Trekking or Climbing in Nepal 2023-2024, Best 6 Hand-Picked Packages

As you might know, or if not, there are many trekking routes in Nepal. You can find short 5-6 day treks to treks that last more than 20 days. Similarly, the numerous locations and each providing a distinct trekking experience may make it tough for you to choose the perfect trekking or climbing package for yourself. So, in this blog, we have decided to introduce you to the three best trekking packages and three best climbing packages, each in the categories moderate, challenging & strenuous. We will also mention the destinations you can extend the trek to, if you wish, or shorten the journey. We hope this will help you pick the right one for yourself for trekking or climbing in Nepal in 2023-2024. 

Trekking in Nepal 2023-2024: hand-picked programs 

Nepal has a lot to offer when it comes to trek and choosing from a bucket full of options is quite tough for us too. We have decided to choose trekking packages from three regions- Everest, Annapurna, and Manaslu. Below you can get a lot of detailed information about the treks and what you can expect during them. 

Everest Base Camp Trek

• Region: Everest region (aka Khumbu region)

• National Park: Sagarmatha National Park

• Restricted area: No

• Difficulty: Moderate 

• Trek duration: 11 days to 16 days

• Elevation: 2,860 meters (Lukla) to 5,644 meters (Kala Patthar)

• Starting/ending point: Lukla

• Accommodation: Lodge

• Best season: Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November)

The Everest base camp trek is a world-famous trek. It is an excellent venture to the lap of Mount Everest (8,849 m), the highest mountain in the world. Everest base camp trekking is considered a moderate trek in the Himalayas. The later part of the trail might get a little difficult because you have already spent a handful of days walking and increased elevation also makes it tough for beginner trekkers. First thing, the Everest base camp trekking explores within the Sagarmatha National Park. You trek in the northeastern part of Nepal, in the Khumbu region. The starting and ending point of the trek is Lukla (2,860 m). The quickest way to reach the trailhead from Kathmandu is by taking the 35-minute Lukla flight. 

From Lukla, the trail gradually ascends through lush rhododendron forests and Sherpa villages, crossing hanging suspension bridges on the way. The Everest base camp trail has a great tourist infrastructure than anywhere else in the Himalayas. You will get plenty of accommodation and meal options. Kala Patthar (5,644 m) is the highest point of the trek and the Everest base camp (5,364 m) is one of the major highlights. Usually, trekkers do a 15-day or 17-day Everest base camp trek. If you want to make the trek shorter, you can go for the Everest base camp trek with a helicopter return. This package combines a helicopter return from Kala Patthar. Likewise, if you have extra time and feel like spending more time in the mountains, then you can extend the trek to beautiful Gokyo Lakes or to the Three High Passes. 

*Note: Make sure to properly research other trekking places in any region before just extending it. Not every place has the same level of difficulty or the same kind of terrain.

For a family trek, Everest View trekking is ideal and travellers who cannot trek in the Himalayas can opt for our Everest base camp helicopter tour. It is a 4-5 hours helicopter flight with multiple landings and breakfast at Hotel Everest View (3,962 m). 

Annapurna Circuit Trek

• Region: Annapurna region

• National Park: Annapurna Conservation Area

• Restricted area: No

• Difficulty: Challenging

• Trek duration: 11 days to 18 days

• Elevation: 2,650/1,410 meters (Chame/Chamje) to 5,416 meters (Thorong La pass)

• Starting/ending point: Chame/Chamje & Nayapul/Jomsom

• Accommodation: Teahouse

• Best season: Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November

The Annapurna circuit trek is another quite famous trekking program in Nepal. It is for adventure hearts who have previous trekking experience and looking to upgrade their game in the Himalayas. The Annapurna circuit trekking route takes you around the tenth-highest mountain in the world, Mt. Annapurna (8,091 m). You will be trekking in the Annapurna region, and the latter part of the itinerary touches the lower Mustang area. We have two Annapurna circuit packages. One is a short Annapurna circuit of 11-days, and another is an 18-days Annapurna circuit trek, which combines the Poon Hill excursion. Both packages cross the challenging Thorong La pass (5,416 m), the highest mountain pass in Nepal, and descend to Muktinath temple (3,710 m). Muktinath is a pilgrimage site. 

The Annapurna circuit trail begins from lush rhododendron forests and numerous remote villages. You will walk along verdant hillsides and gradually ascend to pastures. The trail from Muktinath goes along the deepest gorge in the world, Kali Gandaki gorge. You will walk through white-washed houses and narrow alleys before making it to Jomsom (2,743 m) or Tatopani (1,190 m) as per your itinerary. The mountain views are phenomenal on this trek. You will have an interesting peek into Nepali culture and tradition. Begin a very famous trekking route, and meet with people from around the globe during the peak trekking seasons. Many trekkers take this chance and extend the trek to stunning Tilicho Lake. Likewise, you can also combine Annapurna base camp or Nar Phu valley in the trek. If you want to make the Annapurna circuit trekking more fun, combine helicopter return from Muktinath. The jaw-dropping aerial mountain landscapes are surreal. 

Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek

• Region: Manaslu region

• National Park: Manaslu Conservation Area

• Restricted area: Yes

• Difficulty: Strenuous

• Trek duration: 23 days

• Elevation: 710/900 meters (Soti Khola/Machha Khola) to 5,160 meters (Larkya La pass)

• Starting/ending point: Soti Khola/Machha Khola & Dharapani

• Accommodation: Teahouse

• Best season: Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November

Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley Trek is an off-the-beaten trekking route in the Himalayas that will take you to the eighth-highest mountain in the world, Mt. Manaslu (8,163 m). The Manaslu region is closely located to the Tibetan border and has numerous exotic flora & fauna along with the ancient cultural heritage of the natives. To protect the region and maintain the tourist flow, the Nepal government has made it a restricted area. The Tsum Valley is a hidden valley inside the Manaslu region. It is one of the untouched and unbothered parts of the Himalayas, with scenery like none other. Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley trek take you beyond the mainstream trekking route to the true wilderness of the Himalayas. It is a very difficult trek because of the trodden terrain, limited services & remoteness of the region. 

Given the restricted area, trekking without a guide is not allowed. The trail is not crowded at all, and the mountain panoramas are fantastic. The major highlights of this trek are Some of the famous points on the Manaslu Tsum valley trek are Piren Phu cave (3,361 m), Mu Gompa (3,700 m), ), Rachen Gompa (3,240 m), Gumba Lungdang (3,200 m), Dhephu Doma Gompa (3,900 m), Manaslu base camp (4,800 m), Birendra Tal (3,460 m), Pungyen Gompa (3,980 m), and Larkya La pass (5,106 m). If you cannot spend 23 days trekking, then we also have an 18-day Manaslu Circuit Trek package that does not take you to Tsum Valley. You can also customize the itinerary as per your requirements. 

Climbing in Nepal 2023-2024: hand-picked trekking peaks

Island Peak Climbing

• Region: Everest region

• National Park: Sagarmatha National Park

• Restricted area: No

• Difficulty: Strenuous 

• Beginner-friendly: Yes

• Climbing Duration: 20 days

• Elevation: 2,860 meters (Lukla) to 6,189 meters (Island Peak summit)

• Starting/ending point: Lukla

• Accommodation: Lodge

• Best season: Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November)

Island peak climbing is a non-technical mountain that is 6,189 meters tall. It is a trekking peak, ideal for beginner climbers. The journey is 20 days long that combines a hike to Everest base camp & Kala Patthar too before the summit push. It will help in acclimatization. From the Island Peak base camp, you will reach the summit on the third day. In between, we stop at the high camp.  Island Peak is known as one of the most beautiful peaks in the Himalayas. The peak is surrounded by Lhotse and Nuptse south walls in the north & and Baruntse in the south. In Nepali words, Island Peak is called Imja Tse. For mountaineers aiming towards 8,000 meters high mountains, Island Peak is like a training peak.

Even though Island Peak is non-technical, the journey is very demanding. Climbing a peak takes a lot of effort, fitness, and courage. The initial part of the venture is trekking through dense forests and Sherpa villages like Namche Bazar, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, Gorak Shep, Chukkung, etc. After hiking to Kala Patthar, you'll retrace the path back to Dingboche and turn to Chukkung Valley. From Chukkung, the next stop is the Island Peak base camp. Our mountain guides will give you pre-climbing training to boost your confidence. Following a steep and rocky route, we walk along the snowline using fixed rope and cross a few crevasses. There is a 300-meter headwall before we reach the summit. 

Mera Peak Climbing

• Region: Everest region

• National Park: Sagarmatha National Park

• Restricted area: No

• Difficulty: Strenuous 

• Beginner-friendly: Yes

• Climbing Duration: 18 days

• Elevation: 2,860 meters (Lukla) to 6,476 meters (Mera Peak summit)

• Starting/ending point: Lukla

• Accommodation: Teahouse

• Best season: Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November)

Mera Peak is quite famous in the Everest region for its straightforward snowy summit push. It is another great peak to kick-start your climbing journey in the Himalayas. The Mera Peak is the highest trekking peak in Nepal, situated in the Mahalangur section. Mera Peak Climbing offers a very immersive journey and combines trekking through picturesque villages before you reach the base camp of the peak. Instead of following the famous EBC trail from Lukla, you will walk in the opposite direction, which is rather less crowded and a bit offbeat. The trail goes through alpine woodlands and Sherpa settlements. You will get a lot of opportunities to interact with the locals and see their daily lifestyle. The trekking part is easygoing and will help you in acclimatization. 

Mera Peak is also a non-technical peak to climb. The peak has three summits- Mera Central (6,461 m), Mera North (6,476 m), and Mera South( 6,065 m). We will be climbing the Mera North, the highest point yet the most doable for beginners. Mera Peak is also known as a practice peak and the top offers a surreal view of Everest, Makalu, and Cho Oyu. You will learn to use climbing gears like ice axes, crampons, fixed ropes, etc during the climb. The climbing route is steep, snowy, and rugged. The exposure to wind, sun & cold along with high elevation makes the climbing part challenging. The air pressure and low oxygen level will test your endurance and dare you to push yourself. 

Pisang Peak Climbing

• Region: Annapurna region

• National Park: Annapurna Conservation Area

• Restricted area: No

• Difficulty: Technically advanced

• Beginner-friendly: No

• Climbing Duration: 18 days

• Elevation: 760 meters (Besisahar) to 6,091 meters (PisangPeak summit)

• Starting/ending point: Besisahar

• Accommodation: Teahouse

• Best season: Spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November)

Pisang Peak climbing is on a bit of a difficult side if we compare it to Island Peak or Mera Peak. The climbing route has a few technical sections. Pisang Peak is located in the north-central part of Nepal, in the beautiful Annapurna region. It is a 15-day program through lovely villages and verdant forests. Pisang Peak is the lowest trekking peak. Pisang Peak is also a good option for first-time climbers looking for a little more challenges. This peak was first climbed in 1955. The overall journey is very rewarding and peaceful. As usual, the trekking part lets you acclimatize before the summit push and also allows you to interact with the locals along the way. The mountain views are heavenly and will keep you motivated. Leaving Pisang village, you will walk through thin forests and pastures to reach Kharka (4,380 m). This is the base camp of Pisang Peak. Here, we spend a couple of nights acclimatizing and get pre-climbing training in the meantime. The route then ascends to Pisang Peak High Camp at 5,400 meters via the southwest ridge. The route from the high camp is well-defined up to the summit. We follow steep snow slopes to reach the top of the mountain. On the way, we will be using fixed ropes and other climbing equipment to cross technical sections like rocky slabs & handfuls of crevasses. The elevation makes it very difficult to walk up to the summit.