Nepal is a beautiful country categorized into three regions: Mountain, Hilly, and Terai. Many foreign and internal tourists love to visit hilly and mountain areas. There may or may not be transportation facilities, but people want to do trekking in Nepal for beautiful memories of a lifetime.
Nepal, being a fascinating country loved by foreigners, is prominent for trekking. Travelers or trekkers seek the trekking facilities on the streets of Kathmandu and Pokhara. Kathmandu is the commencing point for trekking in eastern mountain areas, Everest region, and Langtang region, whereas Pokhara is the kickoff point for the Annapurna region and western mountain areas trek.
There is an immense variety of options grant for people of different ages and potentials to set out a trek in Nepal. You could also get here in Kathmandu with no plans and get started to trek with Adventure Victory Team.
Despite what many people become aware of trekking in Nepal is not certainly wayfaring alone through an unexplored no-man’s land.
As they travel along the conspicuous paths, trekkers will often discover the opposite; many locals are passing through each day as they convey food, water, grocery items to their beautiful small villages.
The regularly-spaced communities and teashops allow travelers golden opportunities to take rest, either for a few minutes or the night. The extreme culture and unconditional friendliness of the Nepalese people could also be observed as one journey across the hill tracks.
Why Trekking in Nepal
Nepal is stuffed with a lot of trekking prospects, varying from short and easy trek to lengthy trek. It is a blessed country with fertile land, a subalpine forest, and holds eight highest peaks in the world from Mt. Everest, Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt.Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu to Annapurna massive.
Nepal offers a fascinating trip with enough time to be amazed by the beautiful landscapes cover with its amazing warm people, presenting you full of diversity and magic from the Gangetic plains and dense forest where endangered species like Royal Bengal Tigers and the one-horned rhinoceros roaming around. Being a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-religious country, Nepal grants you with the diversity of tradition and culture. Nepalese people use local vegetation and believe in selecting bulky vegetables, meats, pulses rather than fats.
Nepalese includes unique ingredients like chilies, garlic, peppers, mustard oil, cumin, and tomatoes.
Tourism Agency and professionals have been leading numerous adventures in every part of Himalaya together with Mountaineering, Rafting, and Adventure Trekking for school, college groups, family, corporate executives, and friends. Nepal is considered as one of the budget tour destinations in the world. You can find both luxury and economical tour packages depends on your budget.
Best Trekking Areas in Nepal
Everest Base Camp Trek
Everest Base Camp Trek will be the best trekking destination for those who enjoy a glimpse of the world’s highest mountains. This trek offers you the likelihood to explore the lifestyles of Sherpa people. Reaching the peak of the world’s highest mountain, Mt. Everest may be the climax of all the experience. But, trekking to Everest Base Camp will be no little adventure.
Annapurna Circuit Trek
Annapurna Circuit Trek is one of the most popular trekking courses in Nepal. The trip passes over a diversity of lands in the Annapurna region. This trek grants fantastic views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Langtang Himal, Macchupucchre and Manaslu. You will walk through the world’s deepest gully and hospitable villages.
Manaslu Circuit Trek
The trek is a striking trek that provides stunning panoramas of the peak on the Nepal-Tibet Border. The adventure runs around the fabulous world’s 8th highest mountain, Mount Manaslu. The trail travels across Hindu and Tibetan-style villages. This trek will be among the best treks in Nepal. You need to have a Trekking Partner or trekking guide from Trekking Agency for the trek.
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek is famous for its easy and short trekking destination. In this trek, you walk along the stunning rhododendron forest, terraced farmlands, and Gurung Communities. The highlight of the trek is an eye-catching view of sunrise over the Annapurna Range. You traverse the view of amazing Annapurna Range in a short period of time.
Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek
Kanchenjunga is the world’s third-highest mountain. You can travel and expose the culture and natural beauty of Eastern Nepal. The trek happens in the high mountain landscape. The trip allows unrevealed nature, local people, and their culture.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Through the stunning hills, The Kanchenjunga Base Camp trek pulls you to the base of Mount Annapurna. This trek is the flawless combination of supreme natural topography and the rich cultural diversification of the Annapurna region.
Gokyo Ri Trek
Gokyo Ri Trekis the country’s biggest glacier and a curve of snow mountains. You walk through the beautiful forests and many suspension bridges. The main highlight of the trek is the landscape of five Emerald Lakes in the shadow of the excellent mountain peaks in the Gokyo Valley. The trek grants the tremendous scene of marvelous ice narrow hilltop between Cho Oyu and Gyachung situated in the Khumbu Region. You will find an ideal trek for seeking an overloaded adventure.
Upper Dolpo
Dolpo is unseen of the gem of Nepal with its Tibetan villages, fabulous barren views, and eye-catching mountain peaks. It includes the old culture which is hidden and untouched by the modern world. The trek needs the coverage of three high passes Nagdalo La (5350m), Shey La (5000m), and Jeng La (5110m). You explore the most remarkable landscapes, glorious mountain views, and penetrating cultural exposure. You must have a Nepali guide or porter for a permit to Upper Dolpo Region. So, make sure you are traveling with Trekking partner, guides, or agency.
Experience and fitness
There are treks fit for a broad range of experience and strength. If you could walk uphill for a few hours, then trekking is suitable for you in Nepal. Anyone who is fairly fit, easy trek with Nepali guide and accommodation is accessible. Long treks, crossing high passes require a higher degree of fortitude.
For climbing mountains above 5000m, it is preferable to have some high mountain climbing experience. You have to involve in at least 1-hour exercise a day for three to four months to climb high peaks. Cycling, jogging, walking is an excellent exercise to strengthen your leg muscles and build stamina. Speed is not the spirit; continuity, strength, and faith are.
If you are planning for commercial trekking or mountaineering programs, at first, you have to develop a massive level of your fitness so that you can pleasantly trek or climb for several weeks on trial.
Equipment and supplies
It is better to take only what you need. It is possible to buy or rent everything you need in Kathmandu. The essential things to bring on trekking are hiking shoes, sleeping bags, haversack, and changes of clothes. For cold weather, hiking pants, scarf, gloves, thermals, warm inner jacket, and windproof and waterproof outer jacket are required.
Other items that are needed to bring are a hiking stick, bandages, waterproof case, water purification supplies, a headlamp, altitude sickness medication, a camera, and binoculars.
Toilet papers, chocolate bars, soap can be purchased on the way, though prices rise as you go higher altitude. Try to buy locally-produced products like fruits, biscuits and lower the stock up.
For challenging mountaineering, ice axes may be required.
Guided or Independent Treks
Whether to trek independently or to hire your own guide/porter is up to you according to the situation of the trek and accessible budget.
The agencies organize guided Treks. The porters carry all the necessary items, foods, waters. It is not that necessary to be mindful of your responsibilities and safety. Guided treks are safer than independent treks. Tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, tables are arranged and set up by the staff. All land and air transportation, porter insurance, entrance fees are organized by the agencies under the given packages.
Independent Trekking may be easy in the areas where tourists trek frequently. All the responsibilities are on your head. Foreigners are prohibited legally from hiring local staff directly who are on a tourist visa.
Required permits
There is numerous police checkpoint on the way; park officers may check your permit any time. So you required permits. You will be in more trouble if you try to bribe police personnel or officers. You have to purchase a park entrance card and Trekker’s Information Management System (TIMS) card.
TIMS card
In Nepal, the TIMS card is required for trekking. Two types of TIMS cards are available in Nepal. Green TIMS card is used by independent trekkers, which costs each Rs. 2,000.
Blue TIMS card is used by the trekkers who are part of a tour with a guide that costs Rs. 1,000. It is only available from Nepal Tourism Board Offices in Kathmandu and Pokhara and also from the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal office. To apply for TIMS card: insurance documentation, a photocopy of your passport, and passport-sized photographs are required.
Treks in restricted areas
Dolpo, Manaslu, Mustang, and Kanchenjunga required trekking permits. They are restricted areas — people do not need a TIMS card. You are not allowed to trek alone in the restricted areas. At least two people in a group are necessary. Each group has guided by a government environmental officer. The environmental officer has to pick up all the paperwork with police and government offices in the route.
Trekking peaks
There are 28(previously 33) trekking peaks in Nepal of 5849-6584 m height classified by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). Trekking peaks above 5800 m require permission, a permit from the trekking company of Nepal. There are some mountains which are open to climb but rest are not possible to rise; they are closed. A qualified climbing guide is required, which includes a permit, deposits to cover camp waste disposal.
Sleep
Make sure; you have researched the type of habitation on your trek before entering on.
Tea houses offer accommodation and a simple basic meal; that’s what local people eat. Although many teahouses in hills and mountains are fairly comfortable, some may be a little unsanitary. There may not be heated bedrooms, so it is better to carry your sleeping bags.
Camping could be done in any place in the country. Trekking guides can fully reinforce camping trekking.
Homestays are available in the local villages. Local people provide accommodation and food and take some charges which will be managed by the trekking guide.
Trekking themes
You can customize your trek based on your budget and desires. Some treks are planned to glimpse the best mountain views, and some are planned to expose the lifestyle of the local people in villages, while others may be designed to conduct awareness and health-related programs. Consult with trekking companies or guides to find out the trek of your interest.
Responsible Trekking
Everyone must be bounded by the law while trekking guided by the Government of Nepal. If you trek without involving trekking companies, you are not allowed to hire staff. Make sure you don’t hire local guides or staff through hotels, except if they have trekking agent license.
Please make sure you take all of your garbage to the nearest vehicle-accessible road to make proper disposal available. You may record pollution and waste management problems in villages on the trek. Nepal has not discovered yet how to dispose of the waste. Do not be a factor in contributing to more problems than necessary!
Seek for locally available water rather than using plastic bottles. You can make use of purification tablets which are smoothly available. Most of the purification tablets make water drinkable within 30 minutes.
After the accomplishment of the trek, you can contribute your clothes to the porter’s clothing bank, which provides clothes for trekking porters.
