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Trekking in Nepal is an intense cultural experience as well as an exploration of one of the world's most hiker-friendly and spectacular environments. Nepal has a staggering number of potential routes for trekkers. These are just not a pathway designed for recreational use, but a working transportation network for goods and people. While trekking you will see the great diversity of Nepal. Villages embrace many ethnic groups and cultures. The beauty and attraction of the Nepal Himalaya emanates not only from the mountains themselves, but also from their surroundings.
There are two contrasting approaches to trekking in Nepal. The independently minded opt for tea house trekking, moving from village to village along mostly well trodden routes, enjoying the lodges with their mix of foreigners and locals and nights of story telling around the fire. The other approach is go on an organised trip where porters and guides are hired to bring along tents, cooking equipment and food. These are ideal for discovering more remote areas and learning about the varied cultures and people of Nepal first hand. The choice of areas and routes is bewildering.
All our treks listed below are primarily 'tea house' treks.
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Everest Region
The highest mountain in the world continues to lure adventurers as ever. The Khumbu, known commonly as the Everest region, is the home of the Sherpa people, the mysterious Yeti and of course the highest mountain of the world - Everest 8848m. Solu Khumbu is justifiably famous, not only for it's proximity to the world's highest mountain, but also for it's Sherpa villages and monasteries. The Sherpa home land is still dominated by the old mountain gods, their language, customs and religion reflect their Tibetan origins. Their traditional life combined yak-herding, barley and potato farming, and trading with nearby Tibet. After the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the 1950's they quickly adapted to a new role, serving as guides and expedition support. Now they are regarded as the world's best guides and mountaineers. This classic walk through the Sherpa homeland of Solu Khumbu is a tough trek with a clear cut aim to see Everest. Khumbu is the best major region in Nepal for close-up mountain views.
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Please Contact Us for more information on other treks in the Everest Region, including Gokyo Trek (12/18 days, Demanding), Jiri-Everest Trek (25 days, Demanding), Pike Peak (8 days, moderate).
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North Of Kathmandu
The Langtang-Helambu-Gosainkund region is easily accessible from Kathmandu. The easy access doesn't mean you lose out on quality. Langtang in particular is among the finest mountain treks anyone could hope for. Langtang is a narrow valley that lies just south of the Tibetan border. This high and isolated region is inhabited by Tamangs whose religious practices, language and dress are much more similar to those of Tibet than to the traditions of their cousins in the middle hills. The upper valley is a grazing paradise, rich in flowers and grass, dotted with stone huts used in the summertime butter-making. Sewn in skins and exported to Tibet to flavour tea and fuel monastery lamps, butter was once the region's major industry. Gosainkund high atop an open ridge are admittedly more minor treks, shorter than Langtang. Gosainkund Lake (4,298 m), is sacred to Shiva, whom devotees claim they see floating in the bottom of the lake in the form of a large rock. Shiva is said to have created holy Gosainkund Lake with his trident, and it's waters are believed to be connected via subterranean channels to Patan's Khumbeshwar Mahadev temple. Thousands of pilgrims flock here for the Janai Purnima festival (usually the August full moon). A nearby summit to the north yields excellent mountain views. Helambu is about 75 km north of Kathmandu and it is the most easily accessible of all the trekking regions. This area is inhabited by Sherpas but they are very different from the Solu Khumbu Sherpas. They have different language, culture and dress. The Helambu trek is popular because it is short, stays below 3500 m and is feasible even in the winter. If time is not a constraint then we can always start from Langtang and end at Helambu via Holy lake Gosainkund.
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Please Contact Us for more information on other treks in the region North of Kathmandu, including Ganja La Trek (12 days, Moderate), Jugal Himal (13 days, Moderate).
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Annapurna Region
Central Nepal is dominated by the Annapurna Himal and the village of Pokhara. North of Pokhara, Nepal's spectacular diversity appears at it's finest. The deep valleys and high mountains encircling the giant Annapurna Himal embrace a wide range of peoples and terrain, from subtropical jungle to a high, dry landscape resembling the Tibetan Plateau. Alpine meadows, bamboo forests, and a variety of trees make a day's experience remarkable. Wildlife includes the barking deer, and blue sheep. You will be working through rhododendron forests over the foothills of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. The Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest in the world, and Lake Tilicho (4,919m), the highest lake are located here. It's the most popular trekking destination in Nepal. About two thirds of the trekkers in Nepal visit the Annapurna region. The area is easily accessible, hotels in the hills are plentiful and treks here offer good scenery of both high mountains and lowland villages. Besides the tea house treks you can also go for short and scenic treks off the beaten track and away from the normal trekking traffic. There are several beautiful trekking trails in this region with lots of flexibility - all of which can be arranged to suit your requirements.
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Please Contact Us for more information on other treks in the Annapurna Region, including Jomson Trek (8/12 days, Moderate), Mardi Trek (9/10 days, Moderate), Royal Trek (3/4 days, Easy), Mustang Trek (14/21 days, Demanding).
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Eastern Nepal
Lower, greener and friendlier, eastern Nepal is altogether more welcoming than the west, yet it's virtually untouched by trekkers. Eastern Nepal is characterised by different hill ethnic groups from those in the central and western regions. Trekking goals in eastern Nepal include Makalu base camp, Kanchenjunga and an eastern approach to Everest. For a trekker, this area is attractive because it is less visited by tourists, the rhododendron forests are perhaps the most spectacular in Nepal, and the mountain scenery offers new vistas. The area has hot, rice-growing districts and also encompasses the cooler tea-growing region of Ilam. The high mountain regions are pretty well uninhabited and so those venturing there must be entirely self-sufficient. There are no organised help or rescue facilities like those in Manang or in Khumbu.
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Please Contact Us if you require more information on treks in Eastern Nepal.
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