The Great Himalaya Trails is one of the most sought-after trekking routes. Many trekkers have the GHT on their bucket list too. It is a network of existing trails in Nepal’s low, mid, and high Himalayan ranges. Among the various trekking trails in Nepal, Great Himalaya Trail is the longest and the most challenging trekking trail, which takes about 150 days through the high or extreme route and about 100 days from the low or cultural route.
The Great Himalaya Trails consist of different sections including Kanchenjunga, Makalu Barun, Everest and Rolwaling, Langtang and Helambu, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal, Annapurna Circuit, Dolpo, Rara and Jumpa, Humla and Far West Nepal.
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History of the Great Himalaya Trails
Bill Tilman (second right) with Angtharkay, Eric Shipton, Pasang Bhotia and Kusang (Photo: Bill Tilman)
The first known GHT trekker was Bill Tillman, who visited the Helambu, Lantang Everest, and Kali Gandaki Regions in 1949, intending to walk through the regions rather than climb a specific peak.
And it was in 1965 when Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Robert started organizing trekking holidays, making regions of the Himalayas accessible to everyone.
Since 1997 there have been many attempts from different people to walk, run and cycle across the GHT.
The Great Himalayan Range had restrictions in some areas of Nepal, forcing the trekkers to detour to the mid hills away from the trail. After 2002, the restrictions were lifted, making it easier for trekkers. Since then, the GHT has been accessible to everyone on permit-based trekking.
After the restriction was lifted, Rosie Swale-Pope was the first person to travel along the GHT in 2003 by running the mid-hills route from Taplejung to Simikot.
High Route
The Great Himalayan Trail High Route is one of the desirable trails for trekkers. The high route is also called the extreme route, and it passes through the mountains of Nepal, offering views of spectacular passes, mountain landscapes, snow-capped mountains, and some of the remote villages of Nepal. The best part is that you will trek through Makalu base camp, the Everest region, the Annapurna circuit, and the Dolpa regions, some of the trail’s most beautiful sections.
The high route stretches to a distance of over 1500km and requires about 150 days to complete the trek. The trek will start at the Kanchenjunga base camp in the east and ends at Hilsa at the Nepal-Tibet border in Humla. It passes over high altitudes between 4000m and 6200m which requires proper trekking and mountaineering equipment. In some difficult passes, you might also need a guide for your safety at high altitudes.
When trekking on the high route, you might even have to hike for hours without seeing a settlement or a person. There are also very few teahouses and lodges, so you must have your tent as you will end up camping most nights.
Guides
Hiring a guide is recommended for travelers trekking the GHT High route. You might see someone solo touring the GHT and want to solo trek yourself too. It is advisable to have a guide in your journey. Some sections in Kanchenjunga, Manaslu, and Upper Dolpa are pretty technical. The three passes connecting Makalu and the Everest region are also technical and might be hard to cross on your own. The technical sections are dangerous, and you could risk your life if you go guideless as an inexperienced trekker. For people who can’t speak Nepali properly and don’t have experience trekking high altitudes and technical passes, you should hire a guide for your safety.
Permits
When hiking the GHT high route, you will also have to get a lot of permits. Most of the national parks and conservation areas, which cost around $20-30$, are available at the entrance. You will have to spend anywhere from $250-300 for your permits on the trail.
For Upper Dolpa, there are two routes you can choose from. The northern route will require a $500 per week permit and a mandatory guide, whereas, for the southern route, you can trek with just a permit fee of $10 a week and do not have to hire a guide.
Besides the permit for different areas, you have to get a TIMS permit that costs around $20, and you can get it in Kathmandu.
Low Route
GHT low route is also known as the GHT cultural route that takes you through the hills of Nepal with beautiful forests, green rice terraces, agricultural land, and settlements of people from different cultures and civilizations. Passing along various settlements and bumping into other cultures, this route would be perfect for people looking to learn about the different cultures of Nepal while trekking the Great Himalaya Trail.
In the low route, you will travel through the hills and lower mountain regions with an average altitude of 2000m, but the trail also has many passes, including Jang La at 4519m. The trail is also much shorter, with a distance of 1500km, taking around 100 days to complete a low route. But although it might sound easier compared to the High route, it still takes a lot of physical and mental strength to complete it. Since the route is full of settlements, you will also see a lot of guesthouses and homestays along the way that you can stay in, but it is always better to take a tent for some remote parts.
Guides and Permits
The better part about the GHT Low route is that you can even hike the trail independently and won’t require multiple permits. The permit you compulsorily need during the trek is the GHT TIMS Permit that you can get in Kathmandu, which will cost you around $20.
On the route, you will also go through conservation areas and national parks, which will require a small fee you can pay during the entry.
Food and Accommodation
While trekking through the GHT, it will be best for you to stay in the local teahouses whenever you can. Staying in local guest houses will allow you to save the food you have carried for emergency use.
On Low Route, you will be able to stay in local guest houses most of the time, but on High Route, the areas are remote and such guesthouses might not be available.
In such guesthouses, expect to eat typical Nepali Dal Bhat, which consists of rice, lentils, vegetables, pickles, and even meat. At high altitudes, stay away from meat to avoid any sickness, especially when you don’t see any animals roaming around.
Always carry food for emergencies when you have to stay in a tent. Always take things that give you energy while hiking. If you are out of food supplies, you can restock them near a city or get to the town and bring resupplies to resume your GHT trek.
It is always better to take extra food for places with no guesthouses, even for multiple days. Consult with your guide or a professional to estimate how much food you should carry while trekking on the Great Himalaya Trail.
Conclusion
The GHT consists of two routes that you can trek through. The low route is generally recommended for people with less experience who want to explore the culture of different regions. The High route is for experienced trekkers and people looking for an extreme adventure. Since the high route requires more permits, a mandatory guide in some technical areas, and a longer time to complete, it requires a higher budget than the low route.
You don’t have to worry. We can help your plan your GHT Trek and help you take on the adventure to trek along one of the longest trekking trails in the world.
With Female Guide Holiday, you can expect to travel around various destinations around Nepal with the guidance of our Female Trekkers. We aim to change how women travel in Nepal and make their travel more fun, insightful, and secure.
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