Trekking in Nepal

Whether you’re trekking in Nepal for the first time or you’ve been often before, the experience is exhilarating. To trek amongst the highest mountains on earth in the company of some of the warmest and friendliest people anywhere makes a walking holiday here quite unforgettable.

Where to stay?
Depending on the trek we either camp or stay in traditional teahouses (these are small, family-run mountain lodges offering meals and simple accommodation). On all except one tour we include all meals while you are trekking. Meals are prepared by your cook team whilst camping or provided by the host family in the teahouses. They include a good variety of traditional food, soups and vegetable dishes and even the odd high altitude apple pie. Please see our trip notes for further information.

A typical day on trek
We start early in the morning to catch the clearest weather and the best views and often cover most of the day’s trek before lunch. We then usually make a long and relaxed stop for lunch before continuing to our overnight accommodation. At all times you can walk at your own pace and take plenty of breaks along the way.

Where to go?
Most trekkers choose between Nepal’s two most popular regions: Annapurna in the west and the Everest (Khumbu) region in the east. Both are spectacular but in different ways: the Everest region is very high, rocky and home to the wonderfully hospitable Sherpa people; the Annapurna region is lower and the trekking routes are more varied, with terraced farmland, forests and pastures. You could also venture into less well-known regions, such as Manaslu or Mustang, for a chance to witness mountain cultures still relatively untouched by tourism.

The Everest Region

Mount Everest is the focus of all our treks in the Everest region, whether you choose the classic hike to Everest Base Camp, the challenging 'High Passes of Everest' route, or one of the less demanding trips exploring the beautiful Sherpa villages and monasteries tucked into the foothills. With views of several of the world’s highest mountains, including the iconic peak of Everest, this region is regarded by many as one of the most spectacular trekking destinations anywhere.

View and book our treks in the Everest Region

Everest Base Camp blog

Find out what the Everest Base Camp trek is like - blog includes a day by day account of the trek and answers questions such as 'what is the accommodation/ food/ trekking like?'. Read our Everest Base Camp blog.

When to go?

The main trekking season is from mid-September to mid-April. In the autumn months you can expect crystal clear skies and comfortable walking temperatures. Between December and February the temperatures drop but the trails are quieter and the mountain views are clear.  In the spring  the rhododendron forests  burst into flower and temperatures are again ideal for trekking. Between May and August the heat builds up and the monsoon rains come, except to some northern regions such as Mustang, which lies beyond the Himalayan rain-shadow.

The Annapurnas

With several peaks over 7,000 metres and with the soaring silhouette of Annapurna I rising to 8,091 metres, the Annapurna massif is regarded as one of the most spectacular mountain regions of the world. You can choose between relatively easy walks through the fertile foothills and more demanding, high altitude treks, such as the classic Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Sanctuary routes.

 View and book our treks in the Annapurna Region

Our Porter Team

One of the highlights of your trek is likely to be the chance to spend time with the Sherpas and porters who accompany us. They are the backbone of our trekking trips and we feel strongly that their working practices should be fair. We follow the guidelines of the International Porter Protection Group and support their aim of improving the conditions of mountain porters in the industry worldwide.

Why Choose Explore?

• Local knowledge: 30 years of experience in organising treks in Nepal and long established network of local partners throughout the country
• Our trek leaders in Nepal are consistently voted among the best Explore leaders anywhere in the world 
• Our trekking ascent rates are carefully planned to be safe and fall within  Wilderness Medicine Society (WMS) guidelines
•  All our trek leaders are qualified in first aid and specially trained to recognise and deal with Altitude Sickness
• We carry a Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC) on treks above 3000 metres
  On treks into extremely remote areas we carry a satellite phone for emergency use
• We support our trek crew by following the guidelines of the International Porter Protection Group (www.ippg.net)
• All our trekking staff, from trek leaders to guides, porters and cooks, are Nepali – revenues from our treks benefit the local people
• All meals are included on camping and teahouse based treks (except on the QEK trek)
• Better than normal pre-trek and post-trek hotel accommodation in Kathmandu or Pokhara

FREE Explore kitbag

If you trek with us in Nepal you will receive a free Explore kitbag when you arrive in Kathmandu. Designed for the rugged mountain environment, the 80 litre capacity bag is large enough to carry all your gear and is preferred by our porters.