2 Best Treks in Nepal

Nepal is famous for adventure trekking. The terrain of the Nepalese Himalayas offers various stunning trekking routes. It is rather unfair to name one as the best trek in Nepal. As, these routes are different and best on their own way.

You can find the 2 best treks in Nepal that suits you by looking at the features offered by those treks.

The best trek for one depends on his/her choice of difficulty. Also, number of days you spend for treks. The budget and trek style also plays role in shaping your treks. Here, we have listed down the 2 best treks in Nepal based on popularity, scenery, culture, and price.

Find out which treks in Nepal is the best for you and meets your preferences

1. Everest Base Camp Trek

Everest Base Camp Trek is quite simply the classic trek in Nepal. High in the priority list of trekkers, the Everest Base Camp is one of the most visited regions in the Himalaya. The two week trek starts and finishes at Lukla, an airstrip to the south of the region better known as the ‘Gateway to Everest’. The Everest Base Camp Trek is among the most famous treks in the world. It certainly deserves its reputation thanks to its history, its great views and the Sherpa culture you experience during the trek. However, since the trek is so popular. Yet despite the crowds, Everest Base Camp continues to be a great trek that deserves to be listed among Nepal’s 2 best treks.

Trip Facts

Everest Base Camp Highlights

• Visit Buddhist Tengboche Monastery
• Namche Bazar – a gateway to Mount Everest
• Khumbu Glacier
• Kala Patthar- the highest point of the trek- a vantage point for the Everest view
• Visit a school established by Sir Edmund Hillary in Khumjung village

Everest Base Camp Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu
Day 2: Short flight to Lukla–Trek to Phakding
Day 3: Trek to Namche Bazaar
Day 4: Acclimatization day trip to Namche Bazaar.
Day 5: Trek to Tengboche
Day 6: Trek to Dingboche
Day 7: Acclimatization day trip to Dingboche.
Day 8: Trek to Lobuche
Day 9: Trek Lobuche to Everest Base Camp (EBC) – back to Gorak Shep
Day 10: Hike up to Kala Pattar and then trek to Periche
Day 11: Trek to Namche Bazaar
Day 12: Namche to Lukla
Day 13: Fly back to Kathmandu
Day 14: Departure, or extend your tour for other activities in Nepal.

Best time to do Everest Base Camp

The best time to do Everest base camp are pre-monsoon (February, March, April and May) and post monsoon (late September, October, November and December) It is possible to make the journey in February and early September but we prefer the above for our treks into Everest base camp.

2. Annapurna Circuit Trek

Annapurna Circuit Trek is a delightful trek in the foothills of entire Annapurna range. The trek leads you from the lush pastures to the Alpine forests. To conclude in the barren desert-like terrains of Manang and Mustang. And the bonus is every corner of the route promises a majestic view of Annapurna range. Annapurna Circuit offers a diverse trek route where you get a chance to accumulate as many memories as you like to. However, since the trek is so popular. Annapurna Circuit continues to be a great trek that deserves to be listed among Nepal’s 2 best treks.

Trip Facts

Annapurna Circuit Highlights

• Cross Thorong La Pass
• Kali Gandaki Gorge- deepest in the world
• Muktinath temple, Kagbeni, Jomsom
• Tilicho lake- lake situated at the highest altitude
• Ethnic villages of Gurungs and Magars
• Rupse Waterfall, Natural hot spring in Tatopani

Annapurna Circuit Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.
Day 02: Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour.
Day 03: Drive Kathmandu to Chame (8/9 hours) via jeep.
Day 04: Trek Chame to Pisang (3,300m/10824ft): 5 – 6 hours
Day 05: Trek Pisang to Manang 6 – 7 hours
Day 06: Rest day at Manang
Day 07: Trek Manang to Yak Kharka (4,110m/13,484ft): 3 – 4 hours
Day 08: Trek Yak Khark to Thorung phedi (4,600m/15,092ft): 3 – 4 hours
Day 09: Trek Thorung Phedi to Muktinath (3,800m/12,467ft) via Thorong La pass (5416m/17764ft): 7 – 8 hours
Day 10: Drive to Tatopani (1,200m/3,937ft): 6 – 7 hours
Day 11: Trek Tatopani to Ghorepani (2,850m/9,350ft): 7 – 8 hours
Day 12: Trek Ghorepani to Poon Hill to Tadapani (2,700m/8,860ft): 6 – 7 hours
Day 13: Trek Tadapani to Pokhara (850m/2,789ft) via Ghandruk: 5 – 6 hours trek, 1 hour drive
Day 14: Pokhara free day
Day 15: Drive / Flight Pokhara to Kathmandu
Day 16: Final departure

Best time to do Annapurna Circuit Trek

Trekking to Annapurna circuit is possible at any time of the year. However, the best time for Annapurna Circuit trekking is during Autumn (September, October, and November). The time between mid-September to mid-November is the peak time to go. After Autumn, Spring is the second best time.

Additional Tips for trekking in Nepal

• You can buy the permits in Kathmandu from the Nepal Tourism Board, in Pokhara from the Nepal Tourism Board (for Annapurna only), or the trekking tour operator that you intend to use will arrange this on your behalf in Nepal.
• The entry permit is valid for one conservation area and should be carried during the entire trip for validation should conservation area personnel request to view it.
• As this is Nepal, allow a day or two for logistical arrangements, arranging documentation, flight delays, cancellations, and road delays, amongst others.
• For most treks in Nepal, you have the choice of adjusting the duration to suit your needs.
• If you time your trek during one of the local festivals of the region you can get an in-depth cultural experience to go along with the hiking experience.
• I understand that most people are nervous about travelling in Nepal or how to go about making the arrangements for the trek, but I can comfort you that you don’t need to go with prearranged tour if you don’t want to. You can show up in Kathmandu or Pokhara and make all arrangements for the trek once there and start trekking the following day.
• A tea-house is a combination of a guesthouse with an accompanying dining room. The rooms are fairly basic with twin beds.
• Most tea-houses have electricity for charging mobile phones and cameras although there may be a small charge for this.
• There is usually one porter for every two travellers who will carry your trekking gear on the trail. You don’t need to carry a lot and the maximum weight each is usually 10 kgs.
• It is discouraged to purchase bottled water while on the trail as this has become an environmental hazard. All tea houses have boiled water for trekkers and you can bring water purification tablets along.

So you want to go trekking in Nepal. Wonderful! We want to go with you! But do you choose the Annapurna Circuit trek or the Everest Base Camp trek? Helping you answer that question is what this blog post is all about. We talk trek length, difficulty, variety, weather, cost and more!

Both the Annapurna Circuit and Everest Base Camp treks have variable routes and itineraries you can follow. When you trek with Follow Alice, the Annapurna Circuit trek is a 16-day trip overall, while the Everest Base Camp trek is a 12-day trip overall. So those with limited time might like to choose the Annapurna Circuit.