Nepal Trekking Tips: Must-Know Advice Before You Go

Nepal Trekking Tips: Must-Know Advice Before You Go

When to Go Trekking in Nepal

There are two main trekking seasons in Nepal (Autumn, Spring) that have the best weather for trekking. Historically, Autumn (October-November) and Spring (March-April) has had the best weather with clear views of the mountains.

I still recommend trekking in Autumn and Spring (as opposed to Monsoon season), but the weather patterns have been slightly changing, so sometimes even in Spring or Autumn you can have unpredictable weather.

In the last few years, monsoon has lasted until the beginning of October, bringing heavy rains and landslides damaging the road networks across Nepal. So, with this in mind, I now only recommend to plan trekking in Nepal from mid-October onwards.

The weather remains pretty good until mid-December, so trekking at the end of November is ideal. Ultimately, if you are planning an trek in Nepal in the autumn, I recommend trekking between mid-October to mid-December.

As for trekking in the Spring (March-May), it is the second best time for treks in Nepal. However, in recent years, the visibility and clear views of mountains in the Spring have worsened.

If there is a dry winter in Nepal, the air pollution gets worse in the Spring. Plus, there is also controlled burning in the Spring, and the smoke from the fire adds to the existing air pollution. All leading not just to bad air quality, but lower visibility in the mountains.

To still get good views in the Spring, it is best to plan a trek in early Spring (mid-February to mid-March). The weather is colder at this time, then later in Spring, but there is not much pollution yet (usually).

How to Choose Your Trekking Route

Everest Base Camp is the most famous and popular trekking route in Nepal, but there are many other great treks that bring beautiful views of the Himalayas.

When considering which trek to go on, first think about how much time you have. Everest Base Camp takes at least 14 days, and you should also consider adding some buffer days in case of flight delays due to bad weather, or blocked roads to due landslides.

There are many trekking routes in Nepal, and there are treks of various lengths: 3-5 days (Poon Hill Trek, Mardi Himal, Pikey Peak Trek, Panchase Trek), 7 days treks (Langtang Valley Trek, Annapurna Base Camp), or longer treks around 14+ days (Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit).

Another factor to consider is the difficulty level of the trek. Some treks, like Annapurna Base Camp, can feel like 7 days of constantly going up and down on stairs. While on the other hand, treks like Langtang, Mardi Himal or Pikey Peak is more beginner friendly and the terrain is easier to walk, with much fewer stairs.

In addition, the more popular trekking routes can also get very crowded in the peak seasons (Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp, Langtang), so if you prefer to trek in less crowded trekking routes, you can pick one that is less visited (Pikey Peak, Mardi Himal, Panch Pokhari).

Check out my itineraries for Nepali trekking routes:

• Annapurna Base Camp Trek
• Mardi Himal Trek
• Langtang Valley Trek
• Pikey Peak Trek
• Panchase Trek

Should You Hire a Trekking Guide or Porter?

If it’s your first time trekking and visiting Nepal, it is better to hire a guide for safety reasons. Plus, you can also learn so much more about Nepali culture along the trek if you have a guide with you.

Even me, when I first went trekking in Nepal in 2015, I went with a guide. Then, later trekked with friends (no guide), and now, with enough experience, I feel confident to trek alone.

The weather can be unexpected on the mountains, you don’t know how altitude may affect you, plus having a guide takes the stress away from having to organise everything.

If you do consider to go solo trekking, make sure to prepare well for the trek. You will meet other trekkers on the way, so you’ll not feel completely on your own.

Nepal tried to enforce a ban on trekking without a guide in 2023, however, in practice, it was never enforced. You only need to hire a guide if you plan to trek in Restricted Areas, such as Manaslu, or Upper Mustang. Popular trekking routes, such as Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, and Langtang Valley are still allowed to trek alone without a guide.

Getting Travel Insurance

Getting insurance for your trek is essential, and there are a couple of insurance companies that are trusted for trekking in Nepal. You have to get a travel insurance that cover trekking to high altitudes (check that it covers the highest altitude of the trek that you are going on).

Usually, you have to add trekking as an add-on for some insurances, as a general travel insurance does not cover adventure activities like trekking to high altitudes.

The importance of insurance is that in case you need emergency evacuation during the trek, then your insurance will cover the helicopter evacuation and any other medical costs (if needed).

Luckily, I haven’t had had to use emergency evacuation on my treks before, but some of the trusted insurance companies include True Traveller, World Nomads, and Travelex.

Getting the Permit for the Trek

You have to get a permit for the majority of trekking routes in Nepal. There are some trekking routes that don’t require a permit (Pikey Peak, Australian Camp, Panchase Trek) but most do.

If you book a trek with a guide or trekking agency, they will get the permit for you, so you don’t have to worry about getting it yourself. However, it is usually a smooth process to get the permit. So even if you trek without a guide, it is pretty easy to get the permit for yourself.

Permits & Costs:

• Sagarmatha National Park Permit: NPR 3,000 (USD 22): Everest Base Camp, Three Passes. + you also have to get the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Municipality Entry Permit for NPR 2,000 (USD 15).

• Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP): NPR 3,000 (USD 22) for treks such as Annapurna Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Mardi Himal, Lower Mustang.

• Langtang Valley National Park Permit: NPR 3,000 (USD 22): Langtang Valley Trek, Gosaikunda, Tamang Heritage Trail, Helambu.

• Manaslu Conservation Area Permit: NPR 3,000 (USD 22): Manaslu Circuit Trek (+ you also have to get a Restricted Area Permit and you need to get a guide for the Manaslu Trek).

If you trek without a guide, you can get the permits at the Tourism Board in Kathmandu, Permit Office in Pokhara, and you can get the permit online for some trekking routes (Annapurna region, Manaslu, and Gaurishankar).

Getting to the Starting Point of the Trek

Getting to the starting point of the trek can be an adventure on its own. Your starting point and transport depend on the trekking route you go on, but there is some general advice that can help you prepare for travel within Nepal.

Road Travel

If you are taking the bus or jeep to the starting point of your trek, prepare for a long and bumpy ride. The roads in Nepal go through mountains and hills, and can be a scary ride on a narrow dirt road.

In addition, there can be traffic jams on the highways, plus during the rainy season road travel can take longer due to landslides blocking the roads.

When booking buses, make sure to book a tourist bus (e.g. Swift Holidays), sit in the front rows of the bus, as the further back you sit, the bumpier it feels.

Air Travel

Getting to the start point of trek (e.g. Lukla, or flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara) can save you a lot of time, but you should still keep in mind that flights often get delayed in Nepal.

It happens when the weather conditions make it unsafe to fly, then the flights only take off once the weather clears. Honestly, it is much better to wait it out for good weather, because in general Nepal doesn’t have a good flight safety record.

So, the best is to book the first flight in the morning, and in case your flight is delayed, it will be the first flight that takes off that day once the weather clears.

Accommodation on Trek

The accommodation on the trekking route is in traditional teahouses. Teahouses started a long time ago when villagers used to walk back to their villages, and teahouses were a place where they could stop to have a tea on their long walk home.

Then after tourism picked up, teahouses became the places for accommodation for trekkers. The majority of teahouses are basic but have the needed necessities for a trek.

The rooms are usually twin rooms, and some have attached bathroom. However, in many cases the toilets and bathrooms are shared and are located outside the rooms. As for toilets, some have western toilets, but the higher up you go, the bigger the chance for squat toilets only.

The rooms generally cost around Rs. 5,00-1,000 (USD 3.5 – 7) per night, but some villages have high quality lodges that can cost around USD 40-70 per night. The Mountain Lodges of Nepal is one of the highest quality of lodges on trekking routes, but you can only find it in a few villages.

There are some costs that you have to budget extra at the teahouses. Charging, wifi, hot showers, hot drinking water all come at an extra cost. Each cost around Rs. 200-300 (USD 2), but can get pricier at higher elevations, so you should budget extra for these costs.

Food on the Trek

You eat all your meals at the teahouses and they have menus including both Nepali and international dishes. As the trekking routes are visited by many international travellers, the local teahouses have also learnt and adapted their menus to serve international dishes.

The resources and cooking equipment is limited in higher elevations, but you can find lots of dishes like pizza, pasta, burger, pies.

I tend to go for the Nepali dish dal bhat at least once a day during my treks in Nepal as I find it gives so much energy. But I notice that I start to crave international dishes when I am nearing the end of my trek, and from then on, all I want is pizza.

The international dishes do not always like back home but still tastes pretty great after a long and tiring day of trekking.

Money & Costs

After going on multiple treks in Nepal, the minimum budget for a trek you need is around USD 30 (Rs. 4,000) per day, which is sufficient for food, accommodation, and extras like hot shower, wifi, charging, and drinking water.

I have done some budget treks where I kept the minimum spending to USD 20 but I live here in Nepal, and have to keep my budget low as I travel a lot and explore new places.

If it’s your one and only time going on a trek in Nepal, it is better to take more cash with you, so you can splurge on food and drinks.

Also, if you plan to drink beer (not recommended in high altitudes), then you have to budget an extra Rs. 1,000 (USD 7) per bottle.

You should also make sure to take enough cash with you (more than what you budget). There are no ATMs in the villages, and it is better if you have more cash with you then worrying about not having enough.

Network & Wifi

Network is generally not available in higher altitudes, but if you are deciding between which SIM card to get for Nepal, then go for Nepal Telecom. Nepal Telecom has a slightly better coverage in the mountains than NCell, but nevertheless, in most places it won’t work.

It’s possible to connect to wifi at the teahouses, but you have to pay extra to access the wifi. Usually, the wifi costs around Rs. 200-300 (USD 2). Also, it can happen that the wifi is down in the village, so prepare that there may be a few hours when it’s not possible to connect to the internet.

What to Pack

When packing for your trek, it is actually better to pack less and only take the essentials. It is one of my most essential tips for trekking in Nepal, that even if you trek with a porter, just bring what is really necessary.

If you carry your own backpack (no porter), then I recommend to just take a backpack of 28-30 liters. I usually trek with a 28L backpack and it actually fits everything needed for a trek.

Packing less means that it is easier to carry your backpack. Plus, the reality is that you don’t need as much as you may think. Also, you can wear the same T-shirt or trousers for 2-3 days – it is not ideal, but helps you reduce the weight of your backpack.

Maps & Navigation

Most of the trekking routes are easy to follow in Nepal – especially the popular treks like EBC, ABC, Langtang or Mardi Himal. The trails are well-marked, easy to follow, and you meet so many other trekkers on the trail that there is a very small chance that you’d go off the trail.

If you are trekking with a guide, then you don’t have to worry about following a map, as your guide will have experience to know which way to go.

In case you are planning to trek solo, maps.me and mapy.cz are great offline maps that work well in Nepal. You should download their apps before starting your trip (download also the trekking area), then you’ll be able to open the map and follow the route even if you are offline/not connected to network or wifi.

Maps.me

• Maps.me on Google Play
• Maps.me on the Apple Store

Mapy.cz

• Mapy.cz on Google Play
• Mapy.cz on the Apple Store

Plan for Buffer Days

Flights can be delayed, and road travel can take longer due to traffic jams or landslides – so the best is if you plan for buffer days before and after your trek.

Under the most ideal circumstances, everything would go as planned, but it is better if you have 2-3 days extra, so that you don’t have to stress in case of delay.

It happens very often that flights are cancelled or delayed to Lukla due to bad weather, and trekkers wait 2-3 days to get on a flight. It is not ideal, but also better for safety to wait for good weather so flights can go safely. This means, you’d need 2-3 extra days so that you have enough time to complete your trek.

Stay Positive

After all, Nepal is one of the most amazing places in the world (at least I consider it as such), but things don’t always go as planned.

Road travel will make you tired, you may get diarrhoea, feel unwell due to high altitude on the trek, feel cold, and the trek itself may test your endurance. The best is to keep a positive mindset, embrace the unknown, and adjust plans if needed.