How to Plan a Trekking Trip in Nepal

Nepal is home to 1,300 mountains over 6,000 meters (20,000 feet), including the highest peak on Earth, Mount Everest (Sagarmatha). The country is renowned for its incredible trekking routes and opportunities it offers to visitors and climbers.

I've been lucky enough to have had the chance to trek through different regions of Nepal, first in May 2023 when I undertook the Annapurna Base Camp trek, and then in May 2024 for the longer Manaslu Circuit Trek. Both treks were incredible in the views I got along the way but also differed in challenge and difficulty.

On these treks, I got to spend time in quaint Nepalese villages, meet fellow trekkers from different parts of the world, engage with locals, learn about their way of life, live simply, and of course, climb parts of some of the most storied mountains on the planet. Sure, these treks did challenge me physically and mentally but I learned to grow from them and have the time of my life, so much so that I'm already planning my next trek in the country, 

If you are keen on exploring the most majestic mountain range on Earth and delving into the Buddhist and Tibetan ways of life, continue reading below!

Things to Know before Choosing the Trek for You

When it comes to choosing the best trek for you, there are two things to keep in mind.

• First and foremost, make sure you understand your current fitness levels so that you can better determine which trek will be most suitable for you, and the work you're going to put in to get ready for the trek. If you have no issues running a half marathon at a moderate pace and can climb up 50 flights of stairs, you could opt to tackle one of the harder treks on the list below. If, however, you run or bike only occasionally, some strength and core training may be necessary, before opting for one of the beginner level Himalayan treks. It's important to be honest about fitness goals as it could seriously affect how much you enjoy your time in the great outdoors.
• Secondly, plan ahead and determine when you have time off for your travels to Nepal. The vast majority of the treks in Nepal take place between March to May in the Spring season, and October and November in Autumn. The skies are mostly clear of precipitation during these months, the risk of avalanches and other disasters are minimal, and the villages are abuzz with life. So, if you're traveling from elsewhere, it's important you check to see when you have time off and whether those dates align with the trekking season in Nepal.

Some of the Most Popular Treks in Nepal

Although there are countless amazing treks like the Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek, Makalu Base Camp Trek, and the Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek in the Himalaya of Nepal, these are remote and extremely challenging. These are expeditions undertaken by thrill-seeking trekkers. They are not quite as popular or well-maintained as some of the treks listed below:

1. Poon Hill Trek

If you are a first-time visitor to Nepal and uncertain about what a classic Nepalese trek entails, the Poon Hill Trek, also recognized as the Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek or the Annapurna Panorama Trek, might be the ideal choice for you.

During this journey, you will traverse through enchanting rhododendron forests and quaint Gandaki villages, culminating in a trek to Poon Hill (3210 meters/10,529 feet). From this vantage point, you can behold the majestic peaks of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Machhapuchhare, alongside other towering mountains.   

2. Mardi Himal Trek

The Mardi Himal Trek is relatively easier in terms of difficulty level. It commences and concludes in the bustling city of Pokhara, guiding you through flourishing rhododendron forests to high-altitude valleys.

The highest point reached is 4500 meters or 14,764 feet at the Mardi Himal Base Camp. From this vantage point, you can behold magnificent vistas of Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhare, Manaslu, the Annapurna massif, and other majestic peaks.

The Mardi Himal Trek is immensely popular, leading to crowded trails, particularly during the peak seasons of Autumn and Spring.

3. Annapurna Base Camp Trek

Commencing and concluding in the popular tourist hub of Pokhara, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek stands as a timeless classic among Nepal's trekking routes. While not the most challenging trek, it presents a moderate level of difficulty, requiring a few longer days in any proposed itinerary.

This trek guides you through charming Gurung villages and rhododendron-filled forests during the Spring season, culminating at the base camp of the world's 10th highest peak. From Annapurna Base Camp (ABC), you can relish panoramic views of some of the loftiest peaks in the Himalayas, such as Hiunchuli, Annapurna, Annapurna III, Annapurna South, and Machhapuchhare (Fishtail Mountain).

I suggest including a night at Machhapuchhare Base Camp in your schedule, even if it means a shorter hike to ABC the following day. This extra day enhances your experience, offering breathtaking views of Machhapuchhare, a profoundly sacred mountain in Nepal.

4. Annapurna Circuit Trek

Growing in popularity with every passing year, the Annapurna Circuit Trek (ACT) is a decently strenuous trek that takes you through the edges of the Manaslu Conservation Area and deep into the reaches of the Annapurna region. You'll get to see parts of Mustang and Muktinath, and make your way through the mighty Thorong-la Pass at 5416 meters or 17,769 feet.

ACT suffers from larger crowds and even more disappointingly, from widescale road construction in some parts of its route. As a result, the first few days of the trek are spent walking amidst the noise and buzz many hoped such a trek would keep them at a distance from.

Nonetheless, it remains a gorgeous trek that ought to be undertaken after having completed some of the easier ones on this list.

5. Everest Base Camp Trek:

Once revered as a trekker's haven due to the allure of the world's tallest peak, Mount Everest (known locally as Sagarmatha), the route has now succumbed to commercialization, drawing crowds that may deter enthusiasts seeking a pure wilderness experience. While this doesn't imply that the trek should be shunned, it's prudent to brace for encounters with sizable groups of hikers, some of whom may lack adequate training.

You'll likely find restaurants serving pizzas, gourmet coffee, and guesthouses with fast internet, making the entire experience more commercial than you probably initially predicted. Still, EBC can be taken up several notches in difficulty by including the Gokyo region in your itinerary.

If you're a very fit trekker and have been trekking for years now, it may also interest you to consider summitting Island and/or Mera Peak, both of which require more days to be added to your itinerary, and a lot of preparation. The best views of the world's highest peak are observed from Kala Patthar.

6. Manaslu Circuit Trek

The Manaslu Circuit Trek is one of the most stunning treks in the world. It begins in Soti Khola, a full-day's drive from Kathmandu, and ends in Dharapani. It takes you through quaint Tibetan villages and valleys bursting with life in the very northernmost tip of Nepal.

This trek circumambulates the world's 8th highest peak, Manaslu, in the Gorkha region of the country. Proper training and altitude acclimatization are needed to cross the formidable Larke Pass which stands at 5106 meters/16,752 feet.

The Manaslu Circuit Trek is strenuous but a great option if you're actively into hiking. Many even claim it is akin "to what the Annapurna Base Camp Trek used to be 10 years ago" before it became commercial and developed. This is an understated but gorgeous trek which you can do without having too many people around.

Add another day to your itinerary if you plan to hike up to the base camp of this behemoth of a mountain, and another 7 days if you plan to include Tsum Valley as well. 

Permits, Gear, and Training Requirements

Post COVID, all treks in Nepal require foreign guests to sign up with a registered trekking company and hire a guide. This is for purposes of safety and also to provide further employment opportunities for the locals. While porters are not necessary, they're recommended, so you don't have to worry about carrying everything with you. You should always tip your guide and porter(s) and the exact amount for this can be checked with the trekking company beforehand.

A number of different permits including a TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) permit and a permit for the specific conservation area you will be visiting will be needed but these can be procured by a tour agency like Asia Highlights.

Considering you will experience varying weather conditions throughout your trek in Nepal, you will need high quality gear. This includes everything from quick drying T-shirts, thermals, down jackets, and thick winter hats to wind pants, heavy duty trekking pants, thick socks, and good, waterproof trekking shoes. Other items that ought to be included in your packing list for a trek in Nepal include trail shoes, polaroid sunglasses, headlamps, trekking poles, sunscreen, a travel mug, gloves, camp shoes, hoodies, balaclava, and a trusted hat.

While some of the treks mentioned here can be completed with moderate training and without extensive training, others like the Manaslu Circuit Trek and the two Annapurna treks require extensive training. Treks like Dhaulagiri and Kanchenjunga require even more rigorous training. Generally speaking, if you can complete the following cardiovascular exercises thrice a week in combination with other strengthening exercises, you should be able to complete the moderate level treks:

• 6-8 kilometers slow jogging or 35-40 kilometers cycling (focus on consistency, not pace)
• 50x3 squats
• 50x3 lunges
• 50x3 calf raises
• climbing 40 floors with a backpack with some weights

Food and Accommodation

Most of the treks mentioned here, with the exceptions of Kanchenjunga and Dhaulagiri which are both quite remote, are teahouse treks. This means that there are guesthouses available in most villages along the trek for you to spend the night at. The rooms are modest but clean, basic but comfortable.

The wide availability of teahouses along the hiking routes also make these treks more affordable and accessible, since they eliminate the need for trekkers to carry up their own food, tent, and cooking supplies.

The restrooms at these establishments are usually shared and feature eastern/Asian toilets. While you may get lucky at some teahouses by getting a room with an attached bathroom, these are not very common. Hot water for showers is available at most teahouses for a charge.

Electricity, although stable most of the time, can sometimes be problematic the higher you get, so it's best to stay prepared by carrying an extra power bank or two, and charge all devices at the earliest possible opportunity.  

Nepalese teahouses offer plenty of dining options for guests to choose from including fried rice, garlic and noodle soups, momos (Tibetan dumplings), and everyone's favorite, dal bhat (lentil curry and rice). Western options like pizzas and rostis are also available in some guesthouses but keep in mind that the quality of these will vary from teahouse to teahouse, and more often than not, average a 'disappointing' at best.

Safety

All in all, the hiking trails in Nepal are generally safe. Experienced guides are helpful in keeping clients well informed of the next day's journey and up to date with any concerns by having a short briefing session the previous evening. You should keep an eye out for avalanche and landslide prone areas, but your guide will also forewarn you of these.

What's equally important to take on board are possible difficulties with altitude sickness. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can affect anyone anywhere, no matter how experienced the trekker. Even the world's best mountaineers can have difficulties with it.

Day-to-day elevation gains during a hike in Nepal range from anywhere between 300 meters (1000 feet) to 1 kilometer (3300 feet), depending on the nature and scope of the trek, thereby making it crucial to keep an eye out for AMS symptoms. Some of these symptoms include nausea, dizziness, dehydration, loss of appetite, and an inability to sleep.

Severe AMS symptoms that go unaddressed can lead to seriously dangerous life-altering conditions, affecting both the cardiovascular and nervous systems of the human body. Drink plenty of water and retreat to a lower altitude as soon as possible if you feel the onset of AMS symptoms.

Another important safety concern relates to the availability of clean drinking water. As previously mentioned, most treks in Nepal are teahouse treks, meaning most guesthouses you spend the night at will always have clean water available (for a charge). The price for boiled water goes up the higher you get.

While you could also collect fresh running water from streams along your hike, we don't recommend you do this unless you have a good filtration system in your water bottle. While the chances of falling sick aren't high, they do exist, and have the potential to ruin your trek. It's best you stock up at teahouses while you can, carry a water bottle with a filtration system in place, and also carry strips of water purification tablets just in case.

Other Things to Know Before You Go

The higher up you get, the more likely it is for weather conditions to change quickly and drastically. Weather forecasts are not reliable in the higher mountainous regions of the Himalaya and for this reason – unless you know you have a short hike scheduled for the day – start your daily hikes as early as possible.

Morning weather conditions are usually favorable, with afternoon mists usually signaling the eventual onset of precipitation. The sooner you get to your day's destination, the better. If you get there ahead of time, the rest of the day can be spent acclimatizing, reading, going for shorter walks, or getting some much-needed rest.

It's also important to remember that Nepal is a beautiful but largely conservative country. While fully open to, and fully aware of, nuances in behavior stemming from cultural differences, locals in the country appreciate foreign guests who respect their way of life by dressing modestly and refraining from eating beef during their time there.