse flora and fauna and of course the very friendly and cooperative local people. Some of the most popular destinations for hiking in Nepal are Nagarkot Hiking, Chisapani Hiking, Shivapuri Hiking, namo Buddha Hiking and many more.
Let’s get started with few information regarding trekking in Nepal:
Best Time Yo Trek In Nepal
The best time to trek in Nepal is considered to be during March-June and September-November. This dry and warm season is perfect as the temperature during this time is bearable and the clear sky provides the perfect Himalayan experience. Monsoon season and the winter season is not recommended for trekking in Nepal as you’ll be challenged by rain and leaches during monsoon season and severe cold makes it difficult to trek during the winter.
If you prefer to trek in warm temperatures enjoying the blossoming flora and temperate days, spring is the ideal season to trek in Nepal. Early spring tends to be a bit chilly, with mild temperatures in the low elevation regions (800-2000m). Trekking in regions such as lower Annapurna very pleasant is perfect during the spring season.
During the autumn season, the days tend to be warmer and the weather is also stable and sunny making way for clear skies and gorgeous panoramic views. Before planning your trek, you need to consult with a trekking company in Nepal regarding the best time to trek in Nepal.
Among many mountain trek packages in Nepal, the Annapurna Circuit Trek, Kanchenjunga Trek and the Everest Base Camp Trek packages are the most popular ones for trekking in Nepal.
Annapurna Circuit Trek
The Annapurna Circuit trek is one of the most popular choices for trekking in Nepal. This beautiful Nepal trek takes you through the Marshyangdi valley and Buddhist villages offering the view of the majestic Himalayas. During the Annapurna circuit trek, you’ll trek around the entire Annapurna massif and finally reach the breathtaking Thorong La Pass (5,416m/17,769ft).
We also walk through the world's deepest Kali Gandaki gorge with Annapurna I rising to 8091 m to the east and Dhaulagiri hovering at 8167 m to the west. Furthermore, during the Annapurna Circuit Trek you’ll go through Manang, Jomsom and the Muktinath region which again gets us acquainted with the diverse Nepalese landscape and culture. The adventurous Annapurna Circuit offers the trekkers with a life time experience of a complete scenic journey beneath the world’s 7th and 10th highest mountains Annapurna 8,091 and Dhaulagiri at 8,167 meters. You can also plan a short trip on some of the parts of the Annapurna circuit for hiking in the Himalayas.
This trek begins from Lamjung and ends in Pokhara. One of the major attractions of the Annapurna Circuit Trek is the religious Muktinath temple. Thousands of tourists visit this temple every year. During the trek, you can feel the Culture of Nepal that reflects specially through sacred pilgrimage sites, historical monuments and memorials. Different parts of Nepal has its own cultural settings which can be encountered wile trekking in Nepal.
Kanchenjunga Trek
Kanchenjunga base camp, situated in Taplejung District of Nepal, is one of the most fascinating destinations for trekking in Nepal. If you want to experience a beautiful mountain trek full of beautiful landscape of the Kanchenjunga area, the Kanchenjunga trek is the ultimate holiday plan for you.
Along with the very famous Mount Kanchenjunga (8586m), this trek exposes you to some of the most beautiful places of the Kanchenjunga area. The Kanchenjunga Mountain is also known as the “Five Treasures of the Great Snow”, i.e. Gold, Silver, Grain and Holy Scriptures. Throughout the Kanchenjunga trek you’ll discover variations in landscapes from alpine grasslands to sub-tropical forests, low river valley, glacial moraine, and rocky scree slopes. If you are planning for trekking in Nepal, you should go for the Kanchenjunga trek.
The trekking route to Kanchenjunga Base Camp passes through the Arun valley and the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. The Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) covers an area of 2035 square kilometers. KCA is the first ever project that is being managed by local community stewards since September 2006.
Apart from mount Kanchenjunga itself, there are other four summits exceeding 8,000m, one of them being Kanchenjunga West. In addition, there are also approximately twenty Nepali Himalayas exceeding 7,000m. Few of them are Kambachen (7,903m), Janu (7,710), Jongsong (7,483) and Kabru (7,353m).
Along with these peaks, there are five beautiful glacial systems. Of these, three glacial systems flow into Sikkim and the remaining two flow into the Tamor river of Nepal.
Everest Base Camp Trek
The Everest Base Camp Trek is considered to be one of the most famous region for trekking in Nepal as it provides an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Mount Everest from very close. The sight of the majestic Himalayas of the Everest massif is something that cannot be explained in words. They are truly breath-taking and awe-inspiring. Paired with the cultural presence of the region, the journey is an unforgettable trip that will definitely stick to one’s minds for many years.
Some of the major highlights of the Everest Base Camp trek includes the visit to the renowned Himalayan town of Namche Bazaar, also known as the Gateway to Everest. From this point, you can get beautiful views of Nepali Himalayas like the Thamserku, the Kongdi RI, the Ama Dablam, Lhotse Himal, the Nuptse Peak, and the Kusum Kanguru and of course- Mount Everest.
Another highlight of the Everest base camp trek is the village of Tengboche. This village is the home to the famous Tengboche Monastery. This monastery is one of the largest and oldest Buddhist monasteries in the region. Kalapatthar, another highlight of the trek, presents panoramic views of the entire Mount Everest massif in a spectacular fashion. The Sagarmatha National Park listed in the UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site also lies in this region. This national park is a home to many of the region’s endangered species of animals.
The Everest Base Camp Trek is not a very difficult trek. It is a perfect example of hiking in the Himalayas. People of all ages, shapes and sizes have completed the trek over the years. Altitude is the most challenging aspect of the trek. One might encounter Acute Mountain Sickness and other altitude related illnesses during the trek. You’ll require a little bit of preparation and determination to conquer the trek. The Everest base camp has been drawing many tourist who plan a visit for trekking in Nepal.
Best Time to Trek Everest Base Camp
The best months to trek to Everest base camp are pre-monsoon (February, March, April and May) and post monsoon (late September, October, November and December). Trekking during late September, October and November will provide better views of the mountains, less heat haze, cloud and clearer views of these world class mountains can be spectacular. The weather during this time of the year can be crisp, but clear as you make your way up to the Everest Base Camp. There is always the risk of rain at lower elevations and snow higher up on the trail. On your Everest Base Camp trek, you need to be prepared for all weather conditions and have the right gear. You can also consult with Nepalese trekking agencies on this.
To make the trek smooth, you need to be sure on what things you need to carry while on the Everest Base Camp trek.
Everest Base Camp Trek packing List
It is very important to have an ideal packing list while you plan for trekking in Nepal. The most important thing to consider while you prepare the Everest base camp trek packing list is the CLOTHES. The type of clothes you need to pack for the Everest Base Camp Trek depends on month you’ll be traveling.
The large variation in altitude and temperature makes it important to use layers of clothes. Being able to add or remove layers of clothing while you trek will allow you to readily adapt to the temperature and ensure that you remain comfortable and safe.
Following are the items that needs to be included in your Everest base camp trek packing list:
- Shirts
- Thermal tops and pants
- Trekking pants
- Fleece jackets
- Down jackets
- Waterproof jackets
- Socks
- Warm hat
- Sun hat
- Sunglasses with UV rays protection
- Waterproof gloves
- Travel chargers
- Portable batteries
- Toiletries
- Sunblock
- Foot powder
- Lip balm
- 20 degree Celsius sleeping bag
- Trekking shoes
- Trekking poles
- Headlight
- Swiss army knife
- Medications
- Water purification tablets
You can add other items depending on your need while you plan for trekking in Nepal or consult with the Nepalese trekking agencies.
You can learn more about Everest Base Camp Trek packing list in our blog: Everest Base Camp Trek Packing List That Can Save Your Life.
Everest Base Camp Trek Cost
The cost for your Everest Base Camp trek depends on various factors. You cannot just specify how much it is going to cost for trekking in Nepal. Few of the factors that determine the Everest base camp trek cost are listed as follows:
- Length of your trek. The length of your trek is defined by your time availability. Longer the trek, higher will be the cost. The trek is usually of 12-16 days.
- The time of the year in which you are planning the trek. If you choose to travel during the peak season, the costs will usually be high compared to off season.
- Agent from whom you buy the trekking package. You need to compare the prices from different agents to get the best rate.
- The type of trek you want. You might want all expense covered package or you can just pay for mandatory fees and choose to handle all your expenses by self during the trek. For example, you can chooses to pay for food and lodging to the agent or pay by self during the trek.
If you are not a trek lover or have a very limited time for exploring Nepal, you can choose from various other interesting things to do in Nepal. There are also many interesting places to visit in Nepal. The only international airport in Nepal, i.e. the Tribhuwan International Airport lands you in Kathmandu Nepal. No matter how many days you plan to stay in Nepal, you’ll have to spend at least two days in Kathmandu. Many of the places to visit in Nepal lies in Kathmandu. We’ll guide you briefly on this.
You can explore the city through Kathmandu valley tour packages provided by various travel and trekking company in Nepal. This is one of the most recommended things to do on your trip to Nepal as it will let you explore the best heritage sites in Nepal. Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan are very rich in terms of cultural heritage with historic monuments that are older than 2000 years.
Similarly, Nagarkot is a must visit place on your trip to Nepal. A village in central Nepal, Nagarkot is situated at the rim of the Kathmandu Valley. Nagarkot has always been the top choice among the tourists because of its views of the Himalayas, including Mount Everest to the northeast. You can get striking view of these Himalayan ranges during sunrise and sunset. Apart from mountains and hills, there is nothing much to see in Nagarkot.
You can also plan for one day trip to Dhulikhel and Namo Buddha. Located Just 30 kms away from Kathmandu Valley, Dhulikhel is a small Newari town of old houses and temples. If you are running out of things to do in Nepal, you can plan for a trip to Dhulikhel and Namobuddha. This beautiful hill station treats you with beautiful snowcapped mountains. This tour from Dhulikhel to Namobuddha starts from Dhulikhel and leads towards Namobuddha. On reaching Namobuddha, you can visit the Namobuddha View Point, Namobuddha Monastery and Namobuddha Temples. It is also the right place for meditation and practice. After visiting Namobuddha attractions, you can trek down to Panauti (1340m) to experience unique Newari cultures.
High Camp Adventure, a travel and trekking company based in Kathmandu Nepal, specializes in developing and executing various trekking and hiking packages in Nepal. Based on the reviews, this is the best trekking company in Nepal. If you are planning a trip to Nepal, you can contact them and get information on various places to visit in Nepal. The company has the answers to your questions on what to do in Nepal. So, whether you are interested in Nepal trek, climbing, expeditions, bungy jumping, river rafting, jungle safaris, hiking in Nepal or prefer sightseeing and cultural/historical tours, High Camp Adventures can help you plan the perfect holiday.