Treks in Nepal rank at the very top, and for good reason. Scintillating mountain adventures lie in store at every turn. Steep climbs challenge you to push yourself. Fluttering prayer flags act as distant checkpoints, promising hidden wonders with every step. Deep ravines force you to think twice before you cross that ancient footbridge. Yak caravans remind you to stop every now and then, stay hydrated, click photographs. Treks in Nepal tend to revolve around two heavyweights – Annapurna Circuit Trek and Everest Base Camp – but other circuits are equally capable of rewarding you with similar sights and experiences. Bookmundi presents some of the hottest treks, excursions that are sure to leave you scared, excited, overwhelmed, happy and satisfied, perhaps all at once.
Manaslu Circuit Trek
Best For: Tea Lovers
The New Annapurna? We think so! Manaslu Circuit Trek has become popular over the past few years as the world wakes up to the great tastes of Himalayan tea. Apart from the exotic scenery that comes so naturally to the Himalayan region, this trek also lets you explore some of the best tea shops in the country. Sipping hot tea with dramatic valleys and stunning mountain peaks as your backdrop without having to deal with crowds is sure to become the highlight of your Manaslu Circuit Trek.
The Annapurna Circuit
Best For: Culture Vultures
The Annapurna Circuit is fast emerging as one of the hottest treks in Nepal. The Annapurna Circuit has always been around, but until recently, it was usually ignored in favor of the mighty Everest. However, the circuit is enjoying a renaissance of its own, as its splendors find their way to social media profiles, reminding tourists that they can enjoy Everest-like beauty without having to share it with hundreds of other visitors. The circuit covers the spectacular glaciers and mountains found in the Annapurna Conservation Area and takes trekkers through diverse terrains that range from dense rhododendron jungles to high alpine forests. The biggest highlight of the Annapurna Circuit is that the region also presents Tibetan Buddhist culture at its beautiful best. Some of the oldest, most beautiful and most unique monasteries in the subcontinent are located here.
Rara Lake
Best For: Himalayan Wildlife
Rara Lake is the largest water body in Nepal, the crown jewel of the Rara Lake National Park. Sounds boring, especially when you also have Annapurna and Mt. Everest to choose from, but it is anything but plain or placid. This azure gem presents the few travelers who happen to come here with some of the best flora and fauna found in the region. The untouched lands are home to the Himalayan black bear, otters, jackals and red pandas, and those ancient cedar forests are also full of exotic birds. Think of it as an adventure that lets you bring the jungles of Africa to the beautiful mountainscapes of Nepal!
Everest Base Camp
Best For: Everything you can think of
Ah. The legend. The champion. The one trek that makes all other treks in Nepal pale in comparison. A trip to Everest Base Camp is considered to be the best adventure that the planet has to offer. Accomplish this feat and you become a part of an elite list of people, instantly becoming famous in your social circles as the all-conquering traveler. There is a reason behind Everest’s charm and appeal, apart from the fact that it is the largest mountain on the planet. Mount Everest is as beautiful and entertaining as those countless stories and legends would have you believe. Where else would you get to explore ancient Buddhist monasteries, taste Himalayan cuisines, pass roaring rivers, walk through ancient bridges, enjoy spectacular sunrises and sunsets and click countless pictures of the lady in white. Pictures that will go down as your best Facebook and Insta uploads!
Dolpa Circuit
Best For: Stunning Landscapes
Ever wondered where artists, poets and writers get their inspiration? Ever thought of what compelled Ernest Hemmingway to dedicate his life to writing about the wonders of the world. A trip to the Dolpa Circuit is all you need to find answers to these questions. Considered to be one of the most beautiful treks in Nepal, the Dolpa Circuit presents untouched locales and desolate landscapes that look exactly the way they used to when Eric Valli filmed the movie Himalaya here. The trek introduces you to the highest waterfall in Nepal, pre-Buddhist traditions, the stunning Phoksundo Lake, and two difficult mountain passes that are sure to satisfy the daredevil in you. And if you’re lucky, like really lucky, you might even spot a snow leopard or two.
Kanchanjunga Base Camp Trek
Best For: Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures
No one remembers the second best, or the second highest for that matter. For a long period of time, the Kanchanjunga Base Camp Trek remained famous as the second best trek in Nepal, and this meant that most travelers avoided the area. After all, why visit Kanchanjunga, when you could visit the beautiful Everest. Right? Right?? Wrong!!! Located in the eastern corners of Nepal, this stunning journey takes you through forested slopes and introduces you to all kinds of Himalayan birds and butterflies. The slopes of Kunchanjunga present nature at its wildest best.
Gokyo Ri Trek
Best For: Adventure Junkies
A view of the five Emerald Lakes with picture-perfect mountains acting as the backdrop – this is exactly the kind of thing Nepal uses in its tourist brochures, and it is all for the taking in Gokyo Ri. Trekking in Nepal doesn’t always have to be strenuous. Some treks can offer mountain experiences without ever forcing you to exert your physical being to its limits. The Gokyo Ri Trek is certainly one such trek. Passing suspension bridges, exploring scenic ridges and traversing beautiful forests are just some of the things you do here. However, the highlights of any Gokyo Ri Trek always include charming hamlet experiences, picturesque glacial moraines and vast alpine valleys.
With more than 1700 kms of tracks and 10 different sections to choose from, it is easy to get confused when choosing the best treks in Nepal. From enjoying flat countryside terrains of the Himalayan foothills to becoming a part of some serious high-altitude stuff, Nepal has all kinds of treks to satisfy all sorts of trekkers.
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