Nepal is a small South Asian country between two big countries, China and India. It is a landlocked country with many hills, the long-range Himalayas to the northern part from east to west, and flat, fertile lands to the south. It is one of the most popular Himalayan Trekking Destinations in the world. So, there are hundreds of Trekking Routes that millions of trekkers come from other countries to visit every year.
How to Choose a Trek in Nepal?
Table of Contents
How to choose a trek in Nepal? You can find them on a search engine. However, choosing the right tour plays a major role in a successful mountain trip. Choosing a Trek in Nepal depends on your interest, time frame, physical fitness, and budget. If you are a first-time trekker, elderly, or trekking with family, you can choose a Short and Easy Trek. The Base Camp Treks are for regular and intermediate trekkers. But the Adventure Treks are for extreme and advanced trekkers. You can find trekking packages that suit you, making it easy to plan your mountain trip. So, choose one of the packages below.
Choosing a Short and Easy Trek
Short and Easy Trekking in Nepal is a 2-day to a week-long trail. These trekking packages have no high altitudes or freezing temperatures, so you can do them year-round. But trekking in Nepal in summer isn't ideal.
Choosing a short, easy trekking trail doesn't take trekkers to mountain base camps, but these trekking packages offer beautiful views of the distant mountains. These Trekking Routes offer comfortable hikes compared to moderate and adventurous Trekking trails. These Trekking packages offer Views of farming terraces, river valleys, green hills, vegetation, traditional villages, and more. You can see the short and easy trekking bag below, so choosing your desired destination will be easy.
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
The Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek attracts far more trekkers than other Trekking trails in Nepal. This trek is doable for all trekkers and offers some of the best views of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna massif up close.
Ghorepani Poon Hill was more popular than the Ghorepani Ghandruk Circuit Trekking. Poon Hill is a hill station where you can see an unobstructed sunrise and amazing Mountain views. It was named after a tower built in memory of Tek Bahadur Poon.
You can do the Ghorepani Trek on a 2- to 5-day itinerary starting from Nayapul. For a 2-day tour, drive directly to Ulleri and trek to Ghorepani on the first day. Enjoy the views from Poon Hill, then trek back to Ulleri or Hile, where you can drive back to Pokhara. This Trekking itinerary is rushed, so if you can walk fast and don't have much time, you can use it.
The three-day Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is slightly less rushed than the two-day option. You can follow the regular itinerary until Ghorepani, which takes two days. On the first day, you will drive from Pokhara to Nayapul and Trek to Tikhedhunga or Ulleri. The next day, you will trek to Ghorepani, enjoy the view the following morning from Poon Hill, trek back to Nayapul, and then drive to Pokhara. The last day of the trek will be a long descent, which can cause knee pain. A four-day trek itinerary is best if you are worried about knee pain from a long downhill.
There are two different itineraries for the 4-day Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek. You can make a circuit via Ghandruk or return the same way. If you want a four-day circuit trek, it can be tiring, with a hike to Poon Hill and a long walk to Ghandruk. So, a five-day Ghorepani Ghandruk Circuit Trek is more comfortable and relaxed. It is a regular Trek itinerary that most trekkers follow.
Everest View Trek
The Everest View Trek, or the Everest Panorama Trek, is the shortest trek available in the Everest Region. It takes a week or eight days to Travel from Kathmandu to Kathmandu. If you don't have enough time to reach base camp or are worried about altitude sickness, the Everest View Trek is perfect for seeing the world's highest mountain and exploring the region.
The Everest View Trek starts with a flight to Lukla and follows the main trail to Everest Base Camp. On your first day, after landing at Lukla Airport, you will trek to Phakding. Then you will hike to Tengboche, pass Namche Bazaar, return to Lukla, and fly to Kathmandu.
You will see massive snow-capped mountains such as Kusum Kanguroo, Thamserku, and Amadablam. On this trek, you will see Lhotse, Nuptse, and other beautiful mountains, including Everest. On this trek, you can see mountains, wildlife, vegetation, rivers, waterfalls, and many other natural beauties. You can even do this trek in winter, not only in autumn and spring. But summer is not recommended.
Mardi Himal Trek
Badal Danda
The Mardi Himal Trek is a new and beautiful Trekking trail in the Annapurna Region. It is short, but the highest elevation is over 4000m above sea level. You can complete the trek from Pokhara to Pokhara in 5-7 days. It offers the best views of the Annapurna Massif, a beautiful valley, a long ridge, and many other natural beauties.
From Pokhara, you drive to Kande, where the trek begins, and you head to Deurali on the first day. After that, you will trek through a dense forest of rhododendron, pine, oak, and other big trees for around 4 hours to the forest camp. Then you will ascend to the low camp, pass the rest camp, and Trek to Badal Danda and the high camp. After a night at the high camp, you will trek to Mardi Himal Base Camp via the Upper Viewpoint. Badal Danda and Upper Viewpoint offer amazing views.
After enjoying the view of the Mardi Himal Trek, you will descend for a few days to Siding or Phedi, finish the trek, and drive back to Pokhara.
Langtang Valley Trek
The Langtang Valley Trekking Trail was affected by the 2015 earthquake. But it is recovering now with better facilities. The Langtang Valley Trek is about a week or eight days of Trekking from Kathmandu to Kathmandu. It is the Nearest Short Trek from Nepal's capital, bringing trekkers closer to the high mountains.
The trek starts with a drive by public or private transport from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi. The Langtang Valley Trek goes through the Langtang National Park, following the Langtang River Valley. This national park has more than 300 bird species. Langtang National Park is a great place for birdwatchers.
On the first day, you will trek to Lama Hotel, then continue to Langtang Village and Kyanjin Gumba. After exploring beautiful views from Kyanjin Ri or Tserko-Ri, you will hike back to Syabrubesi, following the same trail, and drive back to Kathmandu.
Gosaikunda Lake Trek
The Gosaikunda Lake Trek is one of my favorite Treks in Nepal. Although fewer trekkers take it than the short Trekking trails listed above, you can choose this trek if you want panoramic mountain views, birds, cultural monuments, glacial lakes, and more natural beauty.
The Gosaikunda Lake Trek rises slightly higher than the other treks, but it is not that difficult. This beautiful trek begins in Kathmandu, where you can drive on a public bus or private transport to Dhunche and trek to Thulo Syabru, Lauribinayak, and Gosaikunda. After exploring beautiful lakes, you will descend to Dhunche and drive to Kathmandu. You can do the Gosaikunda trek from Kathmandu to Kathmandu in 5 days.
Seeing Lauribinayak and walking there on the third day of this trek is unreal. Gosaikunda is a pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Hindus. In August, there will be a big festival. Many pilgrims come here for religious purposes.
Tamang Heritage Trek
The Tamang Heritage Trek is a new cultural Trek in the Langtang region. Fewer trekkers take this tour than the other tours in the Langtang Region. You can complete the Tamang Heritage Trek in a week or a few more days. The Tamang Heritage Trail provides cultural experiences in this region, with beautiful mountain views.
The Tamang Heritage Trek also begins with the Langtang Valley Trek drive to Syabrubesi. From Syabrubesi, the Langtang Valley Trek goes straight on, but this trek goes left, climbing a big hill to Goljung. After reaching Goljung, you will trek on a flat road until Gatlang.
After a night in this big Tamang village, you will trek to Tatopani. There used to be a natural hot spring, but the 2015 earthquake destroyed it. Then you will take a short trek to Nagthali, the best hill station on this trek, and enjoy beautiful panoramic mountain views.
The following day, you can hike to the viewpoint (3–4 hours each way), then trek down to Thuman and Syabrubesi. After spending the last night of this Trek in Syabrubesi, you will drive back to Kathmandu.
Chisapani Nagarkot Trek
View from Nagarkot
Chisapani Nagarkot is a short and easy Trekking trail near the Kathmandu Valley. This trek is 3–4 days long and is the nearest short Trek from Kathmandu. This trek suits those with less than a week's vacation in Nepal who don't want to go to higher elevations. October to December is the best time for this trek, but you can do it any time.
Chisapani Nagarkot Trek offers long-range panoramic mountain views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Gauri Shankar, and some peaks of the Everest Region on a clear day. Beyond the mountain views, this trek also offers terraces, green hills, valleys, and traditional villages.
The Chisapani trek begins an hour north of the city center. It starts with an ascent to Chisapani, passing through traditional villages. After spending the night there, you will Trek to Nagarkot the next day. From here, you can see an unobstructed sunrise and many high mountains. You can finish hiking to Changunarayan and drive back to Kathmandu from Nagarkot, or Trek further to Dhulikhel, adding one extra day.
Dhampus Sarangkot Trek
The Dhampus Sarangkot Trek is far from Kathmandu but closer to Pokhara. It is the shortest available trek in the Annapurna Region. Dhampus Sarangkot is a three-day trek at a lower elevation. Dhampus Sarangkot is perfect if you have a week-long holiday and want an easy trek at a lower elevation.
The Dhampus Sarangkot Trek starts with a drive to Phedi or Ghattekhola, followed by an outing to Dhampus on the first day. After that, you will trek to Sarangkot, a long day's trek lasting around 6 hours. Sarangkot is a hill station that offers panoramic views of the Annapurna and Manaslu ranges, with one of the best sunrises. After enjoying the view from Sarangkot, you will hike for a few hours to Pokhara or fly by paragliding.
Choosing a Moderate Leveled Trek
Everest base camp
Intermediate trekkers can enjoy Moderately Leveled Trekking Trails. These Trekking trails suit trekkers who often trek through mountain routes. Base camp treks fall into this category, going from 4000m to 5000m or a bit higher without any high passes.
Examples of these treks include the Everest Base Camp Trek, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, the Langtang Gosainkunda Trek, and the Gokyo Valley Trek. Let's review the basic information on Nepal's famous moderate-level Trekking trails.
Everest Base Camp Trek
The Everest Base Camp Trek is Nepal's most popular trek. Lonely Planet recommends this trek as the '4th best Trek in the world.' Mt. Everest is the highest mountain in the world, so thousands of trekkers come to Nepal every year to visit its base camp and see it up close. The Everest Base Camp Trek requires basic physical training and some mountain trekking experience. The Trekking Trail to Everest Base Camp is not very difficult, but the altitude can make it difficult for trekkers.
The Everest Base Camp Trek starts east of Kathmandu, with a short flight to Lukla. After landing at Lukla Airport, the Trekking trail leads to the Base Camp through Phakding, Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorakshep. It is a 12-day trek from Kathmandu to Kathmandu. Six days of trekking, plus two altitude-practice rest days, take you to Base Camp. Then, three days later, I traveled back to Lukla before flying out to Kathmandu. See more blogs and information about the Everest region trek here.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
The amazing Annapurna Base Camp Trek is also famous as the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek. This Trek is in the Annapurna Conservation Area in the Annapurna Region. The Annapurna Base Camp Trek has a lower risk of altitude sickness.
The 9-day Annapurna Base Camp Trek itinerary is standard. However, it also offers a 6-day option and can be extended to 12 days. This trek is west of Kathmandu and closer to the third-most beautiful lake, Pokhara. The walk begins with a short drive to Nayapul and a trek to Tikhedhunga or Ulleri on the first day. After that, you will travel to Ghorepani and visit Poon Hill, where you can enjoy panoramic views of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna massif.
Further, you will trek to Tadapani, Chhomrong, Dovan, Deurali, and Annapurna Base Camp. The Annapurna Base Camp Trek brings you very close to the high mountains and the fantastic Annapurna Glacier. After exploring Annapurna Base Camp, you will trek back the same way until Chhomrong and descend to Jhinu Danda, where you can enjoy a hot bath in a natural hot spring. Spend the last night of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek in Jhinu Danda, then trek further to Siwai or Nayapul, where you can take transportation to Pokhara.
Gokyo Lake Trek
Don't be confused if you have heard of the Ghoko Valley or Gokyo Ri Trek! It is the same as the Gokyo Lakes Trek, which is also in the Everest Region. The Gokyo Lakes Trek is an alternative to the Everest Base Camp Trek with a similar time frame. The Everest Base Camp Trek is more popular than the Gokyo Lakes Trek but offers better views. The main attractions of this trek are the high mountains, the beautiful big glacial lakes, and the biggest glacier in the Everest Region.
The Gokyo Lakes Trek also includes a flight to the same place trekkers fly into. After that, the trail leads through the base camp area until day 4, then splits into the left valley, climbing toward Mong Hill. Before reaching Gokyo, you will trek through a beautiful Dudhkoshi valley and pass Dole, Machhermo, and other small towns. Exploring the tranquil Gokyo Lakes and 360° mountain views from Gokyo Ri could be one of the best Himalayan experiences and a lifetime memory.
You can trek back from Gokyo or over Renjo La Pass. From Renjo La and Gokyo Ri, you can see a similar view.
Langtang Gosaikunda Trek
Are you looking for a long trek lasting over two weeks on a low budget? If so, the Langtang Gosaikunda Trek should be the best option. This trek has one high pass but stays below 5000m in elevation. It combines the Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda Lake.
You can do this trek in two different directions. You can start in Sundarijal and finish in Syabrubesi, or start in Syabrubesi and finish in Sundarijal. From Syabrubesi, visiting Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda to end the Trek in Sundarijal is a regular itinerary that most trekkers follow. This route is much easier and requires less climbing.
The mountain views from Kyanjin Gumba and Lauribinayak are unreal. Gosaikunda Lake and other lakes are amazing during this trek. This trek covers two different national parks: Langtang and Shivapuri Nagarjun National Parks.
Choosing Adventure or Strenuous Trek
Kongma La Pass
Are you a trekker with an advanced fitness level who regularly treks to higher-elevation trekking routes? Some Adventure Trekking Packages in Nepal can be on your hit list. Adventure Treks are usually strenuous, leveled Treks that will be very difficult for intermediate trekkers.
Adventure Treks are usually long and require more than two weeks' vacation. Everest High Pass Trek, Annapurna Circuit Trek, Manaslu Circuit Trek, and Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek are popular Adventure Trekking trails in Nepal.
Everest High Pass Trek
The Everest High Passes Trek covers three major High Passes in the Everest Region. It is one of Nepal's most intrepid lodge treks. But rather than doing all Three Passes simultaneously, you can do one or two if you don't have enough time. The High Passes included in this Trek are Kongma La Pass, Cho La Pass, and Renjo La Pass.
All available High Passes on this 3-Pass Trek are over 5000m above sea level. It is, of course, not an easy trek, but it offers one of the best Everest trekking Experiences. This trek passes through Sagarmatha National Park, with flights into Lukla. You should have three weeks of vacation in Nepal to do this trek.
The Everest High Passes Trek offers beautiful views of the Everest Himalayas, tranquil lakes, giant glaciers, and other natural and cultural wonders. From this trek, you can see four of the eight mountains above 8000m.
Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho-Oyu are the highest mountains. You can also see mountains, glaciers, and lakes, along with wildlife, birds, vegetation, and other natural beauty.
Annapurna Circuit Trek
The Annapurna Circuit Trail attracts more trekkers during each trekking season. However, road construction is reducing the number of trekkers compared to a few years ago. Still, hundreds of trekkers visit this trail every day in the autumn and spring.
The Annapurna Circuit Trek offers different scenery every day and every hour. It begins at less than 1000m and ascends to 5416m. Thorong La Pass is the trek's highest point and one of the world's most prominent high passes.
The Annapurna Circuit Trek can take 12 to 16 days for a half-circuit or a full circuit. The half-Circuit tour ends with a flight from Jomsom to Pokhara, and the full one also ends in Pokhara, but you need to walk a few more days through the Ghorepani Poon Hill trail.
The World's Highest Lake, Tilicho, remains in this region. So, you can visit this lake by adding a few more days to the regular Annapurna Circuit Trek. This trek is also known as the Thorong La Pass Trek, which you will cross. People also call it the Annapurna Trek because you trek around the Annapurna Mountains.
Manaslu Circuit Trek 
Larke La Pass
The Manaslu Circuit Trek is a rising adventure trek in Nepal. Because it is in a restricted region, you must obtain a special Trekking Permit from the Department of Nepal's immigration office. Only a few trekkers are allowed on this trail yearly because it is a protected area.
Many trekkers are now attracted to this trail after the road was constructed on the Annapurna Circuit Trekking Trail. The Manaslu Circuit Trek also has a high pass, Larke La, making it more adventurous. Larke La Pass can be rugged in snow, but it shouldn't be much of a problem without it.
The Manaslu Circuit starts in Sotikhola, after a few hours' drive from Kathmandu. This trek is about 16 days, but you can do it in 12 days if you drive from Dharapani when you arrive in the Annapurna Conservation Area. Visiting Birendra Lake on an exploration day from Samagaun is worth it. You can see marmots on this trek, which you can't see on other Trekking Trails in Nepal.
Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek
Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek is a long Adventure Circuit Trek in far eastern Nepal. It takes a few days to drive to the starting point. Because of the long driving journey and the lack of regular flights from Kathmandu to connect with the trek, it is less famous than other high-pass treks.
You must drive about 24 hours from Kathmandu to Taplejung to start the trek, or fly to Biratnagar and then to Suketar. You can fly from Kathmandu to Biratnagar, but not to Suketar. So, driving to Taplejung may be better than waiting for a flight to Suketar. From Taplejung, you can walk to the north base camp before crossing Miring La and Sele La, or to the south base camp. As mentioned above, Mt. Kanchenjunga has two base camps. There are no proper lodges like on other regular commercial Trekking trails. So, most nights, you'll sleep in a small inn. Food is also very basic. You’ll mostly find Nepali dishes like bread and noodles on the trek.
Choosing Less Crowded Off the Beaten Tracks
Indigenous peoples trail
The Trekking Packages listed above include lodges, food, and other facilities. However, Nepal has many trekking routes where you can stay in a house, community-based lodge, or homestay and eat the main local foods. These Treks are not long, challenging, or highly elevated.
These beaten trekking trails are some of the most famous in the Trekking region because they are not well-known and are newly opened. Not being famous doesn't mean they aren't lovely. These are beautiful Trekking Destinations, but they may not offer the same facilities as a regular Trekking route.
Trekkers with luxury lifestyles may not feel comfortable going to these areas. However, this depends on the people's desires. If you want a genuine rural experience and prefer treks with fewer trekkers, these Off-The-Beaten-Track Trails could be perfect.
Mohare Danda Trek, Khopra Danda Trek, Jyamrung Trek, Gorkha Trek, Indigenous Peoples Trail, and others are available off the beaten trail in Nepal. This type of trek is a very cheap Trekking Destination compared to the other regular commercial Trekking Routes in Nepal.
Conclusion
Trekking in Nepal and the Nepalese Himalayas is a challenging physical activity. So, consider your physical stamina, the length of your holiday, your budget, and your interests when choosing a trek in Nepal. Even if you are a regular hiker who does long-distance and multi-day treks at home, trekking in Nepal still isn't painless. Trekking at high altitudes can be more challenging, but don't give up.
You can choose a Trek in Nepal from our package section or the Trekking packages listed above. The information provided with each trekking package here is based on prior knowledge. You can find links to every Trekking bag for a complete idea and itinerary, which will help you learn more about the trekking packages you would like.
I hope this post helps you plan your Nepal trekking based on your time, budget, interests, and experience. And you know about different leveled Trekking trails with it. After reading it, you can share this post with your friends, and it may be meaningful and helpful for them.
Rajesh Thapaliya
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