When it comes to nature, Nepal is blessed with the abundance of natural resources that varies from the immensely diverse and undulating topography, varied climate and mix of people Nepal combines to produce a magical attraction for outsiders. Many foreign visitors come to trek one or more beautiful trekking regions. Most sites are frequently visited by religious and culture-oriented people under pilgrimage tours as well as the world famous Himalayan peaks ranging from 4877 m. onwards to over 8848 m. offers perpetual snow-clad peaks with natural beauty of majestic grandeur that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.

The youngest and highest mountain chain on earth the formidable Great Himalayan Range of 800 km offers:

Convergence of 1310 magnificent peaks of 6000 meters, 8 of the world's highest 14 peaks of 8000 meters.

Altitude in Meters

Warm hospitality and friendship nestling in the rain shadows of these unique vistas of soaring summits and profusion of lofty foothills,

Verdant terraced hill meandering down to lush green valleys with turbulent rivers to the tropical lowland and jungles teeming with countless wildlife.

Trekking in Nepal

Trekking Tourism is getting more and more popular in Nepal and is also known as a trekkers' paradise putting the visitor in close communion with nature. Ever since Harold William Tilman of Britain became the first Westerner to be given permission to walk around the Nepal Himalayan in 1949, Nepal has seen thousands trying to capture the spirit of adventure and awe. Although trekking in earnest began only in mid-60s, the tales of past travelers, like Tilman, was what attracted most people to Nepal. And as the latter-day visitors have discovered, those pioneering adventurers did have a keen sense for the wonderful nature this country of Nepal has in abundance.

Trekking in Nepal is not simply a business of walking from one stop to another heading towards a final destination. It is more a gradual experiencing of Nepal's diversity in terms of geography, of people, of religions and of cultures. Visitors to Nepal, really miss its exotic charms if they do not have the chance to trek in the mountains of the country. Nepal Mountains are not accessible by road. All popular treks do inevitably lead to the Himalaya, but the extent to which one wants to exert oneself is completely open. A trek can be a short one-day hike to a mountain-top or a ridge to get spectacular views of mountains; it can be a three-four-day excursion further north for a closer look at the Himalayan giants or it can be a month-long walk up and down mountain valleys in the shadow of the mighty peaks. The most famous of the treks in Nepal are concentrated in the Everest, the Annapurna and the Langtang regions. Trekking in Nepal is also regarded the only possible way to explore its National Parks and wildlife reserves.

Trekking Season

Trekking in Nepal can be undertaken through the year. There are four seasons in Nepal. Each season has its distinct attraction to offer.

Autumn  (Sept- Nov.)
This season offers excellent weather and tantalizing mountain views.

Winter (Dec- Feb)
This season is noted for occasional snowfall only at higher elevations. Hence it is ideal for trekking at lower elevations, generally below 3000 meters.

Spring (Mar-May)
Different varieties of wild flowers, specially the rhododendrons make the hillside above 5000 meters a haunting paradise during this season. It is mildly warm at lower elevations and higher elevations over 4000 meters the mountain views are excellent and temperature is quite moderate.

Summer (Jun-Aug)
Summer months, continues up to mid September making travel wet and warm. These times are blessed for the keen botanist as the higher valleys and meadows blossom with flowers and lush vegetation.

Interesting Facts

• The word 'Himalaya' means the home or abode of snow.
• According to Hindu mythology, God Shiva resides in the Himalaya.
• Fourteen mountains in the Himalaya exceed 8000 meters, in which 8 mountains in Nepal
• Nameha Barwa peak is the easternmost and Nanga Parbat is the westernmost peak of the Himalaya.
• The geological age of the Himalaya is approximately 70 million years.
  
• Himalayan rivers are older than the Himalayan peaks.
  
• Kumbhakarna is the new name of mount Jannu (7,710 m).
• Gosainthan (8046 m) is the Nepali name for Shisha Pangma.
• Ninety-five percent of earthquakes occur in mountainous regions.
• Sir Andrew Waugh, Surveyor General of India wished to honor his predecessor, Sir George Everest. For this, Sir Andrew pretended that there was no local name for Everest and hence named the mountain as Mount Everest though there were two local names of the mountain. e.g. Sagarmatha in Nepal and Chomolungma in Tibet. Sir Andrew Waugh announced the name 'Mount Everest' in 1865.
• The ideal height gain per day for mountaineers is 1,000 ft above 10,000 ft.
• Nepal opened its borders to the world in 1949.
• Mallory described Mount Everest from Rongbuk as, 'a great white fang excrescent on the jawbone of the earth'.
• Sir Edmund Hillary led an expedition to find the Yeti in 1958.
• According to Dr. George Schaller, the existence of Yeti unknown to science cannot be ruled out at high altitude.
  
• Reinhold Messner climbed Everest alone.
• Tenzing buried his daughter's red and blue pencils on the top of Everest.
• Tenzing was known as 'Himalayan Club Sherpa No 48'
  

Why trek in Nepal

A trek in Nepal is a unique and unforgettable experience for a whole lot of reasons but four in particular stand out:

Scenery
Eight out of fourteen highest mountains in the world are in Nepal and if you want to see these up close, you must walk. While trekking you see far more than the mountains. You can walk from the tropical lowlands to alpine meadows and glacial moraines while in the spring Nepal's brilliant rhododendrons will be in bloom and you may see rare species of birds.

Diversity
The landscape of Nepal is almost continually inhabited. The majority of Nepalese people live not in the cities, but in tiny villages. Even in the high mountains, small settlements on stone houses and yak pastures dot every possible flat space. Much of the fascination of a trek is derived from the opportunity to observe life in these villages, where people truly live
off the land, using only a few manufactured items such as soap, kerosene, paper and matches. All of which are imported in bamboo baskets carried by bare foot porters.

Trekkers pass through picturesque villages inhabited by Sherpas, Magars, Gurungs and Tamangs in the highlands similarly Brahmins, Chhetris and Newars in the lower altitudes. These are among the many ethnic groups which exist in Nepal.

People
Trekkers are always impressed by the friendliness of the people they meet along the local trails. The hill people particularly their traditional hospitality and fascinating culture, make a trek in Nepal a special kind of mountain holiday unlike any other part of world.

Height
Trekking is not mountaineering but it is as well to remember that the Himalayas begin where other mountains finish. Whether you begin your trek at a roadbed or fly into a remote mountain airstrip, a large part of your trek will be in the middle hills region at elevations between 1000 meters and 3000 meters but the trek to Everest base camp will reach 5545 meters. Most of the time you will remain within the altitude range of 1500 to 2000 meters. In this region, there are always well-developed trails through villages and across mountain passes. Even at high altitudes there are intermittent settlements used in the summer by herders, so the trails, though often indistinct, are always there. All trails are easily traversed without the aid of ropes or any mountaineering skill. There are rare occasions when snow is encountered, and on some high passes it might be necessary to place a safety line for your companions or porter if there is deep snow, but alpine techniques are almost never used on a traditional trek. Anyone who has walked extensively in the mountains has all the skill necessary for on extended trek in Nepal

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THE ANNAPURNA REGION
(Treks in the region)

Grade               :    3   
Time Period      :    3 to 19 days
Best Season     :    October to May
Max Elevation  :     3800 M

The Annapurna Region in central Nepal is the most geographically and culturally diverse region for trekking, The Annapurna Conservation Area Project or the ACAP working along with the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation have declared this region as area of conservation and sustainable development.

Stretched over 2,600 square kilometers, the area boasts of a variety of diverse cultures, tribes and castes as the Brahmins, Chettris, Newars, Gurungs, Magars, Thakalis and the Tibetans.

This area has sub-tropical lowlands, valleys, bamboo, oak and rhododendron forests, alpine meadows, windswept desert plateaus and the towering Annapurna Mountains. This area has the world's deepest river gorge, the Kali Gandaki, lying some 6900 meters or 22,563 feet below some of the world's largest and most beautiful mountains as the Annapurna I (world's  8th highest) and Fishtail (one of the most beautiful).

Animals and birds are in abundance in this region, 440 species of birds and animals like the marten, deer, lagur and the elusive snow leopard live in this area.

GETTING THERE

POKHARA AIRPORT:
Linked by Kathmandu Domestic Airport for 25 minutes flights departing frequently throughout the day, we have to further drive to the trek start point varying according to the route we are interested in.

JOMSON AIRPORT:
Linked further on via Pokhara Airport, it stands at (2713m./8817 ft) height to start the trek to most interesting parts of the region. The flights can also be operated on charter basis for those interested which is obviously bit more expensive.

DRIVE KATHMANDU TO POKHARA:
The starting trek point to this region, Pokhara, 200km. is linked by Prithvi Highway which is well maintained can be reached by 7 hours including an hour stop for lunch en-route along with amazing flora and fauna en route trek.

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THE EVEREST REGION
(Treks in the region)

Grade               :   4        
Time Period     :   17 days
Best Season     :   October To December
Max Elevation:     5545m
 
Mountaineering:
The first expedition in 1921 to Sagarmatha was British reconnaissance team and the approach was made through Tibet. The British made five attempts on the mountain from the north and the highest point reached was 28,126 ft. in 1924. Since the opening of Nepal to exploration in 1949, the southern side of the mountain was reconnoitered in 1950-52 and the Swiss made two attempts in 1952. During the first Swiss assault, Raymond Lambert and Tenzing Norgay reached a record height of 28,200 ft. When the 1953 British expedition succeeded in putting Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on the world's highest summit, an epic that spanned over three decades had ended. Sagarmatha seemed to be the limit, and after its conquest there was even conjecture on the future of mountaineering itself. On the contrary, the success on Sagarmatha seemed to dramatize human capacity for endurance and new challenges.

The Treks:
Treks in the Everest region takes you to the foot of the world's highest mountains traveling through forests and through villages, rivers and forests of rhododendron and pine right up to the snowline. These treks afford the closest and most spectacular views of the Himalayas including Mt. Everest and you will meet mostly Sherpa and Tibetan people.

Although the common trek of Everest Base Camp is about 14 days, one can also experience the Sherpa Village Trek within 8 days minimum to 19 days
extensive trek through the Gokyo Chola Pass and Kalapattar.

GETTING THERE

LUKLA AIRPORT:
Lnked by Kathmandu Domestic Airport for 45 minutes flights departing specially in the early mornings. It stands at (2880 mts.) height to start the trek to most interesting parts of the region.

DRIVE TO THE REGION:
Namche Bazaar is the gateway to the region which is 241 kms. From Kathmandu. The drive can be linked via Jiri which takes 10 days to reach this acclimatizing point.

LANGTANG REGION

Grade               :    3
Time Period       :   7 days
Best Season      :    October to May
Max Elevation  : 3870 M

The Langtang Trek is to the north of the valley of Kathmandu is recommendable specially if you are a bird and floriculture lover as various species of plants along with the seasonal and some rare varieties of birds can be found in this region at a larger quantity. It is a narrow valley that lies just south of the Tibet border and is sandwiched between the main. Himalayan range to the north and slightly lower range of snowy peaks to the south. Langtang Lirung (7246 m) dominates the valley to the north; Gang Chhenpo (6388 m) and Naya Kangri (5846 m) lie to the south; and Dorji Lakpa (6966m) protects the east end of the valley. The area was designated Nepal's first Himalayan National Park in 1971 and use of firewood is strictly prohibited.

Legend: According to legend, a lama following a runaway Yak discovered the valley. Hence the name 'Lang ' - Tibetan for Yak and 'Teng' (more correctly
Dhang) means to follow. Yaks still live in the valley but they now share it
with trekkers.

GETTING THERE

DRIVE TO THE REGION:
Dhunche (2030mt), Syabru Bensi (1460mt) or the Melamche Bazaar (870mt) is the gateways to the trek in this region. The scenic drive form Kathmandu to
Dhunche (117km) takes you approximately 8 hours.

GOSAIKUND
(PILGRIMAGE TREK IN THE LANGTANG REGION)

Grade               :   3
Time Period       :   12 days0
Best Season     :   Oct to May

Legends will always be born for history in forms of mythology, inscriptions and morals. As for Gosaikund, as legend goes, poison arose from churning the ocean by Gods in clashes with demons. Eventually, Shiva, the god of destruction, gulped it down to save the whole cosmos. To retaliate the action of poison, Shiva had to have cool water to drink for which he thrust his trident into the mountainside from where three cool glacial streams made their way out to the surface of the ground, forming nine lakes. The third lake among this is known as Gosaikund. It is a popular belief that some lucky people still can have and audience of Lord Shiva lying down on the bottom of the lake. Gosain denotes a hermit or a yogi and Kund a tarn. Hence, Gosainkund, a yogi's tarn and a famous pilgrimage destination among many in Nepal is situated at an altitude of about 4560 m, north of Kathmandu.


Visiting Gosainkund is like a killing two birds with a stone, covering pilgrimage and enjoying nature trekking both at the same time. The trek takes you to one of the very beautiful parts of the Himalayas and its environs through harsh granite country trails running via hilly ridges rising from approximately 645 m to 4500 m. On the way, Himalayan rivers, Tamang villages, rugged slopes with rhododendrons, piplanthus nepaleasis shrubs with yellow flowers and various other flora species along with impressive pine, fir and oak forests are to be witnessed as the glory of the nature.

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KANCHENJUNGA REGION
(Far East Nepal Trek)

Grade           :    4
Time Period:    30 Days.
Best Season:    Early Autumn or Late Spring

The Kanchenjunga Massif with a myriad of glaciers, high pass crossings and vast untrekked foothills offers the opportunity for almost endless exploration. The trek to the base camp of the 3rd highest mountain in the world Kanchenjunga (8586m/28,208ft) situated on the Nepal (eastern) and Sikkim (India) border is a remarkable experience in discovering extraordinary people and their un-spoilt culture as this area was opened to trekkers and climbers only since 1970. It has one of the largest concentrations of birds and wildlife. The glaciers deep in the Kanchenjunga range provide magnificent views and a memorable experience.

GETTING THERE

AIRPORTS:
Biratnagar:
Flight to this destination takes 50 minutes from Kathmandu and requires further drive to start point of Hile.

Taplejung ( 1798m./5843 ft.):
Flight to this destination takes 55 minutes from Kathmandu from where we can start the trek after a short drive outside the airport.

DRIVE TO THE REGION:
Dharan Bazaar and Hile are the gateways to start the trek in this region. The drive from Kathmandu takes 10 hours and requires us to stay overnight at Dharan Bazaar or Hile.

WEST NEPAL ADVENTURES
(Treks in the region)

Grade           :   
Time Period:   
Best Season:   
Max. Elevation:


INTRODUCTION
Jumla and Rara lie in remote Karnali region, about 375 kms north-west of Kathmandu. The region is made-up of long ridges covered with temperate forests and alpine pastures enclosing high valley. Summer rainfall is low but winter snows can be heavy and persistent. Since the region is fairly high and free from monsoon thunder storms, summer season is ideal for trekking. Winters are cold but autumn season trekking is rewarded with profusion of alpine flowers. The region is less crowded with trekkers owing to its remoteness. The added cost of transport and other expenses is made up by the solitude and magnificence of the highland scenery. Trekkers must carry their own food and tents as the region is food scarce and the high caste orthodox population here does not open their homes as easily as the tribal and Tibetan groups in central and east Nepal.

GETTING THERE

The town of Jumla can be reached by a flight of 1 1/2 hour from Kathmandu (currently not operating) or by a flight of 1/2 hour from Nepalgunj which is linked by 1 hour flight from Kathmandu airport. This long flight over Pokhara Valley, then south of Dhaulagiri range and over the Chyakhure pass (4426 m) provides a wide panorama of western Nepal landscape. There are also more frequent air connections with Surkhet (700 m) and Nepalgunj (152 m) direct south. The trek route from Nepalgunj to Jumla on foot entails nearly nine days. There is also a small airstrip on the south side of Rara Lake but it is only for chartered flights.