Introduction

Nepal is the ultimate destination for the trekking enthusiast – offering a lot of possibilities from the short and easy plains to the demanding challenges of the snowy peaks. If you have the time and energy to trek, don’t miss the opportunity to leave Kathmandu and see the spectacular beauty and the uniqueculture of Nepal.

Nepal is the land that made trekking famous because it is a land of many mountains trails and few roads. Trekking is the only way to see the Himalaya up close, to explore traditional villages and meet the friendly country side people. Most of the trekking routes pass through the many national parks and wildlife reserves which consist of the rich vegetation of the country. Even a short trek from Kathmandu will take one to very clourful hamlets surrounded by terraced fields and forrested ridges. Longer treks will take one through different cultures and different ecosystems, so unique places that it would make one feel its some entirely different planet out there. There are almost always places to stay and meet people because Nepal's country people walk the same trials as the trekkers. Trekking in Nepal is both an invigorating wilderness experience and a deeply enriching cultural experience.

You will find numerous small shops serving tea and simple food to travellers at trail junctions, bridge sites and convenient resting places. In the high dry valleys beyond the Himalayas, villages are set wider apart, but one can always find cottages and small hamlets to spend the night. These trans-Himalayan valleys provide sweeping views of rolling pastureland, glaciers and magnificent snow peaks. In the mountains, the trails will include some really steep slopes with plunging waterfalls or wind through dense forests. There is always a village within each day's walk ready to extend its welcome.

Some popular trekking routes in Nepal:

• The Everest Region
• The Annapurna Circuit
• The Annapurna Sanctuary and around Pokhara
• Helambu, Gosainkunda and Langtang
• Rara Lake
• Dolpa
• Kanchenjunga

Related Links

Nepal: A Cultural Caravan for the Family
Caravan, the Movie