Trekking

Routes we operate ourselves

We sell treks we have actually run: Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, Langtang Valley, Manaslu with Tsum Valley, and rain-shadow routes to Muktinath. Permits, domestic flights, lodge bookings, and guide assignments are handled from our Durbarmarg desk, not passed to a marketplace agent.

Group sizes stay small enough for the lead guide to know every traveller by name. Pre-departure briefings cover altitude symptoms, packing, and what to expect at each elevation band before you board the Lukla or Pokhara flight.

Permits, safety, and what the law requires

Every trekker entering a restricted or national park area in Nepal must carry a TIMS (Trekkers' Information Management System) card and the relevant park entry permit. We arrange both before departure. Guides on our treks hold licenses issued by the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management. A licensed guide is not optional on restricted-area routes such as Manaslu, Upper Dolpo, or the Tsum Valley; it is a legal requirement.

Altitude sickness is the most serious risk on Everest Base Camp, Manaslu, and Annapurna Circuit routes. We build acclimatisation days into every itinerary above 3,500 metres and brief every guest on symptoms before the trek begins. Guides carry basic first-aid kits and emergency oxygen on high-altitude departures. If a guest cannot continue, evacuation by helicopter from Lukla, Namche, or Manang is arranged through the Kathmandu desk, not left to chance at a teahouse.

Insurance that covers high-altitude rescue and helicopter evacuation is required for all our trekking programmes. We check coverage during the booking process, not on the trail.

Seasons and fitness

The clearest Himalayan views usually fall in March to May and September to November. October is the single most popular trekking month: stable weather, post-monsoon clarity, and festival atmosphere in Kathmandu. April brings rhododendron bloom on Annapurna and Langtang routes. December and January suit Poon Hill and valley treks at lower elevation.

We match route difficulty to your timeline. First-time trekkers often start with Poon Hill (three to four days), Langtang Valley (seven to eight days), or Annapurna Base Camp (ten to twelve days). Experienced walkers with good cardiovascular fitness can target Everest Base Camp (fourteen days) or the Annapurna Circuit with high passes (sixteen to twenty days). Manaslu and restricted-area treks need at least three weeks and prior trekking experience.

Fitness preparation matters more than general health for high routes. We recommend four to six weeks of cardio training before departures above 4,000 metres, focusing on sustained uphill walking with a loaded pack rather than gym machines.

Teahouse vs camping and what to expect

Most Everest, Annapurna, and Langtang routes use teahouses: family-run guesthouses providing twin rooms, hot meals, and charging points at each stopping village. Standards vary by altitude; rooms at Thorong High Camp or Gorak Shep are basic by necessity. We brief guests on realistic expectations before they arrive at the high camps.

Camping treks apply to restricted areas where teahouse infrastructure is limited, such as Manaslu, Tsum Valley, and Upper Dolpo. Our camping programmes use a full kitchen crew, a cook, a porter team, and a guide. Sleeping tents, dining tent, and toilet tent are standard. Camping adds cost but opens routes not accessible on a teahouse programme.

Last updated April 2026.