Nepal Travel Guide: Famous Treks - Places to Visit

Nepal is a beautiful country which can be found in the Asian continent, it is situated in between China and India and has been divided into 7 main provinces. It may surprise some people that there is no set language in Nepal, many people across the country speak multiple languages although they are also similar to the official language Nepali.

If you’re looking to take a trip to Nepal then there are some amazing places to go and visit, and loads of trying treks to do throughout your visit. This guide will help you decide which routes are best for you whilst giving you some helpful facts about Nepal and its heritage. Make sure you are prepared for the weather, should you be planning a lot of outdoor activities.

Although Nepal is one of the best countries in the world for hiking and long walks many people seem to think the only place to visit is Mount Everest, although Everest is an unbelievable Mountain which we would recommend visiting. However trying to climb the beast takes years of training and lots of practice.

Everest in 8,848 meters or 5 and a half miles tall and can challenge even the most experienced climbers in the world; nearly 300 people have lost their lives trying to reach the summit. We would only recommend attempting to climb this mountain if you’ve been preparing for a long time!

Best Treks in Nepal

There are plenty of choices when it comes to Trekking in Nepal, there are a couple of main factors you should ask yourself before setting off on this trip. First off how long do you plan to stay in Nepal, this will have a massive effect on the treks you can pick.

We would recommend ensuring your trip will last at least a week, this gives you an opportunity to do certain hikes, although most do last around 2 weeks if you want to experience some of the best places in Nepal. Below are a few of our favorite Hikes with some in depth information about how long each will take, where it will take you and what to expect throughout the Journey.

Langtang Trek

The first Hike on our list is for people who only plan to visit Nepal for around a week. Although this is far from the longest trek in Nepal that doesn’t stop it from being one of the best with thousands of people a year completing it. This is probably the best Hike to do if you aren’t able to visit for longer than a week and will leave you feeling as if you’ve traveled the whole of Nepal within 7 days!

Along with this journey, you will see some incredible buildings, views and much more. Beautiful Local Villages will take you in along the way and make you feel at home. There are also loads of old monasteries that still stand along the path and you can, therefore, experience a bit of Nepali history along the way.

On this Hike, you will be given the choice of which nearly 5,000-foot peak you would like to reach and no matter what we can guarantee there will be an amazing view from the top of each. When compared to some of the other, longer treks the Langtang is relatively cheap and you shouldn’t encounter any problems whilst walking.

Key Facts

• Difficult, but not too hard (around 5/6 out of 10 on the scale)
• Cheap compared to other hikes
• Can be completed within a week
• Got to experience some of the real Nepal including old monasteries
• You will reach a 4,984m Peak

Everest Base Camp

Many people think that if you don’t want to climb the whole Mountain there’s no point taking a Trek near Mount Everest. We think this is still one of if not the best Treks in Nepal. Can you think of many things in the world like being at the side of a nearly 9,000 meters tall Mountain? You must also keep in mind the fact that Everest isn’t the only mountain in the area so as you take this magical journey you will be met by incredible and unique views around pretty much every corner! This trek will undoubtedly take up the majority of two weeks as you discover different parts of the Everest Base camp/s. However, a lot of the journey will be spent going back and forth between destinations.

Although you don’t have to train like you would if you were going to climb the Mountain, this is a difficult trek that shouldn’t be underestimated. UP to 14 days of hiking can become rather tiring so make sure you’re up for it before booking the trip! Around 30,000 people a year complete Mt. Everest Basecamp trek and it isn’t the Cheapest hike around. You will reach a maximum elevation of nearly 5,500 meters which will definitely provide a breathtaking view of the Himalayas.

Key Facts

• You won’t be alone throughout this Trek, thousands of people complete this every year.
• Quite difficult, wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who doesn’t Hike regularly (8.5/10).
• Although it isn’t overpriced, there are much cheaper treks around Nepal should you be on a tight budget. However, this is one of the best you can take on!
• You will reach an elevation of around.
• If you don’t feel confident in actually trying to climb Mount Everest, this is the next best thing.

Annapurna Circuit

Another rather long Trek, the Annapurna Circuit is one of the most popular years in year out in Nepal and it’s pretty clear why. If you’re looking for a challenging walk that will come packed with unique views and massive difference in terrain then this is for you. You will have to cross the worlds largest pass which in itself will be an incredible experience. This 12-14 day trek will take a lot of effort and leave you looking forward to getting home! But it is definitely doable with pretty much everybody who decides to take it on completing it.

You shouldn’t end up being alone at any point throughout the trip, and if you do find yourself lost or alone it’s very likely you will see somebody with thousands of people doing the Circuit every month. We would recommend you check out the weather in the local area when booking this trip and make sure you pick the best time of year for you. The only negative we could find surrounding this Trek Is just the fact that there may be some road building going on at the side of you during certain parts of it. This could be a bit annoying but won’t last the whole trek so is not something that should put you off.

Key Facts

• With thousands of people a month during this trek it is definitely not remote.
• You will be staying in Guesthouses/Lodges throughout the Journey.
• Also accessible during winter.
• Compared to some of the other Treks this is quite cheap should you be on a small budget.
• Quite difficult (7/10).
• Will take around 12-14 days to complete.

Poon Hill Trek

The second trek on our list that won’t take longer than a week to complete, and one which is again going to be an unbelievable journey. The Poon Hill Trek will provide you with some beautiful views and an unforgettable experience as you take in all of your surrounds. Thousands of people manage to complete it every month and it’s known to be one of the easier hikes in Nepal. It is best to go to the summit of Poonhill on a clear morning, maybe you could watch the sunset, or sunrise over the mountains?

Because this is a rather cheap and easy Trek anybody should be able to complete it without too much if any difficulties. At the height of your trip, you will reach the Poon Hill summit which stands at 3,210 meters tall.  Throughout the trip, you will stay in Guesthouses and Lodges which is slightly better than certain Hikes where you may have to carry a tent and sleeping equipment everywhere you go!

Key Facts

• Pretty easy to complete, most people should be able to do it.
• Because of the number of people doing this Trek, you should never be alone, or get lost.
• You’ll reach a maximum elevation of 3,210 meters.
• Good value for money, one of the cheaper Treks in Nepal.
• Takes up to 7 days to complete.

What else can I do in Nepal?

Although most tourists visit this country for the awesome treks and Mountains there is plenty more you can do whilst there! If you enjoy observing wildlife then Nepal has plenty of natural life that you can check out. There are also some amazing opportunities to try out some water sports such as kayaking and white water rafting should you be interested in that. Many people think that Nepal is all about walking and seeing the local nature and breath-taking views. We would definitely recommend you go and take a look at some of these treks and hikes. However below we have found some of the best things to do in Nepal that isn’t as common…

Boudhanath Stupa

This amazing destination has managed to become the highest rated activity to do in the whole of Nepal. It’s easy to see why as well. This 14’th Century building is the oldest Stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist Temple outside of Tibet itself and is one of the greatest Religious buildings in the world. Throughout the years there have been many different stories surrounding the construction of this amazing building, which means we can’t be sure exactly why it was built in the first place. Although the amazing design and construction is just part of the reason the Boudhanath attracts thousands of visitors from around the world every year!

Chitwan Nation Park

If you love animals and wildlife then make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Chitwan National Park. This will be an amazing experience which you’ll never forget, this Park is protected by The World Heritage which covers a massive 932 Kilometres of Marshlands, Forests and beautiful Grasslands. Rated as one of the best National Parks in the world with loads of different activities throughout, if you’re lucky enough you may be able to watch an Elephant give birth at the Elephant Breeding Centre. On your trip, you can expect to see many different animals which include Rhino’s, Tigers, Crocodiles and much more! Most local Lodges will put on a show where they will dance and sing for guests. Another unforgettable moment that you can look back on in years to come.

Food

When it comes to food, Nepal has some amazing and unique dishes. Most of these are vegetarian options, simply because meat is more expensive and therefore harder to come across. Rice is a common partner to most meals include the most popular ‘Dal Bhat’; A meal which is pretty much rice, or a similar food such as Cornmeal, Potatoes or even bread (Depends on the area you visit and their Farming abilities). With a number of side dishes to make up the remainder of your plate, everything from Yogurt to Fish can be used as a side dish to make your meal more interesting.

Every dish in Nepal is different every time you eat it. The spices used and ingredients that are stuffed inside will differ massively in different parts of the country. So if you enjoy trying new things then this trip could be perfect for you!

Conclusion

Nepal is an incredible country which was recently struck by a terrible Natural Disaster, certain parts of the country are only just getting back to their feet. But this is probably a better time than any to go and pay a visit. There are loads of breathtaking hikes in all the different areas and if you do decide to take a Trek it will be an unforgettable experience. But make sure you check out some of the other things to do in Nepal as well! Thank you for reading and we hope this has given you a bit more information on this Wonderful country.