Mountain Trekking In Nepal – 30 Suggestions
Mountain Trekking In Nepal – 30 Suggestions
Whether youre into rock climbing or bird watching on a tight budget or have money to hire porters and guides you can always find a suitable trekking route in Nepal. A trip to the Nepal Himalayas is a fantastic experience for most of us offering views of snowcapped mountain peaks and a chance to meet indigenous mountain peoples who live almost cut off from the rest of the world.
All thats required of you is that you like walking in the nature. You dont have to be super fit for every trek but the better shape youre in the easier your trek will be. The top season for trekking in Nepal is OctoberNovember and FebruaryApril. In the summer months the monsoon clouds obscure the grand views most of the time and in the winter months the high mountain passes are closed by heavy snowfall. But with the right knowledge you can always find a good trek in Nepal. Just browse through this list to get an overview of your options.
Nepals Western Region
1. Simikot Humla
You can fly in from Nepalganj and maybe read Spy on the roof of the world by Sydney Wignall before you go. Permits are 90 /person /week.
2. Rara Lake
4 days walk from Jumla to this the largest lake in Nepal. Getting to Jumla though is either a plane/helicopter trip or a several days long jeep ride on a mountain road thats still under construction and will be for any foreseeable future.
3. Upper Dolpo
First of all see the movie Himalayan Caravan L’Enfance d’un chef Eric Valli 1999 Oscar nominated. It’s mandatory! Might want to pick up one of his books as well. Having done that you’ll want to go to the Phoksundo Lake which you can do in 1 week or as part of either the 15 day Dolpa Experience Circuit or the 20 day Dolpa Heritage Trek all out of Juphal airport. Another couple of oneweek’ers are the Sundaha Nature Trek and the Sahartara Tour. Expensive permit are required as in Upper Mustang it’s 70 /person /day with minimum 10 days. No lodges. Annual number of visitors are in the low hundreds.
4. Lower Dolpo
Permits are 10 /person /week. You might have to fly in from Nepalganj. Don’t expect lodges here so bring your own camping gear.
5. Upper Mustang
10 days. Home to the ancient kingdom of Lo still in existence sort of. Hefty permit required north of Kagbeni 70 /person /day with minimum 10 days.
Annapurna Region
6. Dhaulagiri
2030 days to complete the circle around this 8000′er. Bring good boots and sleeping bag!
7. Annapurna Circuit
23 weeks minimum. This is where everyone goes. Except me. In the high season it gets rather crowded and is more appropriately named the Annapurna Circus. Lodges and teahouses are everywhere. The Thorung La high pass 5400 m usually closes down in the end of November. If you bring your own camping gear there’s also good possibilities of doing side trips off the beaten track. ACAP entry fees stand at 2000 rupees.
8. Jomsom amp; Muktinath
You can fly into or out of Jomsom a days walk from Muktinath and hike to or from Pokhara in about 1 week. Muktinath is an important pilgrimage site nestled at 3800 m. It’s on the Annapurna Circuit.
9. Annapurna Sanctuary amp; ABC
1014 days 2000 rupee ticket. Another popular option since its shorter and a little less demanding than doing the full Annapurna Circuit.
10. Ghorepani Poon Hill
5 days out of Pokhara it reaches 3200 meters and is accessible all year round. Famous for it’s views of Annapurna Dhaulagiri and rhododendrons in the spring.
11. Panchase Peak amp; Ghandruk
Another holy mountain this one a couple of days walk west of Pokhara. Ghandruk is 3 days further and it’s home to the Annapurna Conservation Project and a whole lot of Gurung people.
12. The Royal Trek
4 days out of Pokhara. With altitude no higher that 2000 meters it’s open all year round.
13. Siklish Begnas Lake Lamjung
1 week return trip from Pokhara 1012 days through Lamjung to Besisahar. Lodges should be available 2000 rupee ACAP permit required.
14. Manaslu
3 weeks circle around this 8000 m twin peak that can be seen all the way from Kathmandu. Pass over Larkya La at 5110 m. There’s no lodges and the mandatory permit stands at almost 100 /person /week.
Central Nepal
15. Trishuli Gorkha
The easy way: 4 days along the route that Prithvi Narayan Shah took in 1768. Apparently has village lodges and stays under 2000 m all the way.
The hard way: 23 weeks on remote off the beaten track. Passes over Sing La 3570 m and by the Jogeshwar kund 4500 m. Camping gear required.
16. Ganesh Himal
No lodges rough and remote. But wow wouldn’t I like to go there! The highest peak is well over 7000 meters and its prominent view from Kathmandu makes it all worthwhile if you like to brag about your adventures when you get back to civilization!
17. Tamang Heritage Trail
8 days lodges still under construction.
18. Langtang amp; Gosaikunda / Panch Pokhari
12 weeks minimum. Third most visited in Nepal after Annapurna and Everest. Fairly easy not too crowded especially the Gosaikunda lake area 4400 m which is arguably the most scenic. Langtang Valley has lodges every hour or so all the way to Kyanjing Gompa 3900 m the Gosaikunda trail has fewer but still enough for short days. Gosaikunda features the annual Janai Purniam festival and from there you can walk back to Kathmandu in 24 days. Entry fee 1000 rupees.
19. Helambu
1 week more jungle than mountains but still a rough trail. Teahouses available if you don’t get lost like that Australian guy. Distant but awesome mountain views before you get too close to the mountain bases. Walking distance from Kathmandu circuit from Sundarijal to Nagarkot 4 days.
20. Namobudda
1 day one of the few quickies you can do when the noise and pollution of Kathmandu starts to get on your nerves. Take the bus to Dhulikel and start walking.
21. Rolwaling amp; Gauri Shankar
2 weeks or so. Get up close and personal with Gauri Shankar 7130 m and its glacial lakes. Good view of Everest etc. Unspoiled landscape permission still required but check with Nepals Tourism Board when you get here. Theres rumors that theyre making this one permission free.
22. Chitwan Chepang Hills
7 days in the Middle Hills. No Himalayas and no higher than 2000 meters so it could be a good winter trekking possibility. Good view of the distant Annapurna Dhaulagiri Ganesh Himal Gauri Shankar Gurja Himal and Manaslu but the main attraction is the nomadic Chepang people who live as hunters and gatherers. There’s also a fort a waterfall and some caves along the route together with 400 bird species. Start in Hugdi on Prithvi Hwy end Shaktikor in Chitwan. Homestays are on the route.
Everest Region
23. Everest Base Camp amp; Kala Pathar
2 weeks out of Lukla 3 out of Kathmandu/Jiri with return flight from Lukla. If you don’t have a spare 50.000 lying around for an Everest climb permit you can just settle for this Base Camp trek. Most people seem to choose the Tengpoche route to KP which stands at 5630 m.
24. Mera Peak
23 weeks out of Lukla 6500 m. A popular expedition/climb that requires some basic mountaineering skills but without being too technical. Long march in 2 high camps.
25. Island Peak
3 weeks out of Lukla. At 6100 meters this trek is not for everyone. Although not very technical it is a demanding snow climb. Views are everything you could ever dream of.
26. Gokyo Lakes Peak amp; Renjo La
2 weeks out of Lukla. High pass at 5400 m. Lakes at 4800 m peak at 5500 m. Some lodges along the trail. Great Everest views.
27. Pikey amp; Dudhkunda Trail
1 or 2 weeks in the less much less visited southern part of Solukhumbu. Both the Chiwong and the Thuptenchoeling Buddhist Monasteries are world renowned the former famous for the Mani Rimdu Dance Festival the latter is the biggest monastery in Nepal.
Nepals Eastern Region
28. Arun Valley Makalu Base Camp
3 weeks out of Tumlingtar/Khadbari. You’ll get up to 5000 meters and still be 3500 meters short of the summit! Either go same way back or climb a couple of 6000′ers into the Khumbu region.
29. Kanchenjunga
3 weeks out of Taplejung 3rd highest mountain in the world. Don’t rely on finding any lodges here. Permits are 10 /person /week.
30. Pathibhara
1 week out of Taplejung. The Pathibhara Devi shrine is a pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists alike. There is lodges along the route.
About the writer: The author Morten Svenningsen is an awardwinning Danish photographer in Nepal Asia. Visit his web site www.mortensvenningsen.com to see examples of his work. It’s now even possible to order his photos as fine art prints and posters!
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