Nepal sits between India and Tibet (China), with the Himalayas running east–west across the entire country. The main trekking regions are:

• Khumbu / Everest region — Lukla flight access; EBC, Gokyo, Three Passes
• Annapurna region — world’s most-trekked area; Circuit, Base Camp, Poon Hill, Mardi Himal
• Langtang — closest major range to Kathmandu; bus-accessible
• Manaslu Circuit — restricted area; fewer crowds than Annapurna
• Upper Mustang — high-altitude Tibetan desert; medieval city of Lo Manthang; USD 500 permit
• Dolpo — extremely remote western Nepal; Inner Dolpo USD 500/10-day permit
• Kanchenjunga — far eastern Nepal; restricted area; world’s 3rd highest peak

Nepal spans the world’s most dramatic altitude range within a single country:

• High Himalayan zone — glaciated peaks, moraines, snowfields above 5,000m
• Alpine zone — rhododendron forests and high yak pastures at 3,000–5,000m
• Mid-hills — terraced farmland, Sherpa, Gurung and Tamang villages at 1,000–3,000m
• Rain-shadow zones — Mustang, Dolpo: arid Tibetan plateau character, very different from the main range
• Restricted valleys — Tsum, Nar Phu: among the last unchanged Himalayan cultures on Earth

Trail surfaces range from well-paved stone staircases on EBC to unmarked glacier moraine in remote areas. Most major routes are well-signed in Nepali and English.

Nepal’s trail network includes some of the world’s definitive multi-day routes:

• Everest Base Camp — 12–14 days; 5,364m; the world’s most iconic high-altitude trek
• Annapurna Circuit — 14–18 days; Thorong La Pass 5,416m; the classic Himalayan circuit
• Annapurna Base Camp — 10–12 days; 4,130m; a glacial amphitheatre ringed by 7,000m+ peaks
• Gokyo + Three Passes — 18–22 days; arguably better views than EBC with fewer crowds
• Manaslu Circuit — 14–18 days; Larke La 5,160m; restricted area with wilder character
• Poon Hill — 4–5 days; Nepal’s most celebrated sunrise panorama; ideal first trek
• Upper Mustang — 14–16 days; medieval walled city at 3,840m; extraordinary Tibetan culture
• Kanchenjunga Circuit — 20–25 days; North BC 5,143m; far eastern Nepal wilderness

Nepal has well-defined routes for every level of hiker:

• Easy — Poon Hill (4–5 days), Langtang Valley (7 days), Ghorepani–Ghandruk loop: no extreme altitude, well-signed, plentiful teahouses
• Moderate — Annapurna Base Camp, Everest Base Camp: significant altitude but manageable with proper pacing and acclimatization
• Hard — Annapurna Circuit, Manaslu Circuit: long duration, high passes, remote sections
• Very hard — Kanchenjunga, Dolpo, Nar Phu: restricted areas, minimal infrastructure, true wilderness
• Mountaineering — trekking peaks (Island Peak, Mera Peak) and 8,000m expeditions

Nepal has a layered permit system that varies by region:

• TIMS card — NPR 2,000; required for most open trekking zones
• National park permits — NPR 3,000 each for Sagarmatha (Khumbu), ACAP (Annapurna), Langtang
• Restricted Area Permits — Manaslu, Mustang, Dolpo, Kanchenjunga, Nar Phu, Tsum Valley: only through a registered Nepali agency with a mandatory licensed guide; minimum group of 2
• Since April 2023 Nepal officially requires a registered guide for all national park trekking — enforcement varies by route
• Passing Buddhist mani walls and chortens on the LEFT (clockwise) is a religious requirement
• Single-use plastic banned in most trekking areas — carry a reusable bottle and purification

Equipment needs vary dramatically by route and altitude:

• Sleeping bag — rated -10°C minimum; essential above 3,500m even in teahouses
• Down jacket — essential for evenings above 3,000m year-round
• Waterproof shell — mandatory; Himalayan weather changes within minutes
• Trekking poles — strongly recommended for steep descents and river crossings
• Water purification — iodine tablets or Steripen; avoid single-use plastic
• Pulse oximeter — small, cheap, essential for monitoring altitude acclimatization
• Diamox (acetazolamide) — altitude medication; get a prescription before travel
• Cash (NPR) — no ATMs above Namche/Pokhara; carry full trek budget in cash

Emergency: Police 100 | Ambulance 102 | Tourist Police Kathmandu +977-1-4247041

Travel insurance is mandatory for any trek above 3,000m. Your policy must explicitly cover high-altitude trekking (specify the altitude — at least 6,000m for Kala Patthar), emergency helicopter evacuation and medical repatriation.

• Helicopter rescue is fast and effective throughout major trekking regions — but costs USD 3,000–8,000; insurance is not optional
• Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) clinics at Pheriche and Manang offer free altitude consultations and daily talks
• Satellite communicators (Garmin inReach) recommended for all restricted-area and remote routes
• Most pilots will not fly above 5,500m — proper acclimatization is your primary safety net

Nepal’s weather is driven by the South Asian monsoon — one of the world’s most dramatic seasonal weather systems:

• Monsoon (June–September) — heavy rain, leeches, landslides, poor visibility; most teahouses remain open
• Post-monsoon (October–November) — clear skies, stable conditions, excellent visibility; peak season
• Winter (December–February) — cold and dry; high passes may be snowbound; below -20°C above 5,000m possible
• Spring (March–May) — second best season; rhododendrons bloom; hazy afternoons in May
• Avalanche risk in the Annapurna Sanctuary (ABC trek) June–September — section officially closed

• Autumn (October–November) — best overall: clear skies, stable weather, excellent mountain views; most popular and most expensive
• Spring (March–May) — second best: rhododendrons in bloom, good visibility; Everest and Annapurna climbing season underway
• Winter (December–February) — cold and uncrowded; lower trails open; high passes may be snowbound
• Monsoon (June–September) — heavy rain and leeches on most routes; rain-shadow areas (Mustang, Dolpo) are excellent and best visited now

All trekking in Nepal starts from Kathmandu or Pokhara:

• Kathmandu (TIA) — main international gateway; all permits available here; served by most major Asian and Gulf hubs
• Everest region — fly Kathmandu or Ramechhap → Lukla (40 min); flights are weather-dependent — always allow 1–2 buffer days minimum
• Annapurna / Langtang — bus or taxi from Kathmandu or Pokhara to trailhead; no flight needed
• Pokhara — base for all Annapurna treks; 6–7hr bus or 25 min flight from Kathmandu
• Manaslu — 8–9hr drive from Kathmandu to Machha Khola trailhead
• Kanchenjunga — fly Kathmandu → Bhadrapur + 4–6hr drive to Taplejung
• Mustang / Dolpo — fly Pokhara → Jomsom (Mustang) or Nepalgunj → Juphal (Dolpo)

• Drone use in Nepal’s national parks and conservation areas is strictly prohibited without a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN)
• Sagarmatha NP (Khumbu/EBC region) — drones prohibited; heavy fines enforced by NTNC rangers
• Annapurna Conservation Area — drone flights require advance NTNC permission; rarely granted to tourists
• Commercial filming requires separate Ministry of Information permits
• Drones near Lukla airport are an aviation hazard and strictly forbidden