How to Choose a Trek in Nepal

1 · How long do you have

The table above gives each route's usual span from trailhead to trailhead. It does not count the days spent reaching the trailhead and getting back, and those vary more than the walking does.

Under a week: Ghorepani Poon Hill (3–5 days) and Mardi Himal (5–7), both from road heads near Pokhara. The archive's Poon Hill diaries agree with the table: "a five day trek that wasn’t too difficult" in April 2016, and a "four-day Poon Hill trek" in a 2016 round-up.

Recorded 2016-05-24 · Subhasini Shrestha · A father and son visit Nepal and Tibet

Recorded 2016-06-27 · Isha Balla · Find out why Nepal should be Your Next Backpacking Destination

Eight to fourteen days: Annapurna Base Camp (7–11), Langtang Valley (7–10), Rara Lake (7–10), Gokyo Lakes (11–13), Everest Base Camp (12–14 from Lukla) and Upper Mustang (12–16). The 2016 ABC-or-EBC comparison put it plainly: "It takes 8 days to complete a standard ABC trek provided that you are fit and fast" and "The EBC trek takes around 14 days for average trekkers".

Recorded 2016-05-12 · Isha Balla · Should you do ABC or EBC?

A 2020 Langtang diary went from Syafrubesi back to Kathmandu in 8 days, with a "6 hours walk" on the first.

Recorded 2020-11-01 · an unnamed contributor · Memories of My Trek to Kyanjin Ri, Langtang

Fifteen days and more: the Annapurna Circuit at its long end (12–18), Manaslu Circuit (14–18), Three Passes (17–20), Kanchenjunga (20–26) and Dolpo (16–28, Lower to Upper). The archive's Circuit figures disagree: it "takes around 12-14 days walking" in a 2015 account, and "The Round-Annapurna Trekking is 21 days" in a 2016 news item. The table's spread covers both, since road transfers at either end now shorten the walk.

Recorded 2015-10-23 · Dave Rankine · Motorcycle ride to Manang, Annapurna Circuit, May 25th 2015

Recorded 2016-04-21 · Isha Balla · Shelter for tourists constructed at Thorang pass

Travel days. Everest routes begin with the Lukla flight, 35 minutes in a 2014 diary, or a "bus to Jiri or Salleri and 4 to 5 day’s hike".

Recorded 2016-05-23 · Te Awhi · My Everest Base Camp Trek Diary with Icicles Adventure Treks

Recorded 2016-05-16 · Subhasini Shrestha · Everest Base Camp

Rara was "By air 4 days" or "By Jeep and Bus 8 days" in a 2016 Nepal Tourism Board package.

Recorded 2016-10-31 · Isha Balla · Nepal Tourism Board Announces Holiday Packages Targeting Domestic Tourists

Jomsom, for Upper Mustang, is "A comfortable 20 minutes flight away from Pokhara". Kanchenjunga starts with a flight to Bhadrapur and a road to Taplejung; Dolpo with two flights via Nepalgunj to Juphal. The archive holds no record of how long either of those approaches takes.

Recorded 2015-10-12 · Subhasini Shrestha · Kagbeni : Stay the extra night

On rushing. The diaries that went well built in halts: a 2014 EBC diary rested at Namche and again at Dingboche, and a father and son in 2015 were "sometimes stopping for one or more days to acclimatize at higher elevations."

Recorded 2016-05-23 · Te Awhi · My Everest Base Camp Trek Diary with Icicles Adventure Treks

Recorded 2016-02-07 · Supriya Rai · My crazy Everest Base Camp and Island Peak adventure

The one that went badly did not stop. A trekker with food poisoning on day three kept walking and "collapsed just one day before reaching my final destination", writing later that "it was probably not the smartest idea to continue walking at all after I got sick."

Recorded 2015-12-14 · Isha Balla · Finally made it to the Everest Base Camp!!

Weather takes days too. Lukla flights were "cancelled for the rest of the week" in August 2015, and a September 2016 group waited three days at Kathmandu airport. Leave spare days at the end of any Lukla itinerary.

Recorded 2015-09-17 · Nepal Hiking Team · Trekking to Everest Base Camp

Recorded 2016-12-29 · Isha Balla · Reaching the top of the world at 71

2 · How high, how fast

Highest point by route, from the table: Everest Three Passes 5,535 m at Kongma La; Everest Base Camp 5,545 m at Kala Patthar; Annapurna Circuit 5,416 m at Thorong La; Dolpo 5,360 m at Kang La on the Upper route; Gokyo Lakes 5,357 m at Gokyo Ri; Kanchenjunga 5,143 m at Pangpema; Manaslu 5,106 m at Larkya La; Langtang 4,773 m at Kyanjin Ri; Mardi Himal 4,500 m at its base camp; Upper Mustang about 4,200 m on the passes above Lo Manthang; Annapurna Base Camp 4,130 m; Rara 3,710 m at Chuchemara Danda; Poon Hill 3,210 m. Several are survey figures we are still confirming; where the table flags one, treat the last hundred metres as approximate.

The archive cannot settle two of them. A February 2015 diary has Kala Patthar at "5644.5m"; a June 2016 guide has it at "18,200ft". Thorong La is "5416 m" in a November 2015 crossing and "5,146 m" in an undated news item. The figures disagree and no page gives its source.

Recorded 2015-10-25 · Isha Balla · Memories of Thin Air and Strong Bonds on Everest Trek

Recorded 2016-06-16 · Isha Balla · Things you need to know about EBC Trek

Recorded 2016-01-21 · Supriya Rai · Trekking to the world's largest pass: Thorung La

Recorded undated · an unnamed contributor · Annapurna Circuit on 'Top 10 Travel Photos' by Guardian

The highest night matters more than the highest point, because you climb to the viewpoint and come back down to sleep. On Everest the diaries slept at Gorak Shep, "5.164 meters" in November 2015, after Dingboche "at 4410m" and Lobuche "at 4900".

Recorded 2015-12-14 · Isha Balla · Finally made it to the Everest Base Camp!!

Recorded 2015-11-04 · Isha Balla · Trekking in Nepal-An experience of a Lifetime

Langtang's top lodges are at Kyanjin Gompa, "3,870 m" in a 2016 itinerary and "3830 m" in an undated status report.

Recorded 2016-08-19 · Isha Balla · 7 Top Treks in Nepal during Autumn Season

Recorded undated · an unnamed contributor · Langtang Status Check

What the record says about sickness, route by route. Everest: a 2014 diarist visited the Pheriche hospital "where some people were hospitalized due to altitude sickness" and its daily talk, which "is organized everyday by the hospital".

Recorded 2016-05-23 · Te Awhi · My Everest Base Camp Trek Diary with Icicles Adventure Treks

Annapurna Circuit: "Altitude sickness can be an issue at Thorung La pass, but fast descend to lower elevation should take care of the problems", a 2015 rider wrote.

Recorded 2015-10-23 · Dave Rankine · Motorcycle ride to Manang, Annapurna Circuit, May 25th 2015

Manaslu: a 2016 walker who had "struggled quite a bit on Kilimanjaro" found "the ascent to the pass is slow enough to allow your body to adapt". Langtang: the archive holds no record of altitude sickness in Langtang at any date.

Recorded 2016-05-04 · Subhasini Shrestha · A hike to Manaslu Circuit Trek

The rule in the diaries that stayed well is the same on every route: walk high, sleep low. A 2015 group's "Day 3 was a long 3 hour trek up to 3800 m and getting back to sleep another one night in Namche".

Recorded 2015-11-04 · Isha Balla · Trekking in Nepal-An experience of a Lifetime

A 2016 solo trekker spent two nights in Namche and "hiked up to Khumjung (3800m above the sea level) for acclimatisation".

Recorded 2016-08-25 · Isha Balla · Everest Trek Taught Her to Believe in the Impossible

The NHS guidance the archive quotes: with mild symptoms go no higher for 24 to 48 hours; if they worsen, descend at least 500 m. Symptoms and what to do are on altitude sickness.

Recorded 2016-05-12 · Isha Balla · Should you do ABC or EBC?

3 · Fitness and experience

The table grades every route from 1 to 5. The rubric, in the table's own words:

1: "Short, low altitude, no pass. Fit walkers of any age." Ghorepani Poon Hill.

2: "Under 4,500 m, teahouses throughout, 5–6 hour days." Annapurna Base Camp, Langtang, Mardi Himal, Rara Lake.

3: "Over 5,000 m or a long circuit; acclimatisation days matter." Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Gokyo Lakes, Upper Mustang.

4: "Remote or restricted, a 5,000 m pass, thinner lodge cover." Manaslu Circuit, Kanchenjunga.

5: "Multiple 5,000 m passes or camping; previous Himalayan experience expected." Three Passes, Dolpo.

When we write moderate we mean 1 and 2; demanding is 3; hard is 4 and 5. The archive never graded a trek. Its words are ad hoc, "moderate", "strenuous", "non-technical", and the same route gets different ones from different writers, which is why the table has numbers.

Who coped. A 71-year-old cancer survivor reached base camp in September 2016: "It was tough, but I would not trade the experience for anything."

Recorded 2016-12-29 · Isha Balla · Reaching the top of the world at 71

A 52-year-old who had "spent most of last year training on his bike and clocking up some running miles" still called it "harder than I ever thought it was going to be."

Recorded 2016-02-07 · Supriya Rai · My crazy Everest Base Camp and Island Peak adventure

Children of 6 and 7 walked "5 hours per day 4 days in a row" on a five-day Ghandruk trek; day four was "Very steep and quite difficult".

Recorded 2016-05-17 · Subhasini Shrestha · A Family Trek in Nepal

Who did not. A Dutch trekker who pushed on through illness concluded that "my body is not made to hike at high altitudes."

Recorded 2015-12-14 · Isha Balla · Finally made it to the Everest Base Camp!!

A solo walker found the climb to Tengboche "a never ending ascent" and was "nearly on the verge of giving up" until other trekkers talked her on.

Recorded 2016-08-25 · Isha Balla · Everest Trek Taught Her to Believe in the Impossible

Mardi Himal, short as it is, was "rather tough and difficult to follow" for a 2015 trail runner.

Recorded 2015-10-19 · Isha Balla · Trekking Trail along the Annapurnas

What fitness means on the trail. "Trekking in Nepal is do-able for anyone with moderate physical fitness", a 2016 piece says.

Recorded 2016-06-27 · Isha Balla · Find out why Nepal should be Your Next Backpacking Destination

On Everest, "anyone with a reasonable level of fitness can complete the trek if you are mentally prepared for it."

Recorded 2016-06-16 · Isha Balla · Things you need to know about EBC Trek

For the passes the bar rises: "You do need to be fairly fit to do the trekking. If you have health issues, then possibly look at doing an option without the mountain passes."

Recorded 2016-08-05 · Subhasini Shrestha · High passes of the Solu Khumbu in July.

A normal day is "4-6 hours", and short on purpose: "You can’t increase in too much elevation per day because of the risk of altitude sickness".

Recorded 2016-02-11 · Isha Balla · 10 reasons to hike in Nepal

Training the archive recorded. "Brisk walks for an hour a day and climbing stairs with ankle weights are excellent training in preparation." On the hill: "Climb a hundred steps at a time without stopping or looking up, break to catch your breath, then climb another 100 steps".

Recorded 2016-06-16 · Isha Balla · Things you need to know about EBC Trek

A charity trekker was "hiking three to four times a week in preparation for the trip, while also going on all-day hikes on the weekends." How each grade feels day by day is on difficulty.

Recorded 2016-04-07 · Supriya Rai · To Everest Base Camp for Cancer Council

4 · Budget

Only Everest has a dated cost band worth the name, because only Everest has operator pages we read in 2026. The line-item table on Everest Base Camp cost prices each part. The whole-trip range quoted there is "USD 950 to USD 5,000 per person", with a guided group at USD 1,250–1,800 and a 16-day package from USD 1,350 to 1,595 by group size.

Quoted 2026-07-24 · Nepal Hiking Team · EBC cost page

For every other route the archive gives daily figures, not trip totals. Teahouse trekking in the Everest region cost "$15-25 a day" for "food, room charges, and the occasional beer" in the 2015 season.

Recorded 2016-02-11 · Isha Balla · 10 reasons to hike in Nepal

Lonely Planet's 2017 verdict, reprinted by the site, was trekking "for well south of US$ 50 a day". Both figures are old. The archive holds no trail price after 2016 for any route; check current daily costs with your operator.

Recorded 2017-01-30 · Isha Balla · 10 Things About Nepal

Three things push a route above those figures.

Flights. Everest routes need Lukla: "about US$330" in March 2016, and USD 238 one way in 2026.

Recorded 2016-05-12 · Isha Balla · Should you do ABC or EBC?

Quoted 2026-07-24 · Nepal Hiking Team · EBC cost page

Upper Mustang usually starts with the Pokhara–Jomsom flight, "A comfortable 20 minutes flight away from Pokhara" in 2015, or the road through Kagbeni.

Recorded 2015-10-12 · Subhasini Shrestha · Kagbeni : Stay the extra night

Dolpo means two flights via Nepalgunj to Juphal. Rara was "By air 4 days (Rs38,000 to Rs40,000)" or "By Jeep and Bus 8 days (Rs28,000 to Rs30,000)" in a 2016 package for Nepali tourists.

Recorded 2016-10-31 · Isha Balla · Nepal Tourism Board Announces Holiday Packages Targeting Domestic Tourists

The archive holds no fare for Jomsom, Juphal or Talcha at any date. Routes that start from a road avoid the line: in October 2015 a private car from Kathmandu to Besisahar was "about $200" and three minibus seats "RS 4500".

Recorded 2015-10-30 · Subhasini Shrestha · Trekking to NarPhu Valley , Nepal

Restricted permits. Manaslu, Kanchenjunga, Dolpo and Upper Mustang need a restricted-area permit and a guide. The archive's one figure is Upper Mustang in July 2015, when a couple chose to "decide against Lo Manthang and the permit fee of 500$ for just 3 – 4 days." It records no fee for Manaslu, Kanchenjunga or Dolpo.

Recorded 2015-08-14 · Subhasini Shrestha · NEPAL IMPRESSIONS JULY 2015

The standard permits were small, and the archive disagrees with itself on one. ACAP entry was "Rs 2,000" for foreigners in a January 2017 report.

Recorded 2017-01-16 · Isha Balla · Ghorepani Ghandruk Sees Increment in the Number of Tourists

An undated news item with 2015 figures put it at "RS 4000 per person for tourists from third countries".

Recorded undated · an unnamed contributor · Majority of tourists from third countries in the ACAP region

TIMS was "20 US $" alone or "10 US $" in a group, in the site's 2015 FAQ. Current fees are on trekking permits.

Recorded undated · an unnamed contributor · FAQ

Camping. Dolpo and Rara are basic lodges or camping in the table. A November 2015 Dolpo party "slept in tents and teahouses".

Recorded 2015-12-03 · Subhasini Shrestha · Dolpo

A Kanchenjunga trekker the same autumn advised "if teahouses are available – jump on the opportunity", and saw porters "paid only approximately $50 for a total of 5 day walk" while carrying almost 50 kg. A camping crew is paid by the day, and the archive holds no camping-trek price.

Recorded 2015-12-06 · Isha Balla · Trek to Kanchanjunga

How these lines add up on any route is on Nepal trek cost.

5 · The month

Autumn is the archive's consensus. "September to November is the most apt time to get the best of Nepal", the 2016 autumn round-up says. Route by route, this is what the record holds.

Recorded 2016-08-19 · Isha Balla · 7 Top Treks in Nepal during Autumn Season

Everest. "The best times to visit Khumbu region are between March – May and September – November. April and early May is a good time to see the hedgerows and trees bursting into bloom", with Lukla flights on "a much reduced service during the off – season months".

Recorded 2015-12-06 · Isha Balla · Explore the mountains of Khumbu Nepal

Spring is "the apt time to trek if you wish to hike in snow and watch the orchids and rhododendrons in full bloom. But with the glistening snowflakes comes flickering weather conditions."

Recorded 2016-06-16 · Isha Balla · Things you need to know about EBC Trek

In July 2016 a Three Passes walker had rain "at least once a day" and "didn’t once see the summit during my entire trek because of the clouds."

Recorded 2016-08-05 · Subhasini Shrestha · High passes of the Solu Khumbu in July.

Annapurna. For Base Camp, "The best seasons for the trek are the autumn season ( Sep-Nov) and the spring season (Mar-May)", and "if you are seeking for some solitude away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life, the winter season (Dec-Feb) is the perfect time for you."

Recorded 2015-10-31 · Isha Balla · Trek to Mount Annapurna Base Camp

Poon Hill: "The best season to do this trek is between October and May."

Recorded 2016-08-01 · Isha Balla · 3 Short Treks Around Pokhara

The Circuit's season warning is dated October 2014, peak season, when a storm killed 43 at Thorong La, "coupled with the lack of weather forecast and tourists trekking without proper guides".

Recorded undated · an unnamed contributor · New safety measures on Annapurna trekking route

Monsoon, June to August. The dry country north of the range works. Upper Mustang "cannot look better in any other season beside monsoon, many trekkers have concluded", and "Rara Lake, Dolpa or Limi Valley of Humla also offers endless possibilities during monsoon trek."

Recorded 2019-07-30 · Nepal Tourism Board · Enjoy the Monsoons in the Himalayas

A 2015 Upper Mustang piece gives its season as "March-June, September and October".

Recorded 2015-11-09 · Isha Balla · Mountain Biking to Upper Mustang

Elsewhere "it usually rains in the afternoons than in the mornings" and "With monsoon comes landslides."

Recorded 2016-08-17 · Isha Balla · Monsoon Trekking in Nepal - 6 Tips

In August the Pokhara peaks are "buried under the clouds".

Recorded 2015-09-01 · Subhasini Shrestha · Memories to last a lifetime

Winter. Helambu around New Year 2016: "Almost all the lodges are open and the trekking trails are in good condition".

Recorded undated · an unnamed contributor · The report of our trekking through Helambu around new year 2016

Lower Everest in January and February 2016: "the trails are perfect and there is so much to see", with teahouses open.

Recorded 2016-03-08 · an unnamed contributor · A memorable journey in Lower Everest..

Manaslu is called "the best all year round trek in northern Nepal".

Recorded 2016-08-19 · Isha Balla · 7 Top Treks in Nepal during Autumn Season

The general line: "Though the winter is cold, with some willpower and a little bit more preparation, you can surely make it to the top." The table lists December for Poon Hill only. The archive holds no winter record of Thorong La or the Everest passes.

Recorded 2016-09-25 · Isha Balla · Nepal will Challenge and Surprise You!!

Festivals. Dashain and Tihar "usually fall between mid October to mid November".

Recorded 2020-08-24 · Archana · Status Update - Aug. 24, 2020

After Dashain 2016 "around 1,800 Nepali trekkers have been arriving daily" in Mustang, and Rara saw "more than 300 visitors per day". The archive's season statements stop at 2019. Month by month detail is on best time to trek.

Recorded 2016-10-31 · Isha Balla · Nepal Tourism Board Announces Holiday Packages Targeting Domestic Tourists

• 5 Reasons Trekking with Children is great in Nepal

  “If you choose the right trails like the Kali Gandaki Valley, Poon Hill Trek, Mardi Himal Trek, etc, the trekking becomes pretty much safe”

  Recorded 2017-01-31 · Isha Balla

• 7 Top Treks in Nepal during Autumn Season

  “Manaslu circuit trek can be a great alternative to Annapurna circuit trek. The trek leads to high Himalayan passes through ethnic Tibetan villages, with marvelous views of snow peaks and camp sites.”

  Recorded 2016-08-19 · Isha Balla

• High passes of the Solu Khumbu in July.

  “You do need to be fairly fit to do the trekking. If you have health issues, then possibly look at doing an option without the mountain passes.”

  Recorded 2016-08-05 · Subhasini Shrestha

• Find out why Nepal should be Your Next Backpacking Destination

  “Apart from the base camp treks which are mentally and physically more demanding, Nepal offers you shorter treks like four day trek to Poon Hill , a day trek through Shivapuri National Park or a day hiking to Chisapani.”

  Recorded 2016-06-27 · Isha Balla

• Should you do ABC or EBC?

  “If you want an epic and accomplishment-driven trip where you push through thin air and high altitudes, head to EBC. … If (more) diverse landscapes and local culture are what you’re looking for, make your way to ABC.”

  Recorded 2016-05-12 · Isha Balla

• A hike to Manaslu Circuit Trek

  “I would definitely, 100%, recommend this trek to others – particularly if they want to escape the busy treks of Everest and the Annapurna.”

  Recorded 2016-05-04 · Subhasini Shrestha