5 Best Treks in Nepal: your top pick for the best Nepal treks

Lying in the southwest of the mighty Himalayas, Nepal is rated as the best location in the world for high-altitude trekking. A small and landlocked country, Nepal has long been a place for backpackers and hikers, who would travel to the country for the amazing views of the Himalayan Mountains, the stunning trekking trails to some of the world’s highest mountains. Though faced with awful lots of choices for trekking in Tibet, the following top 5 treks are an all-time favorite of all trekkers. Check them below and find new inspirations and your ideal trek to stretch your legs.

Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Valley: An All-Time Favorite Trek in Nepal

One of the “bucket-list” treks for most ardent hikers, the trail to the famous Everest Base Camp in Nepal is one of the most popular treks in the world. This unique Everest Base Camp trek adds the Gokyo Lakes by taking a detour of around 6 days to the west. An awesome trek, it is best done from March to June and Oct to November, though it is possible to do the trek in the summer months. Winter, however, is another matter, as it is too cold and snowy to make the trek to Gokyo Ri.

The trek is a hard-level 16-17 day journey that starts and ends in the small mountain village of Lukla, the site of the Tenzing-Hillary Airport. The route, which takes you through Namche Bazaar and Macchermo to the area of Gokyo Ri, and then east to Dingboche to rejoin the trail to EBC is one that covers a total distance of around 145 kilometers. The highest point of the trek is actually at the base camp, at 5,400 meters, though you cannot see the summit of the mountain from this point.

Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo Valley is one of the most popular treks in the world.

The trail from Lukla is one of the most used trails in Nepal, and has a good number of teahouses and lodges along the route at the places where you will stop for the night. However, if you are taking the trek in the peak months, expect to have to camp out if you are not at the lodges early, as they fill up fast. Food along the trail is basic, consisting mostly of local Nepalese dishes, which are nutritious and filling. Alternatively, you can bring your own food to eat along the way.

A new permit is now required for the EBC trek, even with Gokyo Lakes included, and can only be obtained from Lukla for a fee of around 2,000 rupees, or about 28 dollars. You will still require a Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS) card, which is needed for trekking anywhere in Nepal, and can be obtained from the Nepal Tourism Board offices in Kathmandu at a cost of around 14-28 US dollars per person.

Annapurna Circuit Trek: For Stunning Himalayan View & Diverse Terrains and Community

Located within the Annapurna Mountain Range in north-central Nepal, the Annapurna Circuit Trek is one of the more popular treks in the country, ranging from around 160 kilometers to as much as 230 kilometers. This hard level trek takes a route around the Annapurna Massif, which contains around 30 peaks, including one over 8,000 meters. A trek that takes around 15-20 days, depending on where you decide to start the hiking section, and many people drive further into the area past Pokhara to start the trek closer to Besisahar.

Annapurna Circuit Trek is a way to experience local lifestyle of Nepal.

At its highest point, the normal trek reaches an altitude of 5,416 meters, at the Thorung La Pass, and reaches more than 4,800 meters along the normal trails. After the circuitous route, passing through Manang, Muktinath, and Ghorepani, the trek finally ends at Birethanti, where most people get a car or bus back to Pokhara. The Annapurna Circuit Trek is another trek that has lodges and teahouses along its entire route as the main form of accommodation, though camping is often the norm in the peak season. You will also find local dishes available in the teahouses for a low price, which makes for a good nutritious meal.

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek via Poon Hill: Superb Teahouse Trek with Sweeping View of Mt. Annapurna

Another of the treks around the Annapurna Range, the Sanctuary Trek is one of the most spectacular treks in Nepal, taking you through the famous Poon Hill, with the sweeping views of Mount Annapurna, to the Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 meters. The route starts and finishes in Pokhara, and takes you along a 10-day route to the very foot of the South Face of Annapurna I. A moderate rated trek, the route covers around 115 kilometers and reaches altitudes of almost 4,200 meters at the highest points.

Annapurna Sanctuary Trek will offer you an excellent opportunity to enjoy the imposing Mt. Annapurna.

A leisurely styled trek, you do not have to be an expert to make this journey, trekking for around 6-7 hours per day. The trek is best done from March to May or September to November, when the weather is warm with good sunny views of the mountains. The biggest highlight of the trek is the sight of Annapurna I towering above you along more than half of the route, and finally the amazing view from the mountain’s base camp. The trek is ideal for those with only a little experience in high-altitude trekking, and can be a great training route for those planning to take on the harder and longer Annapurna Circuit, Everest, and Manaslu Treks.

Trekking in the Annapurna region requires an Annapurna Conservation Area Entry Permit (ANCAP), which can be obtained at the same time as your TIMS Card, and costs around 28 dollars per person.

Langtang Valley Trek: Less Crowded, Amazing Valley of Langtang, Tamang and Sherpa Communities

One of the most pleasant treks in Nepal, the Langtang Valley trek starts and finishes at Syabrubesi, on the road from Kathmandu to Rasuwa Gadhi, the border station for people entering Tibet overland, and runs through the lower region of the Langtang Valley and the small local villages to the peak of Tserko Ri. While you will reach a maximum altitude of around 5,000 meters on this trek, at the top of Tserko Ri, most of the trekking is at altitudes of well below 4,000 meters along the length of this 120-kilometer route.

You can appreciate the Stunning view of Langtang region during your trek.

The trek is another teahouse trekking route, as with most treks in Nepal, and accommodation is in the teahouses, and it is not too busy, even in the peak seasons. Most of the teahouses in this area serve local Nepali dishes and some Tibetan or Chinese meals, such as noodles, as well as things like pizza and other western dishes in the lower areas of the valley. Close to Kathmandu, it is easier to get the food shipped to the teahouses than in places like Lukla and Ghorepani. The trek is best done in the spring and autumn in Nepal, though it can be done throughout the winter, if you do not mind a little cold weather.

Aside from the TIMS card, there is no permit to trek in the Langtang Valley, though you will have to pay entry to the Langtang National Park, which costs around 34 US dollars per person.

Manaslu Circuit Trek: One of the Greatest Off-the-Beaten Treks in Nepal

One of the greatest off-the-beaten path treks in Nepal, and covers a distance of around 177 kilometers. A popular alternative to the Annapurna Circuit Trek, it is one of the best all-around treks in Nepal, and is popular with trekkers from all over the world. However, it is still one of the least trekked routes in Nepal, which makes it ideal for that solitary and tranquil hike into the mountains. Manaslu Circuit trek starts from Arughat, and takes around 18-20 days to complete, ending in Besisahar, which is the starting point of the Annapurna Circuit Trek.

Manaslu Circuit Trek is one of the greatest off-the-beaten treks in Nepal.

The highest point of the trek is the Larkya La Pass, at 5,125 meters, and it is mostly the high altitude and steep climbs over rough terrain that gives it the rating of a hard level trek in Nepal. This means a good level of physical fitness is required to make this trek. Camping and teahouses are the main options for accommodation along the trail, and with the stunning views, most people opt to camp in the spring and autumn seasons, which are the best times to take this trek. The teahouses do provide basic local dishes as meals, which are nutritious, if not very tasty, or you can bring along your own food. There is always hot water available in the lodges and teahouses.

Trekking in the Manaslu Area requires the usual TIMS card, as well as the Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP), which costs around 28 dollars per person (2,000 rupees). You will also have to get a Manaslu Restricted Permit, which costs around 70 dollars for the first seven days, and then ten dollars per day from September to November, or 50 dollars for the first seven days and seven dollars per day from December to August.

Conclusion

The treks in Nepal are some of the best in the world, and the country has become a Mecca for hiking enthusiasts from around the globe. One of the most popular trekking destinations there is, it is little wonder that some of the most popular trails can be very crowded in the peak months, with hundreds of thousands of trekkers descending on places like the EBC trek over the course of just a few short months in the autumn. If you are planning a trek to Nepal, then these five are the best trekking options you can find in this former Himalayan kingdom.