Nepal's main draw is trekking through the Himalayas, which can be a life-changing experience for many travelers, whether they've been hiking before or not. This article provides an introduction to trekking in Nepal and answers some of the questions that are most frequently asked about the activity.
Trekking is usually a multi-day hike in the mountains. In Nepal, treks take place on trails in the Himalayas and foothills. Most treks take you through areas where hiking is the only way to get around because there are no roads in the mountains. Most treks take you through villages that have been around for hundreds of years, and the trails you walk on have been used by locals for hundreds of years.
Nepal's mountain trails are a unique place to go trekking. The Himalayas are like no other place on Earth. Many travelers who come to Nepal for the first time say that their trip changed their lives. This is because of how big the Himalayan mountains are, how different the views are, how friendly the people are, and how slow life moves when people move on foot.
“Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.”
By David McCullough Jr.
Trekking in Nepal - What to Expect
Nepal's trails pass through villages that cannot be reached by automobile. Consider these paths as highways in a world without roads and automobiles. Children walking to school, herders and their yaks, porters transporting vegetables, timber, or even live chickens, and herders with their yaks are just a few examples of the many interesting variations of "trail traffic" Prepare to be surprised and inspired by the diversity of trail users in the area.
The landscape changes from day to day and valley to valley. Depending on the trek you select, you will traverse dense rhododendron forests, terraced vegetable paddies along steep slopes, open pastures, and snowfields, as well as spectacular suspension bridges.
The villages range from just a few homes to large towns with hundreds of homes spread out along the sides of hills. Many of the villages have a lot of personality and are often in beautiful places. Your typical hiking days consist of approximately three hours of hiking in the morning and three hours in the afternoon. You will stop for lunch in villages and occasionally pack a lunch if the villages are too spread out.
The best time for trekking in Nepal
Nepal's weather changes with the seasons, so the best times to go trekking are in the spring (March to May) and in the fall (the end of September to November).
The monsoon, also known as the rainy season, makes hiking during the summer difficult because it causes landslides and obscures mountain views. The Upper Mustang region, on the other hand, is shielded from the effects of the monsoon and is a fantastic place to go trekking in the summer.
The number of people who go hiking during the winter is growing. Although it is considerably colder and snow may prevent access to higher passes, the weather is typically clear and the views are spectacular.
The climate varies depending on the time of year and the route that you take. Even on the same trek, the temperature can change a lot depending on how high you are. For example, it's not unusual for temperatures to be around 30°C/85°F at the start of a trek, but to drop well below freezing when crossing a high pass on the same trek.
Accommodations during the Nepal trekking
The routes that include overnight stays in local lodges are by far the most popular (often referred to as teahouse trekking). Camping is required on more remote hikes that travel through parts of the landscape where there are neither villages nor lodges.
Most tea houses are simple but do the job. The majority of rooms are simple and shared. There is a mattress, pillows, blankets, and sheets. At a lower elevation, tea houses have clean rooms with hot showers and flush toilets.
At higher altitudes, tea houses are usually more basic, with a standard toilet that doesn't flush and a pot of hot water for a shower. Toilet paper isn't provided, so you'll need to bring it with you or buy it nearby.
Tea houses have a lot of different kinds of food, and some even have simple Nepali meals. Dinner and breakfast are usually served in the lodge where you stay, but lunch will be at one of the restaurants along the trail. Tea Houses and restaurants along trails serve a wide range of food, from the national dish Dal Bhat to steaks and chips.
When it comes to food, you'll have a lot of choices. Meals from the menus of the local tea houses, which include Sherpa stew, fresh vegetable items, rara noodles, different soups, handmade bread items, rice items, spaghetti, pizza, eggs, potato items, apple pie, Dal Bhat, and drinks like black tea, lemon tea, hot chocolates, ginger tea, milk coffee/tea, green tea, black coffee, and lemon ginger tea. On a trek, it's best to eat fresh, healthy foods like Dal Bhat, vegetables, and soups like garlic soup, potato soup, and onion soup.
Camping is an old-school way to go hiking, and you can do it almost anywhere in the country. Camping trekking is a type of trekking where you stay at camps for the night. At different points along the trekking route, camps are set up.
During camping treks, our team of leaders, guides, cooks, Sherpas, and porters will be with our guests and take care of everything technical and logistical.
4. Popular Trekking Regions
Nepal is home to hundreds of hiking trails, including one long-distance trail known as the Great Himalayan trek (the Nepalese part), which traverses the entire country from east to west. Everest, Annapurna, Langtang and Manaslu regions are the most well-known destinations for trekkers in Nepal. The most popular treks are the Everest Base Camp trek in the Khumbu region and the Annapurna Circuit trek.
Other treks in the Khumbu region, such as the Gokyo Lakes Trek, visit some of the same towns and villages as the Everest trek does. Gokyo itself is a community that is located high up in the mountains and features stunning views as well as some turquoise lakes that are breathtaking. The lodges that can be found there are well equipped with everything that can be found along the main trail.
The Annapurna Sanctuary Trek is a little more off the beaten path, with a combination of lodges and campsites at the actual base camps of Annapurna. Then there are the much more remote treks, such as the Manaslu Circuit Trek, the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek, and the Upper Mustang Trek, where you will see significantly fewer people and the facilities will be more basic.
The Langtang Valley trek is the one that is most convenient for getting to and from Kathmandu. It is also one of the most popular treks in the country. In this area, food and lodging will be more simple and local, and there will be no waste management to speak of.
Basic Gears for Trekking in Nepal
The trekking equipment you bring with you to Nepal will depend on the type and route of trekking you intend to undertake. A variety of equipment can be rented from trekking agents or purchased in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Nonetheless, there are a few essential pieces of trekking equipment that you should bring with you; we've listed them briefly below.
Sleeping bag: A mummy-shaped sleeping bag that keeps you warm (up to -10 degrees Celsius) and a thin, light sleeping pad.
Trekking Boots: To begin, you are going to need a reliable pair of well-broken-in boots for hiking. Do not travel to Nepal wearing boots that do not fit properly or boots that are brand new. Your feet are going to hurt and you are going to get blisters.
Clothing: A variety of layered hiking apparel, including next-to-skin base layers, fleece second layers, and a windproof and waterproof shell jacket and pants. Bring along some warm gloves and a warm hat in addition to your trekking socks and thermal socks.
Sunglasses: Sunglasses with high UV protection that can handle the brightness and glare of the sun in Nepal.
Trekking Poles: Adjustable trekking poles that are compact and resistant to pressure.
Daypack and Duffle: A daypack that is not too heavy to carry your necessities and a duffle bag that is large enough to carry all of your trekking gear.
Headlamp: Good quality, LED headlamp.
Other accessories include water bottles or hydration bags, tablets for water purification, general medications, snacks, and supplies for personal hygiene.
Some Tips for First-Time Trekkers
When you go somewhere new, you probably want to take in everything and see as much as you can. But if this is your first trek in Nepal, don't try to pack too much into your schedule. A better plan is to set yourself up for success by making a general plan. Here are some tips for trekking in Nepal: select a knowledgeable guide or expedition company with an excellent safety record. Choose an experienced group consisting of porters, guides, a cook, and at least one Sherpa who will carry your pack on steep sections of the trail, if not for the duration of your entire journey, this will help you reach high altitudes and travel through difficult terrain.
Do You really need a guide/porter?
Even though some of the most popular hiking trails are well marked, it is still highly recommended that you hire a guide. This will ensure your safety and ensure you do not miss any of the highlights of the location you are visiting. A guide will also assist you during emergencies and accidents. They are in communication with local medical services. In extreme medical emergencies, they will also arrange a helicopter rescue service for your immediate deportation.
Having a porter will make your trip more pleasant. Porters are great because they can help you carry your luggage on a long day of hiking. Not everyone can carry a heavy load for a long time. Don't forget that a guide won't carry your bags for you.
Trekking in Nepal and Insurence
Do you need special travel insurance for trekking in Nepal? Basically, yes. Please check your insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for A) adventure activities and B) above a certain altitude. Many travel insurance companies do not cover individuals who travel above 4,000 meters! Due to the fact that popular treks such as Everest Base Camp and The Annapurna Circuit both have passes over 5,000 meters, this is something you must verify! Please note that the majority of credit card travel insurance companies and cheaper policies do not cover trekking at high altitude.
