Trekking in Nepal

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.

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 beautiful 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.

When to go?
The main trekking season is from the end of September to mid-April. From September to November you can expect crystal clear skies and comfortable walking temperatures. Between December and February the temperatures drop but trails are quieter and the mountain views are clear. In March and April the rhododendron forests burst into flower and temperatures are once again ideal for trekking.

Where to stay?
Depending on the trek we either camp or stay in small, family-run lodges (called teahouses). Either way we make sure you can rest and sleep as comfortably possible to prepare you for the next day's trek.

Meals on trek 
A key feature on all our treks are the three hearty meals we include each day. When trekking at altitude you burn at least 6,000 calories a day, so you need to take on fuel - and plenty of it! On our camping-based treks the meals are freshly prepared by our camp cooks, and on the lodge-based treks the host families provide our meals. Whether you camp or stay in mountain lodges you will enjoy a good variety of traditional food, soups and vegetable dishes and even the odd high altitude apple pie. Please see our Tour Notes for further information.

Why include meals?
Unlike most Nepal trekking companies we include all your meals while you’re trekking with us. This saves you about £25 to £35 per day (equivalent to about £360 on the 12 day Everest Base Camp trek or £510 on the 17 day Annapurna Circuit). To have your meals included is much more convenient at the lodges, with less time spent ordering a la carte and waiting for individual meals to arrive, not to mention splitting out and paying the bill at the end. Included meals are also better for the mountain environment, as less cooking fuel is needed, and much more efficient and convenient for our hosts.

A typical day on trek
On a typical trekking day we start early in the morning to catch the clearest weather and the best views. We often cover most of the day’s trek before lunch. We then take a long and relaxed break for lunch before continuing to our overnight stop. 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 lesser-known regions, such as Manaslu, for a chance to trek through mountain cultures still scarcely touched by the outside world.

Why choose Explore?

• Local knowledge: we have over 30 years of experience in organising treks in Nepal, with a long established network of local trekking partners throughout the country
• Trek leaders: our trek leaders in Nepal are consistently voted among the best Explore leaders anywhere in the world 
• Ascent rates: our trekking ascent rates are carefully planned to minimise the risks of altitude sickness, complying with Wilderness Medicine Society (WMS) guidelines
• First aid: all our trek leaders are qualified in first aid and specially trained to recognise and deal with the symptoms of altitude sickness
• Portable Altitude Chamber: as a precaution we carry a Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC) on treks above 3,000 metres; we also carry satellite phones for emergency use on the most remote treks
• Porter welfare: we support the welfare of all our trekking crew by following the International Porter Protection Group guidelines (www.ippg.net)
• Supporting local economies: all our trekking staff, from trek leaders to guides, porters and cooks, are Nepali – revenues from all our Nepal treks benefit the local people
• Included meals: whether you book a camping or lodge based trek all your meals will be included, saving you £25 to £35 per day and making mealtimes much quicker and more convenient
• Comfortable pre- and post-trek hotels: you can relax before and after your trek in hotels carefully chosen for their comfort levels

FREE Explore kitbag

If you book a Nepal trek with us we will give you a free Explore kitbag on your arrival 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.