The best short and long treks in Nepal

Nepal is one of the best places. There are plenty of trekking trails for beginners and professional climbers as well. Trekking in the fresh air of the Himalayas is truly one of the best ways to refresh your mind and body and absolutely forget about everyday problems. No wonder people of all ages and nationalities come for trekking in the Himalayas and render some trails even crowded during peak season.  

Due to the big choice, it may be hard to decide which trek you should take. In choosing the best treks in Nepal, you have to consider three factors:

– How many days you have for the trekking

– How difficult is the trek

– The highlights of the trip

Here is a summary of the most popular short and longer treks in Nepal based on the recommendation of Bharat KC Nepalese mountain guide. Along these trails, you can have rest in quite comfortable lodges or teahouses. There are other trails as well, but these are the most well-known in Nepal.  

Read more about how to prepare for trekking in Nepal

What are the best short treks (3-10 days) in Nepal?

1. Poon Hill Trek (3-6 days) – one of the most popular short treks in the Annapurna region

Best season: September-January, March-May

Difficulty: 4/10 easy

Highest altitude: 3210 m

Highlights: 

• Spectacular view on the Himalaya range from the Pokhara-Jomsom mountain flight 
• Best view of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Nilgiri Himal mountain ranges
• Enjoy the warm hospitality of the Gurung and Magar local communities
• Walk amid rhododendron forests during blossoming in April and the beginning of May
• Watch the sunrise over snow-clad mountains from the Poon Hill viewpoint

2. Langtang Valley Trek (5-8 days) – culture, wildlife, amazing viewpoints, and a chance to support locals to rebuild their lives after the earthquake of 2015

Best season: September-January, March-May

Difficulty: 5/10, easy to moderate

Highest altitude: 5340 m (Cherko Ri viewpoint)

Highlights:  

• Cherko Ri and Kenjing Ri viewpoints facing the Langtang and Ganesh Himal mountain range
• Trekking through pine and bamboo forest
• The unique wildlife with langurs, bears, mouse deer, and if you are lucky then red pandas show up too 
• A small hot spring
• The view of the Langtang glacier from the Langtang valley
• The amazing Tibetan Buddhist monastery (Kyanjin Gompa at 3800 m)
• Government yak farm, where they still make local cheese without any modern equipment
• A place to watch the traditional honey hunting in its season (March-May)

Read more about Langtang Valley – Gosainkunda lake- Tamang Heritage and Helambu treks

3. Tamang Heritage Trail (4-6 days) – Meet the Tamang ethnic people and enjoy the hot spring

Best season: September-January, March-May

Difficulty: 4.5/10, easy to moderate

Highest altitude: 3330 m, Naghtali

Highlights:

• Visit one of the most interesting ethnic groups of Nepal, the Tamang people
• Hike up to a viewpoint to look across the border to Tibet
• Have a dip in the big natural hot spring in Tatopani 

4. Gosainkunda lake (4-6 days) – Trek to the sacred lake of Hindus and Buddhists

Best season: September-January, March-May

Difficulty:  5.5/10, moderate

Highest altitude: 5145 m, Surya peak

Highlights:

• Amazing view on the Ganesh Himal, the Langtang range, the Manaslu, the Annapurna 2, and the Fishtail mountain
• Reach the Gosainkunda Lake which is regarded as a holy place for Hindus and Buddhists. It gives home to a colorful festival every July or August, but it is hard to find accommodation at that time
• Spectacular view on the Manaslu, Annapurna, Ganesh Himal, and Langtang range
• Visit a government yak farm
• Experience the Tamang culture at the beginning of the trek
• The highest chances to see red pandas is along this trail.

5. Helambu Trek (4-7 days) – Get to know the Sherpa-Helmo culture

Best season: September-January, March-May

Difficulty: 5/10, moderate

highest altitude: 3500 m, Mangin Goth

Highlights:

• Meet the Sherpa-Helmo ethnic people, who are well-known for their warm welcome. They have extremely tidy houses and decorated kitchens, equipped with brass, copper pots, plates and spoons. 
• Enjoy the view of the Gauri Shankar mountain range
• It is a popular trail with well-equipped lodges
• You have a big chance to see an exotic red panda.

Please note that you can combine the Langtang, Tamang heritage, Helambu and Gosainkunda Trek or complete them separately. Read more about that here. 

6. Mardi Himal Trek (5 -8 days) – Not the most popular but probably the best short Trek in Nepal

Best season: September-January, March-May. More specifically, April and the first week of May are the best choices if you want to trek along with vast blossoming rhododendron fields.

Difficulty: 6/10, moderate-difficult

Highest altitude: 4100 m (viewpoint), 4500 m (Mardi Himal Base Camp), 5587 m (Mardi Himal peak)

Highlights: 

• This short trail provides the closest and best view of the Himalaya ranges;
• You pass incredibly close by the iconic Fishtail mountain (Machapuchare);
• It is still a less popular trail, where you can enjoy the serenity and peace of the mountains;
• In April and the first week of May, you can witness the colorful rhododendron flowers in their full beauty; 
• Enjoy homestays with the local Gurung people;
• The Trek also offers an amazing wildlife experience. You can spot deers, blue sheep (bharal), and the most resistant animal of the high altitude, the yak. Locals eat yak meat and make yogurt and butter out of their milk.

7. Panch Pokhari (5-7 days) – sacred glacial lakes above 4000 meters

Best season: September-January, March-May

Difficulty: 5.5/10, moderate

Highest altitude: 4500 m (viewpoint)

Highlights:

• Reach the five glacial lakes, the so-called “Panch Pokhari”, a sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists. The lakes are situated at an altitude of 4010 meters, surrounded by the Gauri Shankar range. Every July or August, thousands of pilgrims arrive for the religious festival.
• Pass by the villages of Sherpa and Tamang communities, where you can understand the everyday life of people living in the remote places of the Himalayas

8. Pikey Peak trek (5-9 days) – short lower altitude trekking with a view of the Mount Everest

Best season: September-January, March-May

Difficulty: 5.5/10, moderate

Highest altitude: 3600 m (Pikey Peak Base Camp), 4040 m (Pikey peak)

Highlights:

• The best opportunity to see Mount Everest with an easier lower altitude trekking even if you are short of time
• Experience the Sherpa culture in the Lower Khumbu region
• Visit Buddhist monasteries, like Chewang monastery
• Rhododendron flowers, Magnolia and wild orchids along the Trek in spring

Read more about Pikey Peak trek, one of the best short treks in Nepal

9. Dudh Kunda (Sacred Milk) Lake trekking (5-8 days) – Trek to the scenic holy milk lake, a popular pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists

Best season: September-January, March-May

Difficulty: 6/10, moderate

Highest altitude: Dudhkunda Lake (4500 m)

Highlights:

• The Lower Solukhumbu Trek passes under the Numbur Himal range, called the entrance to the Himalaya region. Numbur literally means “Door” in the local language
• View of the Numbur (6958 m) and a multitude of other peaks in the Sagarmatha region
• The Dudh Kunda Glacier Lake (Milk Lake) is one of the sacred places in Nepal for Hindus and Buddhists
• Yak and blue sheep herding stations on the way 
• Get closer to the Sherpa people, one of the most significant ethnic groups in Nepal
• Visit the Buddhist monastery in the Jumbesi village

You can combine the Dudh Kunda Lake Trek with the Pikey Peak Trek.

10. Everest View Trek (6-8 days) –a Trek to the lap of the Himalaya

Best season: September-January, March-May

Difficulty: 6.5/10, moderate-difficult

Highest altitude: 4000 m

Highlight:

• This Trek takes you to the first viewpoint of the classical Everest Base Camp trail
• Great view of the Himalaya range from the mountain flight to Lukla (sit on the left side!)
• The highlight of this Trek is to catch sight of the Mount Everest 
• Get to know how the Sherpas live in the mountains and visit Buddhist monasteries
• Discover Namche Bazaar, the starting point of several trails in the Everest region with International restaurants, 
• Unarguably, the Everest View Trek is a busy touristic trail, where you will meet people from all over the world

11. Not hiking, but an exclusive helicopter tour to see Mount Everest (8860 m) and the Himalaya range

Best season: (September-January, March-May)

Highlights:

• If you are short of time or not fond of trekking, you can take a one and a half hour flight with a helicopter to Mount Everest and return the same day 
• Stop for a photo at 5500 meters and then fly to the Everest viewpoint restaurant
• Have a meal in a top restaurant while enjoying the view of Everest (8848.86m), the highest mountain in the world
• This is an exclusive trip that costs around $4500 for 4 persons

What are the best long treks (more than 10 days)?

1. Everest Base Camp (14 days) – the most popular trek in Nepal

Best Season: Sep-January and March-May. The most crowded season is in May.

Difficulty: 7/10 Difficult

Highest altitude: 5600 m (Kalapathar), 5364 m (Everest Base Camp)

Highlights:

• Head towards Mount Everest (8848.86m)
• Visit the Tengboche Buddhist monastery at 3840meters, one of the most famous monasteries in Nepal. If you come in October, you can witness the Mani Rimdu festival with ritual dances and celebrations 
• Stroll around the biggest Sherpa Village, Namche Bazaar that will surprise you with its liveliness and big choice of restaurants
• Amazing views of the mountains: Ama Dablam, Makalu, Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Thamserku, Khumbu Icefall and Lhotse
• An exciting mountain flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and back to Kathmandu

2. Annapurna Circuit (14 days) – elected many times as the best long-distance trek in the world

Best season: September- December, March-May

Difficulty: 6.5/10, Moderate to Difficult

Highest altitude: 5416 m (Thorong Pass), 4440 m (Thorong Base Camp)

Highlights: 

• Annapurna Circuit has been voted more times as the best long-distance trek in the world.
• Reach the top of the Thorong La Pass (5416 m), the highest and probably busiest trekking pass in the world
• See the second-highest lake in the world, the Tilicho Lake (4949 m). (The Tilico Lake was known as the highest in the world until 2019 when a group of mountaineers discovered the Kajin Sara Lake that lies above 5000 m in the same Manang district.) 
• Look down to the 6000 m-deep Kali Gandaki Gorge surrounded by the 8000 meters-high Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges. Sacred stones (shaligrams) are found on the bottom of the gorge. Indian people are willing to pay a fortune for their healing effects. It literally costs more than gold.
• View of spectacular mountains: Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Fishtail mountain
• The 160-230 km long circuit passes by Hindu villages at the lower parts and Tibetan villages at the Manang Valley and Lower Mustang
• The Muktinath temple is of utmost importance for Vaishnava Hindus and Buddhists. According to the legend, Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, also meditated at Muktinath. Built at an altitude of 3800 meters, it is one of the highest temples in the world.

3. Annapurna Base Camp (12 days) – one of the most popular treks in the world

Best season: September–December, March-May. This trail gets crowded in the high season.

Difficulty: 6/10, moderate – difficult

Highest altitude: 4200 m (Annapurna Base Camp)

Highlights:

• Incredible scenery from the Poon Hill and the Annapurna Base Camp viewpoint to the Annapurna Massif and the Machapuchare (The Fishtail mountain)
• Get incredibly close to the Annapurna I (8091 m), the tenth highest summit in the world
• As a very popular trail, adventurous travelers from every part of the world meet and have fun together in the mountain lodges.
• Pass by Magar and Gurung villages and learn about local traditions
• Mountains: Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Fishtail, etc
• Take a bath in the natural hot spring water at Jhinu Dada
• The trail leads you through interesting vegetation, including Rhododendron, fern and bamboo forests.

4. Three High Pass Trek (17 days) – Recommended for the most adventurous trekkers, test your mental and physical fitness

Best season: September-December, March-May

Difficulty: 7.5/10, difficult. 

Highest altitude: all three passes are over 5000 meters, Renjo La (5340 m), Chola pass (5320 m), Kongma la (5530 m)

This Trek is the hardest among the Everest Base Camp trails. You should train yourself properly and be very fit before taking this trek. It follows the classical itinerary but then turns to the Dudh Koshi valley. 

Highlights: 

• The most comprehensive Trek of the Khumbu region around the Mount Everest 
• The Trek got its name after the Three Passes the trekkers need to cross: Renjo La, Cho La and Kongma La pass, all higher than 5000 meters. Thus, it is a much harder Trek than the Everest Base Camp
• Apart from the three passes, trekkers climb three peaks as well: Gokyo Ri (5385 m), Kala Patar (5550 m) and Chukhung Ri (5500 m). From the Renjo La pass and Gokyo Ri summit, you have an amazing view of Mount Everest and all other mountain ranges
• You experience all the highlights of the Everest Base Camp 

5. Upper Dolpo Trekking (25 days) – probably the most extraordinary trek in Nepal

Best season: March-November. Due to its special location, it has an arid climate. Thus a perfect choice for the monsoon season too. 

Difficulty: 8/10, difficult

Highest altitude: 5600 m (Kangla)

Highlights:

• Exciting mountain flight from Juphal to Nepalgunj and back
• A less touristic, but probably the most beautiful trail  
• Get to know the more than 1000 years old Bon religion (preceding Buddhism) and culture
• In May and June, locals are in quest of the precious “Yarshagumba”, the caterpillar fungus, for its miraculous healing effects
• The amazing turquoise colored Phoksundo lake (3760 m) amid rocky mountains 
• A great chance to observe the hard lifestyle of the mountain people 
• Amazing view of the west side of the Dhaulagiri and Kanjirowa mountains while crossing high passes
• Dolpo is a restricted area in Nepal. Permits are more expensive and are issued for a minimum of 2 persons, which means you cannot complete it solo.

6. Kanchenjunga Circuit Trekking (24 days) – a less touristic, highly challenging Trek with amazing views

Best season: March-May

Difficulty: 8/10, difficult

Highest altitude: 4500 m (South Base Camp, Oktang), 5180 m (North Base Camp, Pangpema)

Highlights:

• Get close to the third highest mountain, the Kanchenjunga (8586 m), and learn about its myth and legends. It means ‘five treasures of the snow’ and locals will tell you what they believe what the five treasures are
• A Trek very close to the border with the Indian Sikkim region
• It is only open for tourists since the end of the 1980s, and it is still a remote and uncrowded hiking trail
• Stay with families and enjoy Tibetan hospitality
• Amazing landscape of snow-capped mountains above 8000m
• A wide variety of wildlife, such as Snow leopards, Musk deer and Red pandas. 

7. Makalu Base Camp Trek (18 days) – Approach the 4^th and 5^th highest mountain in the world

Best season: March-May, September- December

Difficulty: 7.7/10, difficult

Highest altitude: 5200 m (Makalu Base Camp)

Highlights:

• Exciting mountain flight from Tumlingtar-Kathmandu
• View of Mount Everest (8848.86m)
• See the 4^th The 5^th highest mountain in the world, peak Lhotse (8516 m) and Makalu (8463 m)
• Rich wildlife along the trail with the Himalayan black bear, barking, and musk deer
• A real cultural experience with Gurung, Rai, and Sherpa ethnic people 
• From the Makalu Base Camp (5100 m) you have great views on the magnificent Makalu peak and Makalu range, as well as the Everest range. 

8. Manaslu Circuit Trekking (16 days) – a secluded trail with amazing view and culture

Best season: March-May, September- December

Difficulty: 7/10, difficult

Highest altitude: 5200 m (Larkey Pass)

Highlights:

• Glacier rivers, forests of pine, bamboo, and rhododendron
• More secluded than the popular trails 
• The 8^th highest mountain in the world, the Manaslu (8163 m)
• Rich wildlife with langur monkeys and musk deer
• Get to know the Sherpa culture and the Buddhist monasteries
• Meet the Sherpa, Gurung, Tamang, and Tibetan inhabitants of the region
• From the Larkey pass (5106 m) you have an amazing view of the Manaslu and the Annapurna range

If you have a couple of extra days, extend the trail to the hidden Tsum Valley with secluded Tibetan monasteries

9. Annapurna & Dhaulagiri (12 days) – an “off-the-beaten trek” 

Best season: September–December, March-May

Difficulty: 6/10, moderate to difficult

Highest altitude: 4800 m (Khayer lake)

 Highlights: 

• A truly “off-beaten” trek that allows you to interact with local communities
• Stunning view of the Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Lamjung ranges, and the iconic Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain), all 7000-8000 meters high summits
• Hike to the turquoise Khayer Lake (4500 m) surrounded with shrines and the Annapurna range towering above
• Get to know the traditional paper making and weaving traditions of the region and visit a mountain cheese factory
• Get close to the Magar people, the third biggest ethnic group in Nepal
• Spot monkeys, deer and grazing yaks while hiking
• You have an amazing view from Khopra, the highest point of the trek (3650 m) of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri
• The income from the trekking and lodging program supports schools and local health clinics in the region, so you can also contribute to that by choosing this trek

10. Gokyo Lakes (10-12 days) – a good alternative to the traditional Everest Base Camp Trek

Best season: September–December, March-May

Difficulty: 6/10, moderate to difficult

Highest altitude: 5330 m (Gokyo Ri)

Highlights: 

• If you want to avoid the big crowd, but enjoy a great panorama of Mount Everest, it may be your best choice
• Climb to the Gokyo Ri (5357 m) to have a fantastic sunrise or sunset view of all the Himalayas (Mount Everest, Lhotse, and Cho Oyu just to mention the most famous peaks). The Gokyo Ri viewpoint is at the same altitude as the Everest Base Camp.
• Hike along with the biggest glaciers in Nepal, the Ngozumpa glacier
• Six glacial-fed lakes scattered at an altitude of 4,700 – 5000 meters in the Gokyo Valley
• Return via Renjo La pass (5,340 m), over one of Nepal’s most beautiful passes

11. Kailash- Mansarovar lake trekking in Tibet starting from Nepal

Best season: From June to September

Difficulty: 7.5/10 if you do the Kora on foot, 7/10 if you do on horseback.

Highest altitude: 5600 m (Dolma Pass)

Highlights:

• Get as close as possible to the holy Kailash mountain, where Lord Shiva resides according to Hindu belief
• Get spiritual salvation at the holy Mansarovar lake
• By completing the Parikrama you partake of the divine energy, experience a real spiritual journey, and get a life-changing experience.

We hope you find the above list of the most popular short and long treks in Nepal useful. If you have any more questions you can contact Bharat KC at Nature Explore Trek.