The top questions people ask about trekking in Nepal

The big challenge of trekking in the Himalaya compared to the other locations we visit is that the treks are generally much longer. And even with rest days, 12 days of walking puts a lot of pressure on the body.

On most ascent days the amount of hiking you can do will be limited by the speed at which you can ascend safely and this often means no more than 5-7 hours trekking. Days descending tend to be longer in terms of miles but of course by this stage you should be getting much stronger anyway.

So, with the exception of the peak climbs we operate, you do not need exceptional aerobic fitness to trek enjoyably in the Himalaya. You do need stamina and determination and be used to being on your feet for days at a time.

Whichever route you choose to trek in the Himalaya the views are stunning and the whole experience is amazing so deciding between them is tough. For the base camp trek though we have two favourites: the route via Gokyo Lakes that avoids most of the crowds on the classic route and the Island Peak extension for the ambitious trekker looking to bag a real Himalayan summit.

If you are really short on time our heli-trek is a great option, you hike up to basecamp but then catch a helicopter back. It’s a bit expensive for 2 people but not bad at all for 4.

In the west of Nepal the Annapurna region has some of the best trekking in Nepal and we love both the Annapurna circuit and the Manaslu circuit.

Nepal catches the Indian Monsoon and this makes it impossible to trek in the Khumbu region for the period from June to August. The autumn and spring shoulders are lovely with generally warm and dry weather. Winter months are still OK for trekking but you really need your thermals when you reach higher altitudes.

During the Monsoon season it is still great to trek the Annapurna circuit and the Manaslu circuit as most of the routes here are in a rain shadow and receive a lot less rainfall.

You need to fly into Kathmandu international airport which is actually called Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). There are direct flights to KTM from Istanbul, Osaka, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Bombay, Doha and Calcutta.

For Europeans and Americans the best options are via the Middle East hubs of Dubai and Doha or through Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore or Delhi.

The cost of trekking in Nepal depends mainly on the number of days you want to trek for, how technical the route is and whether you want to join an open trek or arrange a private custom trek. Our open treks to Everest start from £849.

When is the best time for trekking in Nepal?

February – May

Dry & Quieter

June to August

Monsoon Period

August – November

Dry But Very Busy

December – January

Quietest Time To Trek

If you want to trek to Everest or elsewhere in the Khumbu region then the critical issue in planning when to trek is the monsoon period which runs from June to August.

The period around Christmas is cold but with good thermals this can be a great time to trek as the trails are much quieter. We do not, however, run peak climbs during this period as by the time you reach 6000m it is really, really cold.

During the monsoon period there is still great trekking in the Western mountains around Annapurna, Mustang and Manaslu as these largely lie in a rain shadow. However, you need to be ready for serious rain: generally this is confined to shorter storms in the afternoon.

 

Why trek in the Himalaya with Tranquil Kilimanjaro?

  • We specialise in high altitude trekking and can help ensure your trek is safe, fun and successful.
  • We operate all our own treks in Nepal with our own hand-picked and trained guides to ensure that you are always in safe hands
  • Our treks are great quality and great value:100% private car or jeep transfers (no buses!), good hotels, fantastic guides and crew, a very high crew to client ratio and because you book direct you get all this and great prices too.
  • Please do check out our reviews below: they will tell you more about how hard we will work to ensure you have a great, safe experience trekking in Nepal than we ever can

Choose from three trekking styles for your adventure

Choose from our three Himalaya trekking styles: private treks, open group treks and charity challenges. Whichever you choose our experienced team will help you enjoy your adventure.

Private treks

Private treks are your own custom adventure, giving you all the flexibility you want. Just choose your date, route and any of our tailor-made options and we’ll do the rest. And when you are on the trek, if you want to change your daily itinerary you can just agree this with your guide as you go along. Private trips provide the ultimate experience for trekking in Nepal.

A private trek is perfect for a group of friends or a charity group or a couple looking to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary. Upgrades to private treks start from £100 per person depending on the size of the group.

Small open group treks

If you want the company of others on your trek then one of our small open groups is perfect for you. Our open group treks run most weeks during the main trekking season. They are limited to a maximum of 12 trekkers and we work with a high guide to client ratio to make sure you get the best possible experience. You can see the availability we have on our open group’s treks here.

Charity Everest  treks

If you are looking to trek to base camp for your favourite charity we an either arrange a private, tailor-made trek for you and your friends or you can join an open group. In either case, we will provide all the support you need to ensure your charity challenge is a success.

Routes by region

In order to help find the best route for you, we have separated the treks we offer into three groups.

Everest base camp treks: this covers all the treks in the Khumbu region including the Classic Everest trek, Everest via Gokyo Lakes, Island Peak and Everest Panorama. You can find more detailed information about all of these by following the links.

Annapurna region treks: this covers the Annapurna circuit, Annapurna base camp and the Annapurna Panorama, visiting Ghorepani and Poon Hill.

Other regions: this includes the Manaslu trek, Langtang trek and the Mera Peak climb.

If there are any other routes in which you are interested please do let us know as we are able to operate private treks and climbs everywhere in Nepal.