Nepal is no strange name for the best trekking destinations. Hundreds of trekking destinations prevail within the country, offering natural and cultural experiences. Trekkers from all around the world mostly prefer destinations from Nepal as they offer a tropical tundra climate aligned with the beautiful vistas of the Himalayas. Similarly, the local culture and tradition are the major aspects that draw the attention of global tourism. But which are the best trekking routes in Nepal? Here, we have listed the 5 Most Beautiful Trekking Routes in Nepal that you should not miss during your next visit. Explore them and learn more about these trekking routes in detail!
Everest Trekking Route
Everest Trekking is one of the multi-dimensional trekking destinations as this region offers several trekking features and options. Everest, the highest peak in the world, in this region is the most attractive feature. Also supported by the beauty of other peaks from the Mahalangur Mountain Range, such as Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Island Peak.
Everest Trekking also offers various cultural immersion experiences, featuring several Sherpa Villages and settlements. These destinations are rich in Buddhist culture and feature several emblems of Buddhism, such as ancient Tibetan Monasteries, prayer flags, prayer wheels, chortens, thangka paintings, and mani walls. Similarly, the hospitality the people offer during Everest trekking is unmatchable – every trekkers feel like the Everest Region is their home.
There are several packages for Everest Trekking. Some of them are:
- Everest Base Camp Trek
- Everest Three Passes Trek
- Gokyo Valley Trek
- Everest Base Camp Trek with Gokyo Lakes
- Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return
- Everest Helicopter Tour
Route to Everest Trekking
All Everest Trekking routes start from Lukla. After arriving at Lukla Airport (Tenzing Norgay Airport) from Kathmandu, trekkers must journey to Nurning village and Phakding via Monjo. It takes 6 to 7 hours to reach Phadking from Lukla, and the trail is rocky and rugged. No matter how challenging the trek is, the beautiful views of Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Cho Oyu always settle the exhaustion. From Phakding village, trekkers must take an uphill off-beaten path to reach Namche Bazaar, Gate to Everest. Namche Bazaar is a traditional but one of the developed settlements in the Everest Region, which features a blend of culture and tradition. Even though most of the inhabitants are Sherpas, the Westernized system will blow your mind.
Namche is the main point where the routes to different destinations around the Everest region begin. If you are opting for the Everest Base Camp Trek, then the trail stretches uphill through Tengboche, Dingboche, Gorakshep, and Everest Base Camp. Similarly, the Gokyo Valley trek and Everest Three Passes Trek begins from Namche and commences through Thame, Lumde, Renjo La Pass, and Gokyo Valley.
Highlights of Everest Trekking
- 360 Views of Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, and Island Peak
- Imja Valley and Imja River
- Cultural Immersion in the Sherpa Settlements
- Visit Tengboche Monastery and Pangboche Monastery
- Visit Kala Patthar and be involved in sightseeing activities
Manaslu Trekking Route
Manaslu Trekking is another destination under the 5 Most Beautiful Trekking Routes In Nepal. It lies in the remote location of Mid-Western Nepal and comes with several natural and cultural immersion experiences. The main attraction of this trekking is Mount Manaslu, the eighth-highest peak in the world. And it is situated inside the protected area of Manaslu Conservation Area. Similarly, the Thakali and Sherpa Settlements offering you hospitable services and logistics will be a breathtaking experience.
Manaslu Trekking also comes with several package options. Some of them are:
- Manaslu Circuit Trek
- Manaslu Circuit Trek with Tsum Valley
- Larke La Pass Trek
Route To Manaslu Trekking
Manaslu Trekking begins either from Besisahar or Machha Khola. The route and itinerary depend upon which trekking organization you are bound with. Some offer two weeks packages, while some packages have a duration of 7 or 8 days.
If you are starting your hike from Besisahar, you must traverse through the Buddhist settlements of Bhulbhule, Nadi Bazaar, Syange, and Khotro. For the prior information, the routes are not black-topped – trekkers can either get a jeep to Dharapani from Besi Sahar or have to embark on an off-road trail to reach the destination. The route to the Manaslu region further stretches to Gho, Yak Kharka, Bimthang, Larkya La Pass, and Samdo.
Similarly, if you are looking forward to trekking from Machha Khola, the route commences in Jagat, Lhokpa, Bihi, Namrung, Samagaon, and Samdo. To descend to the Dharapani, trekkers must take the trail through Larkya La Pass, Bhimthang, Yak Kharka, and Gho. You can either get a jeep from Dharapani to Kathmandu or set your hiking journey to Besi Sahar and get a bus or a jeep to Kathmandu.
Highlights of Manaslu Trekking
- Beautiful vistas of Mount Manaslu, Shringi Himal, Saula Himal, Khayang Peak, and more.
- Diverse flora and fauna inside Manaslu Conservation Area.
- Cultural immersion with the Thakali and Sherpa People in the region.
- Explore ancient Tibetan Gompas in the region, including Pungyen Gompa.
- Explore Birendra Tal, a natural lake in the Manaslu Region.
Kanchenjunga Trekking Route
While you look for the five most beautiful trekking routes in Nepal, Kanchenjunga Trekking comes second to none. It is one of the most popular trekking destinations after Everest Base Camp Trek and Annapurna Base Camp Trek. Kanchenjunga Himal, the second-highest peak in the world with an elevation of 8,586 meters above sea level, is the main attraction of this trek.
The trekking destination is in Taplejung District and shares a border with Sikkim in India. It also lies in one of the protected lands in Nepal, Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. It is home to diverse species of flora and fauna and even to some of the most endangered animals like Snow Leopard, Red Panda, Himalayan Tahr, Musk Deer, and more. The traditional settlements across the off-beaten trails around the Kanchenjunga region offer magnificent views of Mount Kanchenjunga, Ghabur Peak, Mera Peak, Chang Himal, Taple Sikhar, and many more. Similarly, the beautiful vistas of the large glaciers, including Jhinsang Glacier, West Langpo Glacier, Kanchenjunga Glacier, Ramdang Glacier, and Ramdang Glacier, offer spice to your journey.
Routes to Kanchenjunga Trekking
To reach Kanchenjunga Base Camp, the ultimate point of this trekking, trekkers must start their journey from Kathmandu to Illam first. You can take a direct flight to Bhadrapur and then ride to Illam Bazaar to reach the starting point. From there, the next ride to Taplejung begins. From Taplejung, the trail stretches to Chirwa, Lelep, and Ghyabla through the mixed vegetation of coniferous and tropical forests. As trekkers hike, enjoying the beautiful vistas of snow-capped mountains and the Buddhist settlements, they will traverse Kambachen and Lhonak villages.
In this trek, most trekkers work on covering both the North and South Base Camp of Kanchenjunga. As the trail continues from Lhonak, the North Base Camp sits just around a few hours of trek ahead. From there, the hike continues to Ghunsa, Sele Le, and Cheram before you finally reach the South Base Camp. To get back, trekkers must follow the route to Torongding, Khebang, and Khamdime. From Khamdime, you can get a jeep to drive you to Bhadrapur for a flight.
Highlights of Kanchenjunga Trekking
- 360 Views of five peaks of Kanchenjunga.
- Explore the local monasteries and Buddhist culture.
- Sightseeing activities [includes chances of encountering Snow Leopards, Himalayan Tahr, and Red Panda]
- View of Jhinsang Glacier, West Langpo Glacier, Kanchenjunga Glacier, Ramdang Glacier, and Ramdang Glacier.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek Route
Annapurna Base Camp Trek route is the most popular among all trekking destinations in Nepal. Situated nearly 40km north of the beautiful city of Pokhara, Annapurna Base Camp Trek takes you to the lap of Mount Annapurna, one of the most dangerous peaks to climb and the tenth-highest peak in the world.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek features some of the best viewpoints on the trail, including Ghorepani, Poonhill, Machhapuchhre Base Camp, and ABC itself. It comprises spectacular views of peaks from the Annapurna Mountain Range and Dhaulagiri Mountain Range. Annapurna I, II, III, IV, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, and Hiunchuli are some of the most attractive aspects of this trek.
Route to Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Annapurna Base Camp Trek starts with a ride from Pokhara to Nayapul/Birethanti/Tilekhdhunga. From that point, trekkers must embark on remote hiking traversing through different locations, such as Ghorepani, Poon Hill, Tadapani, Sinuwa, Deurali, Machhapuchhre Base Camp, and Annapurna Base Camp. Trekkers can indulge in the beauty of Thakali, Magar, and Gurung settlements throughout the journey. Thakali Cuisine is one of the most popular dishes in Nepal, which you can try during this trek.
The beautiful vistas of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Mountain Range offer you extra energy to take on this challenging trek through the remote and off-beaten route. To return to Pokhara, follow the same trail from Annapurna Base Camp.
Highlights of Annapurna Base Camp Trek
- Sightseeing opportunities from Poonhill and Ghorepani.
- Scenery from Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Mountain Ranges, including Dhaulagiri I, Annapurna I, Nilgiri, Hiunchuli, Khangsar, Gangapurna, and Machhapuchhare.
- Hot Springs at Jhinu Danda.
- Thakali and Magar settlements with rich cuisine and culture.
- Cultural immersion.
Annapurna Circuit Trekking Route
Annapurna Circuit is also located within Annapurna Conservation Area in Mid-Western Nepal. Though the Annapurna Base Camp and Circuit Trek seem similar, the circuit trek is a comprehensive trek that includes all the destinations around the region. If you do the neck-to-neck comparison, the Annapurna Circuit Trek is a long package, while the Base Camp seems relatively short.
The Annapurna Circuit Trek follows a different trekking route than the Base Camp Trek. And it features many additional places, such as Muktinath, Jomsom, and Dharapani. The beautiful peaks from Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Mountain Ranges also peek you from above as you hike for over 5 hours daily. Nevertheless, the lush green forests, fast-flowing rivers, green vegetation, and cultural richness of the region offers you more energy than exhaustion.
See also:
- Everest High Passes Trek 17 Days Itineraries
- How Much Does It Cost To Climb Mount Everest?
- Conquer the Everest Base Camp Trek in 12 Days
Route to Annapurna Circuit Trek
To embark on Annapurna Circuit Trek, trekkers must reach the starting point, Besi Sahar in Lamjung. After that, the remote trek begins as you traverse through Bhulbhule and Jagat. The Ganesh & Manaslu Himals have the perfect aperture from these locations.
From there, the route stretches to Dharapani, Upper Pisang, and Manang before trekkers set their journey to the Holy Temple of Muktinath. The eternal flame and 108 sprouts are the most exciting things to see in this temple. As we commence our hike ahead, we cross one of the high-altitude passes in Nepal, Thorong La Pass, at 5,416 meters (17,756ft) above sea level.
The trail descends to Tatopani, Poonhill, and Birethanti, eventually joining the beautiful city of Pokhara.
Highlights of Annapurna Circuit Trek
- Reach Thorong La Pass at 5,416 meters (17,756 feet).
- Beautiful scenery from Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Mountain ranges, such as Mt. Annapurna, Thorung Peak, Lamjung Himal, Chulu West, Chulu East, Nilgiri, Tukuche Peak, and Dhaulagiri.
- Visit Muktinath and explore its 108 Sprouts and eternal flame.
- Visit Barge Monastery.
- Sightseeing from Poonhill and Ghorepani.
