Trek Mystical Nepal – Everest Base Camp and Annapurna Sanctuary and Circuit!
Today we trek one of the world’s most breathtaking regions: the Himalayan mountains of Nepal! These majestic mountains are home of some of the world’s tallest peaks, including Mount Everest itself at 29,032’/8849 m.
But you don’t have to climb Mount Everest to enjoy the splendor of the Himalayan mountains! There are several amazing treks you can do at more realistic elevations for regular people like you and me. These treks enable you to enjoy the majestic peaks, but at a more tolerable elevation above sea level.
Popular bucket list adventures for hikers in Nepal include Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Sanctuary or Circuit. We will cover all of these Nepal treks below.
Nepal Trekking Elevations
- Everest Base Camp is 17,598’/5364 m high.
- The highest elevation of the Annapurna Circuit is on Thorong La Pass at 17,769’/5416 m
- Whereas on the Annapurna Sanctuary, the highest elevation you’d be hiking is 13,546’/4130 m.
So depending on your body’s tolerance for altitude, you can choose the Nepal trek that best suits your abilities.
Regardless of which trek in Nepal that you choose, you MUST train!
When to Trek Nepal
Nepal has two hiking seasons: spring and fall. So you should plan to trek Nepal in March or April, or mid-September or October.
If you are hiking to Everest Base Camp (EBC), you will see more hikers who will be attempting to summit Mount Everest during the spring. So while that is exciting to witness, it also means the trail – since you are using the same trail – is quite busy. I personally chose to book my EBC trek in September.
The summer monsoon months are June into September. This means more green and less dust (and bugs). The fall and spring trekking months allow for long days and warmer temperatures. Winter of course, at these elevations are uber cold.
How Difficult is Trekking in Nepal
You can choose how hard you want your Nepal trekking adventure to be. For example, if you go with my affiliate Active Adventures, they offer the following virtually all-inclusive Nepal trekking tours:
- Everest Base Camp – Level 5 (out of 5) for difficulty – 19 days
- Annapurna Base Camp – Level 4 – 14 days
- Kathmandu Valley PLUS Bhutan – Level 3 – 12 days
Active Adventures offers my listeners an exclusive discount.
Email me for the current Active Adventures Promo Code.
Day Hiking Nepal
Fortunately, on all three of Active Adventures Nepal tours, a Sherpa (local porter) will be carrying the bulk of your gear so all you have to do is carry your daypack and hike! You will be able to visit several Sherpa villages on your trek.
You want to make sure you go with a reputable company (like Active Adventures) as there are many who take advantage of their porters. You also want to ensure your own camfort and safety, both while trekking as well as with your food and accommodations. Your Nepal tour company is not where you want to skimp! You also want to be sure to have Travel Insurance in case you have a medical issue (or any of the other covered reasons).
Active Adventures
I recommend doing your Bucket List adventures with Active Adventures! THey know how to do things right: small groups, A+++ guides, outstanding food, always an exciting itinerary that will showcase the best the area has to offer – all while kwwping you ACTIVE!
I have personally used them six time (#7 is EBC this fall!!!).
Trekking Everest Base Camp (EBC)
This is the most difficult of the Nepal treks I cover on the Active Travel Adventures podcast (indeed the msot difficult trek period I cover!).
Plan to hike in the spring or fall. Also plan to train for several months before your trek! You will be climbing over 17,500′ elevation above sea level, so oxygen is thin making the trek feel more challenging. A good tour operator like Active Adventures will allow for acclimatization.
Highlights of your Everest Base Camp Trek
- Views of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world at 29,032’/8849 m (you will actually see four of the top six on your EBC trek!)
- Trek through Sherpa villages
- Explore Kathmandu
- Visit the Swayambhunath Monkey Temple
- Check out the Namche Bazaar
- Take off and land at the famous Lukla airport
Active Adventures full 19 Day Everest Base Camp Itinerary
Email me for the current Active Adventures Promo Code
I do my Everest Base Camp trek this fall. You can listen to my interview of someone who’s already trekked to Everest Base Camp on the podcast player above.
Trek Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal
If you want the trekking Nepal experience, but aren’t sure you are up to a Level 5 difficulty rating, consider the stunning Annapurna option instead of trekking to Everest Base Camp! You will be hiking at around 5000′ lower elevation, which means a LOT more oxygen!
The Annapurna Base Camp trek also takes less time : 14 days instead of 19, which can be a factor if you can’t get as much time off. This trek is rated 4 out of 5 for difficulty. You should still train for several months in advance!
The Annapurna Circuit trek is now a gravel road, so the Active Adventures tour instead takes you along the Annapurna Sanctuary Trail in the heart of the Annapurna mountains.
You’ll be rewarded with 360 views and get to hike up the glacial Modi Khola River gorge, pass through tiny Gurung settlements, and enjoy spectacular alpine views daily!
And as with the EBC tour, you’ll get to experience Kathmandu, Namche Bazaar, and the Monkey Temple.
Still rocking it with adventure travel at 72 years old, we talk to Stan Jacobson about his trip to the Annapurna Sanctuary. Stan shares his encounters with the people, going through the trail, visiting temples, and more! This is a doable adventure, but you MUST TRAIN for it. Get the details and listen to my podcast interview above.
Kathmandu Nepal – Gateway to Nepal Trekking Adventures
Regardless of the Nepal trek you choose, you will be flying in and out of Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). Many airlines service this airport. To see direct flights so you can figure out the best way for you to get there, scroll down to the bottom of this airport link.
The bustling city of Kathmandu will offer you an explosion of sights, sounds, smells and tastes! Kathmandu is a cacophony for the senses! So be sure to allow time to fully explore this magical place.
And to continue on for your Nepal trek, you will also get to fly into the famous Lukla airport, known for its super short runway. Pilots are specially trained for this airport and only a select few are authorized to land and take off from Lukla as the mountains stare imposingly at the end of the runway. But don’t worry: if the winds and weather aren’t just right, your flight will be postponed.
Lukla Airport Runway
Lukla Airport
One of the many stories you will be telling is your landing and takeoff of Lukla Airport!
You can check out a Lukla landing here, and a take off below.
Nepal plus Bhutan Active Vacation
If you want to go on an active holiday in the Himalayan mountains, but trekking at the high elevations of Everest or the Annapurna Base Camp seems like more than you want to do, consider Active Adventures Kathmandu and Bhutan tour! On this tour, you combine adventure with culture on a fantastic trip! It is rated 3 out of 5 for difficulty.
Kathmandu sits at just 4600’/1,400 m, so elevation is not an issue. So you can explore the city as well as trek in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park in the foothills of the Kathmandu Valley. You’ll visit the famous UNESCA Bouldhanath Stupa (a Buddhist structure that contains relics for meditation and prayer. This one is the largest in Nepal and one of the largest in the world).
You’ll spend five days exploring Nepal and six days exploring Bhutan, including hiking up to the famous Paro Taktsang monastery known as Tiger’s Nest, built into the side of a cliff!
See the complete Active Adventures Nepal and Bhutan Itinerary here
While I don’t get to Nepal until this fall, I visited Bhutan a few years ago and absolutely loved it! You can hear my stories below:
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