Top Five Trekking Routes in Nepal

Tourism is the second major source of revenue for Nepal. According to the statistics published by Nepal Government, in 2015 mountain expeditions generated more than $350 million, and more than 40 percent people who visited Nepal went to trek.

Everest Base Camp

If you are on Everest expedition, you fly to Lukla from Kathmandu and then walk two days to reach Everest Base Camp. If you want to trek to Everest Base Camp, you have to take a bus or taxi from Kathmandu to reach Lamosangu village. The drive is three hours. Everest Base Camp trekking begins at Lamosangu. Just over 11 days you climb and descent steep trail, walk over Rolwaling region, along Dudh Kosi gorge then towards Namche bazaar. From the altitude of 792 meters in Kathmandu, you will reach Everest Base Camp at 5356 meters. From Base Camp you see spectacular view of Everest (8848 meters), Lhotse (8516 meters), Makalu (8463 meters) and more than a dozen summits.

Annapurna Base Camp

Pokhara is a lake city, 200 km away from Kathmandu. Many short and long trekking routes begin from Pokhara. Annapurna Circuit, Muktinath, Jomsom and Manang are some of the popular trekking destinations. From Pokhara you can see entire range of Annapurna Mountain. There are over a dozen snow capped mountains in Annapurna Himalayan range. The most important are Annapurna I (8091 meters), Annapurna II (7937 meters), Annapurna III (7555 meters) and Machhapuchhre (7993 meters). You can also see breath taking view of Machhapuchhre, the mountain with the shape of fish tail, from Pokhara. Annapurna Circuit is 21 day trekking destination where as it will take you 6-7 days to reach Muktinath.

Jomsom and Muktinath

Jomsom lies beyond Annapurna Mountains, in Kali Gandaki River Valley. Kali Gandaki River Valley is a home to indigenous people of Nepal. Your trek to Jomsom and Muktinath begins from Pokhara, which is 35 minutes flight from Kathmandu. From Pokhara (910 meters), you walk through villages such as Hyanja, Suikhet, Ghorepani and then reach Jomsom (2710 meters). You walk more than 100 kilometers from Pokhara to Jomsom. If you do not want to trek but visit Jomsom, you can also fly either from Kathmandu or Pokhara. However, trekking to Jomsom is a wonderful experience. Food and lodging are available on this route. You can see spectacular Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri mountains from Jomsom.

Muktinath, 18 km north-east of Jomsom, is a religious site for Hindus and Buddhist. It is at 3749 meters from the sea level. There is a natural warm spring in Muktinath, where everyday hundreds of Hindu and Buddhist take a bath to obliterate sins. There are numerous Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries in Muktinath.

Manang and Mustang

Manang valley is north of Annapurna Mountain range. Trekking towards Manang and Mustang takes you through some of the deepest gorges, high pass (Thorung La, 5416 meters), and diverse cultural habitat in Nepal. Trekking to Manang begins from Muktinath. There is also an alternate route to Manang, from Lamjung along the Marsyandgi River valley. If you want to see the entire region you can also go for Pokhara-Jomsom-Manang-Lamjung trekking circuit.

You drive to Dumre from Pokhara (or Kathmandu) and walk approximately 18 km to Tarkughat. Just over seven days you trek along river banks, canyons, high pass, deep gorges and reach Manang (3505 meters). The entire Annapurna Mountain range is visible from Manang. You can also see a glacial lake south of Manang village. There are numerous Buddhist monasteries in Manang.

Mustang is north of Manang and was closed to foreigners until recently.

Langtang

Langtang valley (3350 meters) is surrounded with many peaks and glaciers and is north of Gosainkunda (another trekking destination). You have to travel 71 km in a bus or a car from Kathmandu to Trisuli bazaar. From Trisuli bazaar take a vehicle to Berawati 8 km away. Trekking over two days you will reach Dhunche. Form Dhunche, you can either take route to Chandanbari towards Gosainkunda (4480 meters) or Barku to reach Langtang. It will take you almost a week to reach Langtang. Langtang valley is also a National Park reserved for endemic wildlife.