Trekking in Nepal: 83 questions, answered

The two main seasons are autumn (late September to November) and spring (March to May). October and November have the clearest, most stable weather, and April brings the rhododendrons into flower. Winter suits lower treks, and the monsoon (June to mid-September) is best spent in rain-shadow areas such as Upper Mustang.

Yes. Upper Mustang, Nar Phu and upper Manang lie in the rain shadow and stay mostly dry from June to August. Lower treks such as Poon Hill are walkable but wet, with leeches, cloud and road or flight disruption. Build in spare days.

Not on lower treks. Poon Hill, Ghandruk, Panchase and Australian Camp are clear and quiet in January, with frosty nights. Above 4,000 m, nights drop well below −10 °C, and passes such as Thorong La can close after snowfall.

Short treks from Pokhara take 2–5 days (Australian Camp, Poon Hill, Mardi Himal). Annapurna Base Camp takes 7–10 days, Everest Base Camp 12–14 days from Lukla, and the Annapurna Circuit or Manaslu 12–16 days. Add a day or two at each end for travel and buffer.

It depends on what you like. Annapurna Base Camp puts you in a ring of 7,000–8,000 m peaks, Everest Base Camp has the famous names, and Manaslu combines big mountains with quiet villages. For a short trip, Poon Hill's sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna is hard to beat.

Popular stops such as Ghorepani, ABC and Gorak Shep are busy in mid-October, and rooms can fill up. Early November or late September gives nearly the same weather with fewer people. A guide who phones ahead makes peak-season lodging much easier.

Yes. Pokhara is an easy base to return to. Common pairings are Poon Hill followed by Annapurna Base Camp via Tadapani and Chhomrong, or Mardi Himal followed by a few days' rest in Lakeside and then ABC.

Most nationalities need a tourist visa, available on arrival at Kathmandu airport or at land borders, or online in advance. As of 2026, the fees are USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days and USD 125 for 90 days, paid in cash. Indian citizens don't need a visa.

In most national parks and conservation areas, including Annapurna and Langtang, no. Since 1 April 2023, foreign trekkers must have a licensed guide arranged through a registered agency. The Everest (Khumbu) region didn't adopt the rule, so independent trekking is still possible there. Mantra Mountain in Pokhara can arrange a licensed guide or porter-guide.

For Annapurna treks you need ACAP (NPR 3,000) and a TIMS card (NPR 2,000). Everest needs the Sagarmatha National Park permit (NPR 3,000) and the Khumbu municipality fee (NPR 2,000). Restricted areas such as Manaslu, Upper Mustang and Nar Phu also need a Restricted Area Permit through an agency.

NPR 3,000 for foreign nationals and NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, as of 2026. It covers all Annapurna-region treks, including Poon Hill, ABC, Mardi and the Circuit. Buy it before the trek, because the fee doubles at checkpoints.

At the Nepal Tourism Board office in Pardi, Damside, a short taxi ride from Lakeside, which has the ACAP counter. TIMS is issued through registered agencies, so most trekkers have their agency arrange both.

Yes, in the Annapurna, Manaslu and Langtang regions. It costs NPR 2,000 and is issued through a registered trekking agency. It isn't required in the Everest region, where the Khumbu municipality fee applies instead.

Manaslu, Tsum Valley, Nar Phu and Upper Mustang are the main restricted areas near Pokhara. Each needs a Restricted Area Permit, a licensed guide and at least two trekkers, arranged through an agency. Upper Mustang is the most expensive, at USD 500 for 10 days.

Yes. The Khumbu municipality didn't adopt the 2023 guide rule, so independent trekking is allowed. You still need the two local permits, which total NPR 5,000. Given the altitude of over 5,000 m, many people still hire a guide or porter from Lukla.

No. These Pokhara Valley day hikes are outside any conservation area, so you need no trekking permit and no guide. They're a good warm-up before a longer trek.

Bring two per permit, so four covers most Annapurna or Everest treks, plus your passport. Restricted area permits also need the original passport with a valid visa, handled through your agency.

Generally yes. Nepal is welcoming, and teahouse trails are busy and sociable in season. The main risk is unlicensed freelance guides, so book through a registered agency and check the guide's licence card. Female guides are available if you ask early.

Only in a few places, mainly the Everest region and the Pokhara Valley day hikes. Most other trekking areas require a licensed guide. Solo travellers usually hire a guide or porter-guide, join a small group, or share a guide with other trekkers met in Pokhara.

Ask at your hostel, check notice boards in Lakeside cafés, or ask a Pokhara agency to match you with trekkers leaving on similar dates. Mantra Mountain in Pokhara can arrange a licensed guide and help match you with other trekkers. Agree the itinerary and cost split before you start.

The main risks are altitude sickness, slips on stone steps, weather and landslides, not crime. On the main teahouse routes, a licensed guide, a slow ascent and insurance covering helicopter rescue reduce those risks a great deal.

The Tourist Police are on 1144, the police on 100 and ambulance on 102. On the trail, your guide, agency and insurer's 24-hour line are usually the quickest way to organise a helicopter or medical help.

Yes, treat it as essential. The policy must cover trekking to your trek's maximum altitude and helicopter rescue, which typically costs USD 3,000–6,000 or more. Many standard policies stop at 2,500–4,000 m, so check the wording.

Most village and lodge dogs are calm, but rabies is present in Nepal. Don't feed or touch them, and get any bite or scratch checked straight away. Many travel clinics advise a pre-trip rabies vaccine for trekkers.

Your guide assesses whether you can walk or ride a horse down. If not, they contact your insurer to authorise a helicopter to Pokhara or Kathmandu. Helicopters fly only in daylight and good weather, so carry your policy number and insurer's assistance number on paper.

Ghorepani Poon Hill is the classic first trek. It takes 4–5 days from Pokhara, reaches a maximum of 3,210 m, and has good teahouses throughout. Australian Camp (2–3 days) and Ghandruk (3–4 days) are even gentler.

Australian Camp via Dhampus is the easiest. It starts under an hour from Pokhara, involves 2–3 days of mostly gentle walking, and tops out just over 2,000 m with big Annapurna views. The Sarangkot and World Peace Pagoda day hikes are easier still.

You need to be able to walk 5–7 hours a day, several days in a row, on rough trail with 400–800 m of ascent. Regular hiking, stair climbing or cycling for 2–3 months beforehand is a good preparation. Altitude, not fitness, is the main challenge above 4,000 m.

It's a moderate trek. You walk 5–7 hours a day for about 7–10 days, including thousands of stone steps around Chhomrong, up to 4,130 m. No technical skills are needed, but you should be comfortable with long ascents and descents.

Yes. Start with a short, low trek such as Poon Hill, Ghandruk or Australian Camp. Teahouse trekking needs no camping or navigation skills, especially with a licensed guide, just steady fitness and good boots.

Everest Base Camp is harder, mainly because of the altitude. You sleep at 5,164 m at Gorak Shep, and the trek takes 12–14 days, compared with a highest night of 4,130 m and 7–10 days at ABC. ABC has more steep stone staircases on the lower section.

They're similar overall. The Circuit crosses Thorong La at 5,416 m, with a long 900–1,000 m descent on the same day, while EBC spends more nights above 4,000 m. The Circuit has road sections in its lower valleys, and EBC starts with a Lukla flight.

Yes, many trekkers in their 60s and 70s do Poon Hill, Ghandruk, Mardi Himal and even EBC. Choose a longer itinerary with shorter days, hire a porter, and see a doctor about altitude and any heart or lung conditions first.

Yes, on lower treks such as Australian Camp, Ghandruk, Panchase and Poon Hill, which stay at or below about 3,200 m. Young children are harder to monitor for altitude symptoms, so most families avoid sleeping above 3,000 m.

Mild AMS can begin around 2,500 m and becomes common above 3,000 m, particularly with a fast ascent. Above 3,000 m, guides aim to raise sleeping altitude by only 300–500 m a night, with a rest day every 3–4 days.

A headache plus one or more of nausea, loss of appetite, tiredness, dizziness or poor sleep. Breathlessness at rest, a wet cough, confusion or stumbling are signs of HAPE or HACE, which are emergencies that require immediate descent.

Many trekkers going above 3,500 m do. Wilderness-medicine guidelines commonly suggest 125 mg twice daily for prevention. Consult a doctor first, especially if you have a sulfa allergy. Diamox doesn't replace a slow ascent and rest days.

Yes. ABC is 4,130 m, and some trekkers get headaches at MBC or ABC, especially if they climb from Deurali or Bamboo too quickly. Take the standard itinerary, drink plenty of water, and descend if symptoms worsen.

Follow the standard itinerary, with rest days in Namche Bazaar and in Dingboche or Pheriche, and climb higher on those days before sleeping lower. Avoid alcohol, drink 3–4 litres of water a day, and never go higher with symptoms.

Not untreated. Use treated water from village refill stations, or purify it yourself with a filter, UV pen, tablets or by boiling. It's cheaper than bottled water and keeps plastic off the trail.

Travel clinics commonly recommend hepatitis A, typhoid and tetanus, and often rabies for trekkers because help is far away. See a travel doctor six to eight weeks before you go for advice specific to you.

Treat all water, use hand sanitiser before eating, and eat freshly cooked food. Vegetarian food is usually the safer choice above the road, because meat is carried in unrefrigerated. Pack oral rehydration salts and a doctor-advised antibiotic in case.

Room and three meals cost about USD 25–40 a day on lower Annapurna treks, USD 30–50 at ABC or on the Circuit, and USD 35–65 in the Everest region. A licensed guide adds USD 25–35 a day and a porter USD 18–25. Permits, transport and tips are extra.

For a 12-day trek, budget about USD 900–1,300 for teahouses, permits and return Lukla flights (USD 220–250 each way). With your own licensed guide, it's around USD 1,200–1,700. Agency packages include more and cost more.

A 7-day ABC trek from Pokhara costs about USD 280–450 for teahouses, permits (NPR 5,000) and transport. With your own licensed guide it's roughly USD 455–695, and less if you share the guide with other trekkers.

A common guideline is 10–15% of the trip cost, shared across the crew. Per day, that's around USD 5–10 for a guide and USD 4–8 for a porter, from the group as a whole. Hand it over personally at the end of the trek.

Very few. There are none on the Poon Hill, ABC or Mardi trails. Namche, Lukla, Jomsom and Besisahar have ATMs, but they're unreliable in peak season. Withdraw all the cash you need in Pokhara or Kathmandu.

Almost never in teahouses, which work in cash. Carry enough Nepali rupees for the whole trek, plus about 20% extra, in small notes. Cards work at hotels, agencies and larger restaurants in Pokhara and Kathmandu, often with a surcharge.

Everything above the road is carried up by porters or mules, sometimes for days. A dal bhat that costs NPR 500–700 near the road can cost NPR 1,000–1,500 or more at a base camp, although refills are usually free.

Hot showers (USD 3–5), charging (USD 1–5 per device), Wi-Fi (USD 3–10), bottled water, snacks and extra days for weather delays. Together they can add USD 5–15 a day on higher treks, so budget for them.

Multiply USD 30–50 a day by your trek days and add 20%. For 12 days that's roughly NPR 60,000–95,000 per person. The ATMs in Chame, Manang and Jomsom exist but can't be relied on.

A family-run lodge on a trekking route with simple twin rooms and a heated dining room that serves meals. Teahouses are spaced every few hours on the main trails, so you don't need a tent or cooking gear.

Usually not, but in October, November and April, popular stops such as Ghorepani, ABC, Gorak Shep and Thorong Phedi can fill up. Guides phone ahead to reserve rooms, which is one practical advantage of trekking with one.

Dal bhat (rice, lentils and curry with refills) is the staple. Menus also have noodles, fried rice, momos, pasta, porridge, eggs and Tibetan bread. Menus get shorter and more expensive the higher you go.

Yes, at most teahouses, although it's slower and pricier higher up, often USD 3–10. In the Everest region, Everest Link prepaid cards work in many lodges. A local NTC SIM often gives better data than lodge Wi-Fi.

In most villages, yes. They're usually free solar or gas showers low down and USD 3–5 higher up. Above about 4,000 m, you may get only a bucket of hot water, or nothing on cloudy days.

Yes. Lower lodges often let you charge free in your room, while higher up it costs USD 1–5 per device in the dining room. Bring a 10,000–20,000 mAh power bank and keep batteries warm at night.

No. Only the dining room has a stove, lit in the evening. Bring a sleeping bag rated for the altitude, or rent one in Pokhara, and a warm layer for the dining room.

Easily. Dal bhat, vegetable curries, noodles and potato dishes are vegetarian, and most of the trail menu can be made vegan if you ask. Eating vegetarian above the road is also the safer choice for your stomach.

Layers (base layer, fleece, down jacket, waterproof shell), broken-in boots, a sleeping bag suited to the altitude, a head torch, sun protection, water purification, a first-aid kit, cash and your permits. Aim for about 10 kg in a porter bag plus a daypack.

Yes. Lakeside has many shops renting down jackets and sleeping bags for about USD 1–2 a day, plus poles and micro-spikes. Bring your own boots and a proper waterproof, and pick up anything else locally.

Below 3,000 m, lodge blankets are usually enough outside winter, although a liner is more hygienic. For ABC, Mardi, EBC or the Circuit, bring or rent a bag rated around −10 °C, or −15 °C to −20 °C in winter.

Waterproof mid- or high-cut trekking boots with a grippy sole, broken in before you arrive. Nepal's trails involve thousands of stone steps, so ankle support and toe room on descents matter more than light weight.

They're strongly recommended. They save your knees on long descents such as Ulleri, Chhomrong and the Thorong La descent to Muktinath. You can rent or buy them cheaply in Pokhara.

Porter welfare guidelines recommend no more than about 20–25 kg per porter, including their own gear. That's normally two trekkers' bags of about 10 kg each.

Not usually in autumn. From December to March, or after fresh snow, micro-spikes make Thorong La, Larke La, Tilicho and Mardi High Camp much safer. Rent them in Pokhara or Manang.

Nepal uses 230 V with type C, D and M sockets. A universal travel adapter covers all three. Lodges often have only a few sockets in the dining room, so a short multi-USB cable helps.

By tourist bus (6–8 hours, USD 10–25), leaving early in the morning from central Kathmandu, or by a 25-minute flight (USD 100–130) to Pokhara International Airport. A private car takes 5–7 hours and costs around USD 120–180 per vehicle.

Trailheads for Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, ABC, Ghandruk and Australian Camp are one to three hours' drive away, and Jomsom is a 20-minute flight. Lakeside has permits, gear rental, ATMs and agencies in one place, and it's a comfortable place to rest between treks.

Nayapul (1.5–2 h) for Poon Hill, Ghandruk and ABC; Kande (about 1 h) for Mardi Himal and Australian Camp; Phedi (30–45 min) for Dhampus. Besisahar (4–5 h) is the start for the Annapurna Circuit, and Jomsom (flight) for Muktinath and Upper Mustang.

A 20-minute flight costs about USD 125–140, with morning departures only because of afternoon winds. Alternatively, a bus or jeep via Beni takes 8–10 hours. Flights are often delayed, so keep a spare day.

Lakeside, by Phewa Lake, has the most guesthouses, cafés, gear shops and agencies within walking distance. North Lakeside is quieter. Most lodges store spare luggage free while you trek.

Fly. It takes about 30–40 minutes and costs USD 220–250 one way. In peak season, many Lukla flights leave from Ramechhap (Manthali) instead of Kathmandu, which means a 4–5 hour drive before dawn. Weather delays are common, so keep one or two buffer days.

One full day is enough to sort permits, rent gear, withdraw cash and meet your guide. Add a spare day at the end for transport delays or simply to rest by the lake.

Yes. Sarangkot (sunrise views over the Annapurnas) and the World Peace Pagoda above Phewa Lake need no permit or guide. They make good half-day or full-day warm-ups before a longer trek.

A licensed guide costs about USD 25–35 a day in 2026, usually including their food, lodging and insurance. A porter-guide costs USD 22–30 and a porter USD 18–25. Confirm exactly what's included before booking.

Both work. Booking ahead secures a guide and lodges for October, November and April, and restricted areas need permit paperwork done in advance. Arranging it in Pokhara lets you meet the guide first. Mantra Mountain in Pokhara can arrange licensed guides either way.

Check that it's government-registered and a member of TAAN. Ask for the guide's licence number and experience on your route, and get a written list of inclusions. Ask how it handles altitude sickness, early descent and helicopter rescue, and whether its porters are insured.

A licensed guide leads the route, handles permits and lodges and watches for altitude problems, but carries little. A porter carries your bag (up to about 20–25 kg for two trekkers) but isn't a guide. A porter-guide carries a lighter load and guides on standard routes.

For most people, yes. Carrying only a daypack makes long days and stone staircases much easier, and portering is an important source of local income. Choose an agency that follows porter welfare guidelines on weight, clothing and insurance.

Yes. There are licensed female guides and porters in Nepal, though fewer than men, so ask your agency early, especially for peak season. Pokhara is one of the easiest places to arrange one.

Most licensed guides working with foreign trekkers speak good English. Some agencies can also find guides who speak French, German, Spanish, Chinese or Japanese if you ask ahead.

Restricted areas require at least two trekkers plus a licensed guide, with permits arranged through an agency. Solo travellers can join another trekker or a small group departure. Pokhara agencies such as Mantra Mountain can help you find one.