Best Trekking Places in Nepal
Looking for the best trekking places in Nepal? This article will cover the popular trekking destinations for adventurers and adrenaline rush seekers. Find yourself walking through the dry, barren lands, lush green forests, waterfalls, and sky-high mountains, all in just a single trek.
Disclaimer: All the treks listed in the article are of incredible difficulty. Such expeditions tend to go up to higher altitudes and are not recommended if you have trouble with heights. If you’re a beginner or going with a family and not confident enough for these treks, that is not a problem. Best Treks in Nepal for Beginners will cover all the basic yet beautiful trekking routes to start fulfilling your bucket lists.
These treks are not ranked in any specific order.
Best Trekking Places in Nepal
1. The Annapurna Circuit
Annapurna Circuit is by far the most popular trekking route in Nepal. With over 55% of annual trekkers doing the trek, it is essential to know why it is popular.
The Annapurna Circuit is a 12 to 21-day trek that begins in Besisahar. As you start your hike, you’ll realize the slow but inevitable terraforming of the landscapes and flora the more you ascend. This trek takes you over the clouds to reach an altitude of 5416 meters which is no ordinary feat. The paths are sometimes treacherous, the weather unpredictable, and the high altitude makes it challenging to get into the senses.
The Circuit is not for beginners or people who think they’re unfit. Thorong La Pass is the most challenging trek, having to hike for hours in an oxygen-thin region. The entire trail of 125 kilometers on foot is challenging both for the mind and the body. Accommodations are basic with tea houses and lodges (every food item tends to get expensive as you ascend).
Get to uncover a different side of the Himalayas as you walk through the rice fields, lush red rhododendron forests, and beautiful snow-capped mountains. The Annapurna Circuit is rich culturally, too, as you witness Nepalese cultures and communities and socialize with other trekkers on the trail.
- Trekking Difficulty: 3/5
- Pricing: US$ Fairly Cheap
- The best time for the trek: May or November
- Accommodation: Guesthouses & Lodges
- Restricted Permits: No.
- Max elevation: 5,416 m, Thorong La Pass.
2. Langtang Trek
If you’re looking for a shorter trek, Langtang is a perfect choice. The 11-15 day trek takes you through the Nepalese culture’s stunning natural landscapes and warm hospitality.
Your trek begins at the Langtang Valley, a day’s drive from Kathmandu’s capital. The hike is also perfect for any person wanting to discover Nepal for the first time. Trek your way through bamboo and rhododendron forests as you discover majestic landscapes you can’t get enough of. Langtang Trek will take you to an altitude of 4,000 meters (you can go even higher if you wish to), where you can observe peaks such as Dorje Lakpa, Langtang Ri, Lirung, etc.
Native animals such as red pandas, Himalayan bears, and Himalayan deer can be observed by the trekkers throughout the trek. Awe at the sky-high waterfalls, flora and fauna, yak pastures, cheese factories, and people of the Langtang area.
Unfortunately, this fantastic trekking destination was a victim of the 2015 Nepalese earthquake. While business in the area was starting to open up, the earthquake slowed its pace. If you are looking for a quick escape from city life, the Langtang trek is something you should consider. Traveling to such places is a way of supporting them without any charity.
- Trekking Difficulty: 3/5
- Pricing: US$ Fairly Cheap
- The best time for the trek: May or November
- Accommodation: Guesthouses & Lodges
- Restricted Permits: No.
- Max elevation: : 4,984m, Tserko Ri
3. Three Passes Trek
Now, if you’re looking for a real challenge, the three passes trek is the one you should pick up. This once-in-a-lifetime trek takes you through the Everest region, which is equally rewarding and challenging.
Ideally, the trek starts from Lukla, and you’ll head north into the mountains until Namche Bazaar. The entire route is a circuit, and hikers can choose to go clockwise or anti-clockwise. (Anti-clockwise is common and recommended). The 22-day trek takes you through four valleys and three passes (Kongma La 5500m, Cho La 5420, and Renjo La 5360m). All the passes are challenging as they are all at a high altitude, and terrains can change drastically with the weather.
Accommodation around Namche Bazaar is basic, with food, water, and shelter. The trail is diverse, and landscapes keep changing with the route. Three Peaks trek is a once-in-a-lifetime trek that takes you through the sky-piercing mountains, and you shouldn’t miss it if you’re up for the challenge.
Many agencies offer the trek to the interested where; you can request your itinerary too. You should be prepared for the challenges along the way, mainly altitude sickness. Make sure to carry plenty of cash! (most places don’t accept cards).
- Trekking Difficulty: 4/5
- Pricing: US$ Moderate
- Best Season: October-November.
- Accommodation type: Guesthouses & Lodges
- Restricted Permits: No
- Max elevation: 5,540 m, Kong Ma La Pass
4. Manaslu Trek
A trail full of diversity, the Manaslu trek takes you on an adventurous trip through the low altitudes into the high five thousand.
Many people consider Manaslu one of the best treks in Nepal, and it isn’t easy to reason against it. The trek is centered around Manaslu, the eighth-highest mountain standing tall at 8,163 meters. You can experience various landscapes, vegetation, cultures, flora, and fauna. As you walk through rivers, stupas, ethnic villages, floras, and faunas, you’ll realize Nepal is much more than just talks.
Another fantastic feature of the Manaslu Trek is its variety of trekking options. Want to camp your way through the trip? Sure. Perhaps tea houses? Of course! The trek is remote enough for camping but still has many teahouses on the way.
Even though Manaslu Trek is the closest to the Kathmandu Valley, the place is still remote compared to many. But this is not a negative aspect but a positive one. Close, facilitated, and affordable. Manaslu trek is an all-in-one package that you definitely should take up. The 126km circuit takes around 14 days to complete; add in a day or two for weather or unforeseen circumstances.
Like other treks, you can give a shot to Manaslu circuit trek through various trekking agencies all over Kathmandu.
- Trekking Difficulty: 4/5
- Pricing: US$ Moderate
- Best Season: October-November.
- Accommodation type: Guesthouses & Lodges
- Restricted Permits: Minimum of 2 People accompanied by a Nepalese porter/guide
- Max elevation: 5,115 m, Larke Pass
5. Kanchenjunga Trek
Indeed a challenge for the adventurous to trek their way through the Eastern regions of Nepal in a 22-day expedition. The Kanchenjunga Trek is a remote trekking route that includes breathtaking mountains, forests, and habitat scenery.
Your only option for accommodation is camping, and you’ll require previous hand experience for the trek. Population density is relatively thin here, but you can still gain insight into the people’s lifestyles.
The trek starts from Suketar up to Pangpema (5143m). Pangpema is the Northern Base Camp of Kanchenjunga mountain. Trekkers will then descend back and walk to the other side of the Kanchenjunga base camp, Yalung (4850m). It’s just descent from there, going back to where you started.
The way to the base camps is filled with gorgeous rivers, impressive waterfalls, green meadows, and jungles coated in red with rhododendron, birch, and pine. The main attraction of the trek is the Yalung glacier. But the Kanchenjunga Trek is incomplete without the sky-high mountain peaks that make you feel small.
Prepare for a fantastic 220kilometer trip around the base camps and observe Nepal’s natural beauty at its finest. Fill your heart with triumph as you wake up to scenery on the lap of the giant peaks.
- Trekking Difficulty: Level 4.5/5
- Pricing: US$ High
- Best Season: October-November.
- Accommodation type: Camping
- Restricted Permits: Minimum of 2 People accompanied by a Nepalese porter/guide
- Max elevation: 5,160 m, Lapsang Pass
The treks listed above lie among the best trekking places in Nepal. If you are wondering which agency to refer to, perhaps these below will help. The listed agencies are all based on the ratings and reviews of the customers.