Trekking in Nepal on the Annapurna Circuit

Nepal really is a hikers' paradise

With fantastic mountain views and a wide variety of routes to choose from, Nepal has been attracting hikers from around the world.

Trekking in Nepal on the Annapurna Circuit

Take a hike in scenic Nepal

Nepal has a well-deserved reputation as a hikers’ and trekkers paradise. You’ll find it all here, from challenging multi-day treks to more moderate hikes in the foothills of the fascinating Himalayas. One thing pretty much guaranteed are fantastic mountain views for you to enjoy along the way.

Think Himalaya and you’ll most likely think Mount Everest. Nepal boasts Mount Everest’s South Base Camp, at a whopping 5,364 metres above sea level. Whilst we don’t organise Everest summit trips (we leave those to the hardcore technical climbing experts) we do offer a great selection of other less hectic hiking trips ranging from easy walks to more challenging trips. What’s more, these can be worked into your personal holiday itinerary to suit you and give you a great rounded Nepalese experience.

Trek the Annapurna circuit
Langtang Valley trek
Helambu Circuit trek
Trek to the glacial lakes of Gokyo
Stay in teahouses along many routes

Breath taking scenery at every turn

There’s no denying the beauty of Nepal – the scenery is second to none. A trip to this mountain kingdom lends itself perfectly to a combination of culture, scenery, wildlife and of course, incredible treks which provide memories that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Trekking in Nepal at Gokyo Lake in Himalayas, Nepal

Poon Hill

Poon Hill is popular amongst hikers who only have a short time to experience trekking in Nepal. This 4-5 day trek is considered easy to moderate. Whilst not as remote as some of the other treks, it will still deliver on those views and give you a nutshell Nepal hiking experience. You’ll pass through villages, jungles and rivers, gaining altitude as you go. Once at the top you are rewarded with superb uninterrupted panoramic views of some of the Himalayas most photogenic mountains.

Foothills of Annapurna

Looking for something a little longer, but not ready for those high altitudes yet? You might want to consider trekking in the foothills of the Annapurna Mountains. Your multi-day trip can be tailor-made and tweaked depending on how challenging you want your walk to be. You’ll pass through farmland and villages, with beautiful valley views laid out beneath you. Rather than camping, you stay in local tea houses along the route giving you an insight into local culture.

Helambu Circuit

This circuit is another multi-day adventure and is considered one of the easier trekking routes in Nepal. Sticking to the lower altitudes, this is an eight-day, straightforward trek and works for mixed ability hikers. The tea houses you encounter along the way will provide you with a place to sleep, a hearty meal and a hot shower. The trail winds through rice terraces carved into the hillsides and covers part of Langtang National Park where you may come across some wildlife sightings and more of those magnificent views.

Lantang

For nature, culture and beautiful scenery Lantang is a good choice. Whilst the earthquakes in 2015 had a devastating impact on this area, with hard work and perseverance the valley is now open for business and by trekking here you are contributing directly to the local economy. Langtang is less busy than Annapurna or Everest and you’ll receive a warm welcome from the local Nepali people. There are various treks of different lengths on offer taking in lush forests, alpine pastures, bamboo groves, glaciers and magnificent views of snow-capped mountain peaks.

Gokyo Lakes

This is another moderate to difficult trek in the Everest region, this one takes around 16 days. A visit to these spectacularly beautiful glacial lakes is a great choice if you want to trek the Everest region, you want that jaw-dropping Everest scenery but you don’t want to spend too long at high altitude and you don’t want the crowds heading for Everest Base Camp. When you reach the top of Gokyo Ri at 5,357m you’ll be rewarded with fine Himalayan views of majestic Mount Everest, Lhotse and Cho You.

Entering a Nepali village on the Annapurna Trek, Himalayas, Nepal

The best time to trek

Mid-September to mid-December is considered the prime time to trek in Nepal. Temperatures are moderate, skies are clear and the monsoon rains are a near distant memory. March to May is also popular. Temperatures are again moderate, though you may experience some hazy skies. To make up for it, this is the time of year the rhododendrons are in full bloom.

Guide to Walking and Trekking

We have written a helpful guide giving you ideas for superb walking and trekking holidays in the countries we cover. Join our tribe to get full access to this.