Trekking in the trails to the Himalayas is a dream for adventure or travel enthusiasts. Nepal is a paradise for trekkers looking for different trekking routes in the Himalayas. There are various routes in different regions of Nepal that take you on a trip to the Himalayas. You can select a Nepal trekking route based on your preference, budget, time, and fitness levels. There is a trekking trail in Nepal for every kind of person. In this article, we will list some of Nepal’s most popular trekking routes.
1. Everest Base Camp Trek
Everest Base Camp is a challenging yet one of Nepal’s most popular trekking trails. Most people go to the trail mainly to get a closer glimpse of My Everest. Getting to the Base Camp of the tallest mountain in the world is also a dream for many. But just getting to the base camp isn’t the highlight of the trek. You will witness some of the best mountain views while trekking to the base camp. Expect to witness a scenic landscape throughout the trek. You will trek through a luscious thick forest with unique flora and fauna and enjoy local customs and traditions along with stunning views of mountains and glacial lakes. In addition, you will have a close view of other mountains like Mt. Lhotse and Nuptse.
The Everest Base Camp Trek is quite a long walk to the 5364m altitude, so ensure you have the quiet physical fitness to get through the trek. The trek is quite challenging, so it is better to have an experienced guide or porter with you throughout the trek. This is among the most preferred trekking routes in the Himalayas.
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2. Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Annapurna Base Camp is one of the most popular trekking destinations in Nepal. Its popularity is mainly as the difficulty is easy to moderate, and you get to witness the spectacular views of the Annapurna South, Annapurna I Hiunchuli, Annapurna III, Gangapurna, Macchapuchhre, and Khangsar.
You can expect to pass through the forests with rich flora and fauna and beautiful glaciers, walk through the banks of fresh, pristine rivers, and experience the local culture of the remote villages. You can also witness a beautiful sunrise over the Annapurna Mountain ranges from Poon Hill, a popular viewpoint on the trail. The trek has been highly commercialized and popular recently, so expect a high flow of tourists during the trekking seasons.
3. Shey Phoksundo Trek
Shey Phoksundo Trek blesses us with the pristine blue lake rewarding us for every step we took to get there. The trek takes us to the remote villages of the Dolpo region. Due to the less influence of the outer world, you will get to experience the preserved Tibetan culture in the towns during the Shey Phoksundo Trek. Many people don’t know, but Shey Phoksundo is also the deepest lake in Nepal.
The trek to the Shey Phoksundo offers beautiful views of the Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri mountains, provide deep insights into the Tibetan culture in the Dolpo region, and can also explore the unique Bombo religion during your remote trek to the pristine blue Shey Phoksundo lake.
4. Annapurna Circuit Trek
Annapurna Circuit Trek is another challenging trekking trail that requires higher physical fitness. The trek will greet you with scenic landscapes of stunning mountains, ancient monasteries, local culture, and villages of Manang and Mustang. You will also trek through the world’s highest mountain pass, Thorong La Pass, at 5416m which is the highest and the most challenging point of the trek. The stunning views of peaks like Annapurna, Tilicho, Damodar, Manaslu, and Dhaulagiri will make every moment of the challenging trek worthwhile.
This is among the second most preferred trekking routes in the Himalayas. Since you will be trekking at an altitude above 5000m in some sections of the trek, the chances of Altitude sickness are very high. Stay hydrated, eat proper food and sleep well to avoid Altitude sickness but also carry some medications to ease down the early symptoms. If you face any symptoms of AMS, including nausea, headache, dizziness, vomiting, lack of appetite, and loss of breath, completely stop your trek, head back to a lower altitude, and rest until you feel okay.
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5. Mardi Himal Trek
Mardi Himal Trek is one of the most popular treks. It is not as challenging as other treks while still offering breathtaking views of the Himalayas. Although the trail is relatively new, its popularity is skyrocketing at an incredible pace. Tourists prefer Mardi Himal Trek due to its short and moderate difficulty while still enjoying stunning views of Annapurna, Macchapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu. On this trek, you can enjoy the spectacular landscape views and explore the Annapurna region. The trek can be completed in around 5 days, so people with limited time and budget can trek to the Mardi Himal base camp(4500m) without compromising the Himalayan scenery.
6. Langtang Valley Trek
Langtang Valley is another short and popular trek for people looking to trek to the Himalayas as a beginner. The trek is a quick getaway for people looking to escape for a week. The trail will take you to the Langtang Valley and the Tserko Ri at 5000m if you don’t want to miss a stunning view of the Sunrise. You will trek through the rhododendron and the bamboo forests to reach the Langtang valley. If you travel during March-April, you can also see the beautiful Rhododendron blooming all over the forest.
Traveling through the trail, you can explore the Tamang, Sherpas, and Buddhist cultures. Furthermore, you can also visit the ancient monastery of Kyanjin Gompa. The stunning mountain view of the Dorje Lakpa, Langtang Ri, and Langtang Lirung will also bless you during the trek. Unfortunately, Langtang Valley also faced severe damage during the 2015 Earthquake, which destroyed the whole village. The Lantang has now been shifted to a near distance, and you can still see the damages done by the Earthquake on the old Langtang village. Langtang Valley is among the most preferred trekking routes in the Himalayas.
7. Manaslu Circuit Trek
Manaslu Circuit Trek is one of the popular yet classical trekking routes with rugged landscapes and off-beat adventures. Compared to Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, and Annapurna Base Camp trek, the Manaslu Circuit is much less crowded. Although the trail is wild and remote, you don’t have to worry much about Food and Accommodation as there are a lot of tea houses along the way. If you are a beginner with very low trekking experience, the Manaslu Circuit trek is not recommended for you as it is strenuous and might require a high level of physical fitness. You will trek through the subtropical forests and cross one of the highest passes of Larkya La at 5100m.
Since Manaslu Circuit Trek falls under restricted areas, you need a Special Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to trek here. Independent trekkers are also not allowed in the region. But the best part is you will witness majestic views of Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, and Lamjung Himal.
8. Tilicho Lake Trek
Tilicho Lake is one of the most popular trekking destinations as it is the world’s highest lake at 4919m. Some trekkers trek through Tilicho Lake and then head on to complete the Annapurna Circuit trek. But many trekkers just hike to the world’s highest lake and head back home.
The lake is surrounded by high mountains of the Annapurna Range and other mountains, including Mt Dhaulagiri, Mt Manaslu, Gangapurna, and Tilicho Peak. With the high altitude and constant rocks falling down, Tilicho is a strenuous trek not recommended for beginners.
You will get to explore the villages of Manang and their culture and walk with the views of the mountains in the backdrop. If you have more time and significantly more energy left, you can also complete the Annapurna Circuit trek from Tilicho. Still, you need to plan ahead properly.
9. Upper Mustang Trek
Upper Mustang Trek is your gateway to explore the Forbidden Kingdom of Nepal and get to explore the ancient Buddhist Kingdom and the rich culture and history of the place. Also known as Lo Manthan, the Upper Mustang region was isolated from the rest of the world and is starting to gain popularity in recent times.
Depending on your time and preference, you can trek to Upper Mustang or get to the region on a vehicle. The place is easily accessible trekking routes in the Himalayas or vehicles all year round except in winter. The tanned red cliffs, the beautiful backdrop of the mountains, and the rugged roads will genuinely leave you in awe.
You can also visit the holy Muktinath Temple in the Lower Mustang, which hosts Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims worldwide. In Upper Mustang, you can witness the 10,000 sky caves, explore the ancient caves and sky burials, explore the ancient traditions, visit the oldest monasteries, and enjoy the beautiful landscape. Unfortunately, Mustang also falls under a restricted area, so you will need a Special RAP permit. In addition, the region is not allowed for independent trekkers.
10. Gosainkunda Trek
Gosainkunda is another popular trekking destination in Nepal, mainly because of its short trail with moderate difficulty. The destination hosts nature travelers and pilgrims every year. The glacier lake holds high significance to Hindu Pilgrimage, and pilgrims visit the destination mainly during the festival of Janai Purnima. The pilgrims take a bath in the holy lake and get salvation.
To reach Gosainkunda, you will trek through rhododendron forests, walk in the banks of pristine rivers, and local villages of the Langtang region while enjoying the stunning views of Langtang Mountain Range, Ganesh Himal, and Manaslu. You can also get a chance to witness endangered animals like red panda, Himalayan Deer, and leopard, and also get a glimpse of other various flora and fauna.
Wrapping it Up – Trekking Routes in the Himalayas
Nepal is full of trekking routes in the Himalayas & trails that will take you on an adventure through the mountains and the highest lakes. You can trek to numerous locations depending on your fitness levels, budget, time, and preference. Our list comprises some of the popular trekking routes in Nepal, including different destinations suitable for different people.
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