Nepal, the country of mountains, has enough interesting trekking routes to confuse trekkers, particularly those who are visiting for the first time. Every trekking route has its own distinct beauty; beauty that will entice your soul and make you want to return to this location.
All of the trekking routes are extremely rewarding, and no trekking route is superior to the others. However, your options are entirely dependent on your interests, needs, and the number of days you intend to spend in Nepal. Furthermore, to assist you in making informed decisions, we have compiled a list of some of the best trekking routes in Nepal in terms of popularity, varied landscape, culture, and remoteness.
In terms of popularity:
i)Everest Base Camp Trek, The most popular trekking route in Nepal is either the traditional route or via Gokyo Lake or the three high passes. These trekking routes are popular because they all lead to the base camp of Mt. Everest, which is one of the most popular destinations not only in Nepal but around the world. Who wouldn’t want to stand face to face with the world’s highest peak?
The routes leading you to the base camp of Mount Everest aren’t just popular because they take you to the base camp of the world’s highest mountain. There is definitely more to it. The routes passing through the beautiful Sherpa villages like Phakding, Namche, Tengboche, and Dingboche – to name a few- offer a great opportunity to understand the lifestyle, religion, beliefs, tradition, and culture of the legendary Sherpas residing in the Khumbu region of Nepal.
Moreover, this trekking route also allows you to enjoy nature’s very beautiful storehouse ‘The Sagarmatha National Park, where you get the chance to feast your eyes upon the variety of plants and animals. Rivers, hills, forests,s, and waterfalls, on the other hand, have equal contributions to beautifying the landscape. Kala Patthar (5,643m), a notable landmark, located on the south ridge of Pumori, is another highlight of this trek because it presents the best view of Mt. Everest. Moreover, if you are looking for a longer route with more vantage points of Everest the three high passes (Renjo La-5360m, Cho La-5420m, and Kongma La-5535m) trekking route will be more rewarding. This is a longer route; therefore, requires more days to reach the base camp.
Furthermore, if you are also looking to enjoy some beautiful lakes in the Khumbu region, try trekking to base camp via Gokyo Lake and enjoy the beautiful Gokyo Lakes and Gokyo RI. Moreover, apart from Mt. Everest, you will also get to enjoy other mighty peaks like Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori, Ama Dablam, and many smaller peaks in the Khumbu region. Both the beauty of the pace and the hospitality of this region will make you want to come back to this place again and again.
ii)The Annapurna Base Camp trek is another popular trek in Nepal. This trekking route is also one of the most beautiful trekking routes in Nepal. Compared to other base camp trekking, the Annapurna Base Camp trek is shorter, yet rewarding in several ways. Combining this trek with Ghorepani-Poonhill and Ghandruk allows you to enjoy the superb combination of landscapes, magnificent natural scenery, and cultural diversity along with the base camp of mighty Annapurna.
The availability of a number of tea houses and hospitable villages makes it easier for trekkers to find a good place to eat and sleep. Also, the chances of getting altitude sickness are very low, as the maximum elevation attained during this trek is 4,320m. Annapurna region is in very close proximity to Pokhara, the very famous Lake City in Nepal. Planning any trek in the Annapurna region allows you to spend a few days quality days in Pokhara, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
iii)Manaslu Trek, although, officially opened only in the early 90s, this trekking is one of the most popular trekking in Nepal. Varied topography, altitude, culture, cozy little Hindu and Tibetan-style villages, Buddhist monasteries and not to be missed -the challenge and adventure presented by the Larke Pass, all contribute to add additional charm to this trek. Moreover, this trek takes you to the base camp of the eighth highest peak in the world. In less than 15 days, you will enter a different world stocked with the beauty of nature, which will make you forget the materialistic world and enjoy peace of mind.
In terms of length:
i)Annapurna Circuit Trek is one of the longest treks in the world. It’s a trek around the Annapurna massif. While circumnavigating the Annapurna range, this trekking allows you to enjoy the great views of Annapurnas, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Langtang Himal. This trekking is very famous for its range of diversity in terms of topography, views, religion, culture, lifestyle, settlement of people, vegetation, and the climate it offers to the trekkers.
Not a single corner of this trekking route will make you regret your decision. Ghorepani, Poon Hill, Muktinath Thorangla Pass, and the Kali Gandaki George are the major attractions of this trekking, apart from the Annapurna massif. If time permits, you can also go for a day trip to Tilicho Lake, the lake situated at the highest place on earth. This trek also allows you to rest your tired muscles in a natural hot spring. 5146m is the maximum elevation at the Thorang La pass attained during this trekking. Although long, the diversity offered by this trekking is very much rewarding.
ii)The Manaslu Circuit Trek sails all the way around Mt. Manaslu. Like the Annapurna circuit, this trekking is also one of the most rewarding treks in terms of the diversity it offers to the trekkers. Until 2010 this trekking didn’t receive as many trekkers as other routes in Nepal; however, in the year 2010, this trekking officially became a teahouse trek offering a number of comfortable accommodation and eatery options, attracting a number of long-distance trekkers.
Even today, this trekking can be referred to as those trekkers, who want to enjoy dramatic valleys, superb mountain views, pristine villages, culture and tradition, rivers, mountains, and waterfalls all at one shot, with less crowd en route. The unhindered view of Mt. Manaslu from Larkye pass is the most important attraction of this trekking. If you have time and if you are really interested, you can also visit the very famous Tsum Valley influenced by Tibetan Buddhists.
Tsum valley is a very popular extension of the Manaslu Circuit that was opened for trekking only in the year 2007. The trekking ins Tsum Valley is also very much rewarding if you can add 5 more days to your total trekking days.
In terms of remoteness:
If you are a great fan of remote areas and the lifestyle of people living in those areas, Nepal offers a number of remote villages to quench your thirst. The best and most accessible ones are the Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpo, and the Tsum valley trek.
i)The Upper Mustang, a former Himalayan kingdom located in the Rainshadow of Dhaulagiri, is one of the best destinations for remote trekking. Not open until the early nineties, the area still requires a special trekking permit. The area is protected because it preserves the pristine Tibetan Buddhist culture, 16th-century Buddhist monasteries, the caves carved into sheer cliff walls, and the very famous Tiji festival in Lo Manthang. The treeless and barren landscape and the Tibet-influenced Buddhist culture are the major attractions of this trekking.
ii)The Upper Dolpo, another remote trekking destination in Nepal, is also very famous as the secluded gem of Nepal. Despite being one of the most remote areas in Nepal, the entire route is ready to awe you with the superb view of mountains, Tibetan plateau-like high Himalayan valleys, lakes, and monasteries. Kanjirowa Himal, Shey Phoksundo lake, and the Shey Gomba monasteries are the must-see sights of this trekking. The area is further beautified by fantastic Tibetan-style villages, barren landscapes, mountain peaks as well as fertile rice terraces. The combination is simply awe-inspiring.
iii)The Tsum Valley, restricted until 2008, this valley situated in the northern Gorkha is a sacred Himalayan pilgrimage. This valley has a long history of Buddhism. Apart from the remoteness and traditional Buddhist culture and tradition, this valley is also very rich in pristine historical monasteries, untouched archeological relics, wildlife, and the dazzling view of Baudha Himal, Himal Chuli, Ganesh Himal, and Sringi Himal. The valley is completely isolated from modern developments. Polyandry is still in practice at this place. People have their own dialect. Situated near the border of Tibet and Nepal, the religion of this valley is highly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism. This valley is simply the best destination for those who are looking to experience the extreme of remoteness.
With all these trekking options offered by the beautiful land of Nepal, planning one vacation in Nepal is never enough. We are sure you will want to come back again and again.
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