Nepal's great treks, everything you need to know before you go
The great treks explained day by day, with what you actually look for before setting off: which permit, where to buy it, whether you need a guide, which bus to take to the start, and what it costs.
- Day-by-day itineraries
- 2026 permits and prices
- Guides: the real rule
- Buses, jeeps and flights
The trek map
From three days to Poon Hill to two weeks above 5,000 m. Each page gives the day-by-day itinerary, permits, transport and pitfalls. Not sure? Choose a trek
- 1Rara Lake2–6 days · 3,680 m
- 2Phoksundo Lake7 days · 3,680 m
- 3Poon Hill3–5 days · 3,210 m
- 4Khopra Danda6–7 days · 4,660 m
- 5Annapurna Base Camp5–11 days · 4,130 m
- 6Mardi Himal5–6 days · 4,500 m
- 7Upper Mustang5–13 days · 4,280 m
- 8Annapurna Circuit9–20 days · 5,416 m
- 9Nar Phu Valley8–9 days · 5,320 m
- 10Manaslu Circuit11–13 days · 5,106 m
- 11Tsum Valley9–17 days · 5,106 m
- 12Gosainkunda Lake4–8 days · 4,610 m
- 13Langtang Valley6–10 days · 4,984 m
- 14Pikey Peak5 days · 4,065 m
- 15Numbur Cheese Circuit11 days · 4,880 m
- 16Gokyo Lakes10–14 days · 5,645 m
- 17Everest Base Camp11 days · 5,645 m
- 18Three Passes Trek17 days · 5,645 m
- 19Makalu Base Camp12–16 days · 4,830 m
- 20Kanchenjunga10–14 days · 5,140 m
AnnapurnaAnnapurna CircuitThe great classic, over the Thorong La pass9–20 days5,416 m maxDemandingMandatory guide, checks varySee the trek
KhumbuEverest Base CampAt the foot of the roof of the world, via Namche and Kala Patthar11 days5,645 m maxDemandingGuide not requiredSee the trek
Everest (Khumbu)Gokyo LakesTurquoise lakes and the finest view of Everest10–14 days5,645 m maxDemandingGuide not requiredSee the trek
Everest (Khumbu)Three Passes TrekThe grand Khumbu loop over three passes above 5,300 m17 days5,645 m maxVery demandingGuide not requiredSee the trek
AnnapurnaAnnapurna Base CampAn amphitheatre of ice at 4,130 m5–11 days4,130 m maxChallengingMandatory guide, checks varySee the trek
AnnapurnaPoon HillSunrise over the Annapurnas in three days3–5 days3,210 m maxModerateMandatory guide, checks varySee the trek
AnnapurnaKhopra DandaPoon Hill without the crowds, and a ridge facing Dhaulagiri6–7 days4,660 m maxChallengingMandatory guide, checks varySee the trek
AnnapurnaMardi HimalA ridge facing Machapuchare, an hour from Pokhara5–6 days4,500 m maxChallengingMandatory guide, checks varySee the trek
Annapurna (Mustang)Upper MustangThe old kingdom of Lo, Tibet on foot, doable even in the monsoon5–13 days4,280 m maxChallengingAgency and guide mandatorySee the trek
AnnapurnaNar Phu ValleyTwo timeless villages just off the Annapurna Circuit8–9 days5,320 m maxDemandingAgency and guide mandatorySee the trek
LangtangLangtang ValleyGlaciers and Tamang villages, a day from Kathmandu6–10 days4,984 m maxModerateMandatory guide, checkedSee the trek
LangtangGosainkunda LakeThe Hindus' sacred lake, four days from Kathmandu4–8 days4,610 m maxChallengingMandatory guide, checkedSee the trek
Eastern NepalMakalu Base CampAt the foot of the world's 5th-highest mountain, far from the crowds12–16 days4,830 m maxDemandingMandatory guide, checks varySee the trek
Western NepalRara LakeNepal's largest lake, at the far end of the west2–6 days3,680 m maxModerateMandatory guide, checks varySee the trek
ManasluTsum ValleyA Buddhist valley left apart, at the foot of Ganesh Himal9–17 days5,106 m maxChallengingAgency and guide mandatorySee the trek
Eastern NepalKanchenjungaAt the foot of the world's 3rd-highest peak, at the country's far eastern edge10–14 days5,140 m maxVery demandingAgency and guide mandatorySee the trek
SolukhumbuPikey PeakSunrise over Everest, without a flight to Lukla5 days4,065 m maxModerateGuide not requiredSee the trek
Jiri (Ramechhap)Numbur Cheese CircuitA wild circuit around Numbur, between high lakes and cheese factories11 days4,880 m maxDemandingMandatory guide, checkedSee the trek
Western Nepal (Dolpo)Phoksundo LakeDolpo's turquoise lake, at the far end of the west7 days3,680 m maxChallengingMandatory guide, checks varySee the trek
ManasluManaslu CircuitThe wild circuit, over the Larkya La11–13 days5,106 m maxDemandingAgency and guide mandatorySee the trekCompare the treks
| Trek | Walking | Max altitude | Level | Guide | Permits | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Circuit | 9–20 days | 5,416 m | Demanding | Mandatory guide, checks vary | 5,000 NPR (≈ €29) | Bus + jeep (Besisahar) |
| Everest Base Camp | 11 days | 5,645 m | Demanding | Guide not required | 6,000 NPR (≈ €35) | Flight (Lukla) |
| Gokyo Lakes | 10–14 days | 5,645 m | Demanding | Guide not required | 6,000 NPR (≈ €35) | Flight (Lukla) |
| Three Passes Trek | 17 days | 5,645 m | Very demanding | Guide not required | 6,000 NPR (≈ €35) | Flight (Lukla) |
| Annapurna Base Camp | 5–11 days | 4,130 m | Challenging | Mandatory guide, checks vary | 5,000 NPR (≈ €29) | Jeep (Pokhara) |
| Poon Hill | 3–5 days | 3,210 m | Moderate | Mandatory guide, checks vary | 5,000 NPR (≈ €29) | Jeep (Pokhara) |
| Khopra Danda | 6–7 days | 4,660 m | Challenging | Mandatory guide, checks vary | 5,000 NPR (≈ €29) | Jeep (Pokhara) |
| Mardi Himal | 5–6 days | 4,500 m | Challenging | Mandatory guide, checks vary | 5,000 NPR (≈ €29) | Bus or taxi (Pokhara) |
| Upper Mustang | 5–13 days | 4,280 m | Challenging | Agency and guide mandatory | 3,000 NPR (≈ €17) + from 50 USD (≈ €45) | Flight or road (Jomsom) |
| Nar Phu Valley | 8–9 days | 5,320 m | Demanding | Agency and guide mandatory | 3,000 NPR (≈ €17) + from 75 USD (≈ €67) | Jeep (Besisahar) |
| Langtang Valley | 6–10 days | 4,984 m | Moderate | Mandatory guide, checked | 5,000 NPR (≈ €29) | Bus (Kathmandu) |
| Gosainkunda Lake | 4–8 days | 4,610 m | Challenging | Mandatory guide, checked | 5,000 NPR (≈ €29) | Bus or jeep (Kathmandu) |
| Makalu Base Camp | 12–16 days | 4,830 m | Demanding | Mandatory guide, checks vary | 7,000 NPR (≈ €40) | Flight + jeep |
| Rara Lake | 2–6 days | 3,680 m | Moderate | Mandatory guide, checks vary | 5,000 NPR (≈ €29) | Flight (Nepalgunj) |
| Tsum Valley | 9–17 days | 5,106 m | Challenging | Agency and guide mandatory | 3,000 NPR (≈ €17) + from 30 USD (≈ €27) | Bus (Kathmandu) |
| Kanchenjunga | 10–14 days | 5,140 m | Very demanding | Agency and guide mandatory | 3,000 NPR (≈ €17) + from 20 USD (≈ €18) | Flight + jeep |
| Pikey Peak | 5 days | 4,065 m | Moderate | Guide not required | 2,000 NPR (≈ €12) | Jeep (Kathmandu) |
| Numbur Cheese Circuit | 11 days | 4,880 m | Demanding | Mandatory guide, checked | 5,000 NPR (≈ €29) | Bus (Kathmandu) |
| Phoksundo Lake | 7 days | 3,680 m | Challenging | Mandatory guide, checks vary | 5,000 NPR (≈ €29) | Flight (Juphal) |
| Manaslu Circuit | 11–13 days | 5,106 m | Demanding | Agency and guide mandatory | 6,000 NPR (≈ €35) + from 100 USD (≈ €89) | Bus or jeep (Kathmandu) |
Walking days only: add the journey there and back (one to two days) and a margin for the weather, especially if you're flying. Permits: foreign rate, excluding South Asia.
Three questions to settle before you go
Permits
Which permit, and where to buy it?
Depending on the trek, one or two permits at 2,000 to 3,000 rupees (≈ €12 to €17) each, or a special permit in dollars for restricted areas. Some you can buy yourself, others only through an agency.
Guide
Do you need a guide?
Officially yes, almost everywhere, since 2023. In practice it depends on the region: not required in the Everest region, checked in Langtang, mandatory with an agency on the Manaslu.
Transport
How do you get to the start?
Local or tourist bus, shared jeep, small plane: the departure points in Kathmandu and Pokhara, timetables, journey times and prices.
What about the visa? A two-week trek plus a few days in Kathmandu and Pokhara quickly adds up to more than 15 days: get the 30-day visa. The calculator on our sister site Visa Nepal shows the cheapest length.
Which visa length?