Nepaltrekking holidays have long been popular with avid trekkers, who come from all
over the world to explore the spectacular Nepalese mountains. The country
enjoys the most dramatic part of the Himalayas,
including the Annapurna mountain range and Mount
Everest, and there are dozens of outstanding routes where you can
go trekking in Nepal.
From well known trips to off the beaten track adventures, there's a diverse
range of routes available; here are five of the very best...
Everest Base Camp
Naturally, if you are interested in a Nepaltrekking holiday, Everest is going to be near the top of your list of places to
visit. Getting to the top of the world's tallest mountain requires extensive
mountaineering experience (and a lot of money!), but Everest Base Camp (the
starting point for serious attempts on the summit) can be reached by any
trekker in good shape.
There are numerous routes used to get to Everest Base Camp,
ranging from the classic route, to off-the-beaten-track routes, to treks that
retrace the steps of the original explorers who climbed and conquered Everest.
But, however you get there, the area around Everest (including the beautiful GokyoLakes and the summit of Kala
Pattar) is truly one of the best places to go trekking in Nepal.
The Annapurna Circuit
The Annapurna Massif is well known to veteran trekkers - it
is regarded as the most spectacular mountain range in the Himalayas,
if not the world. The Annapurna Circuit is one of the classic Nepaltrekking holidays, with the 300 kilometre route, around the giant peaks of the
Annapurnas, taking in many different kinds of terrain - verdant fields, pine
forest, deep canyons, high mountain passes and snow capped peaks. It is one of
the longer treks in Nepal,
taking up to twenty days but, starting from around 800m, it offers a gradual
acclimatisation in reaching the Thorong La - the highest pass - at 5,415m. Many
regional experts claim that if you go on just one trek in Nepal,
the Annapurna Circuit is the one to do.
Into the Annapurna Sanctuary
At the centre of the Annapurnamountains is the Annapurna Sanctuary, a stunning glacial plateau ringed by
massive peaks, including Annapurna I, the tenth highest
mountain on Earth (8,091m). While the classic Annapurna Circuit trek circles
around the mountain range, a trek to the Annapurna Sanctuary takes you through
one of the valleys and into the heart of the massif itself, giving you the
opportunity to visit Annapurna base camp and enjoy some
of the best views of the mountains themselves.
MeraPeak
The most famous treks in Nepalinclude circuits of the big mountain ranges, or a walk to Everest Base Camp.
But many people who go trekking in Nepal won't be satisfied until they've
conquered a significant peak - for these summit hunters, Mera Peak is the highest
mountain in Nepal that can be reached by trekking (rather than by climbing),
standing at 6,476m. Most routes begin in a beautiful forest in the HinkuValley before beginning the long
ascent up to the peak itself, and the views of the Himalayan mountains from the
top are spectacular.
Trek to Kangchenjunga
It is not as well known as the other Nepaltreks on this list, but the trek to Kangchenjunga is perfect for those who want
to get away from the crowds - despite being the third highest mountain in the
world, it is rarely visited by outsiders. It is a long, hard walk to
Kangchenjunga, over several high passes, but the intrepid trekker is rewarded
with a trip to a seldom explored corner of Nepal; camping en route near remote
villages and under towering peaks, before heading up to one (or both!) of the
Kangchenjunga base camps.
